Bourbon and Distillery News for September 12, 2025

Welcome back to the latest edition of the Bourbon and Distillery News! Since we took last week off for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, there is quite a bit of news to cover! Let’s dive right in!

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

Brother’s Bond Bottled in Bond Bourbon Review

Brother’s Bond Bottled in Bond Bourbon is a 7-year, 100 proof, Kentucky straight bourbon made with a distinctive mash bill of 51% corn, 39% rye, and 10% malted rye. Distilled by MGPI and bottled by Brother’s Bond Distilling, this unique recipe sets it apart. Read my full review!

Angel’s Envy Cellar Collection Vol 5 Review (2025)

Angel’s Envy Cellar Collection Vol 5 takes rye whiskey in a new direction with a French oak extra añejo tequila barrel finish. Citrus-forward, and surprisingly seamless, it’s a pour worth exploring. Read my full review!

Bourbon and Distillery News For September 12, 2025

Bourbon and Distillery News

Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2025 – It’s A Wrap

Well, this year’s Kentucky Bourbon Festival, in Bardstown, KY, has come to a close. I really enjoyed it! Were you there? Save the dates for next year – Sept. 10-13, 2026. It’s the KBF’s 35th anniversary, so it’s sure to be something special. Tickets will go on sale in the spring, and they are again sure to sell out quickly. So, be on the lookout, and sign up to be notified on their website.

Facts & Stats from 2025

• 7,000 ticketed guests
• All 50 states represented and international attendees
• KBF’s 34th year
• Fourth consecutive sellout — this year, all tickets were sold out within 3 days
• 65 distilleries participating
• 34 exclusive single barrel picks
• 85% of ticket sales outside Kentucky

Heaven Hill Springs Distillery Opens In Bardstown / Master Distillers Unity Released

Heaven Hill Brands has celebrated the grand opening of the new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky—the company’s first distilling facility in its hometown since 1996. Representing a $200 million investment, the new distillery began production in April 2025 with a starting capacity of 150,000 barrels annually and scalability to 450,000. Heaven Hill will also continue production at their Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, KY. Key features include a 60-foot Vendome copper still, live yeast propagation, onsite wastewater pretreatment, habitat restoration and visitor areas. Tours are also now available. Read the press release here.

To mark the opening, Heaven Hill released Heaven Hill Master Distillers Unity, crafted from the last remaining barrel distilled at the original Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in 1991 by Parker Beam, mingled with 14-, 8-, and 6-year-old bourbons distilled at Bernheim. These bourbons were distilled by former Master Distillers Parker Beam and Denny Potter, as well as current Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll—uniting generations of craftsmanship.  Bottled at 107 proof, the release is priced at $225 with only 4,000 bottles available exclusively onsite. (Although, I believe the bottle is only available if you do the Heritage Rising Tour and Tasting.) Read the press release for Heaven Hill Master Distillers Unity here.

Heaven Hill Distillery Debuts Artist Series Bottled in Bond Collection

Heaven Hill Distillery has introduced the Bottled-in-Bond Artist Series Collection, a collector’s edition packaging celebrating the brand’s history. The bottles feature five original watercolor illustrations by Kentucky artist Bri Bowers, including two Bardstown Visitor Center exclusives. Offered at an MSRP of $49.99, the bourbon inside is the Heaven Hill 7 Year Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon.

As part of the launch, select bottles will include a hidden Golden Cork under the capsule, giving consumers the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime Kentucky bourbon experience that includes visits to both Heaven Hill distilleries and guided tastings with Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll. The Artist Series Collection will be available nationwide in September 2025, though supplies are extremely limited. Read the full press release and learn about the sweepstakes here.

Bourbon and Distillery News For September 12, 2025

Jack Daniel’s 2025 Heroes Selection Honors Military Service

The Jack Daniel Distillery has launched the 2025 Heroes Selection, a limited-edition release in its Single Barrel Collection honoring military service. Selected by U.S. Army veteran twin brothers and longtime employees JB and LB McGowan, this year’s expression is bottled at 125–140 proof and packaged in a collectible gift box adorned with a medallion highlighting Jack Daniel’s military ties. It is available for $69.99 for a 750ml bottle at military duty-free stores and in limited quantities at the White Rabbit Bottle Shop at the distillery. The annual Heroes Selection release is part of Jack Daniel’s ongoing commitment to those who serve. Since 2011, Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home campaign, in partnership with the Armed Services YMCA, has raised over $4 million to help more than 14,000 junior-enlisted service members and their families travel home for the holidays. Read the full press release.

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Buffalo Trace Distillery Announces Buffalo Trace On Tour

(Some of you may have already seen this news, since I shared it earlier on my social media accounts. It was time sensitive, so I wanted to give as many folks as possible the opportunity to get tickets, and I hope you did! Make sure that you never miss out again by following me on Instagram and Facebook!)

Buffalo Trace Distillery announced a first in the Distillery’s history: this fall, Buffalo Trace Distillery is taking its award-winning bourbon on the road with a brand-new traveling tasting experience. The Distillery will launch Buffalo Trace Distillery On Tour, a tasting and retail experience coming to four U.S. cities: St. Louis, Kansas City, Jacksonville and Tampa. Each stop on Buffalo Trace Distillery On Tour will offer a total of 10 complimentary tasting experiences spread out over four days with staggered afternoon and evening time slots. Each session will feature a guided tasting lasting approximately 1.5 hours and a lineup of popular brands including Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Eagle Rare 10 Year Old, Weller Antique 107, and the new Sazerac Rye 100 Proof.

The experience is free to attend, though you must go online and reserve your ticket in order to participate. Tickets went live on Wednesday, September 10, and are now probably sold out, so I am really just sharing this for interest. Details and dates can be found at: tour.buffalotracedistillery.com

Bourbon and Distillery News For September 12, 2025

Purple Toad Winery & Distillery Joins Kentucky Distillers’ Association

Purple Toad Winery & Distillery of Paducah has joined the Kentucky Distillers’ Association as its newest craft-level member, defined as producing fewer than 10,000 barrels annually. Originally founded as a family-owned winery, Purple Toad became Paducah’s first winery-turned-distillery in 2024 following McCracken County’s approval of liquor sales the prior year. The distillery produces bourbon, whiskey, vodka, and agave spirits, utilizing innovative techniques that repurpose winemaking byproducts to reduce waste. purpletoadwinery.com

Southern Distilling Company Named 2025 Distillery of the Year by ADI

The American Distilling Institute has awarded its 2025 Distillery of the Year (Bubble Cap Award) to Southern Distilling Company of Statesville, North Carolina. Founded in 2013 by Pete and Vienna Barger, the distillery has become one of the largest privately owned operations in the U.S., producing its Southern Star brand and contract distilling for more than 170 others. Southern Distilling has also played a key role in advancing legislation to expand opportunities for North Carolina craft distillers. southerndistillingcompany.com (ADI website: distilling.com)

Sazerac Barrel Select Launches Elmer T. Lee Charity Sweepstakes

Sazerac Barrel Select (SBS) has announced the Elmer T. Lee Charity Sweepstakes, benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. For every $100 donation, entrants receive one chance to win a VIP barrel selection experience at Buffalo Trace Distillery with Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. The prize includes a one-night stay in Stagg Lodge, a private tour and lunch for up to 8 guests, a barrel select session, and an $18,000 cash prize which can be used to purchase bottles from the chosen barrel. The sweepstakes runs September 8–30, 2025, with the winner notified the week of October 6. sazeracbarrelselect.com/charity

Never Say Die Sponsors Bourbon Ladies Turf Sprint & Airs First National TV Commercial

(We discussed this on our last Bourbon and Distillery News Podcast, but the news came out after press time, so I am including it, and the relevant links, now)

Never Say Die Bourbon sponsored the G2 Never Say Die Bourbon Ladies Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs on Saturday, August 30, with a purse of $2 million. The race was part of the track’s historic $10 million prize day and aired live on NBC from 4–6 p.m. EST. This dates also marked the airing of the brand’s first-ever national TV commercial, a major milestone for a relatively small whiskey producer. Two 30-second spots ran during the broadcast, telling the story of the Kentucky-born colt Never Say Die, famously revived with bourbon before his shocking 1954 Epsom Derby win. The G2 Never Say Die Bourbon Ladies Turf Sprint was the opening race on NBC’s coverage, and winners received custom-engraved bottles of Never Say Die Bourbon. https://neversaydiebourbon.com/ | themintkentuckydowns.com/live-racing/. Watch the commercial here.

Bourbon and Distillery News For September 12, 2025

Wild Turkey Launches New Global Campaign

Wild Turkey has unveiled a new global campaign: “When You Know It’s Right, Don’t Change a Damn Thing.” The ad campaign honors Master Distiller Jimmy Russell (71 years at the distillery, making him the longest serving master distiller in the spirits industry) and the brand’s signature Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon. At the heart of the campaign is a film directed by Kiku Ohe with GUT New York, featuring the Russell family and bartenders and fans from key markets. The film has a mixed-media approach incorporating film stock (8mm/35/Digital), digital and historical photos and artifacts which are reinforced by memorabilia from Jimmy’s seven decades in the industry. Rollout begins fall 2025 in the U.S., Japan, Australia, and South Korea across digital, social, TV, and print. wildturkeybourbon.com | Watch the spot: YouTube

Dierks Bentley and ROW 94 Whiskey Launch Hologram Experience at Louisville Airport

ROW 94 Whiskey, founded by country music star Dierks Bentley, is partnering with Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) to launch a hologram experience. Beginning September 12, a life-sized hologram of Bentley will greet travelers, share the ROW 94 story, and direct them to exclusive and signed bottles of his Broken Branches Bourbon at the airport’s Distillery District Marketplace (post-security rotunda). The launch on September 12 includes a press event with Bentley beaming in live from Nashville, a signed guitar giveaway (10:30 a.m.), and ROW 94 tastings. The hologram experience and tastings (at select times) will continue throughout September and October. The event coincides with the brand’s first anniversary since launching in 2024. row94whiskey.com | flylouisville.com

Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Welcomes 2025 Inductees

The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame honors five inductees during its induction ceremony on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. at The Legacy at Log Still Distillery in New Haven, KY. This year’s inductees are Craig Beam, Mary Dowling, Larry Ebersold, Chris Morris (Parker Beam Lifetime Achievement Award Distinction), and Damon Thayer. The ceremony is not open to the public but will be available to watch via live-stream on the Kentucky Distillers’ Association YouTube channel.

Diageo to Relocate Some Crown Royal Bottling to U.S.

Diageo will close its Crown Royal bottling facility in Amherstburg, Ontario by February 2026, shifting some bottling to U.S. operations to strengthen supply chain resiliency and move closer to U.S. consumers. All Crown Royal will continue to be mashed, distilled, and aged in Canada, with bottling for Canadian and non-U.S. export markets remaining at the Valleyfield, Quebec facility.

Diageo notes its ongoing impact in Canada: products support more than 9,700 jobs (over 3,000 in Ontario) and contribute more than CAD $300 million in revenue annually to restaurants and bars; the company has invested about CAD $150 million in Canadian production facilities since 2021 and will maintain Canadian HQ and warehouse operations in the Greater Toronto Area. Diageo will support impacted employees through this transition and will work alongside Unifor to provide assistance for its unionized employees. diageo.com

Nashville Barrel Company Announces New Louisville Location

The Nashville Barrel Company, a “non-distiller producer” founded in 2018 and currently with two locations in Nashville, TN, has announced their expansion into Kentucky. The Louisville Barrel Whiskey Co will join the ever increasing number of distillery outposts opening in the city. It is expected to open in early 2026 at 717 E Market St in the NuLu neighborhood, across from Evergreen Liquors. The new space will have a tasting bar, a bottle shop and space for hands-on distillery experiences. (info from multiple sources including Nashville Barrel Company’s Facebook page and fredminnick.com) nashvillebarrelco.com

Von Payne Spirits Acquires Historic Louisville Landmark to Create The Von Payne Castle

Von Payne Spirits, the gothic-inspired whiskey brand known for its gargoyle-adorned bottles, has acquired the historic Whiteside’s Bakery Company building at 1400 West Broadway in Louisville’s West End. Built in 1908 and long known as the “Castle,” the 60,000-square-foot Mission-style landmark will be restored and transformed into The Von Payne Castle: Distillery and Tasting Experience. The facility will showcase Von Payne’s offerings, including its bourbon and bold black currant infused whiskey, and host immersive events highlighting “the brand’s darker edge”. The project is expected to bring new energy, jobs, and investment to Louisville’s West End. vonpayne.com

On Your 6 Bourbon Announces Addition to Caesars US Beverage Program

On Your 6 Bourbon, a bourbon brand founded by veterans in 2023, has secured a spot in Caesars Entertainment’s national beverage program. Effective immediately, the bourbon will be available at Caesars properties in Nevada, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The announcement follows the brand’s Nevada launch at Caesars Palace in February 2025. On Your 6 is a self-described “purpose-driven company committed to honor and integrity.” To that end, the On Your 6 Foundation was created to support organizations that enrich the lives of local heroes and their communities. Learn more at onyour6.com.

Bourbon and Distillery News For September 12, 2025

Upcoming Bourbon (and other whiskey) Events 🥃

All events take place between August and October in Kentucky or nearby. If you have any upcoming festivals to add to the list, contact me.

• 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
• Columbus Indiana Philharmonic’s 9th annual Bourbonfest – Columbus, IN – September 20, 2025 – More Info
• St. Louis Bourbon Festival 2025 – St. Louis, MO – October 3, 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
• Independent Spirits Expo – Chicago, IL – October 7, 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 September 12, 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. Tune in next week for our New Bourbon Releases News, which will be packed full of the multitude of September bourbon releases. 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! 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!