Bourbon and Distillery News for April 4, 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 in!

Contents: Rotten Little Bastard Distillery — GALLO-Four Roses — Binder’s Stash — 1933 Society — Alberta Whisky — Old Treasure — Lofted Spirits — Woodford Reserve — Bardstown Bourbon Company — DISCUS Export Report — American Whiskey Association Report — Events — Upcoming New Releases

Bourbon and Distillery News For April 4, 2026

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

Check out these new reviews:

• Bourbon Rabbi Cacao Finished Bourbon is a 98-proof Kentucky straight bourbon finished with cacao nibs, bringing chocolate and cherry notes to the forefront. How does this unique dessert-style bourbon perform? Read our full review to find out!
• Remus Repeal Reserve IX (2025) is a blend of high-rye bourbons aged 10 to 18 years, bottled at 104 proof. What is the latest release from Ross & Squibb like? Read Ray Marcano’s full review to find out.
• Shortbarrel Four Grain Bourbon is a 92-proof Kentucky straight bourbon blending wheated and rye bourbons, aged 4 to 5 years with additional maturation in Atlanta. How does this more approachable everyday release compare to the brand’s higher-proof and finished offerings? Read my full review to find out!

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Bourbon and Distillery News for April 4, 2026

Rotten Little Bastard Distillery Files for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

South Carolina-based Rotten Little Bastard Distillery, also known as RLB Distillery Company Inc., filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on March 10, 2026, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina. The Beaufort distillery, which opened in June 2020 and produced vodka, moonshine, gin, rum, bourbon, and American whiskey, will be liquidated under the filing. According to court documents, the company listed total assets of $152,554.72—including $1,061.47 in cash, $80,000 in inventory and $66,740 in machinery, equipment, vehicles, etc—against $395,265.12 in total liabilities. The debt includes a $321,445.52 secured Small Business Administration loan from United Community Bank. Owners Brian and Brigid Fackrell stated that the closure followed an “unexpected rough start” due to the pandemic and “changes in how people drink alcohol,” noting they could not find a buyer or investor. Remaining inventory will be sold through South Carolina retailers and online via Cellar.com and Tipxy.com. Sources: The Street, The Spirits Business, and Facebook.

GALLO Completes Acquisition of Four Roses Bourbon From Kirin Holdings

GALLO announced today that it has finalized an agreement with Kirin Holdings to acquire Four Roses Bourbon, bringing the brand back under U.S. family ownership for the first time in 83 years. Four Roses, known for its ten distinct bourbon recipes, strengthens GALLO’s global presence in the premium spirits category. The company is committed to “continuity across liquid, production, traditions, and people,” and the existing team will remain in place, including Master Distiller Brent Elliott. Britt West, Chief Commercial Officer of GALLO, stated that the company is committed to “building the brand as a cornerstone of our portfolio through increased consumer and trade engagement, innovation, and global expansion.” Brent Elliott noted that with GALLO‘s support, the distillery is “well positioned to build on our momentum while staying true to the quality and character that have guided us for generations.” Read the full press release.

Editor’s Note: Back when the initial announcement was made, the price that GALLO would pay for Four Roses was said to be up to $775 million, according to Reuters. However, no dollar amount is mentioned in the current press release.

Binder’s Stash Tasting Room Project Halted by $1.2 Million Lawsuit

According to reporting by Janet Patton of the Lexington Herald-Leader, the high-profile boutique whiskey label Binder’s Stash has seen construction on its first tasting room in Louisville halted due to a lawsuit and over $1.2 million in liens. Buffalo Construction Inc. filed suit against the property owner, Stoddard Spirits Landco LLC, alleging it is owed more than $1.2 million for work performed last year. The lawsuit also notes at least three additional liens from subcontractors, including a counterclaim from one firm seeking nearly $21,000 for materials. Buffalo Construction Inc. suspended work on the project at 121 S. Clay St. on Nov. 21, stating it has been unable to pay its subcontractors. Drew Stoddard, CEO of Binder’s Stash and sole member of Stoddard Spirits, told Louisville Business First that the project is facing financing issues and the team is seeking new funding. Despite the legal and financial hurdles, Stoddard indicated that Binder’s Stash still intends to open the $2 million facility, which was originally scheduled to debut last fall. Source: Lexington Herald-Leader.

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The 1933 Society to Open Beneath Hotel Distil

The 1933 Society, a modern speakeasy located beneath Hotel Distil on Louisville’s Whiskey Row, is scheduled to debut on May 5. The 60-seat venue features a discreet entrance at 1st & Main Street and a cocktail program inspired by figures who “safeguarded American drinking culture during Prohibition,” such as Tom Bullock and Mary Dowling. Casey Grinold, General Manager of Hotel Distil, stated the concept offers “access to rare and exclusive pours alongside a cocktail program rooted in the people who carried the industry through Prohibition”. The menu will include classic and inventive cocktails, rare spirits, and single barrel selections. The speakeasy will operate Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to midnight, and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Hotel Distil website.

Alberta Introduces Official Appellation for Alberta Whisky

The Alberta government wants the province’s whisky industry to have its own special appellation, and on March 31, 2026, introduced Bill 24, the Alberta Whisky Act, in the legislature. The act lays out the rules for what makes an Alberta whisky an Alberta whisky. The product is required to be mashed, fermented, distilled, aged, proofed, and bottled entirely within the province using 100 percent Alberta water. In addition at least two-thirds of the grain used must have been grown in the province. Under these new standards, a little over nine percent of the alcohol can be added using outside spirits for flavor, but these spirits must be aged at least two years. Caramel coloring also will be permitted. Premier Danielle Smith stated the legislation aims to help the province’s 45 distillers differentiate their products from other Canadian whisky on the market. Notably, the bill is reported to be the first in Canada drafted using artificial intelligence to analyze data and create the “building blocks” of the legislation. Participation in the labeling program is voluntary, with the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) office overseeing enforcement. Source: Yahoo News Canada – Edmonton Journal.

Larry Rice Launches New Bourbon Brand, Old Treasure

Larry Rice, the Louisville industry veteran who helped shape the city’s bourbon scene as the owner of the acclaimed whiskey bar The Silver Dollar, has launched a new premium line of barrel selections called Old Treasure. The Silver Dollar, which Rice opened in 2011, was known for its expert whiskey curation before closing last year following pandemic-related struggles. Rice, who also founded the Pearl of Germantown, has long built a following for his single-barrel picks but had previously resisted starting his own label. Old Treasure focuses on hand-picked, unique barrels that Rice selects alongside longtime collaborator Susie Hoyt. The initial release is an 11-year-old, 139-proof bourbon featuring a “high-corn, no-wheat mash bill,” priced at $234 per bottle. Rice told Garden & Gun that the brand is built on a direct-to-consumer model, stating, “Everything that we put into a bottle we will love, or we won’t do it.” Source: Garden & Gun.

Jefferson’s Bourbon and Holland America Line Announce Sea-Aging Partnership

Holland America Line and Jefferson’s Bourbon have announced a first-of-its-kind partnership to age whiskey at sea across the cruise line’s entire fleet of 11 ships. Announced on March 27, 2026, to coincide with International Whiskey Day, the collaboration marks the first time the Jefferson’s Ocean Aged at Sea Bourbon series has partnered with a cruise line. Beginning in March 2026, Jefferson’s started loading one barrel of bourbon onto each ship, where it will sail for a minimum of six months. “This partnership with Jefferson’s Bourbon is another way we’re setting ourselves apart through experiences that are too good to hurry through,” said Drew Foulk, Director of Food and Beverage Revenue and Innovation at Holland America Line. Founder Trey Zoeller added, “By placing Jefferson’s Ocean barrels on their cruise ships, we’re diving into a quest to see how different routes and voyages—meaning different climates and agitation—influence the taste, smell, and mouthfeel of our whiskey.” Each barrel will yield approximately 150 to 300 bottles and will be available exclusively to guests on board in 2027. hollandamerica.com

Milam & Greene Launches 188-Day World Cruise Bourbon Experiment

Milam & Greene Whiskey has initiated a controlled aging study in partnership with Regent Seven Seas Cruises aboard a 188-day world cruise. According to Emily Cappiello of Forbes, the experiment features one barrel of bourbon traveling on the Seven Seas Mariner to experience constant maritime motion and sea air across various global climates. To measure the environmental impact, three “land-based” control barrels from the same distillation batch are maturing simultaneously in three distinct locations: the Milam & Greene distillery in Blanco, Texas, a warehouse in Kentucky, and a third site in New York. Master Blender Heather Greene stated the study is designed to “push the boundaries of how environment shapes flavor” by comparing the maritime-aged spirit against those aged in different terrestrial humidity and temperature profiles. The results of the 31,000-nautical-mile journey will be evaluated once the voyage concludes in 2027. The final release will be limited and exclusive to guests who were part of the journey. Source: forbes.com

Lofted Spirits President Pete Marino to Step Down

Lofted Spirits President Pete Marino announced on LinkedIn that he will be stepping down from his role at the end of June 2026. Marino, who has been associated with the company for three years, stated that while the decision was difficult, it is the “right decision and right time” for him. Lofted Spirits was formed by Pritzker Private Capital following its acquisitions of Bardstown Bourbon Co and Green River Distilling Co. Marino has agreed to remain with the company as an advisor to support the commercial end of the business after his operating role concludes. He noted that while at Lofted Spirits, as a team, they “accomplished a lot” and it has been a “great few years of learning and growing”. Sources: LinkedIn and Global Drinks Intel.

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Woodford Reserve Unveils $5,000 Mint Julep Cup Program for Kentucky Derby 152

Woodford Reserve is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States through its $5,000 Mint Julep Charity Cup program for Kentucky Derby 152. The collection includes a total of 152 hand-crafted cups: 76 polished pewter cups priced at $2,000 and 76 gold-plated sterling silver cups priced at $5,000. Each cup, created by Graham Newton of From The Vault, features a sculpted thoroughbred surrounded by 13 stars to honor the original colonies and is adorned with 13 lab-created white sapphires. Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall stated the program “marries two historic events – the birth of the United States and the most iconic American race”. Net proceeds from the sales benefit Closely Crafted, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving artisan craftsmanship in the American fashion industry. This year’s official recipe features Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon and a simple syrup made with sugar maple syrup spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. www.woodfordreserve.com

Former Bardstown Bourbon Company Executive Sues for Defamation

According to Janet Patton reporting in the Lexington Herald-Leader, former Bardstown Bourbon Co. (BBC) executive Herb Heneman has filed a defamation lawsuit against whistleblower Sylvia Sanders. The suit, filed March 26, alleges that Sanders—the former BBC Vice President of Human Resources—made “utterly false derogatory and disparaging statements” in an earlier filing alleging “gender discrimination and retaliation.”

Sanders’ original February 13 lawsuit accused BBC, parent company Lofted Spirits, and several executives of gender discrimination, and included allegations that Heneman was a “sexual predator” who engaged in “inappropriate sexist actions”. The filing also claimed Heneman drove an employee’s jeep through a cornfield while intoxicated during a visit by singer Brad Paisley. Heneman, who was not a defendant in that case, stated “I unequivocally deny these allegations, which are untrue and unsupported by evidence.” The original complaint has since been sealed and refiled as a redacted version without the names of those who are not defendants. Source: Lexington Herald-Leader.

U.S. Spirits Exports Decline in 2025 Amid Trade Friction

According to the March 2026 American Spirits Exports 2025 report by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), U.S. spirits exports declined 3.8% to $2.37 billion in 2025 due to trade friction, economic headwinds, and retaliatory actions in key markets. For the first time since 1996, American Whiskey fell below 50% of total U.S. spirits exports, reaching a record low of 45%.

• Canada Sales Ban: Exports to Canada dropped 70% year-over-year following a March 2025 ban on U.S. spirits sales across most provinces.
• EU Market Impact: While the European Union remains the largest export market at $1.2 billion, American Whiskey exports to the EU fell 35% to $454 million. This is likely largely the result of American Whiskey producers front-loading exports to the EU in late 2024 in response to the threat of upcoming retaliatory tariffs.
• Top Exporting States: Kentucky led the nation with $799 million in spirits exports, followed closely by Tennessee at $793 million.
• Category Performance: American Whiskeys remained the top export category at $1.08 billion despite a 19% decline, while Liqueurs and Cordials rose 38% to $511 million.
• Inventory Surplus: American Whiskey inventory has tripled since 2012, reaching 1.5 billion proof gallons by October 2025 as domestic volume sales continue to slow.
• Exports declined to Canada, EU and Japan, but rose 13% to international markets outside of those areas.

The Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS) notes that future growth depends on a permanent return to zero-for-zero tariffs and securing new market-opening agreements in countries like India and Brazil. Read the full report here.

American Whiskey Association Releases Inaugural Socio-Economic Impact Report

The American Whiskey Association (AWA) has published its first-ever socio-economic impact report, “Distilling Value: The Economic and Cultural Power of American Whiskey“. While much of the industry data aligns with recent economic briefings, this report highlights the sector’s broader influence, including its $5.1 billion annual contribution to the U.S. economy, its relationship to other sectors, innovation and sustainability.

Editor’s Note: While this report provides a comprehensive look at the industry’s footprint, please note that the data in the recently released DISCUS report contains more up-to-date figures regarding 2025 export specifics and domestic sales.

Here are some key points:

• Unifying the Industry: Founded in 2025, the AWA serves as a global voice to promote, lead, and protect the category, with a stated vision to make American Whiskey “the world’s whiskey”.
• Sustainability: The report spotlights Sazerac’s Buffalo Trace Distillery for its partnership with Meridien Biotech to convert stillage into multi-functional proteins, and Pernod Ricard’s $250 million investment in developing a carbon-neutral distillery and aging warehouses for Jefferson’s Bourbon.
• Forestry and Craftsmanship: Highlighting the “White Oak Initiative,” which encourages collaboration on the long-term sustainability of America’s white oak forests, the report notes the industry’s reliance on American white oak and projects the American oak barrel market will reach $2.27 billion by 2034.
• Tourism: the American Whiskey Association (AWA) will help to promote the American Whiskey Trail, a growing national tourism initiative designed to spotlight the depth and diversity of American whiskey production across the United States. The AWA is developing a digital map and interactive resource that will make it easier to explore America’s distilleries.
• Economic Footprint: Beyond sales, the sector supports a value chain that includes over 24 million food and agriculture jobs and 1.2 million forestry workers and provides a significant contribution to state and federal taxes.

Michael Bilello, President & CEO of the AWA, emphasized that the association will move forward with conviction to “defend American whiskey’s integrity” and expand access in global markets. Read the full report here.

Events

National Bourbon Week 2026: Third Annual Celebration in Bardstown

The third annual National Bourbon Week returns to Bardstown, the Bourbon Capital of the World, from June 14–21, 2026. Kicking off on National Bourbon Day, the event features 10 partner distilleries, including new additions Limestone Branch Distillery and Potter Jane Distilling Company alongside Log Still Distillery, Heaven Hill Distillery, James B. Beam Distilling Co., Preservation Distillery, Old SteelHouse Distillery, Lux Row Distillers, Maker’s Mark Distillery and Barton 1792 Distillery. According to Sam Lacy, Executive Director of the Bourbon Capital Alliance, the week will include the return of the Bourbon Capital Mash Up and multiple special releases from distillery partners. Tickets for Bourbon Capital Alliance partner distillery events went on sale March 26, but tickets for many of the events are still available. Read all the details here.

Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2026 Tickets Go On Sale in April

The Kentucky Bourbon Festival has announced that tickets for its 35th anniversary celebration will go on sale April 14, with early access for “Bourbon Insiders” on April 13. The 2026 festival will take place September 10–13 in Bardstown, Kentucky, and will feature multiple ticket tiers ranging from general admission Bourbon Taster passes to premium VIP experiences, including the Oris President’s Club. Attendees will have access to sampling from more than 60 Kentucky distilleries, exclusive single-barrel selections, educational programming, and special release bottle purchases. Ticket prices range from $225 for general admission weekend passes to $6,995 for the top-tier VIP experience. Read all the details here.

Upcoming New Releases

For next week’s New Bourbon Releases News Newsletter, we already have quite a few: Larrikin Officer Daniel Neil Ellis, Pursuit Spirits Sakura Bloom (already on sale in their tasting room), Knob Creek Blender’s Edition (it’s been out for a while, but Beam just put out the press release), Oak & Age 8 and 16 year bourbons (I got to try these last night), Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon and Rye, Gambit No. 6, Four Roses Single Barrels 2026, New Riff Duet, Chattanooga Whiskey Founder’s 14th Anniversary Blend, Castle and Key’s latest Experimental Series and Old Grand-Dad 117 7 Year Single Barrel. We’ll add to that whatever is announced before next Friday, so we are going to likely have a pretty large list!

Bourbon and Distillery News For April 4, 2026

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Well, that’s it! I hope you have enjoyed reading this week’s Bourbon and Distillery News! If you would like our newsletters delivered directly to your inbox, please sign up here. Our next New Bourbon Releases News will be published on Saturday April 11. In addition, the podcast and YouTube versions of this newsletter will go live on Monday April 6. If you enjoy our content, I would greatly appreciate if you would follow us on Instagram and Facebook. I hope you have a great weekend! See you next time! Cheers!🥃

Next, read one of our other newsletters: Bourbon and Distillery News for May 16, 2026!

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