Super Early
Deadline
December 20, 2024
Judging
Date
July 27, 2025
Winners
Announcement
August 12, 2025
Whisky
86 Points
Lee Hooker Legacy Spirits, an ultra-premium whiskey producer, is
pleased to announce their first release of Boogie Chillen’ Bourbon “1948” to their new portfolio. Inspired by
legacy, love, and music, John Lee Hooker Legacy Spirits was founded by mother and son Zakiya Hooker and Glenn
Thomas in 2023 to honor their father and grandfather, John Lee Hooker, through their shared love of bourbon.
Crafted from the finest selection of barrels, Boogie Chillen Bourbon 1948 is a flavorful bourbon with an ABV of
50%, boasting subtle notes of baking spices and warm brown sugar. It was released online at
johnleehookerlegacyspirits.com on April 8, 2024 with a planned release in select stores, bars and restaurants in
California at the end of May.
Known to music fans around the world as the “King of the Boogie,” John Lee Hooker is considered one of the true
superstars of the blues genre: the ultimate beholder of cool. Born in Tutwiler, Mississippi, on August 22, 1917, the
four-time GRAMMY award-winning Blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist is a cultural icon to musicians today.
Characterized by its simple yet powerful melodies, driving rhythms, and soulful vocals, Hooker was a master of the
12-bar blues form. During his lifelong career, he wrote many classics, including "Boogie Chillen', which became a
number-one jukebox hit, “Boom Boom," and "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer." Over the next 15 years, John
Lee signed to a new label, Vee-Jay Records, and maintained a prolific recording schedule, releasing over 100 songs
on the imprint.
“As a child, I was lucky to be able to enjoy the sounds of my grandfather’s soulful tunes as he sipped his bourbon,
and I couldn’t wait to experience that intimate moment with him,” states Founder and CEO Glenn Thomas. “On my
21st birthday, I got the chance to take that first sip, and I was initially shocked at the taste and unable to
appreciate the whiskey in my glass. As I took my second sip, he imparted his wisdom on his approach to life and
whiskey.”
His late grandfather explained that life is like drinking bourbon. “If you drink bourbon too fast and recklessly, you
will get burned, but if you take your time and enjoy the ride, you will have a great drink and life.” Years later, as
Glenn reflected on that lesson imparted by his grandfather, he realized the parallels between crafting music and
creating bourbon.
“With this release, I hope that I will honor my grandfather and keep the Hooker legacy alive one sip at a time,”
adds Glenn. “As I began my journey, I instantly recognized the patience, dedication, and artistry that went into
composing a blues song mirrored the craftsmanship required to produce an exceptional bourbon. I want that to
resonate in every sip of this high-quality bourbon.”
Boogie Chillen’ Bourbon “1948”, its namesake coming from Hooker’s 1948 debut single, “Boogie Chillen’,” and the
first "down-home" electric blues song to reach number one in the R&B records chart. Boogie Chillen’ Bourbon
“1948” is distilled with the finest blends of corn, rye, and malted barley and aged for a minimum of four years in
new charred American oak barrels in Bardstown, Kentucky. John Lee Hooker Legacy Spirits’ is the story of a cultural
icon told through high-quality spirits crafted by his family. Through each premium offering, John Lee continues to
live on and invites bourbon enthusiasts to become a part of a remarkable narrative of two American spirits. This
creation was honored with Gold Medals at the 2024 Los Angeles Spirits Awards and Ascot awards and Silver
Medals San Francisco International Spirit Competition, New York International Spirit Competition and American
Distillery Institution awards .
For more information about John Lee Hooker Legacy Spirits and Boogie Chillen’ Bourbon, please visit
www.johnleehookerlegacyspirits.com.