Pour one and settle in—this week brought some serious bourbon action. We’ve got headline-grabbing new releases (including an ultra-aged Knob Creek), cool limited editions, and a few industry shake-ups worth watching. If you like to be first in line or just hate FOMO, here’s what to know before the next hunt.

New Releases

Knob Creek 21-Year (Jim Beam’s oldest whiskey ever)

Beam turned heads with Knob Creek 21-Year, a limited-edition bourbon that Men’s Journal bills as the oldest whiskey the company has ever released. Expect layers of caramel, spice, and oak—basically all the reasons we love well-aged bourbon. This one’s built to disappear fast, so don’t sleep on it.

Cedar Ridge Annual Double Barrel Bourbon

Iowa’s Cedar Ridge brought back its fan-favorite Double Barrel Bourbon alongside a rye counterpart. The double-barrel treatment adds an extra layer of sweet oak and polish—think extra depth for firepit nights. Annual release means once it’s gone, you’re waiting a year.

Hinterhaus 5-Year Anniversary Bourbon

To mark five years, California’s Hinterhaus blended 27 different batches into a limited anniversary bourbon. It’s the kind of celebratory blend that tends to show off a distillery’s house style—complex, layered, and bottled for the moment. Limited means limited.

Detroit City Distillery “Camo” Butcher’s Cut Bourbon

Detroit City Distillery dropped a limited “Camo” edition of its award-winning Butcher’s Cut Bourbon. Same bourbon, fresh look—perfect for the collector shelf or a gift for that friend who already has everything.

Boone County Bengals Tribute Bottles

Boone County is saluting Cincinnati with a set of Bengals tribute bottles, including Small Batch Bourbon among other releases. If your game-day ritual includes a pour, this one might be calling your name.

Bird Gang Spirits “Philly Artists Collection” (includes a straight bourbon)

Philly’s Bird Gang Spirits rolled out a limited series honoring the Eagles’ 1960 championship with artist-designed bottles—among them a straight bourbon whiskey. Sports nostalgia plus a bourbon option? That’s catnip for local collectors.

Big Events & Experiences

Kentucky-Style “Sip from the Barrel” Experience Coming to Hudsonville, MI

A new husband-and-wife-run distillery in Hudsonville is bringing a taste of the Bluegrass state to West Michigan: think straight-from-the-barrel samples and that classic Kentucky-style hospitality. If you’ve been wanting the bourbon trail vibe without the road trip, this might scratch the itch.

9th Annual Bourbon By the Bay

The Gulf Coast’s Bourbon By the Bay returns with tastings, cocktails, and plenty of social energy—an easy excuse to sample across styles and discover a new favorite. If you’re nearby, it’s the kind of event where your tasting notebook actually earns its keep.

Company & Industry News

MGP’s Sales Slump Continues

One of America’s biggest whiskey producers, MGP, is seeing sales slide again. With so many beloved bourbons built on MGP’s high-rye mashbills, it’s a signal worth watching—especially as pricing, inventory, and consumer demand keep shifting.

B.R. Distilling (Blue Note) Expands Distribution to Texas

Memphis-based B.R. Distilling, makers of Blue Note Bourbon, just punched into the Texas market. More shelf space in a big bourbon state usually means more barrel picks and wider access—good news if you’ve been hunting their bottles.

Heaven Hill Earns Global ESG Recognition

Heaven Hill Brands received Global Drinks Intel’s ESG Award for Social Achievement of the Year. It’s always encouraging to see major bourbon houses get recognized for work beyond the rackhouse.

The Bourbon Industry’s Rough Patch

A legal roundup highlights recent distress across parts of bourbon—think financial strains and a few bankruptcy headlines. None of this kills the category’s long-term story, but it does add context to why some brands are tightening belts while others keep pushing limited releases.

How Bourbon Can Get Its Bounce Back

Category Intel digs into paths forward: smarter pricing, accessible age statements, real innovation (not just finishes), and keeping loyal fans engaged. TL;DR: quality value wins, and the best stories still start in the barrel.

That’s the pour for this week. Whether you’re chasing the Knob Creek 21-Year or grabbing a local limited edition, there’s plenty to explore. See you on the porch next week—with a fresh glass and more bourbon news.

Sources

Item	Link
Knob Creek 21-Year (Jim Beam)	Men’s Journal
Cedar Ridge Double Barrel Bourbon	Fred Minnick
Hinterhaus 5-Year Anniversary Bourbon	The Whiskey Wash
Detroit City Distillery “Camo” Butcher’s Cut	Spectrum News
Boone County Bengals Tribute Bottles	Fred Minnick
Bird Gang Spirits Philly Artists Collection	Philadelphia Today
Hudsonville Bourbon Experience (MI)	FOX 17
9th Annual Bourbon By the Bay	FOX10 News
MGP Sales Drop	Yahoo Finance
B.R. Distilling Texas Distribution	Fred Minnick
Heaven Hill ESG Award	Heaven Hill
The Bourbon Industry Faces Hard Times	JD Supra
How Bourbon Can Get Its Bounce Back	Drinks Intel