June Is Jumping: Big Bottles, Bold Debuts, and a Buzz of Bourbon and Mead
B&M Digest, Volume II, Issue 05
Welcome to the June edition of Bourbon & Mead Digest, where the barrels are aging, the bees are buzzing, and the spirits are anything but still. From Buffalo Trace’s long-awaited Eagle Rare 12-Year to Stitzel-Weller’s surprise comeback and a Texas whiskey baked under the sun, this month brings heat, history, and plenty of reasons to raise a glass. Whether you’re chasing collectible corks or just planning your next tasting room trip, we’ve rounded up everything worth sipping this season (and there is a lot to cover).
Eagle Rare 12-Year Bourbon Launches: High Proof, Affordable Price, and Rich Flavor
Buffalo Trace Distillery has expanded its acclaimed Eagle Rare bourbon line with the launch of Eagle Rare 12-Year, a new permanent expression aged for 12 years and bottled at 95 proof (47.5% ABV). Crafted from the distillery’s low-rye Mashbill #1, this Kentucky straight bourbon delivers a rich, layered flavor profile featuring sweet oak, vanilla, almond, and toffee. Priced at an accessible $49.99 MSRP, it bridges the gap between the popular Eagle Rare 10-Year and its ultra-premium siblings like the Eagle Rare 17 and 25.
Thanks to a massive $1.2 billion expansion, Buffalo Trace now has the production muscle to meet growing demand, and the 12-Year release is just the beginning. In a tantalizing development for fans and collectors, the brand recently had a label approved by the TTB for Eagle Rare 30-Year, possibly signaling even bolder plans for the line’s future. Eagle Rare 12 hits U.S. shelves starting June 2025, with global distribution following later in the year. Whether you’re hunting for a daily sipper or eyeing the horizon for that elusive 30-year pour, the Eagle Rare brand continues to soar.
Stitzel-Weller Returns to the Spotlight with 24-Year Stitzel Reserve
After more than three decades of silence, the iconic Stitzel-Weller distillery is back in the bourbon game with the debut of Stitzel Reserve — a new, ultra-aged label starting with a 24-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at a hefty 123.4 proof. Just 191 bottles of this rich, limited blend — crafted by master blender Nicole Austin from nine select barrels — will be sold exclusively on-site for $1,600 each. This marks a bold new era for the storied distillery, which has been mostly dormant since 1992 but revered for aging legends like Pappy and Willett. Notably, this expression swaps the site’s historic wheated mash bill for a rye-based one, offering a bold profile of leather, burnt sugar, and saddle oil. With more ultra-rare releases planned, bourbon fans may want to start planning a pilgrimage to Louisville.
TX Whiskey Taps the Texas Sun for Bold New Bourbon Release
TX Whiskey is bringing the heat — literally — with its latest Experimental Series release, TX Straight Rye Bourbon Finished In Texas Seasoned Barrels. Set to drop on June 14, just in time for National Bourbon Day, this Fort Worth-born spirit is aged in barrels made from staves sun-seasoned for a year under the brutal Texas sky. The result is a bold, terroir-driven whiskey with notes of spiced pear, tobacco, vanilla, and baked apple smoke. Only 1,700 375ml bottles will be available, and the distillery is marking the launch with a full-blown party at Whiskey Ranch. This one’s not just aged in Texas — it is Texas in a bottle.
Laws Whiskey Honors a River in Crisis with Rio Grande Rye Release
Laws Whiskey House is back with the second release in its Headwaters Series — Rio Grande Rye Edition — a 100% heirloom rye whiskey that pays tribute to the vital and endangered Rio Grande River. Distilled using grain from Colorado’s San Luis Valley and proofed with purified Rio Grande water, this limited-edition bottle ($84.99) is only available at the Denver distillery. With tasting notes of sandalwood, honey, and citrus, the release showcases terroir and urgency, with 10% of proceeds benefiting the Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project. As the river faces record-low aquifers and a near-historic drought, this bottle is both a toast to conservation and a call to action.
Remus Bourbon Swings for the Fences with Babe Ruth Reserve 2025
Remus Bourbon knocks it out of the park again with the 2025 Babe Ruth Reserve, honoring the Great Bambino with a limited release of exactly 8,399 bottles—one for every career at-bat. This year’s edition features a blend of three high-rye mash bills (a nod to Ruth’s iconic #3) using barrels from 2016 and 2017, bottled at a bold 111 proof. Expect rich notes of brown sugar, cinnamon, and fig, rounded out by toasted marshmallow and a spicy oak finish. Packaged in an Art Deco-style bottle complete with baseball-themed flourishes and a scannable QR code linking each bottle to a specific moment in Ruth’s career, this collector’s piece hits shelves at $149.99. It’s a tribute that’ll thrill both bourbon lovers and baseball die-hards—Babe would be proud.
Binder’s Stash Uncorks $2M Whiskey Tasting Room in Louisville’s NuLu District
Binder’s Stash, a rising non-distilling whiskey brand founded in 2022, is investing $2 million into its first tasting room at 121 S. Clay Street in Louisville’s trendy NuLu neighborhood. Set to open this fall, the 10,000-square-foot space will feature tasting flights of its single-barrel expressions, a full bar, tequila lounge, gift shop, and private rooms—all wrapped in a “chic and moody” vibe inside a historic, brick-walled building. Known for its award-winning high-end ryes and bourbons (some hitting $700), the brand just announced a partnership with Willett Distillery for access to rare and experimental barrels. Binder’s Stash is aiming to deliver a unique, premium whiskey experience, where even the regular pours promise to be anything but.
Sazerac Debuts Garavogue: A 20-Year-Old Irish Single Malt With a Global Vision
Sazerac has just uncorked its first Irish whiskey from the newly christened Hawk’s Rock Distillery in County Sligo: Garavogue, a 20-year-old single malt crafted by Bushmills veteran Helen Mulholland. Aged first in ex-bourbon barrels and then finished in an impressive lineup of casks—French Muscat, Sauternes, Pedro Ximénez, and Barbadian rum—this 47% ABV release promises a layered yet subtle profile of vanilla, peach, citrus, and buttery apple. Named after the Garavogue River that flows past the distillery, this debut marks the start of a new, experimental range under the Sazerac banner. Priced at $199, Garavogue is rolling out now in limited supply across the U.S., Ireland, the U.K., duty-free shops, and via Sazerac’s Legacy de Forge platform. Not bourbon, sure—but if you’ve got Irish roots (like I have), this bottle might just hit you right in the heritage.
Deadheads, Alpacas, and Mead: St. Ambrose Cellars’ Summer of Fun
St. Ambrose Cellars in Beulah, Michigan, is turning up the summer vibes with a packed calendar of music, mead, and alpacas. The Up North meadery kicks off the fun with a Grateful Dead tribute night on June 14, featuring the house-born jam band Manitou Truckin’ Company and a special mead flight dubbed LSD (lavender, strawberry, and Day Tripper). Pair it with hot honey pizza or Grateful Bread, a cheesy nod to Jerry Garcia. On top of the tunes, the beloved Alpacapalooza returns for three Sundays this summer, letting guests pet Northern Blessings Alpacas and shop handmade alpaca goods. Toss in weekly Honey Bee markets and a Lil Bumble event for kid creators, and St. Ambrose is offering more than just award-winning cyser—it’s a whole mead-fueled summer experience.
Southern Distilling Wins Big with Best in Class Wheated Bourbon at ASCOT Awards
Southern Distilling Company of Statesville, North Carolina, is making serious waves in the bourbon world after its Southern Star Paragon Bottled-in-Bond took home Best in Class Wheated Bourbon at the 2025 ASCOT Awards—beating out heavy hitters from Kentucky. Crafted in small batches and aged for at least four years, this 100-proof bourbon is priced at $49.95 and praised for its soft, sweet profile, featuring classic vanilla and caramel notes. The win, judged by a panel led by spirits expert Fred Minnick, signals growing recognition for high-caliber craft bourbon beyond Kentucky. Southern Distilling also scored a Double Platinum for its upcoming Southern Star American Single Malt, further cementing its role as both a top-tier producer and contract distiller in the whiskey renaissance.
Buzzard’s Roost Lets Fans Choose the Barrel in New “Ambuzzadors” Rye Release
Buzzard’s Roost Distillery is handing the reins to its loyal fan club with the release of Ambuzzadors Select, a new single-barrel, barrel-strength rye whiskey launching June 14. Picked by its “Ambuzzadors” during biannual tasting events, this 115-proof, five-year-old rye is double-oaked for 18 months in lightly charred, custom-toasted barrels and priced at $85. The release party will be held at Buzzard’s Roost’s Whiskey Row location in Louisville, as well as online. With only fan-club members getting early access and perks like exclusive tastings and loyalty rewards, this limited-edition bottle is “the people’s whiskey”—bold, spicy, and born of community.
2025 Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Honors Legends, Welcomes New Inductees
The 2025 Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame class is raising a glass to some of the most impactful figures in the industry, headlined by Brown-Forman’s Chris Morris, who will receive the prestigious Parker Beam Lifetime Achievement Award for his 50-year career of innovation and leadership. This year’s inductees include seventh-generation distiller Craig Beam; pioneering entrepreneur Mary Dowling; craft distilling visionary Larry Ebersold; and legislative advocate Damon Thayer. Each inductee reflects a unique chapter in Bourbon’s rich story, spanning legacy, advocacy, innovation, and sheer grit. The official ceremony will take place on September 16 at Log Still Distillery, with a livestream offering fans a front-row seat to the celebration.
Uncle Nearest Named World’s Best Bourbon by America’s Top Bartenders
According to a recent Forbes article, America’s leading bartenders have crowned Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition – Batch 032 as the World’s Best Bourbon, recognizing the Tennessee-based whiskey for its rich heritage and layered complexity. Crafted by Victoria Eady Butler, a descendant of distilling legend Nearest Green, this cask-strength release is a tribute to Green’s legacy and showcases the hallmark Lincoln County Process that defines Tennessee whiskey. At 59% ABV and $149 a bottle, Batch 032 delivers bold notes of dark chocolate, cinnamon, berries, and caramel, earning top honors at the prestigious International Bartender Spirits Awards. Only available at the Shelbyville distillery, it’s a collector-worthy pour that also shines in classic cocktails.
Casey Jones Debuts Toasted Barrel Bourbon with Father’s Day Bash
Casey Jones Distillery is dropping its first-ever Toasted Barrel Bourbon just in time for Father’s Day Weekend, and it’s shaping up to be a can’t-miss event. Batch 1 is a 103.8 proof, cask strength, unfiltered stunner finished in toasted oak barrels, layering decadent notes of marshmallow, vanilla custard, and buttered cornbread. Made from their signature 96% corn mash bill, this limited run includes fewer than 300 bottles—less than 10 remain for preorder at $89.99. The launch ties into the Rickhouse Retreat celebration June 13–15, featuring bottle-your-own sessions, VIP tastings, a new barrel pick experience, chocolate pairings, and live music. Preorders ship mid-July, but snagging a bottle (or three) at the event might just be the toastiest way to celebrate Dad.
Barrels & Beats: Oak Grove’s Bourbon and Wine Fest Returns July 12
Mark your calendar for July 12 as Oak Grove, Kentucky, brings back its lively Kentucky Bands, Bourbon and Wine Festival from 3–9 p.m. at the War Memorial Walking Trail Park. This free event features live music, local spirits and wines, food trucks, and the all-new Barrel Race Relay, where teams roll barrels for prizes and bragging rights. Organizers are also eyeing a car show addition, making this a one-stop summer celebration for music lovers, bourbon fans, and families alike. Admission and parking are both free—just bring your thirst and some competitive spirit.
Garrison Brothers Unveils 2025 Guadalupe Bourbon and Limited Cask Strength Release
Hye, Texas’s own Garrison Brothers is back with the 2025 release of Guadalupe, its award-winning port cask-finished Texas Straight Bourbon. Launching July 12 with just 8,600 bottles available nationwide—and 1,000 up for grabs at the distillery—this 107-proof bourbon is aged four years in American oak and two in tawny port barrels. Expect rich notes of berry fruit, strawberry butter, chocolate, and coffee. For the first time, Garrison Brothers is also dropping a Guadalupe Cask Strength Single Barrel (123.9–129.8 proof), with $50 from each $219.99 bottle supporting Gulf conservation through the Gulf Trust. The retail price for the regular release is $149.99, with bottles expected to hit shelves by late July.
J. Rieger’s 2025 Monogram Solera Reserve: A Rare Kansas City Masterpiece
J. Rieger & Co. has unveiled the 2025 Monogram Kansas City Whiskey Solera Reserve—an ultra-limited annual release blending bourbon, rye, and corn whiskey finished in 15-year-old Oloroso Sherry casks. Just 1,887 bottles will hit shelves this year, honoring the distillery’s founding in 1887. Using the Solera aging method—an old-world, fractional blending process—the whiskey achieves deep complexity with rich notes of dried fruit and spice, thanks to 500-liter sherry botas sourced from Spain’s legendary Williams & Humbert. Retailing at $130, this elegant, sherry-kissed spirit cements Monogram as a standout collectible and a tribute to pre-Prohibition craftsmanship in modern form.
Bourbon & Beyond 2025 Dishes Out Star Power, Sips, and Sizzle
Bourbon & Beyond returns to Louisville September 11–14 with a power-packed 2025 lineup blending bourbon, bites, and beats. Alongside music headliners like Jack White, Sturgill “Johnny Blue Skies” Simpson, Phish, and Alabama Shakes, the culinary and bourbon stages are set to shine with big names such as Elizabeth Banks, Jim Gaffigan, Terry Bradshaw, and top-tier chefs including Chris Santos and Edward Lee. Workshops, panels, tastings, and live demos will run daily, covering everything from rare pours and mixology to the “New School of American Whiskey.” With over 200K fans in 2024, the festival’s immersive format continues to elevate bourbon culture while fueling Louisville’s local economy—and its bar tabs. Visit the festival’s website for a full lineup, along with additional experiences and ticket packages. Weekend general-admission and single-day passes are still available, but organizers encouraged fans to act fast.
DIY Drinks Take Flight at Buffalo’s Iron Cedar Brewing & Meadery
Born from a wedding favor gone right, Iron Cedar Brewing & Meadery in Cheektowaga, NY, is inviting beer and mead fans to roll up their sleeves and brew their own batch. Owner Nick Demarco turned a one-off brew for his brother’s wedding into a full-fledged business where guests can create a gallon or two of personalized beer or mead—no experience required. Located near the Buffalo airport, Iron Cedar caters to both locals and jetsetters with a full bar, a honey-infused brewing style, and a scratch kitchen slinging elevated Buffalo classics. Demarco’s meads lean dry and clean, often surprising skeptics, while the traveler-friendly vibe has already attracted folks from the UK to Australia. Whether you’re crafting a one-of-a-kind brew or just grabbing a pint before takeoff, Iron Cedar is a fresh take on beer culture with an open invitation to experiment.
Final Sips
From century-old mashbills to brand-new meaderies, this month’s releases and events prove that flavor finds a way—whether it’s in a Louisville tasting room, a Texas rickhouse, or a mead flight named after the Grateful Dead. Here’s to staying curious, drinking local (or rare), and letting your palate lead the way. We’ll see you next round with more pours worth talking about—right here in Bourbon & Mead Digest.
