It’s This Week in Bourbon for April 18th, 2025. Garrard County Distilling Co. has closed only after 1 year in operation, Cream of Kentucky moves to Kentucky Artisan Distillery, and Angel’s Envy launches its newest Cellar Collection Series.

Show Notes:

• Garrard County Distilling Co. closes after a year, faces $2.2M lawsuit.
• Kentucky River returns to normal, Buffalo Trace begins flood recovery.
• Cream of Kentucky partners with Kentucky Artisan Distillery as its home place.
• RD1 Spirits announces May 14, 2025 opening of new Lexington distillery.
• Graeter’s & New Riff Distilling collaborate on Bourbon Ball Ice Cream.
• Rolling Fork Spirits re-releases Bourbon de Luxe small batch, 119 proof, $64.99.
• 2XO releases The Vinyl Blend bourbon, featuring high and moderate rye mash bills, $99.99.
• ANGEL’S ENVY releases Rye finished in French Oak Extra Añejo Tequila barrels, $269.99.
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It’s This Week in Bourbon for April 11th, 2025. Buffalo Trace stops production from flooding, bourbon is exempt from EU tariffs, Pursuit launches the Mellwood Legacy Collection.

Show Notes:

• Buffalo Trace Distillery temporarily closed due to Kentucky flooding.
• EU exempts bourbon from new US retaliatory tariffs after lobbying.
• EU enforces 20-year-old agreement, reclassifying European ‘rye whisky’.
• Heaven Hill fills first barrel at new Bardstown distillery after 29 years.
• Gigi Burris partners with Woodford Reserve for Kentucky Derby hat collection.
• Oxmoor Bourbon Co. becomes official partner of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®.
• Westward Whiskey maker House Spirits files for bankruptcy protection.
• Kentucky Bourbon Trail sees record 2.7 million visitors in 2024.
• Woodford Reserve offers $5,000 Mint Julep Charity Cups for Kentucky Derby.
• Barrell Craft Spirits releases P.X. Sherry Cask Finish Bourbon, $84.99.
• Jack Daniel’s releases McLaren F1 Team limited edition whiskey, 86 proof.
• Bluegrass Distillers launches Elkwood Reserve Finished Series, 119 proof, $105.
• Penelope Bourbon releases Peach Old Fashioned bottled cocktail, 80 proof, $29.99.
• Keeneland, Maker’s Mark honor Lexington with “Greats of the Gate” bottle, $179.99.
• Dancing Goat releases #8 I Would Rye 4 U, port finished rye, 108 proof, $60.
• Elijah Craig named “Official Bourbon” of 2025 PGA Championship, commemorative bottle $36.99.
• Old Dominick releases 7-Year Wheat Whiskey Single Barrel, $60-$70.
• The Last Drop releases 27 Year Old Buffalo Trace Bourbon, 121.8 proof, $10,500.
• Maker’s Mark debuts Star Hill Farm Whisky, first wheat whisky, 114.7 proof, $100.
• Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old Bourbon becomes permanent US offering, $45
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It’s This Week in Bourbon for March 21st, 2025. A brand new auction record hits with a Van Winkle Private selection, Heaven Hill launches the Connoisseur Club, and Booker’s releases the first batch of 2025.

Show Notes:

• Holladay Distillery breaks ground on Rickhouse D, ironclad bourbon aging.
• Old Rip Van Winkle bottle sells for record $125,000 at Sotheby’s.
• Heaven Hill launches Connesuir Club, exclusive bourbon access.
• Lux Row Distillers releases Blood Oath Pact 11, Tequila barrel finish, $129.99.
• Michter’s releases 10 Year Bourbon, 94.4 proof, $195.
• Buzzard’s Roost releases Signature Double Oak Bourbon, 100 proof, $45.
• Booker’s Batch “Barry’s Batch” 2025 released, 125.7 proof, $99.99.
• New Riff releases Silver Grove Bourbon and Rye, 110.3 and 110.2 proof, $55.99.
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It’s This Week in Bourbon for March 21st, 2025. 2025 Kentucky Bourbon Festival announced tickets on sale, Brewzle announces their first Master Blender Collaboration, and David Jennings launches Caleb’s Crossing.

Show Notes:

• Diageo ends Distill Ventures brand intake, resulting in job losses.
• InvestBev partners for $100M Kentucky Bourbon barrel acquisition.
• Lexington man charged with unlicensed whiskey sales, thousands of bottles.
• Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2025 tickets on sale April 17th.
• Yellowstone Bourbon Small Batch 107 released, 6-year age statement, $44.99.
• Old Forester 117 Series Bottled in Bond Rye released, 100 proof, $64.99.
• Old Potrero Hotaling’s Bottled in Bond Rye released, 50% ABV, $199.
• Max Homa, Elijah Craig release 8-year Toasted Barrel pick, 126.6 proof.
• Brewzle, Old Dominick release Master Blender Collaboration, $90 bundle.
• Milam & Greene Gray Wolf Bourbon released, 125.5 proof, $149.99.
• Stephen Curry releases Gentleman’s Cut Rye, 4,000 days aged, $333.
• Maker’s Mark Keepers Release 2025 announced, 109.2 proof, $74.99.
• Caleb’s Crossing whiskey launched, Bourbon and Rye, $149.99 each.
• Shaquille O’Neal invests in BeatBox RTDs, releases Blueberry Lemonade.
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It’s This Week in Bourbon for March 14th, 2025. I can’t believe we’re still talking about tariffs, the University of Kentucky has a new Estate Whiskey Alliance, and Chattanooga Whiskey releases Experimental Single Batch Series Pre Prohibition Style.

Show Notes:

• Trump delays Mexico, Canada tariffs to April 2nd.
• EU plans 50% whiskey tariff April 1st, may target other US spirits.
• Bourbon documentary filmed at Oxmoor Farm, streaming Spring 2025.
• UK launches Estate Whiskey Certified program for authenticated whiskeys.
• Larrikin Bourbon Co. appoints Barbara McDonald as Assistant Distiller.
• Diageo pauses Lebanon distillery production for productivity goals.
• Tequila regulator sues Additive Free Alliance for misleading consumers.
• Remus Bourbon launches Master Distiller Experimental Series, 107 proof, $79.99.
• 15 STARS releases Three Ports Fine-Aged Bourbon, 103 proof, $179.
• Chattanooga Whiskey Batch 043: Pre Prohibition Style, 110 proof, $69.99.
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It’s This Week in Bourbon for March 7th, 2025. Willett Artist Series Vol. II goes on sale, there’s a new british bourbon, and Woodford Reserve releases the Derby 151 bottle.

Show Notes:

• Willett art-bourbon series launches, charity focused, King Saladeen designs.
• Trump tariffs impact Mexico, Canada; retaliatory tariffs follow.
• MGP sales decline 16%, refocusing on branded spirits.
• Lofted Spirits merges distilleries, emphasizes Kentucky bourbon.
• Southern Distilling rebrands contract division, Statesville Contract Distilling.
• Old Carter Whiskey sells for $20.5M+ in global auction.
• British distillery launches “grain to bottle” bourbon, defying tariffs.
• High West Bourye 2025: Rye, bourbon blend, 10-year, $124.99 SRP.
• Penelope Rio: Honey, Amburana oak finish, 98 proof, “carnival in a bottle.”
• Orphan Barrel Fanged Pursuit: 17-year Kentucky bourbon, non-chill filtered, $200 SRP.
• Buzzard’s Roost French Oak Batch 2: Precision-toasted stave finish, $85 SRP.
• Woodford Reserve 2025 Derby Bottle: Lahera art, Kentucky Derby tribute, $49.99 SRP.
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It’s This Week in Bourbon for February 28th, 2025. National Bourbon Week is returning to Bardstown, Kentucky, Bardstown Bourbon Company’s new Distillery Reserve series, and Jack Daniel’s releases one if it’s oldest to date, a 14-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey.

Show Notes:

• Pappy 15 auction resets to $800K after bidding adjustments
• National Bourbon Week returns to Bardstown, Kentucky, June 10-15, 2025
• Give 270 hosts Bourbon Strong raffle benefiting Kentucky State Police Foundation
• Bardstown Bourbon Company debuts Distillery Reserve Cathedral French Oak Finish
• Tincup refreshes portfolio with new six-year whiskey and debut Bourbon offering
• J. Mattingly 1845 partners with Navy SEAL Foundation for Double Staved whiskey series
• Chattanooga Whiskey introduces Rye Single Barrels with malt-forward mash bill
• Michter’s releases US*1 Barrel Strength Rye at an average proof of 110.5
• Lost Lantern unveils Spring 2025 Collection of unique single-cask whiskeys
• Lux Row Distillers debuts Small Batch Albariño Cask Finish Bourbon at 105 proof
• Rebel Bourbon launches Kyle Busch 108 Single Barrel Bourbon nationwide
• Woodford Reserve unveils Chocolate Whisper Redux 139, its highest-proof whiskey yet
• Jack Daniel’s releases 14-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey as part of its Aged Series
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It’s This Week in Bourbon for February 21st, 2025. Pursuit launches its DTS program P.Club, Jason Callori launches Drum Key Spirits, and Evan Williams will release a Kentucky Derby Festival Single Barrel.

Show Notes:

• Pursuit Spirits launches P.Club, a customizable whiskey subscription with exclusive releases
• Frey Ranch partners with the University of Kentucky’s Estate Whiskey Alliance for sustainability
• Barrel King collaborates with Mash & Drum’s Jason Callori to launch Drum Key Spirits
• Brother’s Bond Bourbon secures $7.5M in funding to expand in the U.S. and international markets
• Trump and Modi agree to lower India’s tariffs on Bourbon from 150% to 100%
• Yellowstone Bourbon surpasses $1M in donations to National Parks Conservation Association
• Pappy Van Winkle barrel auction skyrockets to $3.1M before bidding restrictions imposed
• Evan Williams releases 2025 Kentucky Derby Festival bottle with commemorative Pegasus Pin
• Frey Ranch debuts 100% Barley Whiskey as part of its Single Grain Series at 110 proof
• A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength Bourbon returns at 139.7 proof, available via lottery
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It’s This Week in Bourbon for February 14th, 2025. Kentucky Distillers’ Association is proud to welcome more than a dozen new experiences to its Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Jack Daniel’s has reported a partial collapse of a whiskey warehouse, and Green River launches of their Kentucky Straight Wheated Single Barrel Bourbon.

Show Notes:

• The Kentucky Bourbon Trail expands to 60 destinations across 27 Kentucky counties
• Green River Whiskey sponsors No. 44 Chevrolet for J.J. Yeley’s 2025 Daytona 500 qualifiers
• Jack Daniel Distillery reports partial collapse of warehouse 2-15, impacting whiskey barrels
• IWSR forecasts 20% growth in global e-commerce alcohol sales, reaching $36B by 2028
• Sazerac launches California wildfire relief fundraiser featuring rare Pappy Van Winkle auction
• Big Easy Spirits debuts Big Easy Whiskey, a 5-year bourbon mash infused with botanicals
• Blue Note Bourbon releases Special Reserve Straight Bourbon, a 10-cask blend at 116.3 proof
• Virginia Distillery Co. unveils Sexual Chocolate Stout Cask Finish American Single Malt
• Green River launches limited Kentucky Straight Wheated Single Barrel Bourbon at barrel proof
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It’s This Week in Bourbon for February 7th, 2025. Diageo has announced it will close its bottling operation at the Stitzel-Weller Distillery, A court settles the argument on who gets to say they were the first African American owned bourbon distillery in Kentucky, and Heaven Hill announces the release of Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey

Show Notes:

• Diageo to close Stitzel-Weller bottling operation in April, relocating jobs and production
• Diageo announces $415M manufacturing and warehousing facility in Alabama, opening 2025
• Castle & Key completes Phase 1 of solar energy project, investing $2M in sustainability
• Court rules in favor of Fresh Bourbon in dispute over first Black-owned distillery in Kentucky
• World Whiskey Society launches Green Code Bourbon in eco-friendly packaging for $49.99
• Heaven Hill unveils 19-Year-Old Wheat Whiskey in Heritage Collection at $299.99
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