Bardstown Bourbon Co. Lochs of Jura Finished Whiskey
The Stats
- Distillery: Bardstown Bourbon Company
- Location: Bardstown, KY
- Type: Blend of Straight Bourbon and Rye Whiskeys Finished in Single Malt Scotch Whisky Barrels
- Age: Blend of 10, 11, and 12-year-old whiskeys
- Proof: 104 (52% ALC/VOL)
- Blend: 49% Indiana 11-Year Bourbon, 30% Indiana 10-Year Rye, 21% Kentucky 12-Year Bourbon
- Mash Bills: 75/21/0/4, 0/95/0/5, 75/13/0/12
- Finish: 32 months in Single Malt Scotch whisky barrels
- Finishing Casks: 84% ex-Bourbon, 16% ex-Sherry
- Price: $140
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Bardstown Bourbon Company has never been afraid to make whiskey that is difficult to categorize. Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish may be one of its better examples.
The whiskey starts with a blend of mature bourbon and rye, then spends an additional 32 months in barrels previously used to mature Single Malt Scotch whisky on Scotland’s Isle of Jura. Those finishing barrels include both ex-bourbon and ex-Sherry casks.
The result does not really drink like bourbon. It does not drink like Scotch either.
For us, it lands somewhere closer to a richly finished rye, with blackberry, spearmint, caramel, toasted oak, and malt creating one of the more unusual profiles we have tasted from Bardstown.
The Whiskey Behind the Bottle
The foundation is a three-whiskey blend: 49% 11-year Indiana bourbon, 30% 10-year Indiana rye, and 21% 12-year Kentucky bourbon.
The distillery finished the blend for 32 months in Single Malt Scotch whisky barrels sourced from the Isle of Jura, using a combination of 84% ex-bourbon and 16% ex-Sherry casks. Thirty-two months is not a quick finishing pass. Those casks have had plenty of time to reshape the whiskey, and it shows.
The rye remains immediately recognizable, but it is surrounded by fruit, caramel, soft malt, toasted oak, and additional sweetness from the Sherry influence.
The bottle also features original artwork by Margaret Archambault, continuing the more expressive visual approach seen across Bardstown’s newest releases.
Tasting Notes
Aroma
Blackberry, vanilla cream, and soft malt lead the nose, followed by mint, toasted oak, and a subtle cigar-box note. It has a dessert-like quality, almost like blackberry compote over crème brûlée.
Taste
Spearmint arrives immediately and gives the whiskey a distinctly rye-forward character. Caramel, vanilla, blackberry, cinnamon, and toasted oak follow, while the Scotch casks add a soft maltiness beneath it all. As the whiskey opens, the mint settles down, and more of the fruit and barrel influence begins to emerge.
Finish
The finish is long, warm, and complex. Spearmint and rye spice linger alongside caramel, toasted oak, dark fruit, and a subtle Sherry sweetness.
Artfully Bourbon Rating
8.5 / 10 - Very Good
Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish is one of those whiskeys that becomes more interesting the longer you sit with it.
The first sip is unmistakably rye-forward, with plenty of mint and spice. Give it some time, though, and blackberry, caramel, malt, toasted oak, and fruit begin working their way into the profile.
It is unconventional, but it never feels confused.
In fact, that willingness to combine bourbon, rye, Scotch casks, Sherry influence, and nearly three years of finishing is exactly what makes this bottle interesting.
If you enjoy finished rye or whiskey that ventures well outside traditional Kentucky bourbon territory, there is a lot to explore here.
Buy or Skip:
Conditional Buy
At $140, Lochs of Jura is a unique whiskey and one that may not be for everyone.
If you enjoy rye, finished whiskey, or more adventurous profiles, there is a lot to like here. If you prefer a more traditional bourbon profile, we would point you toward the 2026 Discovery instead.
This is distinctive, well-made, and worth trying if the profile sounds like your kind of pour.
Where Does It Rank?
Every whiskey we review is scored using the same 10-point scale, making it easy to compare bottles across styles, distilleries, and price points. Explore our complete whiskey rankings to see how every bottle stacks up.
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Care Instructions
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Hand wash only to preserve the print and keep your glass crystal clear
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