Bourbon and Distillery News for April 11, 2025

Please enjoy this week’s Bourbon and Distillery News! Our Bourbon Release News newsletter will be published on Sunday April 13, 2025 and you can read it here. The podcast versions of our newsletters will be published on Monday April 14 and Wednesday April 16. You can listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, Spotify Podcasts or your favorite platform. You can also find it here.

Without further ado, let’s get on with the Distillery & Bourbon News For April 11, 2025!

Distillery & Bourbon News For April 11, 2025

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Distillery & Bourbon News For April 11, 2025

But First, Here’s What’s New on BourbonObsessed.com!

• 15 Stars Three Ports Bourbon Review – 15 STARS Three Ports Bourbon blends 9- and 15-year-old Kentucky straight bourbons and finishes them in three different types of port casks: Tawny, Ruby, and White Port. The result is a premium expression with layered complexity and rich depth that fans of port-finished bourbon will likely appreciate. Read the full review here.
• Jack Daniel’s 10-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey Review – Batch 4 – Although the flavors are more full and complex, this 10 year-old whiskey most closely resembles the flavor profile of Old No 7 than the more mature Aged Series variants. Read the full review here.
• Jack Daniel’s 12-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey Review – Batch 3 – The third release of Jack Daniel’s 12-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey is my favorite of the new Aged Series releases. It won me over with the rich confectionary flavors in its nose. Read the full review here.
• Jack Daniel’s 14-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey Review – Batch 1 – There is no mistaking that this is a mature whiskey, with older barrel flavors being quite evident. Nonetheless, there are plenty of rich flavors, and just the right amount of fruit, as well. This is a delicious whiskey that anyone who enjoys an older whiskey should love. Read the full review here.
• Old Steelhouse Blueprint Series Batch 002 Bourbon Review –  This Kentucky Straight Bourbon has a nice mix of full flavors, and just the right amount of complexity. If you enjoy a bourbon that starts off with sweeter flavors and fruit notes, which continue into the taste but become drier and spicier in the finish, you’ll want to give this bourbon a try. Read the full review here.

Distillery & Bourbon News For April 11, 2025

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Distillery & Bourbon News For April 11, 2025

Bourbon and Distillery News

Kentucky Bourbon Trail Sets New Record with 2.7 Million Visitors in 2024

Now, with 60 participating distilleries, The Kentucky Bourbon Trail welcomed an all-time high of 2.7 million visitors in 2024. Visitors from all 50 states and more than 20 countries across six continents poured into the Bluegrass State last year, up from 2.5 million tourists in 2023 – the third straight year topping the two million mark. Read the full article here.

Keeneland and Maker’s Mark Introduce 2024 “Greats of the Gate” Bottle

Keeneland Race Course and Maker’s Mark, today announced the second bottle in the “Greats of the Gate” 10-year commemorative bottle series. Proceeds from each year’s limited-edition bottle benefit nonprofits that support Kentucky’s horse racing industry and vibrant culture of hospitality and the arts. The 2025 “Greats of the Gate” bottle will honor the legendary racehorse Lexington, who competed from 1853 to 1855, winning six of seven races, and was famously sold to stud for the highest price ever paid for an American racehorse at the time. Available beginning April 11 for an SRP of $179.99  Read the full article here.

Bardstown Bourbon Featured on CBS 60 Minutes

Bardstown Bourbon Company was featured in a recent CBS 60 Minutes segment that explored the fascinating life of a bourbon barrel – from the age-old art of coopering to the way the flavors of bourbon shapes spirits across the world. Other Kentucky businesses were also highlighted, including Independent Stave Co. and Midwest Barrel Co. Read the full article here.

IWSC Returns to Bardstown for 2025 North American Whiskey & RTD Judging

The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) will once again host its North American whiskey and ready-to-drink (RTD) judging in Bardstown, Kentucky from June 4–7, 2025. This is only the second year the North American Whiskey and RTD categories have been judged in the United States, and IWSC’s only North American event held this year. In total, the IWSC evaluates more than 12,000 entries annually from 90-plus countries. Read the full article here.

Heaven Hill Fills First Barrel at New Heaven Hill Springs Distillery

Heaven Hill has filled the first barrel at its newly opened Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in Bardstown. Nearly three decades after a fire destroyed the original facility, the event celebrates the return of distilling to the Bourbon Capital of the World and ushers in a new era for Heaven Hill as the largest independent Bourbon producer in the world. The Heaven Hill Springs Distillery will initially produce 150,000 barrels annually, with capacity scalable up to 450,000 barrels. Read the full article here.

Garrard County Distilling Temporarily Shuts Down Amid Lawsuits and Financial Troubles

Just over a year after filling its first barrel, Garrard County Distilling Co. has paused operations and furloughed workers, amid a $2.2 million lawsuit from its general contractor and mounting financial strain. The $250 million project—once touted as one of the largest independent distilleries in Kentucky—is also facing unpaid property taxes, leadership departures, and ongoing litigation over construction issues. Read the full article here.

Maker’s Mark Launches Star Hill Farm Whisky, the First Wheat Whisky in Distillery’s History

Maker’s Mark announced the debut of Star Hill Farm Whisky, the distillery’s first new mashbill and first wheat whisky, celebrating the role regenerative agriculture plays in creating healthier soil, better flavor and a more sustainable future. The 2025 release of Star Hill Farm Whisky is crafted from two mashbills: one with 70% soft red winter wheat and 30% malted barley, and the other with 100% malted soft red winter wheat. Bottled at 114.7 proof with an SRP of $100. Available at select retailers nationwide and for purchase at the Maker’s Mark Distillery on May 13 or by booking a Star Hill Farm Whisky experience Read the full article here.

Woodford Reserve Unveils $1,000 and $5,000 Mint Julep Charity Cups for 151st Kentucky Derby

In honor of the 151st Kentucky Derby, Woodford Reserve has introduced its annual Mint Julep Charity Cup program, featuring two exclusive cups. The $1,000 Mint Julep Cup is crafted from polished pewter, while the $5,000 Mint Julep Cup is made of sterling silver with a heavy 24-karat gold plating. A total of 151 cups are available—51 of the $1,000 edition and 100 of the $5,000 edition. Net proceeds from the sales will benefit Our Mims Retirement Haven, a sanctuary for retired thoroughbred broodmares. Read the full details here.

Westward Whiskey’s Parent Company Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

House Spirits Distillery, the producer of Westward Whiskey, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to significant liquidity challenges. This move aims to facilitate a financial restructuring while allowing the company to continue its operations. Westward Whiskey is renowned for its American single malt expressions, which have garnered acclaim in the craft whiskey market. The bankruptcy filing is intended to address financial difficulties and support the brand’s future endeavors. Read the full article here.

Kentucky Floods

There have been historic floods in Kentucky, with many people, towns and distilleries severely affected, and our hearts go out to them. On the distillery side, there has been major flooding at Buffalo Trace Distillery, which I am sure everyone has seen pictures of. Glens Creek Distilling was also hit pretty hard, and I am sure others were affected, as well. We hope that their damage can be repaired promptly and that business can return to normal as soon as possible.

2025 Kentucky Bourbon Festival Tickets

We reported on this in the last newsletter, but as a reminder, tickets to this year’s Kentucky Bourbon Festival will go on sale starting April 17, 2025, with early access for “Bourbon Insiders” on April 16. Learn more and sign up to be a Bourbon Insider here.

Distillery & Bourbon News For April 11, 2025

Well, that’s it! I hope you have enjoyed this week’s Bourbon News! Stay tuned for our New Bourbon Release News, coming on Sunday April 13. If you would like our bourbon and distillery news delivered directly to your inbox, please sign up for our newsletters here. You can also follow us on Instagram and Facebook. I hope you have a great weekend! See you next time! Cheers!🥃

If you would like to read some of my other recent newsletters, then check out my Bourbon News for March 31, 2025 and Bourbon News for March 17, 2025. You can also head over to our Newsletter Archive to see all the prior editions.

Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!