New KY whiskeys are coming, including a 100-proof bargain perfect for cocktails
.png "New whiskeys hitting shelves in July include Sazerac Rye 100 Proof, Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye and Kentucky Owl Batch 13.")
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Buffalo Trace debuts 100-proof Sazerac Rye at $29.99, targeting cocktails.
- Knob Creek revives 113-proof blended whiskey using 9- and 7-year aged stocks.
- Buffalo Trace launches $1,499 Colonel E.H. Taylor bourbon in vintage decanter.
Several new Kentucky whiskeys are coming to store shelves near you — if you’re lucky.
There are five new releases to look for, and not all of them are super premium, limited editions. Some are bottles you could find for a reasonable price at your favorite local store.
OK, yes, and one unicorn you may not be able to find or afford. But even that one is a precursor to big news for fans of the annual Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.
Sazerac Rye 100 Proof
This one is for those who love to mix a good cocktail at home, although you certainly could drink it straight. Sazerac has introduced a higher proof version of its beloved spicy, peppery rye.
And this one won’t break the bank: It has a suggested retail price of $29.99 for a liter, available nationally. According to a news release, this was developed at the request of bartenders who wanted something to stand up in classic cocktails like the Sazerac and Manhattan.
“With the renewed interest in classic cocktails that rely on a rye whiskey base, we focused on ensuring this higher-proof spirit delivers complexity and structure without losing its signature profile. We’re proud of the result and look forward to seeing it elevate cocktails around the world,” said Harlen Wheatley, master distiller at Buffalo Trace Distillery, where the spirit is made.
Similar to its 90-proof counterpart, Sazerac Rye Whiskey 100 Proof has a nose of clove, vanilla, anise, and pepper, according to the tasting notes. On the palate, it has subtle notes of candied spices and citrus with hints of licorice on the finish.
And this whiskey will be part of the Sazerac Barrel Select program as a single barrel offering, so bars and restaurants can hand-pick their own version.
Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye
Beam’s Knob Creek has brought back its popular blend, Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye Kentucky Straight Blended Whiskey.
Released for the first time last year, the whiskey is 113 proof, available nationwide with a suggested retail price of $44.99 for a 750mL bottle.
Made with a 9-year-old bourbon and a 7-year-old rye, it has a nose of maple syrup and vanilla with hints of nuttiness and baking spices. On the palate, it’s caramel and toffee with a hint of fruitiness and a finish of black pepper and lingering spice.
Old Forester 1910 Extra Extra Old
Old Forester has just put out an annual fan favorite: 1910 Extra Extra Old, as part of 117 Series.
It’s a double-barreled bourbon aged for an extra 24 months in a heavily charred secondary oak barrel.
This annual special release from Brown-Forman is available in limited quantities at select Kentucky retailers and at the Old Forester Distillery in downtown Louisville. It’s also available online at shop.oldforester.com for $64.99, and can be shipped to Washington D.C., Kentucky, Nebraska, New Hampshire and North Dakota.
According to the tasting notes, it has a nose of sticky toffee pudding with toasted hazelnut. On the palate, it’s sweet almond and toasted oak, baking spice and velvety mouthfeel, with a finish of milk chocolate, sweet oak and warm cinnamon spice.
Kentucky Owl Batch #13
Kentucky Owl, which is part of Stoli Group now, has released Batch #13, a blend of five different bourbons aged 8 and 9 years.
Created by former master blender John Rhea before his retirement, Batch #13 is 113.6 proof with a suggested retail price of $399 for a 750 mL bottle. It’s available in limited quantities beginning in July at select locations nationwide and online through Reserve Bar and Flaviar.
According to the tasting notes, it has a nose of sweet vanilla with hints of chocolate and caramel, citrus, orange and mango. On the palate, it’s vanilla followed by a rush of citrus, orange and grapefruit, with a lingering citrus, vanilla and chocolate soft finish.
Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Distiller’s Council
At the other end of the affordability spectrum, Buffalo Trace is releasing Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Distiller’s Council.
It’s a limited edition, ultra premium Kentucky straight bourbon made using equipment and based on techniques originally invented by Taylor at his O.F.C. Distillery, which is now Buffalo Trace.
The 100-proof bourbon comes in a vintage-style 1950s era decanter at a suggested retail price of $1,499.99 for a 750mL bottle. It’s available in limited quantities nationwide starting in July.
The inspiration for the modern recreation came from a “distillers council” convened at Buffalo Trace in 1996 that led to recreating Taylor’s sour mashing process. A patent is pending, Buffalo Trace said.
And there’s big news for fans of Buffalo Trace’s annual Antique Collection: In the fall, E.H. Taylor will join the Antique Collection as the collection’s first Bottled-in-Bond bourbon.
