Overview: Diageo’s Stitzel-Weller Distillery has introduced a new expression within the Blade and Bow collection, bottled at 82.1% ABV. The release marks the second installment of the 30-Year-Old series, available alongside the previously released Limited Release edition.
The Full Story
On October 30, 2026, Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Shively, Kentucky, unveiled the Blade and Bow 30-Year-Old Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This high-proof expression is bottled without dilution at its original form, retailing for US$2,500 per 750ml bottle. The release is limited to a total batch size of 1,200 bottles and will be available intermittently in the US market.
Production history dates back to spring 1993, when barrels were laid into storage at the facility. The distillery remained mothballed until reopening to the public in 2014. To preserve the remaining whiskey during this period, the team consolidated partially filled barrels. Nicole Austin, Diageo’s director of American whiskey liquid development, selected 42 barrels from an original collection of 96 for the final blend.
Production & Profile
On the nose, the spirit offers aromas of citrus oils, dark berries, warm baking spice, fig, molasses, and old oak. The concentrated flavours display notes of roasted nuts, ginger, dark sugar, and blackcurrant, with a cool menthol lift. With a gradual addition of water, it reveals further notes of fruit, florals, sweetness, and spice. Presented in a custom leather box, the release is limited to 1,200 bottles and is available intermittently.
This edition is released alongside the series’ first release, Blade and Bow 30-Year-Old Limited Release (54.5% ABV), which debuted in 2025. Austin noted that these aren’t two different whiskeys, but rather the exact same blend presented in two distinct ways. The Cask Strength allows enthusiasts to experience it in its undiluted form and explore that balance for themselves.
Brand & Industry History
Earlier this year, Blade and Bow introduced a 12-year-old Solera Reserve as an annual limited release. The Stitzel-Weller Distillery has been central to the production of these expressions since its reopening in 2014 following a period where it was mothballed.
What This Means
Of the 1,200 bottles, some will be reserved for later release. The Stitzel-Weller Distillery will be the first retail location, offering an initial limited volume of 25 bottles available by reservation only. Reservations open 16 November, with bottle pickups scheduled later in the month. For those who plan to fly and buy a bottle, most airlines don’t allow spirits with an ABV of 70% or more in carry-on or checked luggage.
Consumer Takeaway
The Blade and Bow 30-Year-Old Cask Strength offers a premium option for collectors seeking high-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Available initially at the distillery and select markets, the bottle provides access to an undiluted blend selected from a specific subset of barrels.
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