Kentucky bourbon news: Latest releases and trends

These curated articles share a common theme of showcasing recent innovations, releases and shifts within Kentucky's bourbon industry. Distilleries are rolling out new products while experimenting with unique aging techniques and finishes.

Rabbit Hole Distillery released Regallier, a limited-edition bourbon finished in French oak casks, available exclusively at their location. Master blender Dixon Dedman introduced 2XO White Oak Rye, the first rye in his Oak Series. Heaven Hill added the 2025 edition of its Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon crafted from seed to bottle with a higher secondary grain content. Barton 1792 Distillery launched 1792 Cognac Cask Finish, permanently adding it to their portfolio with aging in former cognac casks.

Barton 1792 Distillery has introduced 1792 Cognac Cask Finish, the first permanent cask-finished addition to its lineup.

NO. 1: BARDSTOWN’S OLDEST DISTILLERY JUST ADDED A NEW BOURBON. WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL

The oldest fully operating distillery in Bardstown has released a new permanent addition to its portfolio. | Published September 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

New whiskey and bourbon releases are arriving from Kentucky distilleries and producers including Rabbit Hole, 2XO and Heaven Hill.

NO. 2: NEW BOURBON, RYE RELEASES ARRIVING AT DISTILLERIES ACROSS KENTUCKY. WHAT TO KNOW

Now that National Bourbon Month is here, new bourbon (and rye) whiskeys are dropping faster than autumn leaves. | Published September 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Country musician Dierks Bentley looks at barrels of whiskey aging in a warehouse at Green River Distillery in Owensboro, Ky., on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. Bentley released his Row 94 Full Proof bourbon during an event at the distillery. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 3: COUNTRY STAR DIERKS BENTLEY TAKES HIS BOURBON UP A NOTCH WITH HIGH-PROOF RELEASE

“Well, well whiskey, looks like we meet again ...” With a line from one of his songs, country music star Dierks Bentley on Sept. | Published September 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

The 2025 Four Roses Salt River bourbon release is coming up. Details on how to get a bottle.

NO. 4: NEW LIMITED-RELEASE FOUR ROSES BOURBON WILL HELP CLEAN UP KENTUCKY WATERWAYS

Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg is once again releasing a special bourbon to commemorate their annual Salt River Cleanup. | Published September 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Bourbon archaeologist Nick Laracuente walked along an unearthed fermentation tank at the remains of an old distillery found inside the floor of a building at the Buffalo Trace Distillery. The site will be preserved for future tours as a kind of “bourbon Pompeii,” Laracuente said. By Charles Bertram

NO. 5: RELIVE ‘BOURBON POMPEII’ AND OTHER EARLY KY DISTILLERIES WITH WHISKEY ARCHAEOLOGIST

The man known as Kentucky’s “bourbon archaeologist” has a confession to make: | Published September 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

All of New Era’s releases have labels that look like the front page of a newspaper with the names as headlines. Two recent bottles available at the Bourbon & Beyond music festival were called Stage Diver and Encore! By Janet Patton

NO. 6: A PRIVATE BOURBON CLUB COMING TO LEXINGTON, WITH RELEASES RIPPED FROM HEADLINES

A Lexington-based bourbon brand is expanding — and plans to open a members-only club downtown. | Published September 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Wild Turkey is releasing the 10th and final version in its Master’s Keep collection. Beacon will be on available in limited quantities with a suggested retail price of $300.

NO. 7: KENTUCKY DISTILLERY RELEASING FINAL EDITION OF STORIED BOURBON

It’s the end of an era — or at least the end of a collection. | Published September 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Barrell Craft Spirits has released a 12-Year Bourbon finished in French Oak casks. Only 1,500 bottles available for $159 each.

NO. 8: LATEST BARRELL CRAFT SPIRITS RELEASE MATURED IN FRENCH OAK CASKS

Barrell Craft Spirits, the Louisville-based brand that specilizes in blending, has released a new 12-year French Oak Cask Strength Bourbon. | Published October 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

The 2025 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection includes the first new addition since 2006. Col. E.H. Taylor Jr. joins the lineup of George T. Stagg, William Larue Weller, Eagle Rare, Sazerac and Thomas H. Handy.

NO. 9: LATEST WHISKEY RELEASES: BUFFALO TRACE ANTIQUES, KING OF KENTUCKY, WOODFORD RYE

If you see a line outside a liquor store in the morning this fall, it’s probably because a special release is due to arrive. | Published October 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Heaven Hill is releasing three new whiskeys in its award-winning Grain to Glass line, all specially aged in Chinquapin Oak barrels: Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon, Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Kentucky Straight Rye will be available in November with a suggested retail price of $129.99 for a 700mL bottle.

NO. 10: TRIO OF NEW HEAVEN HILL RELEASES LEANS INTO DISTINCTIVE OAK. WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?

Heaven Hill Distillery has released the first in a new series of bourbons in its acclaimed Grain to Glass line. | Published October 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

A new tour at Buffalo Trace will let members of the Sazerac Barrel Select program sign up for a tour, “thieve” bourbon from barrels and taste cask strength Buffalo Trace, then pick the one they like better and take home a bottle. By Janet Patton

NO. 11: NEW BUFFALO TRACE TOUR LETS YOU SAMPLE KY BOURBON STRAIGHT FROM BARRELS

A new tour at Buffalo Trace will let you get a taste of what it’s like to select your own bourbon barrel. | Published October 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

A warehouse is photographed at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Ky., on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. Buffalo Trace is completing a 10-year, $1.2 billion expansion that has increased capacity from 200,000 barrels a year to more than 500,000. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 12: BILLION-DOLLAR BOURBON BARREL CAMPUS COMING TO TAYLOR COUNTY, SAZERAC SAYS

Sazerac Distillers, the maker of some of the most-sought after bourbons including Pappy Van Winkle, Blanton’s and Buffalo Trace, is planning to build more whiskey barrel warehouses in a new project planned for Taylor County. | Published October 21, 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.