Bardstown Bourbon Company Pursues Tropical Character with Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey

The Kentucky-exclusive release was inspired by one of rum’s most distinctive maturation traditions

BARDSTOWN, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Of the hundreds of flavor compounds found in American Whiskey, few are more elusive than genuine tropical fruit. Bardstown Bourbon Company set out to explore whether those flavors could be achieved through patience, process, and barrel influence rather than shortcuts in its new Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey.

Exclusive to Kentucky, Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish is a marriage of mature bourbon and rye that pushes beyond traditional finishing techniques, creating a whiskey that is both delightfully unexpected and unmistakably authentic.

“The goal was never to make whiskey taste like pineapple,” said Dan Callaway, Master Blender, 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 release takes its name from the prized Victoria Pineapple, a variety celebrated for its intense sweetness, fragrant aroma and historic connection to premium rum production in Barbados. Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish begins with a custom blend of 10- and 11-year-old bourbons and 11-year-old rye married and matured in Caribbean-sourced pineapple rum casks.

The rum that previously occupied these casks has earned a devoted following among bartenders and spirits enthusiasts, due to its distinctive production process, in which prized Victoria pineapples are incorporated directly during maturation. Intrigued by the remarkable tropical character those casks produced, Bardstown Bourbon Company set out to honor the process, rather than simply use the barrels as finishing vessels.

Letting the custom whiskey blend mature for 27 months, fresh pineapple was added to the barrels, mirroring the process of the original rum’s creation to reveal the tropical notes already developing in the whiskey. The resulting spirit remains rooted in mature bourbon and rye while exploring flavors rarely found in American whiskey.

Bottled at 106 proof, Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey opens with bold tropical fruit, rye, spice and allspice. Pineapple, cherry and toasted oak create a rich, rounded palate that evolves into notes of vanilla crème and toffee. The experience is vibrant and layered while remaining firmly grounded in the structure and complexity of mature American whiskey.

“Finishing with staves gave us the balance that helped integrate the pineapple character without losing the depth and complexity of the whiskey itself,” added Callaway.

Continuing the brand’s commitment to creativity beyond the bottle, Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finished Whiskey is the first release from Bardstown Bourbon’s Finishing Series, the evolution of the brand’s sought-after limited-edition collaborations. Presented in new packaging that will feature new, custom art with each release, this year’s label artwork was created by Louisville artist Margaret Archambault, who translated the whiskey’s flavor profile into an original work of art. Margaret’s work will be revealed on this year’s national Discovery and Finishing releases later this summer.

Available in extremely limited quantities of fewer than 350 9L cases, Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey will be available exclusively in Kentucky – including the Bardstown Bourbon Co distillery and Louisville Tasting Room - beginning July 24, 2026 for a suggested retail price of $139.99.

ABOUT BARDSTOWN BOURBON COMPANY

Bardstown Bourbon Company is pushing the boundaries of innovation while honoring the traditional art of making great whiskey. With the most modern, technically advanced whiskey distillery, Bardstown Bourbon combines the highest quality distillation and spirited hospitality into a modern, authentic bourbon experience unlike any other on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail™. Bardstown Bourbon Company is working to push the entire industry in a direction that is more innovative, more transparent and more collaborative. Bardstown Bourbon was named Icons of Whisky Global Brand Innovator of the Year (2025), the highest-rated American Whiskey by Whisky Advocate (2024), and Worldwide Whisky Producer of the Year by IWSC (2023). For more information visit BardstownBourbon.com.

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