Whiskey Roundup — Week of September 20–26, 2026

September is National Bourbon Heritage Month, and the whiskey world is delivering with an avalanche of releases ranging from heritage brands honoring tradition to bold experiments pushing the craft forward. This week brought leadership changes at a Texas icon, the return of beloved age-stated expressions, and enough limited editions to max out any enthusiast’s credit card. From Kentucky’s hallowed rickhouses to the rugged Hill Country, here’s what you need to know.

This Week’s Headlines

• Garrison Brothers names Nancy Garrison Co-CEO, marking the distillery’s 20th anniversary with expanded leadership
• Hibiki 12 returns after 11-year hiatus, but only as a travel retail exclusive
• Parker’s Heritage Collection hits 20th edition with a 14-year rye backset bourbon
• Old Forester Birthday Bourbon breaks tradition with sweet mash fermentation process

New & Notable Releases

Bourbon

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2026 marks a significant departure from convention. Rather than using the traditional “setback” during fermentation, Master Distiller Jackie Zykan opted for a sweet mash process, relying entirely on freshly propagated yeast. The result is a 700ml bottle at 46% ABV that celebrates founder George Garvin Brown’s September 2 birthday with a distinctly different flavor profile from previous vintages.

Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2026 launched nationwide on September 1, bringing a limited-edition, cask-strength wheated bourbon to shelves at $175. This blend combines 49% 11-year-old, 33% 12-year-old, and 18% 14-year-old whisky, bottled at 112.1 proof. It’s one of Maker’s most age-forward expressions to date.

The Van Winkle Collection 2026 was announced on September 10, featuring six aged expressions ranging from ten to twenty-three years. As always, expect allocations to be tight and lottery systems to be fierce—this is the bourbon equivalent of Willy Wonka’s golden ticket.

Parker’s Heritage Collection 20th Edition arrived September 8 with a 14-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon made with rye backset. Heaven Hill drew from just 100 barrels distilled between October 2011 and January 2012, bottling at 118 proof. The rye backset technique, championed by the late Parker Beam, contributes bold, spicy depth while enhancing balance. At $199.99, it’s a tribute to innovation and legacy, with proceeds supporting ALS research.

Knob Creek 12-Year Cask Strength is making a comeback, six years after its original limited run. This return should please bourbon drinkers who’ve been paying secondary market premiums for what was once a shelf staple.

Rye

Remus Repeal Reserve broke new ground with its first-ever rye whiskey, marking ten years of the Repeal Reserve series. Ross & Squibb Distillery crafted this limited-edition straight rye from 2015 and 2016 reserves using Remus’s signature 95% rye mash bill, bottled at 111 proof. It’s a high-octane introduction to the rye side of the Remus portfolio.

Bulleit ’87 made its nationwide debut in September, blending Bulleit’s signature bourbon and rye into a new permanent core expression priced at $29.99. It’s named for the year Bulleit was founded and offers an approachable entry point for those curious about bourbon-rye hybrids.

Scotch

The Macallan Romantica Collection was released in 2026 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of The Macallan 1926. This 1986 vintage comes from a single sherry-seasoned European oak cask, with only 258 bottles created. If you have to ask the price, you probably can’t afford it—but it’s a stunning piece of whisky history.

Irish & Japanese

Hibiki 12 Years Old is back after an 11-year hiatus, but there’s a catch: the 2026 release is exclusively available through travel retail channels at airports. Japanese whisky fans who’ve been waiting more than a decade for the return of this beloved expression will need to book a flight to snag a bottle.

Chichibu is expanding its UK presence with four new expressions launching October 1, courtesy of distributor Speciality Brands. While technically just beyond our week’s window, the announcement is relevant for anyone planning their autumn whisky shopping.

Craft & Limited Editions

Copperworks Distilling Co. celebrated Craft Malt Month with a special American single malt release: Single Cask No. 488, distilled from Baronesse barley grown at Joseph’s Grainery in Colfax, Washington, and malted by LINC Malt in Spokane. Bottled at cask strength (63.2% ABV / 126.4 proof), this 700ml limited release is priced at $89.99 and showcases the grain-to-glass movement in the Pacific Northwest.

Breckenridge Distillery unveiled the sixth edition of its Collectors Art Series, pairing award-winning whiskey with the bold, colorful vision of Colorado muralist and professional snowboarder Pat Milbery. It’s whiskey as canvas, and a reminder that craft distilleries are increasingly blurring the lines between spirits and art.

Dark Arts made waves at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival with a lineup of six bottles ranging from 9 to 21 years old, including bourbons, a rye, and a light whiskey. Festival exclusives like these are driving whiskey tourism and turning Bardstown into a September pilgrimage site.

Texas Distillery Spotlight

Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye, Texas, had a landmark week. On September 17, the family-owned operation named co-founder Nancy Garrison as co-chief executive officer, marking the distillery’s 20th anniversary with expanded leadership. Nancy will serve alongside Dan Garrison, guiding strategy, operations, sales, marketing, finance, and long-term growth as the brand continues its rise in the Texas and national bourbon markets.

Just days earlier, on September 12, Garrison Brothers released its 2026 Cowboy Bourbon at the distillery, with the first 1,000 bottles going on sale at 8 a.m. This marks the 12th release of Cowboy Bourbon, and the 2026 edition comes in hot at 141 proof—comfortably in “hazmat” territory for those who like their whiskey with a kick. Master Distiller Donnis Todd hand-selected barrels aged at least eight years, producing 16,000 bottles total. While the distillery release sold quickly, Cowboy Bourbon will be available at select bars, restaurants, and retailers nationwide starting October 1 at a suggested retail price of $249.99.

Garrison Brothers continues to prove that Texas can produce world-class bourbon, and the Cowboy series remains one of the most sought-after expressions in American whiskey.

What We’re Pouring This Week

If you can find a bottle of Parker’s Heritage 20th Edition, grab it. The rye backset technique gives it a spicy complexity that’s perfect for cooling fall evenings, and you’re supporting ALS research in the process. For something more accessible, Bulleit ’87 offers a unique bourbon-rye blend at a price that won’t require a second mortgage.

Texas bourbon lovers should keep their eyes peeled for Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon hitting shelves October 1—at 141 proof, it’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s one of the boldest, most distinctive bourbons being made today. And if you’re traveling internationally, swing by duty-free for Hibiki 12; it’s the only way to taste this returning legend without paying secondary market prices.

On the Horizon

October 1 brings nationwide availability for Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon and Chichibu’s UK expansion. The fall allocation season is officially underway, which means distilleries will be shipping their scarcest annual releases through the holidays. Keep your eyes on release calendars and your relationships with retailers warm—this is the stretch where patience and persistence pay off.

As Marcus Aurelius wrote in Meditations, “Confine yourself to the present.” In whiskey as in life, the best we can do is appreciate what’s in the glass today while keeping a mindful eye on what’s coming tomorrow.