Joe Returns, Terry is MIA, and The Gang talks about bourbons from 2025
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If there’s one thing we’ve learned this year, it’s that bourbon never sleeps. It doesn’t slow down, it doesn’t take a breath, and it sure as hell doesn’t apologize for evolving faster than most of us can keep up. And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way. The bourbon world in 2025 was loud, proud, full-flavored, and absolutely chaotic in the best way possible — the kind of year that reminds you why we fell in love with this amber-hued madness in the first place.
As the Blind Tiger Collective, we’ve spent the last twelve months in the rickhouses, on the back roads, in the tasting rooms, and sitting with distillers who have stories soaked deeper than the char on their barrels. Here’s the year as we saw it — glass in hand, notebook out, and the kind of curiosity that gets you into trouble and invites you to the good tables.
Heritage Houses Made Bold Moves
Legacy distilleries decided that resting on their multi-generation laurels was simply too boring. This year we saw:
Maker’s Mark continuing its masterclass in consistency, while expanding experimental profiles that had bourbon nerds arguing in Facebook groups until 2 a.m.
Buffalo Trace proving once again that the only thing more limited than their releases is the patience of the people waiting in line for them.
Heaven Hill rolling out new barrel finishes that reminded everyone that innovation doesn’t have to break tradition — sometimes it just gives tradition a little nudge.
The titans of bourbon reminded us they aren’t here to coast. They’re here to raise the bar and dare the rest of the industry to keep up.
Craft Distillers Took the Wheel
If 2024 was the rise of craft, 2025 was the year craft distillers walked in, took their jackets off, and claimed a seat at the big-kids table.
We saw small-batch producers release bottles that stunned competition judges, interrupted conversations mid-sentence, and even led to a few “wait, who made this?” moments.
Distilleries like:
Wilderness Trail sharpening their already razor-sharp reputation
New Riff continuing to send out flavorful haymakers
And dozens of tiny upstart distillers proving that great bourbon doesn’t have to come from a 150-year-old campus
Craft distilling officially stopped being the “alternative option.” This year, it was the main character.
Finish-Frenzy Reached New Heights
Sherry casks, Madeira casks, rum casks, honey barrels, amburana… even a few finishes that had us reading the label twice to make sure it wasn’t a typo.
2025 became the year we fully embraced the wild side of bourbon finishing. Some were hits. Some missed the mark. And some were so bizarre we couldn’t decide if we loved them or needed therapy.
But the experimentation?Unapologetic.Fearless.Necessary.It pushed bourbon culture forward — and created more conversation than any other trend this year.
The Bourbon Community Showed Up Big
Festivals sold out. Distillery tours turned into pilgrimage routes. Tasting groups expanded. Bourbon podcasts — including our own Blind Tiger Collective Podcast — saw audience numbers jump.
We also saw more women, more younger drinkers, and more culturally diverse audiences embracing bourbon than ever before. The table got bigger — and better.
And let’s be honest: nothing brings people together quite like a well-made pour and a story that starts with, “You’re not gonna believe this, but…”
Secondary Market Madness… Still Mad
The resale game didn’t calm down — if anything, it evolved.
Artificial intelligence bots, midnight inventory leaks, in-store QR lotteries… 2025 felt like Hunger Games with tasting notes.
But here’s the truth: the industry is slowly shifting back toward experience over hype. The everyday drinker started caring less about unicorns and more about bottles that actually taste great, sit on shelves, and don’t require a ransom to buy. And we think that’s a win for everyone.
Travel, Tourism & Storytelling Stayed King
From iconic Kentucky trail stops to hidden-gem southern distilleries, this year reminded us that bourbon is more than a spirit — it’s a road trip, a handshake, a pair of muddy boots, a campfire conversation.
People didn’t just want to drink bourbon in 2025. They wanted to experience it.
And for us at Blind Tiger, that’s always the heart of the culture :People, places, and the pours that bring them together.
Looking Ahead
Next year promises more innovation, more collaboration, and more opportunities to explore the stories behind the barrel. If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that bourbon’s best trick is staying rooted in history while constantly rewriting its future.
And we’ll be right there in the mix — tasting, traveling, laughing, arguing, collecting stories, and bringing you along for the ride.
Here’s to another year of discovery, conversation, and damn good bourbon.
Cheers from the Blind Tiger Collective.
