It's National Bourbon Heritage Month. Here are 4 new bourbons you must try

Kentucky’s distilleries are constantly launching new products. This month, which also happens to be National Bourbon Heritage Month, expect to see some new releases from Heaven Hill. Also, Barrels & Billets, a custom bourbon experience in downtown Louisville, and Wenzel Whiskey, have joined The Kentucky Distillers’ Association.

Here's what else is happening on the bourbon beat this month:

Barrels & Billets Home Plate Series honors baseball's heritage

Barrels & Billets, Hillerich & Bradsby Co.’s unique custom bourbon experience where guests blend, create and bottle their very own bourbon, will release three new bourbons in its Home Plate Series, which celebrates baseball heritage. The release includes Lucky Lumber Easy Drinking Bourbon, Lead Off Rich & Complex Bourbon and Smokin’ Fastball Smoked Bourbon. Available exclusively in the Barrels & Billets shop, 800 W. Main St. in downtown Louisville, each bourbon is offered for a retail price of $40 and is presented at 90 proof/45% ABV. Here's what to know:

• Lucky Lumber: Shows a lithe and lively bouquet of Bing cherry, dried flower, white chocolate, and raw honey. On the palate, sweet maple flavors arise with notes of baked molasses and a lingering impression of ripe berry fruit.

• Lead Off: Offers a bold yet inviting nose that carries hints of freshly baked snickerdoodles, cigar smoke, and saddle leather. It’s soft on the palate from start to finish, bringing flavors of stewed maraschino cherries, baked orchard fruit, and candied pecans before clove spice kisses the finish.

• Smokin’ Fastball: Showcases a medley of young leather and cigar box aromas with muddled orange peel and bran muffin. Comforting flavors of ripe stone fruit, baked apricots, and vanilla custard come through, rounding out and creating a pleasingly smooth profile that lingers through a smooth finish.

Barrels & Billets has also joined The Kentucky Distillers’ Association, the non-profit trade group that unites and leads Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry, as a craft member.

“We look forward to working with the Barrels & Billets team as we continue our tireless work to unite our historic industry and secure Kentucky as the one true home for bourbon," Eric Gregory, president of the KDA, said in a news release. "We congratulate them on their success and gladly welcome them to the KDA."

Patrick Shortridge, director of Guest Experience at Hillerich & Bradsby Co., said being added to the KDA is "a big milestone for us and we look forward to building onto Barrels & Billets’ fun and unique take on what people can experience in downtown bourbon."

Elijah Craig releases Toasted Barrel bourbon to commemorate Ryder Cup

Elijah Craig has released a Limited-Edition Toasted Barrel finished in European Toasted Oak Barrels to commemorate the 2023 Ryder Cup. Earlier this year, Elijah Craig announced a multi-year partnership that makes the bourbon brand the “Official Bourbon” and a Worldwide Supplier of the biennial competition.

The limited edition starts with fully-matured Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon and finishes it in new European Oak barrels that have been toasted with a profile inspired by those used in the Lazio wine-growing region. Lazio wines are grown in and around Rome, Italy, where the 2023 Ryder Cup is being held at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.

“We are thrilled to raise a glass to the 2023 Ryder Cup with this new limited-edition release of Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel. The unique marriage of toasted European Oak and our extra-aged Kentucky Bourbon offers a taste experience fit for one of the world’s greatest sporting events,” Max Stefka, group product director for Elijah Craig Bourbon said in a news release.

Each bottle comes with a neck label featuring the Ryder Cup trophy, a gold coin emblazoned cork with the Ryder Cup logo, and a face label featuring the "Official Bourbon” designation and Ryder Cup logo. The bottles will come packaged in a gift box which further details the story of this one-time offering. Suggested retail price of $99.99.

Elijah Craig, which is a Heaven Hill Distillery product, is also known as the Official Bourbon and Whiskey Supplier of the PGA of America, PGA Championship, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and an official partner of the PGA National Club Championship.

Heaven Hill Distillery releases Old Fitzgerald, Parker's Heritage expressions

Heaven Hill Distillery announced the release of its Spring 2023 edition of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey at 10 years old. Comprised of barrels produced during the spring of 2013 from January to June and bottled in the spring of 2023, the 11th national release ushers in the latest edition to the decanter series.

The spring 2023 edition bares a bright burnished copper color, with a nose of brown sugar and molasses in addition to light baking spices with orange peel. The taste is gentle on the palate with notes of butterscotch, subtle oak, and cloves. Its finish is long and warm with tannins and a peppery tingle, followed by a hint of barrel char as the finale, according to a news release announcing the spirit.

Bottled in an ornate decanter, the spring edition is denoted by a green label. This edition’s tax strip will disclose when the liquid was produced and bottled and will be available in the 750ml size on an allocated basis. It meets the strict requirements of a bottled-in-bond: the product of a single distillery from a single distilling season, aged a minimum of four years, and bottled at 100 proof or 50% alcohol by volume. This edition is available at the suggested retail price of $139.99.

Heaven Hill also announced the release of the 17th edition of the Parker’s Heritage Collection. It is comprised of a 10-year-old Rye Whiskey that was barreled in August, October, or December of 2012. The liquid was non-chill filtered to preserve the natural flavors of the aging process. The mashbill for this edition is comprised of Heaven Hill Distillery’s traditional Rye Whiskey Mashbill 51% rye, 35% corn, and 14% malted barley and bottled at cask strength, 128.8 proof, according to the release.

The 17th Edition will be available nationally and internationally in limited quantities at the suggested retail price of $185.

Packaged in the same upscale 750ml bottle as the previous 16 editions, but with an emerald-colored label, the newest Parker’s Heritage Collection is available in a three-bottle case and will arrive at retail locations starting in mid to late September. Like the previous 10 editions, a portion of the proceeds will continue to support ALS research and patient care in honor of Parker Beam, Master Distiller Emeritus.

Wenzel Whiskey joins The Kentucky Distillers’ Association

Wenzel Whiskey has joined The Kentucky Distillers’ Association as a craft member, the non-profit trade group that unites and leads Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry.

“Wenzel is grateful for KDA’s dedication to ensuring Kentucky remains the one true home of Bourbon,” Austin Dunbar, Wenzel Whiskey Partner, said in a news release. “In partnership with the KDA, we are excited to continue building on our company’s historic past and bring new opportunities to the Covington community.”

Wenzel Whiskey currently produces Wenzel’s Proprietors' Blend, the first whiskey to be produced in Covington since Prohibition. Wenzel also has a Barrel Proof Rye, a blend of six and seven-year barrels of Indiana rye, and a Wheated #1 six-year-old barrel-proof expression.

Reach Features news clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: New bourbon September 2023: Barrels & Billets, Elijah Craig, Old Flitz