While Congress didn’t formally recognize bourbon as a “distinctive product of the United States” until 1964, its homegrown roots run much deeper. Whiskey distilled from rye and corn helped sustain the American colonists, reducing dependence on the British-controlled rum trade.
Following independence, a levy on whiskey production enacted in 1791 marked the first federal excise tax issued by our newly formed country. Instituted in part to help fill the treasury after the Revolutionary War, it led to the young nation’s first major test of federal authority in what’s known as the Whiskey Rebellion. On the early frontier, farmers distilled whiskey from excess grain, turning it into a commodity that also functioned as currency.
So as the country marks its 250th anniversary, it seems only appropriate that today’s whiskey distillers are honoring the occasion with special semiquincentennial releases that aim to bottle a little of that history. From bespoke collector’s editions to historic recipes and veteran-owned brands, these nine standouts are each commendable in their own right—and together offer a collective toast to the spirit of American independence.
Four Branches Bourbon
Founded by four veterans from each branch of the U.S. military, this whiskey brand last year released a ten-year-old Continental bourbon commemorating the 250th anniversary of America’s armed forces. For this year’s Liberty Reserve, Four Branches blended stocks of that same Kentucky bourbon—now aged eleven years—with a six-year-old four-grain bourbon and gave it a double-oak finish. Four Branches cofounder Rick Franco says the Continental bourbon’s contribution to Liberty Reserve felt especially meaningful, echoing the Continental Army’s central role in American independence. Limited to 1,176 bottles ($120) and awarded a double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the bourbon opens with notes of butterscotch and beeswax, giving way to oak and spice on the palate.
Horse Soldier Bourbon
This thirteen-year-old Kentucky bourbon is the oldest age-stated release yet from Horse Soldier, founded by a group of U.S. Special Forces veterans who were among the first troops deployed to Afghanistan shortly after 9/11. The nose is sweetly aromatic, with notes of powdered sugar and ripe banana, followed by vanilla and the layered depth you’d expect from a well-aged Kentucky bourbon. The commemorative bottle ($800) also stands out. Made from French glass, with 1,176 produced, it honors Lady Liberty, including copper accents, a green patina, and a flame-shaped topper, and a portion of proceeds benefits the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Foundation.
Rittenhouse Rye
United States 250th Anniversary Commemorative Edition
An image of the Liberty Bell, framed by the years 1776 and 2026, places the Pennsylvania roots of this ten-year-old bottled-in-bond rye ($100) front and center. Named for Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square and first produced in the city in 1934, the Heaven Hill brand pays homage to the early rye styles that once defined American whiskey. Bright as a copper penny, the whiskey has an initially spicy flavor balanced by the vanilla and caramel notes more commonly found in bourbon (not surprising given that corn comprises 35 percent of its mash bill), finishing with toasted oak and cocoa powder.
Peg Leg Porker Spirits
This bottled-in-bond bourbon from Nashville pitmaster Carey Bringle is inspired by resilience, both America’s grit and perseverance and Bringle’s personal journey after losing a leg to cancer in his teens. Filtered through hickory charcoal before bottling, the bourbon ($80) delivers a smooth, silky mouthfeel, with aromas of honey and fresh oak and notes of black-pepper-cracker on the palate. A portion of proceeds supports the Tennessee-based nonprofit Hearty Hog’s Veteran BBQ Camp.
Chicken Cock Whiskey
Combining two classic American spirits—rye whiskey and apple brandy—into one distinctive blend, Old Glory marries 70 percent rye from Chicken Cock (a brand dating to 1856) with 30 percent Laird’s Apple Brandy (founded in 1780). Bottled at 100 proof, the unique release ($65) has a nose that recalls baked apple strudel, transitioning into the grassy, pepper-like flavors expected of a proper rye and brightened with notes of cinnamon and clove.
Evan Williams
America 250 Commemorative Editions
To mark the nation’s 250th, Evan Williams released commemorative editions of three expressions—its Black Label, 1783 Small Batch, and Single Barrel Bourbon. I sampled the single barrel ($40), for which the distillery selected 250 barrels aged from seven to nine years and bottled individually at 117.76 proof. Barrel No. 25 showed notes of honeycomb, oak, and caramelized sugar, and the higher proof point lends heft without overpowering. In conjunction with the releases, the brand also announced a new partnership with the nonprofit Folds of Honor, which funds educational scholarships for the families of fallen and disabled service members and first responders.
15 STARS
Bardstown-based 15 STARS, founded by father-and-son team Rick and Ricky Johnson, launched a new permanent whiskey line, Kentucke County, to coincide with America’s 250th, with labels that depict an outline of Kentucky as it existed in 1776, when it was established as a county of Virginia. The lineup features a blend of two six-year-old Kentucky bourbons ($38) and a twelve-year American whiskey ($58). The bourbon, in particular, has a rich and lively palate dashed with classic flavors of oak and vanilla that’s especially impressive given its modest price point.
WhistlePig Whiskey
The Vermont-based distillery, which played a significant role in the resurgence of rye’s popularity, rolled out a 110-proof version of its flagship ten-year whiskey bottled in a special-edition PiggyBank decanter ($250). The brand has also launched an online petition to declare rye America’s official whiskey. While that’s unlikely, the whiskey itself delivers, with notes of orange marmalade dusted with cinnamon and lemon zest giving way to peppery spice and leather in the finish.
Lost Lantern
Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski, the husband-and-wife founders behind the Vermont-based independent bottler Lost Lantern, recently completed their years-long mission to source bourbon from all fifty states for an ambitious blend called the United States of Bourbon. Meant as a recurring release, it’s offered in both 100-proof ($80) and cask-strength ($100) expressions. Fitting for America’s 250th year, they also put together a one-time blend of bourbon from the nation’s first thirteen states for the 1776 special edition ($200). Bottled at 121.4 proof and, again, with 1,776 available bottles, its component bourbons range from four to eight years in age, with each distillery listed on the label.
