It’s This Week in Bourbon for June 19th 2026. Green River Distillery Select Toasted Double Oak Bourbon, the debut of SHANG from the whiskey house, and Lost Lantern has announced the launch the United States of Bourbon collection.

Show Notes:

• Spec’s Family Corp. acquires Lee’s Discount Liquor in first move outside Texas
• Give 270 launches restored 1989 Ford Bronco raffle for Kentucky Jailers Association
• Liberty Pole Spirits and MB Roland team up for America’s 250th anniversary blend
• Green River Distilling Company debuts 8-Year Toasted Double Oak Bourbon
• Coors launches exclusive 110.5-proof Blended American Malt Whiskey in expansion into premium spirits
• Whiskey House of Kentucky and global partners debut innovative SHĀNG baijiu whiskey line
• Town Branch Distillery releases groundbreaking Bourbonola Tropical Style banana seltzer
• Industry veteran Jason Wooler makes comeback with launch of Wooler Brands whiskey
• Lost Lantern launches United States of Bourbon featuring first-ever 50-state blend
• Belmark and ADI Distilling partner for distillery packaging and revenue webinar

(more…)

It’s This Week in Bourbon for June 12th 2026. $500,000 of Noble Oak bourbon has been stolen in a truck heist, An organized crime ring targeting high-end whiskey collectors has been solved from the Madisonville Police Department, and Booker’s “The Milkshake Batch” Bourbon gets released.

Show Notes:

• Philadelphia Police and FBI Investigate $500,000 Noble Oak Bourbon Heist
• Lawrenceburg Historic Homes to Host Exclusive Screening and Guided Tours This July
• Madisonville Police Disrupt FB Group Whiskey Scam Defrauding Buyers of $86K
• Whiskey House of Kentucky Lays Off 30% of Staff Amid Industry Slowdown
• Give 270 Announces Next 20/20 Unicorn Raffle Featuring Rare Brown-Forman 150th Anniversary Bottle
• Orphan Barrel Unveils 25-Year Night Sage Blended Canadian Whisky
• Allies for Cherry Point Partners with Bespoken Spirits for Final Flight Reserve Harrier Tribute
• Thirty-One Lengths Launches $1,500 Ultra-Premium Bourbon Honoring Secretariat’s Legendary Victory
• Adventure Spirits Distilling Partners with Toledo Mud Hens for Stadium Craft Cocktails
• Hard Truth Distilling Co. Welcomes Back Double Oaked Sweet Mash Rye at 113 Entry Proof
• Penelope Flips Strategy to Debut New Classic Everyday Bourbon and Rye Series
• Old Fourth Distillery Teams Up with Dragon Con for 2nd Annual Landmark Anniversary Bourbon
• James B. Beam Distilling Company Rolls Out Booker’s “The Milkshake Batch” Bourbon

(more…)

It’s This Week in Bourbon for June 5th 2026. Uncle Nearest May Have A Buyer, Saga Spirits behind True Story has two alleged lawsuits that just became public, and Four Roses Distillery is introducing Anthology, a new 21 year old bourbon.

Show Notes:

• Uncle Nearest receiver signs letter of intent to sell distillery and assets to Black-owned investment firm
• Wes Henderson’s saga spirits group faces $1.5M in debt lawsuits over Kentucky Castle project
• New Riff Distilling drops exclusive 10-Year-Old Bourbon and Rye for High Note Series
• Michter’s rolls out 10-Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye for June 2026
• James B. Beam Distilling Co. elevates classic brand with Old Grand-Dad 114 Single Barrel 7-Year
• MANORS Golf and Gentleman Jack launch A Gentleman’s Guide to Golf apparel and content partnership
• Bluegrass Distillers brings back highly anticipated blue corn program with new rye-inclusive mash bill
• Penelope Bourbon hits retail shelves with new Blackberry Old Fashioned ready-to-serve cocktail
• 15 STARS debuts First West Explorer, its first bourbon crafted from 100% in-house black corn distillate
• Knob Creek teams up with Huckberry for custom tote bag and Father’s Day pop-up at Grand Central Terminal
• Stoll & Wolfe partners with Alan Bishop to launch colonial-style Wolfe & Wilson Straight Rye
• Rolling Fork Spirits revives historic 1906 REWCO Rye brand with limited small-batch release
• Koopers Whiskey gears up for Father’s Day with rare 8-year-old Father’s Office Cigar Blend
• Adventure Spirits collaborates with Task Force 20 to release TF20 Bottled-in-Bond bourbon for veterans
• Four Roses Distillery introduces Anthology series with 21-year-old Chapter One: Origin
• Starlight Distillery announces estate-grown Indiana Straight 10-Year Reserve Bourbon at cask strength
• Wild Turkey honors Eddie Russell’s 45th anniversary with Russell’s Reserve 13 Year and custom documentary

(more…)

It’s This Week in Bourbon for May 29th 2026. New updates happening in the Uncle Nearest case, Wild Turkey brings back the Cheesy Gold Foil, and Bardstown Bourbon Company is going to Mars.

Show Notes:

• A federal judge has expanded Uncle Nearest’s receivership to investigate a secret $20 million loan from Jay-Z’s firm.
• Blending pioneer Nancy Fraley is retiring from Jos. A. Magnus & Co., leaving her legacy with Head Distiller Will Fabry.
• The Kentucky Bourbon Festival introduces a secure, face-value official ticket resale platform via TIXR.
• Filmland Spirits releases The Crimson Cask, a 90-proof noir-inspired bourbon exclusive to Kentucky.
• Blue Run Spirits collaborates with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a limited-edition 111-proof bourbon.
• Evan Williams launches officially licensed America250 commemorative whiskeys, donating $75,000 to Folds of Honor.
• Titanic Hotel Belfast partners with Titanic Distillery to launch an exclusive historic Quarter experience package.
• Heaven Hill designates its 2026 Grain to Glass lineup as the “Year of Wheat” across three limited expressions.
• Remus Bourbon introduces the Lou Gehrig Reserve, donating proceeds to the Live Like Lou ALS charity.
• Shortbarrel announces the return of Sapsquatch Bourbon, utilizing a unique two-stage maple finishing method.
• Bradshaw Bourbon rolls out personalized engraved gift sets for Father’s Day through late June.
• Heaven Hill releases a 10-year-old Rittenhouse Rye commemorative edition for America’s 250th anniversary.
• Buffalo Trace revives Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain and Cured Oak expressions for May 2026.
• Veteran-owned Four Branches Bourbon debuts Liberty Reserve to honor America’s Semiquincentennial anniversary.
• Proof & Wood announces Tumblin’ Dice 13-Year Rye, featuring a 95% rye mashbill at barrel proof.
• 15 STARS debuts First West Explorer, its first bourbon crafted from 100% in-house black corn distillate.
• Garrison Brothers launches the Ranch Reserve Series featuring PX and Oloroso sherry cask-finished Texas bourbons.
• Wild Turkey introduces the Austin Nichols Archives series, debuting with a 16-year-old “Cheesy Gold Foil” tribute.
• Bardstown Bourbon Company debuts a first-of-its-kind Japanese Single Malt co-aged blend with Hombo Shuzo.

(more…)

It’s This Week in Bourbon for May 15th 2026. Brown-Forman has officially rejected a $15 billion all-cash takeover bid from Sazerac, FBI Director Kash Patel is facing scrutiny with personalized bottles of Woodford Reserve, and Penelope Bourbon has announced Architects of Golf.

Show Notes:

• Brown-Forman rejects Sazerac’s $15 billion takeover bid to maintain family-owned independence
• Sixth Circuit strikes down Ohio’s unconstitutional ban on out-of-state wine shipping
• “Free Our Spirits” campaign launches to privatize North Carolina’s government-run liquor system
• FBI Director Kash Patel under fire for gifting personalized Woodford Reserve bottles
• Little Book Chapter 10 “All the Wiser” debuts with intuitive blending at 122.6 proof
• New Riff 2026 Single Malt features heirloom British barley and five-cask finishing
• Wenzel Distillery Batch 2 Sherry Barrel Finished Bourbon launches as a 119.1 proof limited release
• Green River Honey Finished Bourbon utilizes 100% local, raw honey inside the barrel
• Chattanooga Whiskey marks 10th Bottled in Bond vintage with new five-grain mash bill
• Maker’s Mark honors America’s 250th anniversary with patriotic red, white, and blue bottle
• Town Branch releases 6-Year Wheated Bourbon as its first dedicated wheat expression
• Penelope Bourbon debuts “Architects of Golf” trilogy featuring variable stave finishing intensity

(more…)

It’s This Week in Bourbon for May 8th 2026. Tariffs between Scotland and the US have been removed, the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) has unveiled the Certified Craft Seal, and Stitzel Reserve 31-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskey.

Show Notes:

• President Trump pledges removal of 10% Scotch whisky tariffs to restore trade relations
• John McKillop releases novel Bourbon Brothers featuring rare real-world bottles
• Give 270 hosts Bourbon Strong 50-4-50 raffle benefiting Feeding America
• American Craft Spirits Association launches TTB-approved Certified Craft Seal
• Old Fourth Distillery rebrands spirits portfolio starting with Cane-Based Vodka
• Chicken Cock and Laird’s collaborate on Old Glory Rye and Apple Brandy blend
• Jack Daniel’s debuts ultra-premium Halo MK1 McLaren F1 Team collaboration
• Stitzel-Weller releases $3,000 Stitzel Reserve 31-Year-Old Bourbon at 163.2 proof
• 15 STARS debuts Kentucke County™ line to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary

(more…)

It’s This Week in Bourbon for April 24th 2026. Sazerac has formally offered $15 billion to buy Brown Forman, Uncle Nearest could be forced to shut down within 30 days, and Buffalo Trace Distillery has announced the release of Eagle Rare 30.

Show Notes:

• Jeptha Creed Distillery launches new visitor experiences and single-barrel programs to mark 10th anniversary
• Sazerac launches $15 billion acquisition bid for rival Brown-Forman
• Uncle Nearest faces potential shutdown and insolvency amid financial crisis and default
• Diageo opens new $415 million automated manufacturing facility in Alabama
• Buffalo Trace announces Eagle Rare 30, its oldest age-stated bourbon, for $12,500
• Kentucky Senator Bourbon and PDJF partner for limited 140-bottle charity release
• Jack Daniel Distillery debuts Special Release Small Batch Rye aged 10 years
• Michter’s announces first-ever release of US*1 Barrel Strength Sour Mash in May
• Hard Truth Distilling Co. unveils limited Mizunara Finished Wheated Bourbon
• B.R. Distilling launches unfiltered Blue Note Small Batch Wheated Bourbon
• Maker’s Mark releases 2026 edition of wheat-forward Star Hill Farm Whisky
• Four Roses rolls out second rotation of its Single Barrel Collection nationwide

(more…)

It’s This Week in Bourbon for April 3rd 2026. Brown-Forman Corp. and Pernod Ricard have confirmed mutual interest in a merger, two lawsuits have been dismissed for competing bourbon brands, and Larrikin Bourbon has released its third annual “Pour for the Roses”.

Show Notes:

• Brown-Forman and Pernod Ricard confirm mutual interest in a “merger of equals” to consolidate two of the world’s largest spirits portfolios while maintaining family control
• Green River Distilling parts ways with Head Distiller Aaron Harris as the Owensboro facility faces further workforce contractions
• LF Heritage Distilling Co. property ordered to foreclosure and sale following a $5 million debt dispute with construction contractors
• MGP Ingredients clears securities fraud lawsuit after a judge rules leadership mismanaged market shifts rather than intentionally misleading investors
• Brough Brothers loses appeals court challenge against Fresh Bourbon over the “first” Black-owned Kentucky distillery claim
• Larrikin Bourbon launches “Pour for the Roses – 2026 Running,” a 9-year single barrel expression featuring vintage feed bag packaging for the Kentucky Derby
• Proof & Wood introduces its first Bottled in Bond expression with an 11-year Tumblin’ Dice Straight Bourbon featuring a unique 99% corn mashbill
• Hard Truth Distilling Co. debuts its first 7-year age-stated trio, featuring Sweet Mash Rye, Bourbon, and Wheated Bourbon crafted entirely on their Indiana campus

(more…)

It’s This Week in Bourbon for March 27th 2026. Uncle Nearest back at it again, Heaven Hill Distillery has announced the inaugural release of Elijah Craig Single Barrel 15-Year-Old, and Evan Williams is releasing five limited-edition Single Barrel Bourbon Nation Collegiate Edition bottles.

Show Notes:

• Van Gogh Fast feature film set to shoot at Kentucky Bourbon Trail distilleries this spring
• Receiver requests gag order and $75,000 in sanctions against Uncle Nearest founder Fawn Weaver
• Reyes Beverage Group to acquire RNDC operations across 10 states and Washington, D.C.
• Bardstown Bourbon Co. countersues former HR VP over alleged disclosure of confidential information
• Gulf Coast package stores sue Ruan Transport over state liquor warehouse software glitch
• Remus Bourbon launches Remus Bottle Club quarterly direct-to-consumer subscription service
• Four Roses Distillery debuts permanent “Meet Me With Four Roses” brand campaign
• Heaven Hill Distillery adds Elijah Craig Single Barrel 15-Year-Old Bourbon to permanent portfolio
• Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. debuts 10-Year-Old Henry Kraver’s Reserve Bourbon
• Jake Norris returns to Colorado craft scene with The Curated Barrel Project online-only releases
• Blue Run Spirits and Atlanta Braves partner for commemorative 60th-anniversary bourbon
• Buffalo Trace Distillery unveils $550 Daniel Weller Spelt Wheat aged 10 years
• Evan Williams drops five limited-edition Single Barrel Bourbon Nation Collegiate Edition bottles
• Jack Daniel’s announces sweepstakes for latest Aged Series bottle releases in Lynchburg
• Lux Row Distillers announces Blood Oath Pact 12 finished in Italian wine casks
• Horse Soldier Bourbon launches ultra-premium 13-year Liberty Edition for America’s 250th anniversary
• National Bourbon Week returns to Bardstown, Kentucky, June 14-21, 2026

(more…)

It’s This Week in Bourbon for March 20th 2026. Uncle Nearest Saga has taken a wild twist, Kentucky Bourbon Festival has announced ticket sale dates, and Bardstown Bourbon Company will release its Distillery Reserve Cascadia Garryana Oak Barrel Finish.

Show Notes:

• Uncle Nearest founder Fawn Weaver files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and countersues lender for $529M
• Court receiver moves to block Uncle Nearest bankruptcy filing and seeks $75K in sanctions
• Judge stays $2.6M sale of Uncle Nearest Martha’s Vineyard property pending independent appraisals
• Chicken Cock Whiskey rebrands Louisville speakeasy as “The Coupe” with grand opening March 26
• Kentucky Bourbon Festival 35th anniversary tickets go on sale April 14 for September event
• Lux Row Distillers debuts Lux Row Estate Bourbon featuring corn grown on-site
• Evan Williams adds 65-proof Blackberry expression to its nationwide flavored whiskey portfolio
• Barrell Craft Spirits introduces multi-cask finished Barrell Cigar Blend Bourbon for $85
• Augusta Distillery launches cask-strength Small Batch and Wheated Single Barrel expressions
• Blue Note Bourbon reveals 2026 Special Reserve featuring a nine-cask finish blend
• Booker’s Bourbon kicks off 2026 with 129.1-proof “Big Easy” Batch
• Bardstown Bourbon Company unveils Distillery Reserve Cascadia Garryana Oak Barrel Finish

(more…)