Bardstown ages Bourbon in Notre Dame oak

The inaugural Distillery Reserve release from Bardstown Bourbon Company was finished in barrels made from the same French oak used to restore Notre Dame Cathedral.

Bardstown Bourbon Company will feature small-scale innovations through a new collection available only at its distillery gift shops in Bardstown and Louisville. Distillery Reserve releases will range from two to nine barrel blends that explore flavour through wood, ageing, finishing, and blending techniques.

“The core of our brand has always been innovation, transparency and collaboration, but these values mean little without respecting and building on the foundation of tradition,” said Dan Callaway, head of product development. “Distillery Reserve expresses that reverent, yet pioneering spirit, offering us a platform to showcase immense creativity and house some of the experiments tucked throughout our warehouses.”

The inaugural release is named Cathedral French Oak, a blend of Kentucky Bourbons ranging in age from nine to 18 years, which were then married and finished for 14 months in barrels made of 300-year-old French oak from the Bercé Forest in the Loire Valley. The plot of trees was planted around 1715 during the reign of Louis XIV. It was harvested to restore the Notre Dame Cathedral following the fire of 2019.

“These truly singular barrels brought tremendous character to the Bourbon. The key was to integrate the commanding barrel flavor with a powerful blend of long-aged Bourbons to achieve the balance that lets each part shine,” Callaway said. “This exquisite whiskey is a most devout showcase of the cultural legacy of France married to the pioneering spirit of American whiskey.”

Cathedral French Oak is bottled at 55.05% ABV and priced at US$100 for a 375ml bottle. The whiskey shows notes of maple, baked cherry, cinnamon, vanilla cream, rose petal, and toasted oak.

The blend is made up of 45% 14-year-old whisky, 37.5% 18-year-old, 10% 11-year-old, 5% nine-year-old, and 2.5% 17-year-old.