Every brand has a story. Ours begins with a simple yet profound question: “What’s next?” H.K. Young Bourbon Co. is the story of three bourbon enthusiasts who decided that the only logical next step in their passion for America’s spirit was to create a brand of their own.

From the outset, they established two strict criteria to guide their brand:

Kentucky Bourbon Only: Staying true to the roots of America’s spirit, they committed exclusively to using authentic Kentucky Bourbon.

Toasted Barrel Finishes: Every product had to be finished in a second, toasted oak barrel. While many brands were experimenting with toasted finishes, none had committed to using them as the foundation of their identity.

Together, they developed three unique toasted oak barrel profiles designed specifically to complement the flavor of their newly acquired bourbon. With their barrels dialed in, the trio went all in—combining tradition, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of quality.

What started as a simple question of “What’s next?” has grown into a mission: to craft bourbon that stands out, honors tradition, and embraces innovation.

And while the journey is just beginning, one thing is certain—at H.K. Young, we’ll never stop asking, “What’s next?”

Every brand has a story. Ours begins with a simple yet profound question: “What’s next?” H.K. Young Bourbon Co. is the story of three bourbon enthusiasts who decided that the only logical next step in their passion for America’s spirit was to create a brand of their own.

Cole Hanna was living in California, contemplating a passion project involving a small number of bourbon barrels. With a bit of luck (and his wife’s approval), he began working with a broker to procure his first few barrels. Then, something remarkable happened. Just two days after committing to the idea, Cole received a call from Tyler Young.

“Hey man, are you still interested in starting a bourbon brand? I think I want to finally do it.”

Whether it was fate, coincidence, or some divine bourbon intervention, the timing couldn’t have been better. The two quickly began plotting their next steps. However, while Cole and Tyler were brimming with enthusiasm and ideas for bourbon, they knew they needed someone with the business expertise to make it all work. Luckily, Tyler had “just the guy” to round out the team: Spencer Kilijian. With the new addition, H.K. Young (Hanna, Kilijian, and Young) was born.

With Spencer on board, the trio moved quickly to purchase a stock of premium Kentucky Bourbon, laying the foundation for their vision. But they didn’t want to simply replicate what countless other brands were already doing. From the outset, they established two strict criteria to guide their brand:

Kentucky Bourbon Only: Staying true to the roots of America’s spirit, they committed exclusively to using authentic Kentucky Bourbon.
Toasted Barrel Finishes: Every product had to be finished in a second, toasted oak barrel. While many brands were experimenting with toasted finishes, none had committed to using them as the foundation of their identity.

Determined to execute this vision flawlessly, Cole reached out to the team at Independent Stave Company. Together, they developed three unique toasted oak barrel profiles designed specifically to complement the flavor of their newly acquired bourbon. With their barrels dialed in, the trio went all in—combining tradition, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of quality.

What started as a simple question of “What’s next?” has grown into a mission: to craft bourbon that stands out, honors tradition, and embraces innovation. And while the journey is just beginning, one thing is certain—at H.K. Young, we’ll never stop asking, “What’s next?”

changing the Toasted Barrel finish whiskey game.