Whiskey Roundup — Week of October 18–25, 2026

October delivers its share of treasures for whiskey enthusiasts, from Texas distilleries pushing the envelope with sherry-finished bourbons to Irish-style pot distillation transforming American rye. This week brings a compelling mix of ultra-premium debuts, craft distillery innovations, and limited releases that showcase the breadth of modern whiskey-making.

This Week’s Headlines

• Old Forester launches Tribute Series, a new annual ultra-premium line debuting with a 12-year-old bourbon at $299.99
• Garrison Brothers goes big on sherry, releasing PX and Oloroso finished cask strength single barrels at their October 17 tailgate event
• Keeper’s Heart unveils Triple Pot Distilled Straight Rye, bringing Irish whiskey-making tradition to America’s classic rye category
• Russell’s Reserve drops Camp Nelson D, the fifth Single Rickhouse release at 120.8 proof and $300

New & Notable Releases

Bourbon

Old Forester Tribute Series marks a significant step for the historic brand, launching an annual ultra-premium collection with a 12-year-old bourbon bottled at 115 proof. Available at select retailers starting October 15 for $299.99, the debut release arrives in a collectible decanter inspired by Old Forester’s 1950s holiday bottles. The Tribute Series aims to honor the brand’s legacy of firsts while showcasing the distillery’s aged stock in a premium format that competes with other luxury bourbon offerings.

Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse 2026 – Camp Nelson D continues the acclaimed single rickhouse series with a 120.8-proof bourbon drawn from Wild Turkey’s Camp Nelson D rickhouse. Available in limited quantities for $300, this fifth release in the series has earned praise for refining the single rickhouse formula. Each bottling showcases how location within Wild Turkey’s campus influences bourbon character, with Camp Nelson D contributing its own distinct profile to the collection.

Brown-Forman King of Kentucky 2026 returns with a 14-year-old single barrel bourbon at cask strength, drawn from just 99 barrels. Priced at $399 and released October 2, the King of Kentucky series has become one of Brown-Forman’s most sought-after annual releases, offering collectors and enthusiasts access to exceptionally aged bourbon with minimal filtration.

Rye

Keeper’s Heart Triple Pot Distilled Straight Rye launched on October 16 as the second release in the brand’s trilogy of American triple pot distilled whiskeys. Master Distiller Brian Nation brings an Irish approach to American rye, crafting this expression from 100% Midwestern rye (including 10% malted rye), triple distilled in copper pot stills, and matured in virgin American oak. The nationwide pre-sale went live at the distillery launch party, with shipping expected in early November. This release demonstrates how Irish whiskey-making techniques can transform traditional American styles.

Pursuit Spirits XS Double Oak Rye offers barrel-proof intensity in an ultra-limited run. With just 720 bottles at 126.2 proof, this release matured for nearly two years in custom casks from Seguin Moreau’s Napa cooperage. Available exclusively at Pursuit Spirits’ Whiskey Row location in Louisville beginning October 14, the XS Double Oak showcases how specialized cooperage can elevate rye whiskey’s spice-forward character.

Dented Brick Single Barrel Rye brings bottled-in-bond credentials from Utah. Released October 12, this straight rye whiskey aged at least four years and bottles at 100 proof, proofed with water from the distillery’s on-site artesian well. It represents the growing craft rye category, where regional distilleries are establishing their own identities in this classic American style.

Scotch

Isle of Skye introduced a limited blend finished in magma stone-toasted casks, available nationwide at Total Wine & More. The innovative finishing process uses heated volcanic stone to toast barrels, distributing heat more evenly throughout the staves than traditional methods. This technique aims to impart more nuanced toast character without over-charring, offering a distinctive approach to Scotch blending.

Irish & Japanese

While October saw quieter release activity from Irish and Japanese distilleries, Keeper’s Heart‘s Irish-American approach to rye whiskey (covered above) demonstrates how Irish distilling traditions continue influencing whiskey-making beyond Ireland’s borders. Nikka’s presence in Whiskey Advocate’s Fall 2026 issue, which featured their Taketsuru Pure Malt collection that returns to the brand’s founding principles, reminds us that Japanese whisky’s thoughtful, patient approach to distilling continues earning recognition alongside more headline-grabbing releases.

Craft & Limited Editions

Starlight Distillery released a 7-Year Cask Strength Estate Bourbon on October 2, showcasing the farm-to-bottle movement in whiskey. Grown, distilled, aged, and bottled on one Indiana family farm, this release demonstrates how craft distilleries with agricultural roots can control every aspect of production from grain to glass.

High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 14 arrived October 5 for the brand’s 20th anniversary, adding sherry casks for the first time in the popular limited release’s history. Bottled at 98.6 proof, this annual rye whiskey finished in port barrels has become a fall tradition for whiskey enthusiasts, and the sherry cask addition marks a significant evolution in the blend.

Texas Distillery Spotlight

Garrison Brothers Distillery (Hye, Texas) delivered an impressive October lineup, cementing its position as Texas’s flagship bourbon producer. The distillery hosted a tailgate event on October 17, releasing PX Finished and Oloroso Finished Cask Strength Single Barrels—just 984 bottles of each at $189.99. These expressions build on June 2026’s Ranch Reserve Series, drawn from the same original production lot but finished in premium sherry casks that add layers of dried fruit, nuts, and spice to Garrison Brothers’ bold Texas bourbon base.

The month continued with a Duck Camp collaboration releasing October 31—a limited-edition single barrel with only 400 bottles at $109.99, featuring commemorative camouflage labels and co-branded merchandise for the outdoor lifestyle crowd. And for those seeking the ultimate Texas bourbon experience, the 2026 Cowboy Bourbon hit shelves October 1 with 16,000 bottles at 141 proof and $249.99, representing Garrison Brothers’ annual high-proof flagship that has become legendary among bourbon collectors.

Known for its uncut, unfiltered approach and willingness to push proof levels higher than most American distilleries, Garrison Brothers continues demonstrating that Texas heat and terroir create distinctly bold bourbon that stands alongside Kentucky’s best.

What We’re Pouring This Week

If you can find the Old Forester Tribute Series 12-Year at retail, it’s worth considering for those seeking a well-aged Brown-Forman bourbon without the allocation headaches. For rye lovers, Keeper’s Heart Triple Pot Distilled Straight Rye represents something genuinely different—Irish distilling philosophy applied to American rye, creating a smoother, more approachable take on a traditionally spicy style.

And if you’re in Texas or can snag Garrison Brothers at a local shop, those sherry-finished cask strength single barrels offer remarkable complexity for bourbon drinkers ready to explore how European wine casks transform bold Texas bourbon into something unexpectedly nuanced. Even at $189.99, that’s competitive pricing for cask strength, sherry-finished bourbon of this quality and limited availability.

On the Horizon

Watch for Buffalo Trace Antique Collection details dropping any day now, plus Elijah Craig Barrel Proof’s next batch. Four Roses should announce limited edition details soon, and November typically brings the year’s final wave of allocated bourbon releases before the holiday rush. Several craft distilleries have teased December single barrel programs, so keep an eye on your local shops’ social media for barrel pick announcements.

As Marcus Aurelius wrote in Meditations, “Confine yourself to the present.” Sound advice for whiskey hunting—focus on what’s available today rather than chasing tomorrow’s allocation rumors. The bottles on shelves now deserve as much attention as the ones we’re waiting for.