Bulleit releases an ultra-rare rye whiskey, but almost no one can get it

To mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, Bulleit is unveiling a very special whiskey. The brand is releasing its oldest rye to date: a 20-year-old Bulleit Straight Rye. It’s so rare that the odds of ever tasting a glass are slim.

The new Bulleit whiskey is crafted from Bulleit’s signature mash bill of 95 percent rye. Distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, it then aged for 20 years in Kentucky warehouses. Throughout that long maturation, the barrels were closely monitored to ensure the rye character remained front and center.

That rigorous oversight made it possible to age the whiskey longer than ever before, with barrel selection also playing a crucial role. For the final cut, the Bulleit team partnered with Nicole Austin, Director of American Whiskey Liquid Development & Capabilities at Diageo.

According to Austin, the biggest challenge was finding barrels where extended aging added depth without smothering the spicy rye notes. By the distillery’s account, mission accomplished.

Bulleit describes the nose as offering aged oak, baking spices, and dried fruit. On the palate, expect caramel, dark fruit, and bold rye spice, followed by a long, powerful finish.

Below are the tasting notes as listed by Bulleit:

Bottled at cask strength of 68.5 percent ABV, this is one of the strongest releases Bulleit has ever put out.

Sadly, the release is extremely limited. There are just 1,776 individually numbered bottles, making it especially appealing to collectors seeking a piece of history. There is, however, a catch if you want to secure a bottle.

Bulleit 20-Year-Old Straight Rye arrives starting July 2026 with a suggested retail price of 299 dollars per 750-milliliter bottle. It will be sold exclusively at the Bulleit Distillery and through a small number of selected retailers in various U.S. cities. So yes: you’ll need to travel to the United States to get one.