Second Stitzel Reserve Expression Arrives at Insane 163.2 Proof (we thought it was a typo!) and Limited to 176 Bottles.
Diageo announced the release of Stitzel Reserve 31-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskey, the second expression in the Stitzel Reserve collection from Stitzel-Weller Distillery. The release became available April 30, 2026, exclusively at the Louisville distillery with a suggested retail price of $3,000 per 750mL bottle. Only 176 bottles were produced, with purchases limited to one bottle per person.
The bourbon was distilled in 1992 by a historic Kentucky bourbon producer and aged for more than three decades at Stitzel-Weller Distillery before being removed from barrel in 2024 and bottled on April 28, 2026. According to the distillery, the whiskey originated from 13 barrels and was bottled at 163.2 proof (81.6% ABV).
Nicole Austin Details Extended Aging Process
The Stitzel Reserve collection is overseen by Nicole Austin, Director of American Whiskey Liquid Development and Capabilities at Diageo.
“When I discovered these barrels, I saw the potential for something extraordinarily rare,” said Austin. “What makes this release so special is not just its age, but the fact that it reached 31 years with such integrity. At Stitzel-Weller Distillery, our aging conditions have allowed us to carefully steward barrels like this over time in a way that very few distilleries in Kentucky can. That combination of place, patience and close attention is what gives this bourbon its power, elegance and continued evolution in the glass.”
Tasting Notes and Packaging Details
According to the distillery, Stitzel Reserve 31-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskey opens with notes of waxy orchard fruit, pear brandy, cedar, apple skin, burnt sugar, dried orange peel, cola syrup, and aged books. The palate delivers concentrated dark fruit and structured oak tannins, while the finish transitions into pine boughs and baked apple notes. A few drops of water reportedly reveal softer floral characteristics, including apple blossom.
Packaging for the release includes woodgrain-inspired gold and charcoal label detailing with Art Deco-inspired accents. Each bottle is individually numbered and hand-signed by Nicole Austin.
Distillery-Exclusive Bourbon Experience
In addition to bottle sales, consumers can participate in a tasting experience at the Garden & Gun Club located at Stitzel-Weller Distillery. The $350 tasting package includes a pour of the whiskey, an etched whiskey glass, branded bag, and limited-edition Stitzel-Weller Distillery pin.
Stitzel Reserve 31-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskey is available exclusively at the historic Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky.
Listen to Bourbon Lens on your favorite podcast app or stream on Spotify. If you’d like to support Bourbon Lens, join our Patreon, sign up for our “Weekly Pour” Newsletter, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Recent Bourbon Lens Coverage
- Diageo Releases Rare, 31-Year-Old Stitzel Reserve Bourbon at 163.2 Proof
- Jeptha Creed Announces “Bruce’s Blue”: A Bourbon Crafted from Proprietary Heirloom Blue Corn
- Oaklore Distilling Co. Unveils Two New Limited-Edition Cask-Finished Bourbons for Spring 2026
- Four Roses Expands Single Barrel Collection with Nationwide Release of Three Distinct Recipes
- Koopers Whiskey Debuts Rare 10-Year Rye Finished in Buffalo Trace Barrels
- House of Rare Tequila Redefines Spirits Aging with Launch of RAREcask Genesis PX
