Whiskey Roundup — Week of July 12–18, 2026

Mid-July brings a wave of patriotic pours and international recognition as America’s 250th anniversary celebrations continue and award season spotlights unexpected winners. From ultra-aged rye releases to Texas distillery announcements and landmark trade agreements opening new markets, the whiskey world is buzzing with activity. Whether you’re chasing limited-edition unicorns or exploring everyday drams, this week delivers news worth raising a glass to.

This Week’s Headlines

• Bulleit unveils 20-Year-Old Rye — Limited to just 1,776 bottles at 137 proof, honoring America’s founding year
• Kavalan claims back-to-back Whisky of the Year at the International Whisky Competition 2026
• Garrison Brothers announces Laguna Madre 2026 with first-ever cask strength single barrel variant
• India slashes Scotch tariffs from 150% to 40% over ten years, opening massive new market

New & Notable Releases

Bourbon

Old Forester 117 Series: High Angels’ Share hits shelves this month, showcasing barrels charred three times as long as the standard Old Forester profile. Bottled at 115 proof in 375ml format, this release highlights the dramatic evaporation and concentration that occurs during Kentucky’s intense summers. The premium for that lost whiskey? About what you’d expect from a series that celebrates the extremes of barrel aging.

E.H. Taylor Four Grain returns for 2026 after an eight-year absence, marking the first release since 2018. The catch? The age statement drops to 10 years for this iteration. Buffalo Trace fans have been clamoring for this one since the original release, and while the younger age might raise eyebrows, the Four Grain mashbill — corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley — continues to deliver complexity that most single-grain bourbons can only dream about.

Blade and Bow 12-Year-Old Solera Reserve arrives from Louisville’s historic Stitzel-Weller Distillery as a new limited annual release. The $64.99 bourbon features the brand’s signature Solera finishing process, where older whiskey continuously seasons younger barrels in a fractional blending system borrowed from sherry and rum producers. It’s an elegant middle ground between everyday sippers and allocated unicorns.

For something completely different, BH James Distillers launched Spirit 76, a line of flavored Kentucky bourbons celebrating the semiquincentennial. Four expressions — All American Cherry, Blackberry Bramble, Cinnamon Brown Sugar, and Just Peachy — hit shelves with a special introductory price of $17.76 through July 4th. While flavored bourbon isn’t for everyone, the patriotic packaging and price point make it an interesting conversation piece for summer gatherings.

Rye

Bulleit 20-Year-Old Straight Rye Whiskey steals the spotlight as perhaps the most notable release of the month. Limited to exactly 1,776 bottles (a deliberate nod to America’s founding), this ultra-aged rye from Bulleit’s signature 95% rye mashbill comes in at a robust 137 proof and carries a $299 price tag. Available beginning this month at the Bulleit Distillery and select cities nationwide, this one won’t last long on shelves. Two decades in barrel is almost unheard of for rye whiskey, which tends to become tannic and over-oaked with extended aging. If Bulleit pulled this off successfully, it’s a must-try for serious rye enthusiasts.

Sagamore Whiskey’s High Rye Straight Bourbon launched nationally on July 1st, bringing Maryland distilling back into the spotlight. With a mashbill of 60% corn, 25% rye, and 15% malted rye, this 6-year bourbon bottled at 54% ABV ($50) leans heavily into spice and structure. Maryland has a rich rye whiskey heritage dating back centuries, and Sagamore continues to honor that tradition while pushing into bourbon territory.

1792 Kentucky Straight Rye marks Barton 1792 Distillery’s inaugural rye expression. Rolling out now in select markets at $40, the brand is finally diversifying beyond its well-regarded bourbon portfolio. Details on the mashbill and age remain sparse, but the 1792 name carries enough credibility that this debut deserves attention.

Scotch

Summer releases from Scotland tend to be lighter fare, but Ardbeg Dolce (scoring 94 points from Whiskey Advocate) stands out for its unconventional approach. Blending bourbon cask-matured Ardbeg with whisky finished in marsala dolce casks creates an intriguing sweet-smoke interplay. Marsala’s rich, raisined character plays surprisingly well with Ardbeg’s signature peat funk — this isn’t your typical Islay assault on the senses.

The bigger Scotland news this week? India agreed to cut Scotch tariffs from 150% to 40% over the next decade as part of a UK-India free trade agreement taking effect July 15. This represents a seismic shift for the Scotch industry, potentially opening one of the world’s largest whisky markets. Expect more expressions targeting Indian consumers in coming years as producers position themselves to capitalize.

Irish & Japanese

Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt Essentials launched mid-June and continues rolling out globally through July. This inaugural release kicks off a yearly series running through 2030, with 10,000 bottles allocated to Japan and 10,000 for overseas markets. Named for Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Japanese whisky, the Pure Malt series promises to explore different facets of Nikka’s blending philosophy. If you spot a bottle, grab it — the 10,000-unit overseas allocation won’t last.

Craft & Limited Editions

Jefferson’s 20-Year-Old Bordeaux Cask Finish represents the ultra-premium end of the craft spectrum. Limited to just 250 bottles at $500 each, the Kentucky bourbon spent two decades aging before a finishing period in Bordeaux wine casks. Bottled at 47% ABV, it’s available through Jefferson’s website and select retailers. The marriage of old bourbon and French wine casks has become a Jefferson’s signature, and at 20 years, this should deliver serious depth.

Coors Whiskey Co.’s Blended American Malt might surprise beer purists, but the brewing giant is serious about spirits. Limited to 1,200 bottles at $39.99, the whiskey matured in American oak, French oak, and rum casks — an ambitious combination for a young distillery operation. Available since mid-June, inventory is dwindling fast.

Looking for an excuse to visit Indiana? Hard Truth Distilling Co. hosts its second annual Bourbon & BBQ Festival this Saturday, July 18th from 4-8 PM. Teams compete in barbecue and Charred Truth competitions while guests sample food, spirits, and enjoy live music. If you’re within driving distance of Brown County, it’s worth the trip.

Texas Distillery Spotlight

Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye, Texas made major waves this week with the announcement of its 2026 Laguna Madre Texas Straight Bourbon release on Saturday, August 8th. This year’s release introduces a first for the Laguna Madre lineup: a limited cask strength single barrel variant bottled at 135.4 proof alongside the standard release.

Master Distiller Donnis Todd noted that this “eight-year-aged bourbon continues to deepen the conversation around Texas terroir, shaped by rare French oak casks and the powerful heat.” The Laguna Madre maturation process is distinctive — four years in new American white oak followed by four additional years in rare Limousin oak casks from France. The result is a bourbon with uncommon elegance and depth, reflecting both Texas intensity and French oak refinement.

The 2026 release yields 3,000 total bottles, with the first 1,000 available during the August 8th event at the distillery. The standard Laguna Madre retails for $349.99, while the cask strength single barrel will be available exclusively at the distillery for $409.99. For collectors and Texas whiskey enthusiasts, mark your calendars — this one sells out quickly every year.

Garrison Brothers remains Texas’s first legal bourbon distillery since Prohibition, and releases like Laguna Madre continue proving that world-class whiskey isn’t confined to Kentucky and Tennessee.

What We’re Pouring This Week

If you can find Bulleit’s 20-Year Rye, that’s the obvious unicorn chase — but with only 1,776 bottles, odds aren’t in your favor. More realistically, seek out the new 1792 Straight Rye at $40. It’s a smart entry point into craft rye from a respected Kentucky distillery, and inaugural releases often represent exceptional value before the market figures out what something is worth.

For bourbon drinkers, Old Forester 117 Series: High Angels’ Share offers a chance to taste extreme barrel conditions without breaking the bank. The 375ml format keeps costs reasonable, and that extended char profile should deliver bold oak and caramel notes.

And if you’re feeling adventurous, track down Ardbeg Dolce. A 94-point peated Scotch with marsala cask finishing isn’t your typical summer sipper, but it’s proof that creativity and tradition can coexist beautifully.

On the Horizon

The Laguna Madre release event at Garrison Brothers on August 8th will be the Texas whiskey event of the summer. Beyond that, watch for more 250th anniversary releases as distilleries continue celebrating America’s semiquincentennial through the rest of 2026. The fall will bring the usual suspects — Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, the annual Four Roses Limited Edition releases, and the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in September.

As Marcus Aurelius wrote in Meditations, “Confine yourself to the present.” In whiskey terms, that means appreciating what’s in your glass today rather than endlessly chasing the next allocation. This week offers plenty worth savoring — from ultra-aged ryes to Texas terroir bourbons — so pour something special and enjoy the moment.