PRESS & MEDIA
JOHN LEE HOOKER LEGACY SPIRITS
John Lee Hooker Legacy Spirits is a family-owned bourbon brand founded in 2023 by the blues icon's daughter, Zakiya Hooker, and his grandson, Glenn Thomas. Our purpose is to restore and preserve the legacy of the King of the Boogie for his family. Every award we win and every bottle we pour builds toward that mission, and our dream is to one day bring his life's work home to his family.
"Every bottle we sell is a step toward bringing his legacy back home where it belongs, to his family."
Boogie Chillen' Bourbon "1948", our flagship. Named after Hooker's 1948 debut single, the first "down-home" electric blues song to reach number one on the R&B chart. Bottled at 100 proof and aged 5+ years from a mash bill of 75% corn, 15% rye and 10% malted barley. Caramel and creme brulee on the nose, baking spices and toasted nuts on the palate, and a finish of mellow oak and leather. Winner of 14 national spirits awards in its first year.
Boogie Chillen' "Boom Boom" Cask Strength. Named after the iconic 1961 track and bottled at 109.8 proof straight from the barrel, with nothing added to get in the way of the soul. Built for the enthusiast who wants the raw, uncompromised power of the blues in its purest form. Expect a long, dense finish with a subtle leather note that lingers on the palate.
Strings of Legacy: Kentucky Bourbon Collection. In a first-of-its-kind partnership, Gibson and the estate of John Lee Hooker created four 8.5-year-old, cask-strength, single-barrel expressions. Each bottle honors a guitar that defined Hooker's sound, from the stage to the front porch. A very limited release, with only a few cases remaining.
The four guitars. Gibson ES-335: his openness to new sounds with a visceral blues vibe. Gibson Les Paul Goldtop: the fierce, edgy intensity of his stage presence. Gibson SJ-200: the deep, resonant voice of the guitar he played at home for family. Epiphone Zephyr: the bedrock of his career and the raw talent of his early days.
AS SEEN ON TV & VIDEO
CBS News Sacramento: Grandson of blues legend creates bourbon in his honor
FOX40 News: In studio talking the brand and mixing cocktails
The Founder's Story with Glenn Thomas
Kentucky Market Celebration at Justin's House of Bourbon
The Oscars: Sinners composer names John Lee Hooker in his Best Original Score speech
PODCASTS & INTERVIEWS
The Liquor Connoisseur: Glenn Thomas on John Lee Hooker's Legacy in Every Bottle
Bourbon Theory: From Blues to Bourbon
The Legacy Lounge with Chris and Rene: Episode 37
The Legacy Lounge with Chris and Rene: Part 2
Hood Sommelier: Live tasting with Jack Beguedou
Black Bourbon Weekend: Taste of Black Spirits on E-Block Radio
Press & Media Inquiries
For interviews, samples, events and high-resolution images, contact us at info@johnleehookerlegacyspirits.com.
THE LEADERSHIP
GLENN THOMAS
After 20 plus years of navigating the real estate market, Glenn is transferring his skills to conquer the spirits industry. As a Realtor and Mortgage Advisor licensed in multiple states, Thomas has boned his sales skills, investment knowledge, and guidance to run a successful realty group with high-end clients.. As the Co-Founder of Boogie Chillen’ Bourbon, Glenn is proud to bring the story of his grandfather and keep the Hooker legacy alive one delicious bottle of bourbon at a time.
ZAKIYA HOOKER
As the daughter of renowned blues musician John Lee Hooker, Zakiya was privileged to see and hear some of the greats that shaped the history of blues and modern music. As the daughter of a music legend, Zakiya naturally chose to follow in her father’s footsteps in music and is now pursuing another passion of her father’s: bourbon. As the Co-Founder of Boogie Chillen’ Bourbon, Zaikya Hooker is ready to carry her father’s bourbon glass and blues torch into the new age of the whiskey world.