Whiskey Roundup — Week of May 17–23, 2026
May 17, 2026
Whiskey Roundup — Week of May 17–23, 2026
Your weekly dispatch from the Backyard Whiskey Club.
Fresh off World Whisky Day (May 16), the whiskey world didn’t slow down for a breath — releases are stacking up, Texas distilleries are taking victory laps, and the awards circuit delivered some surprises worth talking about. Grab a pour and let’s get into it.
This Week’s Headlines
- Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon takes the top honor at the 2026 Texas Whiskey Festival, named Best Bourbon AND the overall must-try whiskey of the year
- Milam & Greene officially crowned People’s Choice at the same festival following a final vote recount
- Andalusia Whiskey Co. pulls off a rare double-win, claiming both the malt and cask-finished categories
- Caol Ila’s Fèis Ìle 2026 Collection drops this week — three single-cask Port and Madeira-finished expressions hitting shelves Friday
- Angel’s Envy debuts its first-ever 10-Year Cask Strength Rye as part of its 2026 dual release
New & Notable Releases
Bourbon
Elijah Craig 2026 PGA Championship Commemorative Edition is now shipping nationwide at 108 proof, carrying a $36.99 SRP — a solid daily-driver price point for what is frankly a beautiful bottle. Limited quantities, so grab it if you see it at your local.
The 2026 Immaculata from Preservation Distillery released just yesterday (May 16) — a blend of wheated, high-rye, and traditional Kentucky bourbon barrels bottled at a formidable 118.2 proof. If you weren’t at the distillery by 9:30 AM, this one’s going to take some hunting.
Maker’s Mark Yam Jam by Kelsey Plum — yes, the WNBA star has a Private Selection bourbon at 111.3 proof. Available at select Los Angeles retailers since May 7. It’s a collaboration worth finding if you’re in that market.
Rye
Abraham Bowman Special Release #26 is an 11-year-old rye bottled at 110 proof for $79.99. The lottery ran May 4–11 with winners picking up bottles in person at A. Smith Bowman in Virginia. This is the kind of patient, long-aged rye that rewards waiting — a decade-plus in the barrel produces a very different animal than the 4-year standard.
Angel’s Envy 10-Year Cask Strength Rye is part of the brand’s 2026 dual Cask Strength release and marks the first time they’ve released a rye at this age and proof. A milestone bottling from a house known for doing things right.
Scotch
Caol Ila Fèis Ìle 2026 Collection from Rare Find hits shelves this Friday (May 22) — three 12-year-old single casks finished for three months each in Ruby Port, Tawny Port, and Madeira octave casks, at £99 apiece. Islay peat meeting Portuguese wine wood is a combination that almost never disappoints.
Tamnavulin 25 Year Old Moscatel Cask 60th Anniversary Bottling — only 290 bottles at £260. A rare long-aged Speyside expression finished in Moscatel wine casks marking six decades for the distillery. If you can find it at that price, it’s worth every penny.
Irish & Japanese
Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage arrives as the 43rd annual edition in the series, now under Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman for his 6th vintage. This remains one of the most consistent prestige Irish releases year after year.
Redbreast Moscatel Wine Cask Edition is a single pot still expression at 90 proof with an SRP around $110. Redbreast continues to push boundaries with cask finishing, and Moscatel on Irish pot still malt is an intriguing combination.
On the Japanese side, Mars Komagatake dropped a single-cask exclusive through The Whisky Exchange as part of their Sumo Series. Mars continues to quietly build one of the most interesting back catalogues in Japanese whisky.
Craft & Limited Editions
New Riff 2026 Single Malt Whiskey went on sale May 15 at 111.7 proof, aged at least 7 years, at $69.99. Available at the distillery, online, and select nationwide retailers. New Riff has earned its reputation as one of America’s most serious single malt producers, and this vintage looks like another strong showing.
Texas Distillery Spotlight: Garrison Brothers
This week, Garrison Brothers earned the crown at the 2026 Texas Whiskey Festival — not just for best bourbon, but as the overall must-try whiskey across every category entered. The bottle in question: Cowboy Bourbon, aged at least six years and bottled at barrel proof (the current release checks in at 146.4 proof). That’s not a misprint.
Garrison Brothers, based in Hye, Texas, has been farming their own grain and distilling on-site in the Texas Hill Country since 2010 — making them one of the original true Texas whiskey producers. Their Cowboy Bourbon is the pinnacle of their lineup, released in limited quantities each year and consistently one of the most sought-after bottles in the Lone Star State.
Also worth noting: Andalusia Whiskey Co. pulled off an impressive double at the festival, winning both the malt whiskey award for their Cigar Malt and the cask-finished category for their Madeira Cask Stryker — an American single malt finished six months in ex-Madeira casks. Andalusia, based in Blanco, Texas, is quietly one of the most innovative distilleries in the country. Seek them out.
What We’re Pouring This Week
The Texas Whiskey Festival results give you a ready-made shopping list if you haven’t explored that part of the whiskey map yet. Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon is legitimately one of the great American whiskeys — high proof, yes, but complex and worth the experience with a splash of water. Milam & Greene’s People’s Choice win is a reminder that their expression connects with drinkers on a visceral level, not just a technical one. And if you want something approachable this week, that Elijah Craig PGA Championship bottle at $36.99 is one of the year’s better values.
On the Horizon
The Caol Ila Fèis Ìle releases drop Friday, May 22 — worth setting a reminder if you have a relationship with a good importer. The SMWS May Outturn is also live for members, with 16 single-cask bottlings across 14 distilleries forming what they’re calling their largest Creators Collection to date. And with summer allocation season approaching, keep your eyes on allocated bourbon news — the next wave of annual releases isn’t far off.
“Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul.” — Marcus Aurelius. The best glass of whiskey is the one you drink slowly, without distraction, fully present. The rest will wait.