The Weekly Pour: Drinks Industry News, Releases and Reviews Recap for July 21-25, 2025

The Weekly Pour is a series by Bottle Raiders to catch you up on all the latest beverage news and releases each week. This week’s edition covers July 21-25, 2025.

Notable Beverage Releases That Dropped This Week

Buffalo Trace Rolls Out Higher-Proof Version of Classic Sazerac Rye Whiskey

On Monday, Buffalo Trace Distillery introduced Sazerac Rye Whiskey 100 Proof, a new, higher-proof version of its popular rye whiskey, which has traditionally been proofed at 90. The new version is now available to retailers, bars and restaurants in select U.S. markets at a suggested retail price of $29.99 per 1-liter bottle.

Click here to read more.

Goose Island Unveils 2025 Bourbon County Stout Lineup

On Tuesday, Goose Island Beer Co. unveiled its 2025 Bourbon County Brand Stout lineup.

Released each Black Friday, Bourbon County is one of the most anticipated annual releases in all of beer. This year’s barrel-aged stout lineup comprises six variants, including two collaborations with whiskey powerhouse Heaven Hill: Original Stout, Cherries Jubilee Stout, Chocolate Praline Stout, Proprietor’s Stout, Double Barrel Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Stout and Parker’s Heritage Reserve Stout.

Click here to read more.

Miller High Life Just Dropped a Beer-Infused Ice Cream Push Pop Inspired by a Dive Bar Cocktail

Miller High Life has introduced the Spaghett-sicle, a 5%-ABV frozen push-pop inspired by the dive bar cocktail known as the Spaghett. The frozen treat launched last week in partnership with alcohol-infused ice cream brand Tipsy Scoop and is available for a limited time.

The Spaghett, a growing staple in dive bars, typically combines a cold bottle of Miller High Life with a splash of lemon and a dash of an aperitif such as Aperol. The new Spaghett-sicle mirrors this combination in frozen form.

Click here to read more.

World’s Oldest Whisky: 85-Year-Old Glenlivet Scotch Coming This Fall

Whisky bottler Gordon & MacPhail announced on Tuesday it will release the world’s oldest single malt Scotch this October: an 85-year-old whisky from Glenlivet Distillery, laid down in 1940 and bottled earlier this year.

Click here to read more.

Historic Stitzel-Weller Distillery Partners With Colman Domingo to Auction Its Rarest Bourbon Ever

I.W. Harper on Thursday unveiled a 34-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, the oldest and rarest bottling in the brand’s 150-year history. Only 11 bottles of the bourbon exist, and five of them will be auctioned through Sotheby’s in New York between July 24 and Aug. 7, with proceeds benefiting Native Son, a nonprofit supporting Black queer men.

The whiskey was distilled in 1989 at the historic Stitzel-Weller Distillery and aged for 34 years before being bottled at a cask-strength 63.1% ABV, the release comes from four barrels. The brand estimates the starting value will be $3,000-$5,000 per bottle.

Click here to read more.

Buffalo Trace Unveils a Pair of Ultra-Aged Weller Wheat Whiskeys

On Friday, Buffalo Trace Distillery announced two new additions to its wheat whiskey portfolio: Weller 18 Year Old and the second edition of Weller Millennium. Both expressions aim to demonstrate the aging potential of wheat-based whiskey and build on the legacy of the Original Wheated Bourbon brand.

Weller 18 Year Old is the oldest age-stated whiskey released under the Weller name to date. Bottled at 90 proof, it features a wheat-forward mashbill and will first be sold through global travel retail outlets. Weller Millennium #2 is a blend of vintage straight wheated bourbons and wheat whiskeys distilled in 2001, 2003 and 2006.

Click here to read more.

Kōloa Rum Debuts Single-Batch Aged Rum

NEW RUM RELEASE

Kōloa Rum, the craft rum distiller from Kaua‘i, has unveiled the newest addition to its portfolio: Kōloa Kaua’i Single-Batch Aged Rum.

• Aged 5 years in new oak
• 92 proof
💰 $72.99 per 750ml bottle pic.twitter.com/tiydaHXxla

— Bottle Raiders (@bottleraiders) July 21, 2025

Actor Matthew Lillard Releases Texas Bourbon

NEW BOURBON RELEASE

Actor @MatthewLillard unveils “Hell is Not Mocked,” the latest from his company, Macabre Spirits.

A Texas bourbon bottled at 98 proof, the release is accompanied by a short story, as is the usual for the brand.

Available 7/31 at https://t.co/Vd18CCAmxz pic.twitter.com/GipJPK4AEk

— Bottle Raiders (@bottleraiders) July 22, 2025

15 STARS Unveils Triad of Whiskeys

WHISKEY RELEASE

15 STARS has unveiled three new “First West” whiskeys:
• Small Batch: 5-7yr, 102 proof, $60
• Toasted Oak: 5-7yr, 98 proof, $70
• Extra Aged 8-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskey: 8-9yr, 100 proof, $80 pic.twitter.com/MBSVX7DazV

— Bottle Raiders (@bottleraiders) July 22, 2025

Barrell Decade, a Blend of Finished 20- to 30-Year-Old Whiskies, Debuts

NEW WHISKEY RELEASE

Barrell Craft Spirits (@BarrellBourbon) unveils Barrell Decade.

🥃 Blend of 20-30-year-old Canadian whiskies finished in Spanish brandy and Hungarian oak casks
☣️ Hazmat 142.7 proof
💰 $200 MSRP pic.twitter.com/RBjZz7EVf7

— Bottle Raiders (@bottleraiders) July 24, 2025

New Riff Celebrates 11th Anniversary With 2nd ‘Headliner’ Whiskey

Today, @NewRiff unveiled the second release of its annual Headliner #whiskey.

🥃111 proof

The blend:
• 28% 11yr corn whiskey
• 27% 11yr #bourbon
• 15% 10yr Balboa Rye
• 15% 10yr rye
• 15% 8yr Aroostook malted rye

💰 $150, available via https://t.co/RJCVa8HO3p pic.twitter.com/KCTvKfug9L

— Bottle Raiders (@bottleraiders) July 25, 2025

Beverage News From This Week

Kentucky Sues Temu Over Allegations of Data Theft, Infringing on Copyright of Jim Beam, Buffalo Trace, Maker’s Mark

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced the filing of a lawsuit against the popular Chinese shopping website Temu, alleging the company has been illegally collecting data from users and sharing it with the Chinese government; stealing intellectual property of Kentucky brands such as Buffalo Trace, Maker’s Mark, Jim Beam, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville and Churchill Downs; and violating U.S. trade policies by using “forced labor from Chinese ethnic minorities.”

Click here to read more.

Sazerac Sues Facebook Imposter, Claims They Posed as Buffalo Trace Master Distiller to Sell Counterfeit Van Winkle Bourbon

Liquor giant Sazerac filed a complaint against an anonymous individual (or individuals) who Sazerac claims has been pretending to be Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley across multiple social media channels and using this false persona to fraudulently sell Sazerac-related products — including rare bottles of Van Winkle bourbon — in what appears to be a Van Winkle bourbon scam targeting collectors and enthusiasts.

Click here to read more.

The Macallan Opens Luxury Scotch Whisky Boutique at LAX

Luxury scotch whisky brand The Macallan announced Wednesday that it has opened its first West Coast travel retail boutique inside Los Angeles International Airport’s Tom Bradley International Terminal, expanding its U.S. footprint.

Click here to read more.

WHISKEY NEWS

Grain-to-glass distillery @MindenMill announces nationwide distribution for its Single Estate Nevada Straight Rye Whiskey.

• 94 proof
💰 $45
🥃 Check out our review of this rye here: https://t.co/s0abIfVutZ pic.twitter.com/tCZjfMwETL

— Bottle Raiders (@bottleraiders) July 22, 2025

Jameson Irish Whiskey announced this morning it’s bringing back its global music platform, Jameson Distilled Sounds, for a second year with Anderson .Paak returning as ‘Music Distiller’.

Artists from across India, Africa & more will record and perform new music under .Paak. pic.twitter.com/VP0QhxAlX3

— Bottle Raiders (@bottleraiders) July 23, 2025

What We Reviewed This Week

Sorted From Highest to Lowest Raided Score

Bourbon Review: Still Austin Bottled In Bond Red Corn Bourbon

Tequila Review: CasAzar Añejo

Bourbon Review: Booker’s 2025-02 ‘By the Pond’

Rye Whiskey Review: Michter’s 10 Year Old Single Barrel Rye 2025

Whiskey Review: Penelope Cigar Sessions Chapter 01

Bourbon Review: Never Say Die Small Batch

Non-Alc Review: Parch Prickly Paloma Non-Alcoholic Agave Cocktail

Agave Spirits Week Content

On Thursday (National Tequila Day), Bottle Raiders kicked off Agave Spirits Week, dedicated to celebrating tequila, mezcal and other spirits distilled from agave. We’ll be continuing the celebration throughout all of next week, but here’s the content we’ve published so far:

How Is Tequila Made? The Definitive Guide

Before it finds its way into a margarita or a chilled rocks glass at your local speakeasy, tequila begins life in the sunbaked fields of Mexico. But how is a humble plant turned into a world-famous export responsible for billions in revenue year after year? Today, we’ll take a quick dive into six key factors that distinguish tequila — once a regional form of mezcal without a trace of recognition to its name — as a force to be reckoned with.

Click here to read more.

8 Bartenders Reveal Their Favorite Additive-Free Tequilas for Making Cocktails

Delicious, additive-free tequila comes in all shapes and sizes. But those opulent bottles you hear about on Instagram aren’t usually intended for a homemade margarita. The most reliable of mixology essentials tend to be cheap and widely available, chock-full of agave flavor and easy to love for both novices and seasoned experts alike. It’s a tricky tightrope, though one that’s simple enough to find if you know where to look.

Click here to read more.

5 Unmissable Tequila Distillery Tours in the Heart of Agave Country

If you’re planning a trip to Jalisco, Mexico, a stop by one (or a few) of the state’s world-famous tequila distilleries is a must. In some respects, it’s a surprisingly easy journey. There are only around 150 distilleries collectively responsible for the industry’s thousands of tequila brands, meaning that — hypothetically — you could stop by one a day for a year and have seen them all by June.

Click here to read more.

10 Best High-Proof Blanco Tequilas to Buy in 2025

Most tequila sold in the U.S. is bottled at the legal minimum of 40% ABV. This is largely due to import fees (higher alcohol content tends to beget higher costs) and a push for consistency. After all, tequila is a relatively new flavor for most Americans, and distillers don’t want consumers to be overwhelmed by a blast of alcohol at first sip.

But let’s say, hypothetically, you’re looking for something a little stronger. You’ve navigated the world of agave spirits and set your sights on the horizon, eager to taste all those deliciously sweet, peppery and fruity notes that all too often get buried beneath a low proof point.

Never in history have there been more options to choose from. High-proof blancos have experienced something of a renaissance over the past few years, thanks to a trending interest in premium, additive-free tequila that has expanded the palates of casual and experienced drinkers alike.

We compiled a list of the 10 best blanco tequilas that push the boundaries well beyond 40% ABV.

Click here to read more.

Kendall Jenner, Chris Stapleton Team Up for National Tequila Day Cocktail Made With 818 and Traveller Whiskey

Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila announced Thursday that it’s marking National Tequila Day with the return of its “Shake Up the Classics” campaign, this time in collaboration with Grammy-winning country artist Chris Stapleton.

The campaign is centered around a new cocktail, the Calabasas Cowboy, which the brands describe as a tequila-based twist on the classic Gold Rush (although the recipe calls for simple syrup, not honey, making it more of a riff on a whiskey sour). The drink blends Jenner’s 818 Tequila with Stapleton’s Traveller Whiskey, which is produced by Buffalo Trace.

Click here to read more.

Our Video Content From This Week

Macallan Whisky: Everything You Need To Know 🥃

5 Whisky Myths Everyone Gets Wrong! 🥃

I Went Bourbon Hunting on a Military Base!

Surprising Dusty Find While Bourbon Hunting in Mississippi!

Three Blanton’s Original bourbon alternatives that won’t break the bank 🥃

 

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Three affordable and underrated whisky/whiskey bottles 🥃

 

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Single Barrel Whiskey — why do people love it so much? 🥃

 

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Thanks for reading The Weekly Pour! We’ll be back next week. In the meantime, you can keep up with us on our website, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube channel and our newsletter!