Missed That Limited Edition Bourbon? It Probably Dropped 2 Months Earlier Than You Think

💥 Opening Pour

Missed That Limited Edition Bourbon?
It probably dropped 2 months earlier than you think.

Most folks chase bourbon in December. That’s the mistake.
Because by then, the real drops—the rare, the barrel-proof, the unicorns—are long gone.

Let me tell you how I learned this the fun way… and why September is your new best friend.

📖 The Story

It was a sleepy Tuesday morning, mid-September.
I was road-tripping through Tennessee and stopped into a local liquor store with flickering lights and zero signage. Looked like the kind of place that might sell more lotto tickets than bourbon.

And then it happened.

Two bottles of Stagg Jr., sitting right there. No fanfare. No glass case.
Right next to them? Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, with a light film of dust like it had been there for weeks.

The clerk shrugged.
“Yeah, they came in a few days ago. No one really asks for 'em until November.”

I nearly dropped my wallet.

Here’s the truth: most distilleries release their best and rarest bottles in September and October—not December.

Why?

Because:

• They’re prepping for holiday demand, not reacting to it

• Retailers want to beat the Black Friday crowd

• Allocations rotate in early fall, clearing space for year-end restocks

By the time the hype hits Instagram in late November, most of those bottles are long gone. They didn’t sell out in a frenzy—they just sat quietly on a shelf and went home with someone who knew better.

That’s the game: bourbon’s calendar moves before the buzz.

And now you know.

🥇 The Weekly Pour

Bottle: Russell’s Reserve 13-Year-Old Bourbon
Price: ~MSRP $150 - Secondary Market $400 - $600
Proof: 114.8
Age: 13 years

Nose: Roasted vanilla bean, dried cherry, charred oak
Palate: Pipe tobacco, dark caramel, pecan pie crust
Finish: Warm, lingering spice that begs for a second sip

✅ Barrel proof and unfiltered
✅ Fall-only release that sells out fast
✅ Balanced depth without overpowering heat

🛒 Buy it now → $499.99

🍹The Art of Mixing

None this week.
Russell’s 13 is a neat-pour masterclass. Let it do its thing.

🍖 Flavor Pairing Picks

Pair it with:

🍗 Smoked short ribs — The fat draws out the char and cherry
🍑 Grilled peaches with cinnamon sugar — Amplifies the vanilla and spice
💨 Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story — Smooth and peppery, just like the finish

🧠 Big Lesson of the Week

The best bottles don’t sell out in a frenzy.
They vanish quietly weeks before the crowd even starts looking.

🥂 Final Toast

To the sleepers on the shelf, the early shoppers who know, and the pours that come before the hype.

🥃 Repeatable Proverb

“The smart ones shop before the hype.”

✨ Step Inside The Lounge — Where Whiskey Stories Live

You’ve been writing your whiskey journey.
Now share it with others who pour with the same passion.

When you join The Lounge, you’ll get:

• 📖 Exclusive Report — Top 10 Whiskeys Under $50 (yours free the moment you join).

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• 💬 Civilized Conversation with Pour-Curious People — no snobbery, just good pours and good company.

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🕰️ Free Lounge Entry — Secure Your Spot at the Bar

Now Its Your Turn

What hidden gem have you found in the off-season?
Share your best September (or October) score in the comments 👇

Cheers to off-season sips and bottles no one else saw coming,

Ethan “Neat” Whitmore

P.S. Coming this Friday - 5 Fall Bourbons That Taste Like $150—But Cost Under $80. Your wallet will thank you, and your palate will beg for more.