The Bourbon Enthusiast’s Ultimate Experience: Your Own Barrel from Bardstown
Bardstown, Kentucky calls itself the Bourbon Capital of the World, and the competition for that title is fierce. What separates Bardstown Bourbon Company from the field is not just the whiskey. It is the philosophy. Founded in 2014 on 100 acres of active Kentucky farmland, Bardstown Bourbon Company became a top ten distiller by volume in the United States in under a decade, was named 2023 Worldwide Whiskey Producer of the Year by the International Wine and Spirits Competition, and produces what has been called the highest rated bourbon in the world. They also offer serious bourbon enthusiasts something almost nobody else does: the opportunity to own an entire barrel of it.
In This Article
Who Is Bardstown Bourbon Company
Bardstown Bourbon Company opened in 2014 on 100 acres of active farmland adjacent to the Bluegrass Parkway, at the gateway to Bardstown, Kentucky. The distillery was built from the ground up as a modern, technically advanced facility designed to produce bourbon at the highest possible quality standard while embracing a level of transparency that the bourbon industry has historically avoided.
The man behind the whiskey is Steve Nally, a 40-year veteran of the spirits industry and the former Master Distiller of Maker’s Mark. Nally brought both the technical expertise and the philosophical commitment to quality that define the Bardstown Bourbon Company house style. Under his leadership, the distillery became a top ten distiller by volume in the United States in under a decade and earned the 2023 Worldwide Whiskey Producer of the Year designation from the International Wine and Spirits Competition.
The highest rated bourbon in the world comes from this distillery. That is not a marketing line. It is a credential earned through consistent quality from a team that understands what the best bourbon in America should taste like, because they helped define it at one of the most storied distilleries in the country before building this one.
The Single Barrel Program: What It Is and How It Works
The Bardstown Bourbon Company Single Barrel Program is exactly what serious bourbon enthusiasts have always wanted: the opportunity to select a specific barrel of aged, high-quality Kentucky bourbon, bottle it at barrel strength, and take ownership of the result. It is the most direct relationship a whiskey drinker can have with the product short of distilling it themselves.
The process begins with a visit to the distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. This is not optional and it is not a formality. The barrel selection experience is led by a dedicated Single Barrel Ambassador who guides the buyer through available expressions, explains the characteristics of each barrel under consideration, and facilitates the kind of tasting and evaluation that makes the final selection genuinely meaningful.
Once a barrel is selected, it is bottled on site at Bardstown Bourbon Company. The buyer can choose to ship the product to market or pick it up directly from the distillery. Every bottle from the selected barrel carries the character of that specific barrel alone: the proof, the age, the flavor profile, and the unique qualities that distinguish one barrel from the barrel next to it in the warehouse. No blending, no adjustment. Barrel strength, unfiltered, and entirely the buyer’s.
The Single Barrel Experience at a Glance
Step 1: Visit Bardstown Bourbon Company at 100 Barrels Way, Bardstown, Kentucky.
Step 2: Work with a dedicated Single Barrel Ambassador to evaluate available barrels across your chosen expression.
Step 3: Select your barrel based on tasting and the Ambassador’s guidance.
Step 4: The barrel is bottled on site at barrel strength, unfiltered.
Step 5: Ship to market or pick up at the distillery.
Availability: Highly limited. Express interest early at bardstownbourbon.com.
The Three Expressions Available in 2026
The Single Barrel Program launched with two expressions and added a third in 2026. Each one reflects a different dimension of what Bardstown Bourbon Company does well.
Why Bardstown Bourbon Company Matters
The Single Barrel Program is the most consumer-facing expression of what Bardstown Bourbon Company is building, but the distillery’s broader ambitions tell a larger story. Bardstown Bourbon Company is also one of the leading contract distillation operations in America, producing whiskey for other brands under its Collaborative Distilling Program. This approach positions the distillery as a transparent and celebrated source rather than a hidden one.
In December 2024, Bardstown Bourbon Company and Brindiamo, the global leader in sourcing bulk whiskey, announced an exclusive barrel leasing program for contract distillation customers. This B2B program, initially limited to 25,000 barrels annually, reflects the kind of systematic thinking about the bourbon ecosystem that sets Bardstown Bourbon Company apart from most distilleries. They are building infrastructure, not just making whiskey.
The picture that emerges is of a distillery that thinks about the entire bourbon supply chain: the brands that need a production partner, the enthusiasts who want the most direct possible relationship with a barrel of great Kentucky bourbon, and the long-term investment in quality and capacity that both require. The Single Barrel Program sits at the most personal end of that chain.
Bardstown Bourbon Company at a Glance
Founded: 2014
Location: 100 Barrels Way, Bardstown, Kentucky
Acreage: 100 acres of active farmland
Master Distiller: Steve Nally, 40-year veteran, former Master Distiller of Maker’s Mark
Production ranking: Top ten distiller by volume in the United States
Award: 2023 Worldwide Whiskey Producer of the Year, IWSC
Single Barrel expressions: Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Kentucky Straight Rye, Wheated Bourbon (new 2026)
Minimum age: Six years
Bottling: Barrel strength, on site
Website: bardstownbourbon.com
The CrushBrew Take
The Bardstown Bourbon Company Single Barrel Program is not for everyone, and it does not try to be. It is for the bourbon enthusiast who wants the most direct, most personal, most complete relationship with a barrel of genuinely great Kentucky whiskey. The distillery’s credentials are beyond question. The Master Distiller’s track record is exceptional. The three expressions available in 2026 cover the full range of serious bourbon preference from rye-forward to wheated.
And the experience of selecting your own barrel at the distillery, in Bardstown, the Bourbon Capital of the World, is one that no retail purchase can replicate. This is the kind of story you tell for years. It is the kind of bottle that means something.
If this is on your list, move quickly. The program is highly limited in quantity and the addition of the Wheated Bourbon expression in 2026 has expanded the audience of serious buyers. Express interest at bardstownbourbon.com and plan the trip to Kentucky. The bourbon will be worth it. 🥃
For Businesses and Brands
The Single Barrel Program is not limited to individual buyers. Hospitality groups, restaurants, country clubs, corporate gift programs, and marketing teams have used the program to bottle co-branded expressions under a custom label alongside the Bardstown Bourbon Company name.
A barrel of bourbon with your brand on the label is a client gift, an event centerpiece, or a loyalty reward that no catalog vendor can replicate. The story of selecting the barrel, the visit to Bardstown, the barrel number and proof printed on every bottle: that is the kind of detail that gets remembered.
Contact the Bardstown Bourbon Company Single Barrel team at bardstownbourbon.com to discuss availability, label options, and minimum quantities. Availability is limited and the conversation is worth starting early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone buy a single barrel from Bardstown Bourbon Company?
The Single Barrel Program is open to individuals and businesses who express interest through the distillery’s website. The program is highly limited in quantity, which means availability is not guaranteed. The experience requires a visit to the distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky for the barrel selection process. Express interest early at bardstownbourbon.com and the distillery’s Single Barrel Ambassador will guide you through the process and timeline.
What does barrel strength mean and why does it matter?
Barrel strength means the whiskey is bottled at the exact proof it comes out of the barrel, without the addition of water to reduce the alcohol content. Most commercial bourbons are diluted to a standard bottling proof of 80 to 100. Barrel strength bourbon is typically between 110 and 140 proof depending on how long it has aged. The result is a more concentrated, intense expression of the bourbon’s character. Many serious bourbon drinkers prefer barrel strength because it lets them control dilution themselves, adding water or ice to their preference rather than having the distillery make that decision for them.
What is the difference between the bourbon and the wheated bourbon expressions?
The standard Kentucky Straight Bourbon uses a traditional high-rye mash bill, which produces a spicier, drier, more assertive flavor profile. The Wheated Bourbon, new in 2026, replaces the rye in the mash bill with wheat, producing a softer, rounder, sweeter character. Wheated bourbons are associated with producers like Maker’s Mark, W.L. Weller, and the Van Winkle family expressions. If you prefer a sweeter, more approachable bourbon, the Wheated expression is the one to request. If you prefer spice and structure, the standard bourbon or the rye are the better choices.
Is Bardstown Bourbon Company worth visiting as a destination?
Yes, and the Single Barrel Program gives serious bourbon enthusiasts a reason to make it a priority. Bardstown sits at the heart of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and within easy driving distance of multiple other major distilleries including Heaven Hill, Willett, and Maker’s Mark. A weekend in Bardstown anchored by a single barrel selection at Bardstown Bourbon Company is one of the great bourbon travel experiences available in America. The distillery’s restaurant and visitor experience are consistently cited among the best on the entire Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Sources
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Single Barrel Program, bardstownbourbon.com, 2026
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Unveils Bold Packaging Redesign, Nombase, January 2026
- Bardstown Bourbon Company and Brindiamo Barrel Leasing Program, Breaking Bourbon, December 2024
- Bardstown Bourbon Company and Brindiamo Press Release, Business Wire, December 2024
