Happy New Year from The Pourch. The first week of 2026 is already pouring out new bottles to chase and some major industry tremors to watch. Pull up a chair on the porch—here’s what you’ll want to snag, taste, and keep an eye on next.

New Releases

Wilderness Trail unveils a limited-edition 10-Year Wheated Bourbon
Wilderness Trail kicked off the year with a release that’s going to have wheater fans buzzing: a 10-year, limited-edition wheated bourbon. The Courier-Journal rounds up the latest Kentucky happenings and this one jumps off the page—age-stated wheated bourbon at a decade deep doesn’t roll around every week.

If you love plush, bready sweetness with a seasoned oak backbone, put this high on your hunt list. Limited means limited, so don’t sleep on your local shop or lottery if they’re running one.

Barrell Bourbon New Year 2026
Barrell’s annual New Year release is back, and Breaking Bourbon has first sips. As usual, it’s a blend pulled from multiple distilleries and states, stitched together for a fresh-calendar toast. If past years are any indication, expect a layered pour with a little fireworks show of fruit, spice, and oak.

This is a bottle that tends to disappear fast every January. If you see it, consider it your excuse to celebrate all over again.

Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Specialty Barrel Series — Wheated Bourbon
The Whiskey Wash digs into Heaven Hill’s Specialty Barrel Series wheated bourbon—grain-to-glass and aimed squarely at enthusiasts who like a focused profile. It’s positioned as a premium buy, and early impressions suggest it delivers the depth to match the price tag.

Wheated + Heaven Hill is a combo that’s easy to get curious about. If you’re building a winter lineup of softer, dessert-leaning pours, this could be a smart anchor.

Southern Star Bourbon Finished in Honey Barrels
Honey-finished bourbon continues to draw a crowd, and Southern Distilling Company’s Southern Star take gets a deep dive from Breaking Bourbon. Expect a full-on honey influence—this isn’t shy—and a sweeter profile that should shine as a nightcap or dessert pairing.

If your palate leans toward mellow sweetness, this is a fun curveball to pour for friends who swear they “don’t normally drink bourbon.”

Forbes: December releases to watch — Old Soul Bourbon Tintype #3, Garrison Brothers Spurs Single Barrel
Forbes’ end-of-year roundup flagged a couple of notable bourbons that should still be popping up: Cathead Distillery’s Old Soul Bourbon Tintype Series #3 and Garrison Brothers’ Spurs Single Barrel. Different styles, different regions; both are likely to tick boxes for collectors and curious drinkers alike.

Keep your radar on these as distro trickles into the new year—December drops often linger on shelves for just a minute before they vanish.

Big Events

Jim Beam will pause production at its Clermont, KY distillery in 2026
NPR Illinois reports that Jim Beam plans to pause production at its historic Clermont site—the same place tied to its first barrel back in 1795. It’s a symbolic moment as much as a practical one, and it underscores how even the biggest names are adjusting to the current market climate.

Short-term, expect speculation about ripple effects on future supply and special releases. In the long run, moves like this can reshape the release calendar—and our hunt lists.

Company News

Forbes: Whiskey faces headwinds in 2026
Forbes surveys the state of American whiskey and doesn’t sugarcoat it—lower demand and some bruising economics are testing producers, bourbon included. It’s the kind of macro read that helps explain why certain bottles might suddenly become easier (or harder) to find.

Translation for porch sippers: keep your eyes open. We may see sharper pricing, leaner allocations, and more targeted releases as brands recalibrate.

MSN: “Bourbon bloodbath” narrative continues
MSN highlights a rough streak for the category, with ambitious newcomers going quiet and some legacy players cutting jobs or easing back on production. It’s not the most cheerful headline, but it does capture the moment.

The upside for drinkers? Turbulence often brings interesting experimentation—and sometimes, surprise deals. Just keep your expectations flexible.

Pursuit Spirits partners with Meat Church BBQ
BBQ meets bourbon: BevNET reports Pursuit Spirits has inked a strategic partnership with Meat Church BBQ. Pursuit’s model leverages barrels from multiple distilleries to craft small-batch blends, and pairing up with a beloved BBQ brand feels like a natural way to get new palates into the glass.

File this under “collabs to watch” this spring—perfect for backyard pours next to a smoker.

Closing Pour

From a 10-year wheated gem to Barrell’s annual New Year toast, there’s plenty worth chasing as 2026 begins—even as the industry we love weathers some choppy air. Whether you’re lining up for limiteds or exploring fresh collabs, here’s to finding something worth sharing on the porch this week.

Sources

Item	Link
Kentucky bourbon news: Heaven Hill, Wilderness Trail Distillery (Wilderness Trail 10-Year Wheated Bourbon)	Read
Barrell Bourbon New Year 2026 Review	Read
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Specialty Barrel Series Wheated Bourbon	Read
Southern Star Bourbon Finished in Honey Barrels (2025) Review	Read
New USA And Canada Whiskey Releases — December 2025	Read
Jim Beam to pause production at its main plant in 2026	Read
With Bankruptcies And Lower Demand, America’s Whiskey Industry Faces Strong Headwinds In 2026	Read
Bourbon bloodbath continues as another distiller goes bust	Read
Meat Church BBQ x Pursuit Spirits partnership	Read