The week is off to a busy begin, with new releases from quite a lot of American distillers. Sazerac has launched a higher-proof iteration of its flagship Sazerac rye, bumping it up from 45% ABV to 50% ABV. One other new 100-proof whiskey within the combine comes from James B. Beam Distilling Co., which has added a 7 12 months previous Previous Grand-Dad bottled in bond bourbon to its roster. Beam has additionally launched the second version of Jim Beam Lineage, this one constituted of a low-rye mashbill and aged for 15 years. Lastly, Nevada’s Minden Mill is taking its estate-grown rye nationwide.
Sazerac Rye 100 Proof
ABV: 50%
SRP: $30/1L
Availability: Nationwide
The next-proof Sazerac rye is getting into the combination. The brand new expression, which has a 5% bump-up in ABV from the flagship Sazerac rye, was developed in response to bartenders’ calls for for a higher-strength model of the unique, based on model proprietor Sazerac Co.
Increased proof and better age statements are each trending within the whisky world as distillers discover themselves with loads of stock as industry-wide progress cools. That is nice information for whiskey drinkers, who can have entry to older and/or extra sturdy whiskeys that will not break the financial institution.
Previous Grand-Dad 7 12 months previous Bottled in Bond Bourbon (2025 Launch)
ABV: 50%
SRP: $40
Availability: Nationwide
James B. Beam Distilling Co. has been one in every of many bourbon makers including older liquid to its expressions, with its Knob Creek and Jim Beam Black labels beginning to carry greater age statements. The newest model to comply with swimsuit is Previous Grand-Dad (OGD), which is now receiving an annual 7 12 months previous bonded expression. It follows the identical manufacturing course of as different OGD expressions—specifically, its proprietary yeast pressure and mashbill of 63% corn, 27% rye, and 10% malted barley—however, in line with the bottled in bond rules, it was produced throughout a single distillation season. This inaugural batch was distilled in spring 2018.
Jim Beam Lineage Kentucky Straight Bourbon (Batch 2)
ABV: 55.5%
SRP: $250
Availability: Distillery unique
Additionally from Beam this week is the second batch of its premium-tier Jim Beam Lineage. Just like the earlier batch—which was introduced in 2020 and billed as the primary collaboration by each Fred and Freddie Noe—this newcomer was distilled from the traditional low-rye Jim Beam mashbill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley and bottled at 111 proof (55.5% ABV). Each expressions carry a 15 12 months previous age assertion, however the brand new batch consists of some older liquid within the mix as nicely. Batch 2 is completely obtainable at Beam’s campus in Clermont, Kentucky.
Minden Mill Nevada Straight Rye
ABV: 47%
SRP: $45
Availability: Nationwide
After debuting its rye in Nevada, Arizona, California, Colorado, and Illinois final December, Minden Mill is now taking it nationwide. The whiskey stays the identical: It’s constituted of a mashbill of 80% rye, 10% comfortable white wheat, and 10% barley, which is malted on-site. The entire grains are harvested from both Minden Mill’s 1,200-acre property or fields positioned inside 5 miles of the distillery.
Minden Mill joined the Property Whiskey Alliance final 12 months. As a way to turn out to be a member, distillers should mill, mash, ferment, and distill on-site, and no less than two-thirds of their grains should come from land that’s owned or in any other case operated by the distillery. The Alliance formally got here collectively in September 2024, based by 5 American distilleries (Hillrock, Heaven Hill, Maker’s Mark, Thousand Acres Distilling Co., and Western Kentucky Distilling Co.), a Canadian distillery (Black Fox Farm & Distillery), the College of Kentucky, and Kentucky-based Peterson Farms.
