For the first time, Bardstown Bourbon Co.’s annual releases also feature original commissioned artwork inspired directly by the whiskey itself. Louisville artist Margaret Archambault created each piece after experiencing the liquid, translating aroma, flavor and texture into visual art that now appears on the bottles and packaging. The new package design also marks an evolution for these two award-winning series. The Finishing Series expands on the brand’s sought-after limited-edition collaborations while Discovery moves from numbered to annual releases. 

“These releases started from two different questions,” said Dan Callaway, Master Blender at Lofted Spirits, in a statement. “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.” 

Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish began with a bespoke blend of straight bourbon and rye before spending an additional 32 months in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks sourced from Scotland’s remote Isle of Jura. Previously used to mature single malt Scotch whisky, the casks contribute layers of ripe fruit, soft malt, subtle smoke, and maritime character while preserving the whiskey’s rich bourbon foundation, the company says. 

“At Bardstown Bourbon, we are relentless in pursuit of flavor and no whiskey typifies this like the Isle of Jura,” Callaway said in a statement. “With just 238 residents, Jura is not just remote - its location offers a unique fingerprint of flavor singular to these barrels.”

For 32 months the team worked around the 59-gallon sherry casks, too large to be stored in the ricks and instead placed in aisles of the warehouse. The resulting fruit character was worthy of the minor inconvenience, the company says. 

Inspired by the flavor profiles, aromas, and personalities of the two whiskeys, Archambault’s original paintings offer a visual interpretation of each release, transforming the sensory experience of tasting into a new artistic medium, it adds.

The latest release in Bardstown Bourbon Co.’s Discovery Series begins with a blend of 7, 10, and 11-year-old bourbons, showcasing the balance and complexity that have become hallmarks of the series, the company says. These high-floor barrels were selected for their balance of fruit and oak, making them perfect to take on the extra structure and sugar of double-barreling, it adds. A four-month finishing period in custom-made Garryana oak barrels adds subtle layers of spice and structure, complementing rather than overshadowing the mature Kentucky whiskey at its core.   

This year’s Discovery is the second Bardstown Bourbon release to explore this prized oak following the highly limited Distillery Reserve Cascadia released earlier this year. Also known as Oregon White Oak, Garryana is native to the Pacific Northwest and grows most comfortably in the lush Willamette Valley. Prized for its strength and scarcity, its dense grain slows oxidation and evaporation and lends flavors like clove and nutmeg. 

 Presented at 112.8 proof (56.4% ABV), 2026 Discovery opens with layers of toasted oak, burnt sugar, and baked apple cobbler, the company says. Dried cherry and cinnamon bark emerge across the palate, leading to a long, warming finish accented by the distinctive influence of Garryana oak, it adds.

Both 2026 Discovery 2026 and Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish are available nationwide in limited quantities and offered at a suggested retail price of $139.99 for each 750-ml bottle.