Whiskey Roundup — Week of September 27–October 3, 2026

September’s whiskey wave continues to crest as we close out the month, with allocation season in full swing and distilleries worldwide unveiling their most anticipated releases. From Texas bourbon riding at cask strength to Japanese pure malts exploring new territory, this week delivers something for every whiskey lover’s shelf.

This Week’s Headlines

• Silver Brothers drops estate-grain rye on September 27, marking a milestone for the craft distillery
• Van Winkle Collection shipping dates confirmed as the 2026 allocation hunt officially begins
• Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon continues its September rollout with nationwide distribution starting October 1
• Scotch Malt Whisky Society introduces the Whisky Equinox, a new annual celebration with limited releases

New & Notable Releases

Bourbon

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2026 broke from tradition this year with a sweet mash process that ditches the usual “setback” method in favor of freshly propagated yeast. Released September 2nd to honor founder George Garvin Brown’s birthday, this 700ml expression bottled at 46% ABV represents a bold experiment from one of bourbon’s oldest names. It’s a departure that has purists and innovators equally intrigued.

Van Winkle 2026 Collection shipping announcements came down on September 10th, confirming that all six expressions—ranging from the 10-year Old Rip Van Winkle to the legendary 23-year Pappy Van Winkle—are en route to distributors. Expect the usual frenzy at retail, though production cuts across the industry have some questioning whether allocations will be even tighter than usual this year.

Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary receives its first-ever uncut and unfiltered treatment from Buffalo Trace, honoring four decades of the single barrel bourbon that carries the Master Distiller Emeritus’s name. This cask-strength offering gives fans a chance to taste Elmer’s legacy without the filter—literally.

Rye

Silver Brothers 3 Year Rye Whiskey Batch No. 2 dropped September 27th as the distillery’s first release made entirely with estate-grown grain. Six 30-gallon barrels were married for this limited run, marking a significant step toward grain-to-glass autonomy for the craft producer. It’s the kind of release that exemplifies the locavore movement hitting American whiskey.

Hard Truth Dark Roast Rye made its debut at the distillery’s Harvest Festival on September 26th as the third expression in the Master Distiller’s Reserve series. This bottled-in-bond rye blends two award-winning mash bills—RW-3 Chocolate Malt Rye and RW-4 Caramel Malt Rye—in equal measure, creating a flavor profile that lives up to its coffee-roast name.

Remus Repeal Reserve Rye celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Repeal Reserve series with the brand’s first-ever rye expression. Built on a 95% rye mash bill from 2015 and 2016 reserves and bottled at 111 proof, it hit shelves nationwide in early September at $79.99.

Scotch

Jackton Distillery’s RAER Single Malt marked its inaugural release on September 4th, putting the family-run Lowland producer on the map. Drawn from bourbon, Pedro Ximénez, Amontillado, and Oloroso sherry casks, this 48.7% ABV single malt is priced at £68 and represents years of patient maturation on the Kean family farm just outside Glasgow.

The Dalmore Distillery Select 2026: Semisecco Marsala Finish joins the Highland distillery’s exclusive series with just 1,100 bottles available worldwide. This 14-year-old expression spent nearly two years in Semisecco Marsala barriques after maturing in ex-bourbon barrels, and it’s bottled at 53.7% ABV for £350. The Marsala influence promises a dessert-wine sweetness layered over Dalmore’s signature chocolate and citrus notes.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society Whisky Equinox introduced a new annual moment for whisky drinkers on September 23rd, with two half-size bottlings celebrating the equinox: Riesling Spritz in the Sun (12-year-old Speyside) and Spice It Up After Dark (11-year-old Highland). It’s a creative take on seasonal releases that aligns with the whisky calendar’s natural rhythms.

Irish & Japanese

Curraghmore 2026 Triple Cask launched September 1st as the Irish distillery’s latest single pot still expression, made with oats and barley grown on the Curraghmore estate. Triple distilled and aged in new oak, ex-bourbon, and oloroso sherry casks, it’s limited to 4,600 bottles in Ireland and the UK at $245 per 700ml. The accompanying Annamh Collection Virgin French Oak Single Cask—just 110 bottles—offers collectors an even more exclusive slice of this estate-driven whiskey.

Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt Essentials 2026 hit the market September 25th as the inaugural release in a new limited-edition annual series. Bottled at 43% ABV and priced at $249.99, this 700ml expression explores a distinctive theme each year while diving deep into the essence of Taketsuru Pure Malt. For fans of Nikka’s blending artistry, it’s a worthy addition to the collection.

Chichibu Distillery announced four new releases arriving in the UK just in time for The Whisky Show 2026, including the Hint of Sherry and The London Edition 2026. Chichibu continues to punch above its weight, proving that quality and innovation trump scale in the Japanese whisky world.

Craft & Limited Editions

Copperworks Craft Malt Month 2026 Single Malt celebrates September’s Craft Malt Month with the Seattle distillery’s first-ever rye cask-matured whiskey. Single Cask No. 488 spent 5 years and 9 months in a previously used rye whiskey cask and is bottled at natural cask strength of 63.2% ABV. Limited to 700ml bottles at $89.99, the release benefits the Craft Maltsters Guild with a $10 donation from every bottle sold—a toast to the grain farmers and maltsters who make craft whiskey possible.

Bulleit ’87 arrived in September as the first-ever blend of Bulleit bourbon and rye in one bottle, priced at an accessible $29.99. It’s a smart play for the brand, offering mixologists and home bartenders a versatile spirit that bridges two classic American whiskey styles.

Texas Distillery Spotlight

Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2026 continues its September rollout this week as the cask-strength Texas legend hits select bars, restaurants, and retailers nationwide on October 1st. The 12th edition of Cowboy Bourbon was bottled at a formidable 141 proof, with all 16,000 bottles hand-selected by Master Distiller Donnis Todd from barrels aged at least eight years in the intense Texas heat.

The first 1,000 bottles sold out at the Hye distillery on September 12th, with a limited e-commerce drop of 279 bottles following on September 18th. Now the rest of the country gets a shot at this uncut, unfiltered Texas bourbon that’s become a cult classic among high-proof enthusiasts. At $249.99, it’s a serious investment—but for those who’ve tasted previous Cowboy releases, it’s worth every penny.

Garrison Brothers remains the gold standard for Texas bourbon, proving year after year that whiskey made in the Lone State can stand toe-to-toe with Kentucky’s finest.

What We’re Pouring This Week

If you can find it, the Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2026 is worth grabbing just to taste what a sweet mash bourbon brings to the table. It’s the kind of experimental release that pushes the category forward. For everyday sipping, Bulleit ’87 offers exceptional value—a bourbon-rye blend that works beautifully in cocktails or over ice. And if you’re hunting allocations, keep your eyes peeled for the Van Winkle bottles starting to trickle into stores; relationships with your local shop matter more than ever this time of year.

On the international front, Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt Essentials 2026 is a must-try for Japanese whisky fans, while Curraghmore’s estate-driven Irish pot still shows how terroir can shine through in whiskey just as it does in wine.

On the Horizon

October promises more allocation madness as Buffalo Trace’s Antique Collection and other heavy hitters arrive in the coming weeks. Garrison Brothers’ Laguna Madre Bourbon is also slated for a fall release, and early reports suggest it’s another Texas stunner. Keep an eye on your local shops and be ready to pounce—this is the season when patience and relationships pay dividends.

As Marcus Aurelius wrote in Meditations, “Confine yourself to the present.” In whiskey as in life, the bottles in front of us today matter more than the ones we’re chasing tomorrow.