7 Fall Bourbon Unicorns You Don’t Want to Miss (2024)

Just when I think I’ve nosed, swirled and sampled enough bourbon to call it a year, along comes the Great Fall Bourbon Release season with more unicorns than my sticker collection from the ’80s. It just proves you can’t have favorites, because as soon as you think you’ve found “the one,” along come six more that are even better and will get along with Grandma.

Some of the bourbons on this list will be impossible to find, but just knowing they exist might give you those warm, fuzzy feelings that keep you trekking along on your bourbon journey. So without further delay, here are some of my favorite releases of the Great Fall Bourbon Release season.

Full disclosure: Most of these samples were provided by the distilleries.

Booker’s Bourbon “The Reserves”

125.9 Proof | $129.99

Details: For this limited Booker’s release, Booker’s grandson, Freddie Noe, took the reins and found some barrels in the numerous Beam rickhouses that he thought his late grandaddy would have chosen himself. This makes it slightly different than the standard Booker’s releases, and of course this one is limited due to the small quantity of barrels he chose. The bourbon ranges in age from 8 to 14 years and is uncut and unfiltered, just as Booker would have it.

Tasting Notes: On the nose, I get notes of cherry strudel and burnt marshmallow. On the palate, I get rich flavors of campfire s’more, using that burnt marshmallow from the nose, as well as toasted oak, tobacco, and butterscotch. The finish is hot to go with warming notes of brown sugar and cinnamon.

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon

108.2 Proof | $220

Can you believe this is the 17th edition of this annual release, meaning some bourbon hoarder out there has a shelf of 17 bottles just collecting dust. This release is always something special, and I would implore you to open it up and enjoy it instead of admiring it from afar. The ages of bourbons in the bottle range from 12 to 20 years, and Master Distiller Brent Elliott and his team crafted a great blend of barrels from three of the 10 recipes. It’s also non-chill filtered, as God intended.

Tasting Notes: On the nose, I get bright notes fruit — cherry, pear, and grape — with some sweet honeysuckle and vanilla pudding. The palate opens up with dark chocolate and Raisin Bran, with a pinch of black pepper. The finish is medium but packs a punch of nutty apple turnover.

King of Kentucky 2024

130.4 Proof | $349.99

This year’s King of Kentucky — the seventh since its relaunch in 2018 — is once again bottled at 16 years old. As usual, it’s unlikely you’ll even see this unicorn on a shelf, because it disappears faster than Malört at a bartending convention. The single-barrel, ultra-aged bourbon is heralded by fanatics and writers alike because it’s damn good. Just a little over 5,000 bottles were released this year to 11 states, so good luck with your search!

Tasting Notes: The aroma has that wonderful banana nut bread I often get from the King, with a thick layer of caramel drizzled on top. And once I get past the heat, the palate opens up to some complex flavors like tobacco and dark chocolate; a sprinkle of baking spices, especially black pepper and nutmeg; citrus peel; and a plethora of oak. The finish is long, with bursts of butterscotch and brown sugar.

Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2024

119.3 Proof | $174.99

This bottle has the proud distinction of being the oldest Maker’s Mark released to date. A blend of 12- and 13-year-old bourbon, the Cellar Aged release aged half of its life in a standard Kentucky rickhouse with all the wonderful temperature fluctuations, and then aged the second half of its life in a cool, calm cellar on the Maker’s Mark grounds. It’s a great concept that allows the brand to stay true to its flavor profile while also releasing some aged stock.

Tasting Notes: On the nose, I get a lot of citrus and oak notes and hint of Honeycomb cereal. On the first sip, that Honeycomb really comes through, along with milk chocolate, mild baking spices and more of that dusty oak flavor. The finish is long and dry, with a lasting note of brown sugar.

Michter’s Toasted Barrel Finish

91.4 Proof | $110

This annual Michter’s release is the quintessential autumn bourbon since it tastes like an ooey-gooey s’more that’s been toasted over a campfire. It’s one of my favorite finished bourbons on the market today, and it’s worth tracking down even if it’s just for a pour. The Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon was first released in 2014 to much acclaim, and it’s been heavily sought-after each year since. It’s created by using fully mature Michter’s US*1 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon and putting it into a second barrel that has been toasted to precise specifications, but not charred. The second barrel also is made up of staves that were air-dried for 18 months, which is longer than normal.

Tasting Notes: The nose is a morning bakery full of confectionary creations like donuts, cinnamon rolls, and raisin nut bread. On the palate, the toasting process draws out more of those delectable notes of toasted marshmallow, milk chocolate, caramel, and vanilla — plus I swear I taste a little bit of the campfire as well. The finish is long and lingering.

Parker’s Heritage Collection (2024)

107 Proof | $169.99

This is the 18th edition of the premium release that celebrates the late Master Distiller Parker Beam and his support of ALS research. This year’s bottle features 14-year-old Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey finished in heavy toasted cognac barrels and was created by Master Blender Alain Royer, an industry expert in cognac from Europe. The mash bill on the malt whiskey is 65% malted barley and 35% corn.

Tasting Notes: On the nose, I get a nice earthy sweetness with vanilla. On the palate, I get rich flavors of buttered popcorn, maple syrup, and ripe green apple. It’s kind of what scotch would taste like if it was made in Bourbon Country. The finish is medium and sweet, with notes of honeysuckle and nutmeg.

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Coy Hill Barrelhouse 8

134.7 Proof | $79.99

Folks lost their minds when the first Coy Hill was released back in 2021. This high-proof whiskey tastes so much different than the standard Jack product, and it’s all due where it’s aged — at the very top floor of the historic rickhouses that sit on Coy Hill in Lynchburg, Tenn. Due to the extreme temperature fluctuations up there, this bourbon is simply fantastic, and grown men will fight you for it. This year’s single-barrel release is almost 11 years old, and the proofs range from 122 to 137.5.

Tasting Notes: Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb! Holy cow, this whiskey is tasty and oozes with caramel apple and a bowl full of cherries on the aroma. And the taste is exquisite, with notes of a fresh-baked cherry pie drizzled with caramel, toasted marshmallow, tobacco, toffee, and just a sprinkle of cinnamon. The finish is warm and renewing. It makes you want another sip, and another one, and another one.