It has been 13 years since Wolfburn was awakened from its long sleep. Rebuilt through the winter of 2012, the stills were finally switched on in January 2013 – and on Burns Night that year, the first spirit flowed once again. It was a cold day, a quiet moment, and the beginning of everything that followed. You can read more recollections from that day in our recent blog post. More than 500 mashes and distillations later, we remain firmly on-spirit – and very much in high spirits. None of this would be possible without your continued support, whether you have enjoyed our whiskies at home, shared them with friends, or made the journey north to visit us. If you have visited before, we look forward to welcoming you back again soon and for those of you yet to make the trip a warm welcome always awaits. Thank you for being part of the Wolfburn story – past, present and future.

The Wolfburn Team

KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL® EXPERIENCE WELCOMES 10 NEW DESTINATIONS

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour today welcomed 10 new destinations, increasing the total to an all-time high of 68 stops. Visitors from across the globe now have more opportunities than ever to experience the art and craft of Kentucky Bourbon.

This expansion includes new distillery experiences and urban satellite tasting rooms, from far Western Kentucky to the amber triangle of Louisville, Lexington and Bardstown. Bourbon is now giving local communities a valuable tourism boost in 32 of the state’s 120 counties.

Founded in 1999 by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® adventure has grown into a global, bucket-list phenomenon, attracting more than 2.5 million visitors annually from all 50 states and dozens of countries.

“It’s been amazing to watch the exponential and powerful growth of our Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour since its humble beginnings of seven distilleries in a handful of counties when much of the state was still dry,” KDA President Eric Gregory said.

“Today, the Bourbon Trail™ journey is transforming communities big and small across Kentucky, bringing new visitors and precious tourism dollars to every corner of the state,” he said. “The Napa-esque dream for Kentucky Bourbon is becoming a reality.”

Research shows nearly 80% of Bourbon Trail™ visitors are from outside the Commonwealth, have higher household incomes than the average Kentucky tourist, travel in larger groups, stay longer, and spend more.

The KDA is also making it easier for visitors to plan their pilgrimage through the upcoming launch of its “Build Your Own Bourbon Trail®” online feature, which will allow travelers to craft and share itineraries with their friends. And, more features are in the works.

“With 68 unique and innovative destinations, we encourage travelers to slow down, savor all the beauty and Bourbon that Kentucky has to offer, and make plans to return. After all, it takes time to craft the world’s finest whiskey. We invite you to come back for more.”

By region, the ten new experiences include:

Bardstown Region

WhistlePig Distillery & Bottling (Brandenburg, Meade County) coming soon

Central Region

J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery (Frankfort)

Lexington Region

Dark Arts Whiskey House (Lexington)

LF Heritage Distilling (Georgetown)

Louisville Region

Left Bank Distilling Co. (Louisville)

Chicken Cock Whiskey Circa 1856 – Louisville Tasting Room (Louisville)

Green River Louisville Tasting Room (Louisville)

WhistlePig, The Vault Tasting Experience (Louisville) coming soon

Western Region

General George Stillhouse (Falls of Rough)

Purple Toad Winery & Distillery (Paducah)

Tourism Partner Quotes

Stacey Phelps, President, Bardstown-Nelson County Tourism

“Bardstown is proud to be the Bourbon Capital of the World, and this expansion of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® reinforces what we’ve always known, Kentucky Bourbon is more than a drink, it’s an experience that’s meant to be shared. These new destinations will bring even more visitors to our community, supporting local businesses and showcasing the hospitality that makes Bardstown unforgettable.”

Mary Quinn Ramer, President, Visit Lex

“Bourbonland is expanding, and these new additions to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® allow visitors to have even more of a reason to bring a part of their trek to Lexington. From world-class distilleries to vibrant culinary and cultural experiences, we’re excited to welcome travelers from near and far, with open arms as they immerse themselves in the heritage and hospitality that makes Kentucky one-of-a-kind.”

Cleo Battle, President & CEO, Louisville Tourism

“Louisville’s role as Bourbon City continues to grow with the addition of these new Kentucky Bourbon Trail® experiences. As the only walkable spirits destination in the world, Louisville offers a distinct urban complement to the broader and bucket-list Kentucky experience.”  

Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) is the worldwide voice of Bourbon

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Experience The Macallan

One of the most iconic whisky distilleries in the world, The Macallan has built an enviable reputation through an unwavering focus on quality. Aged predominantly in sherry-seasoned oak casks, their single malts are known for their rich, smooth flavours with depth and balance, alongside their natural amber hue.

Explore classics such as The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak, 12 Year Old Double Cask, or discover something special with A Night on Earth: The First Light.

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Chivas Regal Crystal Gold, 40%

THE REVIEW

What do you do when you come across a product that just fills you full of hatred and contempt for an entire company? Well, you make a video about it. I doubt there was a clever thougth in the room when this idea was greenlit by however many people who were struggling to be creative. You can really tell that nobody who loves whisky works in large whisky companies anymore – it’s just bodies who nod. The second largest drinks company in the world who own however many brands and add colour to a majority of them all though, ‘Yes, lets strip the colour from an aged spirit and sell it to a market where we already have a strong sales presence.’ This product is a showcase of how inept, poorly thought out, poorly marketed, and rich these companies are. Go and check out the PR video for this as it’s one of the worst adverts for a spirit I’ve ever seen in my entire life. It gives Trump and his new ballroom project in such a big way.

A hateful, silly, patronising product that doesn’t deserve shelf space anywhere and shouldn’t have gone further than a scribbled out idea on a company branded notepad. Phil’s SUBSTACK

Whisky Reviews every Wednesday
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Maker’s Mark Begins 2026 Bold & Straight from the Barrel: Premiering A New Premium Look for Maker’s Mark Cask Strength

LORETTO, Ky., January 21, 2026 – Maker’s Mark®, the iconic handmade Kentucky bourbon, today announced a new look for its Cask Strength expression, featuring a premium glass bottle and label with its precise age statement.

Blended and bottled straight from the barrel, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength is considered the truest expression of Maker’s Mark’s distillation and aging process, and it is the starting point for all the brand’s innovations, including Maker’s Mark 46, Cellar Aged and Wood Finishing Series releases.

Aged to taste not time, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength is bottled in small batches when the barrels reach a perfect balance of flavor, so each batch and corresponding bottle varies slightly in proof and age – between 7 and 8 years and between 107 and 114 proof – reflecting a lower entry proof than most in the category and offering a surprisingly smooth and approachable whisky.

“In many ways, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength is where it all begins for us – straight from the barrel with the inviting warmth and velvety mouthfeel Maker’s Mark is known for, only amplified with notes of dark cherry, toasted oak, salted caramel, plenty of warm vanilla, and a harmonious finish of dark chocolate and soft spices,” said Dr. Blake Layfield, Master Distiller, Maker’s Mark.

“We’re thrilled to showcase Cask Strength in a new premium glass bottle, and adding the age statement underscores that our spirit is precisely aged to taste and  meticulously blended, while also delivering the transparency and batch specific details bourbon lovers are looking for,” he concluded.

The newly redesigned Maker’s Mark Cask Strength is already arriving on shelves and will continue to rollout through 2026. At an ABV between 53.5% and 57%, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength is available at U.S. retailers for a suggested MSRP of $49.99.

For more information, please visit makersmark.com.

ABOUT MAKER’S MARK 
Maker’s Mark® is the iconic handmade Kentucky bourbon driven by a vision for better flavor and a better world. In 1953, founders Margie and Bill Samuels, Sr. broke from tradition—burning the family’s 170-year-old recipe to create a bold, balanced bourbon made with soft red winter wheat for signature sweetness and creaminess. From the start, the Samuels went to remarkable lengths to craft uncompromisingly delicious bourbon—a perfectly unreasonable spirit that endures today. Every bottle is still hand-dipped in red wax, every barrel rotated by hand and every decision guided by the brand’s higher purpose.

Staying true to its founders’ vision, Maker’s Mark has expanded its portfolio with award-winning, super-premium expressions, including Maker’s Mark 46, Cask Strength, and Cellar Aged, as well as Private Selection, the brand’s custom barrel program. In 2025, the distillery debuted Star Hill Farm Whisky, its first-ever wheat whisky. Award-winning and the first to earn Estate Whiskey certification, Star Hill Farm Whisky inspired the Maker’s Mark Regenerative Alliance, a bold commitment to advance regenerative farming beyond its business, inviting farms, bars and restaurants to join the movement.

Maker’s Mark is proud to be both B Corp and Regenified Certified – milestones driven by the sustainability leadership at Star Hill Farm, home of the Maker’s Mark Distillery, which strives to be the most endearing, culturally rich and environmentally responsible homeplace in the world.

Learn more at www.makersmark.com.

The Bruichladdich Octomore 12 Year Old 2012 is an exceptionally rare and powerful Islay single malt Scotch whisky, drawn from a single 2nd fill Rivesaltes wine cask and bottled exclusively for the United Kingdom market. Distilled in 2012 at Bruichladdich Distillery and peated to an immense 156ppm, this remarkable Octomore expression was bottled at 56.3% ABV, with just 300 bottles released. Long maturation and distinctive wine-cask influence bring unexpected elegance and depth to Octomore’s famously ferocious peat profile.

£464.94 GBP

Nose Explosive peat smoke layered with red berries, smoked citrus, earthy notes, and hints of wine-soaked oak and leather. Palate Intense yet refined, delivering waves of bonfire smoke, dark fruits, charred oak, liquorice, sea salt, and subtle sweetness from the Rivesaltes cask. Finish Long, powerful, and complex, with lingering peat embers, dried fruit sweetness, maritime salinity, and warming spice.

• An incredibly rare single cask Octomore from Bruichladdich Distillery

• Peated to a formidable 156ppm, balanced by extended maturation

• Matured in a 2nd fill Rivesaltes wine cask for added depth and complexity

• Bottled at 56.3% ABV for full flavour impact

• Limited to just 300 bottles, exclusive to the UK market

The Bruichladdich Octomore 12 Year Old 2012 Single Cask is a thrilling showcase of how extreme peat, careful cask selection, and time can combine to create a whisky of astonishing power and sophistication. A must-have for Octomore collectors and lovers of bold, uncompromising Islay single malts.

Gifts For Your Valentine

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, have you thought about what to gift your loved one yet? For the whisky lover in your life, a bottle from the Cotswolds Distillery is a thoughtful way to mark the occasion – rich in flavour, beautifully crafted, and chosen with care. A gift to enjoy together, long after the day itself.

SHOP HERE

Wilderness Trail 5 Year 10 Month K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #767560 Cask Strength High-Rye Bourbon Whiskey

(750ml)

$69.99

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Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA