American Whiskey Report September 2025

Bourbon Heritage Month is winding down, and here in Louisville we’re still recovering from The Kentucky Bourbon Festival followed immediately by Bourbon & Beyond. If you see your friendly neighborhood brand ambassador napping, please let them sleep. And now it’s on to the American whiskey news you can use!

Product Releases

Sagamore Baltimore Ravens Festivus Maximus Small Batch Rye Whiskey

• Sagamore Spirit has released a limited edition Baltimore Ravens Festivus Maximus Small Batch Rye Whiskey in an ongoing partnership with the NFL team since 2023, as well as  a 10-year-old rye whiskey, its oldest rye whiskey release yet.

• Bib & Tucker has released Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Bourbon, a Bourbon finished with arabica coffee beans.

• Burnt Tavern Bourbon is a 7 year Kentucky Bourbon that has been double-barreled, a new brand to the market.

• Rebel has released a butter pecan Bourbon cream.

• Town Branch is releasing its yearly rye and American Single Malt whiskeys.

• Chattanooga Whiskey Co. has released its latest Barrel Finishing Series: Michigan Maple Syrup Cask Finished, a blend of two Bourbon mash bills finished in late harvest Michigan maple syrup barrels.

• Pursuit Spirits has a new release in its Mellwood series, Old Anvil, a  Bourbon that will only be available at the distillery.

• Raconteur Rye has two new releases out, an Indiana 95/5 rye and a Kentucky 95/5 rye, both Mizunara finished.

• Rabbit Hole has released Regallier, a limited edition distillery only release with high rye, double malt, and French Oak finishing.

• Yellowstone has released a 10 year blend of straight Bourbons from Indiana and Kentucky bottled at 105 proof.

• Blue Note has re-released honey cask finished rye whiskey.

• Trackside Bourbon has released Founder Release 2025 High Proof Bourbon, a chocolate malted four grain limited edition Bourbon bottled at 107 proof.

Angel's Envy two grain Bourbon and peated cask rye

• Angel’s Envy has two new releases: two grain Bourbon and peated cask rye.

• Woodinville Whiskey’s straight Bourbon, aged 9 Years, is the distillery’s oldest age statement yet and is now available nationwide.

• 15 Stars has released the Artisan Collection, a blend of straight Bourbon whiskeys aged 12 and 15 years.

• Woodford Reserve has announced its 2025 Master’s Collection: Sweet Oak Bourbon, which is aged in Chinquapin Oak barrels.

• Caleb’s Crossing Whiskey Co. has collaborated with David Jennings (a/k/a Rare Bird 101) on Caleb’s Crossing Straight Bourbon & Rye Blend.

• Four Roses has a Salt River Cleanup commemorative single barrel of an almost ten year OBSK available only at the visitor center.

• 1787 Provenance Bourbon has released a blended Kentucky Bourbon.

• Brother’s Bond Bourbon has a regenerative grain Bourbon release made with certified regeneratively-grown grain.

• Liberty Pole and Dad’s Hat have joined forces to release a collaborative bottling of Pennsylvania rye whiskey, bottled at 119.6 proof with a blend of a 4 yr, 7-month-old barrel from Liberty Pole and a 6 year, 4-month-old barrel from Dad’s Hat, available only at both distilleries.

• Chattanooga Whiskey has released Experimental Batch 045: Kola Infused, a high malt Bourbon infused with kola nuts and other predominant flavors in cola beverages.

Frey Ranch Second Harvest

• Frey Ranch has released Harvester Series: Second Harvest, a whiskey blended by Nancy Fraley that is predominantly 100% wheat whiskey blended with a lesser amount of four grain Bourbon and barley whiskey.

• Southern Distilling has released its first ever American Single Malt whiskey, Southern Star American Single Malt Whiskey.

• Hirsch has released a straight Kentucky Bourbon at cask strength finished in Hine cognac casks.

• Barton 1792 Distillery has released 1792 Cognac Cask Finish Bourbon.

People News

Stephen Julander

• Stephen Julander has joined Woody Creek Distillers as Senior Operations Manager.

• The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame inductees for 2025 are:

• Craig Beam, Jackson Purchase Distillery, formerly Heaven Hill

• Mary Dowling, posthumously

• Larry Ebersold, industry consultant, formerly Seagrams

• Chris Morris, Woodford Reserve

• Damon Thayer, Retired Senate Majority Floor Leader, Kentucky General Assembly

Other News 

Steve Cooley

• The Frazier History Museum will offer Bourbon Through Bluegrass, a whiskey tasting experience, Bluegrass performance, and comedy show featuring Whiskey Professor Bernie Lubbers and Bluegrass musician Steve Cooley.

• Purple Toad Winery and Distillery has joined the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.

• Heaven Hill’s brand new distillery, Heaven Hill Springs Distillery, has opened in Bardstown, Kentucky.

• The Kentucky Bourbon Festival is raffling off some of its single barrels here.

Book Recommendations

Classic Cocktail Revival by Jennifer Brian

• Jennifer Brian’s Classic Cocktail Revival is on store shelves now featuring more than 80 cocktail recipes from classic to zero proof.

Bonus Cocktail Recipe

Sir Davis Texas Buckiin’

Sir Davis Texas Buckiin’

1.5 oz Sir Davis American Whisky

.25 oz Lemon Juice

.25 oz Honey Syrup*

4-5 oz Ginger Beer

Garnish: Lemon wedge

Pour SirDavis Whisky into glass with ice then squeeze fresh lemon juice into a glass with honey simple syrup and add ginger beer. Gently stir, garnish with horse medallion, pick through lemon wedge, and serve.

*To make honey syrup, add 2 parts honey and 1 part water into a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the honey is dissolved. Allow to cool and transfer to an airtight container.