Stitzel-Weller Distillery has announced Stitzel Reserve 31-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskey, the second expression in its ultra-limited Stitzel Reserve collection, priced at $3,000 per 750ml bottle. The release went on sale exclusively at the Louisville, Kentucky distillery on Thursday, April 30, 2026, with a limit of one bottle per person.
The bourbon was distilled in 1992 by a historic Kentucky producer and aged on-site at Stitzel-Weller for more than three decades. Just 13 barrels yielded only 176 individually numbered bottles.
The whiskey was pulled from new charred American oak barrels in 2024 and bottled on April 28, 2026. It is bottled at a cask strength of 163.2 proof (81.6% ABV).
Nicole Austin, Director of American Whiskey Liquid Development and Capabilities at Diageo, oversees the Stitzel Reserve collection as chief custodian of the historic site’s whiskey archives.
“When I discovered these barrels, I saw the potential for something extraordinarily rare,” said Austin. “What makes this release so special is not just its age, but the fact that it reached 31 years with such integrity.”
“At Stitzel-Weller Distillery, our aging conditions have allowed us to carefully steward barrels like this over time in a way that very few distilleries in Kentucky can,” she added. “That combination of place, patience and close attention is what gives this bourbon its power, elegance and continued evolution in the glass.”
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The release follows the debut of the Stitzel Reserve collection nearly a year ago with a 24-year-old expression.
Official tasting notes from the brand describe the nose as opening with waxy orchard fruit and pear brandy, layered with cedar, apple skin, burnt sugar, dried orange peel, a hint of cola syrup, and “the nostalgic warmth of aged books.” The palate is described as powerful and concentrated, revealing dark fruit framed by structured oak tannins. The finish is said to be exceptionally long, evolving into notes of pine boughs and baked apple. With water, the whiskey reportedly softens into delicate apple blossom florals.
Each bottle features an elegant label with woodgrain-inspired detailing in gold and charcoal, accented by Art Deco-influenced corner flourishes. Every bottle is hand-signed by Austin.
Consumers can also experience the bourbon through a bespoke tasting at the Garden & Gun Club at Stitzel-Weller Distillery, priced at $350 per person. The tasting includes an etched whiskey glass, branded bag, and limited-edition pin.
Stitzel-Weller Distillery, built in 1935 in Louisville’s Shively neighborhood, is one of Kentucky’s most storied bourbon landmarks. Now owned by Diageo, the site serves as a key aging and innovation facility and has become a destination for whiskey enthusiasts drawn to its deep connection to American whiskey heritage.
