Whiskey Roundup — Week of March 9–15, 2026
March 15, 2026
Your weekly dispatch from the Backyard Whiskey Club.
The whiskey world had two very different stories running side by side this week: a wave of compelling new releases hitting shelves, and some sobering reminders that the post-pandemic boom is settling back to earth. A Kentucky cooperage is closing a facility, a South Carolina craft distillery filed for bankruptcy, and yet Maker’s Mark launched a well-priced new expression that sold through fast at many retailers. The category is normalizing — and for drinkers, that’s mostly good news.
This Week’s Headlines
- Maker’s Mark 2026 Wood Finishing Series: The Stewards Release hits shelves March 9 at $74.99 — two batches, two proofs, one accessible price
- Ironroot Republic celebrates its 10th anniversary and earns a World Whiskies Award for Hubris Corn Whiskey — a Texas milestone worth toasting
- Blue Hanger 14th Edition returns after a 10-year hiatus from Berry Brothers & Rudd — the blended malt is back
- Speyside Bourbon Cooperage closes its Virginia facility, laying off 52 workers as the bourbon industry slowdown hits the supply chain
- The Dalmore announces April 27 reopening after a multi-year renovation, with all-private tours going forward
New & Notable Releases
Bourbon
Maker’s Mark 2026 Wood Finishing Series: The Stewards Release is the big launch of the week, dropping to U.S. retailers on March 9 at an approachable $74.99. This is the third installment in the second Wood Finishing Series (which runs through 2028), and it honors the distillery’s operations teams — the people who guide bourbon from fermentation to final bottle. Two batches were released: one at 109.6 proof (54.8% ABV) and one at 113.3 proof (56.65% ABV). The flavor profile features cherry pie, vanilla bean, honey, toasted marshmallow, candied ginger, and a stone fruit-salted caramel finish. At $74.99, this is one of the better value premium bourbon launches of the year — expect it to move quickly at retail.
Rye
Iowa’s Cedar Ridge Distillery made news this week not with a new bottle, but with a new model for accessing them. The distillery launched the Backpack Bottle Club, a $100 quarterly subscription offering curated bottles, early access to limited releases, virtual tastings, and merchandise discounts. For fans of one of the Midwest’s most consistent craft operations, it’s a smart way to stay connected to their lineup without refresh-clicking a website.
Scotch
Oban Distillery released the second expression in its 15-Year-Old cask-finished series this week, this time finished in American oak ex-port casks and bottled at 52.1% ABV. The Highland distillery’s 15-Year serves as an ideal canvas for secondary maturation — expect the port finish to add dark fruit, chocolate, and a subtle sweetness to Oban’s characteristic maritime and citrus character. A solid mid-range Scotch pickup for fans of the distillery.
Berry Brothers & Rudd brought back the Blue Hanger Blended Malt in its 14th edition — the first release in a decade. Blue Hanger was one of the original prestige blended malts from this storied London merchant, and its return is a genuine event for Scotch enthusiasts. Details on ABV and pricing are still limited, but the blend’s reputation for textural richness and complexity from unusual cask selections makes this one worth tracking down.
Murray McDavid also announced a new permanent series this week called The Aficionado, featuring hand-selected single casks from notable distilleries including Imperial, Mortlach, and Bowmore. For independent bottling fans, it’s a worthwhile series to follow.
Irish & Japanese
Nothing headline-grabbing this week from Ireland or Japan, but if you missed it from last week: The Whisky Exchange’s Redbreast 20 Year Old Oloroso Cask (60% ABV, £275) and Mars Komagatake 2017 Sumo Series #5 (57% ABV, 168 bottles, £225) are still worth hunting if you can find them. Both are exceptional expressions from two very different whisky traditions.
Craft & Limited Editions
Pappy & Company is running a Van Winkle sweepstakes through March 20: spend $75+ on merchandise and you’re entered to win a signed bottle of Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Old plus a virtual cocktail hour with the Van Winkle family. Proceeds go to Kosair for Kids. It’s not a bottle release, but for Van Winkle fans, it’s the next best thing to the lottery.
Texas Distillery Spotlight
Ironroot Republic — Ten Years Deep in Denison
This week, Ironroot Republic Distillery in Denison, Texas marked its 10th anniversary with the release of a short documentary film celebrating the journey. Founded by brothers Robert and Jonathan Likarish, Ironroot has carved out a genuinely unique identity in Texas whiskey — one defined by French-inspired winemaking philosophy applied to corn whiskey.
Their flagship expression, Hubris, captured the Category Champion title in the No Age Statement corn whiskey bracket at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards. Hubris is aged in second-fill European oak, a deliberate choice that softens the oak profile and lets the fruit complexity of the grain lead. The Likarish brothers have long spoken about élévage — the winemaking concept of nurturing a spirit through maturation rather than dominating it — and Hubris is the proof point.
For anyone who hasn’t explored Ironroot, this anniversary is the perfect on-ramp. They’re distributed across Texas and available through the distillery’s website. The 9th Annual Texas Whiskey Festival on April 18 at Star Hill Ranch in Austin will also feature Ironroot alongside Balcones, Garrison Brothers, Still Austin, Treaty Oak, and dozens more — one of the best single-day Texas whiskey events of the year.
What We’re Pouring This Week
The Maker’s Mark Stewards Release is the obvious grab this week — it’s well-priced, it’s interesting, and it’s actually findable at retail without an act of God. If you’re in a Scotch mood and want to try something from a storied distillery with a fresh angle, the Oban 15-Year Port Finish is worth a look. And if you’re overdue for a Texas discovery, Ironroot Republic’s Hubris deserves a spot in your cabinet — especially with their 10th anniversary in the news.
On the Horizon
Garrison Brothers Bottled-in-Bond — the biggest Texas whiskey story of the month — is set for its wider national retail and e-commerce release in late March. Mark your calendar. Also watch for the 9th Annual Texas Whiskey Festival on April 18 in Austin if you’re anywhere near Central Texas. And the World Whiskies Awards Global finals are still ahead, where New Riff and GlenAllachie will compete for world titles after their regional wins.
“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.” — Seneca. There’s already something worth opening in your collection. Tonight’s the night to open it.