Bardstown Bourbon Company in Bardstown, Kentucky, is extending it’s Distillery Reserve line in 2026 with the introduction of Cascadia Garryana Oak Barrel Finish. This Oregon white oak barrel finish release highlights an exceptionally scarce American hardwood known for imparting distinctive character like few others in American whiskey.
Garryana Oak (Quercus garryana) Cannot be Farmed or Cut
Garryana oak (Quercus garryana), also known as Oregon White Oak, is native to the Pacific Northwest and grows in the lush Willamette Valley. Prized for its strength and scarcity, its use in whiskey barrels remains a rare craft tradition. Garryana Oak cannot be farmed or cut at will, gathered only from fallen trees and sanctioned harvests. Its dense grain slows oxidation and evaporation and lends flavors like clove and nutmeg, closer to French Oak than American White Oak.
A Blend of Three Nine+ Year Old Bourbon Whiskies
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Distillery Reserve Cascadia begins with a blend of three exceptional bourbons – aged nine and 10 years – each featuring a different mashbill of corn, rye and malted barley. After the whiskey was blended, it was then rested for 10 months in 10 custom Garryana oak barrels handmade by Oregon Barrel Works, a micro-cooperage producing just 1,000 barrels per year. Unique to this release, these barrels feature a three-hour toast to unlock additional layers of spice and complexity found deep inside the red layer. They were then aged on the 6th floor of the warehouse in Bardstown over the course of the summer for maximum extraction. After aging, the liquid was gradually proofed over time for the blend to fully integrate in advance of bottling.
“It was a thrill to partner with Oregon Barrel Works, who truly operates from tree to barrel. The definition of hands-on artisan coopering,” said Dan Callaway, Master Blender, Bardstown Bourbon Company. “Its structure and chemistry create a flavor experience unlike any other—rich, spicy, and deeply expressive of its origin. This release is a celebration of craftsmanship and the beauty of regional terroir.”
Tasting Notes – The resulting whiskey is singular. Decadent maple layered on toasted oak, toffee, and vanilla créme leads to a full-bodied palate of baked cherry, cigar box, and butterscotch, finishing with medium tannins coated with rich wood sugar.
| % of Blend | State of Origin | Age | Mash Bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80% | Kentucky | 10 Years | 70% Corn 18% Rye 12% Malted Barley |
| 12% | Indiana | 10 Years | 75% Corn 21% Rye 4% Malted Barley |
| 8% | Kentucky | 9 Years | 74% Corn 18% Rye 8% Malted Barley |
Bardstown Bourbon’s Cascadia Garryana Oak Barrel Finish is bottled at 107.5 proof (53.75% ABV) and offered with a suggested retail price of $99.99 in the Distillery Reserve’s signature 375mL format. The Distillery Reserve is available in extremely limited quantities exclusively at Bardstown Bourbon’s distillery gift shop and its Tasting Room in Louisville.
Launched in 2025, the Distillery Reserve is a platform for small-scale innovation, offering one-time-only releases that explore the boundaries of whiskey through experimental finishes, extended aging, and uncommon blending. Prior releases include Cathedral French Oak, Hokkaido Mizunara Oak and Normandie Calvados Brandy Barrel.
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 Co. is working to push the entire industry in a direction that is more innovative, more transparent and more collaborative. Bardstown Bourbon Co. is part of Lofted Spirits, one of the largest American Whiskey distillers in the U.S.
Related Stories
– Bardstown Bourbon’s Latest ‘Distillery Reserve’ Bourbon Finished in 59 Gallon Normandie Calvados Brandy Barrels Nov 2025
– Bardstown Bourbon Releases ‘Cathedral French Oak’ Bourbon Aged in 300-Year-Old Oak Harvested to Restore Cathédrale Notre-Dame Feb 2025
Learn more about Bardstown Bourbon Company.
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Garry oak (Quercus garryana)
According to Washington State University, Garry oak (Quercus garryana), also frequently called Oregon white oak for its prominence one state to the south. Garry oak ranges as far north as southwestern British Columbia in Canada, where it is also the only native oak, and as far south as Los Angeles County in California. Mature trees can reach heights of 50-90 ft (15-27 m). Garry oaks can tolerate diverse climates, including flooding and drought conditions, and appear in both pure stands and mixed forest cover with conifers or other broadleaf species.
Garry oak is named after Nicholas Garry, who served as deputy governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) in the early to mid-1800s. Garry was not a botanist, but rather a merchant who embarked on naval expeditions to manage HBC trading outposts along the coast of western North America. One of these expeditions did include a botanist, David Douglas (1799-1834). Charged with making collections on behalf of the Royal Horticultural Society, Douglas cataloged and named dozens of species on this trip, and presumably coined Garry oak to honor the financier of his vessel.
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