Blue Bolt Bourbon – 107 Proof Single Barrel Review

About Blue Bolt Spirits

“A craft label that’s actually craft spirits.” – Blue Bolt Spirits Website

Blue Bolt Spirits was created by active-duty Marine Will Maley and his childhood friend Jackson Parker, with a mission to honor the culture and achievements of the Marine Corps through premium spirits that celebrate its legacy.

That mission is evident immediately. Most Blue Bolt bottles are emblazoned with the current Marine Corps anniversary — 250 at the time of this review — serving not only as a tribute to ongoing service and sacrifice, but also as a kind of timestamp that marks the “vintage” of the release.

I first met Will at one of the earliest bottle shares of the whiskey club I founded in Northern Virginia, back when Blue Bolt bottles still carried the “247” anniversary mark. From the beginning, he was thoughtful and transparent — reaching out privately to ask if it was okay to bring bottles, making it clear he wasn’t there to sell anything, just to share his whiskey.

That’s Will in a nutshell: honest, upfront, loyal — and consistently bringing solid whiskey to the table.

While the company began in Houston, where Will and Jackson grew up, some of the earliest Blue Bolt releases I tried were sourced from the excellent (and often under-recognized) Crittenden Distillery. Since then, operations have shifted fully back to Texas, sourcing whiskey from Giant Texas Distillers, with Blue Bolt bottles even displayed in Giant’s own gift shop.

Fun note from Will: Giant Texas Distillers operates the largest column still west of the Mississippi River.

This is an evolving, ramping pour — one that builds momentum rather than flattening out. Side by side with Weller Antique 107, the differences are clear.

Weller presents a sweeter, fuller nose, but its mid-palate and finish fall off faster than expected. Blue Bolt opens lighter, shows a bit of youth mid-sip, then delivers a longer, spicier finish with a distinctly peppery Texas bite that lingers.

These are not direct substitutes. Different mashbills, different climates, different strengths and weaknesses. You can’t come at this expecting Kentucky — and you shouldn’t.

What is fair to say: one is half the price, readily available, and delivers a finish that confidently holds its own.

Buy this if you:

• Enjoy traditional Texas whiskey
• Want high value for the price
• Are tired of chasing overhyped bottles
• Want a versatile pour that works as a low-to-mid shelf sipper and a medium-high end mixer

Skip if you:

• Are a traditional Kentucky Bourbon purist
• Prefer only very high-proof, heavily aged, or limited-edition releases

Value

This is a low-risk, high-reward bottle. At just over $30, it dramatically undercuts most premium releases that struggle to come in under $100.

It fits the $10-per-year rule comfortably — and arguably exceeds it given the quality of the distillate and the accelerated aging common to Texas whiskey.

I’ve long found that traditionally aged Texas (and other Deep South) whiskeys tend to drink 1.5x to 2x their stated age. In that context, this release drinks closer to a 4–5 year bourbon.

And did I mention this isn’t some 100-barrel small batch? This is a single barrel through and through, simply proofed down to more of a “daily drinker” 107 proof.

Transparency

Blue Bolt is a strong example of transparency among non-distilling producers.

The label clearly discloses sourcing, and the owners are consistently open about mashbill, age, and batch details — a refreshing approach, especially for an NDP sourcing outside of Kentucky.