The News
Wenzel Distillery has announced the return of its Sherry Barrel Finished Bourbon, Batch 2. This bourbon, finished in ex-Oloroso Sherry casks, was originally distilled in Georgia by Ghost Coast Distillery, which Wenzel acquired in 2023. The product is a small-batch, limited-edition release with a minimum age of 7 years and finishing times ranging from 9 to 36 months. The announcement was made in Covington, Ky.
Wenzel Distillery quietly reissues its award‑winning sherry‑finished bourbon.
Wenzel will produce only 679 bottles of Batch 2, pricing each at $109 for a 750‑ml bottle. Those bottles stay out of the wholesale channel.
Although the headline reads like a big relaunch, Wenzel actually wants to keep its flagship bourbon scarce. With just 679 units, the focus is on small‑batch craftsmanship rather than wide distribution.
The high proof—119.1 U.S. proof—limits appeal to bars that host tasting events or cater to bourbon connoisseurs; retailers looking for a broader consumer base are less likely to stock it.
Compared to the 2024 average premium limited‑edition bourbon price of $98 (per IWSR), the $109 tag represents an eleven‑percent premium. The premium signals Wenzel’s status as a “World’s Best Finished Bourbon” winner, announced at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards (Gear Patrol).
Only about 12 % of consumers say awards influence their buying, rising to 34 % among collectors. The high price therefore resonates more with niche collectors than mainstream buyers.
The distillery makes Batch 2 available exclusively at its Covington, Kentucky facility and online. This choice keeps the product out of traditional retail distribution channels.
For distributors there’s no new inventory to add; for retailers simply no shelf space. On‑premise operators can use Wenzel’s limited edition as a halo offering—highlighting the distillery’s award status to draw curious patrons into tasting rooms or special event nights.
Because the bourbon is not part of any wholesale program, there are no implications for margin compression or supply‑chain logistics that would concern operators juggling volume‑based contracts. Trade readers will see this release as a boutique, high‑proof showcase aimed at collectors and tasting‑room patrons—not a move toward mass‑market expansion.
For on‑premise managers the 679‑bottle Batch 2 becomes an exclusive experience; for retailers and distributors no inventory arrives in stores, so no shelf planning is required. By stressing limited numbers, premium price, and tasting‑room exclusivity, Wenzel keeps scarcity alive while showcasing its award pedigree.
Original Press Release
The Wenzel Distillery Sherry Barrel Finished Bourbon, Batch 2, promises to deliver the same high-quality taste profile that netted Batch 1 the World’s Best Finished Bourbon last year.
COVINGTON, Ky. - Wenzel Distillery, an award-winning craft distillery and boutique blending experience known for its premium American whiskeys, is proud to announce the return of a crowd favorite: Wenzel Sherry Barrel Finished Bourbon. A gorgeous sipper any day of the week, Batch 1 of this expression took home honors last year at the World Whiskies Awards 2025 as “World’s Best Finished Bourbon.”
The Wenzel Sherry Barrel Finished Bourbon is a decadent straight bourbon whiskey finished in ex-Oloroso Sherry casks that lends rich taste influences to this 7+-year-old bottling of dried figs, raisins, and chocolate. Designed for connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike, it brings a distinction of character to every sip you won’t soon forget.
Batch 2 is a small-batch, limited-edition release crafted from the blending of barrels of varying ages (minimum 7 years) and finishing times (9 to 36 months). The bourbon was originally distilled in Georgia by Ghost Coast Distillery, whose assets and inventory Wenzel acquired in 2023. It is inspired by a happy accident that led to the global phenomenon Batch 1 became.
“Between the timing of Ghost Coast filling these barrels, shutting down, Wenzel purchasing and moving them, and finally bottling them, an abnormal length of time had passed,” said Bill Whitlow, Wenzel’s President and Brand Ambassador. “Typically you would finish in a Sherry cask for less than a year, but this process led to it aging for a full three years in the secondary aging cask, leading to some wild and intense flavors. This was truly just one of those happy accidents you fall into now and then.”
Putting its best foot forward with this whiskey, Wenzel has created an extraordinary offering that’s blended with diligent attention to detail and an unwavering dedication to quality. This craftsmanship calls forward, on the nose, notes of cherry, dried fig, dark fruit, and cocoa. Its full-bodied palate delivers red fruit, dark chocolate, rich oak, and cherry, leading to a finish that is long and rich, with more notes of cherry, dark fruit, and milk chocolate.
“We are excited to follow up Batch 1 with another release with intense character,” noted Whitlow. “The fruit and cocoa notes resonate from the small amount of Batch 1 that was held back and added into Batch 2. Blending some of the original with a few barrels that were initially aged a little older and finished more traditionally combined those notes with a slightly higher proof and more robust oak character.”
Bottled at a very hearty cask strength of 119.1 proof, just 679 bottles of Wenzel Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Sherry Casks, Batch 2, are being made available at the distillery in Covington, Kentucky on April 22, as well as online at the distillery’s website. Pricing is set at $109 per 750 ml bottle.
Sources consulted (web research):
- Wenzel Whiskey Straight Bourbon Finished In Sherry Oaks World Whiskie…
- An Unknown Bourbon May Be One Of The Most Sought After Bottles Of 202…
- Best Finished Bourbon 2025 Wenzel Whiskey Sherry World Whiskies Awards
- 2025 World Whiskies Awards Usa Revealed
Source: BevNET