What a week for whiskey releases! The best whiskeys that dropped the week of August 8 came from heavy hitters like High West and Jack Daniel’s. This mixture features some drams from across the pond that are guaranteed to excite fans of scotch, with mythical offerings from houses like Ardbeg.
You don’t want to miss this week’s selection of the best whiskeys the trades can’t stop talking about.
Anthology Series: The Beithir’s Tale by Ardbeg
The Spirits Business reported on August 6 that Ardbeg finished up its Anthology Series, a collection of scotch whisky inspired by the magical and mythical creatures in the world. The final release, monickered The Beithir’s Tale, possesses a 15-year age statement.
The Beithir is a mythic snake-like creature, and the whisky matured in air-seasoned Bourbon casks designed to Ardbeg’s specs. This mystical beastie clocks in at 46% ABV and hosts a suggested retail price of $179.
Ardbeg Master Blender Gillian Macdonald said that the whisky possesses aromas of smoked butter, fennel, eucalyptus, pine, and menthol.
Cedar Ridge Anniversary Edition Bourbon by Cedar Ridge Distillery
Iowa indie distillery Cedar Ridge is celebrating 20 years by dropping its inaugural Anniversary Edition Bourbon, which clocks in at 110 proof and hosts a suggested price of $59.99. Distilled from a mashbill composed of 74% Iowa Corn, 14% rye and 12% malted barley, the bourbon spent time finishing in an eclectic mixture of Ruby Port, Amontillado Sherry, and Tokaji casks. Reps for Cedar Ridge shared the news of the release on August 5.
Master Blender Murphy Quint expressed in a news release that the bourbon celebrates Cedar Ridge’s beginnings and additionally embodies what the distillery has grown into. Quint clarified that the Anniversary Bourbon honors both bourbon and wine, two important parts of Cedar Ridge’s identity.
On the brand’s website, Cedar Ridge shared that the bottle is dedicated to Iowa and its residents, who have supported the brand’s rise for two decades.
Parker’s Heritage Collection by Heaven Hill
Breaking Bourbon reported on August 4 that the iconic bourbon brand Heaven Hill released its legendary 19th Edition of the Parker’s Heritage Collection. Each release is for a good cause, as the brand donates proceeds of purchases to ALS research to honor Heaven Hill’s Late Master Distiller Emeritus, Parker Beam. Heaven Hill shares that since the inaugural Parker’s Heritage Collection release, the brand has raised over $1.4 million for ALS research.
An impressive 160 barrels went into the blend and were all pulled from a variety of rickhouses at Heaven Hill. Some of the whiskeys in the composition include a Kentucky Wheated Bourbon, a Straight Corn Whiskey, and a 12-year-old Whiskey comprised of rye and malt.
This year’s release clocks in at 122.5 proof and will be available in early September. It hosts a suggested retail price of $179.99.
Bottled In Bond Bourbon by High West Distillery
Men’s Journal reported on August 7 that High West achieved a major milestone in releasing its Bottled In Bond Bourbon. The whiskey was a dream over at the distillery for many years, and members of the team discussed the whiskey was in the making back when High West released its Bottled-In-Bond rye in February 2024.
Per Bottled-In-Bond regulations, this bourbon was distilled during a single season at a single distillery and spent at least 4 years aging. It was bottled at 100 proof. High West’s expression aged for four years and five months and originates from a mashbill of 64% non-GMO yellow corn and 36% rye.
According to Men’s Journal, this whiskey offers up a fruity nose, with kumquat zest, golden raisins, and creatively described aromas of “honeycomb in a wicker basket.” The palate features peach cobbler, roast marshmallows and a rich financier cake finish.
Tennessee Blackberry by Jack Daniel’s
On August 4, Jack Daniel’s unveiled a new whiskey, Tennessee Blackberry. The whiskey clocks in at 70 proof and originates from a mashbill of 80% corn, 12% malted barley and 8% rye. After distillation, it went through the brand’s signature charcoal mellowing process. The whiskey spent time aging in new charred American oak barrels. True to form, the team filtered it through 10 feet of sugar maple charcoal.
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Blackberry joins Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple. As far as flavor profile goes, blackberry is key here. The brand shares that the tangy berry flavors serve as a counterbalance to the “bold character” of Jack Daniel’s.
The whiskey hits the shelves in August and hosts a suggested retail price of $21.99.
The Harmony Collection 2025 by The Macallan
The Whiskey Wash reported that scotch whisky powerhouse, The Macallan, added the 2025 editions to the brand’s Harmony Collection. These releases celebrate a different beverage: tea. For the release of these two whiskies, the brand joined forces with the rare tea company JING.
One whisky takes its inspiration from Phoenix Honey Orchid Tea and the other pays homage to Organic Cherrywood Lapsang Tea. The outlet reported that the Phoenix Honey expression is available for $207. Chinese oolong tea that grows in the Phoenix Mountain Range serves as its north star. The whisky spent time maturing in a sherry-seasoned American oak cask.
The other release celebrates Organic Cherrywood Lapsang Tea, which is a riff on Lapsang Souchong Tea. The tea involves a smoking process that is done with cherrywood. The Phoenix Honey Orchid whisky clocks in at 43.9% ABV and the Cherrywood Lapsang hosts an ABV of 44.9%.
Macallan shared that the Phoenix Honey Orchid Tea is a bright and tropical whisky. The Organic Cherrywood whisky features more spice notes, with charred orange peel and dates.
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