Review of Lee Greenwood's True American Signature Bourbon Whiskey (2026)

 

Nothing sells better than supporting the military (well, nothing except that one thing). There are a plethora of whiskey brands that do exactly that.

 

Lee Greenwood is a singer who needs no introduction. His most popular song is likely God Bless the USA. He has dedicated his life to entertaining the troops; his first USO tour was with Bob Hope in 1989, and since then, he’s done more than 30 more. He was appointed to the Council of the National Endowment for the Arts in 2008 by President George W. Bush, and served in that role under Presidents Obama, Trump, and Biden.

 

Greenwood partnered with Soldier Valley Spirits, formerly Patriarch Spirits LLC, out of La Vista, Nebraska. The brand shut down a couple of years ago and has since been resurrected. It currently offers a Bourbon, an American Whiskey, and a Vodka.

 

“As America celebrates its 250th birthday, Soldier Valley Spirits invites you to commemorate this historic milestone with a collection of premium, American-made spirits inspired by patriotism, service, and the enduring American spirit. Whether you’re honoring a veteran or sharing a bottle with family, these spirits are made to bring people together.” – Soldier Valley Spirits

 

Today, I’m exploring True American Signature Bourbon Whiskey. Made from MGP’s 21% rye, it spent at least four years in oak and is packaged at 45% ABV (90°). The bottle is shaped like a canteen with two giant 6s on the side; the design is meant to honor the American soldier. It also features a bright red, gold, and blue “dog tag” with Lee Greenwood’s initials.

Soldier Valley Spirits maintains two websites for direct sales: https://LeeGreenwoodWhiskey.com or https://SoldiervalleySpirits.com. The Bourbon sells for $59.95 and can be shipped to most states. A portion of sales from each bottle benefits veteran and first-responder charities, including Helping a Hero, the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, and Folds of Honor.

 

Soldier Valley Spirits was kind enough to provide me with a sample of its Bourbon in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and determine if this one is worth ordering.

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: Ross & Squibb (MGP)
• Age: 4 years
• Mashbill: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 45% ABV (90°)
• Price per 750mL: $59.95

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this Bourbon neat. It featured a dull, yellow-gold color, and the liquid produced a medium rim with quick, wide, tightly packed tears.

 

Nose: I waited for 15 minutes before interacting with the aroma. I encountered oak, apples, pecans, honey, fresh leather, and sweet corn. As I drew the air through my lips, I discovered more leather.

 

Palate: The first sip exposed me to a creamy, full-bodied mouthfeel with a palate shock of clove. I took another, and detected corn and roasted pecans on the front, followed by leather and cereal on my mid-palate. The back included lightly charred oak and a smidge of cinnamon.  

 

Finish: Flavors of blanched almonds, pecans, corn, cinnamon, and herbal tea remained. In my mind, the finish fell off almost as quickly as it started. In reality, it lasted 32 seconds. Herbal tea was the last to leave.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Many times, a 90° whiskey will retain plenty of character. They aren’t barn-burners yet are very approachable. Soldier Valley highlighted the latter, but I found that came at the expense of being flavorful. Try as I might, I found plucking the notes challenging. Even the finish lacked panache.

 

I feel bad when I can’t get excited about whiskeys that help charities. I didn’t encounter anything offensive about Lee Greenwood’s True American Signature Bourbon Whiskey; while it could be a good mixer, I found it unremarkable. The 21% MGP mashbill can be stunning. I suspect time in oak isn’t the issue; it seems overdiluted.

 

Look, if you’re a Lee Greenwood fan, you’ll want a bottle no matter what it tastes like. If you want to help out veteran-centric charities, you can still do that and have a pretty bottle to see on your shelf. As someone who is hyperfocused on what’s inside, I must respectfully give it my Bar rating. Cheers!

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit, but begs you to do so responsibly.