8 New American Whiskies Perfect To Sip On This Summer

8 New American Whiskies Perfect To Sip On This Summer

This summer, explore a selection of New American whiskies that deliver a perfect blend of refreshing notes and bold flavors. These whiskies range from light and fruity expressions to those with a hint of spice, offering something for every palate. Whether you're enjoying them neat, on the rocks, or in a crafted cocktail, these whiskies boast vibrant profiles ideal for warm weather sipping. With unique mash bills and aging techniques, they capture the essence of innovation in American distilling, making them a great addition to your summer gatherings. Expect flavors like honey, vanilla, citrus, and subtle smoke that keep the experience smooth and satisfying even as temperatures rise.

WhistlePig Campstock Wheat Whiskey

WhistlePig’s latest limited-edition release, featuring an all-wheat mashbill, is a perfect summer whiskey with bold aromas of honey, apricots, and peaches. On the palate, its smooth, easy-drinking profile highlights honey and vanilla notes. This wheater shines as a straight pour for warm days but also excels in cocktails like a highball, especially when enhanced with a splash of ginger liqueur. The whiskey’s name alone evokes summer, making it an ideal choice for seasonal sipping.

Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Rye

Tasting Colonel E.H. Taylor’s straight rye for the first time might surprise you, as its predominantly rye-based mashbill delivers a nuanced, almost delicate spice, balanced by cinnamon hints and a sweetness more commonly found in wheated bourbons. The brand’s latest limited release, a barrel-proof rye, further intrigues with added strength that introduces an oaky dryness and shifts the sweetness from baking spices to dried stone fruits and honey. If you're lucky enough to secure a bottle, don’t expect just a stronger version of the standard rye; this release stands as a distinct and unique whiskey in its own right.

Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series — The Heart Release

The Heart Release, the latest in Maker’s Mark’s Wood Finishing Series, is a versatile whiskey that bourbon enthusiasts can enjoy year-round. While it’s rich with classic caramel flavors and unique notes of maple and chocolate, its medium body keeps it approachable even in summer. However, this overproof whiskey truly shines during late-night fire pit gatherings, where its depth and warmth can be fully appreciated.

Westland Colere 4 Single Malt Whiskey

For over a decade, Seattle’s Westland Distillery has been a pioneer in crafting American single malt whiskey, recognizing the Pacific Northwest’s climate as ideal for producing quality malts similar to those from the British Isles. Their latest release, the 4th Edition of Colere, continues the exploration of how variables like oak species and barley types influence flavor. This edition highlights the Fritz barley variety, developed by Washington State University, and offers a light-bodied profile with notes of honey graham crackers, ginger, black tea, and apple turnovers. Despite its 50% ABV, this warm-weather sipper remains smooth and approachable, perfect for those seeking a complex yet refreshing single malt experience.

Wyoming Whiskey Outryder

Just as binge-worthy series have drawn inspiration from the rugged American West, whiskey production has also expanded into this region, yielding impressive results. Wyoming Whiskey’s latest limited-edition release, Outryder, exemplifies this trend. A blend of two mashbills—one rye-forward and the other bourbon-based—this straight American whiskey offers flavors like hot chocolate, dark molasses, brown butter, and roasted cumin. Its light body and sweet, approachable front make it a perfect choice for warm, sun-soaked summer days, appealing to both rye and bourbon enthusiasts alike.

Lost Lantern Far-Flung Bourbon II

For the second year running, Vermont-based independent bottler Lost Lantern has launched its "Summer of Bourbon" collection, with the standout being Far-Flung Bourbon II. This blend of straight bourbons sourced from Indiana, New York, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Wisconsin is bottled at a robust 63.3% ABV. Rich, warming, and viscous, it’s ideal for cool fall nights, but a splash of water reveals brighter notes like cherry cola and caramel corn, transforming it into a sweet, rounded sipper with a hint of spice. For those who prefer single-cask offerings, Lost Lantern’s Corbin Cash release is a surprising gem. Crafted by a California distillery better known for sweet potato vodka and rye, this 7-year bourbon, at an intense 146.2 proof, is unexpectedly approachable neat. With dark brown sugar flavors, it evolves into a seasonally friendly bourbon with added water, revealing layers of ripe apples, honeycomb, and floral vanilla.

Frey Ranch Single Grain Series — 100-Percent Wheat

Frey Ranch has quickly gained recognition as a producer of award-winning whiskey, surprising many given its roots in western Nevada. Their latest limited-edition release is a unique offering with a 100% wheat mashbill, made entirely from soft white winter wheat grown on the distillery’s farm, and bottled at cask strength. The bottle sampled comes in at a hefty 133.7 proof, delivering a powerful, syrupy punch that reflects the intensity of the Nevada desert. Despite its fiery profile, this wheater transforms into a more floral, summer-friendly pour with the addition of a splash of water, making it both bold and surprisingly versatile.

Brother Justus Single Malt Whiskey

Minnesota’s Brother Justus distillery recently introduced a lineup of four whiskies: a traditional single malt, a cold-peated single malt, a silver whiskey, and a cask strength Founder’s Reserve. For summer sipping, the traditional single malt shines brightest. Bursting with fruity and floral aromas with a subtle hint of cereal grain, this light-bodied whiskey is surprisingly viscous, delivering rich malted flavors and notes of under-ripe strawberries. It’s an easy, refreshing pour even in warm weather, making it an ideal summer whiskey. The silver whiskey, while less impressive neat, adds depth and character to clear-spirit cocktails like white negronis and daiquiris, offering a heavier body while preserving the bright, summery flavors.