Bourbonola Makes History Again with New Bourbon & Banana Seltzer

Introducing Bourbonola Tropical Style: Bourbon & Banana Seltzer – 8.0% abv

LEXINGTON, Ky, June 11, 2026 — Town Branch Distillery, the 7^th member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and the heart of Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.—is shaking up the spirits-based ready-to-drink category with something nobody saw coming. Introducing Bourbonola Tropical Style, a Bourbon & Banana Seltzer that blends authentic bourbon character with bold tropical flavor. Crafted with 2 shots per can of Town Branch Bourbon and layered with notes of banana, mango, citrus and a touch of honey, with a crisp, light sparkling body for an exceptionally refreshing experience. Real bourbon, real flavor and pushing bourbon culture somewhere entirely new. Available in select markets nationwide. (SRP $14.99 per 4pk x 355ml Slim Cans)

Bourbonola Prohibition Style & Bourbonola Tropical Style

If you already know Bourbonola, then you know the legend started with Bourbonola Prohibition Style — nearly 3-shots of Kentucky Straight Bourbon per can blended with a proprietary cherry cola to 12% ABV as a ready-to-drink beverage that doesn’t play by modern rules. If you don’t know Bourbonola yet, now’s the time to catch up. Scan the QR code to watch the Bourbonola Origin Story and learn its storied history.

The story begins in 1922, deep in the heart of Prohibition, when Lexington Brewing Co. was forced to pivot from beer to non-alcoholic beverages to survive. One of those creations was boldly named Bourbonola, because while the government could regulate what went into the bottle, they couldn’t regulate the name on it.

Fast forward 100 years. While expanding its bourbon-based portfolio, the team at Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. and home of Town Branch Distillery uncovered the forgotten Bourbonola name painted across an old brewery photo. The history was real. The assets still existed. Bourbonola was reborn.

Now the next chapter begins. Bourbonola Tropical Style, a bourbon-based tropical hard seltzer built around one of the world’s most iconic flavors: banana. Made with real Kentucky Straight Bourbon, it pushes Bourbonola even further into uncharted territory while staying rooted in whiskey culture. Just like Prohibition Style proudly carries the year 1922 on its can, Bourbonola Tropical Style features 1876 — the year bananas exploded into American culture at the Centennial World’s Fair in Philadelphia. Exotic, unexpected, unforgettable. Sound familiar?

Alongside the launch of Tropical Style, both Bourbonola expressions are receiving refreshed packaging, including new outer cartons with a QR code to tell their historic origin story and updated artwork featuring each drink’s signature spirit animal. Bourbonola started by breaking rules during Prohibition. A century later, it’s still doing exactly that while making history.

This Is Bananas! But Why Bananas?

The answer is actually pretty simple. For years now, innovation at Town Branch has centered around one core idea: bourbon-based or bourbon-inspired to celebrate it’s origin on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. Bourbonola Tropical Style delivers both.

Built on a base of real Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Bourbonola Tropical Style is bourbon-based by design celebrating the native spirit of the United States. But it’s also bourbon-inspired in flavor. Anyone familiar with younger bourbons knows they often carry notes of banana, banana bread, baking spice, and sweet grain before extended barrel aging shifts those profiles to oak, caramel, and vanilla. To celebrate that vibrant younger bourbon character, and minimum 2-year-old bourbon at the heart of the drink — banana became the lead flavor.

But why else bananas? Because bananas are one of the most iconic fruits on the planet, with more than 100 billion consumed globally every year. They also have one of the greatest stories in food culture. Bananas exploded into American consciousness at the 1876 Centennial World’s Fair in Philadelphia, where the tropical fruit became an overnight sensation. Also, local legend in Kentucky’s sub-tropical climate tells of a fruit called the pawpaw which tastes like a tropical mixture of bananas, mango and pineapple. Plus, did you know bananas float in water and so do Bourbonola Tropical Style cans.

And now, 150 years later, banana is once again having a moment, this time behind the bar. Some of the world’s best bartenders are embracing banana in cocktails and as part of their beverage program, while the broader beverage category still has surprisingly few banana-forward offerings. “So we looked at the landscape and thought: why not bananas? The category is ripe for the picking.” notes Robert Krass, Managing Director at Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. “While developing Bourbonola Prohibition Style, we created our own cola from scratch using cherry, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, cocoa nibs, and kola nut. For Bourbonola Tropical Style, we approached it the same way — building our own seltzer using banana, mango, pineapple, lemon, honey, ginger, and sparkling water – full flavor!”

Bourbonola has always been about celebrating history, making history, pushing boundaries, and giving people the unexpected — all while using real ingredients, real flavors, and real bourbon to create something better, something unexpected. Cheers to making history with Bourbonola Tropical Style: Bourbon & Banana Seltzer.

Scan the QR code to watch the Bourbonola Origin Story and learn its storied history.

Image Assets: Bourbonola Tropical Style: Bourbon & Banana Seltzer Assets

Brand Highlights:

Bourbonola Tropical Style: Bourbon & Banana Seltzer – 8.0% abv (SRP $14.99 / 4pk Slim Cans)

• Bourbonola Tropical Style is an 8.0% ABV Bourbon & Banana Seltzer made with Town Branch Kentucky Straight Bourbon and blended with a proprietary tropical seltzer featuring notes of banana, mango, pineapple, lemon, honey, and ginger.
• Classification: Bourbon-based Ready-to-Drink Seltzer
• Bourbon Mash Bill: 72% Corn | 15% Rye | 13% Malted Barley
• Age: Bourbon base is 2-years minimum aged
• Flavor Blend: Proprietary tropical seltzer featuring banana, mango, pineapple, lemon, honey, ginger, water, and carbonation.
• ABV: 8.0% abv. (16 proof)
• Estimated Availability: Available in select markets nationwide
• Tasting Notes:
  • Appearance: Bright golden straw with lively carbonation and a slight natural haze of fresh tropical juice.
  • Aroma: Fresh banana immediately rise from the glass, layered with hints of ripe mango, citrus zest, wildflower honey, and subtle baking spice from the Kentucky Straight Bourbon.
  • Palate: Smooth and vibrant up front with notes of banana cream, tropical fruit, and fresh lemon balanced by hints of honey and ginger spice.
  • Finish: Crisp, lightly sparkling, and surprisingly refreshing with lingering notes of candied banana and citrus.

About Bourbonola:

Bourbonola is a bourbon-based and bourbon-inspired ready-to-drink brand family developed by Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. Rooted in American history, each release draws inspiration from a distinct cultural moment while using real Kentucky Straight Bourbon, real ingredients, and proprietary mixers crafted in-house. Bourbonola Prohibition Style launched in 2022 — exactly 100 years after the original non-alcoholic Bourbonola debuted during Prohibition. Bourbonola Tropical Style followed in 2026, celebrating 150 years since bananas first captivated America at the 1876 Centennial World’s Fair in Philadelphia. For more information, visit www.lexingtonbrewingco.com, or join the conversation on TikTok.

About Town Branch Distillery:

Located in Lexington, Kentucky, Town Branch Distillery is notable as the first new distillery to open in the city since Prohibition. It is part of Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co., the only brewery and distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®️. The distillery produces several acclaimed spirits, including Town Branch Bourbon, Town Branch True Cask Bourbon, Town Branch Overproof Whiskey, Town Branch Rye, Town Branch Malt, and Bluegrass Sundown, a Bourbon-infused coffee liqueur. Town Branch upcycles every used barrel to craft a variety of whiskeys and barrel-aged beers, such as Lexington’s flagship Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. This process ensures each barrel’s legacy continues within our diverse product line. For more details, visit www.lexingtonbrewingco.com, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram or X (formerly Twitter).

About Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.:

Located in Lexington, Kentucky, Lexington Brewing Co. was originally established in 1890 and revitalized in 1999 by the late Pearse Lyons and his son Mark Lyons, evolving into Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. with the addition of Town Branch Distillery. Pearse Lyons was a pioneering Irish entrepreneur and scientist with a master’s degree in brewing and a Ph.D. in yeast fermentation. He also founded Alltech, a global leader in animal health and nutrition. Today, both Alltech and Lexington Brewing & Distilling are led by his son, Mark Lyons, who represents the seventh generation of the Lyons family in the brewing, distilling, and cooperage industry. Lexington Brewing & Distilling is renowned for its Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale® and Town Branch Distillery, which is a proud member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. For more information, visit www.lexingtonbrewingco.com, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or X (formerly Twitter).

About Kentucky®️ Barrel-Aged Beers:

Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co., the only brewery and distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®️, specializes in the art of barrel-aging beer. As one of the largest barrel-aged beer brands globally, Lexington leverages its access to freshly decanted Kentucky Bourbon barrels to craft a unique style of barrel-aged beer. Offerings include the renowned Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale®, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Imperial Milk Stout, Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale, Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale, and a selection of Kentucky® Barrel-Aged Seasonal and Specialty releases. Upcycling its own bourbon barrels enhances the quality of its barrel-aged beers with a distinct character that sets them apart from other breweries in America. For more information, visit www.lexingtonbrewingco.com, or join the conversation on Facebook or Instagram.

About Alltech:

Founded in 1980 by Irish entrepreneur and scientist Dr. Pearse Lyons and now led by his son Dr. Mark Lyons, Alltech is a global leader in agriculture, committed to providing smarter and more sustainable solutions. With over 40 years of scientific research backing its work, Alltech offers a diverse range of products and services designed to enhance the health and performance of plants and animals. This, in turn, leads to improved nutrition, reduced environmental impact, and advanced innovation in the field. Headquartered near Lexington, Kentucky, Alltech operates in over 120 countries with five bioscience centers and more than 80 manufacturing facilities worldwide. Their mission, encapsulated in their purpose of “Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™,” focuses on providing nutrition for all, revitalizing local economies, and replenishing the planet’s natural resources. For more information, visit www.alltech.com, or join the conversation on Facebook, LinkedIn or X (formerly Twitter).

Media Contact:
Town Branch Distillery
Attn: Dave Bob Gaspar
E: [email protected]
P: (859) 553-9381