Hawaiian Bourbon Whiskey King Kamehameha

Hi,

Does anybody knows if a Hawaiian Bourbon Whiskey with the name King Kamehameha exists?

Peter

There was a Jim Beam decanter "King Kamehameha" from the 70's but I have never heard of anything produced under that name.

Hi,

This is what I have found on internet, too. But I have a picture of a bottle of this whiskey. Somebody has seen this whiskey in a liquor store in Japan. And this bottle sems to be much newer than the 70's.

Nethertheless, thanks for your posting.

Peter

[ Edited by: mr_bourbon 2006-08-21 08:41 ]

You might try asking the folks over at straightbourbon.com forums. They're usually pretty good at that sort of thing.

If you find it exists, let us know. I gotta have a bottle of that.

Hi,

Yes, of course I will let you know the latest results and thanks for the clues.

Peter

On 2006-08-17 09:51, mr_bourbon wrote:
...I have a picture of a bottle of this whiskey. ...

Please post the picture!

There was a recent ebay listing
http://cgi.ebay.com/Jim-Beam-Hawaii-King-Kamehameha-decanter-bottle-1972_W0QQitemZ260018752073QQcmdZViewItem

But sometimes the pictures disappear after a few days so I pinched it for you.

There seems to be anactive listing here

http://cgi.ebay.com/Jim-Beam-KING-KAMEHAMEHA-DECANTER_W0QQitemZ200019222500QQihZ010QQcategoryZ10901QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Still researching this lovely bottle but here's what 10 minutes hunting uncovered::

Other designs of the same name bottle::
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/carmelcollectibles/item/66P523

More info::
It's part of an entire signature range by Jim Beam, but I am unclear as yet if any are still in production.
http://www.jimbeamclub.com/pictorials/jimbeam/people/index.html

You're probably best off speaking to the lovely folks at http://www.jimbeam.com/

By the way, I noticed you called it an Hawaiian Bourbon? Please make no mistake, if it's called a bourbon amongst many other criteria it has to come from USA ( http://www.straightbourbon.com/27cfr5.pdf ). RETRACTED IN LATER POST! DOH! Hawaii is part of USA, lol.

This bottle is part of a commerative range, but I am keen to know why Jim Beam Distillers felt to honour the king of Hawaii in such a way?? Any one got any ideas, or even better answers from Jim Beam themselves???

And on the 7th day God,
Had a pint.

[ Edited by: UKPhantom 2006-08-21 10:59 ]

Hi,

Sorry, but it isn't one of the bottles above.

Here you can find the picture of the label:

http://www.hunsnet.de/king_kamehameha.jpg

Peter

Hi Mr Bourbon,

I was way off track then looking at Jim Beam stuff. I'll have a look later for this bourbon for you :)

Also, apologies, a glaring error in my post above about the provenance of bourbon... doh!... hawaii is part of the US and so can produce bourbon. lol. Sometimes I swear I left my brain on a bus.

On 2006-08-21 08:43, mr_bourbon wrote:
Hi,

Sorry, but it isn't one of the bottles above.

Here you can find the picture of the label:

http://www.hunsnet.de/king_kamehameha.jpg

Peter

That's cool! The line "Hawaii straight bourbon whiskey" gave me a little chuckle but, hell, I ain't no purist, I'd drink it!

Bourbon by law is Kentucky whiskey from at least 51% corn and aged at least 2 years in new charred oak barrels. The Hawaiian whiskey can't be called Bourbon, but I would still love to try it!

It may have been made by Hawaiian Distillers and they made several other products.

Hawaiian Distillers, Inc., a Hawaiian Corporation, had been in business for more than forty years. Before 1980 it was mainly manufacturing tourist items, including ceramics and specialty Polynesian Liqueurs. It seems that they have been out of business and sold several times since the 80's. "Hana Bay Rum" is not made in Hana but by "Hawaiian Distillers" in California. According to locals, it was originally distilled in Maui but went bankrupt and when the brand was purchased production was moved to the mainland. It seems like smaller companies with good products get gobbled up or destroyed by the big guys in that business.

Some of their other products found as well:
King Kamehameha Okolehao
Whaler's Original Vanille Rum
Hana Bay Rum

Their website is dead but registered to and for sale by:
Registrant:
Walters, Ronald
2057 NW Overton Street
Portland, OR 97209
US

Domain Name: HAWAIIANDISTILLERS.COM

From the http://www.straightbourbon.com/ website

1. What is bourbon?

There are strict laws governing just what a Bourbon must be to be labeled as such. For example, at least 51 percent of the grain used in making the whiskey must be corn (most distillers use 65 to 75 percent corn). Bourbon must be aged for a minimum of two years in new, white oak barrels that have been charred. Nothing can be added at bottling to enhance flavor, add sweetness or alter color.

4. Where is bourbon made?

Bourbon can be made anywhere in the United States. All but a couple of brands are made in Kentucky, and Kentucky is the only state allowed to put its name on the bottle. And as Kentucky distillers are quick to point out, Bourbon is not Bourbon unless the label says so.

Thanks a lot for the huge amount of information.

To sum up, the distillery which probably made the King Kamehameha whiskey does not still exists. Therefore, it would need a lot of luck to get a (closed) bottle of this brand.

Nethertheless, thanks a lot for your help. If anybody has an idea where I could get a bottle, it would be great.

Peter

On 2006-08-22 12:28, Blue Thunder wrote:
From the http://www.straightbourbon.com/ website

Bourbon can be made anywhere in the United States. ... Kentucky is the only state allowed to put its name on the bottle.

Doesn't that sound a bit contradictory? Perhaps they meant: "American whiskey from at least 51% corn and aged at least 2 years in new charred oak barrels can be made anywhere in the US but only when it's made in Kentucky can it be called bourbon".

I thought that too. After further reading it should say. It can only be called "Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey" if produced in Kentucky. Bourbon Whiskey is a process not a place name anymore. I also thought it was strange that the Federal Govenrment misspelled the the word "whiskey" as "whisky" all throughout the regulations regarding distilling it http://www.straightbourbon.com/27cfr5.pdf (have to go through mainpage and surf to faqs...sorry)

"Whisky" is the proper spelling for Scotch Whisky and others distilled in Wales Japan and Canada,and of course Scotland. "Whiskey" is proper for all others.

[ Edited by: Blue Thunder 2006-08-22 13:11 ]

[ Edited by: Blue Thunder 2006-08-22 13:15 ]