People think of late fall and winter as whisky-sipping seasons, but spring is the time of year when some of the most exciting releases of the year crop up. This year is no exception, although the offerings are quite exceptional. And there’s something for just about every palate, style preference and budget. Plus, if you’re looking for Father’s Day, graduation or special occasion splurges, there’s a lot of shopping potential here. 

George Dickel Bottled in Bond Tennessee Whisky Spring 2007

50% ABV, $45

Following up on the madness of the first two releases in this ferociously popular bottled in bond series was all method for Cascade Hollow Master Blender and General Manager Nicole Austin. Speaking to Austin over Zoom she provided some insights into her selection process. Keeping in mind that bottled in bond blends can only consist of whiskeys from the same distillery that were all distilled and barreled in a single season, she begins by grouping selections from specific seasons together by flavor profile. Then when arriving at the final selection for her blend, her main objective, aside from balance of flavor, is a whiskey that resembles the other siblings in the bonded series in certain respects. Yet it still has to stand out. No pressure, or anything. 

So far the characteristic differences between the three BIB releases to date—this one is the first from a spring season—are indeed understated. “It’s really different if you are a subtle and interested taster of whiskey,” Austin says. “But if you line these up in a group of 100 whiskeys, they have a lot more in common.” While all of the BIB series whiskeys share certain tart, fruity and nutty characteristics, for instance, Austin and I both agree this 13-year-old is the “juiciest” season blend so far. The cherry notes stand out in particular, lending a sort of Dr. Pepper-like quality, and more of an almond nuttiness as opposed to peanuts in the others. All of which add up to some serious deliciousness. 

Other Noteworthy New Bottled in Bond Releases

• Laws Bonded Centennial Straight Wheat Whiskey: Here’s the third release of this intriguing take on bottled in bond. Laws uses 100% soft white Centennial wheat grown in its home state of Colorado for this whiskey, which has a delightful, toasted honeycomb cereal flavor. 50% ABV, $75
• Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Warehouse C Bourbon: The liquid for this 10 year-old BIB was matured on floors 2 and 5 in a favorite warehouse at Buffalo Trace distillery in Kentucky that was built by Col. Taylor in 1885. Sip on this leathery, spicy beauty while flipping through a commemorative lithograph book about the original distillery concept, which can be purchased here. 50% ABV, $70

Milam & Greene The Castle Hill Series Batch 1

54.25% ABV, $120.00

This new series from this Austin, TX-based brand is named for a former military outpost, “The Castle,” overlooking the city’s Capitol building. This is where Master Blender and CEO Heather Greene spent much of lockdown tasting whiskeys and reflecting on life in general. This series premier is a blend of 13-year-old bourbons, selected from 20 single casks, each contributing their own “spice’ to the final product. Greene maintains that her approach to blending is that it must have intention, and looks out for subtleties within each whiskey’s flavor profile before deciding what percentage of what, or anything, goes into the final product. “I like that moment where it dries slightly, and you taste the wood and the tannins,” she says. Here look out for dried cherries, fig, almonds, milk chocolate and a bit of an oily leatheriness. This bottling is rather limited in quantities and may be tough to find, but it’s worth trying the website’s retail finder. 

Catoctin Creek Distilling Co. GWAR Ragnarök Rye 

46% ABV, $99

This project between the Virginia distillery and the Richmond-based heavy metal monster costume band GWAR seemed a tad absurd. Then its original release date in February came and went. Founder Scott Harris attributes the initial delay to, uh, overenthusiastic band members. But the extra time allowed for a cheeky bottle update with a different topper for each band member—Blóthar the Berserker; Balsac the Jaws of Death, Jizmak da Gusha, Beefcake the Mighty, and Pustulus Maximus. "Usually, we have the production process under control, but this time the band members drank everything we distilled, and then demanded we create bottle toppers using rare metal ore sourced from the fillings of trolls,” says jokes Harris. Aged in charred new white oak, the liquid then undergoes additional aging in sugar maple and cherry wood. Questions is, will it make you cry for your momma, as the song goes, or are you gonna have a good time? If you like a whiskey that reminds of whole grain biscuits slathered with grape jelly, then that’s your answer.

Black Bourbon Society Maker’s Mark Private Selection 2 

55.2.% ABV, $69

This release was made through the Maker’s Mark Private Selection program, which gives participants a chance to “make their own Maker’s” by selecting a custom oak stave finish for a fully-matured cask strength Maker’s Mark Bourbon single barrel. This recipe is a pick by BBS Founder Samara Davis (BBS also founded Diversity Distilled with the help of Maker’s Mark and Southern Glazer’s) and partner/husband Armond Davis. This selection is the first to include Maker’s Mark’s newest stave variant known as Mendiant. “Armond and I look for barrels that speak to our palates and personalities and the Maker's Mark Private Selection program allows us to do just that. Instead of picking barrels that may complement our palate profiles, with the Private Selection program (and the five wood finishing staves) we get a chance to customize our own unique blend! You'll see in our latest selection, the smooth vanilla and chocolate notes fit Armond's personality, but the bold caramel and spice notes fit mine.” (Mine too, Samara!) 

Private Selection 2 is available in select cities, as and can be purchased via Spirits Network through the end of the year. 

Leopold Bros. Bottled in Bond Three Chamber Rye Collector’s Edition

50% ABV, $250

Inspired by what he calls “14th floor readings” of old distilling documents, distiller Todd Leopold discovered evidence of three chamber stills, which had been the “still of choice” for making rye before Prohibition. They became all but extinct due to the inefficiencies of operating in three sections. Yet, despite the challenges, from learning more about how they work, and seeing who was using them in the first place, Leopold decided to build one for his distillery.

This meticulously produced whiskey (yes, another BIB!) is the first of its kind in at least 50 years. It’s rather waxy—tasting a bit like a pretzel if it was made from rye dough—with earthy and spicy notes rounding out bitter chocolate, some saltiness, and a waft of chamomile. 

Jefferson’s Straight Rye Cognac Cask Finish 

47% ABV, $70

By now we’ve tasted quite a few ryes that have been finished in Port wine or rum barrels, but cognac is an unusual choice. “I wanted to look at rye through a new lens and elevate it past the supporting role it’s commonly associated with,” explains Jefferson’s founder Trey Zoeller. He says he specifically set out to make a “sipping rye” as opposed to a cocktail base. It turns out the French limousin oak barrel of the cognac is a solid match with the spice of the rye grain, while the grapeyness of the brandy adds a tart, fruitiness to the whiskey. 

Castle & Key Restoration Rye 2021 Batch #1

50.5% ABV, $40

The third release of the resurrected Kentucky distillery’s rye is intended to be a light sipper for the summer months. The whiskey is 63% rye with 17% corn and 20% malted barley, blended from 80 barrels. It’s grassy, sweet and light, and perfect to sip while star gazing. 

Barrell Craft Spirits Barrell Seagrass 

59.2% ABV, $90

This summery expression from these renegade independent bottlers is a poem to the sea. This blend consists of Canadian and American rye that has separately been matured in Madeira, Martinique rhum agricole and apricot brandy casks. The effect is spicy, tangy and wondrously tropical. Never mind a rock, you might want a mini paper umbrella to garnish your glass.

Port Charlotte PAC:01 2011

56.1% ABV, $130

The latest heavily peated (and they aren’t messing around) Cask Edition single malt from Bruichladdich featuring Scottish-grown barley gets a finish in Bordeaux wine casks. The smokiness is all BBQ, and the overall effect is a bit like sipping a boozy liquid version of campfire-toasted s’mores. 

Takamine Whiskey 8 Year 

43% ABV, $99

Jokichi Takamine was a Japanese chemist living in Illinois, and the first to apply koji fermentation (the centuries’ old Japanese technique of using naturally-occurring grain mold to break down starches to convert into sugars) to American whiskey in the 1890s. Fun fact: He is also credited with planting the original DC cherry blossoms! Produced at Shinozaki Distillery, it has a mash bill of 100% pearled 2-row barley, which is 40% koji-fermented and 60% steamed. A 2-day koji propagation is followed by a 2-stage open fermentation, then a double pot-still distillation before an 8 year maturation in a combination of virgin American oak and ex-bourbon casks, with a final proof of 86.7%. Expect springy florals on the nose, with notes of marzipan, citrus and roasted grains. 

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521

59.1% ABV, $70

Heaven Hill regularly releases Elijah Craig as an uncut and non-chill filtered12 year old bourbon. Each one varies by proof, and this one is 118.2, which is the lowest proof release to date. It’s a big hug of a bourbon, with a sweet toastiness balancing flavors of roasted nuts and cocoa. 

Stranahan’s Original 

47% ABV, $55

In celebration of its 15th anniversary, this Colorado single malt distillery has re-blended its flagship whiskey with older malts to include 100% malted barley at 4, 5, 6 and 7 years old, aged in new oak with a #3 char. Milk chocolate, cinnamon, clove and hop-like florals make it both a neat sipper and a fun base for lighter style summer cocktails.