Whiskey Roundup — Week of August 23–29, 2026

Late summer brings a flurry of activity as distilleries roll out annual releases and awards season recognizes the year’s standout expressions. This week saw everything from Texas ultra-premium bourbon to Colorado’s first straight rye, alongside major wins at the American and Irish Whiskey Masters competitions. From limited-edition blends to innovative rye experiments, here’s what’s happening in the whiskey world.

This Week’s Headlines

• Garrison Brothers releases 2026 Laguna Madre – Eight-year Texas bourbon with rare French Limousin oak finish, including cask strength single barrel
• Hard Truth unveils Dark Roast Rye – Third Master Distiller’s Reserve release features award-winning chocolate and caramel malt mash bills
• American Whiskey Masters crowns Ampersand Aureus – Ultra-premium bourbon takes top Taste Master honors
• Bardstown Bourbon Company’s 2026 annual releases – Discovery blend and Lochs of Jura barrel finish showcase blending artistry

New & Notable Releases

Bourbon

Bardstown Bourbon Company revealed two limited fall releases on August 18th that demonstrate the art of blending and exceptional cask finishing. The 2026 Discovery showcases mature Kentucky bourbons combined through meticulous blending, while the Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish Whiskey features 11-year-old Indiana bourbon (49%), 12-year-old Kentucky bourbon (21%), and 10-year-old Indiana rye (30%) finished in rare Scottish oak casks. For the first time, both releases feature original commissioned artwork inspired directly by the whiskey itself. Pricing and availability details will be announced with the fall launch.

Garrison Brothers released their 2026 Laguna Madre Texas Straight Bourbon on August 8th, marking the seventh year of this extra-aged expression. The release introduced a first for the lineup: a limited-release Cask Strength Single Barrel bottled at 135.4 proof. Laguna Madre spends eight full years maturing—four years in white American oak barrels followed by four years in rare French Limousin oak casks. The standard release retails for $349.99, while the cask strength single barrel is available exclusively at the Hye, Texas distillery for $409.99. Only 3,000 total bottles were produced.

Yellowstone’s 2026 Limited Edition continues the brand’s exploration of port cask finishes with Kentucky straight bourbon finished in both Ruby Port and Tawny Port casks, bottled at 101 proof. This year’s release balances the brand’s signature high-rye mash bill with the sweet, fruity complexity from dual port cask maturation.

Baker’s 13 Year Old Single Barrel makes its annual August appearance as part of Jim Beam’s Small Batch Collection. This middle-aged expression continues to deliver the high-proof, robust character that Baker’s is known for, with each barrel hand-selected and bottled individually.

Rye

Hard Truth Distilling Co. announced the release of its third 2026 Master Distiller’s Reserve whiskey: Dark Roast Rye. This new expression combines the award-winning Chocolate Malt Rye (RW-3) and Caramel Malt Rye (RW-4) mash bills for a unique flavor profile. Preview events kicked off with the Cask & Still Social at Hard Truth’s Nashville location on Friday, August 21, with another Whiskey Social scheduled for Friday, August 28 at the Garage at Bottleworks in Indianapolis. The bonded rye showcases Hard Truth’s commitment to innovative malt-driven rye whiskey.

Branch & Barrel Distilling released Colorado’s first Straight Rye Whiskey on August 19th. The expression is made with hard winter rye grown in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, emphasizing terroir-driven whiskey production. This marks a significant milestone for the Colorado distillery as they expand beyond their bourbon offerings into the rye category with a true grain-to-glass approach.

Scotch

Scotland delivered refined elegance this week with several noteworthy releases. The Dalmore revealed its limited-edition Distillery Select for 2026, a 14-year-old single malt finished in semisecco Marsala casks. With notes of candied citrus, honeyed fruit, roasted nuts, and gentle spice, this expression is limited to just 1,110 bottles. It hits UK shelves at the end of August.

Edinburgh’s Port of Leith Distillery unveiled two new single-cask whiskies through its Leith Bond bottling arm. The 8-year-old Cawdor Springs was first matured in a refill bourbon barrel before finishing in a Fino sherry hogshead, delivering lemon, chamomile, olive oil, and nutty notes. The 12-year-old Benriach, matured entirely in a single refill bourbon cask, offers orange marmalade, toffee, and herb butter aromas.

The Glendronach partnered with Scotland’s iconic Gleneagles resort to release A Moment of Reflection, a 14-year-old expression bottled at 46% ABV, non-chill filtered and natural color. This is the first of three annual collaborative releases, with bottles available exclusively from The Still Room whisky shop at Gleneagles starting September 1st.

Irish & Japanese

Irish whiskey made waves this week with innovative releases. Ardara Distillery (home of Sliabh Liag Distillers) released the 2026 Edition of Ardara Single Malt on Saturday, August 8th—the second release of this heavily peated Donegal single malt, a rarity in the Irish whiskey world.

Curraghmore Whiskey released its Triple Cask Pot Still alongside a collection of single-cask bottlings. Triple distilled and matured in new oak, ex-bourbon, and Oloroso sherry casks, the Triple Cask reveals complex notes of coffee, mango, pineapple, and cinnamon, showcasing the diversity of Irish pot still whiskey.

In an announcement that blurs the line between whiskey and history, Boann Distillery revealed a collaboration with Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Cooperage and Swainstown Farm to create a whiskey finished in barrels made from a 1,000-year-old Irish oak tree. Set for release in 2027, this project connects modern Irish whiskey to Ireland’s ancient past in a tangible way.

Craft & Limited Editions

Blue Run released a limited edition USA 250th Anniversary commemorative bourbon bottle featuring 22-karat gold ink and a star-spangled butterfly design, celebrating America’s semiquincentennial with appropriate flair.

Brush Creek Distillery launched its 2026 Heroes Edition bourbon, also honoring America’s 250th birthday. The release features a distinctive mash bill of red winter wheat, blue corn, and white corn—a patriotic nod executed through grain selection.

Doc Brown Spirits introduced Addie Rose Bourbon, finished with pecan wood staves for a unique nutty sweetness. This experimental finishing technique brings Southern flavor profiles into bourbon in an innovative way.

Awards & Recognition

The American Whiskey Masters 2026 results were announced on August 6th, with the Taste Master award going to Ampersand Aureus from Foley Family Wines & Spirits, an ultra-premium bourbon that impressed the blind-tasting panel. Four Roses took home two Gold medals for its Small Batch and Small Batch Select expressions, while Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon earned Gold for its signature “peanut brittle” aroma and well-balanced sweetness.

The Irish Whiskey Masters 2026 crowned Powers Gold Label and Powers Irish Rye with the competition’s top awards on August 5th. Teeling had a strong showing with Gold medals for the 15 Years Old Japanese Explorers Series, Single Malt, and other expressions. These blind tastings by industry judges continue to shape the conversation around quality and value in whiskey.

Texas Distillery Spotlight

Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye, Texas, continues to push the boundaries of what Texas bourbon can be. This month’s release of the 2026 Laguna Madre represents the distillery’s commitment to extended aging and premium oak selection. By splitting maturation between American and French Limousin oak—four years in each—Garrison Brothers creates a bourbon with both traditional Kentucky depth and unique European elegance.

The introduction of a cask strength single barrel variant at 135.4 proof gives enthusiasts a chance to experience Laguna Madre’s full intensity. At $409.99 for the cask strength (distillery-only) and $349.99 for the standard release, these are investment bottles that showcase what eight years of Texas heat cycling can do to bourbon.

Looking ahead, Garrison Brothers announced that the 2026 Cowboy Bourbon will hit the distillery on Saturday, September 12th, with the first 1,000 bottles available in Hye. Bottled at a robust 141 proof, Cowboy Bourbon continues to be one of Texas’s most anticipated annual releases.

What We’re Pouring This Week

If you can get your hands on the Hard Truth Dark Roast Rye, it’s worth experiencing how chocolate and caramel malts transform rye whiskey’s traditional spice profile. For Scotch lovers, The Dalmore Distillery Select offers Marsala cask sweetness in a limited package. And if you’re in Texas or visiting, the Laguna Madre Cask Strength is a bucket-list pour that showcases what American craft distilling can achieve with patience and premium oak. Any of the Irish releases—particularly that peated Ardara—would make for an interesting departure from the week’s bourbon-heavy lineup.

On the Horizon

September brings the highly anticipated Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon release, while Bardstown Bourbon Company’s fall releases will begin hitting shelves. Expect to see more American whiskey awards announced as we head into fall, along with the usual allocation season frenzy. Keep an eye on distillery announcements for Antique Collection release dates and other annual limited editions.

As Marcus Aurelius reminds us: “Confine yourself to the present.” In whiskey terms, that means enjoying what’s in your glass now rather than chasing every allocation. There will always be another release—savor the ones you have.