Woodford Reserve Chocolate Whisper, Macallan Folio 8, & More New Releases

This week's new releases see several whisky makers take familiar concepts and flip them on their heads. First up is Woodford, which has reinvented its Chocolate Malt Whisper bourbon into a whiskey that, at 69.7% ABV, is the highest-proof expression it has ever released. Elsewhere in Kentucky, Peerless has taken two whiskeys it’s executed well in the past—rye and toasted barrel—and combined them for its first toasted barrel-finished rye. Frey Ranch is also bringing something fresh to the table with the introduction of a whiskey made entirely from unmalted barley. Overseas, Bushmills has had its hands full with cask finishes, while Macallan has debuted the 8th release in its nostalgia-evoking Archival Series.

Woodford Reserve Chocolate Whisper Redux 139.4 Bourbon

ABV: 69.7%
SRP: $100/375 ml
Availability: Limited; woodfordreserve.com, distillery tasting room, and KY

To understand this new Woodford whiskey, we must first look back to 2021. That year, Woodford debuted Chocolate Malt Whisper, a “happy accident” that came about after notes of the distillery’s chocolate malted rye carried over into the following batch of bourbon. Now, the distillery is breathing new life into its chocolate malt-tinged whiskeys once more with Chocolate Whisper Redux 139.4.

The new bourbon is 12 years old, and, at 69.7% ABV, it’s the highest-proof whiskey Woodford has ever released. Master distiller Elizabeth McCall says that ABV shines in an extra-long finish and extra-bold flavors. As with the original Chocolate Malt Whisper, this whiskey is part of the Distillery Series, which was created as a way of stretching Woodford’s creative boundaries. A limited number of bottles are available at the Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky; online via Woodford's website; and at select Kentucky retailers.

A. Smith Bowman 10 year old Cask Strength Bourbon (Batch 4)

ABV: 69.85%
SRP: $100
Availability: Limited; online lottery and select retailers nationwide.

Fredericksburg, Virginia-based A. Smith Bowman—sister distillery of Buffalo Trace—has released its fourth annual 10 year old Cask Strength bourbon. Each batch is characterized by an incredibly high proof, hovering around 140. This year’s version was bottled at 69.85% ABV—an uptick from last year’s batch at 67.55%.

Most of the bottles will be available via an online lottery, running from February 24th through March 3rd. The lottery is open to entrants nationwide, but the winner must be able to pick up their bottle from the A. Smith Bowman gift shop in Virginia between March 5th and March 23rd. Alternatively, some bottles can be found at select retailers, bars, and restaurants across the country.

Kentucky Peerless Toasted Rye (Batch 1)

ABV: 53.5%
SRP: $110
Availability: Kentucky exclusive, with nationwide availability to come later

For its latest release, Louisville-based Kentucky Peerless is combining two areas that have previously earned the distillery distinction: rye whiskey and toasted casks. This release takes 4–8 year old Peerless rye stocks, aged in No.-3 char barrels, and finishes them for a month in a new medium toast American oak barrel. Both of the barrels were made by Kelvin Cooperage.

Double-oaked whiskeys finished in a second virgin barrel—often toasted, but not always—are becoming quite a popular sight these days. While big players like Woodford Reserve get a lot of attention in this field, few distilleries have done it as masterfully as Kentucky Peerless. The distillery first tossed its hat into the double-oaking ring back in 2021, with the release of Double Oak. That whiskey was born of an accident after a leaky barrel forced the team to transfer the liquid into a secondary cask. The end product was wickedly impressive, scoring 93 points with our tasting panel and earning a spot on our Top 20 Whiskies of 2021. A few years later, Double Oak would be followed by Toasted Bourbon, which serves as a more direct inspiration for the newest release.

Lux Row Small Batch Albariño Cask Finished Bourbon

ABV: 52.5%
SRP: $60
Availability: Distillery exclusive starting in March

MGP’s Bardstown, Kentucky-based Lux Row Distillers has added another cask-finished expression to its bourbon lineup. This one sees a blend of 4 year old wheated and ryed bourbons finished for 6 months in albariño wine—a dry white wine that is commonly found in Spain. Master distiller John Rempe specifically picked this wine for the citrusy and acidic notes it contributes, which he figured would combine well with the sweet notes of the base bourbons.

Frey Ranch 100% Barley Whiskey

ABV: 55%
SRP: $60/375 ml
Availability: Limited; freyranch.com and distillery tasting room

As we whisky lovers know, barley is a crucial component in many whiskies, first and foremost single malts, but also as a blending tool in bourbons, ryes, and other styles. By and large that barley is malted—but have you ever had a whiskey made entirely from unmalted barley? With its newest release, Frey Ranch is giving you the opportunity to try just that.

Frey Ranch 100% Barley Whiskey is made from two-row barley grown, harvested, and milled at the Frey family’s farm in Fallon, Nevada. The whiskey is pot distilled, then aged close to 5 years. According to co-founder Colby Frey, the unmalted barley results in a creamier, more viscous whiskey than its single malt counterparts.

Unmalted barley isn’t unheard of in whisky, though it’s certainly rare to find one made entirely from the raw grain. The most habitual users of it are Irish distillers—it’s a key component in the country’s signature pot still style.

Bushmills Private Reserve Series Second Collection Irish Single Malt

ABV: 46.4% - 48.5%
SRP: $60-$75
Availability: Limited; flaviar.com, caskers.com, select retail stores, bars, and restaurants nationwide; imported by Proximo Spirits

Bushmills master blender Alex Thomas has unveiled the second collection of rare cask finishes in the Private Reserve Series. Thomas selected Irish single malts matured in sherry and bourbon casks, triple-distilled between 2012–2014, which she then finished in four different cask types. Amarone and moscatel cask finishes are new to the U.S. exclusive series, and for fans of the first series, there’s a return of tequila and bordeaux cask finishes of the 12 year olds. These are limited editions, not single cask releases, and prices are identical to the inaugural series from 2023 for the corresponding age statements. Last year, Bushmills completed the four-part U.S.-exclusive The Rare Cask Series, ending the year with the 10 year old Private Reserve Bordeaux Cask from the inaugural series making our Top 20 list of 2024.

Bushmills 2014 10 year old Private Reserve Amarone Cask, 47.3%, $60

Bushmills 2013 10 year old Private Reserve Moscatel Cask, 48.5%, $60

Bushmills 2012 12 year old Private Reserve Bordeaux Cask, 47%, $75

Bushmills 2012 12 year old Private Reserve Tequila Cask, 46.4%, $75

Macallan Archival Series: Folio 8 Single Malt Scotch

ABV: 43%
SRP: $400
Availability: Limited; available only to The Macallan Society members and private clients via themacallan.com

The 8th release in Macallan’s Archival Series, Folio 8 pays homage to a 1980s Macallan advertising campaign called “Colossus of Nose,” which was a nod to Colossus of Rhodes. The whisky was aged in first-fill and refill European oak sherry casks, and there are just 450 bottles available—all exclusive to the U.S., in a first for the Archival Series.

Macallan launched the Archival Series in 2015, and each new release celebrates a unique print advertising campaign that ran from the 1970s to 1990s. Those ads are credited with building the appeal of Macallan as a single malt whisky, in a time when single malts were not quite as popular as they are today, to say the least. The first 6 Folios were sold at the distillery and by online ballot for around $250-$300; those same bottles have sold for around $1,400 to $12,000 at auction, making them a worthwhile investment (if you can get your hands on one).

Single Cask Nation 2025 E-Commerce Collection Scotch Single Malts

ABV: Varies
SRP: $100–$145
Availability: Online exclusive

Last week, independent bottler Single Cask Nation—which specializes in sourcing casks from underrated and overlooked distilleries and brands—released a slate of eight releases that will be available in limited numbers both online and in retail. This week, it’s back with another list of six whiskies available exclusively on the company’s e-commerce platform, which will be launching over the next two months.

Tormore 10 year old, 63.2%, $100

A Speyside single malt that was aged for 6 years in a bourbon barrel and 4 years in an American oak oloroso sherry hogshead. Coming in March.

Adnamurchan Peated 9 year old, 64.9%, $100

A Highland single malt that was entirely aged in a bourbon barrel. Coming in March.

Isle of Arran 8 year old, 61.8%, $100

Coming from Lochranza Distillery, this Islands single malt spent its whole life in a bourbon barrel. Coming in March.

2012 Blacksboat Bridge, 62.9%, $120

This Speyside single malt comes from an undisclosed distillery and was aged for 7 years in a bourbon barrel and for 5 years in a Spanish oak oloroso cask. Coming in April.

2011 Glencadam, 60.2%, $125

A 13 year old Speyside single malt, aged for 10 years in a bourbon barrel and 3 years in a first-fill STR sherry barrique. Coming in April.

2009 Rosarie Burn, 62.5%, $145

A Speyside single malt from an undisclosed distillery, aged for 12 years in a bourbon barrel and 3 years in a Spanish oak oloroso hogshead. Coming in April.

Heritage Distilling Co. Salute Series: Service to America Battle of Iwo Jima: 80th Anniversary Edition Straight Bourbon

ABV: 52.5%
Price: $95
Availability: online and Heritage’s tasting rooms

Heritage Distilling Co. is releasing a second and final batch of 2,000 bottles of Iwo Jima straight bourbon in its Salute Series. The collection raises money for non-profit organizations benefiting a distinct military operation or first responder community, with this bottle honoring the Marine Corps. The initial release of 2,200 bottles sold quickly and saw nearly $20,000 in donations in the first three weeks of sales to its partner, The Mariner Raider Foundation, which aims to bolster resiliency and preserve the legacy of the Marine Raiders, a special operations force forged during World War II.

The bottle itself pays homage to the Battle of Iwo Jima, a pertinent Marine victory that took place between February 19th 1945 and March 26th 1945. Aptly unveiled on the battle’s 80th anniversary, it features art by veteran Michael Polovey on the label depicting the Pulitzer-prize image of the American flag hoisted post-victory on Mount Suribachi. The black and grey design depicts the black volcanic ash that covers Iwo Jima. Inside the bottle, a four-grain mashbill of corn, soft white wheat, barley, and a small amount of rye, was distilled and aged at Heritage’s Gig Harbor location. It was aged 5 years in extra heavy charred barrels made of American white oak. These barrels came from a specialty craft cooperage in Spain, where the staves were air cured for more than two years. A frameable lithograph by Polovey will be included with the purchase of two bottles.