Bourbon and Distillery News for August 22, 2025

Welcome back! As always, we’re here to bring you the latest distillery and bourbon news, and there is quite a bit this week! Let’s dive right in!

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

• Ten Day Toasted Oak Bourbon Review – Ten Day Toasted Oak Bourbon is a 7-year, single-barrel Kentucky straight bourbon finished 7 months with toasted French oak staves and bottled at 100 proof. Its flavor is a bit of a roller coaster from fruit and floral to dry, spicy and smoky. Read my full review.
• 15 Stars First West Toasted Oak Finish Bourbon Review – 15 STARS First West Toasted Oak Finish Bourbon blends 5–7-year-old Kentucky straight bourbons, including the brand’s own heritage corn distillate, and finishes them with two different toasted oak profiles. It’s bottled at 98 proof in 15 STARS’ history inspired blue glass bottle. Read my full review.
• The 8 Best Bourbons and Ryes for Summer Sipping – A curated list of refreshing, approachable whiskeys perfect for warm-weather enjoyment. Read the full article.

Bourbon and Distillery News For August 22, 2025

Bourbon and Distillery News

Uncle Nearest Lawsuit & Receivership

By now, I am pretty sure everyone is aware of this ongoing news. We reported on it in our last Bourbon & Distillery Newsletter, but a lot has happened since. To recap, Uncle Nearest and its Nearest Green Distillery are facing a $100 million lawsuit filed by primary lender Farm Credit Mid-America on July 28, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The lender alleges default on multiple loans totaling over $108 million, including claims of inaccurate barrel inventory reports, covenant breaches, and undisclosed asset transfers. The plaintiff filed an Emergency Motion for the Immediate Appointment of Receiver. Since that time, Uncle Nearest had responded, in part stating that their former Chief Financial Officer had overstated their barrel inventory by $21,000,000 and filed a request to compel mediation. Ultimately, the court has denied their request for mediation and granted the plaintiff’s request for placing Uncle Nearest in receivership, with the receiver yet to be named. Suffice it to say, this is a rapidly developing story, with many, many details and moving parts. My friend Mickey, over at thebourbonandryeclub.com, is covering this developing news in incredible depth, and I direct you to his page if you would like to learn more. In addition, the Facebook page for Shelbyville NOW has been closely reporting on the news and posting relevant documents as they are filed.

Middle West Spirits Appoints Luis Gonzalez as Chief Commercial Officer

I have been wondering how Old Elk was going to be integrated into Middle West Spirits following their purchase of the brand. Now we are starting to learn the details.

Following its acquisition of Old Elk Distillery earlier this year, Middle West Spirits has appointed former Old Elk CEO Luis Gonzalez as its new Chief Commercial Officer. Gonzalez will oversee commercial strategy, marketing, and operations while leading the expansion of Middle West’s growing contract distillation business into international markets. Gonzalez served as CEO of Old Elk Distillery for over seven years, transforming it from a niche craft operation into a highly awarded, nationally recognized whiskey brand available in all 50 states. Under his leadership, Old Elk became known for its innovation, commitment to quality and operational excellence. Middle West Spirits is now the largest distillery in Ohio and ranks among the top 10 grain-to-glass producers in the U.S. middlewestspirits.com (read the full press release)

Pursuit Spirits Opens New Brand Home and Cocktail Lounge on Whiskey Row

I have had the opportunity to visit the new Pursuit Spirits location on Whiskey Row, and I have to say, Ryan and Kenny have done a fantastic job with it! It’s definitely worth checking out!

Pursuit Spirits has opened a new 7,600 sq. ft. visitor experience and cocktail lounge on Louisville’s Whiskey Row. The two-story space includes retail for whiskey and branded merchandise, multiple experiences, a podcast studio, and a basement cocktail bar called Trial+Error. The experiences offered go beyond traditional tastings, offering guests the chance to explore bourbon history, participate in cocktail creation, and engage directly with the brand’s founders. Then there’s their marquee experience, The Whole Shebang!, where guests taste through multiple expressions, take part in their own personal private barrel selection process, fill their own Pursuit United bottle, and more. pursuitspirits.com

Bourbon and Distillery News For August 22, 2025

Buffalo Trace Distillery to Open John G. Carlisle Cafe in Spring 2026

Buffalo Trace Distillery has announced the upcoming opening of the John G. Carlisle Cafe, a new 4,900 sq. ft. dining venue located on the first floor of the Elmer T. Lee Clubhouse. Scheduled to open in Spring 2026, the cafe will offer lunch service with made-to-order sandwiches, salads, soups, and a limited cocktail menu featuring Buffalo Trace spirits. The cafe enhances the visitor experience by providing a comfortable dining space before or after tours and celebrates the legacy of John G. Carlisle, a key figure in bourbon history who played a crucial role in the passage of the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. buffalotracedistillery.com

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Garrison Brothers Launches Hye Fashioned Takeover 2025 with Nationwide Participation

Garrison Brothers Distillery has announced the return of Hye Fashioned Takeover, a month-long celebration of the Old Fashioned cocktail beginning September 1. With hundreds of restaurants and bars participating nationwide, the initiative raises funds for Boot Campaign, a nonprofit supporting veterans and military families. At-home participants can order a cocktail kit that includes Garrison Brothers bourbon, ingredients, rocks glasses, and more. In addition, $25 from each kit purchased goes to Boot Campaign. Fans can also post their Old Fashioneds to Instagram stories, and for each, Garrison Brothers will make a $5 donation to Boot Campaign and posters will receive an entry into a major prize giveaway. Learn more, find participating establishments and read the full rules for the giveaway at hyefashioned.com and garrisonbros.com.

UK’s Estate Whiskey Alliance® Announces First Awardees in Research Grant Program

The University of Kentucky’s Estate Whiskey Alliance® (EWA) has named the first recipients of its research grant program, which focuses on agriculture, manufacturing, and terroir in estate whiskey production. “The Estate Whiskey Alliance group, established by the University of Kentucky in 2023, is dedicated to discovering, advancing and promoting the virtues of estate-produced whiskey”, according to their mission statement. Estate whiskeys must (1) Have all steps in the production processes including milling, cooking, fermentation, distillation, barreling, aging and bottling occur on the estate distillery and (2) Use at least 2/3 of all mash bill grains that are grown on estate-owned or controlled land.

The two selected projects are:

• Harmonie Bettenhausen, Ph.D. – “Exploring Regional Terroir in Kentucky-Grown Barley for Single Malt Whiskey Production”
• Tracy Lu, Ph.D., and Min-Young Lee, Ph.D. – “Consumer Perceptions of Certified Estate Whiskeys: Marketing Insights for Sustainable Branding”

These projects span the full estate whiskey lifecycle, from analyzing terroir in Kentucky barley to investigating how certification influences consumer trust and purchasing behavior. Together, they reflect EWA’s mission to blend tradition and innovation while strengthening ties between growers, distillers, and consumers. Learn more at estatewhiskey.org.

Gallup Survey Finds U.S. Drinking Rate at Record Low, Health Concerns Rising

Gallup reports the margin of error for this survey to be 4% for the total population, higher for smaller subgroups. They included respondents 18 years and older, which I thought was surprising, since that included people who are below the legal drinking age.

Gallup’s 2025 Consumption Habits survey of 1,005 U.S. adults (conducted via telephone July 7–21) found that only 54% report drinking alcohol, the lowest level in nearly 90 years of tracking. The decline is sharpest among women, young adults, and Republicans. At the same time, a record 53% now believe moderate drinking is bad for health, with concern highest among young adults and women. Even among drinkers, frequency and volume are down, averaging just 2.8 drinks per week, the lowest since 1996. Beer remains the most popular beverage, but gender divides persist, with men preferring beer and women favoring wine. Additionally, the likelihood of drinking increases as household income rises — from just under 40% among households earning under $50,000, to about two-thirds among those earning $100,000 or more. Read the full results here.

Kentucky Bourbon Trail and Bourbon & Beyond Unite for Largest Bourbon Toast

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) is bringing back its World Bourbon Toast on September 14, bigger than ever. Hosted by the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in partnership with Danny Wimmer Presents, this year’s toast will stream live from the main stage of the Bourbon & Beyond Festival, uniting Bourbon lovers and music fans worldwide for the largest Bourbon toast in history. Fans can tune in via the Kentucky Bourbon Trail’s Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube, and share their own toasts using #WorldBourbonToast for a chance to be featured on their channels. Last year’s debut spanned 32 countries and every time zone, and 2025 promises to be even more expansive. Learn more at worldbourbontoast.com.

Bourbon and Distillery News For August 22, 2025

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Upcoming Bourbon (and other whiskey) Events 🥃

All events take place between August and October in Kentucky or nearby.

• 12th Annual Bourbon Mixer – KenTIKI Bourbon Bash – Louisville, KY – August 23, 2025 – More Info
• KBI Distillery Dinner Series at the Kentucky Castle – Versaillers, KY – August 26, 2025 – featuring Lux Row Distillers – More Info
• Kentucky Bourbon Festival (Sold Out) – Bardstown, KY – September 5–7, 2025 – More Info
• Bourbon Bonanza Benefit – Louisville, KY – September 6, 2025 – More Info
• Bourbon & Beyond – Louisville, KY – September 11–14, 2025 – More Info
• Last Refuge Gospel of Grain – Louisville, KY – September 24, 2025 – More Info
• Hard Truth’s Harvest Festival – Nashville, IN – September 27, 2025 – More Info
• Bourbon on the Banks – Frankfort, KY – October 4, 2025 – More Info
• Bourbon & Belonging “Kentucky’s Queer Bourbon Week” – Northern Kentucky, Louisville, Lexington, and Paducah, KY – October 3–5, 2025 – More Info
• Nashville Whiskey Festival & Battle of the Spirits – Nashville, TN – October 9–12, 2025 – More Info
• Ohio Craft Whiskey Festival – Henmick Brewery & Farm – Delaware, OH – October 25, 2025 – Details Coming Soon

Bourbon and Distillery News For August 22, 2025

New Releases

New Releases will be covered in detail in our next New Bourbon Releases News newsletter. Here’s the link to our most recent New Bourbon Releases News, in case you missed it. However, I will mention two of them now, because they both are being released or have lotteries that end before my next newsletter will be published.

Four Roses Set to Launch 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch

Four Roses Distillery will launch its 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon on September 3, the 18th edition of the annual release. Bottled at 109 proof, the non-chill filtered bourbon blends 13- and 19-year-old recipes from Four Roses’ 10 distinct recipes, carefully selected by Master Distiller Brent Elliott. Approximately 16,854 bottles will be released nationwide at a suggested retail price of $249. Bottles will be available through select retailers and via an online lottery, which accepts entries from August 19 to 24, with winners announced on August 29 for purchase and pickup in Lawrenceburg, KY. (Note: While Four Roses says that the release date is September 3, no specific details are given. So, it is unclear if the bottles will be released at the distillery on that date, soon after, or only through other channels.) Read all the details here.

Beam’s Pin Bottle

The James B. Beam Distilling Co. is honoring its 230th Anniversary with the launch of the limited-edition Beam’s Pin Bottle, debuting exclusively at the Clermont Distillery on Saturday, August 23, 2025 (Jim Beam Day). Inspired by more than 3,000 decanters produced from the 1940s to the 1990s, this re-creation pays tribute to Jim Beam’s personal favorite decanter. The Beam’s Pin Bottle is crafted from liquid aged in the brand’s historic 9-story warehouses, aged 8 years and bottled at 86.8 proof. In fact, the warehouse in which this bourbon was aged was recently torn down. It had been located close to the Kitchen Table restaurant, and that area is now an empty space. Each 750ml bottle carries an SRP of $99.99. Read all the details here. (NOTE: Bottles can only be purchased at the distillery on Beam Day. Beam Day tickets, while they last, are available for purchase here. Bottles also may be available in limited quantities at other times, as well as at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival.)

Bourbon and Distillery News For August 22, 2025

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Kentucky Bourbon Festival

If you are ticketed and heading to the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in September, there is still the opportunity to purchase tickets to add-on premium events. Current ticket holders can buy their tickets by visiting this link and selecting the blue “Premium Events” box. You will be prompted to enter an access code which will be your Order ID number, located on your confirmation email from your admission ticket purchase. Alternatively, you can log into your Tixr account or click on the link from the confirmation email you received when you purchased your tickets.

Well, that’s it! I hope you have enjoyed this week’s Bourbon and Distillery News! If you would like our newsletters delivered directly to your inbox, please sign up here. As usual, our New Bourbon Releases News will be published next Friday. 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!🥃

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!