Today is the first day of autumn and that means cooler weather is either here or right around the corner. The kids have been in school for weeks already, plaid is back, football season is in full swing, and distilleries are shipping their fall releases.

Some enthusiasts will be looking for a bottle of Elijah Craig 21-Year-Old, the latest extra-aged bourbon from Heaven Hill Distillery, offered at $140. Heaven Hill’s Parker’s Heritage Collection is the one I look forward to and have never been disappointed when I actually find a bottle, usually for around $90. This year is the eighth release and features a 13-year-old cask strength wheat whiskey. Heaven Hill Master Distiller Emeritus Parker Beam, for whom the series is named, was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease several years ago. Last year’s edition of Parker’s raised over $300,000 for the ALS Association’s Parker Beam Promise of Hope Fund through a $20-per-bottle contribution made by Heaven Hill. The distillery continues this tradition with a contribution of $5 from each bottle sold this year. Neither buckets of ice nor videos required.

Four Roses has a 125th Anniversary bottle coming out, barrel proof and non-chill filtered, also $90. The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection starts shipping today, five limited-release whiskeys of various ages, recipes and proofs, each going for about $80. There will be a special George T. Stagg called Stagg Jr., a cask-strength offering from Maker’s Mark and the usual deluded souls looking for a bottle of this year’s Pappy.

If there is a  downside to these special bourbons it might be the price tag. The fall edition of Whisky Advocate gave whiskey writer Chuck Cowdery a hundred bucks to show us how we can still drink very well even without the fall releases. His choices are Old Forester Signature ($24.99), Very Old Barton ($13.99), Old Grand-Dad Bonded ($19.99) Old Fitzgerald Bonded ($17.99), and Old Charter 101 ($22.99). So stand closer to the bonfire to warm your hands and choose a little sip of something to warm your heart, for fall is in the air.