Overview: Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish has been awarded the American Whiskey Trophy at the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition, achieving a score of 99 points. The spirit is a blend of straight bourbon and rye aged between 10 and 12 years before undergoing a unique barrel finish process in Scotland.
The Full Story
The bottle received one of the top prizes at the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition. Judges described it as exceptionally well-balanced and full of character, noting cinnamon and spiced vanilla on the nose with orange peel and caramel. On the palate, orange and nutmeg appear, leading to a bright finish balancing oak and sweetness with notes of chocolate and warm wood spices.
The release is a limited edition from Kentucky’s Bardstown Bourbon Company, crossing the divide between domestic whiskey and Scotch. It scored 99 points in the competition, the highest score awarded during the IWSC’s North American judging this year.
Production & Profile
It is a 104-proof blend consisting of 49 percent 11-year-old Indiana bourbon, 30 percent 10-year-old Indiana rye, and 21 percent 12-year-old Kentucky bourbon. The blend was aged for another 32 months in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks that previously held single malt Scotch from Scotland’s remote Isle of Jura.
Dan Callaway, master blender at Lofted Spirits, Bardstown’s parent company, noted the location offers a unique fingerprint of flavor singular to these barrels.
What This Means
The release distinguishes itself from other whiskeys through this specific cross-Atlantic barrel process. Its location offers a unique fingerprint of flavor singular to these barrels, marking a significant step in blending domestic whiskey with Scottish cask influence.
Consumer Takeaway
The bottle offers a 104-proof blend aged between 10 and 12 years prior to barrel finish. It provides access to casks previously holding single malt Scotch from the Isle of Jura, featuring a population of 238.
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