Need your fix of news in the spirts world? Jake & Scott have you covered with the latest from around the world of bourbon, whiskey and beyond.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (September 25, 2026) – Nikka Whisky has released Taketsuru Pure Malt Essentials 2026 (43% ABV, 700ml, $249.99 SRP), the first bottling in an annual limited-edition series honoring founder Masataka Taketsuru, widely considered the Father of Japanese Whisky. Only 1,200 bottles are available nationwide. The series will run annually through 2030, leading up
The Maven Distillery Debuts Its 99-Point Kentucky Straight Bourbon at $199 Read Post »
SHELBYVILLE, Ky. (September 2026) – The Maven Distillery has released its first flagship expression, The Maven Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a 7+ year-old blend of six whiskeys that earned a Double Gold medal and 99 points at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The release is the result of a decade of work by
Basil Hayden and Rowing Blazers Blend Bourbon, Fashion, and Culture Read Post »
Basil Hayden and Rowing Blazers Launch “Classics, Reimagined” Partnership. Basil Hayden and Rowing Blazers have announced a new partnership bringing together bourbon, fashion and culture under the shared theme of “Classics, Reimagined.” The collaboration will include content, experiences and limited-edition drops rolling out throughout the fall and holiday season. The partnership connects Basil Hayden’s approach
Jefferson’s Bourbon Refreshes Portfolio With New Look and 8-Year Reserve Read Post »
Jefferson’s Refreshes Portfolio With New Packaging and Liquid Updates Jefferson’s Bourbon has introduced a refreshed look across its portfolio, along with updates to select expressions. The new packaging is designed around the brand’s history of experimentation and exploration, including its work with blending and aging bourbon at sea. According to the brand, the updated packaging
Widow Jane Black Opal Returns With 20-Year-Old Bourbon and Mizunara Finish Read Post »
Widow Jane Black Opal 2026 Blends 20-Year-Old Bourbons. Widow Jane Distillery has unveiled the second iteration of Black Opal Bourbon, a limited release featuring a blend of bourbons aged for a minimum of 20 years and finished for 13 months in old-growth Mizunara oak casks. The 2026 expression follows the first Black Opal release in
Bourbon Lens traveled to The Parlor Room in Bardstown, Kentucky, for a wide-ranging conversation with founder Whitney Rye — known to many as Bourbon Duchess — that traced the history of Barton Distillery through a vertical tasting culminating in a first taste of the newly released 1792 Straight Rye. The Parlor Room, which Rye opened
