American Whiskey Report April 2025

It’s Kentucky Derby season! The Kentucky Derby Festival suffered some setbacks this year because of the devastating flooding that happened throughout Kentucky, but the Kentucky Derby is still on! That means it’s time for my yearly reminder that Mint Juleps, when made properly, are a thing of beauty and not “alcoholic mouthwash” like some would have you believe. To make a proper mint julep, you need fresh mint, crushed or pebble ice, Bourbon, and simple syrup. Into a stirrup cup or Julep cup, slap 5-7 mint leaves and then drag them up the inside of the cup with a bar spoon. Fill the cup with ice almost to the top. Add 2 ounces of 100 proof Bourbon and 1 ounce of simple syrup. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a short straw - you really want to get that mint right up into your face when you drink. And that’s it! Anyone who tells you to add sprite or lime juice or seltzer water or anything else just doesn’t understand the Mint Julep.

Product Releases

West Fork Distillery has released Old Hamer 10-year Bourbon with a mash bill of 99% corn and 1% malted barley.
Caleb’s Crossing is a blend of two high-rye Bourbons finished in first-fill Pineau des Charentes and Armagnac casks from Washington Lafayette.
Scribes' Delight, a private barrel of Angel’s Envy that I helped to select, is available at the Angel’s Envy Distillery visitor center.
Old Forester has released a bottled-in-bond rye as part of its 117 series.
Hotaling & Co. has released a 13-year old bottled-in-bond Old Potrero rye whiskey to commemorate the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco.
Maker’s Mark has released its latest Wood Finishing Series Bourbons — The Keepers Release. They’ve also released their annual Keeneland bottle, which supports nonprofits in Central Kentucky. And, finally, they have released a brand new whiskey, Star Hill Farm Wheat Whiskey, the brand’s first new mashbill and brand since its founding in 1953.
Milam & Greene has released Gray Wolf, a Bourbon that is a blend of two 6-year straight Bourbons.
Barrell Craft Spirits has a new PC Cask finished Bourbon, a blend of bourbons from IN, KY, and TN ranging from 6-15 years old.
Lux Row has released Blood Oath pact 11, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Añejo Tequila Barrels.
The World Whiskey Society has released a Ducks Unlimited American Single Malt whiskey.
Michter’s has released a 10-year Bourbon at 94.4 proof.

Penelope Peach bottle and cocktails — Penelope Peach

Penelope has released an RTD peach old fashioned.
The Last Drop’s 2025 Collection includes a 27-year Bourbon distilled at Buffalo Trace bottled at 121.8 proof with a whopping $10,500 price tag.
Breckenridge Distillery has rolled out a nationwide release of its Cognac Cask Whiskey.
New Riff has released its latest Silver Grove releases, a Bourbon and a Rye. The Silver Grove Bourbon has a mash bill of 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley. The Silver Grove Rye has a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. Both were distilled at New Riff.

Old Dominick Single Barrel Wheat Whiskey

Old Dominick has released a single barrel wheat whiskey aged 7 years.

Trackside Bourbon is new to the market from the folks at Kentucky Artisan Distillery, Master Distiller Jade Peterson and Jeremy Dever.
Chattanooga Whiskey has released its Founder's 13th Anniversary Blend, a solera blend of several different styles of whiskey.
Pursuit Spirits has released two historic labels, Mellwood and Derby Town. Both are available at the brand’s visitor experience, which was once part of the Mellwood Distillery in Louisville.
Graeter's Ice Cream has created a Bourbon Ball ice cream in collaboration with New Riff Distilling.
Chicken Cock Whiskey has released a collab with GoodWood Brewing, a rye whiskey finished in a blonde ale barrel.
The Kentucky Lottery has released a Bourbon-themed scratch off lottery ticket in collaboration with the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.
Keeper’s Heart has a Mother’s Day bundle of a bottle of whiskey and flowers.
Sagamore Spirit has released a new batch of cask strength rye at 7 years old.

Other news

Tickets are on sale now for the 2025 Kentucky Bourbon Festival.
Here’s a Pappy Raffle to support the Ronald McDonald House of Kentucky and Indiana.
Suntory Global Spirits, Green Forests Work, and The Nature Conservancy have planted white oak trees on former mine lands in Hazard, Kentucky.
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail saw 2.7 million visitors in 2024, up from 2.5 million in 2023.
The Oxmoor Bourbon Company has joined the Kentucky Bourbon Trail as an official partner.
Heaven Hill filled its first barrel of Bourbon produced in Bardstown since the devastating fire of 1996 at its new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery, which will open to the public in September.
Each year Woodford Reserve puts out a $1000 and a $5000 Mint Julep cup to raise money for various charities. This year’s charity is Our Mims, a retirement farm for fillies and broodmares. Check out the $1000 Mint Julep recipe here and the standard Mint Julep recipe here.
The Toasts Not Tariffs Coalition has released a statement on the reciprocal tariffs: “As part of the administration’s America First trade policy, we seek President Trump’s leadership to restore fair trade, resulting in reciprocal, tariff-free trade with our key spirits and wine trading partners. This will lead to an increase in U.S. wine and spirits exports and investments, and U.S. job growth. These trade disputes continue to unfairly harm our industry, including Canada’s action to take American-made wine and spirits products off their shelves. The removal of Canada’s tariffs and the return of these products to shelves across Canada is a critical step in restoring fair and reciprocal trade. The distilled spirits and wine sectors stand as a model of mutually beneficial trade, and the livelihoods of those working within them depend heavily on international trade. Most U.S. wine exports go to countries with low or zero import duties. More than 85% of U.S. spirits exports go to countries that have eliminated tariffs, and nearly 100% of spirits imported are from those countries. Continued access to global markets creates jobs, supporting rural and urban communities. The tariffs and ongoing trade disputes pose significant threats to U.S. hospitality businesses, including restaurants, bars, taverns, small package stores and grocery outlets, and their employees. Farmers growing crops on more than 1 million acres of farmland in the U.S., as well as the transportation, distribution, bottling, packaging, marketing, and finance sectors will also be negatively impacted.”
Distilleries throughout Kentucky, including Buffalo Trace and Glenn’s Creek, are cleaning up from devastating floods that impacted several Kentucky waterways in early April. Fortunately, downtown Louisville distilleries were spared despite record-setting flooding thanks to floodwalls that border Kentucky Peerless, Michter’s, and Old Forester distilleries.
RD1 Distillery has a new brand home at The Commons in Lexington, Kentucky, which will open to the public on May 14, 2025. The space will include an experimental distillery, a wood finishing lab, a speakeasy, a gift shop, and more.
Westward Whiskey has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing the rising costs of goods and services due to inflation and proposed tariffs. The company expects to continue to operate after restructuring.
The Obscure Distillery in California is suing the state of New York over DTC shipping laws. The California distillery wants to be able to sell its rye whiskey finished with New York Chestnut staves directly to consumers in New York. California can currently only ship to 8 states and the District of Columbia, and there is no word on whether the distillery plans to sue the other 41 states it still can’t ship to.
Left Bank Bourbon has joined the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.

Book Recommendations

The Bourbon Drinker’s Companion by Kings County Distillery Founder Colin Spoelman covers travel advice, tasting notes, and Bourbon history and lore.

Woodinville Whiskey has a new book out that details the 15 years since its founding and which includes cocktail recipes, tasting notes, and more.
The McBrayer Bourbon Legacy book covers the history of William McBrayer, who settled in Kentucky in 1775 and founded the Cedar Brook Bourbon brand.
Spirited Women profiles more than 50 women who have impacted the cocktail space.

Bonus Cocktail Recipe

Pinhook Kentucky Oaks Smash

2 oz Pinhook Bourbon

1/2 oz Elderflower Liqueur (like St-Germain)

1/2 oz Lemon Juice

1/2 oz Honey Simple Syrup (equal parts honey and water, warmed and mixed)

3 Fresh Basil Leaves Crushed Ice

Garnish: Lemon Wheel, Basil Sprig

In a shaker, gently muddle the basil leaves with honey simple syrup. Add Pinhook Bourbon, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, and ice. Shake well. Strain into a glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a lemon wheel and a fresh basil sprig.