Bardstown Bourbon Company has made a habit of living at the intersection of Kentucky tradition and global experimentation. On August 29, the distillery will debut two limited-edition whiskeys—Discovery #13 and Ferrand II—that once again challenge the boundaries of American whiskey making. Both releases arrive just in time for Bourbon Heritage Month, with early pours available at the brand’s Bardstown homeplace and Louisville tasting room before rolling out nationwide.
Bardstown Discovery #13: The First Double-Barreled Release
The Discovery Series has always been Bardstown’s playground, a space where Kentucky Straight Bourbon gets pushed into unexpected territories. But Discovery #13 takes things a step further—it’s the series’ first double-barreled expression.
The foundation is familiar: Kentucky Bourbons aged between 8 and 15 years blended into a base of caramel, vanilla, and dried fruit. But then comes the twist. Sixty percent of the blend rested in new American White Oak barrels, while the other forty percent was placed in premium Hungarian Oak. Each wood brings its own accent. American oak leans classic—vanilla, brown sugar, that warm blanket of bourbon sweetness—while Hungarian oak contributes rarer flavors: baking spice, mocha, coffee grounds, even the faintest trace of campfire smoke.
After four months, the two paths converge. The result is a whiskey bottled at 110.8 proof that feels both familiar and slightly uncanny, like Kentucky bourbon seen through a Central European lens. “Double-barreling whiskey of significant age is a challenge we were excited to take on,” said Master Blender Dan Callaway. “It shows how innovation and tradition can come together to produce something truly rare.”
Bardstown Ferrand II: Bourbon Meets Cognac, Again
If Discovery #13 is about oak, the second release is about friendship. Ferrand II continues Bardstown’s collaboration with Maison Ferrand in Cognac, France, following the duo’s award-winning 2022 bottling. This time, the blend incorporates both Kentucky Bourbon and Rye before being finished for 15 months in Ferrand Cognac casks shipped directly from France.
The rye component sharpens the edges, adding structure and spice to the bourbon’s richness. On the nose, there’s black cherry, vanilla cream, and toasted oak; on the palate, baked apple, raisin, and pecan glide into a finish that balances bourbon depth with cognac elegance. Bottled at 107 proof, Ferrand II has already earned Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, a validation of the partnership’s creative alchemy.
Alexandre Gabriel, Master Blender at Maison Ferrand, put it simply: “The beauty of this partnership is in the meeting of two worlds. We share our traditions, learn from each other, and push the boundaries of what’s possible.”
Availability and Price
Both Bardstown Discovery #13 and Ferrand II will be available nationwide in limited quantities beginning August 29, each with a suggested retail price of $139.99. They will also feature prominently at this year’s Kentucky Bourbon Festival, underscoring Bardstown Bourbon Company’s role as one of the most innovative distilleries in modern American whiskey.
For more information, head over to the brand’s official website.
In July, Bardstown launched the Hokkaido Japanese Mizunara Oak Barrel Finish.
