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Bardstown Bourbon Company Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish Review

What happens when bourbon and rye rest 32 months in Isle of Jura Scotch casks? We taste Bardstown Bourbon's 99-point Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish.

OVERALL RATING

8
$140
  • Charles Steele is an attorney and whiskey enthusiast with a penchant for the peculiar.
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Tasting Notes

About:

Bardstown Bourbon Company has revealed two limited fall expressions, 2026 Discovery and Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish Whiskey.

Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish began as a bespoke blend of straight bourbon and rye. It then spent an additional 32 months in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks sourced from Scotland’s remote Isle of Jura.

The casks previously matured single malt Scotch whisky. According to the brand, they contribute layers of ripe fruit, soft malt, subtle smoke, and maritime character while preserving the whiskey’s bourbon foundation. “At Bardstown Bourbon, we are relentless in pursuit of flavor and no whiskey typifies this like the Isle of Jura,” said Dan Callaway, master blender at Lofted Spirits. “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 proved too large to store in the ricks. Instead, the team placed them in the warehouse aisles for 32 months.

Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish was recently awarded 99 points at the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition. This was the highest score given in this year’s North American judging. The whiskey is presented at 104 proof.

“These releases started from two different questions,” said Callaway. “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.”

The releases also mark a first for the company’s annual bottlings. Both feature original commissioned artwork inspired by the whiskey itself.

Louisville artist Margaret Archambault created each piece after experiencing the liquid. She translated aroma, flavor, and texture into visual art for the bottles and packaging.

The new design also signals an evolution for both series. The Finishing Series expands on the brand’s limited-edition collaborations, while Discovery moves from numbered to annual releases.
Appearance:
A clear tawny color with thick legs which cling to the glass. Tasted neat in a Glencairn.
Nose:
An inviting salty nose with open malts of caramel and toffee condensing into a unique profile. Through the robust start you find soft notes of peat smoke and green apples, and bark.
Palate:
The mouthfeel is surprisingly dry but not cloying. We open with sweet burnt caramels, soft milk chocolate, bitter espresso beans and just a pop of smoke and salt. Peeling through the layers there is a cornbread with honey body throughout the sip.
Finish:
Just a moment of Port wine on the finish, the red wine grapes come through before a lovely salty lingering profile holds to the tongue.
Comments:
I really enjoy the peat smoke and sugar bourbon dance this whiskey has going for it. Jura is a very loud Scotch and is hard to miss in the glass. What this whiskey does is help slow the tempest and really boost the malts. I think individuals who love a good peated whiskey but maybe are turned off by something too aggressive will enjoy this.

Certainly, the melding of these two styles is worthy of long conversation.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Charles Steele

Charles Steele, a Portland-based attorney, is a native of the Pacific Northwest. His legal background provides him with an analytical approach to understanding whiskey and other aged spirits. Primarily a legal writer, freelancing for The Whiskey Wash offers Charles a unique opportunity to showcase his versatility as a writer. Although his preference lies with whiskey and whiskey-based cocktails, he has a profound appreciation for all unique and unconventional liquors, from Malört to Ojen - if it's peculiar, he's intrigued.

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