The Saint Cloud Kentucky Bourbon Interview

7 yr. Barrel Proof Kentucky Bourbon

Saint Cloud Bourbon Founder, Ray Walker has created a luxurious experience with his full proof bourbons over the past few years.

Whiskey nerds may notice the elegant bottle design from last year’s Spring cover of The Bourbon Review Magazine. Bourbon is the continuation of Ray’s vision that began as a Grand Cru wine producer in Burgundy, France.  After a brief, passionate exchange over IG we decided to reach out and set up a chat with the charismatic curator to learn more about the background of Saint Cloud Bourbon and where it’s headed. 

Sparta, Kentucky

The Neat Pour Your bottles reference the City of Sparta, Kentucky 

Ray Walker/ Saint Cloud Bourbon We pull materials from all different parts of the world. My bottles and paper are coming in from France, we print and label in St. Helena, California. My medallions are from Argentina. It all comes together in Sparta where we bottle the bourbon. Up until that point we have barrels located across warehouses in Kentucky. 

The Neat Pour What’s the origin of the name Saint Cloud?

Saint Cloud I wanted a name that was both strong and dynamic without being too heavy. Saint Cloud refers to this black, disruptive cloud coming over the industry and changing the way things are done. We take a high end approach that has finesse and a femininity to it.

The Neat Pour As an NDP what is your process for bourbons before they are ready to be mingled and packaged? 

Saint Cloud When we first launched we had batches because we didn’t have a lot of bourbon. All the bourbon we had went into batches until bottling. 

After the second release we started gaining recognition in the bourbon community and began buying single barrels. Those stay in barrels until it’s time to package, we want those barrels to be as old as possible. 

The Neat Pour We noticed the Fleur-de-lis placed throughout the branding on the bottle. 

Saint Cloud There’s a lot of French in my background. My great, great grandfather and his three brothers were given French names because their father fought in the War of 1812.

I also wanted to pay homage because I spent so much time in France and wanted some of that connection represented.

There’s been a recent redesigned where we removed those to focus on an Art Decco approach going forward.

Right now our bottle is minimal and beautiful with a black background but there’s no life to it. We want our new labels to show people of color without a statement. Just showing us in real life will add color seamlessly and speak to what our vision. 

The Neat Pour The current 7yr expression is pouring very well. What can we expect next on the horizon for Saint Cloud? 

Saint Cloud Southern Glazer’s will be taking us national, there will be a deeper presence in states where we already sell. New products will include a 100 proof statement released in places Indiana. Not everyone is into cask strength bourbons so this a more inclusive entry with a lower price point. 

The Neat Pour Your palate lends itself to the curation of unique profiles from bourbons all across the state in your releases. Will that continue to be the focus?

Saint Cloud I was detailed and hands on when making wine, I love production. We starting laying down barrels with a mashbill that I came up with. It’s always a question of balancing when you are self funded with limited resources. You have to decide sometimes between expanded production or focusing on outreach for the brand. I have to be patient. 

A Natiional Expansion On The Horizon For Saint Cloud

The Neat Pour How important is it to remain a Kentucky product in the bottle as the brand expands? 

Saint Cloud Kentucky is great and it’s really important to me. I’ve tasted whiskeys from other states and it shouldn’t make a difference but we haven’t found examples that excite me. 

All the bourbons we’ve gotten our hands on from Kentucky have been very good. I have all this history tied into Kentucky. It’s important financially, it’s important from a heritage perspective, it’s important family-wise and it’s my personal taste preference as well.  I have many reasons to keep it Kentucky.  

—The Neat Pour