Bardstown Bourbon Company has unveiled Normandie Calvados Brandy Barrel Finish, the third and final release in its 2025 Distillery Reserve series. The limited-edition bourbon features a custom blend aged 12-13 years and finished for 28 months in Christian Drouin Calvados casks from Normandy, France.
The 375ml bottles will be available exclusively at Bardstown Bourbon’s distillery gift shop and Louisville Tasting Room starting Black Friday, November 28, 2025, priced at US$99.99.
“Three generations of meticulous craftsmanship and nearly 300 gold medals have made Christian Drouin House an icon of Calvados,” said Dan Callaway, master blender at Lofted Spirits.
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READ THE STORYThe bourbon was initially aged in five 59-gallon Calvados casks before being transferred to new, medium-toast American white oak barrels.
“Over the course of the past two years, these five barrels have become the apple of my eye – the most attention per barrel project aging in Bardstown,” Callaway added. “The result: a cross-continental conversation in a glass that bridges centuries of tradition on both sides of the Atlantic.”
The expression is bottled at 104.2 proof (52.1% ABV). Official tasting notes from the brand describe layers of caramel, spice and roasted almond, with crisp orchard fruit and bourbon sweetness accented by wood smoke and vanilla.
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The release follows Cathedral 300-Year-Old French Oak and Hokkaido Mizunara Oak in the 2025 Distillery Reserve lineup.
Cathedral French Oak was featured on CBS’s 60 Minutes earlier this year, while Hokkaido Mizunara Oak won Best Bourbon awards from both Rolling Stone and Esquire in their 2025 Spirit Awards.
Bardstown Bourbon Company will host a digital raffle offering fans the chance to purchase all three 2025 Distillery Reserve releases together.
The company will also offer tasting experiences with master blender Dan Callaway, with details available exclusively through Bardstown Bourbon’s email list at BardstownBourbon.com.
The Distillery Reserve series emphasizes Bardstown’s approach to whiskey innovation through experimental finishes, extended aging and unconventional blending techniques.
