Whiskey Roundup — Week of August 9–15, 2026

Late summer brings the heat, and the whiskey world is heating up right along with it. This week saw a major Texas release drop at Garrison Brothers, several craft distilleries making noise with new expressions, and allocation season kicking into high gear. From ultra-limited single barrels to ambitious new series launches, here’s what you need to know.

This Week’s Headlines

• Garrison Brothers releases 2026 Laguna Madre with first-ever cask strength single barrel variant at 135.4 proof
• Garrison Brothers Hye Rye pre-sale closes August 10—last chance for Texas craft distillery’s first rye bourbon
• Four Roses Anthology continues to generate buzz as collectors hunt Chapter One: Origin, the distillery’s oldest bourbon ever
• Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary cask strength remains one of 2026’s most anticipated Buffalo Trace releases

New & Notable Releases

Bourbon

Garrison Brothers Laguna Madre 2026 hit shelves this past Saturday, August 8, marking the seventh annual release of this Texas favorite. The eight-year bourbon is bottled at 101 proof with notes of vanilla bean, hazelnut, saltwater taffy, and milk chocolate. What makes this year special? Garrison Brothers introduced a limited-release Cask Strength Single Barrel Laguna Madre bottled at a blistering 135.4 proof—a first for the lineup. The standard release is priced at $349.99, with 3,000 total bottles available. The first 1,000 sold during the distillery event, with the remaining 2,000 hitting key accounts and Garrison Brothers’ e-commerce site starting August 14.

Four Roses Anthology Chapter One: Origin launched in July but continues to dominate conversations in August. This 21-year-old bourbon represents the oldest whiskey Four Roses has ever released, distilled in 2002 and bottled at barrel strength. The Anthology series is planned as an ultra-limited annual release through 2035, with each chapter telling a distinct part of the brand’s 138-year story. Around 1,200 bottles were made available at $500 each—predictably, they’re nearly impossible to find now.

Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary remains one of the year’s most anticipated releases from Buffalo Trace. Commemorating four decades since Elmer T. Lee pioneered single barrel bourbon in 1984, this special edition is bottled uncut and unfiltered at 127.8 proof using Buffalo Trace’s high-rye Mash Bill #2. This marks only the second time a #2 recipe bourbon has been released at barrel strength, joining Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel. Expect extreme allocation when it drops.

Rye

Garrison Brothers Hye Rye pre-sale runs through August 10, giving whiskey enthusiasts their last chance to snag this limited release directly from the Texas distillery. This 98-proof rye bourbon whiskey is priced at $99.99 and represents Garrison Brothers’ first venture into rye-forward bourbon territory. For Texas whiskey fans, this is a must-try.

Breckenridge Rye Whiskey from Colorado’s highest distillery rolled into national retailers this summer at a far more accessible $34.99-39.99 MSRP. Bottled at 100 proof, this new expression expands Breckenridge’s whiskey portfolio with a bold rye option that won’t break the bank. Craft distilleries continue to prove that innovation doesn’t require four-figure price tags.

Sazerac Rye saw two new expressions this summer: a 100 Proof version at 50% ABV and the Sazerac Rye Full Proof at 125 proof. Both represent Buffalo Trace’s commitment to giving rye drinkers more intensity and character straight from the barrel.

Scotch

Scotch news this week has been quieter, with the industry still navigating the impact of U.S. tariffs introduced in April 2025. Exports to America have declined, though distilleries continue working behind the scenes on releases planned for later in 2026. The next major wave of Scotch announcements typically arrives with the fall festival season, so stay tuned.

Irish & Japanese

Boann Legacy Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey made its debut at Ireland’s Boann Distillery Summer Solstice event in June and is now reaching wider distribution. This complex whiskey marries seven different cask types—Bourbon, Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez, Palo Cortado, Amontillado, Moscatel, and French oak—creating a layered, fruit-forward profile. The core release is bottled at 40% ABV for €55, while the limited Summer Solstice Cask Strength edition (59.2% ABV) was limited to just 777 numbered bottles worldwide. Irish single pot still whiskey continues to prove it can run with the best of them.

Japanese whisky regulators are pushing for geographic indication (GI) status to protect Japanese whisky in the same way Bourbon and Champagne are protected. The Japan Spirits & Liqueur Makers Association announced plans to formalize standards and fight back against misleading “Japanese-style” whiskies produced elsewhere. Meanwhile, Suntory-owned Jim Beam temporarily halted distillation at the James B. Beam campus in Clermont, Kentucky—a reminder of how interconnected the global whisky market has become.

Craft & Limited Editions

Two Souls J. Henry & Sons dropped a pair of seven-year rum-cask finished expressions: The Hero (bourbon) and The Genius (rye). Both showcase the creative finishing work happening at smaller distilleries willing to push boundaries beyond traditional barrel profiles.

Pursuit x Meat Church Honey Hog Bourbon represents the increasingly popular crossover between whiskey and BBQ culture. Collaborations like this continue to bring new enthusiasts into the fold, proving whiskey’s reach extends far beyond the dusty bottle hunters.

Texas Distillery Spotlight

Garrison Brothers Distillery (Hye, Texas) is having a blockbuster summer. Not only did they release the 2026 Laguna Madre on August 8—including that first-ever cask strength variant—they’re also wrapping up pre-sales for Hye Rye, their inaugural rye bourbon whiskey. But here’s the real headline: Garrison Brothers reported double-digit sales growth nationally in Q1 and Q2 of 2026, with over 40% gains in their home state of Texas. That’s remarkable performance during a period when many distilleries are feeling headwinds from oversupply and changing consumer habits.

Founded in 2006, Garrison Brothers was the first legal bourbon distillery in Texas, and they’ve built a loyal following through uncompromising quality and a commitment to using Texas-grown grain. Their core lineup includes Small Batch, Single Barrel, and the annual Cowboy Bourbon, but the limited releases like Laguna Madre and Balmorhea generate the most hype. With two major releases in the same summer and strong sales momentum, Garrison Brothers is proving that Texas bourbon isn’t just a novelty—it’s a serious player on the national stage.

What We’re Pouring This Week

If you can find the Garrison Brothers Laguna Madre at retail (or snag one from their website on August 14), don’t hesitate. The cask strength single barrel is likely already gone, but the 101-proof standard release is stellar and worth the $350 if you’re a fan of bold, grain-forward Texas bourbon. For a more budget-friendly option, Breckenridge Rye at $35-40 is an easy recommendation—100 proof from a reputable craft distillery at that price is a no-brainer. And if you missed the Four Roses Anthology Chapter One, keep your eyes peeled at secondary markets or specialty shops, though expect to pay a premium. This is a historic release, and it’s only going to get harder to find.

On the Horizon

The late summer allocation frenzy is just beginning. Expect Buffalo Trace to announce details on the Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary release soon, along with the annual Buffalo Trace Antique Collection lineup dates. Garrison Brothers will ship the remaining Laguna Madre bottles to retailers starting mid-August, and craft distilleries across the country are gearing up for fall festival exclusives. Keep your ear to the ground and your bourbon fund ready.

As Marcus Aurelius wrote in Meditations, “Confine yourself to the present.” In whiskey hunting, that’s solid advice—chase what’s in front of you today rather than obsessing over bottles you missed last year. There’s always another great pour on the horizon.