Diageo-owned Bulleit Frontier Whiskey has launched Bulleit ’87, its first-ever blend of bourbon and rye and the first new core expression since Bulleit 95 Rye debuted in 2011. The whiskey will roll out to select retailers nationwide from September 2026 at a suggested price of $29.99 for a 750ml bottle.
Bulleit ’87 joins Bulleit Bourbon and Bulleit 95 Rye to complete the brand’s three-bottle core line-up. It is bottled at 90 proof and 45% ABV. It was designed to be sipped neat.
Each component was developed specifically for its role in the blend. The bourbon is distilled, barreled, and aged in Shelbyville, Kentucky. The rye is distilled and aged in Indiana before moving to Shelbyville. Both whiskeys are aged for a minimum of four years.
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The two spirits are finished separately in their original barrels with toasted American oak and French oak staves for four to six weeks, then blended and bottled in Shelbyville.
“If I were to visualize it, it’s like a cake,” said Phil Gelineau, whiskey R&D manager at Bulleit. “The bourbon is your delicious sponge, the rye is like chocolate shavings on top, and the staves are the buttercream that brings it all together.”
The name refers to 1987, the year Bulleit was founded.
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READ THE STORYBulleit ’87 appears in the brand’s signature frontier-style bottle. The design features a bold blue label, a first for the brand, cut on its familiar slant.
“’87 brings together everything that makes Bulleit great,” said Jenika Newsum, senior brand manager at Bulleit Frontier Whiskey at Diageo. “Bourbon and rye whiskey are at the heart of our brand since its founding and guide our philosophy to do things differently. Now, ’87 unites them in one special bottle, balancing our signature bourbon sweetness with our rye spice in a bottle.”
According to the official notes from the brand, Bulleit ’87 leads with aromas of caramel and brown sugar before opening up to warm baking spices and structured oak. It finishes with a layered warmth. The brand recommends sipping it neat or over ice.
The launch will be supported by a sampling tour spanning more than 20 events across 15 cities, including New Orleans, Austin, New York, Los Angeles, and Louisville. Each stop will pair ’87 with local foods inspired by the cities visited.
Bulleit built its name on a high-rye bourbon recipe at a time when such recipes were far less common. It later introduced a 95% rye at the request of bartenders.
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