New Bourbon Releases News for February 13, 2026

King of Kentucky goes Small Batch for the first time, Buffalo Trace turns up the volume on Traveller Whiskey with a 121-proof release, and Michter’s ships the ultra-rare 2025 Edition of Celebration Sour Mash. Plus, new Bottled-in-Bond releases from Kentucky Artisan Distillery, a unique Cabernet Sauvignon finish from Woodford Reserve, a new Rye from Lost Lantern, a limited edition from Buzzard’s Roost, a high proof wheated bourbon from Green River, a nationwide release from Shortbarrel and a new subscription service from Frey Ranch. Read this week's New Bourbon Releases News for all the details!

10 New Bourbon Releases & A New Club To Try!

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

New Releases Contents: Kentucky Artisan — King of Kentucky — Shortbarrel — Green River — Buzard’s Roost — Woodford — Frey Ranch — Michter’s — Traveller — Lost Lantern

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

Green River Full Proof Wheated Bourbon takes Green River’s signature wheated recipe and presents it at “Full Proof”, which for this batch is 109.3 proof. If you like a fruit and hot cinnamon-forward bourbon that builds into a spicier, drier finish, this one is worth a look. Read my full review to learn all about it!

Winchester Ammunition has entered the whiskey world with Winchester Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Distilled in Kentucky and crafted and bottled in Michigan, how does this 92.4 proof pour stack up? Is it worth a “shot”? Read our review to find out!

Winchester Double Oaked Bourbon is blended from older bourbons than the brand’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon, and it also spends additional finishing time in a second new charred oak barrel. Does the extra age and finishing deliver the depth it promises? Read my full review to find out!

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New Bourbon Releases News For February 13, 2026

Kentucky Artisan Distillery Adds Bottled-in-Bond High Rye and Four Grain Bourbons to the Artisan Series

Kentucky Artisan Distillery (KAD) released two additions to its Artisan Series: Bottled in Bond High Rye Bourbon and Bottled in Bond Four Grain Bourbon. Like the other bottles in the Artisan Series, the Bottled in Bond High Rye and Four Grain bourbons are crafted from grains harvested from fields just a mile away that have undergone the process of milling, mashing, distilling, aging and bottling on site. Beginning February 1, the two new Bottled-in-Bond releases are being distributed throughout Kentucky by Heritage Distributors and will be available on and off-premise as well as at the KAD Clubhouse, along with the rest of the Artisan Series line.

High Rye Bourbon: 4 years-old, 60% Corn/36% Rye/4% Malted Barley, 100 proof, $49.99
Four Grain Bourbon:
4 years-old, 67% Corn/12.5% Rye/12.5% Wheat/8% Malted Barley, 100 Proof, $49.99.
Read the full press release here. Top


King of Kentucky Introduces Small Batch Collection for 2026

Brown-Forman has announced King of Kentucky Small Batch, a limited-edition collection honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States and the creation of Kentucky County, Virginia, which became the State of Kentucky. For the first time, the brand introduces a three-batch series bottled at distinct proofs of 105, 107.5, and 110, with each batch blending barrels aged 12–18 years. King of Kentucky Small Batch will be available in limited quantities nationwide with a suggested retail price of $299. Read the Press Release. Top

Editor’s Note: This new Small Batch collection is in addition to the highly sought-after and limited single barrel versions of King of Kentucky which are generally released later in the year. I assume that these will be quite difficult to obtain, as well.


Shortbarrel Four Grain Straight Bourbon

Atlanta-based Shortbarrel has announced the nationwide release of its flagship Shortbarrel Four Grain Straight Bourbon. After a rollout in Georgia, the expression is now shipping to 47 states via shortbarrelbourbon.com and is available at retail in Georgia, Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas.

The whiskey is a 4-to-5-year-old wheated bourbon created as a blend from the company’s inventory. Co-Founder and Master Blender Clinton Dugan sourced barrels from Wilderness Trail in Danville (64% corn, 24% wheat and 12% malted barley), Kentucky and Green River in Owensboro, Kentucky
(70% corn, 21% rye and 9% malted barley). By blending these mash bills, the final profile, which is heavier on the Wilderness Trail wheated bourbon, features a “core four” composite grain bill of 65% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley, and 3% rye.

While initial aging occurred in Kentucky, the secondary aging for Shortbarrel Four Grain Bourbon takes place in the company’s Atlanta warehouse. The whiskey is non-chill filtered and bottled at 92 proof. The suggested retail price is $39.99. Stay tuned for my review! shortbarrelbourbon.com. Top


Green River Wheated Full Proof Bourbon

Green River Distilling Co. launches Green River Wheated Full Proof Bourbon today, February 13. Green River’s [90 proof] Wheated Bourbon was recently honored as Best Overall Bourbon in the 2025 New York World Spirits Competition, and this whiskey represents a welcome next step. The whiskey is comprised of a mash bill of 70% corn, 21% wheat, and 9% malted barley. Aged for five to seven years in Green River’s clay tile warehouses, the initial batch is bottled at 109.3 proof (with future batches ranging from 109 – 116 proof). The suggested retail price is $49.99. The release features a custom copper-accented tax strip to set it apart from the core lineup and will be available in 25 markets. Read my review. Top

Editor’s Note: “Full Proof” is a whiskey style that does not have a legal or standard definition. It has been used to refer to a whiskey bottled at the same proof as it went into the barrel, at least for some of the more common variants, such as 1792 and Weller Full Proof bourbons. Green River defined the term a little differently when they released their Full Proof [Rye] Bourbon, using it to signify the final proof of a blend of barrel strength barrels. We assume that is the case with their Full Proof Wheated Bourbon, as well. Other distilleries have used “Batch Proof” to describe the same thing.


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Buzzard’s Roost Four Grain Double Oak Bourbon

Buzzard’s Roost Distillery has announced the launch of a new limited-edition release, Buzzard’s Roost Four Grain Double Oak Bourbon. This 5-year-old bourbon was sourced from a distillery in Ohio and features a mash bill of 73% corn, 16% wheat, 6% rye, and 5% malted barley. The whiskey underwent a proprietary secondary maturation process using lightly charred, precision-toasted oak. Bottled at 100 proof, this release has a suggested retail price of $79.99. It became available online on February 5 and at the distillery on February 7, with national distribution to follow. Stay tuned for my review! buzzardsroostwhiskey.com Top


Woodford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Finish

Woodford Reserve has released a new limited-edition bottle as part of its annual Distillery Series, Woodford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Finish. This expression consists of fully mature Woodford Reserve Bourbon finished in cabernet sauvignon French oak barrels. Bottled at 90.4 proof, the suggested retail price is $64.99 for a 375ml bottle. It became available at the Woodford Reserve Distillery and select Kentucky retailers on February 5, and is also available for shipping to KY, NE, NH, ND, and D.C. woodfordreserve.com Top


Frey Ranch Distillery Launches “Harvest the Savings” Subscription Service

Frey Ranch Distillery has announced the launch of a new “Harvest the Savings” subscribe and save service via shop.freyranch.com. Developed in response to consumer trends toward purchasing spirits online, the service initially features the brand’s flagship offerings: Frey Ranch Four Grain Bourbon, Frey Ranch Straight Rye, and Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon.

Members can choose from three subscription models: Slow Sip Society (quarterly deliveries) with 5% savings, Between Harvests (bi-monthly deliveries) with 10% savings, or Never Run Dry (monthly deliveries) with 15% savings. All subscribers receive free shipping on their first purchase. As a farm-to-glass distillery, Frey Ranch Distillery produces its whiskey using grains grown on-site in Fallon, Nevada. freyranch.com Top

Editors Note: Harvest the Savings is a bit different than other distillery subscriptions or clubs. If I am understanding correctly, a subscription gets you delivery of the same expression on a regular basis. This is different than most other distillery clubs which give you different expressions and/or limited releases at set intervals throughout the year. I tried to find this program on the Frey Ranch website and as of February 13, it is not on their main storefront page. However, after a bit of exploration, I found it. You can get to it by going to one of the core products and heading to its purchase page, and there you will find the different options. I have suggested they add a link to the program on their storefront homepage, which would make the it much easier to find.


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Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey (2025 Edition)

Michter’s Distillery will begin shipping the 2025 Edition of Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey this month. This marks only the fifth time this expression has been released, with only 315 bottles available worldwide. Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson selected seven barrels for this blend: four Kentucky Straight Rye barrels and three Kentucky Straight Bourbon barrels. The whiskey ranges in age from over 12 years to over 30 years old.

Bottled at 115.2 proof, the 2025 Edition is presented in a special gift box featuring a signed letter from McKee. The suggested retail price is $6,000 per bottle. While specific mash bill percentages for the component whiskeys were not provided, the blend consists of both bourbon and rye stocks. michters.com. Top

Editor’s Note: I find it a little confusing that this is referred to as the 2025 edition, since it is being released in 2026.


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Traveller Whiskey Full Proof

Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley and musician Chris Stapleton have unveiled Traveller Whiskey Full Proof. This release is the first line extension for the brand since its debut in 2024 and is a higher-proof evolution of the original Blend No. 40. The expression was developed through experimentation with different blend adjustments and was selected after a backstage tasting with Stapleton and his band. It is said to deliver “amplified intensity while preserving the balanced, ‘easy-sippin’ versatility that defines Traveller’s signature style.”

Bottled at 121 proof, the suggested retail price is $39.99. Initially launched as a limited release in February 2026, it is now available nationwide at retailers, bars, and restaurants. Mash bill information was not provided in the announcement. Read my review of the original 90 proof Traveller Whiskey. Top

Editor’s Note: This is another whiskey that confuses me a bit. It was initially released to be a relatively low proof “approachable” whiskey and presumably targeted to appeal to Stapleton’s fans. It later became the “Official Whiskey of Major League Baseball” and then joined NASCAR with JR Motorsports’s Traveller Whiskey No. 40 Chevrolet.

However, given its profile, it did not seem to be particularly well received on social media by many bourbon fans. So, is this higher proof version meant to target them? With no age or mash bill provided, as is often the case with Sazerac’s whiskeys, this again is a “blended whiskey” and therefore it could contain pretty much anything. The first release was rumored to be Canadian Whisky blended with bourbon distilled at Barton 1792. From the description, it sounds like this is a higher proof version of the same blend. So, it will be interesting to see what kind of reception it receives.

Also of note, in the press release it states that while developing Traveller Full Proof they both explored “different blend adjustments and techniques” and experimented “with proof in Traveller’s blended recipe.” So, it is unclear from these statements if only the proof was altered, or if the blend of whiskeys itself was modified, as well. Lastly, Buffalo Trace generally uses the term “Full Proof” to indicate that the whiskey is bottled at the same proof at which it is put into the barrel. However, as they mention different proofs were tried for this release, this whiskey doesn’t seem to follow Buffalo Trace’s usual naming convention.


Lost Lantern Far-Flung Rye II

Lost Lantern has announced the release of Far-Flung Rye II, the second batch of its flagship blend of straight rye whiskies. The brand states that it was recently named VinePair’s Best Rye Whiskey to drink in 2026. This second edition brings together ryes aged 5 to 7 years from five different states. The component distilleries include:

  • New Riff Distilling (Newport, KY)
  • Union Horse Distilling Co. (Lenexa, KS)
  • Baltimore Spirits Co. (Baltimore, MD)
  • Middle West Spirits (Columbus, OH)
  • Wollersheim Distillery (Prairie du Sac, WI)

Bottled at a cask strength of 124.4 proof, the suggested retail price is $100. Of note, this release is the first Lost Lantern blend to include whiskey from Kentucky. lostlanternwhiskey.com. Top

Editor’s Unrelated Rant About “Best of” lists: This is a bit unrelated, but since the press release mentioned “VinePair’s best of 2026” and it is only early February, it set me off. I do like VinePair and listen to their podcast regularly. However, I am not a big fan of click-bait SEO (search engine optimization – ie designed specifically to get high results in searches) focused articles. With no disrespect to the whiskeys included in their list, I am having trouble seeing the point in publishing an article on January 14, 2026 entitled “All of the Best Whiskeys to Drink in 2026.” That would seem to just be a belated “Best Whiskeys of 2025” article, wouldn’t it? And VinePair has published one of those…. Actually, that is an understatement, they have published many “best of” lists in 2025. In the past year they have published (and this is not a complete list): The 30 Best Rye Whiskeys to Drink in 2025, All of the Best Whiskey to Drink in 2025, The 50 Best Spirits of 2025, The 15 Best Allocated Bourbons (and Ryes) of 2025, The 30 Best Scotch Whiskies for 2025, We Asked 10 Bartenders: What’s Your Go-To Bourbon? (2025) and The 30 Best Bourbons for 2025. Do we see a trend here?

In fact, they even say in the introduction to their “All of the Best Whiskeys to Drink in 2026” article “selecting one standout bottle from every subcategory of whiskey early each year offers a unique snapshot into what wowed us over the last 12 months.” But, the thing is, they already did that! A few times! In addition, having that 2026 date in the title is just going to mess with the search results when all of the actual Best of 2026 lists start coming out. OK, rant over, but I think “Best Of” lists from any one source lose any meaning if so many of those lists are published in a given year. But, maybe that’s just me...


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In Closing – New Bourbon Releases News For February 13, 2026

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. Our next Bourbon and Distillery News will be published on Friday February 20. In addition, the podcast and YouTube versions of this newsletter will go live on Monday February 16. 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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About the author: Ed Escott is truly "Bourbon Obsessed". He is the founder of Bourbon Obsessed, LLC, and an Executive Bourbon Steward of the Stave and Thief Society. In addition, he has authored and edited over 600 bourbon and other whiskey reviews, over 50 in-depth distillery write-ups, and many other related articles. He is on the board of the Kentucky Bourbon Influencers and a member of the Lexington Bourbon Society and the Bourbon Capital Guild. Last, but not least, Ed has attended many bourbon-related educational sessions, visited countless distilleries, and is on a never-ending quest to try every bourbon.

Prior to focusing solely on Bourbon Obsessed, Ed practiced in academic medicine for three decades. He most recently was a Professor at the University of Kentucky and served as Chief of the Division of Neuroradiology and Vice Chair For Faculty Mentoring, Development & Wellness of the Department of Radiology. He has extensive editorial experience in academic medical publication, and brings that same academic mindset to Bourbon Obsessed, which is a unique approach for a spirit-focused media company.

Ed can be found on social media on Instagram at @bourbon_obsessed and on Facebook at @BourbonObsessed