Skip to main content

Brush Creek Distillery is releasing a limited-edition ‘Heroes Edition’ straight bourbon

Celebrate America's birthday with this new expression

By Christopher Osburn Published July 7, 2026 10:00 AM

Brush Creek

Wyoming is quickly becoming a great state for whiskey fans. While there are a handful of outstanding distilleries to choose from, Brush Creek is among the best. This popular distillery is a must-visit on your next cross-country road trip. Brush Creek is located a short 35 miles off of 1-80. It’s the perfect respite from a long journey to see the sprawling country this summer.

And while you can’t go wrong with anything in its portfolio, recently, this award-winning, small-batch craft distillery announced the launch of the 2026 release of its ‘Heroes Edition’ Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

Brush Creek ‘Heroes Edition’ Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Distilled to honor America’s 250th anniversary, this special edition whiskey pays homage not only to the history of the US but also to the American West. It’s made with a mash bill of 7% red winter wheat, 21% rye, 7% blue corn, 7% white corn, 4% barley, and 54% yellow corn.

Recommended Videos

First distilled in 2021, the 2026 version is made with a blend of red winter wheat, Blue corn, and white corn straight bourbons (red, white, and blue), as well as additional rye. Only three barrels of this whiskey, which range in age from 6 to 12 years, will be bottled and released to the public.

According to Brush Creek, the result is a festive, multi-layered, 100-proof bourbon that begins with aromas of candied orange peels, sweet biscuits, clove, and baking spices. Sipping it reveals notes of cinnamon rolls, pecan pie, fresh leather, and charred oak. The finish is long, warm, and leaves you craving more.

“This limited release pays tribute to the everyday heroes of yesterday, today, and tomorrow whose character, service, and dedication help shape our nation,” Andrew Wason, Managing Director of Brush Creek Distillery, says.

Where can I buy it?

Brush Creek’s 2026 Heroes Edition Whiskey is currently available exclusively at the Brush Creek Ranch gift shop. Beginning in the middle of July, it will be available at select whiskey retailers throughout Wyoming, online, and shipped to select states throughout the United States through Bourbon Outfitter. For more information on this release (including the price) and others, visit https://brushcreekdistillery.com/.

Christopher Osburn

Writer

Christopher Osburn is a food and drinks writer located in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. He's been writing professional

Topics

Liquor, Beer, Wine & Drinks

Food & Drink

The best beers from California you can buy anywhere

California is more than just IPAs

Sierra Nevada

Currently, more than 9,000 breweries of all sizes operate in the US. That’s an awful lot of IPAs, stouts, and lagers to choose from. Some states are more saturated with breweries (per capita) than others. This includes places like Vermont, Colorado, Maine, Oregon, and, of course, California. While I could take a deep dive into all the biggest beer-producing states, today is all about The Golden State.

I have a special affinity for California beer, and it’s because of one style in particular. Sure, you can find a beer style to fit every palate in the state, but in California, the IPA reigns supreme. In fact, if you look at almost any list ranking the best beers in the state, it will be littered with IPA options. While I often imbibe pilsners and other lagers (as well as wheat beers and other lighter beers) in the summer as well as stouts and porters (and other dark beers) in the winter, I always go back to the classic West Coast IPA.

Food & Drink

Blue Bottle just proved California can grow world-class coffee

Blue Bottle Coffee just dropped a super rare California-grown coffee

Blue Bottle Coffee

Coffee has always had its origins story – Ethiopia, Colombia, Panama. But California was never part of that conversation, until now. Coffee leader, Blue Bottle, has just launched the California Frinj San Diego Gesha, a washed Gesha grown in San Diego and Santa Barbara counties in partnership with Frinj Coffee, the pioneering network behind California's emerging coffee movement. Gesha is widely regarded as one of the most prized varietals in specialty coffee, known for its delicate floral complexity and fruit-forward character – and this one delivers jasmine, peach, and strawberry in a cup.

Up until now, many coffee brands would shy away from growing specialty-grade coffee in California, as it requires years of experimentation and innovation. For the past two decades, Jay Ruskey, founder of Frinj Coffee, has helped pioneer California coffee product through continual experimentation with innovative growing practices, coffee varieties, and post-harvest processing. Now, this exciting new launch finally reflects that work. Cherries from two California farms were processed at Frinj's wet mill in Ventura, using carefully controlled fermentation to result in an exceptionally clean cup of coffee. This new variety showcases the signature floral aromatics and bright fruit character of the Gesha variety.

Food & Drink

Dark rums for whiskey fans

These rums are a great choice for whiskey drinkers

rum bottles

There’s no disputing the appeal of whisk(e)y. Whether it's single malt Scotch whisky, bourbon, rye whiskey, Irish whiskey, or others. There’s something special about this barrel-aged spirit. But it’s not the only aged spirit, and if you’re limiting your sipping to this style, you’re missing out on some other special, flavorful spirit. Especially dark rum.

I’ve spent years imbibing the various forms of whiskey. But every now and then, I branch out and pour myself a glass of dark rum instead. Unsurprisingly, the two spirits have some of the same aromas and flavors. Since both are matured in wood barrels, they impart flavors like caramel, vanilla, dried fruits, and oak (among others). If you don’t already, you should branch out and add dark rum to your aged spirits rotation.