Five New Whiskeys To Watch Out For

By Richard Thomas

The whiskey release calendar often sees a flurry of activity in the early and middle springtime, following the conclusion of the Holidays. Summers aren’t quite the doldrums the season used to be, but even so it is slower than what come before and what follows, the red hot autumnal period. So, here are five new whiskeys that are either out now or on the way very shortly. Keep an eye out for all of them.

Blood Oath Pact No. 9 Bourbon
This year’s installment in the Blood Oath series is a blend of 16 year old and 12 year old high-rye bourbons with a 7 year old high-rye bourbon finished in Oloroso Sherry casks. The production run is 51,000 bottles, priced at $129.99. So, barring some egregious marking up by unscrupulous retailers, this Pact ought to be available to most anyone who truly wants it.

Glengoyne 15 Year Old Single Malt
This single malt is freshly arrived on American shores. The malt is aged in first-fill Sherry and ex-bourbon casks, as well as selected refill casks (i.e. used barrels that are on at least their second stint for aging Scotch). This selection is aimed at bringing out the best in Glengoyne’s light and fruity flavor profile, and for those who don’t care for smoky Scotch, this one is peat free.

Jack Daniel’s 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey
Now that Jack Daniel’s has started adding age statements to their whiskey, they seem intent on building on it. They started a couple of years back with the 10 Year Old, and now comes the 12 Year Old. The best part is that it’s not a modest improvement either. If I were being cheeky, I’d say it has come along pretty much in proportion to its age, so about a fifth better. The irony in that joke is the play on words, because Jack Daniel’s abandoned the American fifth bottle (750 ml) in favor of the 70cl international bottle.

Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond Bourbon Spring 2023
No information is yet available for the Spring 2023 edition of Heaven Hill’s much-loved bi-annual series of middle aged, wheated bourbon. Yet it is a springtime release, typically slotted for April, and it’s rarely that late. I’m expecting a press release any day now, so keep an eye on our news feed for details.

Yellowstone Single Malt Whiskey
This entry is neither hotly anticipated or an outstanding newcomer, but instead a curiosity. MGP’s single malt whiskey is by far its most obscure formulation. Some brands utilizing it in the past have ceased outsourcing, and now rely on in-house production. Indeed, American Single Malts generally are the pervue of small producers. As a result, this MGP-sourced whiskey coming from Limestone Branch (which is owned by MGP anyway) is the most accessible product, giving true aficionados a chance to get acquainted with American Single Malt done MGP-style.