Posts By: BourbonBlog News

Old Forester’s 25th Birthday Bourbon Whiskey: 12-year-old, first-ever sweet mash in the series. How to enter sweepstakes and find in limited retail.

15 STARS debuts the First West bourbon line with Small Batch, Toasted Oak, and Extra Aged 8 & 9 Year. Crafted with heirloom corn, Flavor Proofing, and Kentucky heritage, First West offers detailed tasting notes, prices, and insights from co-founder Ricky Johnson.

Kings County Distillery launches a new flagship: Straight Empire Rye. With a 90-proof, grain-to-glass build and 80% Danko rye from New York, this release marks the first steady supply since the Empire Rye project began in 2017. Available August 13 at the distillery and online for $69.

A. Smith Bowman releases Hungarian Oak, the final whiskey in its Abraham Bowman Oak Series. Aged 12 years in charred Hungarian Oak barrels, this 115-proof bourbon will be sold via lottery from August 11–18 at $79.99. Winners must purchase in person at the distillery.

Weller Millennium Second Edition debuts at $7,500 with 19–24 year wheated whiskeys from 2001, 2003 & 2006. Released on Weller’s 200th birthday—where to find it.

Weller 18 debuts as the oldest wheat bourbon in the Weller line. Released at $499, this 90-proof whiskey honors W.L. Weller’s 200th birthday—available first in global travel retail.

Cohiba Rubicon joins the core lineup as a full-time release featuring a bold orange label, Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, U.S. Broadleaf binder, and a six-tobacco blend from the Dominican Republic, Honduras (La Entrada & Jamastran), Nicaragua (Estelí), Ecuador, and the U.S. Priced from $8.49–$9.49.

Bardstown Bourbon Company releases its second Distillery Reserve: Hokkaido Mizunara Oak. This 109.3 proof, 375mL blend of 9- to 18-year-old whiskeys was finished for 28 months in six rare Japanese Mizunara oak barrels—crafted from trees grown in Hokkaido’s volcanic soil. The first release in the series was featured on 60 Minutes.

The TAG Global Spirits Awards 2025 deadline is August 1. Co-founded by Tony Abou-Ganim, this premier competition in Las Vegas features 100+ categories including bourbon, rye, tequila, and RTDs. Learn how to enter, ship your spirits, and gain global recognition.