Bardstown Bourbon's 2026 Discovery & Lochs of Jura Releases

Two limited fall releases pair a 99-point Scotch-cask finish with a bold new blend — both hitting shelves nationwide August 21

BARDSTOWN, Ky. — Bardstown Bourbon Company is rolling out its 2026 annual releases: 2026 Discovery and Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish, two limited-edition whiskeys that approach innovation from opposite directions. Lochs of Jura leans on rare cask finishing, while Discovery leans on the art of blending mature Kentucky bourbons.

For the first time, both releases feature original commissioned artwork inspired by the whiskey itself. Louisville artist Margaret Archambault tasted each expression and translated its aroma, flavor, and texture into paintings that now appear on the bottles and packaging. The new packaging also marks a shift for both series: the Finishing Series continues to expand its limited-edition collaborations, while Discovery moves from a numbered release to an annual one.

“These releases started from two different questions,” said Dan Callaway, Master Blender, Lofted Spirits. “Discovery asked how far we could take an already exceptional blend. Lochs of Jura asked what unique character these remarkable casks could contribute over time. Both led us somewhere unexpected, and that’s where the exciting whiskey discoveries happen.”

Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish: Shaped by a Remote Island

Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish starts as a bespoke blend of straight bourbon and rye, then spends an additional 32 months finishing in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks sourced from Scotland’s remote Isle of Jura. The casks, previously used to mature single malt Scotch, contribute ripe fruit, soft malt, subtle smoke, and maritime character while keeping the whiskey’s bourbon foundation intact.

“At Bardstown Bourbon, we are relentless in pursuit of flavor and no whiskey typifies this like the Isle of Jura,” said Callaway. “With just 238 residents, Jura is not just remote – its location offers a unique fingerprint of flavor singular to these barrels.”

The 59-gallon sherry casks were too large for the ricks, so the team stored them in the warehouse aisles for the full 32 months — a logistical workaround the brand says paid off in the fruit character it produced. The whiskey went on to earn 99 points at the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition, the highest score awarded in this year’s North American judging, making it one of the most acclaimed releases in the distillery’s history. It’s bottled at 104 proof.

2026 Discovery: The Art of Blending, Pushed Further

The latest Discovery Series release begins with a blend of 7-, 10-, and 11-year-old bourbons, selected from high-floor barrels for their balance of fruit and oak. The blend then spends four months finishing in custom-made Garryana oak barrels, adding layers of spice and structure without overpowering the mature whiskey underneath.

This is the second Bardstown Bourbon release to use Garryana oak, following the earlier limited Distillery Reserve Cascadia. Also known as Oregon White Oak, Garryana grows in the Pacific Northwest’s Willamette Valley; its dense, scarce grain slows oxidation and evaporation and lends notes of clove and nutmeg.

Bottled at 112.8 proof (66.4% ABV), 2026 Discovery opens with toasted oak, burnt sugar, and baked apple cobbler, moving into dried cherry and cinnamon bark before a long, warming finish shaped by the Garryana oak.

Availability

Both 2026 Discovery and Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish arrive nationwide in limited quantities beginning August 21, 2026, at a suggested retail price of $139.99 per 750 mL bottle.

About Bardstown Bourbon Company

Bardstown Bourbon Company operates one of the most modern, technically advanced whiskey distilleries in the country, pairing high-precision distillation with hospitality on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail™. The brand has been named Icons of Whisky Global Brand Innovator of the Year (2025), earned the highest rating among American whiskeys from Whisky Advocate (2024), and was named Worldwide Whisky Producer of the Year by the IWSC (2023). More information is available at BardstownBourbon.com.

Story by Bourbon Lens | Bourbon Lens News