The TTB Public COLA database, where federally approved liquor label bottles appear online, can be a a great way to learn about what’s on the mind of distillers and whiskey brands. Take, for example, last year’s appearance of the John E. Fitzgerald Very Special Reserve label months before the actual release of the 20 year old Stitzel-Weller bourbon from Heaven Hill. Now, a new possible bottling has appeared which will be exciting to fans of Bulleit Bourbon – a barrel proof version.

Now, before I go any further, let me first say this – labels that appear in the TTB approval database…