American Whiskey Report October 2026
The American Craft Spirits Association has released its 2026 Craft Spirits Data Project and things are not looking good. Currently, the United States is losing about 8 DSPs nationwide every month. While craft spirits were outperforming super premium products in the market in 2024, craft spirits sales were down by 3.7% between 2024 and 2025. A major factor, according to Emily Pennington, was RNDC’s collapse and subsequent pullout from California. Full-time employment in craft distilleries is down 15% between 2023 and 2025. 2026 is the first year that there has been a net loss of DSPs since the craft spirits boom began. Craft spirits are facing the same headwinds the rest of the industry is facing but are having a tougher time because of the unique challenges small producers face.
And now on to one of the heftiest lists of new releases yet!
Copper & Cask X
Product Releases
Copper & Cask has released X, a 10 year Bourbon, as well as Copper & Cask Small Batch 17, 9-year Cigar Blend Bourbon Whiskey and Copper & Cask Small Batch 18, 9-year Double Oak Bourbon Whiskey.
New Era Whiskey released its first non single barrel Bourbon, Marquee Bourbon, blended by a panel of whiskey experts including the author.
Willett has released a cask strength version of its pot still reserve.
Widow Jane has released Black Opal 2026, a 20 year Mizunara finished Bourbon.
Wanderfolk Distillery, Oklahoma’s first legal distillery, has launched Tallbird American Whiskey, a blend from Kentucky and Tennessee aged and bottled in the Sooner state.
Maker’s Mark World Wood Collection
Maker’s Mark has released the World Wood Collection’s first batch finished with Mizunara staves, available only in global travel retail.
Lost Lantern has launched The George Dickel Collection, which includes Fabled Forest George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey, Wild Woodland George Dickel Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey, Golden Grove George Dickel Tennessee Straight Wheat Whiskey, two George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey 11 Years Old single casks, four George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey 18 Years Old single casks, two George Dickel Straight Bourbon Whiskey 10 Years Old Not Charcoal Mellowed single casks, George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey 10 Years Old Groovy Staves single cask, four George Dickel Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey 7 Years Old single casks, two George Dickel Tennessee Straight Wheat Whiskey single casks, and two George Dickel Tennessee Light Whiskey 8 Years Old single casks.
Wheel Horse has released Wheel Horse Cigar Blend Bourbon Whiskey, a five-year Bourbon finished for 8-20 months in a combination of Port, Cognac, Sherry and Armagnac barrels.
Moon Moonshine has released three corn whiskey based moonshines: citrus, berry, and tropical.
Starlight Distillery has released Estate Collection 7-Year Cask Strength Bourbon produced in collaboration with the Estate Whiskey Alliance.
Ghostwood Distilling in Montana has released 3 Brothers Bourbon.
High West A Midwinter’s Night Dram
High West has released A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 14, a blend of straight rye whiskeys finished in ruby and tawny port barrels, oloroso sherry barrels, Amontidillo, and PX casks.
Woodford Reserve is marking 30 years with a special release of Distillery Series: Triple Pot Still and Limited-Edition Personal Selection and Ceramic Decanter.
Wild Turkey has released Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse 2026 – Camp Nelson D.
Kentucky Senator Bourbon has released D.J. Stable’s champion filly Nitrogen, the first in its Thoroughbred Legacy Series.
Frey Ranch Harvester Series Third Harvest
Frey Ranch has released Third Harvest, part of its harvester series, which includes triticale in the mash bill and was blended by Nancy Fraley and and Frey Ranch Master Distiller Russell Wedlake.
KNOBEL Whiskey, started by Dirty Jobs star Mike Rowe to support his mikeroweWORKS Foundation, has released a new single barrel Tennessee Whiskey.
BHN has released Duet N. 15 and Duet N. 23, unaged rye whiskeys macerated with chardonnay and riesling grapes, respectively.
New Riff has released a 6 year old bottled-in-bond wheated Bourbon.
RY3 has released Ha$mat light whiskey aged 12 years and bottled at 158 proof.
Barrell Craft Spirits has released a 12-year French Toasted Bourbon Whiskey distilled in IN, KY, TN, and WY.
Pursuit United has released Pursuit United XS Double Oak Rye — the XS stands for extra special because it uses a specially selected secondary cask for finishing. The new series is available in both Bourbon and rye.
Kooper’s has released Prodigal Son Bourbon, a four grain sour mash bottled at 94.4 proof.
Keeper’s Heart Straight Rye Whiskey
Keeper’s Heart Straight Rye Whiskey is the second release in O’Shaughnessy Distilling’s triple pot distilled whiskey collection.
Jim Beam is bringing back Knob Creek 21 year old Bourbon bottled at 100 proof.
Brother’s Bond Bourbon is now available on JetBlue flights.
Bulleit has released ‘87, a blend of Bourbon and rye whiskeys.
Liberty Pole is releasing a high rye Bourbon with a mash bill of 51% Bloody Butcher corn, 40% rye and 9% malted barley. It’s aged 4+ years and bottled at 100 proof.
Penelope has released FCancer Batch 5, a 6-year-old blend of straight whiskeys supporting FCancer.
Woodford Reserve is launching double oaked rye, a first for the brand.
15 Stars has released First West Cigar Blend, an 11 and 15 year Bourbon Finished in Cognac, PX Sherry, and Tawny Port Casks and bottled at 106 proof.
Jack Daniel’s has released Coy Hill Rye, a Tennessee rye whiskey matured for 10 years at the distillery’s highest elevation point.
Chattanooga Whiskey has released Bad Chattanoogan, its first Tennessee whiskey and one that was matured with playable wooden records made from sugar maple.
Leiper’s Fork has released its three oldest barrels, one Bourbon, one rye, and one Tennessee whiskey, all ten years old and blended together to celebrate the distillery’s 10th anniversary.
People News
Steve Nally & Nick Smith
Lofted Spirits has named Steve Nalley Master Distiller Emeritus and Nick Smith Master Distiller.
Brush Creek Distillery has announced that Philip Mundt will now serve as Market Development Manager and Head Distiller Emeritus, and Ethan Whitman will step up as Head Distiller.
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is looking for its 2027 Bartender of the Year: apply here.
DISCUS has announced its leadership program graduates for 2026:
Alex Vesely, Distillery Operations Manager, Southern Distilling Company
Alexa Gallagher, Associate Director, Estate Whiskey Alliance
Alexandra Hackett, Director of Hospitality & Corporate Beverage Director, Rick Erwin Dining Group
Alyson Weiss, Senior Associate, Customer Operations, Pernod Ricard
Andrea Fujarczuk, Program Coordinator and Professor of Artisan Distilling, Niagara College
Anne Marie Kelly, Business Development Manager/Founder, Women in Irish Whiskey
Antonio Portillo, Senior Director Field Marketing and Commercial Planning, Remy Cointreau, USA
Brittany Carrillo, Senior Account Manager, Spearhead Global
Cathy Ann Zakrzewski, Senior Director of Sales, Remy Cointreau, USA
Chantel Leurs-Beeson, Director Field Marketing Champagne & Sparkling, Moet Hennessy
Charlotte Marshall, Territory Sales Manager - On Premise Georgia, Mast Jägermeister US
Emily Dickson, Regional Sales Manager, Mast Jägermeister US
Emily Knetsche, Manager Commercial Effectiveness, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits
Gregory Levin, Country Manager, Canada, Mast Jägermeister US
James Mmbando, Manager, Engineering Projects, Heaven Hill Brands Inc.
Joe Sadowski, VP Finance, Woody Creek Distillers
John Martin, National Retail Chain Manager, Hotaling and Co.
Jon (Jay) Maas, Director of Finance and Admin, Dancing Goat Distillery
Katie Benner, Supplier Performance Manager, Johnson Brothers
Kelsi Langford, ETX Retail Market Manager, Still Austin Whiskey Co.
Lola Thomas, Program Director, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Mark Ishmael, Director Commercial Performance and Enterprise Insights, JobsOhio Beverage System
Michelle Cetta, Senior Account Manager, Spearhead Global
Nicholas Richmond, Regional Sales Manager, Mast Jägermeister US
Olya Batsula, Regional Sales Manager, Hotaling & Co
Podge Henry, Brand Manager - Skrewball Whiskey, Pernod Ricard
Ross Mulkerrin, Director, Member Services, DISCUS
Taylor Duncan, Health, Safety & Environmental Manager, Bacardi; Angels Envy
Tracie Franklin, VP Supply and Innovation, Pronghorn Co & Founder, Get Spirited Consulting
Other News
Beacon Grand whiskey-themed art exhibit
Flaviar has opened a whiskey-themed art exhibit at the Beacon Grand Hotel in San Francisco, complete with whiskey cocktails, called Museum of Flaviar: An Exhibition of Whiskey, Art and Imagination.
Neeley Family Distillery filled its first barrel of Bourbon produced on its three chamber still, the first three chamber still in Kentucky in over 100 years and one of only four currently running in the United States.
Robert O. Simonson released Bourbon And Rye Cocktails, A History Of American Whiskey In Cocktails.
The California Distillers Association has just launched the California Distillery Trail! The state has more craft distilleries than any other state in the USA - 207 total distilleries.
M.B. Roland Distillery in Kentucky will go up for auction in December after founders Merry Beth and Paul Tomaszewski decided to retire after 18 years as one of Kentucky’s earliest craft distilleries.
Bib & Tucker has partnered with HASBRO to create a version of Monopoly based on the brand. You can buy it with or without a bottle of whiskey.
Bonus Cocktail Recipe
The Viking Manhattan
Recipe courtesty of Vikre Distilling, Duluth, Minnesota
Viking Manhattan
2 oz Hay & Sunshine Blended Whiskey
1 oz Amaro Superior
.5 oz sweet vermouth
2 dashes of orange bitters
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with cubed ice. Stir well until chilled, then fine-strain into a stemmed cocktail glass. Garnish with an expressed orange.