Blade and Bow Unveils 30-Year-Old Cask Strength Bourbon
Blade and Bow just put a 30-year-old bourbon in your glass at 164.2 proof, straight from the barrel with no water added. Diageo's Blade and Bow announced the 30-Year-Old Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon on October 28, 2026. It is the second release in the brand's 30-Year-Old collection and it is the same whiskey as the earlier Limited Release, just undiluted. The original is returning at the same time, so collectors can compare the two side by side.
Did You Know?
The whiskey started as 96 barrels, and only 42 of them were chosen for the final blend.
The barrels were first filled in spring 1993, and much of their aging happened in the historic rickhouses at Stitzel-Weller Distillery.
The first Stitzel-Weller retail drop of the Cask Strength is just 25 bottles, by reservation only.
The Release
Blade and Bow 30-Year-Old Cask Strength is the same blend as the 30-Year-Old Limited Release that debuted in 2025. The only difference is the proof: this bottling is 164.2 proof (82.1% ABV), exactly as it came out of the barrel.
The liquid was first laid down in spring 1993 and spent much of its life in the rickhouses (the aging warehouses) at Stitzel-Weller in Shively, Kentucky. After three decades, evaporation had shrunk what was left in the barrels. Partially filled barrels were consolidated to protect the remaining whiskey. From an original group of 96 barrels, Nicole Austin, Diageo's Director of American Whiskey Liquid Development, picked 42 to build the blend.
Austin says the two bottlings share one liquid. In her words, they are "the exact same blend, presented in two distinct ways." The Limited Release was bottled in 2023 and deliberately proofed down to 109 proof (54.5% ABV) to reach the balance she wanted. Cask Strength skips that step, so drinkers can add room temperature water drop by drop and find their own sweet spot.
According to the brand, the nose opens with citrus oils, dark berries and warm baking spice, followed by fig, molasses and old oak. The palate is described as rich and viscous, with roasted nuts, ginger, dark sugar and blackcurrant, plus a cool menthol lift. Water is said to bring out shifting waves of fruit, florals, sweetness and spice.
Each bottle comes in a custom-made leather box. Only 1,200 bottles exist, released intermittently, at a suggested retail price of $2,500 per 750ml bottle. Initial quantities will be very limited and will reach select markets starting in November 2026, with some bottles held back for later. Stitzel-Weller is the first retail stop. Reservations for the first 25 bottles open November 16, with pickup later that month, and more bottles will follow in periodic drops through the holidays.
The original Limited Release returns with 30 bottles on sale at Stitzel-Weller on October 30, 2026. Select markets and periodic distillery drops will follow. Visitors can also try both expressions at the distillery's Garden & Gun Club, through tasting experiences with keepsake glassware or 1-oz. pours on the menu.
The Story of Blade and Bow
Blade and Bow is a Kentucky straight bourbon brand from Diageo, tied closely to the Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Shively. Stitzel-Weller opened in 1935 and is one of the best-known names in bourbon history. The brand is built around old stock and a blending approach, which gives the 30-Year-Old collection a natural home.
The lineup includes Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon, the 12-Year-Old Solera Reserve, and now two versions of the 30-Year-Old. A solera is a fractional blending method where older whiskey is continually combined with younger liquid. The 30-Year-Old collection sits at the very top of that range as the brand's oldest and rarest offering.
Why It Stands Out
Age statements of 30 years are scarce in bourbon, and a cask strength version is rarer still. Releasing one liquid in two proofs is also a nice teaching tool. It lets drinkers see how much proof alone changes aroma, texture and flavor. For collectors, the tiny 1,200-bottle run and distillery-first rollout make this a tough one to chase.
The Details
Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Age: 30 years
ABV/Proof: 164.2 proof (82.1% ABV), cask strength
Cask/Finish: Blend of 42 barrels selected from an original 96, first laid down in spring 1993
Release Size: 1,200 bottles
Price (SRP): $2,500 per 750ml bottle
Availability: Highly limited quantities in select markets from November 2026, with intermittent releases; first retail at Stitzel-Weller Distillery
US Availability: Yes, a US release starting at Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Shively, Kentucky, then select markets
Release Date: November 2026; Stitzel-Weller reservations open November 16
Quick Answers
How much does Blade and Bow 30-Year-Old Cask Strength cost? It has a suggested retail price of $2,500 per 750ml bottle.
What proof is Blade and Bow 30-Year-Old Cask Strength? It is bottled at 164.2 proof (82.1% ABV), the natural barrel strength with no dilution.
How is it different from the 30-Year-Old Limited Release? It is the same blend. The Limited Release was proofed down to 109 proof, while Cask Strength is undiluted.
Where can I buy it? The first retail destination is Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Shively, Kentucky, with 25 bottles by reservation starting November 16. More bottles will come to select markets and in periodic drops.
Tonights Poison Take
This is a rare chance to taste one 30-year-old blend at two strengths, which makes it as interesting for curious drinkers as it is for collectors. At $2,500 and 1,200 bottles, most people will meet it through a pour at the distillery rather than a purchase, and the 1-oz. serves make that very doable. Pairing it with the returning 109 proof version is the smart move.
Bar Talk: Blade and Bow's 30-year bourbon is one blend sold at two proofs, 109 and a full 164.2.
Send this to the bourbon friend who always adds a splash of water, and tell us how you'd taste it in the comments.
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About the author: Jas Sawhney (Tonights Poison) has spent 18 years in the beverage alcohol industry and shares new releases, tastings and spirits news as @tonightspoison on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Please enjoy responsibly.
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