American Whiskey Report October 2024

I haven’t done a holiday gift guide since 2022, but most of the things on that last one are still relevant, so get to shopping! There have been some new books out since then, including Bourbon 101, Manny Schwab and the George Dickel Company, and The Bourbon Drinker’s Companion, all of which I can recommend. And now, here’s the American whiskey news you can use!

Product Releases

Middle West Spirits has a laundry list of new releases, including three new cask strength releases, Dark Pumpernickel Rye, Wheat Whiskey, and Four Grain Bourbon, and a Napoleon Calvados-finished whiskey.
Old Line Spirits has released Harvest Moon Double Oak Blend American Single Malt, ASM finished with a combination of Oloroso Sherry and Amburana finishes.
Pinhook Bourbon has released the latest 9-year old Bourbon in its Vertical Series, which started with a group of barrels that was released at an older age with each batch starting with a 4-year. This series will go through 12 years old.
Chicago’s Koval has a slew of new-ish releases, including Thresh & Winnow Organic 10-Year 100% Rye Whiskey and Thresh & Winnow Organic Single Malt Whiskey.
J. Mattingly has some fall releases, including Bourbon 31, a Halloween version of its popular Bourbon 30 that is a blended whiskey including Bourbon, light whiskey, and Rye whiskey, and their “choose your own adventure” blending program with Halloween-inspired wax colors.

Uncle Nearest has launched Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey, a new addition to the lineup with a modest price point of $30, bottled at 84 proof, and blended by Nearest Green descendant Victoria Eady Butler.
Penelope has a new collection of releases including Founders Reserve, Private Select and Single Barrel, all from the Estate Collection.
Barrell Craft Spirits has a new ice wine finished Bourbon on the market.
Hirsch has two new Bourbon releases, the 3rd edition of the single barrel double oak and the 4th edition of the single barrel silver.
Hoste is releasing the 2024 Gold Fashioned, a bottled ready-to-drink (RTD) Old Fashioned that includes Afghan saffron and Tahitian vanilla.
Mary Dowling is releasing a toasted winter wheat Bourbon, a wheated Bourbon matured in a toasted and charred barrel.
Old Potrero has a pair of new whiskeys out in a series called the California Cellar Series, which includes Old Potrero Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Silver Oak wine barrels and Old Potrero Toasted Barrel Rye Whiskey Finished in Sonoma Portworks wine barrels.
Widow Jane has released the oldest whiskey ever in its lineup, Black Opal, which is a blend of straight Bourbons at least 20 years old.
King of Kentucky has released a 16-year Bourbon that was set aside from the product’s 2007 release.
Flaviar has released its annual whiskey advent calendar, Whiskey Hotel Flaviar.
Hard Truth has released the third in a four part series collaboration with Mellencamp Whiskey, French Oak Harvest Rye. This sweet mash whiskey was created in a collaboration between Hard Truth Master Distiller Bryan Smith along with Hud Mellencamp and Levi Collison, the co-founders of Mellencamp Whiskey Company, and features art from John Mellencamp. It uses 100% Indiana-grown grains, and a portion of the proceeds are used to support sustainable farming practices.

Sagamore 7-year Bottled-in-Bond rye whiskey

Sagamore Spirit has two new releases that are some of the oldest whiskeys they have released to date: a 9-year straight rye whiskey and a 7-year Bottled-in-Bond rye whiskey.
Knob Creek has released its annual 18 year old Bourbon, aged twice as long as standard Knob Creek.
High West has released its annual Midwinter Night’s Dram, a blend of straight rye whiskeys that include a 95/5 rye from MGP and an 80% rye/20% malted rye from High West.
Brother’s Bond has a new product on the market, a Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon with a mash bill of 51% corn, 39% rye, and 10% malted rye aged for 7 years.
Eric LeGrand will release a single barrel Bourbon produced at the Green River Distillery. A portion of proceeds go to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, which supports people with spinal cord injuries.
Chattanooga Whiskey has released the 2020 vintage of its Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, a new mash bill for the distillery called SB101 which is a 5-grain Bourbon mash bill.
Bardstown Bourbon Co.’s latest Collaboration Series is with Blackberry Farm Brewery and is a Bourbon finished in Stout casks. They’ve also released a 20-year Toasted Single Barrel.
RD1 has released a cask strength 10-year Kentucky Straight Bourbon finished in Brazilian Amburana wood.
Milam & Greene has released a Barn Owl single barrel Bourbon. It’s part of the Wildlife Series, which raises money for wildlife conservation through the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation.
Maker’s Mark has released a “Greats of the Gate” commemorative bottle honoring Man O’War, one of the best race horses to ever run at the Keeneland racetrack in Lexington, Kentucky and beyond.

People News

Actor Gabriel Macht has joined the Bear Fight ASM team.
Scotland’s John Campbell has joined California’s Sespe Creek Distillery as Master Distiller.

DISCUS has a new cohort for their Executive leadership certificate program and developing leadership program. Executive Leadership graduates are:

DISCUS Executive Leadership graduates 2024

Samantha Adcock, Director of Marketing, Daylight Wine & Spirits
Rachel Andres, Division VP-Control Region, Campari
Vienna Barger, Co-founder/COO, Southern Distilling Co.
Cody Butters Lewis, National Accounts Off Premise Manager, Mast-Jägermeister
Ashley Cesario, National Sales & Export Director, Jordan Vineyard
Sebastian Devallet, Vice President USA, Rémy Cointreau
Ingrid Hobbs, Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Beam Suntory
Jen Kearney, Chief People Officer, Marussia Beverages
Mary McKinley-Lee, Senior Accounting Manager, Koloa Rum
Danielle Menendez, Data Strategy Lead, SGWS
Mallory Morris, Owner/Head Winemaker, Ghost Fox Winery
Mara Smith, Founder/CEO, Inspiro Tequila
Melissa Uribe Velasco, Marketing Director, Edrington
Blair Woodall, Spirits Consultant, Strategic Advisor, Whiskey Blair

Other News

Angel’s Envy is now allowing regular folks to do private barrel selections. Six weeks after the selection date, a minimum of 250 bottles with personalized labels will be available for pickup at the distillery.
Whiskey Thief Distilling hosts Alcohol in Space October 26, which includes Alcohol in Space Past Present and Future author Chris Carberry, a screening of the Alcohol in Space documentary, and astronomers from Morehead State University. They’ve also opened a tasting room in Louisville at 610 Nanny Goat Strut.
Vendome Copper & Brass Works has opened a new stainless steel tank-building facility in Louisville, Kentucky to complement its still-building facility, which has been in operation by the same family for more than 100 years and is one of the largest still manufacturers in the world.

Bardstown Bourbon Company’s new distillery

Bardstown Bourbon Company has completed a major expansion that adds a second full distillery to the site, bringing the specs to 48 fermentation tanks and three column stills, taking the facility from a 25,000 barrel a year capacity to a whopping 289,000 barrels a year.
Louisville’s Metro United Way and KOBBE have partnered to host a Bourbon Fall Festival Thursday, October 24. Food and whiskey pairings will be the highlight and there will be an auction that will include valuable whiskeys. Proceeds will benefit the United Way.
Louisville’s Mint Julep Experiences has expanded to include whiskey tours of Ireland!
The Bourbon Crusaders are hosting a fundraiser for the Southern Foodways Alliance November 9th at Bill Samuels, Jr.’s home.
Iron City Distilling has installed a three chamber pot still, one of a handful in the United States that were built based on historic specs.
Give 270 is holding a Bourbon Strong raffle with rare bottles as prizes.

Bonus Cocktail Recipe

Mash and Mallow Affogato

2 oz. of espresso

2 scoops of Jeni’s Skillet Cinnamon Roll Ice Cream (or your favorite ice cream flavor!)

1.5 oz. Mash & Mallow Whiskey

Graham cracker crumbs

1 tsp honey

Dip the rim of your desired glass into the honey, then the graham cracker crumbs to coat the rim. Scoop the ice cream into the glass. Using your desired brewing method, brew the shot of espresso. Pour the espresso shot and Mash & Mallow shot over the ice cream. Enjoy!