Whiskeys to Celebrate America's 250th Birthday

As the country gears up to celebrate the 4th of July and the nation's 250th anniversary, whiskey producers are marking the milestone with a wave of commemorative releases. From repackaged fan favorites and age-stated collectibles to entire collections celebrating the whiskey landscape from coast to coast, these patriotic bottlings capture a historic moment. Many are priced around $100, while others are designed as collectible keepsakes, with several brands also supporting veterans and military-focused charities from bottle purchases.

Barrell Bourbon Blend of Straight Bourbons (Batch 038)

Independent blender Barrell Bourbon has released 13,500 bottles of this celebratory expression blended together from four bourbon parcels: Kentucky-sourced 12 year old, Indiana 9 and 10 year old, Maryland 8 year old, and Tennessee 12 and 15 year olds. Bottled in Kentucky at 58.48% ABV, it has a high-rye mashbill (79% corn, 17% rye, and 4% malted barley), and is said to have strong earthy notes, with fine tannins that linger to the finish. It retails for $85 and is available nationally.

Blue Run 250th Anniversary High Rye Straight Bourbon

Blue Run has decked out its core high-rye bourbon in a commemorative bottle, touted as a collectible. The French cut glass bottle features a navy butterfly accent with white stars, a red-and-white striped tax strip, with 22-karat gold ink printed labels. The 55.5% ABV bottling is available for $90 at select retailers in California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, South Caroline, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington D.C.

Brush Creek Distillery Heroes Edition Straight Bourbon

Wyoming-based Brush Creek has historically released an annual barrel of its Heroes Edition bourbon, but in the celebratory spirit of the American West and the nation’s birthday has released a larger run from three barrels. This patriotic blend of 6-12 year old whiskeys is composed of a mashbill of patriotic grains—7% red winter wheat, 7% blue corn, 7% white corn—alongside 21% rye, 54% yellow corn, and 4% barley. Bottles are available both at the distillery and the gift shop at Brush Creek Ranch.

Buzzard’s Roost Red, White, and Roost Toasted Single Barrel Bourbon

This barrel strength high-rye bourbon underwent the label’s signature “double oak” process, wherein after an initial maturation in charred American oak barrels the whiskey is finished in proprietary casks that are custom-toasted and lightly charred. Priced at $85, it’s available at the distillery and tasting room on Louisville's Whiskey Row.

Elijah Craig America’s 250th Anniversary Edition Small Batch Bourbon

Elijah Craig, like others, has opted for a special label for its core range small batch straight bourbon. Bottled at the same 47% ABV, the only difference is the patriotic label.

Evan Williams America250 Collection

Evan Williams is offering patriotic editions of its Black Label and 1783 Small Batch bourbons, plus a limited Single Barrel bourbon. Each features a Statue of Liberty-inspired label, with the Black Label ($25/1.75L), 1783 Small Batch ($24/750 ml; $38/1.75L), and Single Barrel ($40/750 ml) available nationwide. The brand has also announced a new partnership and $75,000 donation to Folds of Honor to support the families of fallen or disabled service members and first responders.

Four Branches Liberty Reserve Double Oaked Four Grain Bourbon

Only 1,776 bottles—a nod to the year of the Declaration of Independence signing—were produced of this limited edition bottle from veteran-owned Four Branches. It blends 10 year old Kentucky straight bourbon with the label’s inaugural four-grain bourbon that was finished in toasted American oak barrels, before bottling at 50% ABV. Priced at $120, it’s available in limited quantities nationwide.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon Spirit of ‘76 Bourbon

The modern revival of George Washington Distillery—originally established by the first president in 1797—has produced a celebratory 7 year old wheated bourbon honoring the nation’s birthday. One of many limited edition releases using 18th-century methods, this one features a double-sided label with Emanuel Leutze's iconic painting, “Washington Crossing the Delaware.” This $1,000 bottle will be available beginning July 4th exclusively at the Shops at Mount Vernon with a one-bottle-per-person limit.

Horse Soldier Liberty Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon

This 13 year old bourbon is bottled at 100 proof, representing one of the more mature expressions in Horse Soldier’s portfolio. Only 1,776 bottles were produced, available in limited quantities nationwide. The bottle design nods to the Statue of Liberty. With each purchase of the $800 bottle, a portion will be donated to the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Foundation to support the preservation of America’s historical landmarks.

Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon Collection

Vermont-based independent bottler Lost Lantern has unveiled three whiskeys to mark this patriotic occasion: a 100-proof blend of straight bourbons, aged 2-10 years, from all 50 states; a cask strength version of the 100 Proof; and 1776 Edition, a blend of bourbons from the nation’s original 13 states. Available at retail in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia; and at the Lost Lantern tasting room in Vergennes, Vermont.

Maker's Mark 250th Anniversary Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon

The beloved Maker’s Mark wheated bourbon gets a makeover for America’s birthday, with ared, white, and blue label and a layer of white wax under its iconic red wax, and a blue Maker’s Mark seal. The bourbon is its classic 45% ABV expression, and is available nationwide for $29, with a portion of proceeds supporting veterans in agricultural careers in partnership with non-profit Federal Veteran Coalition (FDC).

Rittenhouse Rye United States 250th Anniversary Commemorative Edition Straight Rye

Pulled from 90 barrels, this commemorative bottled in bond rye was aged for 10 years. The bottle design is embellished with the colors of the nation’s flag and the Liberty Bell, a reference to the label’s roots in Pennsylvania. For $100, this bottle is available in limited supply nationwide.

Sagamore America 250 8 year old Straight Rye

Sagamore Whiskey has released an 8 year old 110-proof Maryland rye. Just 250 individually numbered bottles, each paired with a commemorative coin, available beginning in mid-July for $125 exclusively at the Baltimore waterfront distillery.

St. Petersburg Distillery Freedom 250 Bourbon

Florida-based St. Petersburg Distillery is celebrating with a one-off release: a 5 year old high-rye bourbon finished in local honey barrels and bottled at cask strength. Only 900 hand-numbered bottles will be released beginning on July 3rd at the distillery’s Welcome Salon, with a quarter of the proceeds donated to Hire Heroes USA, a nonprofit organization benefiting veterans, service members, and military families.

Soldier Valley Spirits

This Nebraska veteran-owned distillery, in tandem with nationally decorated country music star Lee Greenwood, is celebrating the patriotic occasion with a comeback following its December 2024 closure, with commemorative releases of its original bourbon, whiskey, and vodka. A portion of the proceeds goes to charities including Helping a Hero, Tunnels to Towers Foundation, and Folds of Honor. The Lee Greenwood Signature bourbon and whiskey are sourced from Indiana, and priced at $60 and $40, respectively, with an option to purchase them as a trio with the label’s vodka for $113. The bottles ship nationally; available online here.

Stil 630 Indomitable Spirits Bottled in Bond Single Barrel Bourbon

St Louis, Missouri-based Still 630 has launched Indomitable Spirit of America, a collection of 12 bottled in bond single barrel bourbons designed to celebrate America’s anniversary all year long. Released monthly throughout the year, each bourbon (same liquid throughout) commemorates a defining event in U.S. history, beginning with 1776, followed by subsequent bottles coinciding with important years in America’s last 250 years. June’s 1944 bottling paid homage to D-Day. With each purchase a commemorative coin is included. Previous bottles are available for purchase here, with upcoming bottles announced on the first Friday of each month.

Stoll & Wolfe Colonial Collaborative Wolfe & Wilson Straight Rye

Head distiller Erik Wolfe of Pennsylvania’s Stoll & Wolf has collaborated with Indiana farmer-distiller Alan Bishop for a unique colonial-era produced rye bottling–Wolfe & Wilson–to celebrate America’s anniversary. Its modeled after a 300 year old recipe that simply referred to bushels of rye malt, wheat, rye, and packets of oats. Only 1,000 bottles were made, each priced at $80 and available online and at the Stoll & Wolfe tasting room in Lititz.

Tenmile Semiquincentennial Revolutionary Whiskey Series

Tenmile Distillery in the Hudson Valley kicked off its celebratory releases last November. In total, it will release 57 American single malts—each with slightly different cask finishes—to honor key moments of Revolutionary battles, George Washington, and West Point. Eleven bottles have been released (some already sold out), one of the first reviewed here. This year, six more bottles will be released in sets of three in July and October. Touted as a collectible series, bottles are encouraged to be bought in sets, but can also be bought as a one-off for $60, online or at the Tenmile Distillery in Wassaic, New York.

WhistlePig Declaration Wheat Whiskey & Piggybank Rye, White, and Blue Rye

Vermont’s WhistlePig has released a duo of whiskeys to celebrate the semiquincentennial: a wheat whiskey double aged in new American oak, complete with a cracked Liberty Bell topper ($74), and a patriotic collectible silver piggybank decanter holding the label’s signature 10 year old straight rye ($250). Both are available online and at select retailers nationally.

Yellowstone Single Barrel Program

Yellowstone Bourbon, founded by 7th-generation master distiller Stephen Beam, is giving its single barrel program a patriotic makeover, releasing just 250 7 year old bottled in bond barrels. Participating retailers and on-premise accounts can select their own commemorative barrel, with bottles arriving in specially designed patriotic packaging, including a decorated tube featuring a replica of the Declaration of Independence, with a suggested price of $70 per bottle.