New Spirit Releases - April 12, 2024 - Bulleit 12 Year Rye (2024), A. Overholt Straight Rye, Compass Box Celestial and More!

This is the second 12 year-old rye whiskey release from the brand after a five-year hiatus. The 95 on the label is referencing the 95% rye in the mash bill recipe, which is the same as the brand's flagship rye whiskey bottling. While this is aged for at least 12 years, this 2024 release contains barrels in the blend which are aged up to 17 years. Bottled at 92 proof, this limited edition release is available nationwide (excluding Maine) beginning April 2024. (SRP $54.99)

This release uses the same mash bill as the one Abraham Overholt used when he founded the brand in Pennsylvania in 1810 — 80% rye and 20% soft malted barley. Today, the Overholt brand is made in Clermont, Kentucky at the James B. Beam Distilling Co. with other Overholt Rye bottlings incorporating some corn in the recipe unlike this release. Bottled at 47.5% ABV, A. Overholt Straight Rye is available nationwide beginning April 2024. (SRP $39.99)

Like the first limited edition Rye the Lightning bottling released in 2022, this release was inspired by Metallica's 6x platinum sophomore album Ride the Lightning. Here, a selection of straight rye whiskeys were chosen by Master Distiller & Blender Rob Dietrich and then vatted together. Then the blend was finished in Madeira wine and Caribbean rum casks for 2-14 weeks each while the barrels underwent the brand's proprietary BLACK NOISE sonic enhancement process. Bottled at 92 proof without chill-filtration, it's available nationwide beginning April 2024. (SRP $69.99)

The second release of Lady Bird begins with the brand's flagship Small Batch Bourbon which is aged in new white American oak for four years. Next, it's infused with Burleson's Texas Wildflower Honey for 8-9 months before the bourbon is transferred to French oak Cognac XO barrels for 3 more years. The bourbon is named for Lady Bird Johnson, former First Lady from 1962-1969. Like the previous edition, Garrison Brothers will be donating $5 for each bottle sold to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in her honor. Garrison Brothers Lady Bird will launch 1,000 bottles at the distillery on May 11, 2024 before a nationwide launch in mid-May 2024 of the remaining 6,002 bottles. (SRP $179.99)

This 2024 Founder's Collection bottling is the rarest whiskey from the brand to date. Here, Rabbit Hole founder & whiskey maker Kaveh Zamanian selected 15 year-old Kentucky straight bourbon barrels from his personal collection. He then used Japanese Mizunara oak barrels for finishing for 11+ months. Bottled at 103.8 proof (51.9% ABV), it's available at the Rabbit Hole Distillery and select markets nationwide beginning April 2024. (SRP $1,500)

This is the first in an expected series of annual finishes for the Ezra Brooks 99 portfolio. Here, the brand begins with their Kentucky straight bourbon (78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley) and finishes it in port wine casks for six months. Bottled at the signature 99 proof (49.5% ABV), this is being shipped to retailers nationwide in April 2024. (SRP $34.99)

This is the fourth and final release in the Extinct Blends Quartet a series which pays homage to Scotch whisky from the past. In addition to grain whiskies, malt whiskies from Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Glen Elgin and Pulteney are used in this peated blend. It is bottled at 50% ABV (700 ml bottle), limited to 5,532 bottles released worldwide as of April 5, 2024. (SRP $375)