Bulleit is adding a new $30 whiskey to its permanent lineup for the first time in 15 years

The release combines Kentucky bourbon with Indiana rye and marks the brand’s first bourbon-rye blend.

Key Points

• Bulleit ’87 is the brand’s first new permanent whiskey in 15 years and its first bourbon-rye blend. It combines Kentucky bourbon and Indiana rye in a new addition to Bulleit’s core lineup.
• The bourbon and rye are each aged for at least four years, then finished separately with toasted American and French oak staves before blending and bottling at 90 proof.
• Bulleit ’87 launches nationwide in September 2026 with a $30 MSRP. The release will be supported by a 15-city sampling tour featuring local food pairings.

For the first time in 15 years, Bulleit Frontier Whiskey is debuting a new permanent expression. The whiskey — Bulleit ’87 — is a blend of bourbon and rye, finished with toasted American and French oak staves. Featuring bourbon distilled in Kentucky and rye from Indiana, Bulleit ’87 is the brand’s first bourbon-rye blend, joining Bulleit Bourbon and Bulleit 95 rye in its core lineup. The whiskey is named in recognition of 1987, Bulleit’s founding year.

Bulleit ’87 starts with two distinct American whiskeys, each distilled and aged separately. The bourbon is produced and aged in Shelbyville, Kentucky, where Diageo-owned Bulleit has operated a distillery since 2017. The rye is distilled and aged by MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Bulleit has a long history of sourcing rye from MGP (today also known as Ross & Squibb Distillery), including its flagship Bulleit 95 rye, introduced in 2011.

Both the bourbon and rye components are aged for at least four years. After initial maturation, the whiskeys are finished with toasted American oak and French oak staves, which are added to the original barrels for four to six weeks. The whiskey is then blended and bottled in Shelbyville at 90 proof (45% ABV).

Fast Facts: Bulleit ’87 Frontier Whiskey

ABV: 45% 

Maturation: Bulleit ‘87 starts with bourbon distilled in Kentucky and rye distilled in Indiana. The whiskeys are aged separately for four years, then finished in the original barrels with toasted American oak and French oak staves. The whiskey is then blended and bottled in Kentucky.

Availability: Bulleit ’87 is an ongoing release and will be available in retailers nationwide.

MSRP: $30

The fusion of bourbon and rye, combined with stave finishing, helped Bulleit build a multifaceted profile. Bulleit ’87 marks the brand’s first use of additional staves during the aging of its whiskeys. 

“The toasted stave finishing was where this whiskey really came to life. It’s not something we’ve done before at Bulleit, and it gave us a new level of control over the final flavor,” says Phil Gelineau, whiskey research and development manager at Bulleit.

“By finishing the bourbon and rye separately in toasted American and French oak, we were able to create a distinctive sipping profile that brings forward notes like caramel, spice and oak before blending them together. That’s what gives ’87 its complexity without losing its balance.”

Related: Bulleit Is Releasing Its Oldest Rye Whiskey Ever: A 20-Year-Old Cask-Strength Bottling

Brand tasting notes highlight classic American whiskey aromas of caramel and brown sugar. The palate leans into baking spices and oak, with plenty of hallmark rye spice on the finish.

To celebrate the launch of Bulleit ‘87 this summer, the company is embarking on a 15-city sampling tour, with stops in New Orleans, Austin, New York, Los Angeles, and Louisville. The events will pair Bulleit ’87 with a selection of local cuisine. 

Bulleit ’87 carries an MSRP of $30 and will be available nationwide starting in September 2026.

Read the original article on Food & Wine