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Considered one of the most influential blues musicians of all time, John Lee Hooker was a four-time Grammy award-winning blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Born in Tutwiler, Mississippi, on August 22, 1917, Hooker began playing guitar at a young age, greatly influenced by his stepfather William Moore, a blues musician, who taught his young stepson to play the guitar, and whom John Lee later credited for his unique style on the instrument.
In the 1940s, Hooker moved to Detroit, Michigan,and soon became a permanent fixture in the city’s vibrant blues scene. Hooker's music is characterized by its simple yet powerful melodies, driving rhythms, and soulful vocals. He was a master of the 12-bar blues form, and he wrote many classics, including "Boogie Chillen'," "Boom Boom," and "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer." He released five studio albums over the next few years, collaborating with various artists such as Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt, and Van Morrison, as well as appearing in the iconic movieThe Blues Brothers.
Yes. Boogie Chillen Bourbon is founded by John Lee Hooker’s daughter and grandson, Zakiya Hooker and Glenn Thomas.
Inspired by legacy, love, and music, Boogie Chillen Bourbon was founded by mother and son, Zakiya Hooker and Glenn Thomas in 2024 to honor their father and grandfather, John Lee Hooker through their shared love of bourbon.
Driven to replicate his first “real taste” of bourbon with his grandfather, Glenn meticulously selected the finest grains and charred oak barrels with unwavering commitment, blending time-honored techniques with his creative vision to create John Lee Hooker Bourbon.
John Lee Hooker Legacy Spirits currently produces Boogie Chillen Bourbon 1948, its namesake coming from Hooker’s 1948 debut record, “Boogie Chillen Bourbon” and the first "down-home" electric blues song to reach number one in the R&B records chart.
The whiskey distilled with the finest blends of corn, rye, and wheat, and aged for a minimum of four years in new charred American oak barrels. This leads to a smooth, flavorful bourbon with subtle notes of baking spices, warm brown sugar, and roasted mixed nuts that finishes with a rich, leather taste on the tongue.
The first release of the premium bourbon produced 375 cases.
It is produced in Bardstown, Kentucky with the award-winning Bardstown Bourbon Company.
The SRP is $112
The ABV is 50% / 100 proof
Founded in 2001, the John Lee Hooker Foundation is an organization dedicated to supporting the needs of children and youth through arts, education, and health located within the San Francisco Bay Area and communities influenced by the music of John Lee Hooker. The John Lee Hooker Foundation aims to provide a supportive environment for young individuals to access cultural, musical, and art programs with grants to aid art and education nonprofit organizations in need of additional funding.
Boogie Chillen Bourbon 1948 is available online and will be at select retailers starting summer of 2024.