New Bourbon Releases News: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Week Special Edition

34 New Bourbons and other American Whiskeys To Try!

In this week’s newsletter, we focus on New Bourbon and other American Whiskey Releases. If you want to find out about bourbon industry news instead, read our latest Bourbon and Distillery News Newsletter. The two newsletters alternate weekly. To receive my free newsletters in your email inbox, subscribe here.

We won’t be publishing a New Bourbon Releases Newsletter during the Kentucky Bourbon Festival this weekend. However, there are already a huge number of new releases, so I am putting my newsletter out early this week so that we don’t get too far behind!

New Bourbon Releases News For September 8, 2026

Contents

Woodford Reserve — Four Roses — Old Forester — Sagamore — Basil Hayden — Baker’s — Town Branch — Chattanooga — Shortbarrel — Tumblin’ Dice — Jeptha Creed — Remus — Luxco — Larrikin — Neeley Family Distillery — Dark Arts Whiskey House — Brown-Forman

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

• It’s Back – The 2026 Kentucky Bourbon Festival Survival Guide by Bourbon Obsessed – My updated survival guide covers the details that can make or break your weekend—from pro tips, ticket options, wristbands, Will Call and more. Read my complete guide online, or download the free, printable PDF edition. (For anyone who has tried to download the guide and has had problems, those should be fixed.)
• Garrison Brothers Laguna Madre 2026 Review – The 2026 Garrison Brothers Laguna Madre is an eight-year Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey matured for four years in American oak and another four in French Limousin oak. Is this limited 101-proof release worth its $349.99 price? Read my full review to find out!
• Ass Pocket Whiskey Lot No. 6 11-Year Bourbon Review – Ass Pocket Whiskey Lot No. 6 11-Year Bourbon packs an 11-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon into APW’s signature 200mL flask. Is it worth seeking out? Read my review to find out!
• Guess who was recently interviewed by Radiology Business? If you guessed me, you’d be correct! Learn more about my story of starting Bourbon Obsessed than you ever wanted to know in this 15-minute video interview. It is available via this link on the Radiology Business website.

New Bourbon Releases News For September 8, 2026

New Bourbon Releases For September 8, 2026

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection No. 22: Super Seasoned Oak

Woodford Reserve’s Master’s Collection No. 22: Super Seasoned Oak places the focus on extended wood seasoning. The specialized barrels were constructed from American oak seasoned outdoors for five to seven years before cooperage, compared with the months to roughly one year used for traditional bourbon barrels. Woodford says the additional outdoor weathering “reduces harsh green tannins, opens up the wood grain, and coaxes out deeply concentrated sugars.” Super Seasoned Oak is bottled at 100.4 proof in a 700 mL bottle and carries a suggested retail price of $179.99. The limited release became available September 3 at Woodford Reserve Distillery, select Kentucky retailers and the brand’s online store for shipping to eligible jurisdictions. Sources and links: Full Woodford Reserve press release

Four Roses 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch

Four Roses’ 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch combines four batches from three of the distillery’s 10 bourbon recipes: 14-year-old OBSK, 14-year-old OESK, 15-year-old OESV and 23-year-old OESK. This is the 19th edition of the annual Limited Edition Small Batch series. The bourbon is non-chill filtered and bottled at barrel strength at 109.2 proof. Four Roses plans to release approximately 16,800 bottles at a suggested retail price of $249. The release will arrive October 10 at select retailers nationwide and at the Four Roses visitor centers in Lawrenceburg and Cox’s Creek, Kentucky, while supplies last. Sources and links: fourrosesbourbon.com

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2026 – Plus a Distiller’s Jacket

The 2026 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is an 11-year-old, 97-proof bourbon drawn from 212 barrels aged on the third floor of Warehouse B, the oldest warehouse at Brown-Forman’s Shively distillery. Master Distiller Emeritus Chris Morris and Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo selected the release, which carries a suggested retail price of $199.99 and will reach select retailers in limited quantities. Old Forester also ran a lottery for bottles, and participants have already been notified whether they were selected. (In case anyone was wondering, I was not.) Old Forester is also marking the release with a limited-edition Alpha Industries Distiller’s Jacket based on the company’s N-1 deck-jacket silhouette and designed as a modern interpretation of what a distiller would wear on the warehouse floor. The $250 jacket will become available September 10 through Alpha Industries’ website and stores in New York City. Sources and links: alphaindustries.com | oldforester.com

Sagamore 8-Year Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey

Sagamore Whiskey’s first 8-year Bottled in Bond Straight Rye was distilled during spring 2018 at their Baltimore distillery and was distilled, aged and bottled entirely in Maryland. The whiskey combines Sagamore’s high-rye and low-rye mash bills, as is typical of Sagamore ryes. Sagamore describes the release as a Maryland-style rye, balancing traditional rye spice with softer, richer notes of sweetness and fruit. It is bottled at the required 100 proof without chill filtration. Sagamore previously released a 7-year Bottled in Bond rye, but this is their first 8-year edition. The new expression became available nationally September 1 at select retailers and at the Sagamore distillery for a suggested retail price of $59.99. Sources and links: Full Sagamore Whiskey press release | sagamorespirit.com

Basil Hayden Cognac Cask Reserve

Basil Hayden Cognac Cask Reserve finishes the brand’s high-rye Kentucky bourbon in selected French oak casks that previously held Cognac exclusively for 20 to 25 years. The limited-edition release remains at Basil Hayden’s customary 80 proof and is the first expression intended to begin a broader exploration of internationally influenced finishes within the portfolio. Basil Hayden Cognac Cask Reserve is now available at select retailers for a suggested retail price of $49.99. Sources and links: Full Basil Hayden release | basilhaydenbourbon.com

Baker’s 13 Returns for Baker Beam’s 90th Birthday

The James B. Beam Distilling Co. is bringing back Baker’s 13 during the year its namesake, Baker Beam, celebrated his 90th birthday. Baker Beam is the grandnephew of Jim Beam. At 13 years, the bourbon showcases how time and warehouse location can create distinctions from barrel to barrel. The limited-edition bourbon carries a 13-year age statement and is bottled at 107 proof, matching the proof used for the standard Baker’s 7 Year. Baker’s 13 is currently available for a suggested retail price of $149.99. beamdistilling.com

Town Branch Imperium MMXXVI

Town Branch Imperium MMXXVI blends eight barrels ranging from 6 years, 4 months to 9 years, 6 months old. Half of the blend is Town Branch’s wheated bourbon, made from 70% corn, 22% wheat and 8% malted barley. The remaining half comes from the distillery’s traditional bourbon stocks, which use 72% corn, 15% rye and 13% malted barley and include both pot- and column-distilled whiskey. The third annual Imperium release is non-chill filtered and bottled at cask strength at 115.1 proof. It carries a suggested retail price of $119.99 and is available in very limited quantities (205 6-packs). Sources and links: Full Town Branch release

Chattanooga Whiskey Bottled in Bond: Fall 2022 Vintage

Chattanooga Whiskey’s Fall 2022 Bottled in Bond Vintage combines two recipes from the distillery’s archives. Barrel 54, one of Chattanooga Whiskey’s earliest recipes, replaces the rye or wheat commonly used in bourbon with malted spelt and huskless malted oats, which add texture and weight to the palate. Barrel 177 uses its malted grains for aroma and flavor. Its Melanoidin malt is kilned so that it browns from the inside, developing the same compounds that give graham crackers their color and flavor. Its German Carafa malt is drum roasted until it develops a dark-chocolate flavor. Chattanooga Whiskey says fall vintages have to earn the name and describes this one as “built like a s’more”: the Melanoidin malt supplies the graham cracker, the Carafa malt provides the chocolate, and Barrel 54’s oats and spelt create the texture of toasted marshmallow. Every component was distilled and barreled at Chattanooga Whiskey’s Riverfront Distillery between July and December 2022. The 100-proof release became available September 3 at the Experimental Distillery, with distribution to select states and limited online availability through Seelbach’s to follow. It carries a suggested retail price of $52.99. Sources and links: chattanoogawhiskey.com

Shortbarrel Cigar Batch #4

Shortbarrel Cigar Batch #4 blends mature American whiskeys separately finished in more than 50 Armagnac, Cognac, rum, Tawny Port and Sherry casks. This is the first Cigar Batch to include Sherry casks. The blend is comprised of mature bourbons and whiskeys with mash bills of 60% corn, 36% rye and 4% malted barley; 70% corn, 21% rye and 9% malted barley; 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley; and 91% corn and 9% malted barley. The whiskeys were distilled in Kentucky and Indiana before the finishing and blending work was completed in Georgia. Shortbarrel bottles Cigar Batch #4 without chill filtration at 107 proof. The release became available September 1 in select retail markets, followed by a September 4 direct-to-consumer release, at a suggested retail price of $89.99. Sources and links: shortbarrelbourbon.com

Tumblin’ Dice 12 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon

Proof & Wood’s Tumblin’ Dice 12 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon is a four-barrel micro-batch made from a mash bill of 99% corn and 1% barley. The bourbon was distilled in Indiana but spent its maturation years in Kentucky, where it aged for at least 12 years before bottling at the required 100 proof. It follows the brand’s 11-year Bottled in Bond Bourbon and Rye releases from earlier this year. The new 12-year bourbon will debut at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival and remain available only in Kentucky afterward. Proof & Wood did not supply a suggested retail price. Sources and links: proofandwood.com

Jeptha Creed Solera Aged Bourbon Celebrates the Distillery’s 10th Anniversary

Jeptha Creed Distillery is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a Solera Aged Bourbon that brings together whiskey made from all nine heirloom corn varieties the distillery has grown and distilled: Bloody Butcher, Bruce’s Blue, Blue Clarage, Hopi Blue, Hickory King, Jimmy Red, Oaxacan Green, Pink Heirloom and White Cob White. Jeptha Creed says its Solera process systematically transfers younger bourbon into older barrels, allowing the corn varietals to integrate and develop together as they age. The bourbon is made from a mash bill of 75% heirloom corn, 20% malted rye and 5% malted barley and bottled at 100 proof. It will debut at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, September 10-13, then become available September 17 at Jeptha Creed Distillery and through its online shop. The 750 mL release carries a suggested retail price of $79.99. Sources and links: jepthacreed.com

Luxco Will Unveil Nine Additional Releases at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival

Luxco plans to unveil nine additional releases during the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. Complete individual release announcements were not supplied, so we will just briefly mention each one. Remus Repeal Reserve Series X and Remus Repeal Reserve Rye are covered separately above because Luxco issued a complete press release for those bottles.

• Penelope Estate Collection – Five expressions: 13-year Founders Reserve bourbon at 101.4 proof ($199.99); 10-year Private Select bourbon blend at 102.2 proof ($79.99); 10-year 21% Rye and 36% Rye Single Barrel bourbons at 101 and 107 proof ($89.99 each); and the new 12-year Conundrum straight rye at 101.5 proof (price not yet provided).
• Penelope Cigar Sessions: Chapter 2 – A 6-year American whiskey bottled at 117.4 proof and created in partnership with Alec Bradley cigars. Price: $79.99.
• Yellowstone Recollection Series II – The second release in Yellowstone’s decanter-inspired Recollection line, created by Stephen Beam. Price: $79.99.
• Ezra B. 12-Year Single Barrel – A 99-proof bourbon made from 78% corn, 10% rye and 12% malted barley and aged 12-14 years. It will be sold only at Lux Row Distillers and the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. Price: $199.99.
• MGP Chapter One: Out of the Shadows – MGP’s first branded bourbon release after decades of distilling whiskey for other labels. Price: $69.99.

Larrikin Bourbon Co. Australia Series

Larrikin Bourbon Co. will debut its exceptionally limited Australia Series at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. The collection consists of three 11-year-old, cask-strength bourbons made from six barrels of Old Elk bourbon with a mash bill of 51% corn, 34% rye and 15% malted barley. The three expressions were finished separately in Manuka honey, golden wattle and Australian sugar-cane rum barrels.

One expression will be released each day: the Manuka Honey Barrel Finish on Friday, September 11; the Golden Wattle Barrel Finish on Saturday, September 12; and the Sugar Cane Rum Barrel Finish on Sunday, September 13. Quantities will be extremely limited, and the bottles will be sold exclusively at the festival while supplies last. Larrikin says no subsequent retail or online release is planned. Prices were not announced. Sources and links: Full Larrikin Bourbon Co. announcement | larrikinbourbon.com

More Special Kentucky Bourbon Festival Releases

Several distilleries have announced additional special bottles for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival:

• Neeley Family Distillery – Papaw’s Legacy Reserve, their first 10-year bourbon, is a 10-barrel blend bottled at 110 proof and limited to 750 bottles. Only a portion will be bottled for this release, with the blend replenished each year to preserve some of the original bourbon in perpetuity. Neeley will also bring their barrel-strength Banana Batch Four Grain Bourbon, blended by Rebekah Neeley and made with the distillery’s four-grain recipe containing oatmeal. Neeley Family Distillery on Facebook
• Dark Arts Whiskey House – Dark Arts will showcase six special releases at the festival: Chief Alchemist Reserve Cuvée 19 Year Mizunara Cask Kentucky Straight Bourbon; Flight of Icarus 11.5 Year Hazmat Kentucky Straight Bourbon; 13 Year Double Oaked French Oak Kentucky Straight Bourbon; Supernova 21 Year Hazmat Indiana Light Whiskey; Tres Vieux Quintessence 15 Year Indiana Rye; and a nine-year Kentucky Bourbon Festival Exclusive Single Barrel Selection finished in Oloroso Sherry casks. Our original coverage of all six releases
• Brown-Forman – Kentucky Boy is a one-time, non-age-stated bourbon honoring Chris Morris’ 50-year career at Brown-Forman. The 100-proof blend combines Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon and King of Kentucky. It debuts at the festival on September 10 for $100, with additional limited availability through Old Forester and select Kentucky retailers. Food & Wine

New Bourbon Releases News For September 8, 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 newsletter will be published on September 19, 2026, after the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. In addition, the podcast and YouTube versions of this newsletter will go live today. If you enjoy our content, I would greatly appreciate it if you would share it with your friends, as well as follow us on Instagram and Facebook. I hope you have a great Kentucky Bourbon Festival week! If you see me at the festival, please say “Hi”! 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!