Bourbon and Distillery News for April 18, 2026

Welcome to the latest edition of Bourbon Obsessed Bourbon and Distillery News! It’s been a busy week in the bourbon world! Let’s jump right in!

Contents:

Kentucky Bourbon Trail — MGP-LuxCo — AJ Bond — Sazerac Brown-Forman Bid — Home Distilling — The Ingram Distillery — Curated Barrel — No Sleep Beverage — Noble Oak — Japanese Whisky — Legacy Winery & Spirits — Constellation — Pernod Ricard — Lofted Spirits

Bourbon and Distillery News For April 18, 2026

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

Check out these new reviews:

• Bardstown Bourbon Company Cascadia Garryana Oak Barrel Finish Bourbon is the first Distillery Reserve release of 2026. It is finished in rare Garryana oak barrels. How does this unique wood influence the whiskey? Read my full review to find out!
• Boss Molly Bourbon Finished with Amarone Staves is a wheated bourbon with a 100 barrel entry proof and a unique stave finishing process. So, how does that affect the bourbon? Find out in my full review!
• Weldon Mills Select Bourbon is a North Carolina grain-to-glass bourbon made with corn, malted wheat, and malted barley. Bottled at 94 proof, it delivers layered flavor and surprising complexity. Read on for my full review!

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Bourbon and Distillery News for April 18, 2026

Kentucky Bourbon Trail 2025 Visitation

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail welcomed 2.7 million visitors in 2025, holding steady with the previous year’s total. Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, stated, “Holding strong at 2.7 million visitors is a tremendous win in today’s tourism climate. While other destinations are seeing pullbacks, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail adventure continues to demonstrate its strength, stability, and global appeal.” The program featured nearly 70 participating distillery destinations in 2025, including 11 new destinations. Visitors from all 50 states and more than 20 countries traveled to the Commonwealth, with approximately 80 percent of all visitors originating from outside Kentucky. According to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, guests stay three to five days on average and groups spend between $600 and $1,400 per trip, delivering an economic impact to communities across the Commonwealth. kybourbontrail.com

Editor’s note: I have to wonder what effect the shutdowns in production at some of the larger distilleries will have on tourism. Will visitors still want to travel and pay to see empty fermenters and dormant stills? I guess we will find out.

MGP Ingredients Announces Temporary Idling of Operations at Two Kentucky Distilling Facilities

MGP Ingredients, Inc. announced plans to “temporarily idle distilling operations at its Limestone Branch Distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky and Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, Kentucky” starting May 1, 2026. The decision affects 33 employees across the two facilities and was made as the company “adjusts production levels to align with its current inventory levels”. Julie Francis, president and CEO of MGP Ingredients, stated, “The American whiskey market continues to be structurally oversupplied, with excess capacity and elevated inventory. Like many companies across the industry, we are navigating a challenging environment and taking steps to better align our operations with current inventory levels while supporting our efficiency and productivity goals”. The company expects to resume operations when inventory supports additional production, which could be as early as 12 months after the idling begins. Other operations, including warehousing, bottling, barrel programs, and visitor centers, will remain open and continue to offer tours and tastings. MGPIngredients.com

Editor’s note: Does anyone else find the wording “as early as 12 months” ominous? I am concerned that the distilleries that emerge out of this shutdown may have a different look than what we see today.

Sazerac Formally Names Tennessee Operation AJ Bond Distillery

Sazerac has officially named its Tennessee operation the AJ Bond Distillery, marking a major milestone as the company prepares to debut its first Tennessee Whiskey in Summer 2026. The name honors the bond between Master Distillers Allisa Henley and the late John Lunn, whose “shared passion and decades of experience helped bring Sazerac’s Tennessee whiskey ambitions to life”. The company entered the category in 2016 with the acquisition of the Popcorn Sutton distillery facility, retaining the skilled production team led by Henley and Lunn. Jake Wenz, President and CEO of Sazerac, stated, “Formally naming AJ Bond Distillery reinforces our commitment to Tennessee Whiskey and reflects Sazerac’s broader vision to invest in exceptional people, places and traditions that shape the future of American spirits”. While details on the flagship brand are expected in the coming months, the distillery plans to introduce additional expressions and limited experimental releases in the years ahead. sazerac.com

Editor’s note: This distillery came on-line a number of years back, and at the time, we heard about Popcorn Sutton, Allisa Henley and John Lunn. Since then, though, we have heard nary a peep. But, now we finally know a bit more! I’m looking forward to trying their Tennessee Whiskey when it is finally released!

Sazerac Offers to Buy Brown-Forman for Around $15 Billion

As originally reported by The Wall Street Journal, Sazerac has offered to buy Brown-Forman, and the price is being said to be around $15 billion. Sazerac offered $32 per share for its Louisville rival, according to people familiar with the matter. The interest comes as Brown-Forman “has been in deal talks with another competitor, Pernod Ricard“, according to the WSJ. Brown-Forman, which has a market value of around $13.5 billion, also owns Woodford Reserve, Old Forester and Herradura tequila. Closely held Sazerac remains entirely family owned and features a portfolio of 550 brands, including Buffalo Trace bourbon, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky and BuzzBallz. Analysts have suggested that Pernod Ricard “could have the inside track on a deal because it would likely structure it to allow the Brown family to maintain some control.” wsj.com

Editor’s note: But…. we don’t know that the Brown family still wants to be in the bourbon business, and $15 billion is a pretty attractive offer. They may want to take the money and run, or superyacht, away. Since Buffalo Trace and Brown-Forman are both American companies, one might wonder if there would be anti-trust concerns. However, it would seem that the current environment is fairly friendly for such mergers. So, if this buyout is going to happen, now would be the time!

Bourbon and Distillery News For April 18, 2026

US Court Strikes Down 158-Year Home Distilling Ban

As reported by The Spirits Business, a US appeals court has declared the 158-year ban on home distilling unconstitutional, ruling that the government cannot forbid it to protect tax revenue. On April 10, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled in favor of the Hobby Distillers Association in the case Hobby Distillers Association v. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, concluding that the federal ban on distilling at home “violates the Constitution’s Taxation Clause and Necessary and Proper Clause”. The court rejected the government’s argument that the ban prevents tax evasion, calling the statute “anti-revenue” because it eliminates production entirely rather than raising funds.

The ruling noted that if Congress could ban an activity simply because it might lead to tax avoidance, “home-based businesses may be forbidden” and “remote work may be deemed a crime”. While the decision is a landmark step, the Hobby Distillers Association stated that individuals must still seek a federal permit from the TTB to make spirits at home and must comply with all state and local laws. thespiritsbusiness.com

The Ingram Distillery Officially Opens Grounds to the Public

The Ingram Distillery announced today that it is officially open to the public in Columbus, KY. Visitors can now “walk the historic grounds, step aboard the only floating barrelhouse in the world” and take in views from the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. The distillery is also launching a partnership with One Mississippi, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring the Mississippi River. “We couldn’t be more excited to open our grounds to the public and announce our partnership with One Mississippi,” said Founder Hank Ingram. To celebrate Earth Day, 10% of all sales from April 22-26 at The Ingram Distillery and its online store will support the nonprofit. Three tour options are now available: the Barge to Bottle Classic Tour, the Chartered Experience, and the Mellow on the Mississippi Retreat. This opening follows a year where the distillery released O.H. Ingram Flagship Bourbon and Uncharted Kentucky wheated bourbon. Read the press release here.

The Curated Barrel Project

Veteran distiller Jake Norris is launching the Curated Barrel Project, an Arvada, Colorado-based program that ditches “whiskey snobbery” for a direct-to-consumer, experiential approach. The whiskeys are “produced to Norris’ specs” at Southern Distilling Company in North Carolina, featuring a mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malt. The project kicks off with a seven-year bourbon, which serves as the base spirit for the various cask-finished expressions to follow roughly once per quarter. Each bottle, priced at $99, comes with a “custom zine” and a QR code used to access a curated musical playlist designed to accompany the whiskey. The program also features a series of 50-person pairing dinners to take place in Norris’ future Arvada distillery. thecuratedbarrelproject.com Source: Arvada Today – National Today

No Sleep Beverage Launches Portfolio Platform with Three Strategic Acquisitions

No Sleep Beverage Inc. has announced the launch of a new platform company following the strategic acquisition and roll-up of three high-growth spirits brands. The new entity represents the next phase of growth for No Sleep Beverage, expanding beyond venture investing and consulting into full portfolio ownership and operations. The initial portfolio includes Tucson-based Whiskey Del Bac, Austin-based Nine Banded Whiskey, and New York-based Ume Plum Liqueur. Nick Papanicolaou, CEO of No Sleep Beverage, stated, “We believe the best way to invest in the beverage alcohol space is to roll up a portfolio of iconic brands, introduce efficiencies from the portfolio while professionalizing operations, and prepare them for exit when this industry has worked through the current down cycle”. The company plans to leverage shared infrastructure to improve each brand’s path to profitability by reducing selling costs, which CFO David No identified as “often the biggest barrier for a brand’s success”. While focusing initially on markets in Phoenix, Tucson, Austin, and Southeast Florida, No Sleep Beverage intends to selectively add more complementary brands to its portfolio over time. nosleepbeverage.com

Editor’s Note: Interesting. I thought the days of venture capital investing in distilleries was over.

Noble Oak Announces New Chapter with A21 Wine and Spirits

Apogee 21 Holdings, Inc., doing business as A21 Wine and Spirits, has added Noble Oak to its expanding portfolio of premium brands. The partnership signals a renewed focus on national expansion and market execution for the purpose-driven whiskey brand. As part of this transition, product inventory is being replenished, and new products will be available to out-of-stock accounts beginning this coming week. Rob Koch, COO of A21, stated, “This is an exciting moment for Noble Oak. By joining the A21 Wine and Spirits portfolio, we are aligning with a team that brings national reach, disciplined execution, and a deep understanding of how to build brands the right way.” The brand’s sustainability platform, “Every Bottle Plants a Tree,” remains central to its mission, having already planted over 1.25 million trees globally. Noble Oak joins other brands in the A21 Wine and Spirits portfolio, including Monkey in Paradise Craft Vodka, Ándale Luxury Tequila, and Blue Nectar Tequila. Source: Wine Industry Network Advisor

Editor’s Note: This release of this news confuses me. This news was reported by the Wine Industry Network Advisor as a press release dated April 16, 2026. However, that same source reported on April 5, 2024 that A21 purchased Noble Oak from Edrington. Also, Rob Koch, who is the COO of A21 is quoted speaking as the COO of Noble Oak. So, I am not exactly sure what is happening here. The best that I can sort out seems to be that A21 was publicly dormant for a couple of years while undergoing restructuring and infrastructure development and acquiring brands, and is just this year bringing those brands to market in earnest.

Bourbon and Distillery News For April 18, 2026

This next story is bourbon-adjacent, but I thought it was interesting:

Japanese Whisky and Sake Exports Reach New Heights

According to data from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, combined exports of Japanese whisky and sake hit a peak of ¥95 billion (approximately $600 million) in 2025. This reflects a 289% increase over the last decade, with the combined value of these spirits now outstripping scallops, which had long been the country’s top (agricultural) export. The rise in Japanese whisky is attributed to a “new wave of innovative distilleries” producing a range of products from entry-level to super-premium to meet global demand, particularly in the United States. There are currently more than 130 distilleries producing whisky across Japan. Source: thedrinksbusiness.com

Editor’s note: I had no idea that Japan’s top export was scallops?! Looking into this further, scallops are the top food and agricultural export. Vehicles and electrical machinery/computers are the overall top exports. But, still…scallops?

Hudsonville Distillery Forced to Rebrand Bourbon Line Over Trademark Dispute

Legacy Winery & Spirits of Hudsonville, MI, is rebranding its bourbon line to the Barrel Thief series after receiving a cease and desist from “one of the largest bourbon makers in the world”. According to co-owner Anjalie Wassink, the dispute arose because the larger distiller has trademarked the name “Legacy” in conjunction with the word whiskey. “Apparently, they trademarked the name ‘Legacy’ with the word whiskey. You can’t have both on a front label,” Wassink said. While the business must rebrand its spirits—resulting in $2,000 worth of discarded labels and several thousand dollars in legal fees—it will retain its name for the winery portion of the operation. The new Barrel Thief name pays homage to the Kentucky tradition of sampling uncut, unfiltered bourbon straight from the barrel, an experience the Wassinks plan to bring to their Michigan tasting room. The facility, located at the Terra Station development in Hudsonville, is currently hosting tours and expects to open its full tasting room later this summer. Source: mlive.com

Editor’s note: For those who may be wondering, the word Legacy with respect to its use with whiskey is trademarked by Sazerac Brands, LLC. Sazerac owns a brand called Legacy Whisky, which is a Canadian Whisky bottled at Buffalo Trace Distillery. On another note, I can’t help but notice the similarity of “Barrel Thief” to “Whiskey Thief”, but we’ll leave that matter to the parties concerned.

Constellation Brands Reports Full Year 2026 Results

Constellation Brands reported its full fiscal year 2026 results, highlighting a year of structural transition and “disciplined execution” within a dynamic operating environment. While the Beer Business continued to lead the category in dollar share gains, the Wine & Spirits Business saw a 51% decline in reported net sales, primarily reflecting the impact of major divestitures.

• Spirits Performance: Within the company’s craft spirits portfolio, Mi CAMPO Tequila—its largest spirit brand—delivered over 38% volume growth in tracked channels during the fourth quarter. The portfolio also includes High West Whiskey, Nelson’s Green Brier Whiskey, and Casa Noble Tequila.
• Craft Spirits Segment: While specific brand-by-brand dollar amounts for whiskey aren’t listed, the Craft Spirits segment (which includes High West and presumably NGB) showed strong depletion growth and high single-digit dollar sales growth. This performance notably outpaced the low single-digit growth seen in the broader higher-end spirits segment.
• Wine & Spirits Divestitures: The substantial decline in reported sales in this category was largely driven by the 2025 Wine Divestitures* and 2025 divesting of SVEDKA vodka.
• Overall Financials: For the full fiscal year, the enterprise generated $1.8 billion in free cash flow and returned over $1.6 billion to shareholders through dividends and $924 million in share repurchases.
• Fiscal 2027 Outlook: CEO Bill Newlands stated that while consumers continue to navigate a shifting macroeconomic environment, the company is encouraged by fourth-quarter momentum. The company issued a comparable EPS outlook of $11.20–$11.90 for the 2027 fiscal year.

*Editor’s Note: The 2025 Wine Divestitures involved the sale of primarily mainstream wine brands to The Wine Group, including Woodbridge, Meiomi, Robert Mondavi Private Selection, Cook’s, SIMI, and J. Rogét. Constellation did retain brands like Robert Mondavi Winery (the high-end estate label and a separate entity from Robert Mondavi Private Selection), The Prisoner Wine Company, and Kim Crawford.

Read the full report here.

Pernod Ricard Reports Q3 FY26 Results and Improving Momentum

Pernod Ricard reported organic net sales of €1,945 million ($2,289 million) for Q3 FY26, representing a slight organic growth of 0.1%. For the first nine months of the fiscal year, organic net sales totaled €7,199 million ($8,474 million), an organic decline of 4.4%. In the United States, the company’s largest market, sales contracted by 12% in Q3 and 14% for the nine-month period. The company noted that following a “soft” holiday season, U.S. market performance improved to -4% in the third quarter, with the on-premise channel performing better than the off-premise. The Specialty Brands portfolio—which includes American whiskey brands Jefferson’s, TX, and Smooth Ambler (but not Rabbit Hole)—saw an organic sales decline of 9% in Q3 and 8% year-to-date, which was apparently dragged down by Lillet (a French Apéritif). The American whiskeys are otherwise not singled out. Overall, Pernod Ricard is “actively managing what is within our control” and expects full-year organic net sales to decline between 3% and 4% due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The company also confirmed it remains in discussions with Brown-Forman regarding a potential “merger of equals.” (For more details, read the press release here.)

This just in:

Lofted Spirits Cuts Production at Bardstown Bourbon Company and Green River Distilling

Louisville Business First just reported that Lofted Spirits is further cutting production at its distilleries, Green River Distilling and Bardstown Bourbon Company. Distilling at Bardstown Bourbon Company will be reduced to only 1 shift, and will take place at Green River on an “as-needed basis.” Barreling, bottling and warehouse operations will continue. On a brighter note, the article also reported that “The company’s co-packing and bottling operation has continued to grow” and that “Bardstown Bourbon and Green River brands grew by 44% in 2025, with the biggest month of shipments in history in January.” Source: Louisville Business First.

Bourbon and Distillery News For April 18, 2026

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