Larrikin Bourbon's Australia Series Debuts at Kentucky Bourbon Festival

Larrikin Bourbon Co. has announced the “Australia Series,” an exceptionally limited collection of three cask-strength bourbons finished in distinctive Australian barrels, available exclusively at the 2026 Kentucky Bourbon Festival.

The series features:

Manuka Honey Barrel Finish
Golden Wattle Barrel Finish
Sugar Cane Rum Barrel Finish

The collection was created from just six barrels of 11-year-old Old Elk bourbon. Its high-rye mash bill — 51% corn, 34% rye, and 15% malted barley — provides the foundation for three distinctly different finishes, with each expression bottled at cask strength.

“We were bloody lucky to get our hands on these unique Aussie barrels,” said Greg Keeley, founder and distiller of Larrikin Bourbon Co. “We wanted to see what three genuine Australian finishes—Manuka honey, golden wattle and sugar cane rum—would do to the same bourbon. The Manuka honey is subtle and lingers, the golden wattle is simply extraordinary, and the rum barrel will have folks hoisting the jolly roger. Same bourbon going in, three very different expressions coming out.”

One expression will release each day of the festival’s main weekend:

Friday, September 11: Manuka Honey Barrel Finish
Saturday, September 12: Golden Wattle Barrel Finish
Sunday, September 13: Sugar Cane Rum Barrel Finish

Bottles will be sold exclusively at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown while each expression’s allocation lasts, with no retail or online release planned. A VIP package will also be available to VIP Tier ticket holders.

The 2026 Kentucky Bourbon Festival takes place September 10–13 in Bardstown, Kentucky.

About Larrikin Bourbon Co.

Larrikin Bourbon Co. is a veteran-owned craft distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, founded by Australian-raised distiller Greg Keeley and Katie Keeley. Larrikin makes whiskey by coupling Kentucky’s bourbon traditions with a little Australian irreverence.