“Row 94 is a serious whiskey but we don’t take ourselves too seriously, and I love the tie-in back to country music. The juice is good, the price is good, and so is the bottle and label. It’s authentic to me and not just a side project.”

“Nashville is where country music’s made, Pennsylvania is where great Martin guitars are made, and Kentucky is where Bourbon is made,” he said. “I know it’s made in other places, but to me, it has to be Kentucky.”

“Row 94 is a great everyday sipper with enough backbone to drink neat and a good proof level as a cocktail component. This is a better-than-fair bourbon at a better-than-fair price, and I sense that’s exactly what Bentley wanted out of his first foray into the world of spirits.”

Row 94’s mantra is “three ingredients and the truth,” a statement printed on the bottle and denoting its makeup of Kentucky grains, local limestone-filtered water and cultivated yeast. That simplicity makes the whiskey approachable, a trait that Bentley wanted when backing his own brand.

When celebrities enter the spirits business, tequila is usually their drink of choice. The few times it happens to be whiskey, it’s often sourced from MGP in Indiana—case in point, Beyonce’s new SirDavis rye. But country music star Dierks Bentley chose a different path, deciding to work with Kentucky’s Green River Distilling Co. to produce his new Row 94 Whiskey, and it’s actually pretty good.

Mark Erwin, CEO of Bardstown Bourbon Company and Green River, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, noting Bentley’s passion for whiskey and commitment to quality. He stated, “Dierks loves the Green River Distillery and wanted it to be the home for ROW 94. We are excited to be partnering with him and his team on this great brand and look forward to seeing what they can do with this great liquid. 

Ain’t enough bourbon in Kentucky for me to forget you.” That’s a teary-eyed line from country music superstar Dierks Bentley’s 2013 song “Bourbon in Kentucky,” but the sad sentiment can now be challenged, as Bentley just released his own bourbon (and can probably make enough of it to get over any situation). 

The country star’s Row 94 is a serious whiskey that drinks just fine out of a Solo Cup. 

“Bourbon isn’t just whiskey. It is the Essence of America itself, like a Bald Eagle in a muscle car blasting Dierks Bentley. Bourbon is about balance.” (Dan Dunn) “

“Through the process, I visited a lot of distilleries and we ended up partnering with one of the greatest in Kentucky,” Bentley explained. “It’s been so much fun to be part of the ‘backstage crew’ and learn what it takes from start to finish and get to know the people who work there – it’s a uniquely American process in a lot of ways.”  

“Dierks’ passion for whiskey and doing things the right way was evident from the first time we met him,” Bardstown Bourbon Company and Green River CEO Mark Erwin remarked in the release. “We are excited to be partnering with him and his team on this great brand and look forward to seeing what they can do with this great liquid.” 

Dierks aims for Row 94 to be the bourbon you reach for when you’re enjoying a night with friends, listening to live music, or pouring a whiskey neat to celebrate.  Flexible enough for a red solo cup or your nicest whiskey glassware, Row 94 isn’t going to break the bank at its $40 price point either.

“A lot of years of thinking, researching and trying different whiskeys went into creating ROW 94,” says Bentley. “It’s been an evolution – from drinking basically any whiskey handed to me back in college, to it becoming something I enjoy tasting and sharing with friends. I knew I wanted 94 proof because I like some bite, and that I wanted it aged for at least four years since that’s when it starts to taste best to me. ROW 94 is a serious whiskey that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and I’m glad we finally get to share it.” 

2024 American Whiskey Holiday Gift Guide: Best Bourbons and Beyond at Every Price 

Beverage Dynamics Holiday Shopping Guide 2024: Country music superstar Dierks Bentley debuted his first whiskey, ROW 94, made using grain, Kentucky limestone water and cultivated yeast. Made with 70% Kentucky-grown corn, 21% rye and 9% malted and row barley, ROW 94 is 94-proof and aged for 4 years in new White Oak barrels.

Drink the Bottles

When we first popped this cork, we knew we were in for a ride.  Gold-orange in the glass, this bourbon is full of orange marmalade and sweet chocolate aromas.  In the mouth is a savory and bright candy bomb, framed by chocolate covered orange cookies, Italian sweet chocolate, Biscoff cookie butter, island fruits and toffee. 

Country superstar Dierks Bentley and Josh Ellis offer “Sunday Morning” viewers their version of the classic favorite. Their recipe calls for Bentley’s Row 94 Kentucky bourbon, and Ellis’ Withco Old Fashioned Mix. 

The gentle aroma of honey graham crackers immediately climb from the glass to greet ginger. As the glass airs, the scent of root beer arrives and lingers, along with brown sugar. Row 94 packs an inviting nose.

Dierks Bentley, a country music superstar, proudly introduced his first  

whiskey, ROW 94, at Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Louisville Tasting Room. 

Targeting a $40 price point was key, but as Bentley quickly found, sourcing a 4 year old Kentucky straight bourbon and pricing it at $40 was no small endeavor. After touring (and sampling) from many different distilleries, he came across Green River Distilling.

“I didn’t do it for the business side of it. I really just did it a lot like making an album. There’s a lot of country albums in this town too. Why bother making another country album? It’s something I feel passionate about. That I’ve wanted to do for a long time.” 

“Row 94 Full Proof delivers a satisfying experience for those more interested in flavor than aroma…the tasting profile is where this bourbon shines. At $54, it’s priced very reasonably….In accord with the debut release from Row 94, it’s good to see the Full Proof expression return to a price point that matches both its specs and its quality. For the money, this is a solid pick.”

“To mark both Bourbon Heritage Month and ROW 94’s one-year anniversary, Bentley is also bringing a first-of-its-kind experience to bourbon lovers and travelers alike. Starting September 12, visitors passing through Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport can meet a life-sized Dierks Bentley hologram, which greets guests, shares the story of ROW 94, and points them toward exclusive signed bottles and limited offerings of ROW 94’s Broken Branches Bourbon at the airport’s Distillery District Marketplace, located post-security near Concourses A and B.”

“Following the September 2024 launch of his ROW 94 — a nod to the year he first moved to Nashville — and this spring’s unveiling of Broken Branches, which shares its name with his latest album, the “Bourbon in Kentucky” singer celebrated the release of ROW 94 Full Proof on Wednesday, September 24. Featuring hints of vanilla, fresh tobacco, leather, and subtle clove on the nose, the 120-proof spirit — barrelled for no more than four years packs a punch but still goes down smooth — just like one of Bentley’s bluegrass and country adjacent bangers.”

“Hologram of country music star greets travelers at Louisville airport”

“Dierks Bentley is certainly no stranger to hard work and perseverance, allowing him to pursue multiple projects with surprising dedication. Just as he’s managed to balance out a successful career as a breakout musical sensation, the 49-year-old singer-songwriter has also overseen the creation of a brand-new spirits company with ROW 94.”

“Country star Dierks Bentley takes his bourbon up a notch with high-proof release”

“Starting on September 12th, Bentley will greet guests and introduce them to the newest technology surrounding holograms. For those looking to partake in the experience, the singer’s time at the airport is limited. Only there until October, the Bentley hologram will educate travelers on the history of ROW 94 Whiskey, which he founded.”

“A collaborative promotional initiative has been launched between ROW 94 Whiskey, a spirits brand founded by musician Dierks Bentley, and the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The central feature of this campaign is a life-sized holographic representation of Bentley himself that will be displayed within the airport’s secure terminal area. This format gives the campaign a futuristic feel.”