When whiskey fans hear the name Van Winkle, their ears perk up like a cat’s to a can opener—even if said mention doesn’t relate to famed Rip or Pappy bottles. Such is the case with Old Commonwealth, a once-shuttered distillery that’s back from the grave. The Van Winkle family had its hands in the brand’s production until 2002, when Buffalo Trace took over and shut it down. Now, Old Commonwealth is back with its second expression in less than a year: D.H. Cromwell 15 Year Bourbon.

Though a name like D.H. Cromwell might conjure images of stately nobility, the initials belong to “Dirty Helen” Cromwell, a speakeasy operator and sex worker who lived from 1886 to 1969. Her Prohibition-era joint, Sunflower Inn, welcomed Milwaukee area criminals, pro athletes, and politicians as well as everyday patrons looking to sneak an illegal glass of bourbon. Cromwell earned her nickname by cussing out customers and befriending the American underbelly—including the likes of legendary gangster Al Capone.

“Helen Cromwell was a woman who was too bold to be polite and too loud to be ignored,” said Zachary Joseph, Old Commonwealth's president of operations. “That’s precisely how we feel about the delicious 15 year bourbon we selected for our release of D.H. Cromwell.”

Fifteen years is old for bourbon. The Kentucky climate is hotter and more varied than, say, Scotland, where distilleries age products for decades at a time. Therefore, the longer bourbon ages, the more careful its makers must be to prevent tannic oak notes from overpowering all other flavors.

Joseph and his team were methodical, though. They sourced over 100 barrels from an undisclosed heritage distiller and tasted through them for half a year. In the end, just four barrels made the cut.

“We’re hearkening back to earlier iterations of our facility, when all the attention was on blending and finishing elements,” Joseph said. “The process for D.H. Cromwell was to re-barrel the bourbon in new, charred oak barrels from Kelvin Cooperage for six months, giving it that fruity, red candy note we associate with vintage whiskey.”

Old Commonwealth D.H. Cromwell 15 Year Bourbon Tasting Notes

The resulting juice has a mash bill of 75 percent corn, 13 percent rye, and 12 percent malted barley. Joseph and his team tried it at cask strength and 110 proof, but in the end they cut it at 106 proof. Its dark copper color shines in a Glencairn glass as aromas of vanilla frosting, caramel, and orange peel jump out from behind an earthy first whiff.

Palate-wise, it’s stunningly light, coating the mouth with cinnamon candy, baking spice, ginger, orange zest, and the expected oak note.

After I swallowed, a pleasantly fudgy dark chocolate flavor hung around with cherry, citrus, and a subtle herbal note. From the dusty start to the cherry finish, the whiskey gave off vintage vibes—impressive for a 2025 release.

Gordon Jackson's D.H. Cromwell Bourbon

It turns out that Old Commonwealth’s bourbon isn’t the first to bear Dirty Helen’s name. Gordon Jackson—a liquor retailer from Louisville, Kentucky—loved her story as well, so when he lucked into a barrel of 15-year bourbon made by Julian Van Winkle III he decided to bottle and sell it in her name. Released in 2000, the whiskey sold for $60 per bottle but trickled slowly off the shelves. Apparently, aughts-era patrons didn’t know what they were missing. Though I’d love to taste both Cromwells side-by-side, it’s unlikely I’ll ever get the chance—because Jackson’s leftover bottles now sell for upwards of $18,000 at auction.

Old Commonwealth's Limited Release

Thankfully, Old Commonwealth’s new D.H. Cromwell is much more affordable—but no less rare. On Thursday, May 22, the $299 limited release will go up for sale on the brand’s website. Old Commonwealth VIPs will receive an email with the exact time. All other shoppers are advised to keep refreshing their browser or scour select retailers in Illinois, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

A portion of the whiskey's proceeds will go to Refuge for Women, a charity organization that “helps empower sexually exploited and trafficked women to live a life of freedom,” said Andrew English, co-founder of Old Commonwealth. It’s all in honor of Dirty Helen, who would provide funds to her brothel workers as well as strangers to enroll in Marquette University nearby her speakeasy.

“I was loaded with dough and I think I put it to good use in the early Thirties,” Cromwell once wrote. “I’ve paid many a tuition bill for boys who are now doctors and lawyers.”

A good whiskey for a good cause. Now, all you need is good luck to get it.