Dierks Bentley’s ROW 94 Broken Branches bourbon is expanding to Illinois. Here’s why Chicago whiskey lovers should pay attention to this 94-rated limited release.
There’s a moment at a Dierks Bentley show when the lights drop, the crowd goes quiet for half a second, and then everything opens up. ROW 94 Broken Branches is built for that moment. The limited-edition bourbon from one of country music’s most consistent headliners is expanding to Illinois this year, and Chicago’s whiskey shelves are better for it.
This isn’t a celebrity bourbon coasting on a famous name. ROW 94 earned a 94 rating from Wine Enthusiast and stacked Gold medals from Fred Minnick’s Ascot Awards, the Denver International Spirits Competition, and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. For a brand only launched in September 2024, that’s a track record worth paying attention to.
Broken Branches takes the flagship and pushes it further. Bottled at 100 proof, aged five years, and finished with a technique called Branch Aging — time-worn, fire-toasted oak staves seasoned up to 24 months resting inside the barrels — this is a bourbon that earned its $99.99 price tag through process, not packaging.
What Branch Aging Actually Does
Most finishing techniques involve moving whiskey into a different vessel. Branch Aging works the opposite way: the wood comes to the whiskey. Fire-toasted oak staves, seasoned for up to 24 months, are placed directly into the aging barrels to interact with the spirit as it matures. The result is a deeper, more layered complexity than standard barrel aging alone produces.
It’s a technique that rewards patience. Twenty-four months of stave seasoning before they even touch the whiskey. Another five years of aging on top of that. At a distillery with roots as deep as Green River Distilling Co. — Kentucky’s 10th oldest licensed distillery, located in Owensboro — the infrastructure exists to do this right.
Lofted Custom Spirits, ROW 94’s production partner, handles the craft side. Bentley handles the vision.
“That recognition matters,”
Dierks Bentley
“Not because it looks good in a headline, b
ut because it represents the long days, hard work, and attention to detail that go into every bottle.”
That’s not standard celebrity bourbon language. That’s someone who actually showed up for the process.
The Flagship That Started It All
Before Broken Branches, there was ROW 94 itself. Launched in September 2024 and priced at $39.99, the flagship bourbon quickly became one of the most decorated new releases in its price category. Wine Enthusiast described it as having “a spicy finish — clove, cinnamon, cayenne — plus a grind of sea salt sets the mouth watering.” That’s not a gentle pour. That’s a bourbon with something to say.
The Gold medals followed. Fred Minnick’s Ascot Awards. Denver International Spirits Competition. San Francisco World Spirits Competition. A Silver at the International Wine and Spirits Competition. For a brand in its first year, that level of recognition across multiple respected competitions signals genuine quality, not marketing momentum.
For Chicago drinkers who haven’t tried the flagship yet — find it at Binny’s or your favorite Fulton Market spirits bar before Broken Branches hits Illinois shelves. At $39.99, it’s one of the most accessible highly-rated bourbons on the market right now.
Three Expressions, One Direction
ROW 94 now runs three expressions. The flagship at $39.99. Broken Branches at $99.99. And the recently released ROW 94 Full Proof at $54.99, barreled at 120 proof, aged a minimum of four years, and also a Gold medal winner at Fred Minnick’s Ascot Awards.
The lineup is smartly structured. Entry, premium, and collector’s edition — each with its own production distinction rather than just a price difference. Full Proof is uncut and unfiltered. Broken Branches adds the stave finishing technique. The flagship delivers the core expression cleanly.
For the River North whiskey collector or the West Loop bottle hunter building out a shelf that tells a story, all three together make a compelling set. Dierks Bentley hits the road on his OFF THE MAP TOUR this June, signing bottles and sharing whiskey with fans along the way. If you’re at a Chicago show, there’s a solid chance the bourbon in your hand will have a story attached to it by the end of the night.
Broken Branches is expanding to Illinois in the coming months.
Find ROW 94 expressions and check availability at ROW94whiskey.com.
FAQ
What is ROW 94 Broken Branches bourbon? Broken Branches is a limited-edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon from ROW 94, the whiskey brand launched by country music artist Dierks Bentley. Bottled at 100 proof, aged five years, and finished using Branch Aging — fire-toasted oak staves seasoned up to 24 months placed inside the aging barrels. It retails for $99.99 per 750 mL bottle.
Where can I buy ROW 94 Broken Branches in Chicago? Broken Branches is expanding to Illinois in the coming months as part of a multi-state rollout. Check availability at ROW94whiskey.com or with your local Chicago spirits retailer including Binny’s locations across the city and suburbs.
How does ROW 94 compare to other celebrity bourbons? ROW 94 has earned a 94 rating from Wine Enthusiast and Gold medals from multiple respected competitions including the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Fred Minnick’s Ascot Awards. It’s produced at Green River Distilling Co., Kentucky’s 10th oldest licensed distillery, in partnership with Lofted Custom Spirits. The accolades are earned through production quality, not name recognition alone.
