News Notes: Tennessee's Winter Whiskey Doings, Irish Distillery Visits Still Booming & More

Wild Turkey Debuts “Thanksgiving Traditions,” A New Annual Initiative

Wild Turkey wants to join your Thanksgiving table this season with the launch of “Thanksgiving Traditions,” a series of holiday-themed activations and donations. Inspired by its 101 Bourbon, it has pledged $101,000 to the national nonprofit Farmlink Project, providing surplus food from farms to communities in need. The donation is expected to help provide approximately 1.2 million meals, with the opportunity for fans to contribute directly through the Wild Turkey website.

Throughout November, participating bars, restaurants, and retailers nationwide will offer seasonal cocktail specials featuring Wild Turkey 101 bourbon. For those hosting Thanksgiving at home, the brand has also partnered with Cocktail Courier on a $115 Holiday Hosting Edition kit with everything needed to create a Wild Turkey holiday punch that includes a limited-edition 1.75-liter Wild Turkey can for decanting.

Tennessee Whiskey Trail Unveils Cold Weather Event Program

As temperatures start to dip, the Tennessee Whiskey Trail is aiming to keep visitors warm with a new slate of events dubbed Fireside Tennessee. The initiative, which kicks off on November 1st and runs through February 28th, will bring fireside experiences, seasonal decorations, and warming winter cocktails to participating distilleries along the trail. The list includes Gate 11 in Chattanooga, Leiper’s Fork and Stable Reserve in Franklin, Nelson’s Green Brier in Nashville, Old Forge in Pigeon Forge, Old Tennessee Distilling Co. in Kodak, Short Mountain in Woodbury, and Sugarlands Distilling Co. in Gatlinburg.

Irish Whiskey Visitors Top One Million Again

Irish whiskey distilleries have had over one million visitors for the second consecutive year, according to the Irish Whiskey Association's annual Irish Whiskey Way survey. From June 2025 to June 2026, distilleries welcomed 1,040,159 visitors, up more than 30,000 from the previous year. Premium distillery experiences offer historical and cultural attractions in addition to tastings, with more than one-third of visitors opting not to consume alcohol on-site.

Despite challenges facing Irish whiskey sales, the growing interest in distillery experiences is a positive sign, particularly for rural areas, where 73% of participating Irish Whiskey Way distilleries are located. Visitors from the U.S. made up the largest share, followed by those from Ireland, the U.K., Germany, and France. Average spending per visitor also rose from approximately €42 to €50.

Dublin's Jameson Distillery Bow St. topped the list of most-visited attractions, followed by Old Bushmills Distillery in County Antrim, Teeling Whiskey Distillery in Dublin, Midleton Distillery Experience in County Cork, and The Shed Distillery in County Leitrim. Among the fastest-growing visitor experiences were J.J. Corry Irish Whiskey Bonders in County Clare and Ardara Distillery in County Donegal.

New Spirits Releases

Sazerac’s Buckhorn Adds Fall-Forward Smoked Maple to Flavored Whiskey Portfolio

Sazerac’s newest American whiskey brand, Buckhorn, has added Smoked Maple to its flavored lineup. Arriving just in time for fall, it joins Honey and a range of fruit-flavored whiskeys, including Blackberry, Peach, Pineapple, and Black Cherry, alongside the brand’s ready-to-drink Whiskey Lemonades. Bottled at 32.5% ABV, Smoked Maple is available nationwide, with two scavenger hunt-themed events—dubbed The Buck Hunt—celebrating its launch in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood on November 6 and Atlanta’s Buckhead on November 13. Those who register online will receive clues to track down each city’s secret event location.

English Whisky Distillery Cotswolds Releases Cream Liqueur

From across the pond comes Cotswolds Distillery's latest release, and it's a sweet one. The new Whisky Cream Liqueur combines the distillery's new-make single malt spirit, made from locally grown barley, with Irish cream, a nod to the origins of cream liqueurs in Ireland, where spirits were historically used to preserve dairy. Bottled at 17% ABV, the 700 ml bottling will be available at select retailers in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Texas beginning October 31. In addition to its aged whiskies, Cotswolds produces an amaro made with its single malt whisky, a gin-and-sherry Summer Cup, and a spritz aperitivo. This marks the distillery's first cream-based liqueur.