3 New Kentucky & Tennessee Pours That Dropped Last Week

A rye-leaning rickhouse pick from Wild Turkey, a pot-still birthday bottle from Woodford and a barrel-proof Tennessee pour with a good cause attached.

Last week was a busy one in whiskey country. Between October 6 and 8, three new bottles landed from just up the road in Kentucky and right here in Tennessee, and each one tells a different story: a master distiller going back to the first warehouse he ever worked in, a brand celebrating 30 years by leaning into its copper pot stills, and a seven-year Tennessee whiskey where every online dollar goes to a scholarship fund. None of these has shown up on our fall lists yet, so let's dig in.

1. Russell's Reserve Single Rickhouse 2026: Camp Nelson D

The fifth release in the Single Rickhouse Collection comes from Camp Nelson D, a warehouse built in 1946 on the west side of Wild Turkey's Camp Nelson property. It sits at the highest elevation of any rickhouse in the series so far and takes a beating from the wind, and Eddie Russell pulled barrels from five different floors (1, 3, 4, 5 and 6), more than any previous release. It's personal for Eddie, too: Camp Nelson D was the first rickhouse he ever worked in there, back when he started 45 years ago. His take on what's in the glass? "This is the first Single Rickhouse release where, tasted blind, you'd bet it was a rye." The official notes back that up: baked apple, baking spice and vanilla on the nose, cinnamon, clove and rye bread on the palate, and a peppery, spicy-oak finish.

Proof: 120.8 (barrel proof, non-chill filtered) | Suggested price: $300 | Availability: Limited, select U.S. retailers and the Wild Turkey Distillery Visitor Center in Lawrenceburg, out since October 6

How to pour it: Neat first, then a few drops of water. If Eddie's right about that rye character, a little water should pull the cinnamon and clove forward. Better yet, pour it blind for your bourbon crew and see who calls it a rye.

2. Woodford Reserve Distillery Series: Triple Pot Still

Woodford Reserve launched in October 1996, and for its 30th birthday the Versailles distillery is going back to what made it different: copper pot stills. This Distillery Series bottle is 100% whiskey distilled at Woodford in its three copper pot stills, a rarity in an American whiskey world built mostly on column stills. Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall and team say it's meant to show off the robust flavor profile tied to the historic site. Collectors should also circle October 16, when a 150-bottle run of Louisville Stoneware ceramic decanters filled with a Double Oaked Single Barrel personal selection chosen by McCall hits the gift shop.

Proof: Not announced | Suggested price: $64.99 | Availability: Woodford Reserve Distillery gift shop only, on sale since October 7

How to pour it: Pour it side by side with a glass of regular Woodford Distiller's Select. It's the easiest way to taste what pot-still distillate brings to the party. And make the drive: this one only lives at the distillery.

3. Knobel Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, 7-Year Special Edition

Our Tennessee pick comes with a feel-good backstory. Knobel, the whiskey brand co-founded by Dirty Jobs host Mike Rowe and named for his grandfather Carl Knobel, released a seven-year single barrel to mark the 18th anniversary of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation. It's charcoal-filtered the Lincoln County way, aged in hand-toasted new American oak and drawn from just four barrels. Even better: 100% of online net proceeds from these limited editions go to the foundation, which has awarded $22.5 million in work-ethic scholarships to date.

Proof: 121 to 121.7 (varies by barrel) | Suggested price: $104.95 | Availability: Limited, online through the Knobel Spirits shop, released October 8

How to pour it: At better than 120 proof, give it a big ice cube or a splash of water and let it sit a few minutes. Then raise a glass to the folks doing the dirty jobs.

The Bottom Line

If you're chasing the bottle with the best story and the boldest profile, it's Camp Nelson D, if your wallet and your local shop cooperate. For a bourbon road trip, Woodford's Triple Pot Still is a $65 souvenir you can only get in Versailles. And if you want a big Tennessee pour that does some good, Knobel's seven-year is a click away.

Which one are you hunting? Drop your pick in the comments, and keep listening to Barrels, Banter & Blind Tigers, the Blind Tiger Collective podcast, for more stories from the rickhouse and beyond.

Please enjoy responsibly. Prices are suggested retail and may vary by market.

Sources: Breaking Bourbon (Russell's Reserve press release); The Whiskey Wash (Russell's Reserve); Wine Industry Advisor (Woodford Reserve press release); The Whiskey Wash (Woodford Reserve); The Whiskey Wash (Knobel); Knobel Spirits.

Header photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash.