Liberty Pole Spirits and MB Roland Distillery: A Historic Collaboration in Celebration of America's 250th Anniversary
- Amongst the Whiskey Team
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
Few things get the writers at Amongst The Whiskey more excited than a craft whiskey collaboration. So when we learned Liberty Pole Spirits and MB Roland Distillery had joined forces, we couldn't wait to taste the two limited releases debuting on July 1: Pennntucky and Kentsylvania.
In this article, you'll find the official press release, followed by our tasting notes on both expressions. Collaborations like these celebrate not only great whiskey, but also showcase the shared passion that continues to drive the craft whiskey movement forward. Here's hoping we see many more partnerships that honor and preserve America's rich and diverse whiskey heritage.
Liberty Pole Spirits and MB Roland Distillery Announce Historic Collaboration Blending Two Iconic American Whiskey Traditions in Celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary
WASHINGTON, PA and PEMBROKE, KY — As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, two independently owned craft distilleries deeply rooted in America’s whiskey heritage have come together for a groundbreaking collaboration celebrating the distinct whiskey traditions that helped shape the nation.
Liberty Pole Spirits of Pennsylvania and MB Roland Distillery of Kentucky are proud to
announce what is believed to be the first intentional collaboration blending Kentucky Bourbon
and Pennsylvania Monongahela Rye, each produced by distilleries located in the regions where
those whiskey traditions originated. The project brings together two of the most historically
significant American whiskey styles—Kentucky Bourbon and Monongahela Rye—each crafted
in the regions where those traditions were born.
The limited release will debut on July 1, 2026.
Timed to coincide with the nation's semiquincentennial celebration, the collaboration serves as a tribute to the enduring legacy of American whiskey and the role it has played in the country's history dating back to the earliest days of the Republic. Few places are more closely tied to the birth of American whiskey than Western Pennsylvania and Kentucky, making the collaboration a fitting tribute to America's 250th birthday. From the rye whiskey traditions of Western Pennsylvania, closely tied to the Whiskey Rebellion, to the rise of Kentucky Bourbon as America's native spirit, the release symbolizes a coming together of two legendary whiskey cultures ahead of the nation's milestone anniversary.
"This project is about more than blending whiskey," said Jim Hough, co-founder of Liberty Pole Spirits. "It's about honoring American history, celebrating the craftsmanship that defines our industry, and recognizing the regional whiskey traditions that helped build this country."
The collaboration began with each distillery selecting one of its own barrels and one barrel from the other distillery, resulting in two separate custom blends. Liberty Pole Spirits created its own interpretation of the marriage between the styles, while MB Roland crafted a distinct blend of its own, allowing whiskey enthusiasts to experience two different visions built from the same base whiskies.
Founded in Washington, Pennsylvania, Liberty Pole Spirits has become nationally recognized for reviving authentic Monongahela-style rye whiskey using a grain-to-glass approach, sweet mash fermentation, double pot distillation, and aging in Pennsylvania’s only five-story rickhouse. MB Roland Distillery, located in western Kentucky, is widely respected for its dedication to Pre-Prohibition style distilling methods, ingenuity in crafting unique Kentucky bourbons and whiskeys, such as their Dark Fired Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and commitment to using premium, food-quality local grains.
The collaboration also reflects the growing camaraderie and creativity within the American craft whiskey community. Rather than competing, the two distilleries embraced the opportunity to learn from one another and create something entirely new.
"This was an opportunity to showcase how different whiskey traditions can work together in a way that highlights the strengths of both," said Paul Tomaszewski, co-founder of MB Roland Distillery. "The final blends are unique, expressive, and distinctly American."
The release is scheduled for July 1 and will be unveiled during a live social media event featuring respected whiskey voices from across the industry, including Fred Minnick, Steve Akley of the ABV Network and Jordan Moskal of Breaking Bourbon, joining the teams from both distilleries.
Quantities will be extremely limited. The whiskeys will be available primarily through the participating distilleries, with a small allocation also offered via pre-sale with direct-to-consumer shipping to select states outside Pennsylvania and Kentucky. Suggested retail pricing is expected to be $79.99 at the participating distilleries and $85 for direct-to-consumer shipments where permitted. Additional details regarding proofs, bottle allocations, and release events will be announced soon.
Company on Label:Â Libery Pole Spirits & MB Roland Distillery
Whiskey Type:Â A blend of straight whiskeys
Mash Bill Percentages:Â Undisclosed
Proof: 105.6° (52.8%)
Age:Â NAS
MSRP:Â $79.99
Further identification:Â Liberty Pole Spirits blended their Pennsylvania Monongahela rye with MB Roland's Kentucky bourbon
Penntucky Whiskey Blend Tasting Notes
Blended by Liberty Pole Spirits
Nose:Â Immediately an interesting whiskey to the nose, fizzy ginger ale, bright melon, and pear come to the forefront of the mind on first inhale. The fizziness continues to tingle in the nose like Pop Rocks in the nostrils. Quite a bit of the Manongahela rye is shining through here. Graham cracker with a hint of sweet milk chocolate leads us towards the early fixin's for s'mores. The mixture of all these things is unique in all the right ways. Hints of green tea and pine create subtle contrast to the sweeter tones. Graham cracker again returns, bringing the mind towards darker tones despite the general effervescence that has continued throughout.
On returning to the nose, a bit of cinnamon sugar and oak begins to suggest some age exists in this blend. On deep inhales, more overlap from the palate shines through with kiwi adorning a boozy tropical cocktail. Flashes of caramel and crème brûlée can be made out in small flashes of bourbon influence. The empty glass smells of grilled corn, potpourri, and caramel apple.
Palate: On the first sip we find a chewy, thoroughly complex whiskey full of fruit flavor galore. If we hadn't read the label, we'd have thought this was finished—this is really neat. Fig, prune, kiwi, and melon express juiciness with a light citrus lime and light bubbly 7UP finish. Another sip continues to offer intrigue and flavor as green tea meets creamy miso soup... yum! Grilled peach and light earthy mint can be found from light volleys against the taste buds. A touch lighter than the nose presents, our last sip reveals light oak, cinnamon, and a touch of toasted rye bread. As you sit with this longer, the layers shift and evolve, a hallmark of a great whiskey in our book. The finish is durable and inoffensive, giving a tip-of-the-tongue tingle with a kiss of candied green apple.
TL;DR: A wildly differentiated sip that results in a balanced harmony of two historic styles of whiskey
Company on Label:Â MB Roland Distillery & Liberty Pole Spirits
Whiskey Type:Â A blend of straight whiskeys
Mash Bill Percentages:Â Undisclosed
Proof: 108.2° (54.1%)
Age:Â NAS
MSRP:Â $79.99
Further identification:Â MB Roland Distillery blended their Kentucky bourbon with Liberty Pole Spirits Pennsylvania Monogahela rye
Kentsylvania Whiskey Blend Tasting Notes
Blended by MB Roland Distillery
Nose:Â Coming off Penntucky, this smells way more like bourbon. The nose is approachable; classic caramel and molasses hit first before a wave of maple candy and marshmallow. Common to them both are the grilled characteristics, here leaning more in towards grilled corn than grilled fruit. Cream soda tones proliferate with time in the glass. Hints of graham cracker and cinnamon bun with vanilla icing offer decent backbone to the dominant bourbon tones. Dry rickhouse funk presents a level experience from start to finish with fewer high-flying fun characteristics surprising us along the way. Corn husks and hints of coconut are the final presentations before we're ready to move on for a sip.
Returning to the nose, a wave of crisp apple dances in the nose. The manongahela rye component finally starts to eek out a bit with time, offering a light dustiness that we really like. The burnt ends of shish kabob sticks coming off the grill come to mind. The nose is getting more interesting with time as more rye integrates into the foreground. Creaminess suddenly envelops the experience as a splash of butterscotch expands our enjoyment. A hint of fried dough with powdered sugar transports us to a local carnival. The empty glass is reminiscent of some old-school whiskey production methods. Our empty glasses smell like cheesecake, dried flowers, and a hint of tin.
Palate: A lively yet approachable caramel and brown sugar profile produces a very definite bourbon experience. We're admittedly left a bit confused by this one, wondering where all the vibrant rye character is hiding out in this blend. Cinnamon bun sweetness leads on the tongue before just a hint of darkness creeps in on the linger, suggesting some rye influence with clove and allspice. Subsequent sips are very drinkable and enjoyable, a profile that will likely be a crowd-pleaser. Sipping near the bottom of the glass is still nice without blowing us away, adding in subtle fruit complexity that never quite enters awareness but contributes to the sipping session overall. Our last sip is a round, expanding experience with a finish that follows suit—milk chocolate and graham cracker, the hallmark of the marriage of these two distilleries.
TL;DR: Using the same components, this blend turned out surprisingly distinct from the other blend
Final Thoughts from the Authors
Penntucky— This is a very cool whiskey. The Venn diagram between the nose and palate overlaps just enough to be cohesive. The character of this whiskey hasn't been destroyed by any of the input processes. Thoughtful distillation, aging, and blending have resulted in an intriguing craft whiskey blending two whiskey styles known around the world. Give this bottle some airtime, and we believe it will evolve from a rye-forward sip to a bourbon drinker's favorite dram.
Kentsylvania— taste this one BEFORE the Penntucky if you want to properly enjoy the bourbon-forward profile before the rye monster comes swinging through on Penntucky. This tasting confirms our love for craft whiskey. This is one of those whiskeys that just get better and better with subsequent sips. Start with a small pour and work your way down to empty, and you'll likely be reaching for another.
Written by: The Amongst the Whiskey Team
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