Horse Soldier Bourbon traces back to Task Force Dagger, the 2001 mission where a small group of U.S. Army Green Berets rode into Afghanistan on horseback days after September 11. Those same soldiers, including John Koko and Scott Neil, later founded American Freedom Distillery and built the brand around that mission. This article covers how a military operation became a bourbon brand, where to taste it in person, and why that story shapes every room at The Urban Stillhouse.
How U.S. Army Green Berets Became Bourbon Founders
John Koko, Scott Neil, and a small team of Green Berets carried out Task Force Dagger in 2001, riding on horseback into Afghanistan days after the September 11 attacks. Their mission became the basis for the 2018 film 12 Strong and, years later, for a bourbon brand named after the horses that carried them into combat.
After leaving military service, Koko and Neil turned that same mission into a business, founding American Freedom Distillery and launching Horse Soldier Bourbon in 2018. Anyone asking who makes Horse Soldier Bourbon is really asking about veterans who traded rifles for a still without losing the discipline that got them through Afghanistan.
Where is Horse Soldier Bourbon made matters just as much as who makes it, since the brand’s roots run through St. Petersburg, Florida, where American Freedom Distillery first set up shop before the current expansion into Kentucky. A permanent monument at Ground Zero in New York honors the mission that started it all, and that same imagery shows up across the brand’s bottles and branding.
Three straight bourbon expressions came out of that founding story, each one tied back to the mission in ways that go beyond marketing. Horse Soldier straight bourbon and its related horse soldier bourbon whiskey lineup share the same non-chill-filtered approach the founders insisted on from day one:
- Task Force Dagger inspired both the 2018 film 12 Strong and America’s Response Monument at Ground Zero
- Horse Soldier Bourbon launched in 2018 as a veteran owned bourbon built on that history
- Three original straight bourbon expressions, Premium, Signature, and Reserve, trace directly to the founders’ service
A bottle of Horse Soldier Bourbon carries a story most spirits brands would have to invent, and this one just happens to be true. Questions about the Horse Soldier Bourbon owners tend to answer themselves once a guest hears the Task Force Dagger story in full.
Where to Taste Horse Soldier Bourbon In Person at The Urban Stillhouse
The Urban Stillhouse runs a guided Horse Soldier bourbon tasting experience led by trained whiskey stewards, pairing a three pour flight with a charcuterie board for fifty dollars per person plus tax and gratuity. An optional pour of Horse Soldier Commander’s Select bourbon, a barrel strength expression, rounds out the experience.
Tastings run on a set schedule at the St. Petersburg flagship, Thursdays and Fridays at 3:45pm and Saturdays at 1:45pm and 3:45pm, and booking ahead is worth doing since the flights stay popular. Guests who want more than a bourbon tasting flight can head upstairs to the spirits library and work through part of its 350 bottle collection at their own pace.
For anyone who prefers something less structured, ordering the signature Horse Soldier Bourbon Old Fashioned at the bar covers the essentials without committing to a full guided flight. Staff behind the bar know the horse soldier bourbon review most guests are curious about before they even ask, since the same three or four questions come up every night.
Booking the guided flight is the difference between drinking Horse Soldier Bourbon and actually understanding what’s in the glass.
| Expression | Style | Where to Try It |
| Premium | Entry straight bourbon | Bar and guided tastings |
| Signature | Flagship straight bourbon | Bar, tastings, and Old Fashioned |
| Reserve | Full-bodied straight bourbon | Guided tastings and library |
| Commander’s Select | Barrel strength, limited release | Add-on pour during tastings |
What Makes Every Room at The Urban Stillhouse Feel Legendary
Every physical detail inside The Urban Stillhouse ties back to the Horse Soldier Bourbon story, from the giant copper still near the entrance to the veteran and patriotic imagery placed deliberately throughout the building. Nothing about the military theme feels bolted on, since the people who built the space lived the story it tells.
Staff are trained to talk through the founding story the same way a museum guide would, not as a sales pitch but as context that makes the bourbon taste different once a guest understands where it came from. That training shows up most clearly during the guided tastings, where a steward will connect a specific pour back to a specific moment in the founders’ service.
The stone fireplace, the reclaimed beams, and the lantern lit staircase borrow from the same rugged aesthetic the founders lived through during their military careers, which is why the building reads more like a lodge built by veterans than a themed restaurant chasing a trend. Fans of the 12 Strong bourbon connection often recognize small details before a server mentions them, and the urban stillhouse bourbon collection on display only adds to that feeling.
Most restaurants pick a theme and decorate around it. The Urban Stillhouse just tells the truth about the people who built it, and the design followed from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Horse Soldier Bourbon?
Horse Soldier Bourbon was founded by John Koko, Scott Neil, and fellow members of the U.S. Army Special Forces team that carried out Task Force Dagger in 2001. After their military service, the group started American Freedom Distillery and built the brand around the mission that made them famous. Meredith Koko, John’s daughter, now owns and operates The Urban Stillhouse, keeping the founding story central to how the brand presents itself today.
Where is Horse Soldier Bourbon made?
American Freedom Distillery, the company behind Horse Soldier Bourbon, is based in St. Petersburg, Florida, where the brand first launched in 2018. A planned expansion in Somerset, Kentucky, will eventually make that location the production heartland for Horse Soldier Bourbon, adding a second home base closer to traditional bourbon country. Until that expansion is complete, the Florida roots remain the primary answer to where the bourbon comes from.
What does Task Force Dagger have to do with the bourbon?
Task Force Dagger was the 2001 military mission where Green Berets, including the future founders of Horse Soldier Bourbon, rode into Afghanistan on horseback days after September 11. The mission’s horseback element directly inspired the brand name and much of its imagery, and it also became the basis for the 2018 film 12 Strong. Every bottle and every room at The Urban Stillhouse ties back to that same operation in some way.
How much does a bourbon tasting cost at The Urban Stillhouse?
A guided tasting runs fifty dollars per person plus tax and gratuity, covering a three pour flight paired with a charcuterie board. Guests can add an optional pour of Commander’s Select, a barrel strength expression, for an additional cost. Tastings run on a set schedule at the St. Petersburg location, so checking availability before booking dinner helps guests plan around the flight they want.
Can I try Horse Soldier Bourbon without booking a full tasting?
Yes, ordering the signature Horse Soldier Bourbon Old Fashioned at the bar is an easy way to sample the brand without committing to a guided flight. The second floor spirits library also gives guests a chance to explore bourbon at their own pace outside the scheduled tasting times. Either option works well for a guest who wants a taste of the story without the full sit down experience.