Bourbon and Distillery News for September 26, 2025

Welcome to the latest edition of the Bourbon and Distillery News! There’s quite a bit this week, so let’s jump right in!

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

• Jacob’s Pardon Cask Collective 16-Year-Old Oloroso Sherry Cask Finished Whiskey Review
  Jacob’s Pardon 16-Year Oloroso Sherry Cask-Finished Whiskey combines an uncommon 99% corn mash bill with an unusually low 96.5 proof. Finished in 50-year-old sherry casks, this release offers a profile unlike most American whiskeys. Read our review to learn more!
• Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old Bourbon Review (2025) by Ray Marcano
  After a year off, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old is back. Bottled in Spring 2025 at a barrel proof of 123.8 and aged at least 13 years, this limited release could be a Bourbon of the Year contender. Find out more in Ray’s review!
• Old Forester 1910 Extra Extra Old Bourbon Review (2025)
  Old Forester The 117 Series 1910 Extra Extra Old is back with Batch 002! Aged 24 months in heavily charred secondary barrels and bottled at 93 proof, this limited Old Forester release brings rich confectionary notes along with noticeable barrel flavors and char. Learn all about it in my review!

Bourbon and Distillery News For September 26, 2025

Now, let’s dive into the news!

Bourbon and Distillery News

Leiper’s Fork Distillery Names Devin Walden Director of Production Operations & Head Distiller

Leiper’s Fork Distillery has appointed Devin Walden as its new Director of Production Operations & Head Distiller at its upcoming Nashville Yards facility. Walden most recently served as Master Distiller & Plant Manager at Big Machine Distillery, bringing extensive production and leadership experience to the new role.

The Nashville Yards expansion marks a significant next chapter for Leiper’s Fork. The new distillery will feature on-site whiskey production, a full-service restaurant and bar, retail shop, private tasting room, and a live music stage. On the production side, Leiper’s Fork will relocate its existing 500-gallon copper still “Ginger” from the Leiper’s Fork distillery and add a new 1,000-gallon still to significantly increase capacity.

The Nashville Yards location is expected to open in mid-2026, expanding Leiper’s Fork’s reach and capabilities in the heart of downtown Nashville.
Source for the move: Breaking Bourbon | leipersforkdistillery.com

The Ingram Distillery Expands Distribution to Alaska

The Ingram Distillery has expanded its distribution to Alaska, bringing its portfolio of river-aged whiskeys to an eighth U.S. state. Known for its unique “Mellowed on the Mississippi” aging process, the distillery matures its whiskeys in floating barrelhouses where the river’s motion, humidity, and temperature fluctuations enhance interaction between spirit and oak.

The expansion follows the recent launch of Uncharted, a wheated bourbon aged entirely on the Mississippi and packaged in 100% recycled glass. The addition of Alaska marks another step in the brand’s continued growth as it introduces its award-winning whiskeys to new markets. IngramWhiskey.com.

Dark Arts Whiskey House Joins Kentucky Distillers’ Association

Dark Arts Whiskey House has become the newest member of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA), joining as a Craft-level member producing fewer than 10,000 barrels per year. Co-founded in 2023 by Macaulay Minton and David Peet, the Lexington-based distillery hones its craft by blending, re-barreling, and finishing Bourbon, Rye, and Single Malt whiskeys using underutilized maturation techniques and unconventional barrels.

Located at 1170 Manchester Street, Dark Arts offers visitors a front-row seat to witness the distillery’s mastery as they create products that transform traditional ingredients into an elevated experience. Since its founding, the distillery has produced a variety of custom blends and limited releases.
darkartswhiskey.com | kybourbon.com | kybourbontrail.com

Bourbon and Distillery News For September 26, 2025

Blackstar Company Acquires Black Button Distilling, Saving It from Bankruptcy

Black Button Distilling, the largest bourbon distillery in New York, has been saved from bankruptcy through an acquisition by Blackstar Company, a newly formed firm led by spirits industry veterans Kris Comstock and Ray Franklin. The investment ensures that Black Button will continue distilling, bottling, and selling its award-winning lineup — including bourbon, Empire Rye whiskey, gin, vodka, and its popular Bespoke Bourbon Cream — while maintaining its current team and day-to-day operations under founder Jason Barrett.

Barrett, who launched Black Button in 2012 as Rochester’s first grain-to-glass distillery since Prohibition, will remain President and Master Distiller. All nine full-time employees will stay on, though the tasting room, which closed in July, will remain shuttered while the new owners evaluate the business.

Founded in 2023, Blackstar Company is based in Lexington, Kentucky, and specializes in helping spirits businesses scale, drawing on decades of experience in brand building, operations, logistics, and distribution. The company’s leadership includes Comstock, who spent nearly two decades building major whiskey brands at Sazerac/Buffalo Trace, and Franklin, a former Chief Revenue Officer at Spirits Capital Corporation. blackbuttondistilling.com | blackstarspirits.com

Jim Beam and Cadillac Formula 1 Team Announce Global Partnership

Jim Beam and the Cadillac Formula 1 Team have announced a multi-year global partnership, with Jim Beam serving as the team’s Official Spirits Partner when Cadillac makes its Formula 1 debut in 2026 — the first new entry to the grid since 2016.

The Cadillac Formula 1 Team was formed by TWG Motorsports and General Motors and will compete in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. The partnership will include fan experiences, retail activations, and responsible drinking initiatives.

Jim Beam’s ties to Cadillac date back nearly a century, when, every evening, founder Jim Beam transported in his Cadillac a jar of his proprietary yeast to protect it. This collaboration builds on Jim Beam’s history of sports partnerships across the NFL, MLB, U.S. Soccer, and major motorsports events. jimbeam.com

2025 New York World Spirits Competition: Whiskey Results Posted

The 2025 New York World Spirits Competition (part of the Tasting Alliance) announced the medal winners for this years competition on September 22. There are 375(!!) medal winners overall, so I am only including the Double Gold winners from the American whiskey entries. Like many of these spirits competition, the highest level awards (Platinum, Best in Class, Best in Show, Best in price categories) are rolled out over the course of months to maximize their PR impact. The full list of current medal winners is here.

Double Gold (“GG”) Winners – 2025 New York World Spirits Competition (American Whiskey)

• 10th Street Peated Single Malt Port Cask Finish Whiskey
• 15 STARS Three Kings Fine Aged Whiskey
• 1792 Aged 12 Years Straight Bourbon
• Barrell Batch 037 Bourbon
• Bespoken Alchemist Series Release #012 Straight Rye Whiskey Finished With Amburana Wood
• Blanton’s Gold Edition Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Bourbiskey Mark Fury Straight Bourbon
• Brother’s Bond Bottled In Bond Straight Bourbon
• Brother’s Bond Cask Strength Straight Bourbon
• Buffalo Trace Distillery Straight Bourbon
• Garrison Brothers Guadalupe Bourbon
• Green River Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon
• K.LUKE Whiskey Company Small Batch Barrel Strength Batch 12 Bourbon
• K.LUKE Whiskey Company Small Batch Toasted Barrel Strength Batch 5 Rye Whiskey
• Knox & Dobson Improved Whiskey Cocktail
• Peg Leg Porker Spirits Grey Label Tennessee Straight Bourbon
• Stranahan’s Mountain Angel 10 Year Single Malt Whiskey
• The Garden Reserve “The Spirit Of New York Sports” Straight Bourbon
• Traveller Whiskey
• W.L. Weller Full Proof Wheated Bourbon

Editor’s note: We’ll revisit these results with a fuller analysis once the competition publishes its Best in Class and Best in Show awards. Also, I can not find any information about the The Garden Reserve “The Spirit Of New York Sports” Straight Bourbon. If you know anything about this bourbon, please let me know.

Bourbon and Distillery News For September 26, 2025

American Whiskey Association Statement on Türkiye’s Tariff Removal

The American Whiskey Association issued the following statement regarding Türkiye’s removal of its retaliatory tariff on U.S. spirits:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Whiskey Association commends President Trump for his leadership in securing the removal of Türkiye’s 70% retaliatory tariff on U.S. spirits. This breakthrough is vital for American Whiskey and for the entire ecosystem that supports its success — from grain farmers to cooperages, distillers, distributors, and retailers.

In 2024, U.S. spirits exports to Türkiye totaled $11 million, with American Whiskey accounting for nearly 90% of all U.S. spirits exports to that market. American Whiskey has long been a symbol of American craftsmanship and ingenuity, and the opportunity to restore fair access to the Turkish market represents a meaningful step forward for our industry. It will not only expand the international reach of American Whiskey but also reinforce the shared prosperity that comes with open and fair trade.

We thank our partners at DISCUS for their engagement on tariff issues and for leading industry efforts to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to growth.

Source: American Whiskey Association on X (@USAWhiskeyAssn)

Editor’s Note: The Spirits Business reports that Türkiye’s retaliatory tariff was introduced in 2018 in response to U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs. Since then, exports of American spirits to Türkiye have fallen by nearly one-third — from $17 million to $11 million.

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Diageo Temporarily Halts Production at Balcones and George Dickel

Diageo has temporarily paused whiskey production at both its Balcones Distillery in Waco, Texas, and its Cascade Hollow Distillery in Tullahoma, Tennessee, home of George Dickel, as part of a review of its productivity goals. Distillation and barrel-filling operations at Balcones were halted in August, resulting in the loss of 17 jobs. Production has also been paused at Cascade Hollow, although no job cuts were announced there. The visitor centers at both sites remain open for tours and tastings.

According to Diageo, the company is ahead of schedule with volume production and will suspend distilling operations and barrel-filling through June 2026. During the downtime, employees will focus on strategic projects, training, and site maintenance in preparation for the next fiscal year. The decision follows similar slowdowns across Diageo’s global portfolio, including at Roe & Co in Dublin and Teaninich in Scotland. Earlier this year, production was also paused at Diageo’s carbon-neutral distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky. The company is currently implementing a cost-cutting plan aimed at saving $625 million, which includes consolidating bottling operations and workforce reductions.

Source: The Spirits Business

In Memory of Even Kulsveen, Kentucky Bourbon Pioneer

Even Kulsveen, a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame and the visionary who revived Willett Distillery, passed away on September 23, 2025, at the age of 79. Kulsveen served as executive director of the company until his death and is remembered as a key figure in bourbon’s modern resurgence.

In 1972, Kulsveen married Martha Willett, a descendant of the distillery’s founding family, and in 1984 he purchased the historic Bardstown property. Under his leadership, distilling returned to the family site in 2012, ushering in a new era for Willett. He was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2019. Martha Willett passed away in May 2025.

From Willett Distillery:

“Please raise a glass to honor the passing of a legendary icon, Even Kulsveen.
It is with profound and loving sadness that the Kulsveen and Willett Distillery family announce the passing of Mr. Even Kulsveen. Mr. Even was a loving husband, father and grandfather, alongside his late wife, Mrs. Martha. He established a legacy in American Whiskey after resurrecting the Willett Distillery and became a pioneer in the renaissance of American Whiskey; helping sustain and then grow the category throughout the 1980s and 90s. In resurrecting the family and distillery legacy, he returned distilling to the family property in 2012, alongside his daughter, Britt, President and Chief Whiskey Officer of Willett Distillery and his son, Drew, Master Distiller and Chief Production Officer.”

Willett Distillery will be closed to the public on Saturday, September 27, as the family celebrates his life and mourns his passing.

Sources: Willett Distillery Facebook | Lexington Herald-Leader

Bourbon and Distillery News For September 26, 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.

• Hard Truth’s Harvest Festival – Nashville, IN – September 27, 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
• America’s River Roots Festival – “Bourbon Experience” – Cincy/NKY area (Cincinnati/Covington/Newport) – Oct 8–12, 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 & Bubbles – Dayton, OH – Nov 7, 2025 – More Info
  

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 next New Bourbon Releases News will be published on Friday October 3, and the podcast and YouTube versions of this newsletter will go live on Monday September 29. 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!🥃

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