Pursuit Spirits, the independent whiskey blender founded by the creators of the Bourbon Pursuit podcast, has unveiled Pursuit United XS Double Oak Rye, a barrel-proof release matured for nearly two years in custom casks from Seguin Moreau’s Napa cooperage. The ultra-limited run of 720 bottles launches on October 14, 2026, exclusively at the company’s Whiskey Row location in Louisville, Kentucky.
Short for “Extra Special,” the XS series marks a premium evolution of the brand’s double oak whiskeys. It takes barrel-proof Pursuit United Bourbon and Rye through an extended secondary maturation process using custom craft cooperages.
The inaugural release spent nearly two years maturing in custom American oak barrels. It yields just 720 bottles at 126.2 proof.
Quick whisky question
Single malt is everywhere, but what does it mean? We want to know what the word “single” means to you. Three quick questions, under a minute.
Pursuit United whiskeys are built on contract-distilled mash bills, yeast combinations, and custom barrel profiles blended in Louisville. The XS Double Oak line re-barrels the final blend into curated, premium, full-sized finishing barrels built with craft cooperages worldwide.
Co-founders Kenny Coleman and Ryan Cecil first tasted whiskey aged in Seguin Moreau barrels during the original formulation of Pursuit United Bourbon. For this project, Pursuit commissioned multiple barrels using American oak and char #3 with toasted heads, then filled them with a blend of straight ryes from Bardstown Bourbon Company and Sagamore Spirit.
These premium barrels cost roughly six times that of a typical new barrel.
What Will Whisky Look Like in 2027? Voices from Whisky Live Paris
READ THE STORY“We pulled samples on these barrels for a year and a half,” said Ryan Cecil, co-founder and master blender at Pursuit Spirits. “At six months, it was already good, but good is where most finishes stop. Every time we tasted it, the whiskey kept evolving. After 20 months, it reached what I consider whiskey of the year potential.”
The official notes from the brand describe savory aromas of crisp pepperoni and dried herbs, a full-bodied palate of sweet oak and caramelized burnt sugar, and a finish of warm pipe tobacco, cola, and roasted mocha.
“We’ve been developing our double oak program since 2022,” said Kenny Coleman, co-founder and COO of Pursuit Spirits. “The intentionality with XSDO is making sure the barrels are not a commodity. Every release under XS Double Oak will feature barrels that are specifically curated for this project.”
The release bypasses retail, online, and shipping channels entirely. Of the 720 bottles, 92% are allocated to existing P. Club members, with the remainder reserved for new members who join in person on Whiskey Row.
The whiskey will also be poured at Trial + Error, the cocktail lounge beneath the Whiskey Row location. It carries an MSRP of $149.99 (£112).
Latest On The Whiskey Wash
