Bulleit Debuts $30 Bourbon-Rye Blend as First New Core Release in 15 Years

(Photo: Bulleit)

Bulleit Frontier Whiskey announced on Thursday that it is expanding its core lineup for the first time in 15 years with the launch of Bulleit ’87, a blend of bourbon and rye whiskey.

The new release marks the brand’s first core addition since Bulleit 95 Rye debuted in 2011. Named after 1987, the year Bulleit was founded, “’87” is not an age statement but a tribute to the company’s origins.

Bulleit ’87 combines bourbon and rye that are each aged for at least four years, then finished with toasted American and French oak staves for four to six weeks. After the aging and finishing is complete, they are blended and bottled at Bulleit’s distillery in Shelbyville, Kentucky.

“If I were to visualize it, it’s like a cake,”Bulleit  Whiskey R&D Manager Phil Gelineau said in a news release. “The bourbon is your delicious sponge, the rye is like chocolate shavings on top, and the staves are the buttercream that brings it all together.”

The whiskey is bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV) and is designed primarily to be enjoyed neat, though Bulleit also recommends serving it over ice.

According to the company, Bulleit ’87 opens with aromas of caramel and brown sugar before developing notes of baking spice and oak, finishing with a balanced sweet-and-spicy character.

The release also introduces the first blue label in Bulleit’s signature frontier-style bottle design.

“’87 brings together everything that makes Bulleit great,” Bulleit Senior Brand Manager Jenika Newsum said. “Bourbon and rye whiskey are at the heart of our brand since its founding and guide our philosophy to do things differently. Now, ’87 unites them in one special bottle, balancing our signature bourbon sweetness with our rye spice in a bottle.”

To support the launch, Bulleit will embark on a nationwide sampling tour featuring more than 20 events across 15 cities, including New Orleans, Austin, New York, Los Angeles and Louisville. Each stop will pair the whiskey with local food specialties inspired by the host city, according to the brand.

Bulleit ’87 carries a suggested retail price of $29.99 per 750-milliliter bottle — the same price as Bulleit Bourbon and Bulleit 95 Rye — and is expected to arrive at select retailers nationwide beginning in September 2026.