Sazerac Rye 100 Proof, Old Grand-Dad 7 year old, and More New Whiskey

The week is off to a busy start, with new releases from a variety of American distillers. Sazerac has introduced a higher-proof iteration of its flagship Sazerac rye, bumping it up from 45% ABV to 50% ABV. Another new 100-proof whiskey in the mix comes from James B. Beam Distilling Co., which has added a 7 year old Old Grand-Dad bottled in bond bourbon to its roster. Beam has also released the second edition of Jim Beam Lineage, this one made from a low-rye mashbill and aged for 15 years. Finally, Nevada's Minden Mill is taking its estate-grown rye nationwide.

Sazerac Rye 100 Proof

ABV: 50%
SRP: $30/1L
Availability: Nationwide

A higher-proof Sazerac rye is entering the mix. The new expression, which has a 5% bump-up in ABV from the flagship Sazerac rye, was developed in response to bartenders’ demands for a higher-strength version of the original, according to brand owner Sazerac Co.

Higher proof and higher age statements are both trending in the whisky world as distillers find themselves with plenty of inventory as industry-wide growth cools. That's great news for whiskey drinkers, who can have access to older and/or more robust whiskeys that won't break the bank.

Old Grand-Dad 7 year old Bottled in Bond Bourbon (2025 Release)

ABV: 50%
SRP: $40
Availability: Nationwide

James B. Beam Distilling Co. has been one of many bourbon makers adding older liquid to its expressions, with its Knob Creek and Jim Beam Black labels starting to carry higher age statements. The latest brand to follow suit is Old Grand-Dad (OGD), which is now receiving an annual 7 year old bonded expression. It follows the same production process as other OGD expressions—namely, its proprietary yeast strain and mashbill of 63% corn, 27% rye, and 10% malted barley—but, in keeping with the bottled in bond regulations, it was produced during 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 exclusive

Also from Beam this week is the second batch of its premium-tier Jim Beam Lineage. Like the previous batch—which was announced in 2020 and billed as the first collaboration by both Fred and Freddie Noe—this newcomer was distilled from the classic low-rye Jim Beam mashbill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley and bottled at 111 proof (55.5% ABV). Both expressions carry a 15 year old age statement, but the new batch includes some older liquid in the blend as well. Batch 2 is exclusively available 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 last December, Minden Mill is now taking it nationwide. The whiskey remains the same: It’s made from a mashbill of 80% rye, 10% soft white wheat, and 10% barley, which is malted on-site. All of the grains are harvested from either Minden Mill’s 1,200-acre estate or fields located within five miles of the distillery.

Minden Mill joined the Estate Whiskey Alliance last year. In order to become a member, distillers must mill, mash, ferment, and distill on-site, and at least two-thirds of their grains must come from land that’s owned or otherwise operated by the distillery. The Alliance officially came together in September 2024, founded by five 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 University of Kentucky, and Kentucky-based Peterson Farms.