Bardstown Bourbon Lochs of Jura Scores 99 Points After 32-Month Scotch Cask Finish

Bardstown Bourbon Company tells BourbonBlog.com they are connecting mature American whiskey with casks from one of Scotland’s most remote whisky-producing islands for the new Bardstown Bourbon Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish Whiskey.

The Jura connection is also personal for BourbonBlog.com: Tom Fischer has filmed with Richard Paterson OBE, the legendary Whyte & Mackay master blender whose long career included helping shape Jura’s single malt range.

The limited release combines 10- to 12-year-old bourbon and rye whiskeys before an additional 32 months of maturation in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks previously used to mature single malt Scotch whisky on Scotland’s Isle of Jura.

Bottled at 104 proof, Lochs of Jura has already earned 99 points at the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition’s North American judging. It will be released nationwide in limited quantities beginning August 21, 2026, with a suggested retail price of $139.99.

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What Makes Lochs of Jura Unique

The most important number behind Lochs of Jura may not be its proof or even its 99-point score. It is the extraordinary 32-month finishing period.

Many barrel-finished whiskeys spend only a few months inside their secondary casks. Bardstown Bourbon Company gave this blend nearly three additional years in barrels from Jura. That is long enough for the finishing period to become a genuine second stage of maturation rather than merely a final accent.

The underlying blend is equally ambitious: an 11-year Indiana bourbon, a 10-year Indiana rye and a 12-year Kentucky bourbon. The combination gives Bardstown a mature American whiskey foundation capable of handling extended exposure to casks that previously held single malt Scotch whisky.

We are especially interested in how the ex-sherry casks interact with the rye component. That combination could produce a much different result from the sweeter bourbon-only finishes more commonly found in the American whiskey category.

How Bardstown Bourbon Lochs of Jura Was Made

Lochs of Jura begins with a bespoke blend composed of:

• 49% 11-year-old Indiana bourbon
• 30% 10-year-old Indiana rye
• 21% 12-year-old Kentucky bourbon

The completed blend was transferred into casks sourced from Scotland’s Isle of Jura. Those barrels had previously been used in the maturation of single malt Scotch whisky.

The finishing program consisted of 84% ex-bourbon casks and 16% ex-sherry casks. Bardstown then allowed the whiskey to mature inside those barrels for an additional 32 months.

Some of the 59-gallon sherry casks were too large to fit inside the distillery’s traditional warehouse ricks. According to Bardstown Bourbon Company, the team stored those barrels in warehouse aisles throughout the extended finishing period.

Dan Callaway, Master Blender for Lofted Spirits, says the project began by asking what distinctive character the Jura casks could contribute over time.

“Lochs of Jura asked what unique character these remarkable casks could contribute over time.”

Why the 32-Month Scotch Cask Finish Matters

Ex-bourbon barrels are commonly used to age Scotch whisky, but this release reverses that familiar journey. Barrels that traveled from America to Scotland and matured single malt whisky were returned to the United States to finish a blend of American bourbon and rye.

The 32-month period gave the casks time to impart more than surface-level sweetness. Bardstown says the barrels contributed ripe fruit, soft malt, subtle smoke and maritime character while preserving the caramel, spice and oak at the center of the mature American whiskey blend.

Lochs of Jura Earns 99 Points at IWSC

Before its national release, Lochs of Jura earned 99 points and a Gold Outstanding medal at the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition’s North American judging.

The score made Lochs of Jura the highest-scoring spirit evaluated during that portion of the competition and placed it among the most highly rated releases in Bardstown Bourbon Company’s history.

Official Lochs of Jura Tasting Notes

Bardstown Bourbon Company describes an opening of vanilla crème, blackberry compote and mint surrounded by toasted oak and cigar box.

Fresh spearmint, caramel and light cinnamon spice develop across the palate. Fruit-forward sherry notes are said to round out the whiskey’s complex finish.

New Artwork for the Lochs of Jura Bottle

Lochs of Jura also introduces original commissioned artwork from Louisville artist Margaret Archambault.

Archambault created the painting after experiencing the whiskey and translating its aroma, flavor, texture and personality into a visual work. The resulting artwork appears on the bottle and packaging.