Behind Batch 045: Kola Infused

Behind Batch 045: Kola Infused Inspired by Chattanooga’s long history of cola production, Kola Infused merges the nostalgic flavors of 19th- and 20th-century American cola with the complementary depth of our high malt bourbon! 

Before cola became a global phenomenon, it was brewed in apothecaries and soda fountains across the American South. But it was in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where cola truly fizzed to life: Chattanooga put cola in a bottle, made it portable, and turned it into a legacy. 

This Experimental Batch is a throwback to that time—when all-natural infusions (including those with real kola nut) were the norm. “Kola” – or Kola nut – refers to the seed of a tree species (cola nitida) native to the tropical rainforests of Africa. Their caffeine-containing seeds are used as flavoring ingredients in various carbonated soft drinks – such as cola!

To make Batch 045, we started with a blend of 4 unique bourbon mash bills—containing 8 distinct malted grains. We then infused the whiskey for over a week with nearly 200 pounds of 10 hand-selected botanicals – kola nut, citrus peel, dried cherries, sarsaparilla, vanilla, cinnamon, marshmallow root, ginger, mace, and cardamom. Like all of our liqueurs, Batch 045 is made using 100% real whiskey and real ingredients!

After the addition of real cane sugar, the liqueur is minimally filtered and bottled at an assertive 90 proof, retaining the bold, concentrated flavor of both the whiskey and its infusion ingredients—including the distinctive, irreplaceable character of real kola nut!