There are whiskey releases, and then there are whiskey releases that make bourbon collectors start checking shelf space and texting their favorite liquor store owner.

The latest entry in Heaven Hill’s Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Decanter Series falls squarely into that second category.

Announced this week, the Spring 2026 edition is a 10-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, distilled in the spring of 2016 and bottled a decade later in the spring of 2026. That’s a pretty good reminder that while the rest of us were figuring out video meetings and learning how to bake sourdough, this bourbon was quietly aging away in Kentucky.

The new release marks the 17th national edition in the highly sought-after series, and as tradition dictates, it arrives dressed for the season with its signature green label. The color has become something of a calling card for the spring releases, making it easy for collectors to spot from across a room… or across a crowded bourbon Facebook group.

Of course, Old Fitzgerald isn’t just known for what’s inside the bottle. The series continues to arrive in the brand’s distinctive diamond-inspired decanter, a nod to the elegant bottles that helped make Old Fitzgerald famous decades ago. It’s the kind of bottle that almost guarantees you’ll keep it long after the bourbon is gone. Almost.

As for what’s inside, Heaven Hill says this release opens with aromas of crème brûlée, old oak and hints of citrus oil. The palate delivers butterscotch and sweet sugar notes before moving into toasted bread, while the finish lingers with caramel, cloves and pepper.

In other words, it sounds like dessert, a bakery and a spice rack somehow found a way to get along.

The Bottled-in-Bond designation also deserves a quick tip of the cap. Created by the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, the designation guarantees the whiskey comes from a single distillery, from a single distilling season, is aged at least four years and bottled at exactly 100 proof. It’s one of the oldest quality standards in American spirits and remains a favorite among whiskey enthusiasts who appreciate a little transparency with their pour.

Old Fitzgerald itself has a colorful history. The brand traces its roots back to the late 1800s and was inspired by John E. Fitzgerald, a treasury agent who allegedly developed a reputation for helping himself to some of the finest whiskey barrels under his supervision. Whether that’s the world’s greatest employee perk or one of bourbon history’s best stories depends on who you ask.

Today, the brand remains one of the most recognizable wheated bourbons on the market, and Heaven Hill has successfully turned these twice-yearly decanter releases into some of the most anticipated bottles in American whiskey.

The Spring 2026 edition will begin arriving on shelves in July with a suggested retail price of $149.99. Like previous releases, availability will be limited, which means finding one may require equal parts patience, persistence and luck.

Then again, waiting is kind of the whole theme here. The bourbon already spent 10 years doing it.

Cheers.