Bardstown finishes whiskey with pineapple
Lofted Spirits’ Bardstown Bourbon Company has introduced a Kentucky-exclusive expression, finished in pineapple rum casks sourced from the Caribbean.
Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finished Whiskey is the first release from Bardstown Bourbon’s Finishing Series, evolving from the brand’s popular limited edition collaborations.
The whiskeys will be presented in new packaging featuring unique, custom artwork with each release.
The first release is named after the Victoria pineapple, a variety known for its sweet taste, fragrant aroma, and historical ties to premium rum production in Barbados.
The experimental ‘tropical’ whiskey combines Bourbon aged 10-11 years and 11-year-old rye. It is finished in rum barrels with oak staves and pineapple.
“The goal was never to make whiskey taste like pineapple,” said Dan Callaway, master blender at Lofted Spirits. “The goal was to understand what made these barrels so special in the first place. We followed that trail all the way back to the creation process and found our way to a whiskey with a bold, tropical fruit, surrounded by rye and allspice.”
The custom whiskey blend matured for 27 months before fresh pineapple was added to the barrels, mirroring the original rum’s creation process to reveal the developing tropical notes in the whiskey.
Bottled at 53% ABV, the expression offers aromas of bold tropical fruit, rye, spice, and allspice. On the palate, it displays notes of pineapple, cherry, toasted oak, vanilla crème, and toffee.
“Finishing with staves gave us the balance that helped integrate the pineapple character without losing the depth and complexity of the whiskey itself,” Callaway explained.
The label artwork for the release was created by Louisville artist Margaret Archambault. Her work will be unveiled along with this year’s national Discovery and Finishing releases later in the summer.
Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finished will be available from 24 July exclusively in Kentucky, including the Bardstown Bourbon Co distillery and Louisville Tasting Room.
It is limited to less than 350 nine-litre cases and retails for US$139.99 for a 750ml bottle.
Bardstown Bourbon Co is owned by Lofted Spirits, formed in March 2025. The company also manages Green River Distilling.
Earlier this year, Bardstown partnered with whisky maker Mars to launch a limited edition blend that combines Bourbon and Japanese single malts.
Related news
Penelope Bourbon makes official UK debut
