The Chronicle
Latest dispatches
21 results across all types
- news
Willett Fills First Barrel of Whiskey at New Springfield Distillery
Willett Distillery has reached a major milestone in its expansion plans, filling the first barrel at its new Springfield, Kentucky, production facility and officially beginning distilling operations at the site, the company announced Monday. The first barrel was filled on June 18, marking the launch of production at the new Washington County campus. Willett says […]
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The 9 Best Japanese Whiskies, Ranked by Critics
Japanese whisky has spent years clawing its way to the top of the global spirits conversation, and at this point the argument is settled. The category produces some of the most compelling malt and blended whisky on the planet, period. But not all bottles are created equal, and the price spread is wild, ranging from […]
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The 7 Best American Single Malt Whiskeys Under $100
American single malt is no longer a novelty category. It has producers in Iowa, Virginia, Texas, New Mexico and the Pacific Northwest all making compelling cases that malted barley whiskey doesn’t have to come from Scotland to be worth your attention. The seven bottles below were ranked using The Daily Pour Critics’ Score, our proprietary […]
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Judge Approves Sale of Uncle Nearest’s Martha’s Vineyard Property Amid $100M Debt Dispute
A federal judge has approved the sale of an Uncle Nearest-owned Martha’s Vineyard property, allowing the whiskey company’s court-appointed receiver to move forward with a deal aimed at helping repay creditors amid an ongoing financial dispute. According to the Vineyard Gazette, U.S. District Judge Charles Atchley Jr. signed off on the sale of the Edgartown-West […]
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Judge Dismisses Former Bardstown Bourbon Co. Executive’s Lawsuit Against Whistleblower
A defamation lawsuit filed by a former Bardstown Bourbon Company executive against a whistleblower has been dismissed, marking a legal win for the defense in an ongoing dispute tied to allegations of workplace misconduct at the Kentucky distiller. Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Julie Kaelin dismissed the case on June 12, according to court records reported […]
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What We Know About the Mysterious Whiskey That Took Home the Highest Honor at a Major Competition
When the International Wine & Spirits Competition released its North American results last week, one winner stood above the rest — a 99-point whiskey from Bardstown Bourbon Company called “Lochs of Jura Barrel 10 YO.” It was the top score among only five spirits to achieve Gold Outstanding status, the competition’s top tier reached by […]
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Johnnie Walker Toasts Knicks Championship With Limited-Edition NYC Whisky
The Knicks’ finals win has swept the streets of New York City with a wave of hype, awe and once-in-a-lifetime camaraderie. So what better brand to throw its hat into the ring than a quintessentially Scottish whisky distiller? On Thursday, Johnnie Walker unveiled a limited-edition reimagining of its Blue Label bottling, the most expensive offering […]
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WhistlePig Gets Rid of Facility at the Center of Whiskey Fungus Controversy With $17M Sale
WhistlePig Whiskey has sold a complex of spirits aging warehouses in Moriah, New York, for $17 million, according to the Adirondack Explorer. The otherwise unassuming facility was at the center of a years-long dispute with locals over the first documented outbreak of Baudoinia Compniacensis, or whiskey fungus, in the state. On Monday, it was reported […]
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Most Ambitious Bourbon Ever? This Blend Includes Whiskey From All 50 States
Independent whiskey bottler Lost Lantern on Monday unveiled the first bourbon blended with components from all 50 states, bringing together distillate from producers across the country in one of the most ambitious blending projects in American whiskey history. The new “United States of Bourbon” collection debuts with three expressions: a 100-proof release, a cask-strength edition […]
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Coors Debuts 8-Year-Old Whiskey, but It’s Only Coming to 2 States
Coors Whiskey Co. is stepping deeper into the premium whiskey space with the release of a limited-edition 8-year-old blended American malt whiskey that it says leans heavily on nearly 150 years of malting expertise. The new expression, unveiled Monday, highlights the company’s long-standing role in grain production and malting, a foundation that predates its rise […]
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The Verdict: How Good Are Old Forester’s 2026 President’s Choice Bourbon and Rye Whiskeys?
Old Forester’s President’s Choice series returns Saturday, and for the second consecutive year, it’s launching with both a bourbon and a rye expression, timed to land on National Bourbon Day and the eighth anniversary of the Old Forester Distillery on Whiskey Row. Both releases are single barrels aged 7 to 9 years, bottled at barrel […]
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‘Welcome News’: Kentucky Distillers Applaud Donald Trump’s Decision to Roll Back Tariffs on Scotch Whisky
The Kentucky Distillers’ Association released a statement applauding President Donald Trump’s Thursday decision to remove tariffs on Scotch whisky, calling the move a restoration of reciprocal, tariff-free trade between Kentucky and Scotland’s whisky industries. The statement follows Thursday’s announcement that the U.S. will eliminate tariffs on Scotch, a policy shift expected to ease pressure on […]
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Trump Removes Tariffs on Scotch Whisky Following Royal Visit
President Donald Trump said Thursday he will eliminate tariffs on Scotch whisky, framing the decision as a gesture to strengthen U.S.-U.K. ties following a White House visit from King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The move, reported on by Politico, removes a 10% tariff that has weighed on scotch exports to the U.S., the category’s […]
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The Historic Stitzel-Weller Distillery Just Released a 31-Year-Old Bourbon Bottled North of 80% ABV
The Stitzel-Weller Distillery is cranking age, price and proof to unfathomable limits in its latest whiskey drop, announced by the brand on Friday. Following on the heels of last year’s Stitzel Reserve 24 Year Old, the brand has unveiled a 31-year-old bourbon that appears to be its oldest officially labeled product yet (more on that […]
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Jack Daniel’s Debuts Its Most Premium and Limited Global Release Ever Alongside McLaren F1
On Thursday, Jack Daniel’s announced the release of Halo MK1 Tennessee Whiskey, a super-limited global collaboration with the McLaren Formula 1 Team, now available in select markets for a suggested retail price of $599.99 per 1-liter bottle. The release is described by the brand as the most premium and limited global offering in its history, […]
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F1 Racer Charles Leclerc Debuts 16-Year-Old Whisky Alongside Chivas Regal
On Wednesday, Scottish whisky brand Chivas Regal announced the release a 16-year-old expression developed in collaboration with Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc as part of the brand’s expanding push into global sports partnerships. The limited-edition release, available nationwide at a suggested retail price of $69.99, marks Leclerc’s debut signature blend and represents the first time […]
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LA Sparks Guard Kelsey Plum Launches Limited-Edition Maker’s Mark Bourbon
On Wednesday, Maker’s Mark unveiled a partnership with Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum to launch a limited-edition Private Selection bourbon, marking the brand’s latest crossover into sports and culture ahead of the 2026 WNBA season. The release, called “Yam Jam by Kelsey Plum,” will be available beginning May 7 at select retailers in Los […]
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Rare Van Winkle Bourbon Sells for $80,600 at Auction
A rare bottle of Van Winkle Bourbon has sold for $80,600 at a recent auction hosted by Unicorn Auctions, marking one of the most significant American whiskey sales in recent years. The headline lot, Van Winkle 18 Year Special Reserve Bourbon ‘Binny’s’ Private Barrel Selection (2003), originally sold for just $113 in 2003. The bottle’s […]
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Willem Dafoe Debuts 14-Year-Old Scotch Whisky Alongside Laphroaig
On Friday, four-time Academy Award nominee Willem Dafoe unveiled “Willem by Willem,” a limited-edition single malt scotch crafted in collaboration with the Laphroaig distillery. Much like the actor himself, the whisky is intended as a blank slate, forgoing tasting notes in favor of an “experience” that drinkers are encouraged to guess at in an interactive […]
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WhistlePig Pushes Congress to Declare Rye America’s Official Whiskey Ahead of 250th Anniversary
On Wednesday, WhistlePig Whiskey unveiled a national campaign urging Congress to recognize rye as the official whiskey of the United States, tying the initiative to the country’s upcoming 250th anniversary. The campaign, which runs through July 4, centers on a public petition that, if it reaches 1,776 signatures, will be formally presented to lawmakers. The […]
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Maker’s Mark’s Award-Winning Star Hill Farm Wheat Whisky Is Back
Maker’s Mark announced on Wednesday the 2026 return of its Star Hill Farm Whisky, marking the second annual release of the brand’s first new mashbill in more than 70 years. The release follows recognition as the “World’s Best Wheat Whisky 2026” at the World Whiskies Awards. Unlike Maker’s Mark’s core lineup, which has long relied […]