Overview: Bardstown Bourbon Company has introduced a new expression designed to bridge the gap between traditional whiskey and tropical flavors. The Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey combines mature bourbon and rye with a distinctive finishing process involving Caribbean-sourced pineapple rum casks. This release offers a limited quantity available exclusively at the distillery and Louisville Tasting Room in Kentucky.
The Full Story
The spirit begins as a blend of mature bourbon aged between 10 and 11 years, paired with rye whiskey aged for 11 years. To achieve the desired profile, the mixture is finished in Caribbean-sourced pineapple rum casks for an additional 27 months. During this process, fresh pineapple is added directly to the barrels to intensify tropical aromas and flavors.
The resulting expression is a 106-proof spirit that opens with scents of tropical fruits, peppery rye, and allspice. Sipping reveals notes of dried cherries, toasted oak, vanillacream, and toffee, leading to a lingering, warm, sweet, and spicy finish. Dan Callaway, Master Blender, Lofted Spirits, stated the goal was never to make whiskey taste like pineapple. Instead, the objective was to understand what made these barrels so special in the first place. He noted that finishing with staves provided the balance needed to integrate the pineapple character without losing the depth and complexity of the whiskey itself.
Production & Profile
Technical specifications highlight a proof level of 106. The flavor profile encompasses tropical fruits, peppery rye, allspice, dried cherries, toasted oak, vanillacream, and toffee. The finish is characterized as warm, sweet, and spicy.
Consumer Takeaway
This limited-edition whiskey is available in extremely limited quantities exclusively in Kentucky. It can be purchased at the Bardstown Bourbon Co distillery and Louisville Tasting Room for a suggested retail price of $139.99.
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