07/01/25
Curated by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Bourbon & Whiskey Industry Highlights from June 2025 >> 47 Stories!

In June 2025, the bourbon and whiskey industry saw significant developments, including record tourism in Kentucky and notable distillery news such as CEO appointments and expansions. Numerous bottle releases and award announcements highlighted the month, alongside festival updates and market challenges like tariff uncertainties affecting major brands like Brown-Forman.

Industry Market News & Related Announcements >> 2 Stories

06/05: Brown-Forman shares plummet as whiskey maker warns of tariff uncertainty

06/11: Kentucky breaks tourism records for third consecutive year, generating $14.3 billion

Distillery News >> 9 Stories

06/02: Lisa Roper Wicker joins Whiskey Thief Distilling

06/03: Kentucky’s Famed Willett Distillery Breaks Tradition With Its First Long-Term Brand Collaboration

06/11: WhistlePig Whiskey taps beverage industry veteran Charles Gibb as its new CEO

06/11: Where are they on that project: Rhythm River Distillery

06/16: Leiper’s Fork Distillery Announces Nashville Yards Expansion

06/17: Maker’s Mark Celebrates Summer with New Chihuly Exhibition and Reimagined Restaurant Opening at its Kentucky Homeplace

06/18: Belle Meade Bourbon re-emerges in Nashville

06/25: Jackie Zykan leaves Hidden Barn Bourbon

06/30: Whiskey House of Kentucky Announces Amendment to Credit Agreement to Support Continued Growth

Distillery Trail >> 4 Stories

06/10: The Trail Hotel opens in Bardstown

06/11: How to taste 200 miles of bourbon country without leaving Louisville: 6 tasting rooms to visit

06/17: Green River Whiskey Opens Its Doors on Louisville’s Whiskey Row

06/29: Jack Daniel’s Visitor Center Celebrates 25 Years of Southern Hospitality and Whiskey Heritage

Awards Announced >> 5 Stories

06/01: New York International Spirits Competition 2025 – Gold Winners Part I

06/02: FREY RANCH® NAMED “MOST AWARDED DISTILLERY OF THE YEAR” AT THE 2025 ASCOT AWARDS

06/10: Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Announces 2025 Class

06/12: Craft Distillery Stuns at ASCOT Awards with Highest Honor

06/18: The International Wine & Spirits Competition Releases Results for the North American Whiskey & RTD Awards

Bourbon Festival News & Updates >> 5 Stories

ONGOING: Bourbon & Beyond announces 2025 Music Lineup

04/23: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Sold Out – Waitlist Option

06/08: Beer, Bacon & Bourbon Fest 2025

06/12: Bourbon & Beyond reveals culinary and bourbon lineup

06/30: Watch Hill Proper to Host the 3rd Annual American Whiskey Festival with New Wine Walk Experience

Bottle Releases >> 22 Stories

06/02: Four Branches Releases Limited Edition – The Continental

06/02: Yellowstone Adds Small Batch 107 to Core Lineup

06/03: Your Key To Hospitality: Old Fitzgerald Bourbon Unveils 7-Year-Old Bottled-In-Bond

06/03: Penelope Bourbon makes a big splash in the cigar scene with Cigar Sessions Chapter 1 American Whiskey

06/04: RD1 Spirits’ Latest Whiskey Expression Unites Sister Cities’ Cultures in Limited Release

06/05: Old Forester’s Most Sought-After Whiskey Is Breaking Free of Its Kentucky-Only Status

06/05: Redemption Whiskey Unveils 18-Year-Old Bourbon: A Masterwork of Craft, Time and Character

06/06: How much does climate affect bourbon aging? Milam & Greene has “The Answer”

06/06: Woodinville to Release 8 Year 100% Rye Whiskey

06/09: Stitzel-Weller Distillery Unveils Stitzel Reserve: A Gateway to Bourbon History

06/09: Buffalo Trace introduces all-new Eagle Rare 12 following $1.2 billion distillery expansion

06/09: Remus Bourbon brings back Babe Ruth Reserve

06/09: Stitzel-Weller Just Released A 24-Year-Old Bourbon—And You’ll Have To Go To Louisville To Get It

06/09: Buzzard’s Roost Distillery Releases New Single Barrel Rye Selected by Its Flock of Super Fans

06/11: Redbreast Is Releasing a Cask-Strength Version of Its Excellent 15-Year-Old Whiskey

06/12: Horse Soldier Bourbon Releases Commemorative, Limited-Edition Bottle Honoring the U.S. Army’s 250th Anniversary

06/13: Green River Distilling Co. celebrates U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary with commemorative whiskey release

06/16: Russell’s Reserve 13 Returns at Its Highest, Boldest Proof Yet

06/17: Angel’s Envy Just Dropped Its Rarest Rye Whiskey Yet—and It’s Actually Available Nationwide

06/18: Blue Note Launches Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey

06/18: Barrell Craft Spirits Launches Triple Rum Cask 20 Year Old Bourbon

06/24: Michter’s Distillery to Release 2025 Legacy Series Whiskeys Shenk’s & Bomberger’s Declaration

Book Releases >> 0 Stories