Kentucky bourbon industry's new releases and expansions

Here are some of the latest announcements showcasing releases and expansions in the bourbon scene.

Take, for instance, the new Buffalo Trace Millennium release. It's a rare bourbon that enthusiasts may not easily obtain. Then, Heaven Hill revealed a massive $200 million distillery, cementing its place in Bardstown. A collaboration brings the historic Burnt Tavern bourbon back to the market, crafted by Chip Tate. Meanwhile, Four Roses prepares to release its Small Batch Bourbon, an annual favorite, as a limited edition.

Catch up with the stories below.

Burnt Tavern launches Sept. 1 from William Berkele Distillery in Garrard County. It’s $69.99 and will be available in Kentucky and online through the distillery’s web site.

NO. 1: NEW KENTUCKY BOURBON FROM LEGENDARY DISTILLER: SMOKE AND HISTORY IN A GLASS

A new Kentucky bourbon brand is launching with a link to the state’s history and an assist from one of the industry’s newest stars. | Published August 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Buffalo Trace Distillery is releasing Weller Millennium #2, a special version of the premium bourbon blended from barrels from 2001, 2003 and 2006. It’s priced at $7,500 and for a limited time will be available in the gift shop at the distillery in Frankfort, while supplies last.

NO. 2: I TRIED THE NEW $7.5K WELLER MILLENNIUM AT BUFFALO TRACE. I’M ALMOST SORRY I DID

I had a rare opportunity to taste the new Buffalo Trace Millennium No. | Published August 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

At the 2024 Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, attendees could purchase VIP packages that included exclusive access. By Zach Sinclair

NO. 3: HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT KENTUCKY’S BOURBON INDUSTRY? JOIN OUR LIVE EVENT

Kentucky’s $9 billion bourbon industry is going through a rough patch. | Published September 3, 2025 | Read Full Story

Mary Dowling at her distillery in Mexico, where she moved it during Prohibition.

NO. 4: KY ‘MOTHER OF BOURBON’ MARY DOWLING WAS FIRST WOMAN TO OPERATE A MAJOR DISTILLERY

One of the newest inductees into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame is a woman who became the first to operate a major distillery in 1903. | Published September 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

New whiskey releases include a J. Mattingly 1845 bottle for Frankfort flood relief, the annual Parker’s Heritage release from Heaven Hill that raises money for ALS research and a 10-year Indiana grain-to-glass bourbon from Starlight Distillery.

NO. 5: NEW WHISKEY RELEASES: PARKER’S HERITAGE, FLOOD RELIEF AND INDIANA(!) BOURBON

The season of big bourbon releases is upon us, with special new bottles coming out left and right. | Published August 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

The 2025 edition of Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged will be available in limited quanitities at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival and at the distillery on some days during the festival.

NO. 6: MAKER’S MARK RELEASING SOME OF ITS OLDEST BOURBON YET. HERE’S HOW TO BUY IT

For those who thirsting for more extra-aged releases from Maker’s Mark, hold onto your Glencairns: | Published August 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

A rendering of the interior of the new John G. Carlisle Cafe, which is expected to open in the Spring of 2026 in the first floor of the historic Elmer T. Lee Clubhouse at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort.

NO. 7: BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY IS ADDING A CAFE. HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW

Buffalo Trace is expanding again, but this time the addition isn’t a new bourbon. | Published August 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

The 2025 Limited Edition Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon will be released on Sept. 3. You can enter a drawing for the chance to purchase a bottle at the Lawrenceburg distillery.

NO. 8: COVETED ANNUAL BOURBON RELEASE IS COMING SOON. HERE’S HOW TO GET A BOTTLE

Every year, as September rolls around, bourbon fans start the hunt for a select few bottles. | Published August 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Jackson Purchase master distiller Craig Beam does a toast at a recent tasting event to launch his new bourbon, the first release from the Fulton County distillery. Beam was the former master distiller at Heaven Hill before he retired in 2014 to help care for his ailing father, the late master distiller emeritus Parker Beam, who dies in 2017 of ALS. By Kriech-Higdon Photography

NO. 9: NEW WHISKEY COMES FROM AN OLD NAME IN KENTUCKY BOURBON: ‘IT’S HIS VISION’

When Craig Beam left Heaven Hill in 2014, he hung up his master distiller’s hat for good. | Published September 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Employees and Kate Latts, president of Heaven Hill (holding sciscors) cut the ribbon at the opening of the Kentucky bourbon maker’s new $200 million distillery, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025 in Bardstown, Ky. The new distillery will open in three stages and is designed to expand in 150,000-barrel increments until it reaches a 450,000-barrel capacity, doubling Heaven Hill’s output. By Brian Simms

NO. 10: HEAVEN HILL OPENS NEW $200 MILLION BOURBON DISTILLERY IN BARDSTOWN

Heaven Hill, the largest privately held distillery in the world, has welcomed a new $200 million jewel to its crown. | Published September 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Buffalo Trace Distillery is offering the chance to select your own barrel of Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon. The drawing will raise money for St. Jude Childern’s Research Hospital. Last year’s similar sweepstakes raised $1 million for St. Jude.

NO. 11: AFTER A DECADE, BUFFALO TRACE OFFERS A CHANCE AT A BARREL OF THIS COVETED BOURBON

Like a chance a whole barrel of coveted Elmer T. | Published September 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.