Bardstown Bourbon Company has built its reputation on one simple idea: collaboration makes better whiskey. Their partnership programme pairs them with other producers and brands to create blended expressions that neither party could pull off alone. This release — a collaboration with West Virginia Great Barrel Company (WVGBC) — is a blended rye whiskey bottled at a punchy 55% ABV, and it's one of the more interesting bottles I've opened this month.
For those unfamiliar, WVGBC specialises in custom cooperage — they're barrel makers, not distillers. So what you're getting here is Bardstown's blending expertise applied to rye whiskey that's been matured in barrels crafted to a specific specification. That's a meaningful distinction. The barrel isn't just a vessel; it's an ingredient. Entry proof, char level, wood grain tightness — all of these choices made by the cooperage directly shape what ends up in your glass. At 55% ABV with no age statement, this is bottled at near cask strength, which tells me Bardstown wanted the barrel influence front and centre without the filter of heavy dilution.
Tasting Notes
I don't have a detailed breakdown of nose, palate, and finish to share on this one, so I'll speak to what you should expect from the style. A blended rye at this proof is going to deliver. Rye grain brings spice and structure — think dry, peppery, assertive — and at 55%, those characteristics won't be hiding behind anything. The WVGBC barrel collaboration suggests the cooperage element is doing heavy lifting here, so expect wood-driven complexity layered on top of that rye backbone. This is a whiskey that rewards patience. Give it air, add a few drops of water, and let it open up.
The Verdict
At £166, this isn't an impulse buy, and it shouldn't be. You're paying for Bardstown's blending programme, custom cooperage from WVGBC, and a cask-strength bottling that doesn't compromise on intensity. For a collaboration release at this proof, I think the price is fair — not a steal, but justified. What earns this an 8.1 from me is the concept and the execution of that concept. Bardstown consistently delivers collaboration bottles that taste like they were made with intention rather than assembled from leftover stock. The NAS designation doesn't bother me here; age statements matter less when the blending is this deliberate. This is a whiskey that knows what it wants to be, and it gets there. If you're a rye drinker who appreciates barrel-forward character and doesn't flinch at cask strength, this belongs on your shortlist.
Best Served
Pour this neat in a Glencairn and give it five minutes to breathe — at 55%, it needs the time. A few drops of water will open it up without flattening it. If you're feeling ambitious, this would make a spectacular Manhattan. That rye spice at cask strength can stand up to sweet vermouth without getting lost, and the barrel complexity should add real depth to the cocktail. Use a 2:1 ratio, a quality sweet vermouth like Cocchi di Torino, and a couple of dashes of Angostura. You'll thank me.
