Michter's 10 year old rye, Rieger's Monogram Whiskey & More [New Releases]

Summer has arrived, and if you're looking for a cocktail you can take on the go, we have 10 ready to drink cans and bottles from large producers, cocktail veterans, and more.If you are just looking for a new whisky, there are some interesting options this week—including the latest batches of Michter's10 year old rye and J. Rieger Co. Monogram, a citrus-forward flavored entrant from Jim Beam, and more. Read on for full details.

Michter's 10 year old Rye (2021 release)

Style:Straight ryeOrigin:KentuckyAge:10 year oldABV:46.4%Price:$170Release:July 2021Availability:Limited

Need to know:

This is a single barrel rye, distilled and bottled in Kentucky. The 10 year old rye is one of the most limited whiskeys that Michter's produces.

Whisky Advocate says:

This year's release of Michter's 10 year old rye is especially limited, the distillery says. While lamenting the limited nature of this latest expression, Michter's noted that it has expanded the acreage on its farm operations in Springfield, Kentucky from 145 acres to 205 acres. That will allow for more estate-grown grain production for future releases.

Rieger's Monogram (2021 Edition)

Style:Straight ryeOrigin:Multiple (Indiana and Canada)Age:Not statedABV:55%Price:$140Release:June 2021Availability:539 bottles across the metro area of Kansas City, Missouri, with additional allocations to NY and a few other states.

Need to know:

J. Rieger & Co. Distillery has released a Monogram whiskey every year since 2017. While previous versions of the whiskey were blends of four sherry casks, the 2021 edition draws from a single, century-old, 500-liter sherry cask—Bota #4—that was originally gifted to the distillery by Williams & Humbert, one of the oldest sherry producers in Spain.

Whisky Advocate says:

Earlier iterations of Monogram only used a tiny portion of whiskey taken from Bota #4. There's reason for excitement with the latest Monogram; last year's release scored 91 points with our panel.

Watershed Bottled in Bond

Style:Straight bourbonOrigin:OhioAge:4 year oldABV:50%Price:$50Release:July 2021Availability:OH, FL, GA, IL, KY, MI, NY

Need to know:

This bourbon is made from Watershed head distiller Aaron Harris' favorite barrels—all distilled in a single season—and marks the distillery's first bottled in bond.

Watershed Distillery Bourbon

Style:Straight bourbonOrigin:OH and INAge:4 year oldABV:45%Price:$40Release:July 2021Availability:OH, FL, GA, IL, KY, MI, NY

Need to know:

This is a tri-blend bourbon, marrying Watershed's standard bourbon with its 6 year old apple brandy-finished bourbon and a bourbon sourced from MGP. The new bourbon will replace Watershed's current core bourbon, which will be fully phased out by the end of the year.

Whisky Advocate says:

Watershed, which is located in Columbus, Ohio, about a mile down the road from Ohio State University, started making bourbon in 2010. Over the years, it has gradually moved from using 2 year old bourbon to 4 year old, and more recently to bourbon aged 6 years. These two releases highlight Watershed's aged stock, as well as its burgeoning prowess as a blender.

Hard Truth Indiana Straight Rye

Style: Straight ryeOrigin: IndianaAge: 4 year oldABV: 50%Price: $40Release: July 2021Availability: Indiana only for this initial release

Need to know:

Hard Truth is releasing this Indiana rye to coincide with the signing of a new law which establishes Indiana rye as an official whiskey style. The new designation follows the federal requirements for rye whiskey but adds a few additional rules, namely that it must be mashed, fermented, distilled, and aged at least two years in the state of Indiana.

Whisky Advocate says:

You may be familiar with Kentucky bourbon or Tennessee whiskey, but there are more and more state-specific style designations popping up, with Indiana rye joining the ranks. MGP, Indiana's largest distiller, provides rye to a number of brandsand so there's a good chance you'll be encountering an Indiana rye, by definition, sometime soon. For more on state designations, read our feature from the Winter 2019 issue.

Jim Beam Orange

Style: Flavored Origin: Kentucky
Age: Not stated
ABV: 32.5%
Price: $16
Release: June 2021
Availability: Widely available

Need to know:

By technical definition, Jim Beam Orange is not a whiskey, because it's bottled at less than 40% ABV. Essentially an orange-flavored liqueur infused with Jim Beam bourbon, it joins a Beam flavored lineup that also includes Peach, Apple, Vanilla, Honey, Fire, and Red Stag.

Whisky Advocate says:

Although generally not for the dedicated whisky enthusiast, these flavored expressions have been popular, starting with the 2009 introduction of Red Stag. Beam recommends using Orange in a Highball, a cocktail that is open to personalization. Beam also recently released its own canned Highballsusing its bourbon, adding to the Ready to Drink craze.