Bardstown’s latest limited releases take two very different approaches to whiskey innovation, from a 32-month Isle of Jura finish to mature bourbon finished in Garryana oak.
BARDSTOWN, Kentucky (August 18, 2026) — Bardstown Bourbon Company is back with its 2026 annual releases, and this year’s pair takes the brand’s experimentation in two distinctly different directions.
The Kentucky distillery will release 2026 Discovery and Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish Whiskey nationwide beginning August 21, with both expressions carrying a suggested retail price of $139.99 for a 750 mL bottle.
One explores what happens when mature Kentucky bourbon meets a particularly distinctive oak. The other takes a bespoke bourbon and rye blend on a 32-month journey through casks from Scotland’s remote Isle of Jura.
And if the accolades are any indication, at least one of them has landed somewhere special.
Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish: Bourbon Meets the Scottish Coast
Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish starts with a bespoke blend of straight bourbon and rye before receiving an additional 32 months of maturation in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks sourced from the Isle of Jura in Scotland.
Previously used to mature single malt Scotch whisky, the casks bring another layer of character to the whiskey, contributing ripe fruit, soft malt, subtle smoke and maritime notes while maintaining the underlying richness of the bourbon.
The experiment also created an unusual logistical challenge for Bardstown Bourbon Company.
The 59-gallon sherry casks were too large to fit inside the distillery’s rickhouses, so they spent the 32-month finishing period positioned in the aisles of the warehouse instead.
Apparently, the inconvenience was worth it.
Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish recently earned 99 points at the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition, the highest score awarded in this year’s North American judging. At 104 proof, it represents one of the more ambitious finishing projects to come from Bardstown Bourbon Company and one of its most highly acclaimed.
Master Blender Dan Callaway described Jura as particularly compelling because of its isolation.
“With just 238 residents, Jura is not just remote — its location offers a unique fingerprint of flavor singular to these barrels.”
For a whiskey built around the idea of discovering what another place can contribute to bourbon, that fingerprint is ultimately the point
2026 Discovery Pushes Blending in a New Direction
The latest Discovery release takes a different approach.
Rather than relying on an unusual finishing location, 2026 Discovery focuses on the art of blending, bringing together 7-, 10- and 11-year-old bourbons selected for their balance of fruit and oak.
Those mature Kentucky bourbons then received four months of finishing in custom-made Garryana oak barrels.
Also known as Oregon White Oak, Garryana is native to the Pacific Northwest, particularly the Willamette Valley. Its dense grain slows oxidation and evaporation and can contribute flavors including clove and nutmeg.
Bardstown Bourbon Company previously explored the oak in its highly limited Distillery Reserve Cascadia release earlier this year. With Discovery, the distillery is using the wood to add another dimension to already mature whiskey rather than overwhelm it.
At 112.8 proof (66.4% ABV), 2026 Discovery opens with toasted oak, burnt sugar and baked apple cobbler before moving into dried cherry and cinnamon bark. The finish is long and warming, with the distinctive influence of Garryana oak lingering underneath the mature bourbon.
It is another example of Bardstown’s broader philosophy: start with quality whiskey, then find a way to add something meaningful rather than simply something different.
— Dan Callaway, Master Blender, Lofted Spirits“With just 238 residents, Jura is not just remote — its location offers a unique fingerprint of flavor singular to these barrels.”
Whiskey Meets Original Kentucky Art
This year’s releases also mark a visual evolution for Bardstown Bourbon Company’s annual release program.
For the first time, the company commissioned Louisville artist Margaret Archambault to create original artwork inspired directly by each whiskey.
Archambault experienced the liquids before creating the paintings, translating their aromas, flavors and textures into visual interpretations that now appear on the bottles and packaging.
The packaging also reflects a change in how the two series are positioned. The Finishing Series expands Bardstown Bourbon Company’s limited-edition collaborations, while Discovery moves away from numbered releases to an annual-release format.
As Callaway put it, the two whiskeys began with very different questions.
“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 ultimately landed in the same place: somewhere unexpected.
And that may be the most Bardstown Bourbon Company part of the story.
The Two New Bardstown Releases at a Glance
Lochs of Jura
- 104 proof / 52% ABV
- 11-year MGP (21% rye) bourbon, 10-year MGP rye, 12-year KY bourbon (75/13/12)
- 32 months in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks from the Isle of Jura
- $139.99 MSRP / 750 mL
- 99 points, 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition
2026 Discovery
- 112.8 proof / 56.4% ABV
- 7-, 10- and 11-year-old bourbon blend
- 4 months in custom Garryana oak barrels
- $139.99 MSRP / 750 mL
Both releases are scheduled to become available nationwide in limited quantities beginning August 21, 2026.
For Bardstown Bourbon Company, the two bottles represent two different versions of the same philosophy: take excellent whiskey, ask a good question, and see where the answer leads.
— 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.”
The Bourbon Bishop Bottom Line
Bardstown Bourbon Company has built its reputation on asking “what if?” questions, and these two releases show why that approach continues to be worth watching. Lochs of Jura is the attention-grabber, with a genuinely unusual 32-month finish and a 99-point IWSC score to back up the ambition. 2026 Discovery may be the more interesting expression for bourbon nerds, though, because it takes already mature whiskey and uses a relatively uncommon oak to add another layer without losing sight of what was in the barrel to begin with.
At $139.99 apiece, neither is an impulse buy, but these aren’t releases built simply around a fancy finish or a big number on the label. They’re experiments with a purpose… and that’s where Bardstown continues to separate itself. If you’re looking for whiskey that gives you something to talk about after the bottle is open, these two releases look like they’re worth paying attention to.
About Bardstown Bourbon Company
Bardstown Bourbon Company is a Kentucky-based whiskey producer known for its collaborative approach to blending, finishing, and innovation. Founded in 2014, the company has become recognized for producing its own Kentucky bourbon while also partnering with distilleries across the country to create unique whiskey expressions.
Through its Origin Series, Discovery Series, Collaborative Series, and experimental finishing projects, Bardstown Bourbon Company has built a reputation for exploring new approaches while respecting traditional whiskey-making techniques.
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