Top Releases & Seasonal Sips

From bold new releases to seasonal sippers and whiskey-forward events, this week’s Bourbon & Mead Digest has it all. Highlights include mesquite-finished bourbon from Whiskey Del Bac, Chattanooga Whiskey’s cozy Fall 2021 Bottled-in-Bond, and Heaven Hill’s final 2025 Larceny Barrel Proof release. Plus, explore festive happenings like Michigan’s Muskegon Bourbon Festival and unique mead celebrations at Eavesdrop Brewery. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a curious newcomer, there’s plenty to raise a glass to this week.

Milam & Greene Whiskey has unveiled Guadalupe Bass Straight Bourbon, a collector’s edition that’s already stirring excitement among enthusiasts. Drawn from just three seven-year-old barrels and bottled at a fiery 125.1 proof, this release marks the second in the distillery’s 2025 Wildlife Collection—a series exploring how regional climates shape whiskey character. Named for Texas’ official state fish, the Guadalupe Bass Bourbon blends Kentucky tradition with Texas boldness, marrying high-rye spice and layered sweetness from barrels aged under both climates. Only 454 bottles are available, priced at $149.99, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation. It’s another strong statement from Milam & Greene about craftsmanship, conservation, and the spirit of the Lone Star State.

Nashville’s own Happenstance Whiskey, a 100% women-owned and women-led brand, has unveiled its first portfolio expansion with the release of Happenstance Single Barrel Bourbon, a 9-year-old, 110-proof whiskey distilled in Kentucky and aged to perfection. Following the success of their award-winning Founder’s Edition, this limited release features bold caramel, maple, and cinnamon notes with a honeyed finish—earning double gold honors from the SIP Awards and a 92-point rating from the Beverage Testing Institute. Founder and master blender Paige Parker hand-selected each barrel as an ode to Music City, curating them by Nashville’s area codes. Priced at $89.99, the single barrel will be available in limited quantities across five states and online, underscoring Happenstance’s mission to elevate whiskey culture through craftsmanship, innovation, and female leadership.

Louisville-based Pursuit Spirits has released Pursuit United Kodama Mizunara Bourbon, a limited-edition blend marrying rare Japanese Mizunara oak with infrared-toasted American oak for a bold, aromatic experience. Named “Kodama” after the tree spirits of Japanese folklore, this 117-proof cask-strength bourbon showcases Pursuit’s innovative blending style, combining exotic spice and dry woodiness from Mizunara with sweet vanilla depth from toasted American oak. Master Blender Ryan Cecil says the goal was to “craft something brand new,” setting this release apart from typical Mizunara finishes. Priced at $89.99, Kodama will be available for a limited time at Pursuit Spirits’ Whiskey Row location, embodying the brand’s ongoing pursuit of creativity, craftsmanship, and flavor exploration.

This Friendsgiving season, Wild Turkey is teaming up with The Farmlink Project and YouTube chef Andrew Rea (“Binging with Babish”) to blend bourbon, community, and giving back. The Kentucky distillery has pledged a $101,000 donation to Farmlink—a nonprofit connecting surplus farm produce with food banks nationwide—and is hosting a Friendsgiving Sweepstakes where winners will enjoy a private dinner in NYC hosted by Rea himself. The collaboration also debuts the Wild Apple Pie cocktail, featuring Wild Turkey 101, dehydrated apple syrup, and bitters, as a nod to seasonal abundance and food rescue efforts. The campaign encourages Americans to turn Friendsgiving gatherings into opportunities to reduce food waste and support families in need, uniting Wild Turkey’s legacy of shared moments with a mission to make a real impact this holiday season.

Heaven Hill Distillery has unveiled the inaugural Grain to Glass Specialty Barrel Series, a new line highlighting innovation, transparency, and craftsmanship through unique oak maturation. The 2025 debut features three six-year expressions—a Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Wheated Bourbon, and Rye—each fully aged in Chinquapin Oak barrels selected in partnership with Independent Stave Company. Known for its higher vanillin content, Chinquapin Oak imparts rich notes of butterscotch, toasted nuts, and crème brûlée, offering a bold twist on Heaven Hill’s classic mashbills. Bottled non-chill filtered at 105 to 107 proof, this limited series continues the distillery’s seed-to-sip tradition by sourcing corn from local Peterson Farms. Available nationwide, though allocated, this November at $129.99, the collection reaffirms Heaven Hill’s balance of heritage and experimentation, celebrating 90 years of family-led whiskey excellence.

Elijah Craig Bourbon is once again celebrating the cocktail that helped define bourbon culture with the return of Old Fashioned Week, running October 10–19, 2025. Now in its sixth year, the event invites fans to enjoy Elijah Craig Old Fashioneds at bars and restaurants across the U.S., with $1 from every cocktail (up to $100,000) donated to support hospitality workers through the Southern Smoke Foundation. Since 2020, the initiative has raised nearly $500,000, funding mental health services and emergency relief for industry professionals. This year, the campaign expands to Canada and the U.K., benefiting local bartender charities. Elijah Craig also launched the “New Era of the Old Fashioned” contest with VinePair, offering bartenders a $15,000 grand prize and a feature in Old Fashioned Week Cocktail Companion: Volume 3. It’s a spirited celebration of craftsmanship, community, and the bourbon that started it all.

Jefferson’s Bourbon is rewriting the rules of bourbon marketing with its new campaign, “Tradition in the Breaking,” created in partnership with Droga5 New York. Starring actor Taylor Kitsch, the tongue-in-cheek “One Thing Led To Another” film celebrates Jefferson’s unconventional spirit—aging barrels at sea, experimenting with climates, and blending outside the norm. The campaign marks Jefferson’s first fully integrated masterbrand effort, positioning it as a leader in the super-premium bourbon space. Designed to attract adventurous drinkers who value innovation as much as tradition, the initiative introduces a fresh visual identity and brand voice while cementing Jefferson’s reputation for honoring bourbon history by boldly rewriting it.

The Muskegon Bourbon Festival is back on Saturday, November 1, at the Muskegon Museum of History & Science, offering bourbon lovers of all experience levels a chance to explore over 100 whiskeys, bourbons, beers, and wines. The indoor event features two sessions (1–3:30 p.m. and 4–6:30 p.m.) and includes classic cocktails, food vendors, and live music. Attendees can choose from general admission, VIP, or the ultra-exclusive Unicorn bundle, each providing a set number of tasting tickets, with VIPs enjoying easier access to high-end pours. Highlights include Kentucky classics, Michigan craft distillers like Iron Fish and Journeyman, and rare VIP-only bottlings such as George T. Stagg, making this festival a full day of tasting, education, and celebration for both casual sippers and seasoned collectors.

Eavesdrop Brewery in Manassas, Virginia, is shaking up the festival scene with its first No Beer Beer Fest on October 18, catering to fans of ciders and meads instead of traditional beer. Early access begins at 11 a.m., with general admission at noon, and tickets include a 5-ounce tasting glass plus 12 tasting tickets. Featured pours include Blueberry Spaceship Box from Superstition Meadery, a Sour Patch Kids-inspired mead from Funktastic Meads, and creative ciders like Lost Boy’s Pumpkin Head and Castellum’s strawberry passionfruit pink guava. Eavesdrop will also serve its full tap list, while guests enjoy live music, fire pits, and food from Eugene’s Sausage & Fries. Tickets are $50 in advance, $60 at the door, offering a fun, flavorful alternative for those seeking something beyond beer.

Bacon’s Castle in Surry County, Virginia, will come alive November 15–16 with the Tournament of the Castle Renaissance Faire, spanning 40 acres of family-friendly fun. Visitors can enjoy artisan markets, food trucks, beer, wine, and mead while watching full-plate armored combat by the Tidwater Dogs of War, equestrian archery, blacksmithing demos, and Celtic music from Scealeai and the Daly Riders. Tickets are $15 for a single day or $25 for both, offering a festive way to explore Virginia’s oldest brick dwelling while stepping into a weekend of medieval-inspired entertainment.

Chattanooga Whiskey is celebrating the cooler months with its Fall 2021 Bottled-in-Bond Vintage, available October 16 at the Experimental Distillery. This limited release blends four mash bills—including the new SB104—distilled between July and December 2021, creating a harmonious, aromatically rich bourbon. At 100 proof and aged over four years in toasted and charred oak, the expression offers cozy flavors of cinnamon sugar donut, cheesecake, fig jam, and toasted oak. Each Bottled-in-Bond vintage highlights select whiskeys from a single distilling season, showcasing the depth and versatility of Chattanooga’s high malt Tennessee style in a perfect cold-weather sipper.

Tucson’s Whiskey Del Bac is bringing a desert twist to bourbon with its new Sentinel of the Desert Bourbon. This 92-proof blend combines 2- and 3-year-old bourbons from Ohio, using a mash bill of 60% yellow corn, 35% pumpernickel rye, and 5% heritage malt. The bourbon is finished on mesquite barrel staves and filtered through mesquite charcoal, giving it a smoky profile with notes of oak, smoked apple pie, and toasted vanilla beans. Available at the Tucson distillery and select retailers in Arizona, Colorado, California, and Nevada, it retails for $40 per 750ml bottle, offering a unique Southwestern spin on a classic American whiskey.

Heaven Hill has released Larceny Barrel Proof C925, the final expression in its 2025 annual lineup. Bottled at 119.6 proof, this small-batch wheated bourbon combines 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley, aged six to eight years, and bottled straight from the barrel. Following the standard series naming—“C” for the third batch, “9” for September, and “25” for the year—this uncut bourbon delivers the brand’s signature rich, smooth profile. The suggested retail price is $64.99 per 750ml bottle.

Tanner’s Select Single Barrel Bourbon makes its highly anticipated return on Wednesday, October 15, at The Bullock Distillery in Charleston, West Virginia. Aged eight years in white oak, this limited-release bourbon opens with aromas of butterscotch, orange peel, and toasted pecan, leading to flavors of molasses, baking spice, and dark honey, finishing with caramel, clove, and vanilla bean. Named for Dusta M. Tanner, Co-Owner and Founder of the distillery, the bourbon honors eight generations of Appalachian heritage and this year also celebrates the 71st birthday of family patriarch Roy Tanner. Royce Tanner guided the barrel selection and label design to ensure each bottle reflects the Tanner family’s craftsmanship and legacy. The release runs from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with bottles available for $75 + tax on a first-come, first-served basis.

Russell’s Reserve is back with the fourth release in its acclaimed Single Rickhouse Series, spotlighting the distinct character of Camp Nelson E. Built in 1946 and nestled deep among the trees near the Kentucky River, this rickhouse’s shaded, cooler environment creates a slower, more refined aging process. Master Distiller Eddie Russell selected barrels exclusively from the fifth floor, yielding the brand’s highest-proof release yet at 128. The bourbon opens with aromas of vanilla, caramel, and maple before unfolding layers of dried fruit, cherry, mint, and nutmeg, finishing long with molasses and pepper. Non-chill filtered and bottled at barrel proof, Camp Nelson E exemplifies how environment shapes whiskey flavor. The limited release is available now for $300 per 750ml at select retailers and the Wild Turkey Distillery Visitor Center.

Pittsburgh’s Wigle Whiskey has unveiled its first-ever 5-Year Single Barrel Bourbon, marking a milestone for the Wigle Reserve line. Crafted entirely in-house from regional corn, wheat, and malted barley, Batch #5 matured for five years in a single new charred 53-gallon oak barrel before being bottled at 100 proof. The result is a rich, complex bourbon with notes of black tea, cherry pie, and oat. This limited release is available now at Wigle’s Strip District and Ross Park Mall bottle shops, or for online shipping in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

Mark your calendars for Friday, October 24, as the Annapolis Police Foundation hosts “Bags, Bingo & Bourbon” at the Pip Moyer Recreation Center. The evening kicks off at 5 p.m. with games starting at 6:30 p.m., offering raffles, silent auctions, and prizes that range from designer bags to top-shelf bourbon. Each $40 ticket includes dinner, dessert, and plenty of entertainment, with proceeds benefiting community programs and public safety efforts supported by the Foundation. Tickets can be purchased online at annapolispolicefoundation.org, or at the door if available.

Superstition Meadery is treating fans to a darker, richer take on a favorite with the release of Stout Barrel Aged Marion. This new expression of their best-selling raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry mead spends time in stout beer barrels, layering in notes of roasted malt, cocoa, and creamy depth without losing Marion’s signature berry brightness. The result is a bold, velvety fusion of fruit and roast that showcases Superstition’s creative edge. Stout Barrel Aged Marion debuted Friday exclusively at the Superstition Tasting Room, with limited online availability coming next week.

Michigan’s Iron Fish Distillery is set to release Riverbed Whiskey—a limited-edition blend described as the “pinnacle expression” of its Mad Angler line. Crafted from select single barrels of four Mad Angler mash bills and slow-proofed for balance, Riverbed showcases the distillery’s grain-to-glass craftsmanship with warm notes of winter spice, toasted grain, and soft vanilla at 109 proof. Only 100 hand-numbered bottles will be available during the November 8 release event at Iron Fish’s Thompsonville tasting room, with limited statewide distribution to follow. The celebration will also benefit the Conservation Resource Alliance’s River Care program, highlighting the distillery’s ongoing commitment to preserving Northern Michigan’s waterways.

Evan Williams Bourbon has unveiled “Where Bourbon Begins,” a new national branding campaign that celebrates the brand’s heritage as Kentucky’s First Distiller and its enduring commitment to quality and authenticity. The 30-second spot, created with agency Method1, spotlights the craftsmanship and camaraderie behind every barrel, following distillery workers from the rickhouse to shared moments around a glass. Launching in time for the 2025 college football season, the campaign ties into Evan Williams’ Bourbon Nation initiative with Learfield, featuring partnerships with top collegiate programs including Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, and Oregon. The campaign reinforces Evan Williams’ legacy as a bourbon built on consistency, real connections, and the spirit of shared tradition.

Bear Fight Whiskey has launched Orchard & Vine Kentucky Straight Bourbon, a limited seasonal release marrying the brand’s bold character with crisp, fall-inspired flavors. Finished in Calvados and Port barrels, this bourbon layers notes of fruit and spice for a rich, approachable profile that suits both enthusiasts and casual drinkers. To showcase its versatility, Bear Fight created three signature cocktails—the Autumn Old Fashioned, Caramel Apple Sparkler, and Harvest Mule—all highlighting the whiskey’s warm seasonal character. Available nationwide and online for $44.99, Orchard & Vineinvites whiskey fans to slow down, sip, and savor the craft of fall in a glass.

Brown-Forman, the company behind Jack Daniel’s and Woodford Reserve, has pushed back its goal to double in size by 2032 as global demand for bourbon weakens. CEO Lawson Whiting cited sluggish category growth, tariff-related trade issues, and investor pressure as major setbacks. The company’s revenues dropped 3% to $924 million in Q1 of fiscal 2026, with operating income down 7%. Canadian boycotts tied to U.S. trade tensions and ongoing EU uncertainty have further strained exports, leading to a 60% decline in sales to Canada alone. Brown-Forman has responded by cutting 12% of its workforce, selling its cooperages, and restructuring its U.S. distribution network. Despite a difficult year and share prices down by a third, the distiller remains optimistic, launching a $400 million share buyback to restore investor confidence and steady its path toward recovery.

Iron City Distilling in East Deer, Pennsylvania, is set to release its first whiskey this Saturday, October 18, marking a major milestone since opening in 2023. Dubbed Bridge Batch, the whiskey blends a 7-year-old sourced bourbon from District Distilling Co. in Washington, D.C.—where master distiller Matt Strickland once worked—with Iron City’s own 2-year-old bourbon. The result bridges Strickland’s past and present, offering a flavor profile that balances sweet oak, caramel, tobacco, and vanilla with youthful notes of buttered corn and tannin. Only 600 bottles of the limited-edition release will be available exclusively at the distillery’s gift shop, with tastings featured during its In Good Spirits event. Strickland says the release symbolizes Iron City’s mission to blend tradition with innovation—rooted, fittingly, in Pittsburgh’s nickname as the City of Bridges.

Hudsonville, Michigan, will get a taste of Kentucky-style bourbon next year with the opening of Legacy Winery & Spirits, set to debut in early 2026 at the Terra Station development. Founders Lance and Anjalie Wassink aim to recreate the authentic “barrel thieving” experience they discovered in Bardstown, allowing guests to sample uncut, unfiltered bourbon straight from the barrel and even take home bottles from their favorite casks. Initially sourcing bourbon from Kentucky while their own spirits age, the tasting room will also feature cocktails, clear spirits, mocktails, and the Wassinks’ wines. Emphasizing craftsmanship, the couple is personally building much of the production and tasting space, promising a hands-on, unique experience for visitors when the Hudsonville location opens in March.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Bourbon & Mead Digest! From limited-release whiskeys like Iron City Distilling’s Bridge Batch and Wigle Reserve 5 Year to stout barrel-aged meads at Superstition Meadery, fall releases are in full swing. Highlights include Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson E, Bear Fight’s Orchard & Vine, and Tanner’s Select returning for a special release. Events like Buffalo Trace’s “Night at the Distillery” Halloween experience and Annapolis Police Foundation’s Bags, Bingo & Bourbon fundraiser offer fun ways to sip for a cause. Fall is packed with flavor, events, and seasonal releases—keep your glasses ready.