American Whiskey Report March 2026
Every month, we share all the American whiskey news you can use, including product releases, people news, industry news, events, book news, and a cocktail recipe to boot. Holy new releases, Batman! We’ve been a little light on new releases the last couple of months, but now the floodgates have reopened. Here we go!
Product Releases
Yellowstone Recollection series
Limestone Branch has released the Yellowstone Recollection series, an 8 year old Kentucky Bourbon bottled in a reproduction back bar bottle that founder Steve Beam found on eBay.
Heaven Hill has released a 20th anniversary Bernheim Wheat Whiskey at 10 years old at 115 proof, a 22 year old Bourbon as its annual Heritage Collection Release
Old Treasure, a single barrel Bourbon with a mash bill of 78% corn, 13% rye, and 9% malted barley is the first single barrel release by Louisville Bourbon hero Larry Rice.
Sagamore Spirit is re-releasing its 10 year old Rye whiskey, the oldest release to date for the brand.
Michter’s will release its 10 year Bourbon at 94.4 proof.
Barrell Craft Spirits launched a 12-year Bourbon Finished in Toasted American Oak. The Bourbons in the blend were distilled in KY, IN, and and TN and it is bottled at 113.4 proof. They’ve also released their first ever cigar blend Bourbon which includes Bourbons of several ages and finishes including Madeira, Armagnac, rum, and Hungarian oak casks.
Woody Creek Distillers has released Colorado Avalanche Bourbon in partnership with the NHL team.
Hard Truth Distilling Co 7 Year Release
Hard Truth has released a trio of 7 year old whiskeys: Sweet Mash Rye, Bourbon and Wheated Bourbon. These are the oldest releases from the Indiana distillery yet.
Heaven Hill has released Heaven Hill 13 year Deatsville Bourbon, a Bourbon aged at the company’s Deatsville warehousing location, which was formerly T.W. Samuels. Deatsville is in the process of being decommissioned by Heaven Hill as maturation shifts to other newer sites.
Bulleit has released a malt whiskey finished with mesquite wood.
Woodford Reserve has released its 2026 Kentucky Derby bottle with original art from Anna Murphy.
Chicken Cock has released its first ever wheated Bourbon with a mash bill of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley.
High West has released its beloved Bourye for 2026 with a recipe of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley from MGP; 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley from MGP; Straight Rye Whiskeys: 95% rye, 5% malted barley from MGP; 80% rye, 20% malted rye from High West Distillery.
New Riff has released two new 6 year old whiskeys: Silver Grove Bourbon and Silver Spring Rye, both of which will benefit the Silver Grove Community Foundation.
Maker’s Mark has released its 2026 Wood Finishing Series, The Stewards Release, in two batches.
Pursuit Spirits’ Sakura Bloom bourbon
Pursuit Spirits has released a single barrel Pursuit United Barrel Proof Bourbon at 132.4 proof called “The Alpha Barrel,” which is the first ever barrel proof single barrel the company has released as well as Sakura Bloom, a Bourbon finished with cherry wood.
Kentucky Senator Bourbon has released its seventh batch, this time honoring the late Senator Jim Bunning.
George Remus, the brand named for a wife murderer, has released a straight wheat whiskey, a first for the brand.
Lux Row has released an Estate Bourbon made from 78% corn grown specifically for the distillery on the distillery grounds.
Westland has released Watchpost Whiskey, a blend of Westland’s American Single Malt and sourced grain whiskey.
Lost Lantern’s Spring 2026 collection includes:
Far-Flung Bourbon Pairing
Far-Flung Bourbon IV – 120.7 proof | 120 bottles | $100
Far-Flung Bourbon 100 – 100 proof | 758 bottles | $80
High–Low Single Malt Pairing
Boulder Spirits Colorado Single Malt 7 Years Old – 138.7 proof | 173 bottles | $140
Copperworks Distilling Washington Single Malt – 120.6 proof | 210 bottles | $100
High–Low Mountain Bourbon Pairing
Day’s Defile Idaho Straight Bourbon 10 Years Old – 154.4 proof | 126 bottles | $140
Montgomery Distillery Montana Straight Bourbon – 104.6 proof | 207 bottles | $100
High–Low Southern Bourbon Pairing
Dread River Distilling Co. Alabama Straight Bourbon – 141.8 proof | 158 bottles | $140
Fiddler Soloist Georgia Straight Bourbon – 129.9 proof | 146 bottles | $100
High–Low Rye Pairing
Broad Branch Distillery North Carolina Straight Rye 8 Years Old – 141.6 proof | 174 bottles | $140
New Riff Distilling Kentucky Straight Rye – 115.1 proof | 172 bottles | $100
Preservation Distillery has released Rare Perfection 10 year Bourbon.
People News
Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Lauren Boyd, Bottling Operation Specialist
Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Lauren Boyd, Bottling Operation Specialist, is being honored with the 2026 Step Ahead Award, which honors Women in Manufacturing.
Other News
Whiskey Thief Stadium Club
Whiskey Thief Distilling has partnered with The Louisville Bats baseball team on two hospitality spaces at the Louisville Slugger Field including the Whiskey Thief Stadium Club.
San Francisco based Hotaling & Co., which produces Old Potrero American Single Malt, is halting production at its Pier 50 Distillery. Old Potrero and Hirsch, both owned by the parent company, will still be produced/sourced, but the company is focusing on its import business, which includes Kavalan, Nikka, and Dingle whiskeys.
The Blending House has opened in Shelbyville, Kentucky. It will be home to Koetter K-Rax warehouses and The Spirits Group.
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail has launched a “Build Your Own Trail” trip builder.
Buzzard’s Roost just added two new visitor experiences: The Derby Immersion and The Grain to Glass Experience.
Mint Julep Experiences has launched multi-day tours of Bourbon country. Guests can choose a three or four day tour and can customize which experiences to have.
The Kentucky Distillers’ Association has added Prova Spirits as a member.
Kentucky Peerless Distilling has partnered with Hotel Distil to create a Kentucky Peerless-themed hotel suite.
National Bourbon Week is coming back to Bardstown June 14-21.
New Riff is having a Distiller’s Dinner in cooperation with the Kentucky Bourbon Festival April 9th at The River House in Louisville.
The Bourbon Classic People’s Choice Best Small Plate Team
The Bourbon Classic has crowned its 2026 Cocktail & Culinary Challenge winners:
Judges’ Choice Best Cocktail: Representing Bardstown Bourbon Co., Bartender: Billy Kunkel, Bardstown Bourbon Co., Cocktail: Oolong State of Mind
Judges’ Choice Most Creative Cocktail: Representing James B. Beam Distilling Co., Bartender: Lee Caldwell, The Kitchen Table, Cocktail: On Glenwood Hill
Judges’ Choice Best Small Plate: Representing Bardstown Bourbon Co., Created by: Chef Ming Pu, TANA, Dish: Beef Noodle Soup “Soup Dumpling”
Judges’ Choice Most Creative Small Plate: Representing Whiskey Thief Distilling Co., Created by: Chef Steve Atkins, Whiskey Thief Distilling Co., Dish: Season on the Farm Seared Venison, Weisenberger Grits with Newton Truffiere Perigourd and KY Rose Cheese, Beet Capellini and Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. Bourbon-Brown Butter Gastrique
Judges’ Choice Best Pairing: Representing Bardstown Bourbon Co., Bartender: Billy Kunkel, Bardstown Bourbon Co., Cocktail: Oolong State of Mind, Dish: Beef Noodle Soup “Soup Dumpling” Created by: Chef Ming Pu, TANA
People’s Choice Best Cocktail: Representing Maker’s Mark, Bartender: Tom Wilburn, Watch Hill Proper, Cocktail: Dove of Two Valleys
People’s Choice Best Small Plate: Representing Stonestreet Bourbon, Created by: Chef Shawn Broadway, Porch Kitchen & Bar, Dish: Porch Bourbon Butter Cake
Book News
Fred Minnick’s Bottom Shelf book tour continues:
4/1 Covington, Ky at Revival Vintage
4/3 Stillwater, Ok. at Stillwater Wine & Spirits
4/8 Austin, Tx at Texas Military Institute Castle
4/10 Brown County, Ind at Hard Truth Distillery
4/16 Memphis, Tenn. at Old Dominick Distillery
4/21 Warrendale, Pa at Jergel’s
4/28 Elizabethtown, Ky at Revival Vintage
Bonus Cocktail Recipe
Fools Rush In
Recipe courtesy Catherine Manabat, Hospitality Director at New Riff Distilling, Newport, Ky.
Fools Rush In cocktail
¾ ounces lemon juice
¾ ounces cinnamon honey syrup*
2 ounces New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
In a shaker tin, add ice, lemon juice, cinnamon honey syrup and rye. Shake well. Strain over a big rock, garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel or lemon peel.
* Cinnamon Honey Syrup
28 ounces honey
14 ounces water
6 cinnamon sticks
Heat up water using a tea kettle. Then measure 28 ounces of honey and add it to a cambro container. Next, take the hot water and mix with honey. Using an immersion blender, blend the mixture until the honey is dissolved. Add 6 cinnamon sticks and allow to steep for at least half an hour. Bottle what is needed in the Cambro containers, label/date, and store the rest in the refrigerator.