Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery #14 (2026) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 750ml

Discovery #14 is genuinely the latest chapter in one of the most respected annual blending series in American whiskey — the Discovery Series was originally built to showcase exceptional sourced whiskey while Bardstown Bourbon Company's own distillate matured, and has since evolved into some of the most ambitious, closely watched limited releases in the category, with Bardstown itself named 2023 Worldwide Whiskey Producer of the Year by the IWSC. This release blends three distinct bourbons — a 10-year-old Indiana bourbon (55%), an 11-year-old Kentucky bourbon (25%), and a 7-year-old Kentucky bourbon (20%) — each carrying its own distinct mash bill, from a 75% corn/21% wheat wheated recipe to two higher-rye recipes.

What makes Discovery #14 genuinely distinctive is its finishing wood: custom-made barrels of Garryana oak, hand-harvested in Oregon and specifically hand-toasted for a full three hours by Oregon Barrel Works — a genuinely rare, labor-intensive process designed to unlock additional layers of spice and complexity that a standard char simply can't achieve. The blend rested four months in these barrels during the summer months, chosen deliberately for maximum extraction, before being gradually proofed down and bottled.

Bardstown's own tasting notes describe "layers of decadent, toasted oak" supported by "burnt sugar and baked apple cobbler," with "the balance" continuing "on the palate with dried cherry and cinnamon bark, leading to a long, warming finish accentuated by the rare garryana oak flavor." This is a genuine annual event for serious bourbon collectors — a thoughtfully aged, multi-source blend given a finishing treatment few other distilleries anywhere attempt.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery #14 is a blend of three Kentucky Straight Bourbons: 55% from a 10-year-old Indiana bourbon (75% corn/21% wheat/4% malted barley), 25% from an 11-year-old Kentucky bourbon (74% corn/18% rye/8% malted barley), and 20% from a 7-year-old Kentucky bourbon (74% corn/16% rye/10% malted barley).

Following blending, the whiskey rested four months in custom-made, hand-toasted Garryana oak barrels, hand-harvested in Oregon and toasted for three hours by Oregon Barrel Works. Summer aging was deliberately chosen for maximum extraction, with the whiskey gradually proofed down before bottling. Bottled at 56.4% ABV / 112.8 proof, 750ml. The 2026 release artwork is by Margaret Archambault.

Critics Reviews

No independently confirmed critic score is available for this release at this time — a genuinely new, current 2026 release.

Bardstown Bourbon Company (official tasting note):
"Layers of decadent, toasted oak are supported by burnt sugar and baked apple cobbler. The balance continues on the palate with dried cherry and cinnamon bark, leading to a long, warming finish accentuated by the rare garryana oak flavor."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Decadent, toasted oak leads, joined by burnt sugar and baked apple cobbler.

Palate
Balanced, with dried cherry and cinnamon bark carrying through, supported by layered oak character from the rare Garryana finish.

Finish
Long and warming, closing with lingering, distinctive Garryana oak flavor — genuinely rare wood character.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Baked apple desserts
• Aged cheddar
• Grilled or smoked meats
• Spiced baked goods

Serving Note

Enjoy neat in a Glencairn glass to appreciate the full character of the rare Garryana oak finish; a few drops of water can help open additional layers.