Bardstown Bourbon Company Lochs of Jura Barrel Finished Whiskey Review: This One Is Worth the Detour
- Jes Smyth
- 5 hours ago
- 5 min read
Have you ever wondered what the opposite of an impulse buy is? Is it, perhaps, an impulse "walk away"? If so, I'm definitely guilty of both, although I never really considered the reasons why I impulsively walk away from a bottle. Maybe it's simply too big of a detour from what I'm used to, and the natural tendency is to go back down the road most familiar. If this resonates with you in any way, I'm going to suggest something a bit wacky and wild: take the detour.
Lochs of Jura from Bardstown Bourbon Company is here and has chosen to blaze its own trail in the whiskey world. It's bourbon, it's rye, it has Scotch influence, and sherry influence, and somehow it has worked so cohesively that it earned 99 points and Gold Outstanding at the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition before most of us had even seen the bottle. That's right, Bardstown took a blend of well-aged American bourbon and rye and gave it 32 additional months in single malt Scotch barrels from Scotland's Isle of Jura, with ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks shaping the final profile.
For those who appreciate the nerdy details behind unique projects like this, I have some numbers for you! The finishing barrels consisted of 84% ex-bourbon casks and 16% ex-sherry casks that previously held Jura single malt. And when it comes to transparency, Bardstown has historically done a fantastic job of putting those details right on the label. The blend consists of 49% Indiana whiskey aged 11 years, with a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley; 30% Indiana whiskey aged 10 years, made from 95% rye and 5% malted barley (MGP, IYKYK); and 21% Kentucky whiskey aged 12 years, with a mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley.
And yet, with a nice age statement and well-known sourced whiskey, I have a sneaking suspicion that a good majority of bourbon drinkers will take one look at this on the shelf and, after seeing Scotch on that label, will, on impulse, walk away.
But perhaps this bottle isn't meant to hold hands with the bourbon drinkers into the world of Malt. Perhaps the true target audience is Scotch drinkers looking to get into bourbon and rye. Regardless, I'm certainly curious and eager to dive into this expression.
A big thank you to Bardstown Bourbon Company for sending Lochs of Jura my way. I appreciate the opportunity to experience and write about a whiskey like this—whether a bottle is sent to me or purchased by me, the independent whiskey reviews you read here at Amongst the Whiskey always reflect my honest opinion and follow our editorial policy. Reviewing whiskey is absolutely subjective and, as I see it, an opportunity to experience something new. I'm grateful to share my genuine thoughts about what’s in the glass with you, dear reader. So, let's dive in!
Company on Label: Bardstown Bourbon Company
Whiskey Type: A blend of straight whiskies
Mash Bill Percentages: 74% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley / 95% rye, 5% malted barley / 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley
Proof: 104° (52%)
Age: 10 years (a blend of 10, 11, and 12 year whiskies)
MSRP: $139.99
Further Identification: This blend of straight whiskies from Indiana and Kentucky was finished in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks used to age single malt scotch whisky
Nose: Soft and unctuous, with an almost creamy quality and a lovely doughiness that immediately draws me in. Caramel and vanilla are front and center, accompanied by the tiniest hint of table salt. Honestly, if I didn’t know this whiskey had been finished in Scotch barrels, I’m not sure I’d guess it from the nose alone. There’s a whisper of salt and a faint touch of umami hiding underneath everything, but you really have to dig for it. There's also an earthy quality that gives this whiskey far more complexity than I'd expect—Pine trees, lemon rind, and the lingering ash of a campfire emerge, creating an intriguing mix of bright citrus and darker, earthier tones. With a little more time in the glass, dark, rich fruit begins to creep forward, bringing apricot and Honeycrisp apple alongside a beautiful vanilla buttercream frosting note. The transformation is subtle but unmistakable, and it’s one of the things that continues to impress me about this whiskey. There’s no obvious peat here, though, which has me wondering whether that elusive Scotch influence will become more apparent once this hits the palate.
Returning to the nose after a few sips reveals even more. A delicate floral note emerges before giving way to richer plum and fig, adding another layer of depth. Each time I come back to the glass, something has shifted slightly—and that's exactly the kind of evolution I want from a whiskey.
Palate: The first sip immediately brings forward the fruit I was beginning to find on the nose: apricot, vanilla, a squeeze of lemon, and honey, with a surprising little hit of coconut tucked underneath it all. There’s a slight saltiness, too, although it never becomes particularly dominant. Instead, it reminds me of a saltine cracker topped with an almost unreasonable amount of thick, fruity jelly. A subtle minty lemon note joins the party after another sip, cutting through some of the sweeter fruit and providing just enough freshness to keep everything balanced. After several sips and swirls, a soft maltiness settles across my tongue. There's something incredibly welcoming about it, like fluffing a pillow in the middle of the night. At this point, the whiskey is becoming less bourbon and rye and wildly more interesting with every sip. The Scotch influence isn't screaming from the glass, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. This is where the layers really begin to reveal themselves. As I approach my final sips, the sweeter fruit gives way to cinnamon and black pepper, alongside an entire platter of baked apple pie and peach jam.
TL;DR: A layered whiskey best paired with a curious and patient palate
Rating: 4/5
I admit—I absolutely had preconceived ideas about this blend and started my tasting looking for the Scotch influence. But the more time I spent with Lochs of Jura, the less interested I was in trying to decide whether this was bourbon, rye, or Scotch influenced whiskey. And when the whiskey in your glass transforms into an experience you won't soon forget, that's when you know you poured wisely.
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