Mother’s Day bourbon gift guide: New releases from Kentucky distillers
When it comes to Mother’s Day, people often think of flowers and brunch.
They may not think of bourbon.
But plenty of moms enjoy a good whiskey — and appreciate even more a great one.
Here are some bottles to look for when buying that perfect Mother’s Day Gift for your loved one.
Whiskey Row Bourbon
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If your mother loves to have the newest thing: Whiskey Row Bourbon launched in Louisville in April with three expressions: Triple Wood, Bottled in Bond and Cask Strength.
All were created at Kentucky Artisan Distillery and conceived by the late Bourbon Hall of Famer Steve Thompson. The name honors the area of Louisville’s Main Street that was a focus of Kentucky’s early bourbon industry.
Triple Wood (90 proof) is matured for at least four years and finished in Cognac and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks for enhanced complexity and bottled at Kentucky Artisan Distillery. It has a nose of vanilla and honey, with hints of dried fruits and citrus. On the palate, it’s heavy brown sugar followed by citrus and stone fruit, with a finish of red fruit and herbal notes.
Whiskey Row Bottled in Bond (100 proof) has a nose of oak, baking spice, raisin, vanilla and honey with notes of caramel popcorn, apple, molasses and maple syrup. On the palate, it’s spiced fruit pie with layers of stone fruit and peaches, caramel, clove, toffee, apple and vanilla with a finish of tobacco, burnt sugar and smoke.
Whiskey Row Cask Strength (111 proof) has a nose of almond, caramel and campfire with a touch of honey, maple syrup, marshmallow and chocolate. On the palate, it’s dark chocolate, raisins, almonds, caramel and oak, with dried fruit, tobacco and baking spices and a long finish of apple and fruit.
Whiskey Row Bourbon Triple Wood has a suggested retail price of $49.99; Bottled in Bond of $59.99 and Cask Strength of $69.99.
They are released by Avalon Spirits, which is led by John Glover, former long-time COO of Castle Brands until its acquisition by Pernod Ricard. All are available online at whiskeyrowbourbon.com and in stores in Kentucky, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York and Tennessee.
Quest’s End Druid
If you’ve got a mom who’s into both gaming and whiskey: Check out the second season release from Quest’s End Whiskey: Quest’s End Druid. It’s a limited-edition release, available May 1, from Find Familiar Spirits, a label co-founded by actor Matthew Lillard.
The release arrives accompanied by a new chapter of their ongoing original saga “Dawn of the Unbound Gods,” by Andrea Stewart, with cover and bottle art by fantasy and science fiction artist Tyler Jacobson, known for his work with Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering.
The first Quest’s End Whiskey, launched in 2023, won fans in the fantasy and whiskey worlds, including awards in spirits competitions (the drinking kind, not the role-playing kind).
Druis is a bourbon rye whiskey blend finished in rum and rouge vermouth barrels. On the nose, it’s vanilla and mint. On the palate, it’s sweet menthol, thick molasses and apple pie, in a green-forward pour.
Angel’s Envy Cellar Collection Rye
If Mom loves a pricey unicorn bottle: This is master distiller Owen Martin’s first Cellar Collection release, and it’s a doozy — an elegant bottle with unique whiskey inside.
Created by finishing Angel’s Envy Straight Rye Whiskey in French Oak Extra Anejo Tequila Barrels, it has a suggested retail price of $269.99.
At 104.2 proof, it has a nose of floral and fruit with toasty vanilla and subtle clove smokiness. On the palate, it’s baking spices and cracked pepper with herbal agave syrup, earthy tobacco and brown sugar, and a finish of orange blossom honey, tropical fruits and French oak.
This limited-release will be coming to stores in May, but Angel’s Envy’s 500 Main members can enter the lottery for a chance to buy it before it hits shelves. The lottery runs until Friday, May 23, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. The purchase must be made online and picked up in Louisville between May 31 and July 30, so it will be a late Mother’s Day present. But trust me, she will not mind a bit.
Jeptha Creed’s Red, White & Blue
If you’ve got a mom who is a veteran: The mother-daughter duo behind Jeptha Creed is just the first thing that makes their whiskey special.
Joyce and Autumn Nethery make their award-winning bourbon at their craft distillery in Shelbyville. It’s a “ground to glass” approach that ties every bottle to family heritage. They use heirloom grains, including the unique Bloody Butcher Corn, as the basis.
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And their Red, White & Blue Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey supports military veterans, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting organizations such as CreatiVets, which helps military members connect through the arts.
Red, White & Blue is one of four annual releases. This one’s made from a blend of red, white and blue heirloom corns. It’s aged for at least four years, and has a nose of dark cherry, orange peel and vanilla. On the palate, it’s crisp apple, cinnamon and vanilla, with a finish of caramel, apricot and stone fruits.
It has a suggested retail price of $74.99, is 100 proof and is available nationally, with shipping where available. Check for a store online at jepthacreed.com/where-to-buy/.
