Thanksgiving is less than a week away, and if you’re panicking about what whisky to serve, take a breath: We’ve got you covered, with recommended pours, party-ready punches, and a guide to pairing whisky and pie. (Speaking of which—we can also teach you how to make pie-inspired whisky cocktails.) But if you’re looking for brand-new bottles to pop, keep reading.
For the high rollers, Michter’s is rolling out its aptly-named Celebration just ahead of the holidays. The blend of straight bourbon and rye is priced at $5,000, with just 277 bottles available.
At 20% less than Celebration, Glenrothes 40 year old is still a luxury buy. The single malt scotch costs $4,000, with just 66 out of 594 bottles coming to the U.S.
Can’t let the Americans and Scots corner the high-end whisky market though; Ireland’s Chapelgate Whiskey Co. has unveiled J.J. Corry The Chosen, a £6,500 ($8,393) single malt. There are just 100 bottles available.
Bardstown Bourbon Co. is releasing the latest batches of its Fusion and Discovery Series bourbons. Fusion #2 is priced at $60 with over 38,800 bottles available, while Discovery #2 is $130 with about 12,600 bottles available.
The final batch of Booker’s bourbon for 2019, called “Beaten Biscuits,” is hitting shelves. Priced at $80, it’s available in limited amounts.
St. George Spirits in Alameda, California has begun rolling out Lot 19 of its single malt. Priced at $100, there are 3,300 bottles available.
Another Bay Area distillery, 10th Street in San Jose, is launching an unpeated single malt aged in STR casks. The whiskey costs $65, with around 4,000 bottles being released.
Boutique blended brand Wolves has debuted its second whiskey, Winter Run. Priced at $185, there are 1,338 bottles for sale online.
Wigle Distillery is releasing Rudolph, a wheat whiskey finished in Christmas ale casks from Great Lakes Brewing Co. There are 2,000 375-ml bottles available, priced at $34.
Finally, Four Gate Whiskey Co. is offering a barrel-proof straight bourbon at 9 years old. There are just 748 bottles available, priced at $200.
Read on for full details.
Michter's Celebration (2019 Release)
Style: Straight whiskey
Origin: Kentucky
Age: Not stated
Proof: 57.8% ABV
Price: $5,000
Release: November 2019
Availability: 277 bottles
Need to know:
The latest release of Michter’s Celebration, this whiskey blends liquid from six barrels: two straight bourbon and four straight rye, all made in Kentucky. The whiskeys range in age from 10 to over 30 years old.
Whisky Advocate says:
Each release of Celebration is different by design; master of maturation Andrea Wilson puts together unique blends, aiming for a whiskey that’s greater than the sum of its parts. The most recent release, which came out in 2016, scored 94 points in the Buying Guide.
Glenrothes 40 year old
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Speyside)
Age: 40 years old
Proof: 43% ABV
Price: $4,000
Release: November 2019
Availability: 594 bottles, including 66 bottles for the U.S.
Need to know:
This single malt was distilled in 1978 and matured in bourbon and sherry casks. Just 66 bottles will be available in the U.S.
Whisky Advocate says:
While independent bottler The Last Drop released a 49 year old Glenrothes earlier this year, this 40 year old is the oldest expression directly from the distillery itself. Glenrothes offers a 25 year old as part of its core lineup; that whisky scored 93 points in the Buying Guide.
J.J. Corry The Chosen
Style: Single malt
Origin: Ireland
Age: 27 years old
Proof: 52% ABV
Price: £6,500 ($8,393)
Release: November 2019
Availability: 100 bottles
Need to know:
Bottled by Chapelgate Whiskey Co., this is a 27 year old single malt distilled in Ireland and matured in a single bourbon cask. It’s packaged in a crystal decanter from J. Hill’s Standard of Waterford and housed in an ash cabinet by John Galvin Design. Just 100 bottles are available.
Whisky Advocate says:
While pricy scotch is common, and many high-end bourbons are becoming more expensive, Irish whiskey is still, overall, a very affordable arena. Teeling has released some super-mature single malts priced in the thousands, but that’s about it. If you’re looking for collectible Irish whiskey, this is a good place to start. U.S. customers can order The Chosen through BI Fine Wine & Spirits Merchant.
Bardstown Bourbon Co. Fusion Series #2
Style: Straight bourbon
Origin: Kentucky
Age: Not stated
Proof: 49.45% ABV
Price: $60
Release: November 2019
Availability: 38,856 bottles
Need to know:
The second release of Bardstown Bourbon’s Fusion is identical to the first save for one key difference: The age of the house-made bourbons (one made with a wheated mashbill and one high-rye) and the sourced bourbon has increased. This bourbon is comprised of:
- 42% bourbon made at Bardstown Bourbon Co. with a mashbill of 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley and aged for 2 years and 10 months
- 40% bourbon made with a mashbill of 74% corn, 18% rye, and 8% malted barley and aged for 12 years
- 18% bourbon made at Bardstown Bourbon Co. with a mashbill of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley and aged for 3 years
Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #2
Style: Straight bourbon
Origin: Kentucky
Age: Not stated
Proof: 60.605% ABV
Price: $130
Release: November 2019
Availability: 12,618 bottles
Need to know:
The second release of Bardstown Bourbon’s Discovery series deviates from the first, which combined four different sourced bourbons. This version blends three bourbons, all sourced from Kentucky:
- 44% 10 year old straight bourbon
- 39% 12 year old straight bourbon
- 17% 14 year old straight bourbon
Whisky Advocate says:
Although its model is distilling a massive variety of whiskeys for numerous clients, Bardstown Bourbon Co. has been on a tear with its own whiskeys this year. The first release of Fusion scored 91 points in the Buying Guide, while Discovery Series #1 scored 94 points, and the Phifer Pavitt Reserve—a much more limited whiskey—scored 92 points.
Booker's 2019-04 "Beaten Biscuits"
Style: Straight bourbon
Origin: Kentucky
Age: 6 years, 6 months, and 19 days
Proof: 63.05% ABV
Price: $80
Release: November 2019
Availability: Limited edition
Need to know:
The fourth and final 2019 release of Booker’s is called “Beaten Biscuits,” named for the style of cracker-like biscuits that Booker Noe enjoyed making at home.
Whisky Advocate says:
The previous Booker’s release was called “Country Ham,” so it makes perfect sense to be followed up with the meat’s ideal match, biscuits. Of course, we are talking about bourbon here—don’t blame me if you’re getting hungry.
St. George Single Malt (Lot 19)
Style: Single malt
Origin: California
Age: Not stated
Proof: 43% ABV
Price: $100
Release: November 2019
Availability: 3,300 bottles
Need to know:
The latest batch of single malt from St. George Spirits in Alameda, California incorporates whiskies aged 5 to 20 years and a wide range of cask types: bourbon, port, sherry, and California sauternes-style wine casks.
Whisky Advocate says:
St. George was one of the first American distilleries to produce single malt whiskey, debuting it in 2000, and each batch is unique by design. Master distiller Lance Winters and distiller Dave Smith employ a variety of maturation casks and flex their ample creativity with each release. If you’re expecting something conventional, this whiskey will disappoint—but seekers of the novel and unusual will find plenty to enjoy.
10th Street STR Cask Single Malt
Style: Single malt
Origin: California
Age: Not stated
Proof: 46% ABV
Price: $65
Release: November 2019
Availability: 4,000 bottles through 2020
Need to know:
Distilled from unpeated American barley, this whiskey was aged for 14 to 15 months in bourbon casks that were shaved, toasted, and recharred.
Whisky Advocate says:
The shave-toast-rechar (STR) process was established by the late Jim Swan, a whisky scientist and consultant who worked with dozens of distilleries around the world. The method brings more sugars to the surface of the wood, amplifying sweet flavors in the finished whiskey.
Wolves Winter Run
Style: Whiskey
Origin: California and Indiana
Age: Not stated
Proof: 52% ABV
Price: $185
Release: November 2019
Availability: 1,338 bottles; for sale online
Need to know:
Following up on Wolves First Run, this blend includes several different whiskeys in its makeup:
- Whiskey distilled from stout at Charbay and aged in French oak for 8 years
- Whiskey distilled from pilsner at Charbay and aged in new American oak for 5 years
- Single malt made at Charbay and aged in used French oak for 9 years
- Rye from MGP
It’s for sale only at the brand’s website.
Whisky Advocate says:
Blending rye with whiskeys distilled from beer is a first, but the team behind Wolves seems to have succeeded; the first release came out earlier this year, and scored 90 points in the Buying Guide.
Wigle Rudolph Whiskey
Style: Wheat whiskey
Origin: Pennsylvania
Age: Not stated
Proof: 46% ABV
Price: $34 (375 ml)
Release: November 27
Availability: 2,000 bottles
Need to know:
This is Wigle’s straight wheat whiskey, aged for 2-plus years in new charred oak, that has been finished for 10 months in barrels previously used to age Great Lakes Brewing Co.’s Christmas ale.
Whisky Advocate says:
This seasonal whiskey is being released at Wigle’s tasting room on November 27, where it will be poured alongside the ale from Great Lakes Brewing. Sounds like an ideal Boilermaker.
Four Gate Foundation
Style: Straight bourbon
Origin: Kentucky
Age: 9 years and 9 months old
Proof: 59.7% ABV
Price: $200
Release: November 2019
Availability: 748 bottles
Need to know:
The first unfinished whiskey from Four Gate Whiskey Co., this is a combination of straight bourbons aged 9 years and 9 months to 11 years and 4 months. The mashbill is 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley.
Whisky Advocate says:
Four Gate’s usual practice is to source bourbon and then finish it in unique barrels, but the company says that when they tasted this whiskey, it was so good as-is that they didn’t want to alter its flavor profile through finishing.
