Back in the Saddle: This Week’s Bourbon & Mead Digest Returns After Brief Health Pause

Hi friends, thank you for your patience! I had to hit pause on last week’s digest due to some unexpected health issues, but I’m back on my feet and ready to pour you a double helping of bourbon and mead news to make up for it. From rare releases and spirited festivals to some big industry shakeups, this week’s roundup is packed—so grab a glass, settle in, and let’s catch up on what we missed.

Nearest Green Distillery, maker of Uncle Nearest whiskey, is battling a lawsuit from Farm Credit Mid-America, which alleges default on over $100 million in loans and seeks a court-appointed receiver to take over operations. The lender accuses the distillery of missing payments, misreporting its finances, improperly selling future revenue streams, and using loan funds to purchase a $2.2 million Martha’s Vineyard property, which has been criticized by neighbors for hosting brand events. Farm Credit also claims Uncle Nearest admitted default and consented to receivership.

However, founders Fawn and Keith Weaver are opposing the move, asserting they are victims of fraud by their former CFO, who allegedly overstated collateral by $21M and is under investigation. They argue Farm Credit was aware of the property purchase and even visited it in 2023. The Weavers’ rebuttal describes the bank’s claims as “salacious and inaccurate” and insists the company fulfilled its obligations before the CFO’s misconduct. A hearing on the receivership motion is set for Aug. 7, as the future of one of America’s fastest-growing whiskey brands hangs in the balance.

Starting Aug. 22, University of Wyoming fans can toast their team with Pretty Good Horse Bourbon, a Cowboys-themed whiskey distilled entirely in Wyoming. Produced in collaboration with Casper’s Backwards Distilling Company and distributed by the State of Wyoming, the bourbon proudly features the school’s iconic bucking horse logo and brown-and-gold branding. Co-founder and UW alum Amber Pollock says the project highlights Wyoming craftsmanship and community spirit. Fans can snag a bottle at the launch party in Casper or online through Big Thirst, making this new release a true celebration of Wyoming pride.

Minneapolis-based Brother Justus Whiskey Company has released the third edition of its acclaimed Founder’s Reserve series, showcasing a fresh, fruit-forward American Single Malt made entirely from Minnesota-sourced ingredients. Crafted from 100% pale ale malted barley, limestone-fed water, and aged in charred Minnesota white oak, this cask-strength (125 proof) whiskey balances bright fruit and caramel with biscuity malt notes. Two-thirds of the blend aged just over three years in 30-gallon casks, while the remainder matured for more than a year in five-gallon barrels. Available for $129.99 online, at the distillery, and in select Minnesota stores, this limited release follows the success of the 2023 and 2024 expressions.

A. Smith Bowman Distillery has unveiled Abraham Bowman Oak Series: Hungarian Oak, the third and final entry in its experimental Oak Series. Aged 12 years in charred Hungarian oak barrels and bottled at 115 proof, this limited-edition whiskey offers a rich, glossy profile with minimal spice, a departure from typical long-aged expressions. The series began in 2024 with French Oak and American Oak releases, exploring how different oak varietals impact flavor. Bottles will be available via an online lottery (Aug. 11–18), with winners purchasing in person at the Fredericksburg gift shop for $79.99.

Blue Note Bourbon has reintroduced its coveted Honey Bourbon Cask after last year’s batch sold out within days. This 113.86-proof whiskey starts with a three-year-aged bourbon (70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley) finished in honey-infused American oak barrels, creating a bold yet smooth flavor with rich sweetness. Limited to just 1,800 bottles, it’s available online and in select markets for $64.99. Crafted in Memphis and aged in the city’s intense heat, this release continues Blue Note’s tradition of innovative, award-winning whiskeys.

Detroit City Distillery is launching its first-ever Hot Honey Bourbon on Aug. 8, blending smooth bourbon with Bees in the D honey and a spicy kick. Priced at $60, the small-batch release goes on sale online that morning, with pickup at the Eastern Market tasting room. A launch party will feature honey tastings, specialty cocktails, and Mootz Bee Sting Pizza for the first 75 guests. Building on the success of their original Honey Bourbon, this new hot honey twist promises sweet heat perfect for cocktails or sipping neat.

Jack Daniel’s is shaking up its lineup with Tennessee Blackberry, a 70-proof whiskey infused with ripe blackberry notes for a sweet-tart kick. Built on the distillery’s Old No. 7 base and mellowed through sugar maple charcoal, this approachable, fruit-forward spirit is designed for sipping neat, over ice, or mixing into cocktails. It joins Jack’s Honey, Fire, and Apple flavors as part of their push toward versatile, sessionable whiskeys aimed at casual drinkers and cocktail fans alike. Rolling out nationwide for $21.99, it’s a seasonal-ready option that adds a fresh twist to the Lynchburg classic.

Heaven Hill’s 2025 Parker’s Heritage Collection release blends three distinct mashbills: a 15-year wheated bourbon, an 11-year corn whiskey, and a 12-year two-grain rye-malt whiskey, all aged across multiple rickhouses. Bottled at barrel strength (122.5 proof) and non-chill filtered, this $179.99 limited edition showcases rich complexity while continuing Parker Beam’s legacy—proceeds benefit ALS research through the Parker Beam Promise of Hope Fund. Arriving in September with its signature upscale packaging, this bold blend honors craftsmanship and a cause close to Heaven Hill’s heart.

Seattle-based Westland Distillery has dropped two new whiskeys in its Cask Exploration Series: Beer Cask Finish and Wine Cask Finish (both Batch No. 2). The beer cask edition, aged 6–9 years, incorporates stout, porter, brown ale, imperial lager, and foudre ale barrels, delivering notes of malt, coffee cake, and orange marmalade. The wine cask finish, aged 5–9 years, spent time in Tempranillo, Cab, Syrah, Merlot, and red blend casks, offering flavors of plum, almond, and dark chocolate. Bottled at 46% ABV and priced at $75, both will hit shelves nationwide in September.

Jim Beam’s new Sunshine Blend is a low-proof (80) bourbon designed for easy, refreshing summer sipping. It blends their classic Kentucky Straight Bourbon with a four-year-old bourbon made from brown rice, offering a smoother, more delicate flavor profile. Targeting a growing crowd of Gen Z and Millennials who prefer lighter, sessionable spirits, this release balances traditional bourbon character with drinkability. The brown rice element isn’t new to Beam—it’s been part of experimental batches since 2015 and has appeared in other recent blends.

The Heart of Grove City Bourbon & Spirits Festival is back this Saturday, Aug. 9, from 1–10 p.m. in Grove City’s Historic Town Center. Featuring 14 distilleries, including High Banks and Lake Erie Distillery, plus heritage brands and new names, attendees can enjoy tastings, food trucks, cigars, and a DORA area for outdoor sipping. General admission is $30 cash/$35 card for eight tastings (with a keepsake glass for the first 2,000). New this year: VIP passes offering premium pours like Woodford Reserve Masters Collection and a snifter glass. Tickets and details are available via Heart of Grove City’s website.

Arktos Meadery, one of West Michigan’s first craft meaderies, will close on Aug. 31 after 11 years in downtown Grand Rapids. The team cited economic pressures and a sharp sales decline following the closure of a nearby parking lot for Amway Stadium construction. Known for its traditional Polish meads, coffee, and fruit-infused flavors, and its community-focused “mead hall” vibe, Arktos built a loyal following with events like board game nights. Remaining stock will be bottled for purchase as the meadery prepares to end its saga, calling it “a quest hub” for local adventurers.

Yellowstone Bourbon is debuting Yellowstone Cocktails, a premium ready-to-serve lineup featuring three bourbon-based expressions: Gold Rush (fig honey and lemon), Old Fashioned (blood orange, bitters, and cherry), and Espresso (coffee, vanilla, and raisin). Crafted with Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon and all-natural ingredients, each 750mL bottle (SRP $24.99) yields six cocktails and is packaged in recyclable materials. The release continues Yellowstone’s sustainability mission and partnership with the National Parks Conservation Association, to which the brand has donated $1 million since 2018. The cocktails are rolling out nationwide and online this month.

Kahlúa and Dunkin’ have partnered to launch Kahlúa Dunkin’ Caramel Swirl Cream Liqueur, blending Dunkin’s fan-favorite Caramel Swirl with Kahlúa’s rum and 100% Arabica coffee. The smooth, creamy liqueur boasts notes of caramel, toffee, vanilla, and chocolate—perfect served neat, over ice, or paired with Dunkin’ MUNCHKINS®. Awarded Gold by the IWSC for taste, it marks Dunkin’s debut in cream liqueur and Kahlúa’s biggest push in the category to date. As a retired cop, I can say this one hits two great comforts at once: Dunkin’ coffee and a little off-duty indulgence. Available now nationwide for your next coffee-inspired nightcap.

Garrison Brothers is set to release its oldest and rarest bourbon, the 8-year Laguna Madre, on Sept. 6, 2025, at its Hye, TX distillery. This highly coveted Texas Straight Bourbon is aged four years in American oak and another four in rare French Limousin oak, delivering rich notes of vanilla, hazelnut, saltwater taffy, and milk chocolate. Only 3,000 bottles will be available this year—1,000 at the distillery launch, with the remaining 2,000 released online Sept. 12 and to select accounts. Priced at $349.99, each bottle comes in a custom display case and supports FlatsWorthy, a nonprofit focused on coastal conservation. Known for combining bold bourbon with community impact, Garrison Brothers continues to back causes from veterans to environmental efforts while producing award-winning whiskey.

Penelope Bourbon is back at it with another ready-to-pour cocktail—this time it’s the Black Walnut Old Fashioned, a bold, nutty twist on the classic. Following the success of its Peach Old Fashioned, Penelope blends its award-winning straight bourbon and rye with black walnut bitters, vanilla demerara sugar, and warm spice notes for a rich, velvety sip. Bottled at 76 proof and hitting shelves nationwide this month for $29.99, this cocktail is perfect for everything from backyard hangs to quiet evenings at home. Like its predecessor, Black Walnut earned a platinum medal at the 2025 ASCOT Awards, proving Penelope isn’t just dipping a toe into the cocktail game—they’re diving in headfirst.

James B. Beam Distilling Co. has dropped Distiller’s Share 09, the latest small-batch gem available only at the American Outpost in Clermont, Kentucky. This time around, Beam teams up again with its onsite restaurant, The Kitchen Table, to finish a high-rye bourbon in rare Sauternes white wine casks. The result? A 375ml bottle packed with sweet fruit notes layered over Beam’s signature caramel, vanilla, and oak profile. It’s an elegant twist on classic Beam—and a reminder to grab it while you can, because this one won’t sit on shelves long.

Southern Distilling Company of Statesville, North Carolina, has released its latest small-batch expression: Southern Star Bottled-In-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey. Distilled entirely in-house, this 100-proof rye features a mash bill of 51% rye, 39% corn, and 10% malted barley, balancing bold spice with smooth complexity. A tribute to the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, it reflects both tradition and craft and is priced at $49.95. Available now in the distillery’s tasting room and North Carolina ABC stores, it’s another strong showing from one of the fastest-growing private distilleries in the country.

San Antonio’s Maverick Distilling is releasing a piece of Texas whiskey history this Saturday at noon with its 6-Year Four Grain Texas Straight Bourbon—a bold nod to Samuel Maverick’s 1835 recipe. Distilled with 100% Texas grain in their historic Lockwood building, this 106-proof sipper features a mash bill of corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley. Expect dark caramel and cola on the nose, a spicy vanilla mid-palate, and a warm cinnamon finish. Made with sweet mash, copper pot distilled, non-chill filtered, and bottled single-barrel style, this is a true Texas original. Just 82 bottles available, so don’t mosey.

Festivalgoers at this year’s Bourbon and Beyond in Louisville are in for a new kind of ride—literally. Thanks to a fresh partnership with Kentucky Kingdom, your event pass now includes access to select rides at the nearby amusement park. It’s a first-of-its-kind perk that blends music, bourbon, and adrenaline for a uniquely Kentucky experience. So in between sipping small batch pours and catching live sets, you can hop on a coaster and ride the bourbon buzz a little higher.

High West is back with a bold new release: a 100-proof Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon made at its high-altitude Utah distillery. Aged 4 years and 5 months, this high-rye bourbon (36% rye, 64% non-GMO corn) meets all the historic standards of the 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Act. Flavor-wise, it’s a complex pour with notes ranging from Honeycrisp apples and peach cobbler to toasted oak and brown butter. Retailing at $85, this limited edition is now rolling out nationwide and online, perfect for collectors and bourbon fans who crave a spicy, full-flavored profile with a side of tradition.

To celebrate two decades of distilling, Cedar Ridge has released its first-ever Anniversary Edition Bourbon, a 110-proof tribute to the Iowa distillery’s roots in both bourbon and wine. Crafted by Master Distiller Murphy Quint, this limited-edition release blends Cedar Ridge’s signature Iowa bourbon with finishes in Tokaji, Ruby Port, Amontillado Sherry, and 2nd-use new oak casks—showcasing the brand’s wine-country heritage and mastery of cask finishing. Bottled at 55% ABV and retailing for $59.99, this special expression is available in Iowa and online while supplies last. A true milestone pour for fans of innovative, flavor-forward craft bourbon.

That’s a wrap on this week’s digest. Thanks for bearing with us after the unexpected break. From bonded releases and anniversary pours to local legends making national waves, it’s clear the spirit world isn’t slowing down. Whether you’re sipping something new or revisiting a favorite, may your glass be full, your palate pleased, and your stories plentiful. We’ll be back soon with more bottles worth hunting and news worth sharing. Until then, pour something neat and toast to good health and great spirits!