by intern Sakura Buker
Photo credit: Sakura Buker
The O Street Museum in The Mansion was host to a spirited evening as Heaven’s Door, the Ascension Kentucky Straight Bourbon created by the award-winning musician Bob Dylan, debuted surrounded by a few pieces of prized Dylan memorabilia, courtesy of the museum.
The O Street Museum in The Mansion, for anyone unfamiliar, boasts a wide collection of rare pop culture ephemera covering every inch of the over 100 rooms (including 80 secret rooms) that make up the elaborate mansion. Every wall, ceiling, and floor is covered in something new to discover, from Jim Henson’s original muppets to lifesize, Yellow Submarine-era Beatles cutouts.
Bob Dylan
For the uninitiated, Dylan is far more than a folk legend; he’s a living symbol of American reinvention. The Nobel Laureate in Literature, whose gravelly voice once became the national instrument of protest and poetry, has spent six decades shapeshifting—poet, painter, troubadour, iron sculptor, whiskey maker. His work has always blurred the line between craft and confession, rebellion and reflection. Heaven’s Door, in that sense, is simply another verse in a lifelong ballad of creation.
The bourbon tasting experience was held in a more spacious sitting room, though guests were welcome to explore the mansion before the event began. Alex Moore, master blender for Heaven’s Door Distillery, showcased and described each pour of the night. Reflecting on Bob Dylan’s role in the distillation process, Alex affirmed that bourbon-making, like the songwriting, painting, singing, and all other myriad creative pursuits of Dylan, is equally artistic in its creative process. Distilling is simply another outlet for his creativity. As classic Bob Dylan tunes filtered through the air, guests enjoyed samples of the specially made bourbon.
A few fast facts about this bourbon, and bourbon in general, as per Alex: bourbon must be 51% corn to be considered a bourbon, with rye content ranging from 8%-20%. The first sample of the night, the Ascension, was a blend of medium and high rye bourbons, and sat for a minimum of five years. Guests noted its spicier flavors (courtesy of the rye content) and its dull amber color. Alex fielded questions about barrel selection and aging processes with the ease of someone who genuinely loves their craft, drawing parallels between the artistry required in bourbon-making and the evolution of Dylan’s music across decades. It was an evening where taste and history converged, leaving guests with both satisfied palates and enriched appreciation for Dylan’s craft.
The Heaven’s Door website features a quote from Dylan that encapsulated the evening: “I wanted to create a collection of American Whiskeys that, in their own way, tell a story. I’ve been traveling for decades, and I’ve been able to try some of the best whiskey spirits that the world has to offer. This is great whiskey.” For those in attendance at The O Street Museum that night, the tasting offered exceptional bourbon and a tangible connection to Dylan’s restless creative spirit, a confirmation that great whiskey, like great art, is ultimately about authenticity and the stories we choose to tell.
