American Whiskey Report
American Whiskey Report April 2026
Happy Mint Julep Month! The official Woodford Reserve $5000 Mint Julep recipe is below. I do love a well-made Mint Julep once a year and I’ve even judged a Mint Julep competition before! Don’t forget to tune in for the fastest two minutes in sports on May 2. Also, check out these vintage Derby-themed whiskey ads. And now on to the American whiskey news you can use!
Product Releases
Blue Note Special Reserve Cask Finished Series
Blue Note has released a very complicated blend of nine casks from KY and TN ranging in age from five to 19 years with various mash bills finished in various casks including cognac, madeira, sherry, port, vino de Naranja, vanilla cognac, apricot brandy, cognac, and winter bock.
Bardstown Bourbon has released Cascadia Garryana Oak Barrel Finish Bourbon.
Kentucky Peerless has released 10-year Henry Kraver’s Old Reserve Bourbon, the distillery’s oldest release to date.
The Curated Barrel Project, launched by Colorado distiller Jake Norris, has launched with a 7 year Bourbon sourced from North Carolina’s Southern Distilling Company finished in numerous barrels.
Shortbarrel has released its latest in its Afterswarm Series: Afterswarm Meadowfoam, a rye whiskey finished in Meadowfoam Honey barrels.
Blue Run has partnered with the Atlanta Braves on a Bourbon to celebrate opening day.
LuxCo has released Blood Oath Pact 12 Kentucky Straight Bourbon finished in Montepulciano and Sangiovese Casks.
Daniel Weller Spelt Wheat
Buffalo Trace has released Daniel Weller Spelt Wheat, a wheated Bourbon with spelt as the flavoring grain.
Evan Williams has single barrels out supporting collegiate basketball and graduation for teams/schools including Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon Nation Collegiate Edition for The University of Alabama, University of Florida, Syracuse University, TCU, and the University of South Carolina.
Michter’s has released its 2026 Shenk’s Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey and its 2026 Bomberger’s Declaration Kentucky Straight Bourbon.
Angel’s Envy has released two cask strength whiskeys for 2026 including Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon and Angel’s Envy 10-Year Cask Strength Rye.
Horse Soldier Bourbon has released Liberty Edition, a 13 year old Kentucky straight Bourbon, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
Star Hill Farm Wheat Whiskey’s second release is headed to stores now.
Breckenridge Distillery is releasing Honey Whiskey, a Bourbon mixed with Goldswarm Nigerian wildflower honey.
New Riff has partnered with Rhinegeist to create Duet, an American whiskey with a mash bill of 57% malted barley, 37% raw barley and 6% rye.
Knob Creek has released Blender’s Edition Batch 01, which is a blend of Bourbons aged a minimum of 10 years bottled at 106 proof.
The Virginia Distillers’ Association has released a trio of Virginia-made spirits including a rum, a gin, and a four grain whiskey led by Virginia Distillery Co.’s Amanda Beckwith and her team of Scott Harris from Catoctin Creek and Chuck Miller from Belmont Farm Distillery creating a blend from their respective distilleries as well as spirits from Reservoir Distillery and Ironclad Distillery. The project celebrates America’s 250th anniversary.
Cedar Ridge Distillery has released The Quintessential Special Release: Pete & Sherri Married, 2nd Anniversary Edition, a cask strength blend of 6-9 year old American Single Malts with various smokes and finishes including, as you may have guessed, peat and Sherry.
Eagle Rare 30 years
Buffalo Trace has two, make that three, new Bourbons out this month, Single Oak Rye Bourbon (yes, that’s what they are calling it. It is a Bourbon with rye as the flavoring grain) and Low Entry Proof Wheated Bourbon, entered into the barrel at 105 proof. The third is a 30 year old Eagle Rare.
Chattanooga Whiskey has released its Founders 14th Anniversary blend whiskey, a solera-style blend of different style whiskeys distilled in Tennessee and Indiana.
Kooper’s Whiskey has released a 7-year rye whiskey finished in Cognac casks.
Maker’s Mark has released Greats of the Gate, a commemorative bottle celebrating Hall of Fame racehorse Northern Dancer. A portion of proceeds from the bottle will support various charities around Kentucky.
Five Springs has released a series of Bourbons infused with flavors including blood orange, honey sage, and vanilla maple.
Woody Creek has released William H. Macy Reserve Rye Third Edition, chosen by Woody Creek “Spokesdude” William H. Macy in a blind tasting.
Rabbit Hole has released Raceking Bourbon, a five grain Bourbon with two types of chocolate malt, chocolate malted wheat and chocolate malted barley.
Hard Truth Distilling has released the latest in its 2026 Barrel Finish Reserve collection: Mizunara Finished Wheated Bourbon.
Kentucky Senator Bourbon has released a Limited Single Barrel Release in partnership with the The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the charity.
Autumn Nethery VP of operations of Jeptha Creed Distillery.
People & Other News
Autumn Nethery has been named VP of operations of Jeptha Creed Distillery.
Tickets to the Kentucky Bourbon Festival are on sale now. VIP tickets are already sold out.
Uncle Boojie has joined the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Kings County Distillery has celebrated one million bottles sold after opening in 2010.
Circa 1856 Louisville will launch a speakeasy called The Coupe with a new cocktail menu.
Emily Pennington has been appointed CEO of the American Craft Spirits Association.
Jeptha Creed is rolling out new and revamped visitor experiences including a thief your own whiskey experience and “Our Farm to Your Glass” to celebrate a decade in business.
Wild Turkey was featured on CBS Mornings in a segment called “K is for Kentucky Bourbon.”
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail reports 2.7 million visitors in 2025.
Kentucky Artisan Distillery has rolled out a new retail private barrel selection program available to consumers with smaller 15 and 25 gallon barrels that starts at $3800 before tax.
Sazerac has announced its first Tennessee distillery, AJ Bond Distillery, in Lavergne, Tennessee. The distillery’s first Tennessee whiskey will be out later this year. Alissa Henley is the Master Distiller.
Bourbon City Companion
Louisville Tourism has released the Bourbon City Companion, available exclusively at the Louisville Visitor Center.
The Ingram Distillery in Columbus, Kentucky is now open to the public for tours. It is probably the only distillery in the world with a barge rickhouse floating on the river.
Bonus Cocktail Recipe
Woodford Reserve $5000 Mint Julep
A classically simple julep honoring the nation's 250th anniversary.
Mint Leaves
2 oz. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon
0.5 oz. Maple Syrup Simple infused with cinnamon and nutmeg*
Drop 5-7 mint leaves in the bottom of a julep cup. Muddle to release the aromas. Add 2 ounces of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon and 0.5 oz. of infused maple syrup. Top the julep cup with ice and stir. Add sipping straw and two sprigs of fresh mint and the garnish – a white and blue Fleur-de-lis and the official flower of both the Kentucky Derby and the USA – the red rose. A red, white, and blue flourish to celebrate USA 250.
*Bring equal parts maple syrup and water to a boil. Steep with cinnamon and nutmeg. Strain into a container and refrigerate for up to two weeks.