Bulleit '87 Review: Is This the Best $30 Whiskey of 2026?

Bulleit '87 Review: Bulleit just added a $30 bourbon-and-rye blend to its permanent lineup - and I did not expect to like it this much. Before we get to the review, this week's Bourbon Bytes is packed with seriously interesting whiskey news. Dark Arts Whiskey House is releasing a massive 19-year-old Kentucky bourbon finished for seven years in Japanese Mizunara oak. The six-barrel Chief Alchemist Reserve comes in at 115 proof and a staggering $500. Jim Beam is also bringing back Baker's 13 Year Single Barrel for 2026. It's bottled at 107 proof and priced at $150, giving Beam fans another well-aged option alongside Knob Creek and Booker's. Then Willett takes one of its most recognizable - and most divisive - bottles and gives it a serious upgrade. Willett Pot Still Reserve Cask Strength is coming nationwide for around $67, which might finally convince some skeptics to give the famous bottle another chance. And this might be the most Bourbon Bytes story of the week: A new Lord of the Rings whiskey is coming from New Zealand. Pōkeno Ringbearer celebrates the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings with whiskey matured across first-fill bourbon, virgin oak, Muscat, and Manuka honey casks. At around $109, it might be one of the coolest nerd-culture whiskey releases of the year. Copperworks also celebrates Craft Malt Month with a high-proof American single malt supporting the Craft Maltsters Guild, while Pursuit Spirits and Shortbarrel team up for a spooky-season bourbon-and-rye blend called Found Footage. Then it's time for this week's Byte-Sized Review: Bulleit '87. This new core release blends Kentucky bourbon and Indiana rye whiskey, with both components aged at least four years before being finished with toasted American and French oak staves. It's bottled at 90 proof and costs just $30. Expect sweet corn, marshmallow fluff, vanilla, orange citrus, baking spice, toasted oak, and enough rye spice to keep everything from becoming overly sweet. For the money, this might be one of the strongest new everyday American whiskey releases I've tried this year. Topics covered: • Dark Arts 19 Year Mizunara Bourbon • Baker's 13 Year Single Barrel 2026 • Willett Pot Still Reserve Cask Strength • Pōkeno Ringbearer Lord of the Rings Whiskey • Copperworks Craft Malt Month release • Pursuit x Shortbarrel Found Footage • Bulleit '87 bourbon-and-rye blend Would you give Bulleit '87 a shot at $30? YOUTUBE CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro - $500 Bourbon, Willett & Lord of the Rings Whiskey 00:29 Welcome + Episode Setup 01:07 Dark Arts 19 Year Mizunara Bourbon 03:22 Baker's 13 Year Single Barrel 04:33 Willett Pot Still Reserve Cask Strength 06:06 Pōkeno Ringbearer Lord of the Rings Whiskey 07:52 Copperworks Craft Malt Month Release 09:29 Pursuit x Shortbarrel Found Footage 11:17 Byte-Sized Review - Bulleit '87 19:01 Outro