Barrels, Batches & Big Announcements: Mid-July Bourbon & Mead Buzz
B&M Digest, Volume II, Issue 10
We’re pouring out a fresh batch of spirited updates just in time for the dog days of summer. From bourbon-meets-coffee mashups and trailblazing collaborations to major festival previews and long-awaited bottle drops, there’s plenty brewing on the brown water (and golden honey) front. Whether you’re road-tripping through whiskey country or sipping something new on the porch, we’ve got your round-up of all the latest releases, distillery news, and event highlights. Let’s raise a glass and dive in!
Barrell Unveils High-Octane ‘Decade’ Whiskey in Black Label Series
Barrell Craft Spirits is rolling out Decade, the latest powerhouse in its Black Label Series. This high-proof (142.7!) blend features whiskeys distilled between 1995 and 2005, each year carefully selected for its distinct flavor contribution. Finished in Spanish brandy and Hungarian oak casks, Decade delivers a rich profile of syrupy fruit, toffee, and warm spice. Only 500 bottles will be available for sale online starting July 23 at 10 a.m. EDT (not available in certain states), with wider distribution to follow. A bold, layered sip that captures a full decade of whiskey-making mastery.
If Bees Made Bourbon: Casey Jones Drops Honey Finished Batch 1
Get ready for a bourbon as smooth and decadent as a fresh honeycomb. Casey Jones Distillery is set to release the first batch of its Honey Finished Bourbon, part of their Barrel Finished Series, this August 1–2 at their Craft Food Fare in Hopkinsville, KY. With a profile that’s lush, subtly sweet, and downright indulgent, this bottle is being buzzed about for good reason. Online orders will be available soon, so keep an eye out before they sell out.
Celtic Magic Returns: Carolina Celtic Music Festival at Fae Nectar, Sept. 26–27
Get ready to don your tartan and raise a horn, Fae Nectar is once again hosting the Carolina Celtic Music Festival, set for September 26–27 in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. Expect a lively mix of traditional and modern Celtic music, dancing, artisan vendors, Gaelic fare, and plenty of legendary mead. Friday kicks off with a rollicking evening, while Saturday features a full slate of performances, a bustling market, and the always-beloved Scottish Cèilidh. Tickets are on sale now, so grab yours before they vanish like mist over the moor. This year’s event also honors the anniversary of Hurricane Helene with a moment of remembrance woven into the festivities.
Taste the Rainbow: Black Heath Unveils Spectrum Indigo Mead
Black Heath Meadery’s vibrant Spectrum Series continues with the launch of Spectrum Indigo, a bold new mead made from tart aronia berries (aka chokeberries) and honey, no water added. This deep purple pour is as rich in flavor as it is in color, offering a perfectly balanced tangy-sweet sip that celebrates the creativity of meadmaking. Fermented solely with fruit juice and honey, it’s a one-of-a-kind expression that’s now available by the glass or bottle. Swing by and explore the indigo edge of the spectrum while it lasts.
Dockside Bourbon Debuts at the 2025 White Marlin Open
Sailing meets sipping as the White Marlin Open launches its own small-batch Kentucky straight bourbon: Dockside Bourbon. Crafted to celebrate the spirit of the sea and the camaraderie of the dock, this bold but approachable pour is made for those unwinding after a day on the water. A nod to tradition and the tournament lifestyle, it’s smooth, rugged, and ready to toast another big catch. The 2025 White Marlin Open runs August 4–8 in Ocean City, Maryland, where over 100 boats are already registered to compete for millions in prize money and now, bragging rights at the bourbon bar.
Maker’s Mark Earns Top Honor from Whiskey University
Maker’s Mark just added a prestigious feather to its red wax cap. On June 6, the distillery received an Award of Distinction from Whiskey University, naming it one of the decade’s top tourist and distillery destinations in the U.S. This honor, voted on by Whiskey U’s 1,300 global instructors, recognizes both the quality of Maker’s Mark’s bourbon lineup and the passionate experience delivered on their Loretto campus tours. Only two distilleries earn this title each year, with a hard cap of ten per decade, making it a rare and well-earned accolade. The plaque, a tribute to the team’s hospitality and craft, will live proudly in the employee lounge.
New Riff Expands Single Barrel Program with 6-Year Bourbon Picks
New Riff Distilling in Newport, KY, is raising the bar on private barrel selections, now offering 6-year-old bourbon barrels as part of its growing Single Barrel program. Popular among bourbon clubs, retailers, and bars, the experience includes access to 4- and 6-year bourbon, 6-year rye, and unique perks like fractional barrel purchases and next-day pickup. The selection process consists of a full tour of New Riff’s distillery and West Campus, capped off with a tasting at The Aquifer. While the 6-year bourbon isn’t sold at retail, it’s available by the barrel with custom labels and flexible order sizes. New Riff continues to blend tradition with innovation, offering one of the most customizable and immersive barrel programs in the industry.
Bib & Tucker Pours New Gold Roast Bourbon: A Toast to Coffee and Craft
Bib & Tucker is stirring things up with the launch of Gold Roast Bourbon, a 6-year Tennessee bourbon finished with cold-steeped, roasted Arabica coffee beans from Muletown Coffee Roasters. This year-round release blends tradition and innovation, offering rich notes of vanilla, milk chocolate, oak, and a subtle roasted coffee finish. Crafted with precision, from Lincoln County Process smoothing to cold infusion, Gold Roast is more than a flavored bourbon; it’s a nod to the long-standing bond between bourbon and coffee. Hitting shelves nationally this August at $49.99 (92 proof), it joins the core Bib & Tucker lineup as a modern classic with deep Southern roots.
Starlight Distillery Unveils First-Ever 10-Year Bourbon, A Tribute to Farm and Family
Southern Indiana’s Starlight Distillery has released its first 10-Year Bourbon, a bold and deeply personal expression crafted entirely on the Huber family estate. Made with estate-grown grains and double pot distilled, this limited-release bourbon spent a full decade aging in Napa Valley Seguin Moreau barrels inside the distillery’s warmest rickhouse. The result is a rich, complex spirit that reflects seven generations of farming tradition. Bottled at its peak and hand-selected by the Huber family, this milestone release hits shelves July 26th at the distillery, with a public celebration to match.
KSU and Brough Brothers Partner on 1886 Select Bourbon Collection
In a bold blend of academia and distilling, Kentucky State University and Brough Brothers Distillery have unveiled 1886 Select—a five-bottle bourbon series crafted through research-driven aging techniques. Each expression was finished with a different toasted wood stave: white oak, maple, walnut, hickory, and a control, to study how wood impacts flavor. Spearheaded by KSU’s fermentation sciences program and Brough Brothers’ distilling team, the project gave students hands-on industry experience while pushing innovation in bourbon finishing. Proceeds will fund ongoing research, making 1886 Select both a sip of tradition and a step forward for education and Kentucky’s signature spirit.
Knob Creek Revives Bourbon x Rye Blend, a Bold Duo for Whiskey Fans
Knob Creek has brought back a crowd-pleaser with the rerelease of its Bourbon x Rye Kentucky Blended Straight Whiskey, blending their 9-year Bourbon with 7-year Rye for a complex, high-proof (113) experience. This revival marries the sweetness of caramel and toffee with rye’s bold spice, rounded out by notes of maple, vanilla, and a peppery finish. Whether you’re a bourbon lover, a rye devotee, or somewhere in between, this $44.99 release offers a rich, balanced sip that delivers the best of both barrels. Now available nationwide.
Old Grand-Dad 7-Year Bonded Returns as Annual Beam Release
Beam is making it official: Old Grand-Dad 7-year Bottled-in-Bond is now an annual tradition. The 2025 edition, distilled in spring 2018, continues the legacy of this high-rye Kentucky Straight Bourbon, known for its spicy yet approachable profile. Bottled at 100 proof and aged seven years, this release stays true to the Old Grand-Dad legacy dating back to 1882, combining time in the barrel with bold rye character. Long a favorite among bartenders and bourbon purists, the 7-year Bonded release offers a modern pour with roots in classic bourbon tradition.
Old Forester Brings Back 1910 Extra Extra Old in Limited Release
Old Forester fans, rejoice. 1910 Extra Extra Old is back. This extra-aged twist on the beloved 1910 Old Fine Whisky gets a bold boost from an additional 24 months in a heavily charred secondary barrel, resulting in a richer, toastier expression. Part of the 117 Series and first released in 2021, this year’s limited edition drops July 16 at the distillery and select Kentucky retailers, priced at $64.99 (93 proof). Expect deep notes of toffee, hazelnut, sweet almond, milk chocolate, and a warm cinnamon finish—bourbon history with an extra charred edge.
Jefferson’s Honors Whiskey Rebel with Second Marian McLain Release
Jefferson’s Bourbon is back with the second release in its Marian McLain series, a tribute to founder Trey Zoeller’s 8th-generation grandmother, one of the first women documented in American whiskey history. Arrested in 1799 for illegally distilling to support her family, Marian’s legacy lives on in this bold, five-bourbon blend. Featuring 13- and 9-year Kentucky bourbons, Indiana wheated bourbon, and two rye-barrel-finished components, the cask-strength (106 proof) expression is rich in history and flavor. Now available at select retailers nationwide, it’s a spirited nod to resilience, risk-taking, and whiskey-making grit.
Southern Food & Whiskey Experience Returns to Franklin, TN August 9
The Southern Food & Whiskey Experience 2025 is back for its 8th year at The Factory in Franklin, TN, promising an evening full of Southern flavor and spirited sips. Held Saturday, August 9 from 6–9 p.m. (with early entry at 5 p.m. for VIPs and 4 p.m. for cigar lounge guests), the event will feature over 30 distilleries and local restaurants. While whiskey is the main draw, attendees can also enjoy craft vodka, gin, and tequila. VIP perks include a private lounge, Bardstown Bourbon meet-and-greet, exclusive cocktails, and more. Proceeds benefit OneGenAway’s hunger relief work. Tickets start at $99 and top out at $399 for full VIP access.
Bourbon Women’s SIPosium Returns to Louisville Aug. 14–17
The 11th annual SIPosium Conference, hosted by the Bourbon Women Association, is set for August 14–17 in Louisville, and it’s the only spirits conference in the U.S. by and for women. With more than 500 attendees expected, the four-day event features 70+ speakers and 20+ off-site experiences, including distillery tours, whiskey dinners, workshops, and cocktail adventures. Most events center around the Kentucky International Convention Center, making downtown hotels prime lodging. Tickets are on sale through July 31. Don’t miss this celebration of community, craft, and whiskey-fueled empowerment.
Wyoming Whiskey Honors Acadia with New National Parks Edition
Wyoming Whiskey has unveiled its National Parks: Acadia Edition, the first release in the series to spotlight a park outside of Wyoming. This special-edition bourbon celebrates Maine’s Acadia National Park and supports its conservation through a $10,000 donation to Friends of Acadia. Made with locally sourced non-GMO grains and aged at least five years in charred oak, the 98-proof bourbon offers notes of honey cruller, cherry liqueur, cinnamon, and chocolate. Available only in Maine retailers, this release continues Wyoming Whiskey’s mission to honor America’s natural treasures through craftsmanship and philanthropy.
Frey Ranch Unleashes a Five-Grain First with Limited Single Barrel Release
Frey Ranch Distillery is breaking new ground with its first-ever Five Grain Single Barrel Bourbon, blending corn, wheat, rye, malted barley, and the tricky-to-distill oat into one bold pour. Barrel #3016 clocks in at a fiery 130.24 proof and was aged just over six years, bringing notes of caramel apple, Fun Dip candy, milk chocolate, and a hint of earthy oat to the glass. Only 186 bottles of this high-proof unicorn are available online, while Barrel #3011 can only be snagged at the Nevada distillery’s tasting room. At $89 a bottle and fewer than 350 in total, this is a collector’s bottle for grain geeks and bold bourbon fans alike.
Jim Beam’s Father-Son Bourbon Legacy Continues with Lineage Batch #2
The James B. Beam Distilling family keeps it all in the family with the release of Jim Beam Lineage Batch #2, a 15-year-old, 111-proof Kentucky straight bourbon crafted by legendary master distiller Fred Noe and his son, Freddie. This second edition marks the first time Freddie’s name graces a Jim Beam label, underscoring a symbolic passing of the torch. Aged at the Booker Noe Plant and bottled exclusively at the Beam campus in Clermont, KY, Lineage Batch #2 offers rich notes of crème brûlée, leather, and seasoned oak, with a finish full of matured depth. With a $250 price tag and limited availability, this mahogany beauty is a must-have for Beam collectors and bourbon legacy lovers.
Until Next Pour…
That wraps this week’s round of spirited updates — from meads made with chokeberries to bourbons honoring Acadia and trailblazing women in whiskey, there’s never a dull moment in the glass. Whether you’re stocking up, sipping slowly, or mapping out your next tasting adventure, we’ll be back soon with more from the world of bourbon and mead. Stay cool, drink smart, and we’ll see you next round!
