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Are you a whiskey drinker who enjoys bourbon and rye that’s much stronger than the minimum 80 proof, but still far from hazmat levels? If so, it’s time to take another look at Redemption Whiskey, because the brand just relaunched its core bourbon at a more robust 92 proof and unveiled a bottle redesign that comes a few years after a lawsuit filed by the Diageo-owned brand Bulleit.

If you’re not familiar with Redemption, this is a brand (not a distillery) that sources its whiskey from Indiana’s MGP. It has been owned by Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits for more than a decade, and master blender Alan Kennedy is the man behind the whiskey in these new bottles. The core lineup consists of rye whiskey, high-rye bourbon, and lower-rye bourbon, but there are various other expressions of note—one that particularly stands out was last year’s Redemption 18 Year Old, which was one of the best bourbons we tried in 2025.

The rye whiskey and high-rye bourbons were already bottled at 92 proof, but the core bourbon stood at 88. As as reminder, the minimum strength that whiskey can legally be bottled at is 80 proof (40 percent ABV). It comes out of the cask at a much higher strength, and while sometimes it’s bottled at barrel-proof, most of the time water is added to dilute the whiskey and increase volume. Many seasoned drinkers prefer their whiskey at a higher strength because of that dilution, and while there are proof hounds out there chasing stronger and stronger whiskeys, 90 to 100 proof is often a sweet spot.

According to Kennedy, raising the core bourbon’s proof to 92 has unlocked new flavors. “Bottling our bourbon at higher proof allows the whiskey to express itself more fully,” he said in a statement. “It enhances the vanilla, fruity, and floral notes while bringing greater structure and balance to the spice and smokiness that define our style. Every decision we make, from grain selection to barrel aging, is made with intention. This evolution is about refining what we do best and showcasing our whiskeys at their fullest potential.”

It’s not just the bourbon’s proof that has changed, however; the design of the bottles has, too, part of a new brand philosophy called “Choose Redemption. Rise Above.” Sounds good, but the real reason behind this is that popular whiskey brand Bulleit, which is owned by drinks giant Diageo, sued Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits in 2017, claiming that Redemption’s bottles were too similar (both had a sort of old-timey, saloon-style design). In 2022, a jury decided that this was indeed the case, and a judge barred Deutsch from using these bottles. The company appealed, but in 2024 the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Diageo’s favor—hence, the new bottle design featuring an eagle with spread wings.

“Setbacks aren’t the end of the story,” said Mike Dee, president of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, in a statement. “They’re often the beginning of something stronger. The team embraced the moment as an opportunity to elevate both the package and the bourbon, which we believe will propel distribution and volume to new heights.”

You can find the new Redemption Whiskey bottles and the higher proof bourbon in stores now (SRP $30), and older bottles—including that fantastic 18-year-old bourbon—are available at websites like ReserveBar.