Whiskey Roundup — Week of August 16–22, 2026

From Texas heat to Scottish highlands, this week’s whiskey world brings a diverse slate of releases spanning bourbon blockbusters, craft innovations, and international treasures. Award season continues to shake up the scene while distilleries prepare their fall lineups.

This Week’s Headlines

• Garrison Brothers announces September 12 release date for highly anticipated 2026 Cowboy Bourbon at 141 proof
• World Whisky Masters 2026 medal winners revealed as industry adapts to shifting consumer demand
• Glasgow Distillery expands 1770 series with three new Scottish single malts
• Michter’s 10 Year Rye hits shelves while Breckenridge debuts its first-ever rye expression

New & Notable Releases

Bourbon

The summer heat isn’t slowing down bourbon season. Old Elk launched three 10-year-old expressions this week—a bourbon, a wheater, and a wheat whiskey—showcasing the Colorado distillery’s high-rye style across different grain bills. Meanwhile, Bib & Tucker rolled out a new 8-year-old bourbon adding depth to their core lineup.

But the big Texas news comes from Garrison Brothers, which officially set the calendar for its 2026 Cowboy Bourbon release: Saturday, September 12 at 8 a.m. The 12th edition of this cult favorite clocks in at a hefty 141 proof with 16,000 bottles produced. Each barrel was hand-selected by Master Distiller Donnis Todd and aged at least eight years in the punishing Texas climate. The first 1,000 bottles will be available at the Hye distillery for $249.99, with wider distribution to follow.

Collectors are also buzzing about the Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary single barrel bourbon hitting shelves at cask strength. This marks only the second time Buffalo Trace’s #2 recipe has been released at high proof, making it one of the year’s most sought-after bottles.

Rye

Rye whiskey continues its renaissance with two standout releases. Michter’s brought back its coveted 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye in June, and bottles are still trickling into markets. This Kentucky-style rye features more corn and malted barley than traditional rye recipes, delivering balanced sweetness alongside classic spice.

Colorado’s Breckenridge Distillery made waves with the launch of Breckenridge Rye Whiskey on June 4, marking the world’s highest distillery’s first permanent rye expression. Bottled at 100 proof and priced around $35–40, it’s hitting national retailers now—an accessible entry point for rye curious bourbon drinkers.

Scotch

Scotland delivered fresh options across the proof spectrum this week. The Glasgow Distillery expanded its Glasgow 1770 Single Malt series with three limited releases available starting Wednesday, August 12: Batch 2 of the Bourbon Cask Matured and Ruby Port Cask Finished expressions, plus an all-new Sherry Cask Matured single malt.

For collectors, The Dalmore announced a 14-Year-Old Semisecco Marsala Finish limited to just 1,100 bottles worldwide at 53.7% ABV. The global release is set for August 31, giving fans of the Highland distillery’s signature style a new cask-finished expression to chase.

Glenfiddich partnered with Aston Martin Formula One Team for a second limited-edition 16-year-old release. The whisky saw time in first-fill bourbon barrels, port pipes, Oloroso sherry casks, wine casks, and Fino sherry butts, bottled at 43% ABV for $80—a surprisingly accessible price for a collaboration release.

Irish & Japanese

Irish whiskey spotlighted terroir and heritage this week. Ardara Distillery in Donegal released its second single malt, the Ardara 2026 Edition, featuring triple-distilled heavily peated spirit made with local turf. The cask combination includes 63% ex-Oloroso sherry, 35.7% ex-bourbon, and 1.3% virgin American oak.

Looking ahead, Boann Distillery announced a collaboration with Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Cooperage for a 2027 release finished in barrels crafted from a 1,000-year-old Irish oak tree sourced from Swainstown Farm—a project blending Irish and American cooperage traditions.

From Japan, the Ricaman Whisky Messe in Kyoto is scheduled for Thursday, August 22 at Miyako Messe, bringing together collectors and enthusiasts. And for those tracking auction records: two casks from the silent Karuizawa distillery fetched $5.7 million in March, while a rare 50-year-old Yamazaki sold for nearly $1 million—almost double its estimate.

Craft & Limited Editions

Craft distilleries leaned into Americana this summer. Blue Run released a USA 250th Anniversary commemorative bourbon featuring 22-karat gold ink and a star-spangled butterfly design, celebrating the nation’s semiquincentennial. Brush Creek Distillery followed suit with its 2026 Heroes Edition, made with red winter wheat plus blue and white corn—literal flag colors in the mash bill.

Doc Brown Spirits took a regional approach with Addie Rose Bourbon, finished with pecan wood staves for a distinctive Southern accent. And Copperworks Distilling Co. quietly dropped Single Cask No. 97-2 for collectors tracking the Seattle distillery’s numbered releases.

Texas Distillery Spotlight

Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye, Texas, is having a banner year. Beyond the September Cowboy Bourbon release, the distillery kicked off August with the launch of Laguna Madre 2026 on August 8. This extra-aged bourbon spends four years in new American white oak before an additional four years in rare French Limousin oak casks—a maturation process that pushes the limits of Texas heat. Only 3,000 bottles were produced, with the first 1,000 sold at the distillery release event.

Garrison Brothers also made history earlier this year with its first-ever Bottled in Bond bourbon, released February 28. That six-year-old, 100-proof expression made from Texas grains and proofed with Hill Country rainwater sold out quickly, proving demand for the distillery’s approachable releases alongside its allocated heavy hitters.

Founded in 2006, Garrison Brothers remains the oldest legal bourbon distillery in Texas and continues setting the standard for whiskey made in extreme climates. Their portfolio now spans entry-level small batch to ultra-premium limited editions, with every drop made and aged on-site.

What We’re Pouring This Week

If you can find the Michter’s 10 Year Rye on a shelf, grab it—bottles are moving fast and it’s one of the best sippers in the rye category. For bourbon fans, the Old Elk 10-year-old expressions offer a chance to taste Colorado whiskey with serious age at a time when most craft distilleries are releasing younger stock. And if you’re near a Breckenridge retailer, the new Breckenridge Rye at $35–40 is an easy recommendation for weeknight pours.

On the splurge side, Garrison Brothers Cowboy pre-orders are likely opening soon—if you’ve got $250 and a taste for cask-strength Texas bourbon, this is the one to circle on your calendar.

On the Horizon

The World Whisky Masters 2026 results are out, signaling awards season is in full swing—expect more medal announcements and “award-winning” shelf talkers in the coming weeks. Fall release season is also ramping up: keep an eye out for the annual Antique Collection and other Buffalo Trace limited editions typically landing in September and October.

As Marcus Aurelius reminded us, “Confine yourself to the present.” In whiskey terms, that means savoring what’s in the glass today rather than chasing every release tomorrow. The best bottle is the one you can actually find and enjoy.