Parker's Heritage 2025, High West's Bonded, a New Riff Wheater and More New Releases

There’s a lot to consider this week, with two familiar annual releases—Parker’s Heritage from Heaven Hill and Garrison Brothers Laguna Madre—as well as new entries from Macallan, New Riff, High West, A. Smith Bowman (that very underrated whiskey from Sazerac), and Blue Note, among others. Off the beaten path are Penelope's pre-mixed Old Fashioned in a 750-ml. bottle, and a new blackberry entry from Jack Daniel's—technically not a whiskey since it’s below 40% ABV.

Heaven Hill Parker’s Heritage Collection 11 year old Kentucky Straight Whiskey (2025 Edition)

ABV: 61.25%
SRP: $180
Availability: Limited

Now in its 19th year, Heaven Hill’s Parker’s Heritage Collection showcases the distillery’s innovative side, as a tribute to late master distiller emeritus Parker Beam’s legacy. The latest Parker’s Heritage whiskey is a blend of three distinct whiskeys: 15 year old Kentucky straight wheated bourbon, aged in rickhouse A; 11 year old Kentucky straight corn whiskey, aged in rickhouses DD, GG, and BB; and 12 year old Kentucky straight whiskey made from rye and malt, aged in rickhouse Y. A total of 160 barrels were pulled for the release.

The new whiskey won’t be available until the beginning of next month. Once it’s live, a portion of the proceeds from sales of each bottle will go, as they have before, toward the ALS Association (Beam was diagnosed with ALS in 2010). Heaven Hill has donated to ALS research and patient care since 2013, and thus far has raised $1.4 million for various ALS organizations.

Garrison Brothers 8 year old Laguna Madre Bourbon (2025 Release)

ABV: 50.5%
SRP: $350
Availability: Online, at the distillery, and select retailers

Next month, Texas-based Garrison Brothers is set to drop a fresh batch of its popular Laguna Madre bourbon. The whiskey, which is the oldest expression in the distillery’s lineup, is first aged in American white oak barrels for 4 years before undergoing a 4-year finish in Limousin French oak casks. This batch yielded 3,000 bottles, which will be sold in two waves. The first 1,000 bottles will be made available at a distillery event on September 6th. The remaining 2,000 will be released via the distillery’s web store and through select retailers the following week, on September 12th.

When Laguna Madre first touched down in 2020, it was released to raise awareness and funds for the non-profit Team Rubicon and the local hospitality community in the backdrop of the pandemic. As part of those efforts, the distillery raised over $400,000 through bottle sales and fundraising events. This year’s batch similarly aims to raise awareness for a non-profit, specifically FlatsWorthy: an organization that aims to promote respect among the local fishing community while promoting habitat restoration.

High West Bottled in Bond Bourbon

ABV: 50%
Price: $80
Availability: Nationwide and online

Utah-based High West is shining a spotlight on its house-made distillate with its newest release, a bottled in bond bourbon. It arrives after the release of a bottled in bond rye last February, which was its first 100% own-make product. Along with this bourbon, the distillery has re-released the rye online for purchase.

This mashbill (36% rye and 64% non-GMO yellow corn), like all High West new make, was distilled at its Wanship facility, the label’s home about 37 miles east of Salt Lake City. It was then aged for 4 years and 5 months. It joins a portfolio that includes the flagship bourbon, Double Rye, two annual releases, Rendezvous (straight rye whiskey blend) and Campfire (blended whiskey), and a limited-edition High Country American single malt.

A. Smith Bowman Oak Series: Hungarian Oak Bourbon

ABV: 57.5%
SRP: $80
Availability: Distillery exclusive

Virginia-based A. Smith Bowman debuted its Oak Series in March 2024. Since then, two whiskeys have joined the lineup: American Oak, a bourbon aged entirely in no.-3 char American oak barrels, and French Oak, a blended whiskey matured in a mix of charred and uncharred French oak barrels. As you might have guessed from the name, this latest release puts the focus on Hungarian oak—it's a bourbon aged for 12 years in charred Hungarian oak barrels.

As with the previous two Oak Series releases, Hungarian Oak will be available exclusively via an online lottery taking place from August 11th to August 18th. While you can enter from anywhere, winners are required to purchase bottles in person at the A. Smith Bowman gift shop in Fredericksburg, Virginia within three weeks of August 20th (when winners will be selected and notified by email), so take that into account.

New Riff Red Turkey Wheat Bourbon

ABV: 50%
SRP: $60
Availability: Nationwide

Throughout its 11-year history, New Riff has routinely put the spotlight on whiskeys made from heirloom grain varietals, among them balboa rye and yellow leaming and blue clarage corns. This bourbon, a wheater made with red turkey wheat, first appeared on shelves in 2021; we were fast fans, giving it a score of 90 points.

The latest iteration uses the same template as its predecessor, coming from a mashbill of 70% corn, 25% red turkey wheat, and 5% malted barley. It’s aged for a minimum of 5 years and bottled in bond (as many of New Riff’s whiskeys are). While the first Red Turkey Wheat release was limited in nature, this one will have greater reach, going to stores nationwide and available for online shipping through the distillery’s website starting August 15th.

J. Mattingly “Frankfort Rising” Oak Stave Finished Bourbon

ABV: 56%
Price: $120
Availability: Distillery only; beginning August 14th

The latest bourbon from Kentucky-based J. Mattingly is a limited release dubbed “Frankfort Rising,” a nod to the distillery’s hometown in the Kentucky state capital that saw severe impact from the April storms and flooding. Though the distillery was spared from damage, its latest release aims to give back to the local community. Donations of $30 from each bottle sale will be given to the Franklin County Community Fund to support families affected by the floods, with a goal to raise upward of $10,000 for the cause.

This 5.5 year old bourbon, made from a mashbill of 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley, has undergone the label’s signature double staved process, with the oak flavor enhanced by the addition of specially charred staves for a 5-month finishing period. The window to get your hands on a bottle is limited, as it’s slated to be a distillery exclusive, available only on August 14th from 4 p.m. onward until it sells out.

World Whiskey Society 9 year old Modern Bottle Kentucky Bourbon

ABV: 54%
SRP: $159
Availability: Online

This expression from rare whisky purveyor World Whiskey Society (WWS) was distilled at an undisclosed Kentucky distillery, and it has a mashbill of 78% corn, 13% rye, and 9% malted barley. Aside from the 9-year age statement, the key feature of this bourbon is its packaging: housed in a modern, angular glass bottle that resembles a decanter. Followers of the brand may recognize the design, as it is very similar to the bottle used for WWS’s rare 5 year old single malt from Gaolong exported to the U.S.

Southern Star Bottled in Bond Rye

ABV: 50%
SRP: $50
Availability: At the distillery and North Carolina retailers

Statesville, North Carolina-based Southern Distilling Co. has unveiled a new rye whiskey, which is available locally. It was aged for 4 years and distilled during a single distillation season from a mashbill of 51% rye, 39% corn, and 10% malted barley. It joins the rest of the Southern Star lineup, which also includes the flagship high-rye bourbon, a double rye blend, a bottled in bond wheater, and a bourbon cream, among others. Alongside its own bottlings, Southern Distilling Co. is also a rising star in the contract distillation world: Most notably, it has recently partnered with Brother’s Bond for its Regenerative Grain series, which produced a very impressive rye.

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Blackberry Tennessee Flavored Whiskey

ABV: 35%
Price: $22
Availability: Nationally

Fans of Jack Daniel’s flavored range will be delighted with the label’s latest fruit-forward release, Tennessee Blackberry. Inside the bottle is Jack Daniel’s classic Old No. 7—80% corn, 12% malted barley, and 8% rye—blended with house-made blackberry liqueur. The blackberry is the main focus here, with a lighter 35% ABV, suggested to be enjoyed neat or as a refreshing sweet and tangy addition to a cocktail.

This marks the second fruit-focused release in the series, next to Tennessee Apple. Elsewhere is Tennessee Fire, a cinnamon-flavored whiskey, and the inaugural bottle that kicked off the series in 2011, Tennessee Honey. It’s available nationwide beginning this month.

Penelope Bourbon Black Walnut Old Fashioned Cocktail

ABV: 38%
Price: $30
Availability: Nationwide

Penelope Bourbon continues its foray into the ready-to-pour sector with its new Black Walnut Old Fashioned. It’s the MGP-owned label’s second pre-mixed cocktail, another take on a classic Old Fashioned following a peach-flavored version that launched in April. Like its predecessor, its base is a blend of house bourbon and rye with the addition of minimally processed sweeteners. While the Peach Old Fashioned featured 100% maple syrup, this release includes a raw form of cane sugar, demerara, tinged with vanilla to give the cocktail a slight sweetness.

Bottled at 38% ABV, the cocktail is packaged in a 750-ml matted white bottle with walnut colored font and is available nationwide.

Blue Note Honey Bourbon Cask Bourbon (2025 Release)

ABV: 56.93%
SRP: $65
Availability: Limited; online and at select retailers

Blue Note has released a second batch of its Honey Bourbon Cask bourbon, which debuted last October. Distilled by Green River with a mashbill of 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley, which was aged for 3 years in new charred oak barrels. After maturation, the barrels were emptied and reused to make bourbon barrel-aged honey. Once the honey was aged, the bourbon was returned to the barrels for an undisclosed period. This batch has a slightly lower proof than the first batch, which was bottled at 57.85% ABV.

Macallan Harmony Collection V: Inspired By Phoenix Honey Orchid Tea Highland Single Malt

ABV: 43.9%
SRP: $200
Availability: Nationwide

Macallan Harmony Collection V: Inspired By Organic Cherrywood Lapsang Tea Highland Single Malt

ABV: 44.9%
SRP: $190
Availability: Global Travel Retail starting in October

Macallan has just announced the two latest single malts in its Harmony Collection, both of which were made in partnership with and draw inspiration from JING Tea. The first one, Inspired By Phoenix Honey Orchid, aims to mirror the fruity profile of a rare oolong tea from China’s Phoenix Mountain Range: leaning heavily on sherry-seasoned American oak casks, while also including bourbon barrels and sherry-seasoned European oak. This whisky is currently available at select retailers nationwide.

Its partner, Inspired By Organic Cherrywood Lapsang Tea, will be a Travel Retail exclusive arriving in early October. That whisky instead takes cues from one of JING’s lapsang teas, which is smoked over cherrywood. It was primarily aged in sherry-seasoned European oak casks, with sherried American oak playing more of a support role.

There’s a lot of overlap between tea lovers and whisky lovers, primarily because both drinks offer depth, complexity, and, sometimes, similar flavors. The two can even be mixed in cocktails, for even more enjoyment. But some whisky makers take that connection to the next level by making whiskies that more directly involve tea in the production process. Illinois craft player FEW Spirits has previously used tea in place of water during proofing, with Immortal Rye tapping oolong tea and its Smashing Pumpkins collaborative whiskey using a rose-influenced blend of black teas. During her days at Mackmyra, Angela D’Orazio—who just took over as head whisky maker at Compass Box—worked on a single malt called Grönt Te, which was finished in barrels seasoned with both sherry and green tea leaves.

Ardbeg Anthology: The Beithir’s Tale Islay Single Malt Scotch

ABV: 46%
Price: £135
Availability: Not available in the U.S., but available from ardbeg.com, Ardbeg Embassy stores, the Ardbeg Distillery visitor center, and select specialist retailers

Ardbeg is unveiling a new limited-edition 15 year old, marking the third and final release in its experimental Anthology Series that showcases the sweeter side of Ardbeg. The peated Islay single malt was matured in heavily toasted, lightly charred casks coopered from air-seasoned American oak rather than kiln-dried timber, seasoned with bourbon for four years, and intended to create a fuller, creamier flavor in the smoky scotch. Ardbeg refers to these barrels as designer bourbon casks, and these custom barrels were initially developed by sister distillery Glenmorangie and used on a range of highly rated whiskies including Artisan Cask in 2004, Astar (our No. 2 whisky of the year in 2017), and The Cadboll Estate 15 year old Batch 4, among others.

Each expression in the Anthology Series involves unusual or rarely seen casks for Ardbeg, and each is named after a different mythical beast from Scottish folklore. The series took flight with the 91-point Anthology: The Harpy’s Tale 13 year old in 2023, followed by the 93-point Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale 14 year old in 2024. The oldest whisky in the series, The Beithir’s Tale, is named after a fearsome beast that combines features of a dragon and a serpent; the packaging tells the tall tale of when the fearless Ardbeg team tackled a barrel-swallowing Beithir causing havoc in the warehouse. While the final bottling in the series is not scheduled for a U.S. release, resourceful collectors without an upcoming trip to Scotland should still be able to source a bottle from retailers and auction houses offering U.S. delivery.