Bourbon and Distillery News for June 20, 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 in!

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

• MB Roland Old 2nd District Bottled in Bond Bourbon Review – MB Roland Old 2nd District Bottled in Bond Bourbon is a grain-to-glass, pre-Prohibition style Kentucky Straight Bourbon double distilled in pot stills and aged 4 1/2 years. Crafted from locally sourced white corn, rye, and malted barley, this 100-proof bourbon delivers rich, full-bodied flavor with layers of fruit, spice, candy syrups and subtle oak. Complex and full bodied, it highlights the unique character of pot still bourbon.
• RD1 Sister Cities Whiskey Review – RD1 Sister Cities is a limited edition Kentucky straight whiskey that honors Lexington’s sister cities through a complex oak finishing process. A blend of 5-year bourbon, 7-year bourbon, and 8-year rye, it is matured in American oak and finished with both French Oak and Japanese Mizunara. The result is a complex, well-balanced pour with spice, fruit, candy and spicy wood notes.
• Romulan Rye by Star Trek Spirits and Stellum Spirits Review – Star Trek Spirits Romulan Rye is a bold, cask strength whiskey blended by Stellum Spirits and bottled in an eye-catching Romulan Ale-style bottle. It delivers a citrus-forward flavor profile with a balance of sweetness, spice, and dry oak. With its high proof and bold character, this rye is best suited to whiskey drinkers who enjoy higher-proof pours. Star Trek fans may be drawn in by the collectible packaging, but those accustomed to barrel-strength whiskey will find the liquid inside equally worth exploring.
• Romulan Cask Strength Whiskey by Star Trek Spirits and Stellum Spirits Review – Star Trek Spirits Romulan Cask Strength Whiskey is a bold, high-proof expression blended by Stellum Spirits and packaged in an eye-catching Romulan Ale bottle. While collectors may be drawn to the Star Trek branding, seasoned whiskey drinkers who enjoy barrel-strength pours will find plenty to appreciate inside.
• Interview With Harry Richart, President of the J Mattingly 1845 Distillery – Listen to our latest podcast as Karen and Ed visit the J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery, blend our own bourbon, and speak with J Mattingly’s president, Harry Richart. We learn all about where they’ve been, what they’re doing now, and what’s coming next!

Bourbon and Distillery News For June 20, 2025

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Bourbon and Distillery News

2025 Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Class Announced

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association has announced the 2025 class of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, honoring five influential figures for their contributions to the industry. This year’s inductees include seventh-generation distiller Craig Beam, trailblazing female entrepreneur Mary Dowling (posthumous), distilling consultant, engineer, distiller and key architect of the craft distilling boom Larry Ebersold, legislative champion Damon Thayer, and Brown-Forman Master Distiller Emeritus Chris Morris, who will receive the prestigious Parker Beam Lifetime Achievement Award. These honorees will be inducted in a private, invitation only, ceremony in September. Read the full press release here.

Old Forester Introduces Premium Cocktail Cherries for Home Bars

Old Forester Distilling Co. has introduced its new Old Forester Cocktail Cherries, premium amarena-style cherries steeped in a bourbon-infused syrup. Joining the brand’s Cocktail Provisions line, these cherries aim to elevate home mixology with a burst of sweetness and classic bourbon character. Priced at $19.99, they are now available at select retailers, the Old Forester Distillery, and online via Bourbon Barrel Foods. Read the full press release here. (I had no idea what amarena cherries were, so I went down the cocktail cherry rabbit hole and did some research. If you are like me and want to learn more, you can read the short article I just wrote about cocktail cherries. There’s more to them than I thought!)

Green River Distilling Opens Tasting Room on Louisville’s Whiskey Row

Green River Distilling Co., the 10th oldest licensed distillery in Kentucky and part of Lofted Spirits, has officially opened a new 4,400-square-foot tasting room at 714 W. Main Street on Louisville’s iconic Whiskey Row. The new space brings Green River’s “Whiskey Without Regrets” to downtown Louisville and offers walk-in tastings, custom flights, retail bottle sales, and a “Fill-Your-Spirits” experience where guests can fill a ceramic jug straight from the barrel. With its thoughtful design, welcoming atmosphere, and fun interactive elements, the new tasting room is absolutely worth a visit. Read the full press release here. (We were fortunate to be invited to media night at the new tasting room, and I have to say, it really is very nice! Check it out the next time you are in Louisville! It’s just a few steps from Lofted Spirits’ Bardstown Bourbon Company Louisville Homeplace, so you can easily visit both in one trip!)

Green River Distilling Co. Honors U.S. Army’s 250th Anniversary with Commemorative Whiskey ‘First Sip’ Ceremony

Green River Distilling Co. commemorated the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary with a dramatic “first sip” ceremony featuring a Veteran parachute team delivering the first bottle of its limited-edition Army 250th Anniversary Bourbon to a group of veterans and active-duty Army waiting on the ground. The bourbon is released at 111.1 proof in a nod to Veteran’s Day – November 11. “This whiskey is a salute to 250 years of courage, commitment and sacrifice,” said Col. (ret.) Mark Erwin, CEO of Green River’s parent company, Lofted Spirits. “As both a veteran and a leader in American whiskey, it’s an honor to raise a glass to the U.S. Army and the millions who have served to defend the freedom we cherish.” We reported on the 250th anniversary commemorative bourbon previously, and my review is coming soon. Read the full press release about the event here.

Bourbon and Distillery News For June 20, 2025

Whiskey House of Kentucky and the Koetter Group Announce Long-Term Partnership to Build State-of-the-Art Rickhouses

Whiskey House of Kentucky has announced a six-year partnership with The Koetter Group to build 12 state-of-the-art rickhouses using innovative K-RAX barrel storage technology. Each seven-story warehouse will hold 48,048 barrels and is designed to improve whiskey maturation, airflow, and safety while enhancing structural longevity. The first two warehouses are already underway on their campus in Elizabethtown, KY. This development further reinforces Whiskey House’s position as a leader in custom whiskey production, following an impressive first year producing over 97,000 barrels and 59 recipes in its fully automated, 110,000-square-foot facility. Read the full press release here.

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Fireball Unleashes Golf Course Chaos with Cinnamon-Scented Balls and Trained Retriever Caddies

Previously, we reported on Fireball garters and their contest offering a lifetime supply of Fireball to those 90 and older. Well, Fireball is back again with an interesting golf-themed promotion! Fireball is bringing some rule-breaking fun to the golf course with its new cinnamon-scented golf balls and professionally trained retriever “caddies.” The Fireball Retrievers will debut June 27 at White Pines Golf Club in Bensenville, IL, helping players locate lost shots and lighten the mood. Golfers can book tee times starting June 20 and receive a Fireball-scented ball to use at a designated hole. Can’t make it to the course? Limited-edition Fireball golf balls will be available for $1 starting June 27 at FireballWhisky.com/Retrievers . Dog not included. Read the full press release here.

Maker’s Mark Celebrates Summer with New Chihuly Exhibition and Reimagined Restaurant Opening at Its Kentucky Homeplace

Maker’s Mark is celebrating summer with the debut of a new Dale Chihuly art exhibition and a reimagined dining experience at its Star Hill Farm homeplace in Loretto, Kentucky. The Chihuly x Maker’s Mark exhibit opens July 19 and runs through December 7, featuring nine dramatic installations across the distillery grounds, including both new and permanent works. Also launching is an expanded culinary and cocktail program at the renovated Star Hill Provisions restaurant, spotlighting seasonal ingredients and sustainability. Anyone who has been to Maker’s has seen their beautiful ceiling of Chihuly glass, so this exhibit should definitely be worth a visit. Also, I am happy to see Star Hill Provisions open again, after being closed for a while due to flooding. We ate there the other day and it was fantastic! Read the full press release here.

Circa 1856 Marks One Year As The Official Brand Home Of Chicken Cock Whiskey

Chicken Cock Whiskey is celebrating the one-year anniversary of Circa 1856, its official brand home in Bardstown, Kentucky. Now an official Kentucky Bourbon Trail experience, Circa 1856 offers an immersive experience, including tastings, history exhibits, and now on-site distillation. The anniversary event on June 27 will feature live music, games, food trucks, and the release of an exclusive Reserve Cask Single Barrel whiskey, available only to visitors. Read the full press release here.

Georgetown Launches “Bourbon Genesis” Celebrating the Origins of America’s Native Spirit

Georgetown, Kentucky, has unveiled “Bourbon Genesis,” a new tourism campaign highlighting the city’s role in bourbon history. Centered around Royal Spring Park—where Reverend Elijah Craig is said to have drawn the limestone-rich water used for his bourbon—the initiative invites visitors to explore bourbon’s beginnings in 1789. The launch included a limited-edition Elijah Craig Single Barrel Bourbon Genesis bottling, which can be purchased in Georgetown, as well. Learn more at BourbonGenesis.com

Bluegrass Distillers Celebrates Official Opening of Elkwood Farm Distillery in Midway, KY

Bluegrass Distillers has officially opened its new $8 million Elkwood Farm Distillery in Midway, Kentucky. The ribbon-cutting event marked a major milestone for the brand, which has expanded its production capacity by over 1,000%. The new facility includes a 36” x 45-foot column still manufactured by Specific Mechanical, six 18,000-gallon fermentation tanks, a barrel warehouse, automated bottling line, and an on-site well supplying limestone-rich spring water. The site also features heirloom blue corn grown on the property, aligning with Bluegrass’s ground-to-glass philosophy. Now an official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the distillery expects over 40,000 annual visitors. Plans for expanded food experiences are underway to further enhance the visitor experience. Read the full press release here.

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New Releases

New Releases will be covered in detail in our next Bourbon Releases News newsletter. In a notable change from the last few months, we only have a few new releases so far. Here’s the link to our Bourbon Releases News from last week, in case you missed it.

• Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old Bourbon
• Dierks Bentley ROW 94 Broken Branches Bourbon
• Boone County Portrait Series Lewis Loder 15 Year Single Barrel Bourbon

Bourbon and Distillery News For June 20, 2025

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. Our New Bourbon Releases News will be published next Friday. Also, 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!