| Category | Count | Percentage | Current Avg Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra-Premium ($2,000+) | 14 | 30.4% | $3,127 |
| Premium ($500-$2,000) | 14 | 30.4% | $734 |
| Mid-Range ($200-$500) | 14 | 30.4% | $298 |
| Entry-Level (Under $200) | 4 | 8.7% | $145 |
| Bourbon | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Q1 2025 | Mid-Q2 2025 | End-Q2 2025 | Mid-Q3 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1792 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon | $210 | $123 | $90 | $157 | $180 | $110 | $243 | $243 | $243 |
| A.H. Hirsch Reserve 16 Year Old Straight Bourbon | $2,151 | $3,680 | $3,162 | $3,650 | $2,990 | $3,000 | $3,162 | $3,250 | $3250 |
| Basil Hayden's 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon | $67 | $140 | $92 | $50 | $57 | $86 | $92 | $75 | $75 |
| Black Maple Hill 16 Yr Old Single Barrel | $3,437 | $3,486 | $3,500 | $4,251 | $3,938 | $4,750 | $4,750 | $4,750 | $4750 |
| Black Maple Hill 23 Yr Old Rye | $4,062 | $6,900 | $5,109 | $3,965 | $4,485 | $4,375 | $4,375 | $4,375 | $4375 |
| Blanton's Single Barrel Gold Edition | $454 | $299 | $299 | $131 | $125 | $123 | $225 | $247 | $288 |
| Brown Forman's 'King of Kentucky' Single Barrel 14 Year | $883 | $1,897 | $1,875 | $1,851 | $2,357 | $2,219 | $1,875 | $2,081 | $2081 |
| Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel (2018) | $80 | $276 | $188 | $235 | $178 | $150 | $195 | $161 | $217 |
| Eagle Rare 17 (2018) | $1,180 | $1,459 | $1,466 | $1,380 | $1,449 | $1,166 | $1,276 | $1,276 | $1483 |
| Elijah Craig 18 Year Single Barrel (2017) | $270 | $320 | $385 | $250 | $212 | $218 | $207 | $218 | $178 |
| Elijah Craig 23 Year Old Single Barrel (1990) | $790 | $776 | $1,035 | $1,129 | $816 | $851 | $851 | $859 | $859 |
| Elmer T. Lee '100 Year Tribute' Bourbon (2019) | $747 | $934 | $977 | $862 | $667 | $667 | $650 | $828 | $701 |
| Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch (2017) | $322 | $471 | $425 | $391 | $368 | $368 | $350 | $356 | $300 |
| Four Roses Small Batch Barrel Strength (2019) | $282 | $431 | $363 | $363 | $297 | $383 | $334 | $351 | $351 |
| George T. Stagg Barrel Proof (BTAC 2018) | $718 | $1,182 | $1,245 | $1,023 | $759 | $713 | $724 | $1,007 | $700 |
| Heaven Hill 13 Year Old William Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond | $1,014 | $1,080 | $819 | $606 | $645 | $747 | $575 | $529 | $529 |
| Heaven Hill 7 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon | $86 | $95 | $92 | $92 | $57 | $30 | $34 | $35 | $35 |
| Jack Daniel's Rested Rye | $154 | $264 | $178 | $190 | $175 | $225 | $225 | $298 | $298 |
| Jefferson's Presidential Select 21 | $336 | $575 | $736 | $356 | $471 | $625 | $552 | $500 | $495 |
| Kentucky Owl 11 Year Small Batch Rye (Batch 1, 2017) | $185 | $320 | $293 | $356 | $316 | $293 | $276 | $293 | $423 |
| Knob Creek 15 Year Limited Edition | $143 | $211 | $195 | $172 | $178 | $195 | $207 | $212 | $255 |
| Michter's 10 Years Old Single Barrel Rye (2018) | $265 | $345 | $310 | $300 | $322 | $253 | $276 | $345 | $427 |
| Michter's 20 Years Old Single Barrel Bourbon (2018) | $3,802 | $4,552 | $4,628 | $4,500 | $3,766 | $3,708 | $4,053 | $3,938 | $4025 |
| Old Forester 12 Year 'Birthday' Bourbon (2018) | $454 | $933 | $989 | $862 | $667 | $805 | $747 | $725 | $862 |
| Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Bourbon (2018) | $891 | $991 | $925 | $759 | $655 | $598 | $632 | $678 | $805 |
| Old Rip Van Winkle 25 | $11,995 | $18,443 | $31,500 | $37,500 | $32,500 | $32,500 | $28,865 | $27,500 | $27500 |
| Orphan Barrel Rhetoric 21 | $274 | $437 | $269 | $322 | $293 | $333 | $308 | $264 | $313 |
| Orphan Barrel Rhetoric 23 Year Old | $230 | $368 | $282 | $265 | $253 | $253 | $287 | $304 | $293 |
| Pappy Van Winkle 13 Year Rye | $1,955 | $1,677 | $1,748 | $1,495 | $1,161 | $1,455 | $1,808 | $1,808 | $1808 |
| Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Bourbon (2018) | $2,300 | $2,625 | $1,977 | $1,966 | $1,727 | $1,288 | $1,449 | $1,518 | $1506 |
| Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year Bourbon (2018) | $3,277 | $3,433 | $2,932 | $3,363 | $2,196 | $1,840 | $1,966 | $2,001 | $1966 |
| Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Bourbon | $3,435 | $4,788 | $4,140 | $3,910 | $3,244 | $2,961 | $2,875 | $3,030 | $3018 |
| Parker's Heritage 24 Year Bottled-In-Bond (2016) | $690 | $875 | $812 | $851 | $713 | $816 | $759 | $782 | $805 |
| Rittenhouse 23 Year Old Rye | $1,718 | $2,161 | $2,002 | $2,500 | $2,104 | $2,116 | $2,000 | $1,874 | $2127 |
| Russell Reserve 1998 (2015) | $1,063 | $2,241 | $2,000 | $2,673 | $2,328 | $2,415 | $2,300 | $2,443 | $2300 |
| Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye (BTAC 2018) | $598 | $876 | $862 | $805 | $632 | $598 | $632 | $1,029 | $1828 |
| Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye (BTAC 2018) | $657 | $762 | $747 | $598 | $471 | $419 | $408 | $862 | $862 |
| Van Winkle Special Reserve Lot B 12 Year | $771 | $940 | $1,042 | $867 | $632 | $655 | $658 | $861 | $861 |
| Very Old Barton 6 Year 100 Proof | $45 | $65 | $55 | $50 | $48 | $42 | $45 | $25 | $25 |
| W.L. Weller 12 Year | $264 | $345 | $345 | $235 | $178 | $201 | $166 | $273 | $356 |
| Weller Full Proof | $425 | $598 | $655 | $532 | $471 | $454 | $471 | $598 | $598 |
| Wild Turkey Master's Keep 17 Year | $250 | $345 | $398 | $356 | $298 | $276 | $287 | $1,380 | $1380 |
| Willett Family Estate 4 Year Rye | $85 | $155 | $135 | $125 | $115 | $95 | $105 | $299 | $299 |
| William Larue Weller (BTAC 2018) | $1,037 | $1,955 | $1,546 | $1,564 | $1,173 | $1,161 | $1,276 | $1,495 | $1495 |
| Winkle Family Reserve Bourbon | $1,495 | $1,851 | $1,748 | $1,564 | $1,380 | $1,288 | $1,380 | $150 | $150 |
| Yamazaki 18 Year Single Malt | $4,500 | $6,900 | $5,750 | $5,200 | $4,850 | $4,625 | $5,000 | $5,500 | $5500 |
The bourbon market showed continued momentum in August with the index gaining +0.89% to reach $1,207.64. This modest gain demonstrates market stabilization following earlier volatility and builds on the strong Q2 2025 recovery momentum.
Kentucky Owl 11 Year Rye: +44.37% ($293 → $423)
Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel: +34.78% ($161 → $217)
Eagle Rare 17: +16.23% ($1,276 → $1,483)
These gains reflect renewed collector interest in aged rye expressions and limited Buffalo Trace allocations.
George T. Stagg BTAC 2018: -30.49% ($1,007 → $700)
Weller Antique 107: -19.77% ($172 → $138)
Four Roses Limited Edition: -15.73% ($356 → $300)
Price corrections in premium segments indicate market normalization as oversupply concerns affect certain categories.
The combined +6.91% gain through Mid-Q3 2025 represents sustained recovery momentum. Despite individual bottle volatility, the overall index shows resilience and suggests the bourbon correction cycle may be stabilizing at new equilibrium levels.
With production oversupply concerns mounting (600% increase since 2000) and trade tensions affecting exports, the market is experiencing a bifurcation between ultra-premium allocated releases and broader market segments finding new pricing equilibrium.
| Period | Index Value | Period Change | Cumulative Return | Market Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 (Base) | $1,115.87 | - | 0.00% | Index launch year |
| 2021 | $1,432.19 | +28.35% | +28.35% | Peak bubble year |
| 2022 | $1,304.79 | -8.90% | +16.93% | Correction begins |
| 2023 | $1,281.47 | -1.79% | +14.84% | Continued decline |
| 2024 | $1,139.75 | -11.06% | +2.14% | Market trough |
| Q1 2025 | $1,128.78 | -0.96% | +1.16% | Stabilization |
| Mid-Q2 2025 | $1,171.02 | +3.74% | +4.94% | Recovery begins |
| End-Q2 2025 | $1,196.75 | +2.20% | +7.25% | Momentum building |
| Mid-Q3 2025 | $1,207.64 | +0.89% | +8.22% | Continued recovery |
The bourbon industry faces potential oversupply with production increasing 600% since 2000. In 2024 alone, 3.2 million barrels were filled while American whiskey sales declined for the first time in over 20 years. Major distilling companies including Brown-Forman, Green River, and Diageo have begun staff reductions.
Source: Bourbon Obsessed
Ongoing trade tensions with Europe continue as the EU proposes retaliatory tariffs on U.S. spirits. Canada has also implemented retaliatory tariffs on American whiskey. However, India reduced its bourbon tariff from 150% to 100%, providing some relief for exporters.
Source: OhBEV
Buffalo Trace introduced two super-premium wheat whiskey innovations: Weller Millennium #2 ($7,500, 99 proof) and Weller 18 Year Old ($499, 90 proof). The releases showcase exceptional aging potential of wheat in American whiskey production and debuted in limited quantities.
Source: Bourbon Obsessed
Wenzel Whiskey opened a new $1.2 million distillery in Covington, Kentucky, in a historic 1916 building. The 10,000-square-foot facility includes distilling operations, gift shop, bar, and event space with increased production capacity.
Source: Bourbon Obsessed
Nearly 500 women from across the United States gather in Louisville for the nation's only female-focused whiskey conference. The annual Bourbon Women SIPosium takes place at the Kentucky International Convention Center with celebrity dinners and educational workshops.
Source: The Whiskey Wash
Heaven Hill announced a $70 million investment to expand its Bardstown campus with a new glass bottle manufacturing facility. Several distilleries launched new age-stated expressions reflecting growing consumer preference for mature whiskey.
Source: Brindiamo Group
11th Anniversary Blend: 28% 11-year corn whiskey, 27% 11-year bourbon, 15% 10-year Balboa rye, 15% 10-year rye, and 15% 8-year Aroostook malted rye. Limited to online purchases for distillery pickup only. Benefits Brighton Center charity.
Availability: Online only at New Riff Distilling
Ultra-Premium Wheat Whiskeys: Millennium #2 (99 proof) blends wheated bourbon and wheat whiskeys from 2001-2006. Weller 18 Year (90 proof) represents the oldest age statement in the Weller portfolio. Millennium available retail, 18-Year via travel retail.
Availability: Limited quantities nationwide
Enhanced Cocktail Performance: Higher-proof version of classic Sazerac Rye designed for bartenders and enthusiasts. Maintains smooth, approachable profile while delivering greater structure. Available in 1L bottles with Barrel Select program for select accounts.
Availability: Select markets nationwide
Three Expression Launch: Small Batch (102 proof, $60), Toasted Oak (98 proof, $70), and Extra Aged 8-Year (100 proof, $80). Features proprietary red, white, and blue heritage corn. Bottles use recycled blue glass inspired by early Kentucky artisans.
Availability: Select retailers and online
Japanese Oak Finishing: Limited-edition 94% rye, 6% malted barley finished with toasted Mizunara oak. Bottled at cask strength (124.7 proof) from just 21 barrels. Grain-to-glass production at Hard Truth Distilling.
Availability: Distillery and select retailers
Single Estate Nevada Terroir: 4-year-old rye (80% rye, 10% soft white wheat, 10% estate-malted barley) at 94 proof. Non-chill filtered, cut with Sierra Nevada snowmelt water. Estate Whiskey Alliance member with full estate control.
Availability: Nationwide and online
The data and analysis contained in this report may be used for research, educational, and commercial purposes, provided that proper attribution is given to the Cask100 Bourbon40+ Index. Any reproduction, distribution, or derivative use of this data must include the following attribution: "Data source: Cask100 Bourbon40+ Index".
This index is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The bourbon market can be volatile and illiquid.