Sometimes the most interesting new bourbons are the ones that take a different road.

That’s certainly the case with The Maven Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a new release from Shelbyville, Kentucky-based The Maven Distillery. While most bourbons are built around a single recipe or distillery style, The Maven starts with something much larger: a library of whiskeys gathered over the past decade through distillation, custom sourcing and barrel selection.

The result is a blend of six whiskeys designed by Master Blender Steve Hughes and the Maven team, using an approach that leans heavily on toasted oak rather than traditional char alone.

And we’re not talking about just one type of oak.

The final blend includes traditional American oak, Kentucky Chinkapin oak, Pacific Northwest Garryana oak, French oak and even Mizunara oak from Japan. The goal is to create extra layers of flavor, from fruit and caramel to chocolate, spice and toasted notes.

Bottled at 94 proof and aged more than seven years, The Maven offers aromas of baked apple, apricot jam and toasted coconut, while the palate brings caramelized vanilla, toasted almond, bittersweet chocolate and gingerbread spice.

The bourbon has already made a strong first impression, earning Double Gold and an impressive 99-point score at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The Maven Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey carries a suggested retail price of $199 and is rolling out first in Kentucky, with wider availability planned through select retailers and online channels.

For a brand that’s spent ten years quietly building its whiskey library, The Maven is finally stepping into the spotlight … and bringing plenty of oak with it.