Heaven Hill Distillery Announces 2026 “Year of Wheat” Grain to Glass®  Releases
These limited releases spotlight Heaven Hill’s wheated craftsmanship, seed-to-sip transparency, and continued support for family farms through Farm Rescue

BARDSTOWN, Ky. — Heaven Hill Distillery, America’s largest family-owned and led distillery, today announced its 2026 Heaven Hill Grain to Glass® lineup, a focused collection of three limited-release Wheated Bourbons, including an all-new extra-aged release marking the brand’s official “Year of Wheat.” This year’s collection brings a sharper focus to wheat’s role in shaping flavor, texture and character, elevating a grain that has long been part of the distillery’s foundation.

Across its portfolio, Heaven Hill has worked with wheat for generations, not as a one-off experiment, but as a core part of its distilling tradition. That legacy includes the introduction of Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey, which helped define the modern American wheat whiskey category. This consistency and scale have allowed the distillery to understand how wheat behaves at every stage, from fermentation through long-term aging.

From planting to harvesting and then distilling, Heaven Hill Grain to Glass® represents both patience and precision — qualities mirrored in every barrel. Each release in the 2026 collection captures a different expression of that journey, from vibrant and grain-forward to deeply aged and complex. Each corn seed varietal is hand-selected by Heaven Hill’s Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll in collaboration with Beck’s Hybrids and grown locally by Peterson Farms in Nelson County, Kentucky. With the “Year of Wheat,” the distillery builds on that experience, deepening the emphasis on wheat as a defining force behind some of Heaven Hill’s most nuanced and expressive bourbons.

The 2026 “Year of Wheat” lineup includes:

• Heaven Hill Grain to Glass® Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon (3^rd Edition)
• Heaven Hill Grain to Glass® Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Specialty Release – Aged in French Oak Barrels
• Heaven Hill Grain to Glass® Extra Aged 9-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon

“In 2026, Heaven Hill Grain to Glass takes a more focused approach by centering exclusively on unique wheated mashbill offerings,” said Molly Vincent, Associate Director of Luxury Whiskey at Heaven Hill. “We’ve worked with wheat for a long time across our whiskeys, but this allows us to explore it more intentionally, how it softens, how it builds complexity over time, and how it ultimately shapes the character in the glass. The ‘Year of Wheat’ is about bringing that deeper understanding forward.”

Heaven Hill Grain to Glass® Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon (3^rd Edition)
The third edition of the Traditional Series Wheated Bourbon features the same wheated mashbill as previous releases with a new corn seed varietal. Distilled in 2019 and aged six years in #3 char barrels, the 2026 release is composed of 170 barrels from the third, fourth and fifth floors of Warehouses W5 and W6. It is bottled non-chill filtered at barrel proof, 107.8 proof, and carries an SRP of $99.99 for a 700ml bottle. The release will begin shipping in May 2026 and is expected to arrive in market by June.

Mashbill: 52% corn, 35% wheat, 13% malt
Corn seed varietal: Beck’s 6269
Barrel entry proof: 107

Heaven Hill Grain to Glass® Specialty Barrel Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon – Aged in French Oak Barrels
The 2026 Specialty release features the same wheated mashbill and corn seed varietal as the Traditional release, but is fully aged in #3 char French Oak barrels for a minimum of six years. Rather than a secondary finish, this whiskey is matured entirely in French oak, bringing refined spice notes, dried fruit character and layered complexity. Distilled in 2019, the release is composed of 170 barrels from the fourth floor of Warehouse W9. It is bottled at a barrel proof strength of 109.2 proof and has an SRP of $129.99 for a 700ml bottle. The release will begin shipping in September 2026 and is expected to arrive in market by October.

Mashbill: 52% corn, 35% wheat, 13% malt
Corn seed varietal: Beck’s 6269
Barrel entry proof: 107

Heaven Hill Grain to Glass® Extra Aged 9-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon
The ultra-limited, one time offering of the 2026 Extra Aged release builds on the Grain to Glass wheated story with a whiskey distilled in 2017 and aged nine years in #3 char barrels. Barreled at 125 proof, this expression showcases added maturity, depth and concentration. The release is composed of 150 barrels from the third, fourth and fifth floors of Warehouse W3 and will be bottled non-chill filtered at barrel proof, with final proof to be announced soon. It carries an SRP of $149.99 for a 700ml bottle. The release will begin shipping in November 2026 and is expected to arrive in market by December.

Mashbill: 52% corn, 35% wheat, 13% malt
Corn seed varietal: Beck’s 6158
Barrel entry proof: 125

As part of its Family Farms First™ initiative, Heaven Hill Grain to Glass continues its partnership with Farm Rescue, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping farmers and ranchers overcome major hardships, injuries and natural disasters. Since 2005, Farm Rescue has provided critical assistance to more than 1,000 farm families across eight states. Through this initiative, Heaven Hill Grain to Glass has committed up to $300,000 through 2028, with a portion of every sale—up to $100,000 annually—supporting the organization’s efforts to keep family farms operating during times of crisis.

Each bottle in the Heaven Hill Grain to Glass collection features bespoke custom glass embossed with “Family Owned Since 1935,” along with packaging details that reflect the line’s deep connection to agriculture, innovation and whiskey-making transparency. All three releases are allocated and will be available nationally in limited quantities. Across the lineup, Grain to Glass continues to honor the farming tradition and distilling expertise behind every bottle. Together, these releases reflect not just a focus for the year, but a deeper commitment to understanding and advancing wheat’s role in American Whiskey.

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.

JUNE 2026 AUCTION ENDS SUNDAY!

Our June Auction ends on Sunday but there’s still time to bid on some cracking lots. A standout lot in this month’s auction is Balvenie’s highly collectible The Craftsman’s Reserve No.1, a bottling with a unique place in the distillery’s history. Released in 2011 exclusively to members of Balvenie’s Warehouse 24 club, this expression remains the first and only Warehouse 24 exclusive ever produced, named in honour of the six coopers responsible for maintaining the distillery’s casks. With an outrun of just 515 bottles, this rare release presents an exceptional opportunity for collectors to secure one of Balvenie’s most sought-after limited editions.

Another remarkable highlight in this month’s auction is this exceptional single grain release from Invergordon, offering collectors the opportunity to acquire a truly rare long-aged whisky. Distilled at Invergordon Distillery in 1974 and matured for an extraordinary 47 years in a single cask (#14), this whisky was bottled at natural cask strength in 2021 by independent bottler Cask 88. Showcasing the depth, complexity, and character that only decades of maturation can deliver, this is a superb example of the quality and collectability of well-aged single grain Scotch.

Few whisky releases command the reverence of a Manager’s Dram, and this Glendullan bottling is a superb example of why these employee-exclusive releases remain so highly sought after. Distilled at Glendullan and matured for 18 years in sherry casks, this expression was bottled at natural cask strength in 1989. Combining impressive age, rich sherry influence and the exclusivity synonymous with the Manager’s Dram series, this is a serious contender for any wishlist.

Aberlour enthusiasts will find plenty to capture their attention in this month’s auction, with a strong selection of bottlings from one of Speyside’s most respected distilleries. The range on offer showcases the rich sherried character and enduring appeal that have made Aberlour a favourite among collectors and drinkers alike. Whether pursuing a hard-to-find bottling or expanding an established collection, this month’s selection offers several delightful opportunities.

These are only a few of the old, limited and collectable bottles featured in our June auction, to view more wee gems visit clickwhiskyauctions.com. Register to bid. Remember, you’ve got to be in it to win it! Auction ends Sunday 21^st June from 8pm BST.

We’re excited to announce that tickets for Newcastle Festival 2027 are now on sale! Details are below, along with reminders about The Gaderung at Ad Gefrin, TWL bottlings, and our 2026 festivals. Before we dive in, there are a couple of things to note about Newcastle 2027 (and future festivals):

The Date ~ Newcastle Festival 2027 will take place on 3rd April 2027. We would normally hold the festival on the last weekend in March, but next year that falls over the Easter weekend, so we’ve moved things back slightly.

Ticket Pricing ~ We’ve worked hard to keep our ticket prices as accessible as possible and have effectively frozen prices since before the pandemic. However, rising costs mean we can no longer sustain this indefinitely. We still believe our festivals offer exceptional value, and we’re committed to maintaining that balance while ensuring these events can continue to thrive for many years to come. The good news is that there are still some great-value ticket options available — although there are fewer discounted tickets than before, so you’ll need to be quick to snap them up!

Now then, on to the exciting part…

Saturday 3rd April 2027

Civic Centre
Newcastle Upon Tyne

12pm-3.30pm or 5pm-8.30pm

This event really needs no introduction, having been running for 19 years! Set in the impressive and iconic Banqueting Hall in the Civic Centre, right in the middle of Newcastle. Come and celebrate whisky and friendship once again, or even for the first time. Please see the website for more details.

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WhiskyFest New York Is Back!

Join Whisky Advocate for an exciting, expanded program on Friday, November 20, 2026! Enjoy an exclusive seated afternoon seminar program hosted by Whisky Advocate editors, featuring master distillers and blenders from across the industry, along with hot, hard-to-find whiskies. Then, top off your evening with WhiskyFest’s famous Grand Tasting, featuring hundreds of exceptional whiskies. Tickets are on sale now—secure yours today!

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Father’s Day gifts for taste

Find the right bottle for Father’s Day, with releases to suit every preference and please any palate. We are here to help you find a present as individual as they are. Whether you want to give their gin & tonic an extra dimension with the exquisite Isle of Harris Gin, or present the Hibiki Harmony to the dad-to-be that loves their Japanese whisky, The Whisky Exchange has you covered.

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WOVEN ANNOUNCE BLENDING ROOMS IN LEITH WHERE GUESTS BECOME THE WHISKY MAKERS 

Independent whisky makers unveil plans for a dedicated whisky blending visitor destination on The Shore, with hands-on Blending Rooms experience launching now as phase one

Edinburgh-based Woven Whisky is announcing plans to launch a major new whisky blending facility in Leith, alongside a dedicated visitor experience designed to open up the often hidden world of whisky blending to the public.

Planned for completion in 2027, the new two-floor facility at Brown’s of Leith will house Woven’s full blending operations alongside blending rooms, a tasting space and lounge bar – positioning Leith once again at the centre of whisky innovation and creativity.

Launching now as the first phase of that vision is Woven’s new Blending Rooms experience: a hands-on visitor journey where guests blend and bottle their own whisky. Running every Thursday and Friday, groups of six to eight will be able to enjoy the two-hour experience, which Woven has designed to act as ‘a creative apprenticeship in blending’.

Kicking off with a highball at Brown’s of Leith speciality coffee & spirits bar, Haze, guests then move through to the Blending Rooms to nose and taste individual whisky components from Woven’s flavour library, experiment with combinations, and build their own blend under guidance from Woven’s Whisky Maker and Co-Founder, Pete Allison.

Once perfected, they bottle their blend, label it and get to take home their own 100ml bottle, with the option to order larger-scale batches after the experience. The experience is finished off with a farewell cocktail.

Pete Allison, Co-Founder and Whisky Maker at Woven, said:

“For us, this step forward is much bigger than launching a new whisky experience – we want to help build a new future for Scotch whisky in Leith, the place where it first went out to the world.

“Leith was once the beating heart of the whisky industry, but over time blending became something hidden behind closed doors. We want to open that process back up again – and the Blending Rooms are the first step in that vision. We’re opening the door and letting guests blend their own using the same components and techniques we use to create our range.

“This experience is for the makers – whether it’s amateur experiments in coffee, making pizza at home or a long-term relationship with sourdough – the best thing about any craft is rolling up your sleeves and getting stuck in – and that’s what we want to offer in whisky.

“By putting the blending process in the hands of novices and proving they can build incredible whisky, we are hoping to break down the barriers the industry has built around its craft. By the time the full facility opens in 2027, we hope it becomes a place where anyone can come and experience the future of whisky being built in Leith in real time.”

Launched in late 2025, Brown’s of Leith is one of Edinburgh’s most popular recent openings.Set within the former George Brown & Sons warehouse that was once a cornerstone of Leith’s trading heritage, the building has been revived by a new generation of independent makers, with Woven joining neighbours including Civerinos, ShrimpWreck and Haze in shaping a more creative, contemporary chapter for the neighbourhood.

Gunnar Groves-Raines, Founder of Brown’s of Leith, said:

“We are honoured to have Woven Whisky as part of the Brown’s of Leith family, while they plan their new bonded warehouse within the building. With over a century of industry and production on the Shore, Brown’s is a perfect home for Woven’s bright, contemporary approach to the traditional craft of whisky making and blending. 

“Their presence further strengthens the growing creative ecosystem around Brown’s and Custom Lane — bringing together makers, producers and independent businesses connected by craft, collaboration and modern Scottish creativity.”

Leith was where blended whisky making was perfected nearly 200 years ago, and from where Scotch whisky first conquered the world. Once realised in full, Woven’s Blending Rooms at Brown’s of Leith will represent the largest purpose-built investment in whisky blending infrastructure in Leith since the neighbourhood’s golden age as Scotland’s whisky capital in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Priced at £55, bookings for the first blending experiences will open June 1st, consumers can register their interest ahead of time here.

For more information, visit www.wovenwhisky.com.

ABOUT WOVEN

Woven are independent whisky makers based in Leith — the town where blending was perfected nearly 200 years ago. Rather than build a distillery, they treat the world’s more than 2,000 distilleries as an artists palette, sourcing from makers worldwide who share their obsession with flavour, weaving together expressions that push the boundaries of creativity in whisky making. Woven’s borderless approach is just one example of their commitment to breaking down barriers in whisky. With a community-minded approach, they’re creating a new experience of whisky and challenging traditional tropes about where it comes from, how it’s made and even who it’s for.  

wovenwhisky.com | @WovenWhisky

THE MACALLAN BOUTIQUE AT HARRODS

We are delighted to announce that The Macallan Boutique at Harrods, London, opens its doors on 19 June 2026. Our first domestic boutique in the UK, it will be home to one of the most extensive ranges of our single malt whiskies available outside The Macallan Estate in Speyside.

In celebration of the boutique opening, The Macallan Rare Cask, 2026 Release will be available exclusively at Harrods from opening day, with a custom limited edition gift sleeve designed by Javi Aznaraz, exclusive to Harrods.

We look forward to welcoming you.

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Designed in collaboration with internationally award-winning architect Jamie Fobert, the new boutique draws inspiration from our foundational Six Pillars. Located in the former Baccarat Bar next to the Harrods Fine Wines and Spirits Department, it houses a selection of rare and limited edition expressions.

The boutique also features a personalisation and gifting station for custom engravings and gift wrapping. Immersive installations showcase our mastery of whisky making and deep connection to nature.

As a special Harrods-exclusive release and to celebrate the opening of the new boutique, renowned Spanish painter and illustrator Javi Aznárez, a long-time creative collaborator of The Macallan, has designed a distinctive, colourful gift sleeve for The Macallan Rare Cask, 2026 Release.

This Harrods exclusive gift sleeve is limited and is only available whilst stock lasts.

Murray McDavid

King of Casks 30 Years Old Blended Malt

ABV: 42.2% 70 cL

£160.00

The Jewel of Campbeltown: Springbank

While there are many cult distilleries in Scotland, unknown to most drinkers but loved by their fans, there is one that surpasses the rest. Campbeltown’s 14th distillery, Springbank, was founded on the site of a previously illicit still, run by Archibald Mitchell. Three years after Archibald and his brother Hugh became partners at the nearby Rieclachan distillery, Archibald’s in-laws bought the site and Springbank was born.

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Elevate every moment, gift The Macallan.

Enjoy a complimentary rocks glass by The Macallan with every purchase of selected expressions.

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