New Bourbon Releases News for April 25, 2026

24 New Bourbon (and other American Whiskey) Releases To Try!

We’ve got a whole lot of new releases in this week’s New Bourbon Releases News!

New Bourbon Releases News For April 25, 2026

Contents

Wenzel Distillery —- Rabbit Hole —- ROW 94 —- Eagle Rare —- Elijah Craig —- UK Wildcask —- Starlight —- Michter’s —- Jack Daniel’s —- Maker’s Mark —- Oaklore —- Maker’s Mark & Keeneland —- Widow Jane —- Blue Note

But First, Here’s what’s new on BourbonObsessed.com!

Check out my latest reviews:

• Wenzel Sherry Cask Finished Bourbon Batch 2 builds on an award-winning release with extended finishing times up to three years. So, what does a bourbon taste like after that long in sherry casks? Read on to find out!
• Frey Ranch Farm Strength Rye is an uncut, 124.52 proof rye made from estate-grown grains. It delivers a bold profile that drinks easier than expected. Read my full review to find out more!
• Weldon Mills Reserve Bourbon is a 114.5 proof barrel proof bourbon made from North Carolina grains and aged at least two years. It delivers a full-flavored experience that drinks easier than expected for its proof. Read my full review to learn all about it!

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New Bourbon Releases News For April 25, 2026

New Bourbon Releases

Wenzel Sherry Cask Finished Bourbon Batch 2

Covington-based Wenzel Distillery has announced the release of Wenzel Sherry Cask Finished Bourbon Batch 2, a follow-up to its expression that was named “World’s Best Finished Bourbon” at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards. This limited-edition small batch consists of straight bourbon whiskey originally distilled in Georgia by Ghost Coast Distillery. The whiskey is aged for at least 7 years and finished in ex-Oloroso Sherry casks for a period ranging from 9 to 36 months. According to Wenzel Distillery President Bill Whitlow, the release was inspired by a “happy accident” involving an extended finishing period for the original inventory. “Between the timing of Ghost Coast filling these barrels, shutting down, Wenzel purchasing and moving them, and finally bottling them, an abnormal length of time had passed,” he said. Batch 2 incorporates a small amount of Batch 1 blended with barrels that were aged longer and finished more traditionally. This release is bottled at 119.1 proof and is limited to 679 bottles. The retail price is $109 per 750 mL bottle. Read my review to learn more!

Rabbit Hole Raceking 6 Year Old Limited Edition

Rabbit Hole Distillery has announced the launch of Raceking, a six-year aged, limited-edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This release builds on the original Raceking introduced in 2020, now aged longer “to deliver even greater depth, balance, and complexity,” according to the brand. Raceking is crafted from a distinctive five-grain mash bill featuring chocolate-malted wheat and chocolate-malted barley, and aged for six years in handmade, toasted, and charred American oak casks from Kelvin Cooperage. “Raceking reflects how I like to approach bourbon, with respect for tradition but a willingness to explore its edges,” said Kaveh Zamanian, founder of Rabbit Hole Distillery. “The name Raceking reflects that heritage and embodies the careful, deliberate process required to craft a bourbon worthy of a thoroughbred pedigree.” This release is bottled at 95 proof and has an MSRP of $95.00. rabbitholedistillery.com

ROW 94 Broken Branches Bourbon

ROW 94, the whiskey brand founded by multi-platinum country music star Dierks Bentley, has announced the second release of its limited edition Broken Branches Bourbon. Produced in partnership with Lofted Custom Spirits at the Green River Distilling Co. in Owensboro, Kentucky, the bourbon is aged five years and underwent “Branch Aging,” where fire-toasted Oak staves seasoned for up to 24 months rested in the barrels to deepen the whiskey’s complexity. In its second release, Broken Branches is expanding to Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas in the coming months. The bourbon is bottled at 100 proof and is priced at $99.99 per 750 mL bottle. ROW94whiskey.com

Eagle Rare 30

Buffalo Trace Distillery has unveiled Eagle Rare 30, its oldest age-stated bourbon to date. This expression represents the second release aged within the Distillery’s experimental Warehouse P, which is designed to explore whether extended aging can enhance American whiskey by managing evaporation and barrel influence. Eagle Rare 30 is bottled at 101 proof and follows the 2023 debut of Eagle Rare 25 (the first release aged in Warehouse P), which is also returning alongside this release. “Eagle Rare 30 is not simply about time, it is about what time can reveal,” said Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. “The environment within Warehouse P allows us to manage those effects, softening the extraction and preserving the nuanced flavors.” To celebrate the launch, the distillery has partnered with Bonhams for an auction featuring the first bottles produced. Eagle Rare 30 will be released in limited quantities starting May 2026 at a suggested retail price of $12,500 per 750 mL bottle. For more information, read the full press release here.

Elijah Craig 2026 PGA Championship Commemorative Edition

Elijah Craig, the Official Bourbon of the 2026 PGA Championship, has announced its next commemorative release, the 2026 PGA Championship Commemorative Edition Small Batch Bourbon. Produced by Heaven Hill Distillery, the whiskey is bottled at 108 proof to honor the 108th edition of the championship held at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. To specifically celebrate the host city, this small batch was crafted using barrels pulled from Heaven Hill’s N and S rickhouses, representing the first letters of Newtown Square. “Elijah Craig‘s strong partnership with PGA of America brings together the best in golf and the best in Bourbon, and reflects our shared spirit of craftsmanship and dedication,” said Max Stefka, AVP, Global Whiskey Brands at Heaven Hill. The commemorative bottle features an exclusive gold coin cork and official branding. It is shipping in limited quantities to retailers nationwide with a suggested retail price of $36.99. ElijahCraig.com

Wildcask Bourbon 2026 Release

The University of Kentucky’s James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits has announced the 2026 release of Wildcask, the second edition of the university’s first and only bourbon brand. Developed by students in the Commercialization of Distilled Spirits course, the 2026 release features an entirely different blend from the inaugural edition, sourced from three Kentucky distilleries. The blend consists of 24% James B. Beam Distilling Co. eight-year (78/13/0/9 mash bill), 24% Four Roses eight-year (60/35/0/5 mash bill), 39% Bardstown Bourbon Co. six-year (53/0/39/8 mash bill), and 13% Bardstown Bourbon Co. five-year (68/0/20/12 mash bill). All proceeds from Wildcask Bourbon are invested back into the Beam Institute to support student education and research. The 2026 expression is bottled at 100 proof and is priced at $69.99 for a 750 mL bottle. Those wishing to purchase can reserve bottles online to be picked up at the Beam Institute in Lexington on April 27, 2026. Read the full press release here.

Editor’s note: Some sources are reporting that Wildcask Bourbon 2026 will also be available as a 375 mL option for $34.99. However, that size is not available at the purchase link.

Starlight Distillery – The Terroir Collection

Starlight Distillery has introduced The Terroir Collection, a bourbon series finished in European oak from six regions: Scandinavian, Papuk, Balkan, Iberian, Carpathian, and German forests. The distillery’s announcement describes the collection as available at Starlight Distillery while supplies last, but little additional information is provided about these whiskeys.

Editor’s note: Additional technical details about individual Terroir Collection bottlings (such as age, proof, and price range) are drawn from retailer product listings rather than directly from Starlight. This is interesting since Starlight made it sound like these were available only at the distillery. These listings generally describe Indiana straight bourbons around 5 years old, bottled close to barrel proof (for example, Iberian Oak at approximately 5 years and about 114.3 proof, Balkan Oak at approximately 5 years and about 114.6 proof, and German Oak at approximately 5 years and about 110 proof), with shelf prices typically in the mid‑$60s to low‑$80s range depending on retailer and specific barrel. These details may vary by store and bottling and should be treated as retailer‑reported information, not official distillery specifications.

Sources for Editor’s note: Retailer product pages including Huntsman Heritage (5 Year Iberian Oak, 5 Year German Oak) and Binny’s Beverage Depot (Iberian Oak, Balkan Oak, German Oak).

Michter’s US★1 Barrel Strength Sour Mash

For the first time, Michter’s Distillery is releasing its US★1 Barrel Strength Sour Mash Kentucky Whiskey this May. While the 86-proof small batch version was the first American whiskey named “Whisky of the Year” by The Whisky Exchange in 2019, this new limited offering is left uncut and undergoes the distillery’s signature filtration protocol. “The Michter’s US★1 Sour Mash that we make in Kentucky these days is a wonderful whiskey, and we’re excited to have this opportunity to share it at barrel strength,” said Michter’s President Joseph J. Magliocco. Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson noted that fans will now be able to taste this unique product at barrel strength, maintaining the “beauty and elegance” of the original small batch release. The average proof for this 2026 release is 111.5. Michter’s US★1 Barrel Strength Sour Mash has a suggested retail price of $120 per 750 mL bottle. Read the press release here.

Jack Daniel’s Special Release Small Batch Rye

The Jack Daniel Distillery has announced the very limited release of Jack Daniel’s Special Release Small Batch Rye, consisting of five high-proof batches of Tennessee Rye Whiskey sourced from Coy Hill, Boiler Hill, and Fire Brigade Fields barrelhouses. A total of 129 barrels, with entry dates spanning from February 2016 to August 2017, were matured for an average of 10 years across these three locations. Master Distiller Chris Fletcher and his team selected each barrel for qualities of intense flavor and high proof, utilizing the classic Tennessee Rye Whiskey mash bill of 70% rye, 18% corn, and 12% malted barley. Presented at barrel proof in 375 mL bottles, the proof points for this special release range from 142.7 to 146.1 proof. Jack Daniel’s Special Release Small Batch Rye is available this month for $64.99 exclusively at the White Rabbit Bottle Shop in Lynchburg, Tenn. jackdaniels.com

Star Hill Farm Whisky 2026

Maker’s Mark has announced the second release of Star Hill Farm Whisky, the brand’s first new mash bill and first wheat whisky in 70 years. Awarded “World’s Best Wheat Whisky 2026,” this year’s expression introduces hard red and hard white wheat types to demonstrate how grain diversity impacts flavor. Star Hill Farm 2026 is crafted from two mash bills: one composed entirely of malted wheat, and another of 70% wheat and 30% malted barley. The final blend—27% wheat, 62% malted wheat and 11% malted barley—utilizes whiskies aged seven and eight years. As a Regenified-certified distillery, Maker’s Mark continues to use this release to highlight regenerative agriculture and local sourcing, carrying the Estate Whiskey certification from the Estate Whiskey Alliance. Bottled at 116.4 proof (58.2% ABV), the limited release has a suggested retail price of $100 and will be available at select retailers and the distillery. makersmark.com

Editor’s note: I really enjoyed last year’s release, and am looking forward to trying this one!

Oaklore Story Series Cask-Finished Bourbons

Charlotte-based Oaklore Distilling Co. has announced the release of two new expressions in its Story Series: Old Fashioned Finished Four Grain Bourbon and Port Cask Finished Four Grain Bourbon. These limited-quantity releases begin with select six-year-old barrels sourced from Oaklore’s “sister distilleries” in Kentucky and North Carolina. After these component whiskeys are blended, the resulting composite four-grain mash bill consists of 70% corn, 10% rye, 10% wheat, and 10% malted barley. The Old Fashioned Finished Four Grain Bourbon is finished for an additional 18 months in barrels previously used for Oaklore’s Old Fashioned Cocktail Mixer and is bottled at 98 proof with an SRP of $89.95. The Port Cask Finished Four Grain Bourbon rests for an additional 12 to 18 months in freshly dumped domestic port wine barrels and is bottled at 92 proof with an SRP of $79.95. Both expressions are non-chill filtered and available at select retailers in the Carolinas or via national shipping through the distillery’s website. oakloredistilling.com

Greats of the Gate 2026: Northern Dancer

Keeneland Race Course and Maker’s Mark have announced the third release in their 10-year “Greats of the Gate” commemorative bottle series, honoring the Hall-of-Fame racehorse Northern Dancer. Northern Dancer was the first Canadian-bred horse to win both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. The 2026 limited-edition bottle features artwork by Kentucky artist Tyler Robertson, with teal and yellow polka dots inspired by Northern Dancer’s racing silks and a teal wax seal. This expression is bottled at 90 proof and is available in a 1-liter format. Proceeds from the series support various Kentucky nonprofits, including Kentucky Classic Arts, Kentucky Harvest, and the Arts Center of the Bluegrass, with a goal of raising $4 million over the decade. The bottle launched on April 16, 2026, exclusively at select Kentucky retailers.

Editor’s note: While the official 2026 announcement does not list a specific price, the suggested retail price is presumed to be $179.99 based on the established SRP for prior releases in the series. makersmark.com

Widow Jane Tequila Ocho Cask Finish

Widow Jane Distillery has announced the release of Widow Jane Tequila Ocho Cask Finish Bourbon, marking the first time Tequila Ocho has allowed its aged barrels to be repurposed for whiskey production. This expression features Widow Jane’s flagship 10-year-old bourbon finished for eight months in Tequila Ocho casks. “With our Ocho Cask Finish, we treated the agave character as a prism; not to mask our 10-year whiskey, but to refract it,” said Head Distiller Sienna Jevremov. “The result is a vivid freshness and brightness that still feels unmistakably Widow Jane.” The bourbon is bottled at 91 proof (45.5% ABV) and is non-chill filtered. It has a suggested retail price of $74.99 and will be available at retailers beginning in May 2026. Source: Breaking Bourbon

Blue Note Small Batch Wheated Bourbon Blend

B.R. Distilling Company has announced the launch of the Blue Note Small Batch Wheated Bourbon Blend, a limited-release expression aged in Memphis where “The long summers filled with infamous Memphis heat and cooler evenings force the whiskey deep into the oak, creating an unmistakably rich flavor that’s bold yet smooth” according to the brand. Distilled in Kentucky, the whiskey features a mash bill of 70% corn, 21% wheat, and 9% barley. “Wheated bourbon has always offered a softer, rounder expression of the grain, and with this blend we set out to highlight that character at its most vibrant,” said Harris Smith, Assistant Production Manager at B.R. Distilling Company. This unfiltered bourbon is bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV) and is limited to approximately 2,800 cases. It is available for a suggested retail price of $44.99. Source: BevWire.com

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Well, that’s it! I hope you have enjoyed reading this week’s New Bourbon Releases News! If you would like our newsletters delivered directly to your inbox, please sign up here. As a special treat this week, we will have a special edition of our Bourbon Litigation Update News, so be on the lookout for it. Our next Bourbon and Distillery News will be published on Saturday May 2. In addition, the podcast and YouTube versions of this newsletter will go live on Monday April 27. 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 these related articles: New Bourbon Releases News for May 9, 2026, Bourbon and Distillery News for May 16, 2026 and New Bourbon Releases News for May 24, 2026!

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