2XO Whiskey

2XO Whiskey, based in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, was founded in late 2022 by the acclaimed American whiskey blender Dixon Dedman. Dedman, known for his work in relaunching Kentucky Owl in 2014, embarked on creating 2XO after his departure from his previous venture in 2021. He partnered with Prestige Beverage Group, a company that had been developing its own barrel stocks and custom mashbills since 2015, to bring his vision for 2XO to fruition.

2XO specializes in Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. The brand's name, "2XO," signifies "Two Times Oak," a direct reference to Dedman's distinctive blending technique that ensures every whiskey expression receives additional oak exposure. This innovative process involves either re-barreling carefully selected aged whiskey into new charred oak barrels or introducing charred oak blocks or chains into existing barrels to enhance the interaction between the liquid and the wood. The goal of this method is to cultivate sweetness and balance the inherent spice from the rye in the mash bills, resulting in whiskeys with intense flavors and remarkable complexity. 2XO sources its bourbon from two distinct Kentucky distilleries, utilizing both a high-rye mash bill (35% rye) and a moderate-rye mash bill (16-18% rye).

The hallmark of 2XO Whiskey is Dixon Dedman's pioneering "Two Times Oak" blending process. This approach, which incorporates secondary oak exposure through re-barreling or the use of oak inserts, sets 2XO apart in the American whiskey landscape. Dedman's vision for 2XO is to innovate within the American whiskey category, moving beyond traditional narratives to focus on exceptional liquid quality and unique flavor profiles.

2XO offers a diverse range of expressions across several series, including the "Oak Series" for everyday blends, the "Icon Series" for limited-time small batch blends, and "Gem of Kentucky" for single barrel releases. Notable expressions include The Phoenix Blend, The Innkeeper's Blend, The Tribute Blend, American Oak, French Oak, White Oak Rye, The Vinyl Blend, and Gem of Kentucky. The brand has garnered significant recognition, with 2XO American Oak receiving 94 points and a Double Gold medal at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. 2XO French Oak was awarded 93 points and a Gold Medal at the same competition in 2025, in addition to being named a "Best Buy" with 93 points by Wine Enthusiast in 2025. Furthermore, The Kiawah Blend earned a spot at #14 on Whisky Advocate's Top 20 of 2024, scoring 93 points.