LOUISVILLE, Ky. – October 29, 2026 -- Blade and Bow is releasing a 30-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon at full barrel strength, 164.2 proof (82.1% ABV). Only 1,200 bottles exist, each priced at a suggested $2,500 per 750ml, with sales starting in November 2026.
The same whiskey now comes in two strengths
Blade and Bow 30-Year-Old Cask Strength is the second release in the brand's 30-Year-Old collection. It is the same blend as the 30-Year-Old Limited Release, which debuted in 2025 and was bottled in 2023 at 109 proof. The Cask Strength version skips dilution and is bottled at the strength it had when it left the barrel.
Nicole Austin, Diageo's Director of American Whiskey Liquid Development, calls them "the exact same blend, presented in two distinct ways." Drinkers can sip the Cask Strength neat or add room-temperature water a drop at a time to find their preferred balance.
Forty-two of 96 barrels went into the blend
The bourbon was first laid down in spring 1993 and spent much of its maturation in the rickhouses of Stitzel-Weller Distillery. Evaporation steadily reduced the liquid, so partially filled barrels were consolidated. Austin selected 42 barrels from an original 96 to build the blend.
Tasting notes run from citrus oils to menthol
The nose opens with citrus oils, dark berries and warm baking spice, with fig, molasses and old oak underneath. The palate is rich and viscous, with roasted nuts, ginger, dark sugar and blackcurrant plus a cool menthol lift. Adding water brings out shifting fruit, floral, sweet and spicy notes.
Stitzel-Weller offers 25 reservation-only bottles first
Each bottle comes in a custom-made leather box. Bottles will be released intermittently, and some of the 1,200 are held back for later. Availability begins in November 2026 in select markets.
Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Shively, Kentucky, is the first retail stop, with 25 bottles by reservation only. Reservations open November 16, with pickup later that month. More bottles will arrive through periodic drops at the distillery during the holiday season.
The Limited Release returns October 30 with 30 bottles
The original 30-Year-Old Limited Release goes on sale at Stitzel-Weller on October 30, 2026, with just 30 bottles. Limited availability in select markets and periodic distillery drops will follow.
Visitors can also taste both expressions at the distillery's Garden & Gun Club in a dedicated experience that includes custom keepsake glassware. Both are also on the menu as 1-oz. pours.