American Whiskey Report February 2026
American Whiskey Report February 2026
Some interesting news from DISCUS’ annual economic briefing: while the number of DSPs in the US fell nearly 25% between 2024-2025, whiskey has only gone down 1% in both sales and volume in the same time period. The sky is not falling, at least not yet. I was also a guest on a podcast recently to talk about the economic forces impacting American distilled spirits — you can see that here. And now, on to more whiskey news you can use!
Product Releases
Southern Star Bourbon Finished in Zinfandel
Southern Distilling Company has released Southern Star Bourbon Finished in Zinfandel Casks bottled at 116.1 proof.
Columbia Creek Tennessee Whiskey is a new Tennessee whiskey on the market sourced by SNL Capital.
Atlanta’s Shortbarrel Distillery is now shipping its four grain Bourbon to 47 states.
Green River has launched cask strength wheated Bourbon with a mash bill of 70% corn, 21% wheat, and 9% malted barley.
Chattanooga Whiskey Co has released Experimental Batch 047: Single Pot Still, a malt whiskey with a blend of floor-malted barley, raw barley, and malted oats.
Buzzard's Roost Four Grain Double Oaked Bourbon
Buzzard’s Roost is launching Four Grain Double Oaked Bourbon.
Kentucky Artisan Distillery has added two new bottled-in-bond whiskeys to their lineup: Kentucky Artisan Distillery High Rye Bourbon Bottled-in-Bond and Kentucky Artisan Distillery Four Grain Bourbon, both aged 4 years.
Autumn Nethery, the daughter half of the mother-daughter team at Jeptha Creed Distillery, has launched PaPaw’s Ridge Bourbon.
Stoll & Wolfe has released a single barrel Pure Rye with a mash bill of 80% Rosen rye and 20% malted rye.
Michter’s is releasing its 2025 Edition of Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey at 115.2 proof, only the 5th such release.
Keeper’s Heart American Pot Still
Keeper’s Heart is launching Keeper’s Heart American Pot Still, the distillery’s first all-American-made product.
Doc Brown Spirits has released Effie Jewel Texas Cured Edition 2, a four-year Jimmy Red Corn Bourbon grown and distilled in Georgia and matured in both Georgia and Texas.
Ezra Brooks 90 proof Bourbon has been re-released.
Talnua is releasing Old Saint’s Keep 2026, which features half malted and half unmalted barley.
Penelope has released a 7-year cask strength Bourbon with a mash bill of 70% corn, 23% rye, 5% malted barley, and 2% malted rye bottled at 115.2 proof.
People News
Company Distilling has appointed Cassie Halley as its new CEO.
WhistlePig The Vault Tasting Experience
Other News
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail has added ten new stops for 2026:
Bardstown Region
WhistlePig Distillery & Bottling (Brandenburg, Meade County) coming soon
Central Region
J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery (Frankfort)
Lexington Region
Dark Arts Whiskey House (Lexington)
LF Heritage Distilling (Georgetown)
Louisville Region
Left Bank Distilling Co. (Louisville)
Chicken Cock Whiskey Circa 1856 – Louisville Tasting Room (Louisville)
Green River Louisville Tasting Room (Louisville)
WhistlePig, The Vault Tasting Experience (Louisville)
Western Region
General George Stillhouse (Falls of Rough)
Purple Toad Winery & Distillery (Paducah)
The Bourbon Women Association is celebrating 15 years this month!
Kirin has sold Four Roses to Gallo, a winemaker in California, bringing the distillery under American ownership for the first time since 1943 when Canadian firm Seagram’s bought it.
Suntory Global, parent company of Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark, has announced a 20 year partnership with nonprofit Bosland Growth to reforest 400 acres of mined land in Pennsylvania and West Virginia with white oak and other native tree species.
Barrell Craft Spirits has sold its blending and bottling facility in Jeffersontown to American Craft Bottling and will revert all operations to its original location.
I sat through the DISCUS yearly economic briefing so you don’t have to. The Tl;dr is that American whiskey only fell by 1% in both revenue and volume last year.
Maker’s Mark has partnered with pop singer Ashley Longshore to support Vital Voices through custom label orders for women’s history month at makersmarkpersonalize.com.
Book Recommendations
Bottom Shelf
Fred Minnick is on a book tour promoting his new book, Bottom Shelf, with the following stops in March:
3/11: Pursuit Spirits, Louisville, Ky.: Details TBD
3/13: Ponfeigh Distillery, Somerset, Pa.. 6-9 p.m.
3/15: New Cannon Library, Connecticut. Details TBD
3/26: Angel’s Envy Distillery, Louisville, Ky. Details TBD
TWO Bonus Cocktail Recipes
Cherry Chocolate Old Fashioned
Cherry Chocolate Old Fashioned
Recipe courtesy Jennifer Carpenter, bar manager at Bistecca, Dayton, OH
2 ounces Woodford Reserve
½ ounce Luxardo liqueur
¼ ounce cherry simple syrup
2 dashes of chocolate bitters
1 dash of angostura bitters
2 Luxardo cherries for garnish
Add ice to a bar glass. Pour in the Woodford, Luxardo, cherry simple syrup, two dashes of chocolate bitters and one dash of angostura bitters. Stir for eight seconds. Strain over a block of ice in a rocks glass and garnish with two Luxardo cherries. Enjoy.
Middle West Coffee
Middle West Coffee
1.5 oz Middle West Spirits Michelone Reserve Straight Wheated Bourbon
0.25 oz Mocha Simple Syrup
0.5 oz Fresh Espresso
Middle West Spirits Bourbon Cream Infused Cold Foam Float*
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a Nick & Nora glass.
*Middle West Spirits Bourbon Cream Infused Cold Foam Float
Heavy Cream
Middle West Spirits Bourbon Cream
Simple Syrup (optional, to taste)
In a mixing container or blender, combine: 1 cup heavy cream, 2–3 oz Middle West Spirits Bourbon Cream and Optional: ½–1 oz simple syrup, depending on desired sweetness. Blend or froth until thick but still pourable (similar to a cold foam or soft whipped cream texture). Sometimes it’s easier to start from a heavy whipped cream and add bourbon cream to soften. Spoon or gently pour the foam on top of the cocktail or coffee beverage, allowing it to float naturally. Serve immediately for best texture and presentation.