AuguryOld Hickory Ages Up: Nashville Distillery Rolls Out 12- and 15-Year Bourbons for Fans and Collectors
This article was written by the Augury Times
New long-aged bottlings arrive from Old Hickory and aim straight at serious drinkers
Old Hickory Bourbon this week announced two new releases: a 12-year and a 15-year expression, the oldest bottles the Nashville distillery has put into the market so far. The launches will hit select U.S. stores and bars later this month and come as a clear push into the premium, small-batch end of the market. For consumers, the main takeaway is simple: these are meant to be sipped and savored, not mixed into highballs. For Old Hickory, the move signals confidence in its older stocks and in demand for longer-aged whiskey that offers deeper, more complex flavor.
How these bottles taste and how time shaped them
Old Hickory says both expressions were pulled from carefully chosen barrels and married to give a balanced, mature profile. The 12-year is framed as richer and rounder than the distillery’s core range, with toasted oak and dried fruit notes that come from longer contact with charred wood. The 15-year pushes those traits further: deeper caramel, leather, and a lingering spice on the finish that reflects extra years in the barrel.
Production details the distillery shared are familiar to bourbon drinkers: older barrels selected from rickhouses where temperature swings concentrate flavor, and blending to smooth out the inevitable differences between individual casks. While Old Hickory didn’t publish a technical sheet for mashbills or char levels, these releases show the hallmarks of extended aging—softer grain, more pronounced oak influence, and secondary notes like vanilla, molasses, and toasted nuts that appear as wood and spirit interact over time.
In short, the 12-year will likely appeal to those who want a step up from entry-level bourbon, while the 15-year targets enthusiasts who prize depth and subtlety. Both are presented as sipping whiskeys rather than cocktail components.
Where these releases sit in today’s bourbon market
The timing lines up with a broader trend: American whiskey buyers are increasingly drawn to older, limited bottles. Collectors and casual drinkers alike have pushed demand for aged expressions across the market, encouraging distilleries to hold more inventory back for future premium releases. That trend has two effects—it boosts the prestige and price of long-aged bottles, and it raises the profile of smaller brands that can show real age on their labels.
For the industry, premiumization also acts as a way to use mature stocks without flooding the standard lineup. Distilleries can showcase craftsmanship and command higher margins with limited, aged runs. Old Hickory’s new bottlings fit neatly into that playbook: they are as much about branding and positioning as they are about taste.
Availability, pricing and what collectors will watch for
Old Hickory describes these releases as limited and targeted to select retail partners and on-premise accounts in certain states. Expect smaller allocations and a premium price relative to the distillery’s regular offerings. Exact bottle counts and nationwide rollout details were not part of the initial announcement; local liquor shops and the distillery’s tasting room will be the most likely early outlets.
Collectors will pay attention to how broadly the bottles are distributed, how many are released, and whether the distillery follows up with batch numbers or single-barrel variants that add rarity. Secondary-market interest is common for these kinds of releases, and scarcity often drives conversation as much as flavor.
What this says about Old Hickory’s path forward
Old Hickory has been building quietly rather than chasing flash. This pair of aged expressions positions the brand as a serious player in the premium whiskey space and suggests it has been laying down stock with future releases in mind. The move also signals a willingness to diversify beyond core offerings and compete where collectors and seasoned drinkers pay attention.
Longer term, these launches hint at a strategy that mixes heritage messaging with scarcity-driven marketing. If reception is strong, expect more age-statement bottles or limited single-barrel runs from Old Hickory. For now, the 12- and 15-year releases are the clearest statement yet that the Nashville distillery is staking a claim in the higher end of the bourbon market.
Photo: Chad Populis / Pexels
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