Disclosure: the sample for this review was provided at no cost. Our tasting notes and score are our own.
A little background
Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish from Bardstown Bourbon Company is a blend of straight bourbon and straight rye whiskey finished for an additional 32 months in casks that previously held single malt Scotch whisky from Scotland’s remote Isle of Jura. The finishing casks were a combination of 84% ex-bourbon and 16% ex-sherry barrels. It is bottled at 104 proof (52% ABV) and sells for $140.
The blend is made up of three components: 49% 11-year-old bourbon from Indiana (75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley), 30% 10-year-old rye from Indiana (95% rye, 5% malted barley), and 21% 12-year-old bourbon from Kentucky (75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley). During the 32-month finish, the 59-gallon sherry casks were too large to fit in the warehouse ricks, so they were stored in the aisles instead. Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish earned 99 points at the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition, the highest score given in that year’s North American judging, and it stands among the most acclaimed releases in Bardstown Bourbon Company’s history.
(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)
Color
Dark Gold
Nose
Caramel, orange citrus, espresso, sweet pipe tobacco, golden raisins, honey, oak, and spice.
Palate
Cherry, oak, raisins, dried apricots, clove, orange citrus, and spice.
Finish
Espresso, pepper, hot honey, dry leather, walnut, unsweetened cinnamon, and oak.
In closing
Bardstown Bourbon Company Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish is an incredibly unique whiskey that stays expressive from the first sniff to the last sip. The nose is sweet, with caramel, orange citrus, and honey joined by espresso, sweet pipe tobacco, golden raisins, oak, and spice. The palate brings cherry, raisins, and dried apricots alongside clove, orange citrus, oak, and spice. The finish is long, moving through espresso, pepper, and hot honey before settling into dry leather, walnut, unsweetened cinnamon, and oak.
What stands out most is how interesting the flavor profile is throughout. The Scotch cask finish adds a layer of fruit that sits comfortably on top of the bourbon and rye foundation, and the result doesn’t taste like anything else on the shelf. I really liked this whiskey. At $140, it is a premium pour, but for a blend of 10- to 12-year-old whiskeys with a 32-month Scotch cask finish and a flavor profile this unique, it is well worth seeking out for anyone looking for something different from a typical barrel-finished bourbon.
NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Bardstown Bourbon Company. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Lochs of Jura
104 Proof
Please enjoy responsibly. Never drink and drive.
