January 2025 New Whisky Releases: From Charitable Blends to Anniversary Celebrations

Filip Janczak
Oct 3
2 min read

The new year kicks off with a standout lineup of whisky releases that balance tradition with bold innovation. From charitable collaborations to milestone tributes, January 2025 offers something for collectors and casual drinkers alike, spanning American craft, Japanese mastery, and Irish ingenuity.

Good Deeds Whiskey Batch # 2: Whisky with Purpose

Good Deeds Whiskey Batch # 2 (approx. 46% ABV, around $90) blends WhistlePig straight rye with Black Button bourbon. Profits from every bottle support the STEPUP Foundation, making this more than just a finely crafted whiskey.

Expect aromas of caramel, vanilla, and maple, with flavours of stone fruit, baked apples, cinnamon, and a long finish of baking spices. A release that proves premium whiskey can also drive meaningful change.

Booker’s 2024-04 “Jimmy’s Batch”: A Tribute in Bourbon

Booker’s 2024-04 “Jimmy’s Batch” (125.8 proof, 7 years 9 months) honours the friendship between Booker Noe and legendary Wild Turkey master distiller Jimmy Russell.

With notes of sandalwood, leather, cinnamon spice, and dark chocolate, this release captures Booker’s signature uncut character while paying homage to the relationships that shaped bourbon history.

Fuji 50th Anniversary: Japanese Whisky Mastery

Marking half a century since the Fuji Gotemba Distillery opened in 1973, the Fuji 50th Anniversary blend combines malts aged from 12 to 50 years. Matured in bourbon, oloroso sherry, red wine, and beer casks, it delivers layers of complexity that reflect decades of Japanese whisky craft.

A collector’s bottle with remarkable depth, it embodies the evolution of Japanese whisky-making over five decades.

High West The Noble Share: Tradition with a Twist

High West The Noble Share (52% ABV, $175) blends ryes from MGP and High West before finishing in Casa Noble añejo tequila barrels, with some expressions also touched by amburana wood.

This innovative finish introduces agave sweetness and exotic spice notes to classic rye, pushing boundaries while respecting tradition.

Unique Expressions: Chestnut and Marsala

Rites of Fall Rye (Obscure Distillery) – A chestnut-aged rye that supports the American Chestnut Foundation, proving alternative wood can redefine whiskey character.
Drumshanbo Marsala Cask – A single pot still Irish whiskey (with oats in the mash bill), finished in marsala wine casks at 43% ABV, marrying Irish heritage with Mediterranean influence.

Key Trends from January 2025 Releases

Whisky with purpose: Good Deeds aligns quality with social responsibility.
Heritage tributes: Booker’s and Fuji celebrate legacy and milestones.
Cask innovation: High West, Rites of Fall, and Drumshanbo show how unique finishes and alternative woods are reshaping flavour.
Storytelling: Each release is more than liquid, it’s a narrative of collaboration, conservation, or culture.

January 2025’s whisky releases reflect a dynamic industry where innovation, heritage, and responsibility intersect. Whether you’re collecting, tasting, or exploring, these bottles showcase the creativity and diversity driving whisky forward.