Whiskey Roundup — Week of September 13–19, 2026

September has officially kicked off the fall whiskey season with a flurry of high-profile releases, limited editions, and distillery events across bourbon country and beyond. From Texas cask-strength showstoppers to the return of a beloved Japanese blend, collectors and enthusiasts alike have plenty to chase this week. Whether you’re hunting allocated bottles or discovering new craft expressions, this week delivers something for every level of whiskey lover.

This Week’s Headlines

• Garrison Brothers releases 2026 Cowboy Bourbon at 141 proof in a distillery-only event on September 12
• Parker’s Heritage Collection unveils its 20th edition: a 14-year bourbon made with rye backset
• Hibiki 12 Years Old returns after an 11-year hiatus as a travel-retail exclusive
• Islay distilleries drop festival exclusives alongside new permanent expressions from Ardbeg

New & Notable Releases

Bourbon

Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2026
Maker’s Mark launched its 2026 Cellar Aged expression nationwide on September 1 at a suggested retail price of $175. This limited-edition release features a blend of 49% 11-year-old, 33% 12-year-old, and 18% 14-year-old whisky, bottled at 112.1 proof. The Cellar Aged series has become a collector favorite for showcasing extended maturation in Maker’s signature wheated bourbon style.

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon
Released annually on September 2 to honor founder George Garvin Brown’s birthday, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon marks the official start of fall’s allocated release season. This vintage-dated bourbon remains one of the most anticipated drops each year, with whiskey enthusiasts lining up to secure their bottles.

Bulleit ’87
Bulleit breaks new ground with its ’87 release, arriving in September at $29.99. This marks the first time Bulleit has blended its signature bourbon and rye in a single bottle. Both the bourbon and rye components are aged for a minimum of four years, then finished separately in their original barrels with toasted American oak and French oak staves for four to six weeks before being blended together. At under $30, it’s an accessible way to explore the interplay between bourbon and rye.

Bib & Tucker 8-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
This 100-proof expression aged twice the four-year minimum required for bottled-in-bond designation hit shelves nationally beginning in September. Bib & Tucker has built a reputation for well-aged, approachable bourbon, and this BiB offering delivers on both quality and value.

Rye

Hard Truth Dark Roast Rye
Hard Truth Distilling Co. unveiled its third 2026 Master Distiller’s Reserve whiskey: Dark Roast Rye. Featured at Hard Truth’s Harvest Festival on September 26, this release showcases the award-winning Chocolate Malt Rye (RW-3) and Caramel Malt Rye (RW-4) mash bills. The combination promises rich, dessert-forward notes that push rye whiskey in a bold new direction.

Michter’s Toasted Barrel Finish Rye
Michter’s Toasted Barrel Finish Rye returns this fall, continuing the distillery’s tradition of finishing whiskey in toasted (but not charred) oak barrels. The barrel-proof expression is known for bringing out deeper vanilla, caramel, and spice notes without the char influence, creating a uniquely smooth and complex rye.

Breckenridge Rye Whiskey
Breckenridge Distillery introduced Breckenridge Rye Whiskey to national retailers this summer, just in time for fall sipping. Bottled at 100 proof and priced at $34.99-$39.99, this Colorado craft distillery’s new expression expands their core lineup with a bold, high-altitude rye.

Scotch

Ardbeg Trudernish
Ardbeg unveiled Trudernish, a 15-year-old whisky inspired by an ancient settlement on Islay’s “Enchanted Cape.” Matured in bourbon, new charred oak, and Oloroso sherry casks, Trudernish offers mellow creaminess and softer smoke compared to Ardbeg’s famously peaty profile. Priced at £80, it joins the distillery’s permanent portfolio—a rare move for a brand known for limited releases.

Caol Ila The Drummer
Released exclusively for the Islay Jazz Festival (September 11-13), Caol Ila’s The Drummer is a 19-year-old single malt with an unusual three-stage maturation in American oak, finishing in ex-bourbon casks from Kentucky’s Bulleit Distillery. Available only at the Caol Ila visitor center on Islay, this £275 festival exclusive bridges American and Scottish whisky traditions.

Arbikie The Signature
Scotland’s Arbikie Distillery launched its first-ever Single Estate Single Malt Scotch Whisky on September 7. Made entirely from Odyssey barley grown, distilled, matured, and bottled on the family-owned Highland estate, The Signature is limited to just 1,000 bottles worldwide. It’s a powerful statement about terroir and single-estate production in Scottish whisky.

Irish & Japanese

Curraghmore Triple Cask 2026
Curraghmore Whiskey’s 2026 Triple Cask became available September 1, alongside an exceptionally limited Virgin French Oak Single Cask release from the newly launched Annamh Collection. The Triple Cask showcases Curraghmore’s expertise in cask finishing and blending, while the single cask offering gives collectors a rare glimpse at experimental maturation.

Hibiki 12 Years Old
After an 11-year hiatus, Hibiki 12 Years Old has returned—but only as a travel-retail exclusive. The comeback of this beloved Japanese blend is one of the most exciting developments in the Japanese whisky market this year. Hibiki 12 was discontinued in 2015 due to stock shortages, making its return a welcome surprise for fans of Suntory’s harmonious blending style.

Craft & Limited Editions

Parker’s Heritage Collection 20th Edition
Heaven Hill announced on September 8 the release of the Parker’s Heritage Collection’s 20th edition: a 14-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey made with rye backset. Comprised of just 100 barrels and crafted from Heaven Hill’s traditional bourbon mashbill (78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley), this experimental release explores how rye backset influences flavor development over extended aging. Parker’s Heritage bottles are highly allocated and fetch premium prices on the secondary market.

Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey 20th Anniversary
Heaven Hill also debuted Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey 20th Anniversary Limited Edition this month. As the first wheat whiskey distilled in Kentucky since Prohibition, Bernheim has earned a devoted following, and this anniversary release celebrates two decades of innovation in American whiskey.

Texas Distillery Spotlight

Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2026

The biggest news in Texas whiskey this week is the release of Garrison Brothers’ 2026 Cowboy Bourbon at the distillery in Hye on Saturday, September 12. The first 1,000 bottles of this cask-strength, uncut, and unfiltered Texas Straight Bourbon went on sale at 8 a.m., with the distillery hosting a family- and dog-friendly release event featuring fresh coffee, breakfast, lunch at The Whiskey Shack, live music, bottle signings, specialty cocktails, and bourbon tastings.

This year’s Cowboy Bourbon was bottled at a blazing 141 proof—well into “hazmat” territory—with 16,000 bottles produced. The 2026 edition marks the 12th release of Cowboy Bourbon, and each barrel was hand-selected by Master Distiller Donnis Todd from stock aged for at least eight years. Garrison Brothers has built a reputation for pushing the boundaries of Texas bourbon, and Cowboy Bourbon remains their flagship high-proof expression.

For those who couldn’t make the distillery event, additional bottles will be released through select retailers, though availability is expected to be limited. Garrison Brothers continues to prove that Texas bourbon can stand toe-to-toe with Kentucky’s finest.

What We’re Pouring This Week

If you’re looking for something special to pour this week, Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon is the obvious chase bottle—if you can track one down. For those seeking more accessible options, Bulleit ’87 at $29.99 offers an intriguing bourbon-rye blend that’s perfect for experimenting with cocktails or sipping neat. Ardbeg Trudernish is a must-try for Islay lovers who want to explore the softer side of the distillery’s smoky character, while Hibiki 12’s return is a bucket-list pour if you happen to be traveling through a duty-free shop. And if you’re a rye fan, Hard Truth’s Dark Roast Rye promises to deliver dessert-forward complexity that’s perfect for cool fall evenings.

On the Horizon

Looking ahead, expect more Parker’s Heritage Collection bottles to trickle into markets over the coming weeks, along with continued festival releases from Kentucky Bourbon Festival (September 15-20) and Bourbon & Beyond in Louisville. Buffalo Trace is expected to announce its annual Antique Collection lineup dates soon, and Thanksgiving brings the usual wave of limited editions from major producers. As the fall release calendar ramps up, keep your eyes open—and your wallet ready.

As Marcus Aurelius wrote in Meditations, “Confine yourself to the present.” In whiskey, as in life, the best bottle is the one in front of you. Savor it.