HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY UNVEILS RITTENHOUSE UNITED STATES 250TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE EDITION STRAIGHT RYE WHISKY
A Limited-Edition, 10-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond Release Honors America’s Semiquincentennial and Pennsylvania Heritage

Bardstown, Ky. (May 21, 2026) – Heaven Hill Distillery proudly announces the release of the Rittenhouse United States 250th Anniversary Commemorative Edition, a 10-year-old Bottled-in-Bond Rye Whisky crafted to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence. Launching in May 2026, this special-edition product celebrates Rittenhouse’s Pennsylvania heritage with commemorative Liberty Bell packaging and will be allocated across select US markets and at the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience.

Rooted in Pennsylvania’s historic rye whiskey tradition, a cornerstone of early American distilling, Rittenhouse Rye pays tribute to a time when rye was the spirit of choice across the region. Named after Philadelphia’s famed Rittenhouse Square, the brand has long been synonymous with the bold, spicy character of classic Monongahela rye. This commemorative release both honors that enduring legacy and marks a defining milestone in the nation’s history, as Heaven Hill Distillery continues to preserve the authenticity and heritage of one of America’s most storied whiskey styles.

The Rittenhouse 250th Anniversary Edition is a Bottled-in-Bond Rye Whiskey, adhering to the rigorous standards established by the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. Aged for 10 years and bottled at 100-proof, the whiskey is composed of a mashbill of 51% rye, 35% corn, and 14% malted barley. Non-chill filtered and drawn from 90 carefully selected barrels aged across multiple rickhouses and floors, this release reflects both craftsmanship and patience.

“This special release is a tribute not only to America’s 250 years of independence, but also to the enduring legacy of rye whiskey in our country’s history,” said Molly Vincent, Associate Director, Luxury Whiskeys at Heaven Hill. “Rittenhouse has long stood as a symbol of classic American rye, and this 10-year-old Bottled-in-Bond expression showcases the depth and character that define both the brand and the milestone it commemorates.”

Presented in striking commemorative packaging, the release prominently features “1776–2026” to mark the Semiquincentennial. Patriotic design elements, including stars and red, white and blue coloring, reinforce the national celebration, while the iconic Liberty Bell pays homage to Rittenhouse’s Pennsylvania roots. The packaging also highlights key quality markers, including “Aged 10 Years” and “Bottled-in-Bond,” underscoring the whiskey’s elevated age statement and distinction.

The Rittenhouse United States 250th Anniversary Commemorative Edition will be available in limited markets across the country at a suggested retail price of $99.99. For more information, visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 2 million barrels aging in more than 70 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond, Henry McKenna, Parker’s Heritage Collection along with its extensive and diverse collection of unique and innovative products. In the past five years alone, Heaven Hill Distillery has been named Distiller of the Year nine times, including 2024 and 2023 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year. Other recent honors include 2024 and 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition’s Most Awarded Distillery and the 2023 Icons of Whisky World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon. For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

Our May 2026 Auction ENDS SOON!

Place your bids until 7pm (GMT) Sunday 24th May.

www.whiskyhammer.com

Every month, we present an incredible selection of whiskies and other fine spirits to our members right across the globe. You will find everything here from limited edition releases and vintage bottles to whole casks of rare whisky. There is certainly something for everyone – whether you are looking to collect, invest or enjoy!

Bladnoch – Pure Lowland Malt (1970s) 75cl

St. Magdalene – 1965 (Gordon & MacPhail) Connoisseurs Choice (75cl)

Bruichladdich – 21 Year Old (Limited Edition) Cask Strength

Bowmore – 25 Year Old (The Gulls) 75cl

Selling whisky? Why not arrange the pick-up of your bottles using our global courier service? If you’re based in Scotland, you might want to arrange the personal collection of your bottles. Wherever you’re based in the world, we will make getting your bottles into our monthly auction as simple as possible. Get in touch with the Whisky Hammer team now by dropping them a message at sales@whiskyhammer.com.

£214.98 GBP

Glenallachie 17 Year Old 2009 is a richly indulgent Speyside single malt Scotch whisky, drawn from a single Oloroso sherry hogshead (#1426) and bottled in 2026 at a natural 53.0% ABV. This limited release, with just 356 bottles, showcases Glenallachie’

• 17 year old Speyside single malt Scotch whisky from Glenallachie
• Matured in a single Oloroso sherry hogshead (#1426)
• Distilled 2009, bottled 2026 at 53.0% ABV
• Limited to 356 bottles
• A classic sherry-matured single cask with depth and complexity
• Non chill-filtered and natural colour

The Glenallachie 17 Year Old 2009 Single Oloroso Cask is a bold and rewarding Speyside whisky, delivering everything expected from a top-tier sherry cask—rich fruit, chocolate depth, and warming spice. Complex, indulgent, and highly collectible, it’s an excellent choice for lovers of premium sherried single malts.

Established in 1923, Suntory operates distilleries like Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita, creating award-winning single malts, blends, and grain whiskies. In addition to whisky, Suntory produces other spirits, including gin and vodka, but its whiskies, such as Yamazaki, Hibiki, and Hakushu, are especially revered for pioneering Japanese whisky on the global stage.

VIEW ALL SUNTORY WHISKY

Arran Milroy’s Exclusive Trio 58.87% 210cl

We’re big fans of Arran here at Milroy’s. So much so that we picked out three different 11-year-old casks to exclusively release! This bundle comprises one each of our ex-sherry, ex-bourbon and peated first-fill bourbon bottlings – the perfect way to savour the versatility of this Island single malt Scotch whisky distillery. With a hearty discount too!

 Arran Milroy’s Exclusive Trio bundle for £189.00

Cù Bòcan unveils first-ever peated Scotch matured in ice wine casks

Experimental single malt brand Cù Bòcan is breaking new ground in the industry, producing the first known peated Scotch to be matured in ice wine casks.

Crafted annually at Tomatin Distillery in the Scottish Highlands during the cold winter months, Cù Bòcan’s limited edition ‘Creations’ series is a celebration of exclusively peated whiskies with unique cask combinations, inspired by the lightly-peated spirit historically produced at the distillery over 100 years ago.

Known for its experimental and innovative approach to maturation, Cù Bòcan has unlocked a new level of intrigue with the release of Creation #8.

This latest release explores a never seen before dual cask maturation, using a combination of rare Canadian ice wine casks and high-quality Spanish Verdejo casks, a pairing which results in a unique flavour profile of fruit salad sweets, lime zest, earthy smoke and soft oak spice.

Ice wine is a sweet dessert wine made from grapes that are left to freeze on the vine before harvesting. The grapes are pressed at around –7°C, when the water inside has crystalised, leaving a small amount of highly concentrated sugary juice. For this expression, Cù Bòcan used ice wine casks from family-owned Canadian winery, Pillitteri, where cold winters produce rich, sweet and tropical flavoured ice wines.

Verdejo, a white wine from Spain’s Rueda region is known for its fresh, zesty and herbal character. The Verdejo casks used to mature Cù Bòcan Creation #8 were sourced from the renowned French-owned winery Belondrade. Reflecting Cù Bòcan’s experimental nature, the Creation #8 spirit was filled into the casks just weeks after they were emptied.

The 18-year-old spirit from the ice wine casks brings notes of apricot jam, candied peach and pineapple syrup to the Creation #8 single malt, alongside its unmistakable light, oak spice, while the Verdejo casks have allowed the bold citrus, herbal and grassy characteristics of the wine to be expressed in the 16-year-old spirit derived from these casks.

Jamie Muir, Distillery Manager at Tomatin, said: “Our Cù Bòcan Creations series is all about going beyond convention, creating genuinely distinctive whiskies that excite and intrigue.

“Marking the oldest release in the series to date, Cù Bòcan Creation #8 is a pioneering single malt, marrying our gently peated spirit with the bold sweetness of Canadian ice wine casks, something we believe has never been done before with a peated Scotch.

“Equally the Verdejo casks and the experimental decision to fill them shortly after emptying, have also introduced a vibrant citrus and herbal dimension, the blend of these two cask types make Creation #8 a truly surprising dram.”

Cù Bòcan’s Creation #8 packaging debuts a striking new colourway of electric purple and neon green, reflecting the individuality of the spirit within its bespoke twisted bottle. Its engraved contours echo both the wisp of Cù Bòcan’s signature smoke and the staves of the casks that shaped it.

Bottled at 46% ABV, Creation #8 is natural in colour and non-chill filtered. It is available to purchase from today (20th May) on Tomatin Distillery’s website and from specialist whisky retailers in the UK and worldwide, priced at £45. It is limited to only 3,600 bottles.

For more information, visit https://tomatin.com/cu-bocan.

Cù Bòcan Creation #8 tasting notes

Nose: Sweet fruit with gentle smoke woven through. Baked apples, poached pears, apricot jam, golden raisins, candied peach, orange blossom, honey syrup, citrus zest, hint of fennel and herbs, heather smoke, flamed lemon peel, almond pastry and light spice.

Taste: Silky and sweet then turning fresher and slightly smoky. Honeycomb, peach, apricot, candied citrus peel, pineapple syrup, marmalade, lime zest, green grape, grassy, whisp of earthy smoke through the fruit.

Finish: Sweet wine and fruit fading into smoky honey, citrus peel and soft oak spice.

About Cù Bòcan

Cù Bòcan is a Highland single malt distilled, matured, and produced at the Tomatin Distillery near Inverness, renowned for its portfolio of brands including Tomatin Highland single malt, The Antiquary, Talisman and Big T.

Peat has been part of Tomatin’s story since its founding in 1897, when the distillery drew on local supplies to fire its stills. Though production shifted to an unpeated style mid-century, Tomatin revived peated runs in 2005 — sparking the birth of Cù Bòcan.

In 2005, the decision was made to produce a peated single malt and for the last week of production that year a batch of optic barley peated to 15ppm was used to produce about 60,000 litres of lightly peated spirit which was filled into a variety of different cask types.

Then, on September 3rd 2013, this lightly peated whisky produced at Tomatin was released as Cù Bòcan – a single malt at 15ppm matured in a combination of bourbon, sherry, and virgin oak casks. Since then, the Cù Bòcan brand has grown with a number of vintage releases as part of the brand’s limited-edition collection.

Cù Bòcan – ‘ghost dog’ in Gaelic – is named after a spirit thought to haunt the distillery’s hometown of Tomatin.

Cù Bòcan rebranded in August 2019. It is an experimental Highland single malt that explores innovative maturation to create whiskies full of intrigue and surprise. It is made with lightly peated Scottish barley, distilled every winter in limited batches and matured in a variety of interesting casks to unlock unusual flavours.

Town Branch Distillery Releases Age-Stated Wheated Bourbon

Town Branch 6-Year Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 99 Proof

LEXINGTON, Ky, — Town Branch Distillery, the 7^th member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and the heart of Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.—releases its Town Branch 6yr Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey this week at the distillery and available in markets nationwide (SRP $49.99 / 750ml).

The Wait Is Over — Wheated Is Here

In recent years, Town Branch has continued shaping its portfolio around bourbon, bourbon-based, and bourbon-inspired offerings as a proud member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. Rooted in Lexington, Kentucky — a city whose bourbon heritage dates back to the earliest days of America’s native spirit — the distillery’s newest release proudly continues that tradition.

Introducing Town Branch 6-Year Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon. This release has been years in the making. In fact, the distillery waited eight long years before introducing a whiskey worthy of joining this coveted category. But while the team patiently anticipated a standalone wheated bourbon release, they also carved their own path toward getting there.

“We realized this whiskey was going to be something very special when we tasted it at six years old, which for us is a sweet spot for our other bourbon mash bills,” said Dave Bob Gaspar, Head Distiller and Blender. “I like to say we waited patiently, but in reality, we could hardly help ourselves, so we found creative ways to distract ourselves for a couple more years.”

By 2024, the distillery’s wheated bourbon stocks had reached six years of age, and the team was eager to enter the category with a dedicated expression. However, releasing it at that moment would have limited the flexibility needed to build a proper blending range across multiple ages. So instead, the team devised a plan: introduce the mash bill through a series of blending projects and immersive distillery experiences that would offer consumers and visitors an early glimpse of what was to come.

In September 2024, Town Branch launched two new whiskey expressions in celebration of Bourbon Heritage Month. The first was Town Branch Overproof Kentucky Straight Whiskey — a 104 proof blended American whiskey crafted from four styles of Kentucky Straight Whiskey. The blend ultimately consisted of 90% bourbon and 10% rye, including 10% wheated bourbon, delivering a profile that drinks like a high-rye bourbon. Later that month, the distillery released its highly limited annual expression, Town Branch Imperium MMXXIV Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Bottled at 96 proof, the blend featured only the best of the best hand-selected barrels and incorporated 50% wheated bourbon barrels into the final composition.

In 2025, the distillery expanded the experience even further by introducing two new Kentucky Bourbon Trail® offerings for guests. The Straight-From-The-Barrel Experience (30 minutes / $30 per person) allows visitors to sample three single-barrel expressions directly from the barrel, including the wheated bourbon mash bill. Meanwhile, the Town Branch Barrel Thieving & Cocktail Experience (1 hour / $50 per person) gives guests the opportunity to thief wheated bourbon at cask strength before crafting an Overproof Old Fashioned using the whiskey.

Now, in 2026, with a fully developed blending range of wheated bourbons aged up to eight years currently, the distillery’s vision has finally become reality. Town Branch 6-Year Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon is crafted from bourbon aged a minimum of six years, non-chill filtered, and bottled at 99 proof.

But this is only the beginning….

Starting this week, guests visiting the distillery can enjoy complimentary samples of the newest addition to the Town Branch lineup. In addition, the distillery team has selected a special 8-year wheated bourbon for its Fill Your Own Bottle Experience, allowing guests to take home an older, cask-strength, hand-bottled version of the whiskey. Bottle engraving is also available for a small additional fee to truly commemorate the moment. Look for availability on this item to hit shelves in May and June at retailers, bars and restaurants nationwide.

Brand Highlights:

Town Branch®️ 6yr Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 99 Proof (SRP $49.99 / 750ml)

• Town Branch 6yr Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon delivers the bold, timeless character of Kentucky bourbon, softened and gently sweetened by the inclusion of wheat in the mash bill. The result is a distinctive drinking experience that sets it apart from traditional Kentucky straight bourbons. Aged for a minimum of six years it offers a rich tasting profile of butterscotch, honey, biscuit, and oak, layered with notes of baked apple and warm spice.
• Classification: Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Mash Bill: 70% Corn | 22% Wheat | 8% Malted Barley
• Cooperage: New American White Oak, #4 Char Level
• Age: 6-years minimum, age stated
• ABV: 49.5% abv. (99 proof)
• Estimated Availability: Available nationwide
• Tasting Notes:
  • Appearance: Medium copper
  • Aroma: Subtle and soft oak, floral notes of fruits and cinnamon bark
  • Palate: Rich butterscotch, flakey buttery biscuit, spice, oak, almond, honey, caramel and baked apple
  • Finish: Silky smooth texture and mouthfeel with a gentle sweet and spice finish

 About Town Branch Distillery:

Located in Lexington, Kentucky, Town Branch Distillery is notable as the first new distillery to open in the city since Prohibition. It is part of Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co., the only brewery and distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®️. The distillery produces several acclaimed spirits, including Town Branch Bourbon, Town Branch True Cask Bourbon, Town Branch Overproof Whiskey, Town Branch Rye, Town Branch Malt, and Bluegrass Sundown, a Bourbon-infused coffee liqueur. Town Branch upcycles every used barrel to craft a variety of whiskeys and barrel-aged beers, such as Lexington’s flagship Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. This process ensures each barrel’s legacy continues within our diverse product line. For more details, visit www.lexingtonbrewingco.com, or join the conversation Facebook or Instagram.

About the Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.:

Located in Lexington, Kentucky, Lexington Brewing Co. was originally established in 1890 and revitalized in 1999 by the late Pearse Lyons and his son Mark Lyons, evolving into Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. with the addition of Town Branch Distillery. Pearse Lyons was a pioneering Irish entrepreneur and scientist with a master’s degree in brewing and a Ph.D. in yeast fermentation. He also founded Alltech, a global leader in animal health and nutrition. Today, both Alltech and Lexington Brewing & Distilling are led by his son, Mark Lyons, who represents the seventh generation of the Lyons family in the brewing, distilling, and cooperage industry. Lexington Brewing & Distilling is renowned for its Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale® and Town Branch Distillery, which is a proud member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. Committed to sustainability, every emptied barrel is upcycled from the distillery to the brewery to create exceptional beer and spirits. For more information, visit www.lexingtonbrewingco.com, or join the conversation Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

About Kentucky®️ Barrel-Aged Beers:

Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co., the only brewery and distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®️, specializes in the art of barrel-aging beer. As one of the largest barrel-aged beer brands globally, Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. leverages its access to freshly decanted Kentucky Bourbon barrels to craft a unique style of beer. Offerings include the renowned Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale®, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Imperial Milk Stout, Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale, Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale, and a selection of Kentucky® Barrel-Aged Seasonal and Specialty releases. Upcycling its own bourbon barrels enhances the quality of its barrel-aged beers with a distinct character that sets them apart from other breweries in America. For more information, visit www.lexingtonbrewingco.com, or join the conversation Facebook or Instagram.

About Alltech:

Founded in 1980 by Irish entrepreneur and scientist Dr. Pearse Lyons and now led by his son Dr. Mark Lyons, Alltech is a global leader in agriculture, committed to providing smarter and more sustainable solutions. With over 40 years of scientific research backing its work, Alltech offers a diverse range of products and services designed to enhance the health and performance of plants and animals. This, in turn, leads to improved nutrition, reduced environmental impact, and advanced innovation in the field. Alltech’s portfolio includes specialty ingredients, premix supplements, feed, and biologicals, all underpinned by a strong scientific foundation and a commitment to adaptability. As a private, family-owned company, Alltech emphasizes quick responses to customer needs and fosters a unique, entrepreneurial culture. Headquartered near Lexington, Kentucky, Alltech operates in over 120 countries with five bioscience centers and more than 80 manufacturing facilities worldwide. Their mission, encapsulated in their purpose of “Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™,” focuses on providing nutrition for all, revitalizing local economies, and replenishing the planet’s natural resources. For more information, visit www.alltech.com, or join the conversation on Facebook and LinkedIn.

The Woodrow’s of Edinburgh GlenDronach 20 Year Old is a limited-edition single-cask bottling distilled in 2006 and released by independent bottler Woodrow’s of Edinburgh. Unlike the distillery’s typical sherry-heavy profile, this expression matured for two full decades in a refill bourbon barrel (Cask #2107), resulting in a unique profile for the Highland malt.

£175.00

Cask Type:  Refill Bourbon Barrel #2107

Distilled: 28/03/2006. Bottled: 13/04/2026

Limited: 205 Bottles

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Poached pear, lychee, honey, almonds and freshly ground coffee

Palate: Slightly waxy in texture, with white chocolate and coffee notes, accompanied by notes of green grape and star anise

Finish: Long spiced finish with marzipan, tobacco, cardamom and nutmeg.

51.9% ABV

The Art of Creating Blended Scotch

Scotch whisky blends tend to have big volumes and broad international reach, while single malt volumes are tiny by comparison. And yet single malt gets all the snob appeal. We explore the complex process of making blended scotch and why it’s so vastly underrated.

What is the Islay Festival?

The Hebridean island of Islay is famous among whisky lovers for its dense concentration of distilleries. A large number of the most recognisable single malt producers in Scotland are crammed onto this small island off the West Coast. The first Islay Festival was in 1986, but it was a very different event to the one we enjoy today. It started out as a celebration of Hebridean culture, with dancing, music, drama, walks around the island, talks about Islay’s history and a single whisky tasting.

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