Sespe Creek Distillery Announces New Single-Barrel Release of “Cowboy” Edition Mesquite Smoked Southwest Bourbon

New, limited-release bourbon made in Oxnard, California in partnership with UFC Hall of Famer Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone

OXNARD, CA (MAY 18, 2026) – Sespe Creek Distillery, the Oxnard, California distillery led by Master Distiller John Campbell, announces today the release of Warbringer “Cowboy” Edition Mesquite Smoked Southwest Bourbon. The highly allocated, single-barrel offering comes just a few short months after the brand released Batch 22, the first new release in its Warbringer collection blended entirely under Campbell’s direction.

What it is and how it happened: Representing a historical and unique partnership between Campbell (ex-Laphroaig) and UFC icon Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, this single-barrel selection is unlike any other. After tasting through an assortment of Warbringer barrels curated by Campbell specifically to fit Cowboy’s taste, the UFC Hall of Famer picked a standout barrel from the lot that now bears his name and signature. Distilled from mesquite-smoked corn flaking grits, Warbringer Cowboy Edition is the self-proclaimed “Smokiest Bourbon on the Planet,” and the inclusion of mesquite charcoal filtration (filtered three times through mesquite charcoal prepared at the distillery in Oxnard, CA) makes for a wholly original experience that features mesquite at both the first step and final step of production.

By the numbers: Sespe Creek Distillery Warbringer “Cowboy” Edition Mesquite Smoked Southwest Bourbon

• SRP: $125/750 ml bottle
• Allocation: 160 bottles
• ABV/Proof: 110 proof/55% ABV; cask strength, undiluted
• How to get it: Direct-to-consumer exclusive at Warbringerbourbon.com

Nose: Warm smoked cinnamon rolls at first, rich and welcoming, wrapped in deep vanilla and ripe black cherry. Fresh-baked apple pie follows close behind — golden crust, sugar-glazed and still steaming — with a clean breath of eucalyptus drifting in like wind off the open range.

Palate: Bright cherry and creamy vanilla settle in early, easing into dark chocolate and the slow burn of toasted baking spice. A thread of campfire smoke runs through the middle — rich, mellow, weathered just right.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and just off-dry. Smooth and full, coating the mouth with a slow, lingering warmth that pulls you straight back for another pull.

Said Cowboy Cerrone, “You don’t always need a whiskey that punches you in the mouth. John Campbell and I picked this barrel because it’s mellow, balanced, and smooth as hell without losing its backbone.”