Whisky Names Explained: John Lee Hooker Legacy Spirits Boogie Chillen’ Bourbon 1948

What do bourbon, an electric guitar, a banjo, a juke joint, and a legend have in common? That’s what we’re breaking down today in a brand-new Whisky Names Explained. This is the story behind John Lee Hooker Legacy Spirits Boogie Chillen’ Bourbon “1948.”

Whisk(e)y names often look back to the past or the place they come from. Other bottles carry the name of a legend. In the United States, one bourbon now does both: John Lee Hooker Legacy Spirits Boogie Chillen’ Bourbon “1948.”

For blues lovers, the raspy voice of John Lee Hooker needs no introduction. Born in Mississippi in 1917, he grew into a legendary artist. Right up until his passing in 2001, he remained one of the world’s greatest blues icons.

Think blues, and you think whiskey (or bourbon). Hooker’s daughter Zakiya and his grandson Glenn Thomas bring that pairing to life with their own whiskey.

Under the name John Lee Hooker Legacy Spirits, they release spirits that not only honor his legacy, but make it tangible.

The brand’s signature bottling, Boogie Chillen’ Bourbon “1948,” takes you right back to the dawn of this icon’s career.

The bourbon takes its name from Hooker’s debut single: “Boogie Chillen’.” Released in 1948, the track hit the blues world like a bolt of lightning.

That groove, the foot-stomping, the guitar picking, and the raw vocals created a unique, almost hypnotic combination. The song exploded and immediately dominated the R&B charts.

John Lee Hooker Legacy Spirits Boogie Chillen’ Bourbon “1948” is crafted as a liquid tribute to the musical tornado that shook the world.

The brand has since released several bourbons, including a quartet of whiskeys made in collaboration with Gibson. Each of these four whiskeys is 8.5 years old and pays homage to a different vintage guitar. Bottles any blues fan will be eager to get their hands on.

These bourbons are far from simple spirits thrown into a bottle. They’re made and bottled with genuine care for the craft. That dedication has already been rewarded with multiple accolades, including a gold medal at the 2024 Los Angeles Spirits Awards.