9 Late Fall 2021 Bourbon/Whiskey Releases Worth Seeking Out

As I wrote last month, fall is a big release season for bourbons and whiskeys — and it’s no coincidence that it aligns with prime hunting season. If you’re not the one staking out every liquor store in town, then chances are you’ve at least witnessed these hunters as they scour the market, leaving no shelf unturned.

While these people can dampen the thrill of the chase in finding some of these bottles, even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while, right? My job is to tell you about some of the new releases that are already out or hitting stores in the next few weeks, but my thoughts and prayers are with you as you search for some of these unicorns. Remember: Be persistent but be kind. Karma is real.

Woodford Reserve Distillery Series: Chocolate Malt Whisper

90.4 proof | $49.99

Details: In 2019, Woodford came out with a Master’s Collection edition called Chocolate Malted Rye to much fanfare. The Master’s Collections are one-off releases, so after the run, it was back to making bourbon at the distillery. Well, the very next batch of bourbon they made tasted a tad bit off because those chocolate notes from the malt carried over into the distillate. It was a happy accident indeed, and so they released it in early November as part of the Distillery Series. Unfortunately, it sold out in a matter of a few days, but you might find some in stores if you’re lucky.

Tasting Notes: This smells like a fresh box of Milk Duds, with hints of milk chocolate and rich caramel at first whiff. It’s interesting, because the chocolate malt doesn’t hit the palate until the finish, but oh what a great finish it is! It’s baking spice and vanilla up front, followed by a warm reward of chocolate fudge on the end. I actually like this better than the original Master’s Collection.

Angel’s Envy Cask Strength 2021

120.7 proof | $229.99

Details: This is the 10th release of the Cask Strength series, which has come out each year since 2012. Some say it’s the best way to drink Angel’s Envy, and even with the high proof, there is so much more depth of flavor here. The barrels that go into this release are hand-selected by the Hendersons, so that might be a good reason why it’s so damn tasty. There are 14,760 of these bottles that’ll be released in all 50 states beginning Dec. 1.

Tasting Notes: The nose on this is absolutely delightful and almost sinful. I get a lot of fruit notes — peaches, cherries — along with some vanilla and oak. At first sip, I’m immediately reminded of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, with hints of honey, vanilla and … toasted almonds even. At 120.7 proof, this doesn’t burn at all, and the tantalizing finish reminds me of all the Thanksgiving desserts. Yes, I’ll have another helping, please.

New Riff Red Turkey Wheat

100 proof | $49.99

Details: Northern Kentucky’s New Riff is all about innovation, and this new limited edition wheated bourbon is no exception. Made with an heirloom grain called Red Turkey Wheat, the unique mash bill includes 70% corn, 25% Red Turkey Wheat and 5% malted barley. New Riff Co-Founder Jay Erisman says the heirloom wheat contains more protein and less starch than modern wheats, decreasing the yield but offering a far wider and richer depth of flavors. The limited-edition release will only be available in Kentucky.

Tasting Notes: You definitely get that wheaty/bready note on the nose, and the palate is rewarded with an intricate co-mingling of dark fruit, dark chocolate and toffee. It also has a nice, creamy mouthfeel and almost reminds me of a double-oaked bourbon because it’s so rich and decadent. The finish is long-lasting, tingly and terrific, quite nice for a 100-proof bourbon.

Booker’s Bourbon 2021-03: Bardstown Batch

125.5 proof | $89.99

Details: This is the third and last Booker’s release of 2021, and it’s named in honor of Booker’s hometown of more than 50 years. Booker moved to Bardstown shortly after college to join his family business, and his son, Jim Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe, now lives in the same house. In fact, it’s the same house that Fred’s great-grandfather Jim Beam lived in! This release features uncut, unfiltered bourbon aged 6 years and 5 months.

Tasting Notes: The nose on this smells like Grandma’s been in the kitchen, with warm notes of brown sugar and baked pie crust. The first sip is classic Booker’s and all baking spice — cinnamon, nutmeg, hints of black pepper — followed by a long, warm Kentucky hug on the finish. The vanilla, caramel and oak notes on this one are also extraordinary. 

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon (C921)

120.2 proof | $69.99

Details: This is the third and last batch of Barrel Proof Elijah Craig for 2021, and it comes right in the middle of the previous two releases in terms of proof. But even at 120 proof, it’s on the lower end of previous barrel-proof releases. This 12-year-old single-barrel bourbon packs a punch, but if you can handle the heat, you’re rewarded with a well-balanced mix of oak and sweet caramel and vanilla notes.

Tasting Notes: This bourbon smells like an old Kentucky rick house — and that’s a good thing, of course! The oak immediately leaps out in the aroma, and I also get some tobacco/leathery notes as well. On the palate, those rye notes permeate the tip of my tongue, giving way to sweeter standards like vanilla bean and butterscotch. If you took a piece of warm caramel and coated it with cracked pepper, I think it would taste a lot like this bourbon.

Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series FAE-02

109.1 proof | $59.99

Details: These Wood Finishing Series releases from Maker’s Mark are a fun way to peak behind the curtain of a bourbon sensory lab. This is the fourth release of the series and the second FAE expression (the first came out earlier this year). The FAE stands for fatty acid esters, and they’re the notes that give Maker’s its rich and creamy mouthfeel. In this experiment, they used double-heat-treated virgin French oak staves that were also toasted, as opposed to the American oak staves in FAE-01. This produced gentler, full-bodied notes of light caramel and deep oak.

Tasting Notes: Just swirling the bourbon around in the glass, you can already tell it’s got a thicker, creamier texture than standard Maker’s Mark. The nose still has those soft, sweet scents of vanilla and light caramel, but on the palate it’s a full-bodied explosion of buttery toffee, milk chocolate and toasted oak. I’d like to sip this by a campfire while making a s’more or two.

Castle & Key’s Untold Story of Kentucky Whiskey Chapter 1

106.6 proof | $149.99

Details: Castle & Key has tossed their whiskey into the ring with a very cool partnership and message. As a way to share the history of how bourbon began, C&K has teamed up with the Kentucky Black Bourbon Guild (KBBG) for this first chapter, and all proceeds go to the Diversity in Kentucky Distilling Scholarship program, which provides scholarships for students of color who have interest in working in the distilling field in Kentucky. The straight whiskey is 4.5 years old and contains a mash bill of 73% white corn, 10% rye and 17% malted barley. Only 425 bottles will be released.

Tasting Notes: For a younger whiskey, this tastes incredibly mature. Right from the nose, I get some toffee and apple crisp notes. And on the palate, I get rich honey, dark chocolate and even some apricot and fig. It’s a very bright and flavorful whiskey that I could sip on all night long.

Buzzard’s Roost Straight Bourbon Whiskey

114.4 proof | $84.99

Details: Until now, Buzzard’s Roost has only been available as a rye whiskey. So anticipation has been high for the brand’s first bourbon release, and after sampling it, I can say without hesitation that it has been well worth the wait. The color alone on this rye bourbon is breath-taking, most likely coming from Buzzard’s Roost’s proprietary finishing process using a second toasted barrel to further pull out flavors.

Tasting Notes: On the nose, I get layers of baking spices, including a little nutmeg and cinnamon, followed by notes of caramel and citrus peel. The taste of this barrel-strength bourbon is exquisite, with hints of baked cherry, pie crust, vanilla, rich caramel and even some coconut on the finish.

Jeptha Creed Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon

100 proof | $49.99

Details: It’s been five years since Jeptha Creed first opened its doors, and the Nethery family, which owns the Kentucky craft distillery, is celebrating with a Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon release. The rye bourbon is at least 4 years old and was produced in a single season in a bonded barrel barn. And the mash bill features 75% Bloody Butcher corn, 20% malted rye and 5% malted barley.

Tasting Notes: This bourbon is coming along nicely, given its 4+ age statement. There are some definite notes coming from the heirloom corn in the form of mild baking spices and a buttery texture, but after first sip you get that light touch of caramel and vanilla, followed by subtle oak, a dash of dark chocolate and a couple pinches of black pepper from the rye in the recipe. This is a great release, but I can’t wait to see how Jeptha’s bourbon continues to age.