SSBN 737  USS KENTUCKY THOROUGHBRED OF THE FLEET

On August 11, 1990, the USS Kentucky, the third US Naval vessel to be named in honor of the Bluegrass State, was launched. However, history was made on July 13, 1991, when Mrs. Larry (Carolyn Pennebaker) Hopkins christened the USS Kentucky with a bottle of bourbon. What makes this ship unique in the annals of history of the United States Navy is that it is the only vessel in the United States Navy to be christened with Kentucky Bourbon.

The USS Kentucky is the 12th trident submarine commissioned by the United States Navy. It is manned by 17 officers, 15 chief petty officers, and 122 enlisted men (two crews). It is one of the Ohio-class submarines which are the largest submarines in the US Navy. It can cruise silently at 20 knots.

Early in 1990 the US Navy contacted the nine major bourbon distilleries in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and asked each one if they would contribute bourbon to be blended in a commemorative bottle to be distributed to the Navy brass, officers, chief petty officers, and enlisted men of the USS Kentucky and their guests who would be in attendance at the christening. Eight Kentucky distilleries answered their nation’s call. These eight distilleries shipped their bourbon to the US Navy in Groton, Connecticut where Navy officials, after a fabulous cocktail party the night before, mixed and/or blended the bourbon, placed the bourbon in commemorative bottles, and distributed the blended bourbon to those in attendance at the christening of the USS Kentucky. The eight Kentucky distilleries which answered their nation’s call were:

1. Ancient Age
2. Heaven Hill
3. Jim Beam
4. Old Charter
5. Old Forester
6. Very Old Barton
7. Wild Turkey
8. Kentucky Tavern

In a fitting salute from the Commonwealth, Governor Wallace G. Wilkinson made each of the officers, chief petty officers, and enlisted men on the USS Kentucky Kentucky Colonels.

The Silver Service from the second USS Kentucky, a battleship which was the flagship of the Asiatic Fleet and was part of Teddy Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet, is on permanent display at the Kentucky History Museum in Frankfort, Kentucky.