Whiskey Roundup — Week of August 2–8, 2026

The first week of August brings the unofficial start of allocation season, with Texas craft distilleries leading the charge and competition results highlighting unexpected winners. From the Hill Country’s most anticipated release to regulatory shake-ups in Ireland and collector-grade Scotch, here’s what you need to know from the whiskey world this week.

This Week’s Headlines

• Garrison Brothers drops 2026 Laguna Madre with first-ever cask strength variant
• Ireland opens public consultation on whiskey regulations, oak cask requirement under review
• Global Whisky Challenge 2026 awards just 13 Double Gold Medals from 140 entries
• The Macallan unveils 2026 Sherry Oak Collection including 18, 25, and 30-year expressions

New & Notable Releases

Bourbon

Garrison Brothers Laguna Madre Texas Straight Bourbon dropped this Saturday, August 8th at the Hye, Texas distillery, marking one of the most anticipated summer releases for bourbon enthusiasts. The 2026 vintage introduces a first for the Laguna Madre lineup: a limited cask strength single barrel variant bottled at 135.4 proof alongside the standard release. The 2026 release yields 3,000 total bottles, with the first 1,000 available during the distillery event. The standard Laguna Madre retails for $349.99, while the cask strength single barrel will be available exclusively at the distillery for $409.99. This extra-aged expression represents Garrison Brothers’ commitment to pushing Texas bourbon into ultra-premium territory.

Mister Sam Tribute Whiskey is expected to surface late this month from Sazerac, honoring Sam Bronfman with this highly limited blended whiskey. The annual release typically appears in late summer and has become one of the more competitive allocations for collectors.

This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the Elmer T. Lee label, with a special cask strength release making it only the second Mash Bill #2 bourbon to be released at high proof. Heaven Hill’s Heritage Collection 2026 features a 22-year-old bourbon bottled at a near-hazmat 68.5% ABV (137 proof), making it the highest proof Heaven Hill bourbon ever released.

Rye

The rye category saw major action earlier this year that’s still rippling through the market. Angel’s Envy 10-Year Cask Strength Rye launched in April as the brand’s inaugural age-stated rye expression, aged in both oak and Caribbean rum casks for a combined 10 years and bottled at 111.6 proof. The Derby-season release sold out quickly but occasional bottles are still surfacing at retailers.

Jack Daniel’s Special Release Small Batch Rye also debuted in April with whiskeys between 8 and 10 years old, put into barrels from February 2016 to August 2017. The high-proof, limited-availability expression has become increasingly hard to find as summer progresses.

Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Rye returned to the market in June and remains one of the benchmarks for aged rye, though availability varies significantly by market.

Scotch

The Macallan Sherry Oak Collection unveiled its 2026 releases in late July, including the 18, 25, and 30 Years Old expressions. The annual releases from this iconic Speyside distillery continue to set the standard for sherry-matured single malt, with each vintage showing subtle variations based on cask selection.

The Whisky Exchange added three new Tormore releases as two-week exclusives, giving Speyside fans access to expressions from this often-overlooked distillery that’s been gaining recognition for quality single malts.

At the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2026, Tomatin 10 Year Old won Gold and Tomatin Double Cask took Silver, putting a spotlight on this Highland distillery’s consistent quality at accessible price points.

Irish & Japanese

Marks & Spencer partnered with Boann Distillery to launch Stillness Irish Whiskey, a new own-label spirit created exclusively for M&S customers. The whiskey is rolling out across M&S stores in both Ireland and the UK as of late July, representing a significant retail partnership for the relatively young Boann operation.

Meanwhile, the Irish Whiskey Association opened a public consultation on Irish whiskey’s ‘technical file’ on June 24, with public input closing September 4. The proposed changes would remove the emphasis on oak, allowing any wooden cask—a potentially significant shift in Irish whiskey regulations that could open new finishing and maturation possibilities.

On the Japanese front, Nikka launched Taketsuru Pure Malt Essentials on June 16, kicking off a yearly series running through 2030 with 10,000 bottles for Japan and 10,000 for overseas markets. The series celebrates Masataka Taketsuru’s legacy with carefully selected pure malt expressions.

A rare 50-year-old Yamazaki whisky, bottled exclusively for a club in Nagoya and autographed by Suntory’s chief blender, sold for a record $1 million on June 2, underscoring the continued strength of the Japanese whisky collector market.

Craft & Limited Editions

The Global Whisky Challenge 2026 results published July 1 revealed just 13 Double Gold Medals from 140 entries across seven countries, highlighting the competition’s rigorous standards. The results show craft distilleries increasingly competing with established brands on quality.

Starlight Distillery in Indiana continues its winning streak, having taken three Double Golds at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, including Best Overall Bourbon for their Mizunara Reserve. The distillery’s limited-edition releases remain some of the most sought-after craft expressions.

Art of the Spirit in Colorado produces limited-edition whiskey paired with artists who adorn the bottles with uniquely American images, often centered on soldiers and classic cars. Their small-batch approach and artistic collaborations make each release a collectible beyond just the liquid.

Leiper’s Fork Distillery in Tennessee continues its purposely low-volume approach, producing just 25,000 gallons annually of their family-owned, small-batch Tennessee Whiskey. The scarcity and quality have made it a favorite among craft whiskey enthusiasts.

Texas Distillery Spotlight

Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye, Texas (about 70 miles west of Austin in the Hill Country) dominated Texas whiskey news this week with the release of their 2026 Laguna Madre Texas Straight Bourbon. As Texas’s first legal bourbon distillery, Garrison Brothers has spent the past 15+ years proving that world-class bourbon can be made outside Kentucky.

The Laguna Madre release represents the pinnacle of their craft—an extra-aged expression that spends additional time in the Texas heat, concentrating flavors and pushing the boundaries of what Texas bourbon can achieve. This year’s innovation of adding a cask strength single barrel variant shows the distillery’s willingness to experiment while maintaining their core quality standards.

Garrison Brothers also unveiled their Ranch Reserve Series in June with two 8-year-old sherry cask-finished Texas bourbons, demonstrating their expanding portfolio of premium offerings. With the upcoming 9th Annual Texas Whiskey Festival featuring 30+ Texas distilleries and over 100 whiskeys, the Texas whiskey scene continues its impressive growth trajectory.

What We’re Pouring This Week

If you’re near the Texas Hill Country, the Laguna Madre release is worth the drive—both the standard and cask strength variants represent some of the best bourbon being made south of the Red River. For those of us watching from afar, the newly available Macallan Sherry Oak releases offer a more accessible (if still pricey) entry into world-class sherry-matured whisky. The Tomatin 10 Year Old’s Gold medal win at SFWSC makes it a smart buy at its sub-$50 price point—proof that you don’t need to chase allocations to drink well. And keep an eye out for any remaining bottles of that Angel’s Envy 10-Year Rye; it’s a unique expression that showcases what rum cask finishing can do to rye’s spice profile.

On the Horizon

Late August typically brings the first waves of fall limited editions, with Buffalo Trace expected to announce Antique Collection release dates and Heaven Hill’s Parker’s Heritage Collection reveal coming soon. The 9th Annual Texas Whiskey Festival will showcase the breadth of the Texas whiskey scene with 30+ distilleries and over 100 expressions. As allocation season kicks into gear, remember what Marcus Aurelius wrote: “Do not indulge in dreams of having what you have not, but reckon up the chief of the blessings you do possess.” There’s plenty of excellent whiskey on shelves right now—no lottery required.