In this Article
Bourbon Drops You Can Still Grab, Louisville’s New Tasting Rooms, and a Jim Beam Shake-Up
Pour one and settle in—this week brought fresh bourbon releases, big happenings in Kentucky, and some eye-popping company moves you’ll want to know about before your next bottle hunt.
New Releases
Heaven Hill’s Grain-to-Glass Specialty Barrel Series quietly lands
Heaven Hill is kicking off a new wave of limited bourbon with its Specialty Barrel Series, and early reviews are rolling in. According to The Whiskey Wash, the lineup includes a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and a Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon—catnip for anyone who keeps a running “wheated” wishlist.
If you’re the type who likes to be first to pour, keep your radar up. These feel like the kind of bottles that disappear before the next warm front hits the porch.
Fathertime Bourbon drops a holiday pour, Santa’s Reward
A new label with Kentucky roots is sliding down the chimney. The folks at Fathertime Bourbon released Santa’s Reward this month—a straight bourbon sourced from undisclosed Kentucky distillery(ies). Breaking Bourbon has the first look and notes, and with the December 2025 timing, it’s very much a “get it while you can” situation.
Think festive on the label, classic Kentucky under the cork. If you like discovering newcomers before they’re “allocated,” this is your moment.
Big Events
Green River Distilling’s big year and a spotlight on ROW 94
Owensboro’s Green River is riding a strong tailwind, capped by an industry event that showcased ROW 94 Bourbon—a brand made at Green River’s facilities. Local coverage from the Messenger-Inquirer and Yahoo paints the picture of a distillery that’s fully back in its groove—and getting national love for punching above its price point.
It’s the kind of momentum that tends to make store picks a little more competitive and on-site tastings a lot more fun. If you’ve been sleeping on Green River, consider this your wake-up call.
Louisville adds five new bourbon tasting rooms
Good news for Bourbon City visitors: you can sample more brands without trekking to far-flung campuses. The Courier-Journal rounded up five new tasting rooms popping up around Louisville, bringing the rickhouse vibes closer to where you actually hang out, eat, and, well, drink.
Perfect for an afternoon hop before dinner, or a targeted stop if you’re courting a brand that doesn’t pour widely. More tasting rooms, fewer Lyft rides—cheers to that.
Company News
Jim Beam taps Kenan Thompson for a new fan-forward campaign
Lightening the mood a bit: Beam is leaning into playoff feelings with “Refresh Your Season,” a new campaign headlined by Kenan Thompson. The brand’s press release via Morningstar (also posted on Le Lézard) invites fans to turn postseason heartbreak into easygoing bourbon moments.
Smart timing, and a reminder that even when your team’s out, there’s always something worth toasting.
That’s the pour for this week. Whether you’re chasing the new Heaven Hill bottles, plotting a Louisville tasting-room crawl, or just keeping an eye on the Beam headlines, may your weekend glass be interesting and your shelf space limitless.
