Welcome back to The Pourch. Pull up a chair, so far this week is stacked with big-time bourbon drops and some eye-catching experiences. We’re talking coveted age statements, annual blends, and a fresh cask-strength stunner, plus a couple of can’t-miss tasting adventures and industry stories worth a toast.

New Releases

Michter’s 20-Year Bourbon makes a holiday return
Food & Wine reports that Michter’s 20-Year-Old Bourbon is returning for the 2025 holidays, just a year after its previous appearance. No rigid release calendar here, Michter’s bottles this when the barrels say they’re ready, which keeps the mystique (and the chase) alive.
If you’ve been saving a spot on the top shelf, now’s the time to clear it. Expect the usual limited allocation and a flurry of bottle-hunting stories once these start hitting select shelves. The best tip? Make friends with your local shop early and often.
Source: Food & Wine

Barrell Bourbon New Year 2026 is officially on the way
Barrell Craft Spirits is back with its annual New Year release, a cask-strength blend crafted to kick off the calendar with some fireworks. The brand announced the 2026 edition this week, continuing a tradition that’s become a favorite among blend geeks and party hosts alike. (One More Dram)
If you’ve followed Barrell’s yearly New Year drops, you know the drill: big flavor, plenty of complexity, and a bottle that tends to disappear fast. Fred Minnick also spotlighted the release, nodding to Barrell’s influence in the cask-strength small-batch and single-barrel scene. This one’s tailor-made for the first pour of 2026. (Fred Minnick)

Willett Family Estate debuts a new Small Batch Bourbon (at cask strength)
Willett is rolling out a new Family Estate Small Batch Bourbon, bottled at cask strength and blended from two of the distillery’s proprietary mash bills, per Men’s Journal. That’s catnip for collectors and Willett die-hards who love comparing house profiles and batches.
Expect it to hit with the bold, character-first approach Willett fans live for. If you like your bourbon uncut and unshy, this should jump onto your short list the moment it lands. Source: Men’s Journal

Big Events & Experiences

Buffalo Trace is taking tastings into the wild
Two teases dropped this week that have our attention: The Manual says Buffalo Trace is opening “America’s most remote” tasting room, while Tasting Table hints at a bourbon experience “in a field of buffalo.” However this shakes out, it sounds like the distillery wants to get you sipping where the buffalo roam—or at least somewhere wonderfully off the grid.
If you’re into sipping with scenery, keep your calendar flexible. These kinds of limited experiences can sell out in a heartbeat, and they make for the kind of porch stories that get retold for years.
Sources: The Manual and Tasting Table

Meet Jon Taffer (and his Browned Butter Bourbon) near Boston
If you’re in the Boston area, there’s a meet-and-greet with Jon Taffer tied to his Browned Butter Bourbon in Waltham, MA. These events are great for getting a taste straight from the source and snagging a signed bottle if you’re lucky.
Keep an eye on the listing for time and ticket details; meet-and-greets with a TV-famous host tend to fill up fast. Source: Patch

Company News

From the battlefield to bourbon: veterans shaping the industry
Louisville Business First highlights military veterans who’ve found their second act in bourbon, including MB Roland’s Paul Tomaszewski. It’s a look at how service-driven leadership and discipline translate into the patient, methodical work of whiskey making.
If you like knowing who’s behind the bottles, this is a worthy read—and a good reminder that great bourbon is often a team sport built on hard-won experience. Source: Louisville Business First

That’s the pour for now. Whether you’re chasing age-stated greatness, snagging a festive New Year blend, or planning a tasting adventure off the beaten path, there’s plenty to keep your glass busy.

Sources

Source	Link
Food & Wine	Michter’s 20-Year Bourbon Returns for 2025
One More Dram	Barrell Craft Spirits Launches Barrell Bourbon New Year 2026
Fred Minnick	Barrell Releases Annual New Year Bourbon for 2026
Men’s Journal	Willett Family Estate Launches a New Small Batch Bourbon
The Manual	Buffalo Trace is opening “America’s most remote” tasting room
Tasting Table	Buffalo Trace’s “untamed” bourbon tasting experience
Patch	Taffer’s Browned Butter Bourbon Meet & Greet
Louisville Business First	From battlefield to bourbon