By james art 
In new American whiskey and bourbon releases this week, Barrell Craft Spirits prepares for Christmas and the New Year, Wyoming Whiskey pays tribute to a beloved grizzly bear, and Eric LeGrand unveils his first single barrel expression.
Let’s take a closer look at some of this week’s exciting new releases.
Barrell Craft Spirits New Years Bourbon 2025
Barrell Craft Spirits unveiled its 2025 New Year’s offering, which “celebrates the possibilities and optimism that each new year brings,” according to a press release from the brand.
Blended from a wide variety of bourbons from the United States, the resulting mash is 75% corn, 20% rye, 4% malted barley and 1% wheat. All bourbons are aged between 5 and 15 years in untreated American white oak barrels, creating a complex and warming expression.
Tasting notes of the new expression include chamomile tea, pear and chocolate on the nose. The taste delivers herbs, lychee, oak and vanilla. Finally, the bourbon lingers on the palate with wasabi, grapefruit and rosehip.
Bottled at 56.05% ABV, only 12,000 limited edition bottles were produced and are now available for purchase at a suggested retail price of $89.99.
The full list of bourbons in the blend is as follows:
- Kentucky Bourbon: 5, 6 and 9 years
- Indiana Bourbon: 5, 6, 7, 11 and 12 years
- Tennessee Bourbon: 8, 9 and 15 years
- Wyoming Bourbon: 9 and 12 years
- New York Bourbon: 5 years
- Texas Bourbon: 5 years
- Ohio Bourbon: 5 years
- Maryland Bourbon: 6 and 7 years
Barrell Craft Spirits Sampler Gift Box
Just in time for the festive season, Barrell Craft Spirits has also launched a 200ml sampler gift box consisting of three core products from the range.
The first bourbon is Barrell Bourbon Batch 036, a blend of pure bourbons distilled in Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee. The blend showcases the best of oak aging, with hints of stone fruit, baked goods and rich oak. It is bottled at 114.44 proof.
Second, a Barrell Craft favorite: Seagrass. This innovative whiskey is a blend of American and Canadian rye whiskeys matured in Martinique rum, Madeira and apricot brandy casks. The whiskeys are distilled in Canada and Indiana and bottled at 120.2 proof.
Finally, Barrell Vintage is a blend of pure bourbons finished in three different types of oak: misunara, French, and toasted American oak barrels. Distilled in Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee, the whiskey is bottled at 114.26 proof.
The Barrell Craft Spirits Sample Gift Box is available now for a suggested retail price of $59.99.
Wyoming Whiskey Queen Of The Tetons
Wyoming whiskey revealed an expression that pays tribute to Grizzly 399, the bear tragically killed in a car accident on Grand Teton National Park in October 2022
Grizzly 399 was a beloved member of Wyoming’s wildlife, and the 28-year-old bear’s death caused devastation among local residents. The 7-foot, 400-pound grizzly was the mother of at least 18 cubs (some sources say 22 or 28 including grandchildren) and spent most of her life near the Snake River. She was one of the most photographed bears in the world and attracted tourists from all over the world.
In honor of Grizzly, 399 Wyoming Whiskey released Queen of the Tetons as a tribute to the bear’s “indomitable spirit.” With an image of Grizzly 399 on the label photographed by Thomas Mangelsen, Queen of the Tetons is a limited edition whiskey with only 720 bottles produced, available for an SRP of $84.99. Available exclusively in Wyoming through select retailers and Wyoming Whiskey locations.
Tasting notes for the commemorative edition include honey, berries and cinnamon spice on the nose. On the palate, white chocolate mocha, red berries and brown sugar. The whiskey lingers on the palate with candied ginger and vanilla.
In addition to the launch, Wyoming Whiskey will donate $20,000 to the Grand Teton National Park Foundation, which protects and preserves the park’s national habitats. Funds will also support grizzly bear education and conservation. The 399 bottles of the limited edition will also be auctioned to benefit the foundation.
Speaking of Grizzly 399’s enduring legacy, Wyoming Whiskey co-founder David DeFazio said, “Grizzly 399 has earned its title as Queen of the Tetons by putting its 28 years of life on display. She was shrewd, which led to her resilience. And her resilience captivated us all.”
Eric LeGrand Single Barrel Bourbon
Eric LeGrand Bourbon introduced its first single barrel express. The brand debuted in March 2023, with the liquid produced at the Green River, Kentucky distillery.
This particular expression was aged in toasted and charred American oak barrels and bottled at 104 proof. According to a press release from the brand, “It has notes of vanilla, orange peel, soft oak and a subtle hint of black cherry.”
In homage to when Eric LeGrand played football at Rutgers University as #52, the bourbon is bottled at 52% ABV.
“Our goal with this bourbon is to offer a new tasting experience for those who enjoy high-proof spirits,” said Eric LeGrand, co-founder of Eric LeGrand Bourbon. “I’ve always wanted to release a special bottle for the holiday season and we were able to experiment with a single barrel bourbon that will win over bourbon lovers. With this release, we continue our work with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, so this is a gift that will go back to a good cause.”
Available for a suggested retail price of $59.99, you can purchase the whiskey on the Eric LeGrand website and at select New Jersey retailers. $5.20 from the sale of each case will be donated to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, which supports people living with paralysis and researchers seeking to cure spinal cord injuries.