Looking for a new bourbon? Here are 6 new Kentucky bourbon, whiskies to try this month

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01-04-2025

Kentucky's distilleries are constantly launching new products and April is no different.
Buzzard's Roost Whiskey has released its latest batch of Toasted French Oak Bourbon, Old Forester launched its new expression in the 117 Series, PGA Tour pro Max Homa teams up with Elijah Craig to create a one-of-a-kind bourbon and more.
Here are six new bourbon products to try this month:
Buzzard's Roost Whiskey has released its newest batch of Toasted French Bourbon, Batch 2. Batch 2 of Toasted French Oak Bourbon takes a slightly different approach than Batch 1, using French oak staves that were precision-toasted to coax out the most appealing flavor.
'We think Batch 2 is even more delicious than our first batch,' Buzzard's Roost co-founder and CEO Judy Hollis Jones said in a news release. 'Batch 1 was a favorite of many of Buzzard's Roost customers, but with a brand mantra of 'Innovation Within the Bounds of Tradition, we always look for new ways to create outstanding flavors."
Three important differentiators between French oak staves and whole barrels were considered before creating this new release:
While French oak barrels can only be toasted for very short periods of time, French oak staves can be toasted for as much as 18 hours, allowing the heat to tame extra tannins that are present in French oak.
French oak has a greater concentration of hemicellulose than other types of oak, resulting in more sugar molecules for caramelization.
The ability to toast French oak for a longer time leads to greater concentrations of flavor producers.
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Batch 2 of Toasted French Oak Bourbon has a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley. The secondary maturation with French oak staves resulted in flavors of vanilla cupcake with light caramel frosting, dried apples, powdered cinnamon and a touch of sweet oak.
It is 100 proof with a suggested retail price of $85. For more information visit, buzzardsroostwhiskey.com.
PGA Tour pro Max Homa has teamed up with Elijah Craig to create a one-of-a-kind bourbon expression.
Homa has said Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel is his 'hands-down favorite.' So when the opportunity arose to collaborate on a private barrel pick, he jumped at the chance.
The process begins with Elijah Craig's Small Batch Bourbon, which is then elevated by a second, custom toasted barrel. This step gives the bourbon an additional layer of sweet oak complexity, creating a rich, full-bodied profile.
For Max's signature sip, the team followed the same finishing process, but with a unique twist, working with single barrels that were uncut and bottled at barrel proof. After sampling four carefully curated options alongside Elijah Craig Master Distiller Conor O'Driscoll, Homa selected a standout 8-year-old bourbon, which begins with the aroma of toasted oak and sweet caramel. The finish is warm, with lingering hints of chocolate and baking spices.
"Since the beginning of my partnership with Elijah Craig, fans have been asking for a barrel pick," said Homa, a six-time PGA Tour winner. "All of the barrels I sampled were delicious which made the decision very difficult, but in the end my Toasted Barrel pick ultimately stood out with its rich creamy notes of butterscotch and vanilla alongside the classic oak smokiness and spice Elijah Craig is known for.'
This Bourbon is 126.6 proof and will be released in limited quantities, with less than 200 bottles available.
Sign up to be the first to know when the release will be available by visiting the Elijah Craig website and providing contact information to receive an exclusive email with limited opportunity to purchase the product. Joining the list is not a guarantee of purchase and product will be sold on a first come, first served basis.
Kentucky Senator Bourbon released its sixth small batch of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, The John Edwards.
Named after John Edwards, Kentucky's second-ever U.S. Senator and a resident of Bourbon County, this exclusive release continues the brand's legacy of honoring distinguished statesmen while delivering an exceptional bourbon experience.
The small batch bourbon is aged for seven and a half years and bottled at the signature 107 proof with a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley, offering a rich and balanced flavor profile that bourbon enthusiasts have come to expect from the brand.
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Kentucky Senator Bourbon co-founder Andre Regard expressed his enthusiasm: "Damon [Thayer] and I continue our journey of celebrating Kentucky's native spirit with another outstanding release. Each batch tells a story, and the John Edwards Release is no exception — steeped in history and bottled with precision.'
Suggested retail price of $119.99 and is available at select Kentucky retailers, bars and restaurants and online at BourbonOutfitter.com.
Maker's Mark has announced the next release in its Wood Finishing Series, The Keepers Release 2025, inspired by the warehouse team who ensure every barrel of Maker's Mark matures consistently to the founders' taste vision.
Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series is a collection of one-of-a-kind expressions that use an innovative wood stave-finishing technique to enhance distinctive characteristics already present in the brand's iconic bourbon. The Keepers Release 2025 showcases rich, oak-forward aromas of seasoned wood, brûléd sugar, and tobacco, leading to a long, enveloping finish characterized by dried dark fruit and a lingering roasted sweetness.
'The Keepers Release was born from our close collaboration with the Maker's Mark warehouse team, the guardians of our barrels,' Dr. Blake Layfield, master distiller for Maker's Mark said in a news release. "Their sensory experience of Maker's Mark is unlike anyone else's, the aromatic oak at different times of the day, evolving tasting notes of our whisky as it ages over multiple seasons, which provided inspiration and helped us shape the flavors of this release."
At 109.2 proof, the release will be available at U.S. retailers for $74.99. For more information, visit MakersMark.com.
Milam & Greene Whiskey released Gray Wolf Straight Bourbon, a blend of two six-year-old, cask-strength collector's edition bourbon casks. Gray Wolf is the first release in the Milam & Greene 2025 Wildlife Collection, which explores how climate impacts the final flavor of aging bourbon.
This limited cask-strength bourbon was distilled at the Green River Distilling Company, in Kentucky, with a mash bill of 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley. It was barreled on May 18, 2018, and aged in Owensboro, Kentucky for three years, eight months, and 25 days before being transported to Blanco, Texas, and aged for an additional three years and one month.
Gray Wolf Straight Bourbon has rich aromas of maple bar, coffee cake, creamed corn, fresh mint, and baking spices. It is full-bodied and silky loaded with butterscotch candy, black tea flavors with dill and fresh herbs, peppercorn, and nicely balanced oak. This bourbon has a lengthy, cool finish with notes of German chocolate cake, herbal lozenge, and loads of fresh mint.
It is 125.5 proof and available exclusively on the Milam & Greene Whiskey website for $149.99. For more information, milamandgreenewhiskey.com.
Old Forester released its latest expression in the 117 Series: Bottled in Bond Rye. This release marks the first Bottled in Bond Rye Whisky handcrafted by Old Forester.
The 1897 Bottled in Bond Act required that each bottling be composed of barrels filled during a single distillation season. This small batch of Rye Whisky reflects the unique flavor of the unusually cool and wet spring of 2015.
"This 117 Series release is unique because it holds a tie to our 1897 Bottled in Bond, our tribute to the Bottled in Bond Act," Old Forester Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo said in a news release. "This release is a first for Old Forester, and stays true to our historical promise of quality, consistency and balance."
Tasting notes:
Color: Ripe tangerine
Aroma: Sweet honeysuckle and candied lemon with hints of ginger root and thick molasses
Flavor: Intense spice immediately hits followed by charred oak, freshly cracked pepper and cooked pear
Finish: Quick and dry finish with notes of bright citrus, lemongrass and coriander
The 117 Series Bottled in Bond Rye is bottled at 100 proof with a suggested retail price of $64.99. Available at Old Forester Distillery Company retail shop and in the online store at shop.oldforester.com.
Reach News Clerk Gege Reed at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky bourbon releases Old Forester, Elijah Craig, Maker's Mark