Bardstown Bourbon Co. Cascadia Garryana Oak Finish

Bardstown Bourbon Co. Cascadia Garryana Oak Finish

Explore the frontier of artisanal wood finishing with Bardstown Bourbon Co. Distillery Reserve: Cascadia Garryana Oak Barrel Finish. Released as part of Bardstown Bourbon Company’s ultra-exclusive, highly collectible Distillery Reserve series, this expression showcases a bold collision between aged Kentucky and Indiana straight bourbons and rare Pacific Northwest oak.

Available now at World of Whiskey Shop, this Distillery Reserve bottling begins with an expertly curated blend of 9- and 10-year-old straight bourbon whiskies. The blended bourbon is then rested for 10 months in just 10 custom barrels hand-crafted from rare Oregon Garryana oak (Quercus garryana) by Oregon Barrel Works. Given a specialized three-hour toast to penetrate deep into the red layer of the wood, these dense Garryana oak casks impart distinct savory, spicy, and dark wood characteristics reminiscent of fine French oak. Aged on the 6th floor of Bardstown’s rickhouses over the hot summer months, the liquid absorbs rich wood sugars before being gradually proofed down and bottled at 107.5 Proof (53.75% ABV).

In the glass, it presents a dark chestnut-copper hue with rich, slow-climbing legs. The nose opens with a fragrant, dessert-like bouquet of freshly baked coffee cake, cinnamon crumb topping, brown butter, and dark caramel, underlaid by vanilla extract and toasted oak. On the palate, a structured, full-bodied mouthfeel unleashes expressive notes of pipe tobacco, cassia cinnamon, and dark chocolate-covered raspberries, accompanied by candied ginger, citrus zest, and cigar box spices. The finish is long, dry, and complex, slowly fading with lingering echoes of pipe tobacco, dark cocoa, toasted coconut, and sweet wood sugars.