(Photo: Green River Distillery)
On Friday, Green River Distillery made its first splash into the modern motorsports scene alongside J.J. Yeley of the NY Racing Team.
The partnership has refitted Yeley's car as the No. 44 Green River Whiskey Chevrolet, complete with a green and brown colorway inspired by the brand alongside a bottle of the distiller's Straight Bourbon, which can now be seen on the door. According to Green River, the sponsorship is all about history. The distillery shares its hometown of Owensboro, Kentucky, with NASCAR legends Darrell and Michale Waltrip, brothers famous for clinching a combined three Daytona 500 wins throughout their career.
As Yeley approaches qualifiers for the Great American Race, it's a good luck charm he may want to keep in his back pocket.
"I couldn’t be more excited to team up with Green River Whiskey for this monumental Daytona race,” Yeley remarked in a news release. "Their story of resilience, growth, and passion for their craft is exactly what it takes to compete at this level. Daytona is where legends are made, and with Green River Whiskey on board, we’re ready to take on the challenge and fight our way into the big race."
Green River was founded in 1885, making it the 10th-oldest licensed distillery in Kentucky behind heavy hitters like Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve and Willet. Though the brand has established itself as a favorite among bourbon fans, Green River has had to fight hard to get where it is today. In 1918, a fire ripped through the distillery and destroyed over 40,000 barrels within just three hours. The fire devastated the facility, leading Green River to cease production for over a century. The distillery was bought and revived by Bardstown Bourbon Company in 2022, leading to its current renaissance on the market.
If you're interested in trying what Green River has to offer, we'd highly recommend its Straight Rye Whiskey. Loaded with viscous flavors of toffee, honey, apple and a pleasant pop of acidity, the expression is a steal at its astonishingly low price of $34.99. It currently sits at a Raided Score® of 87.
“The Daytona 500 is more than just a race—it’s a proving ground for perseverance, skill, and a little bit of luck,” Bardstown Bourbon and Green River Distilling Co. President Pete Marino added. “The horseshoe, a universal symbol of luck, has always been a part of the brand’s iconography and our bottle. On the No. 44 Green River Whiskey Chevrolet, it’s a symbol that we’re ready to chase history at the Great American Race.”
