Sips & Sites & Bites

Bardstown Bourbon Company has never been shy about pushing the edges of what whiskey can be. If there’s a boundary to blur, or a rulebook to politely toss out the window, you can bet they’re already halfway through the experiment.

Their newest Distillery Reserve release, Normandie Calvados Brandy Barrel Finish, might just be the most intriguing expression yet, blending French history with Kentucky curiosity.

From Normandy Orchards to Kentucky Rickhouses

The story behind this release is a fun one. Calvados, the iconic cider-based eau-de-vie from Normandy, was once literally prohibited by the French Minister of State, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, who aimed to protect the wine brandy industry centuries ago. But whiskey has always been a bit of a rebel, and Bardstown Bourbon found a way to bring this old-world spirit into new-world territory.

They sourced five 59-gallon Calvados casks from Christian Drouin House, a three-generation Calvados producer boasting nearly 300 gold medals. Master Blender Dan Callaway calls these barrels “the apple of my eye,” and honestly, after hearing what went into them, it makes sense.

A Two-Year Dialogue Between Bourbon and Brandy

Inside each Calvados cask went a custom bourbon blend aged 12 to 13 years … already impressive on its own. But Bardstown being Bardstown, they let it rest for 28 months, absorbing orchard-rich nuances before transferring it into new medium-toast American oak for a final nudge of caramel, spice, and roasted almond.

The result? A flavor story that somehow balances crisp apples, velvety bourbon sweetness, gentle smoke, and a soft vanilla glow. It’s the kind of pour that feels both classic and unexpected, like a bourbon that studied abroad and came home with a bit of French swagger.

The Final Chapter of the 2025 Distillery Reserve

Normandie Calvados Brandy Barrel Finish is the third and final entry in Bardstown Bourbon’s 2025 Distillery Reserve series, a lineup that has been nothing short of showstopping:

• Cathedral French Oak, the 300-year-old oak project that even landed a spotlight on 60 Minutes
• Hokkaido Mizunara Oak, which scooped Best Bourbon in both Rolling Stone and Esquire’s 2025 Spirit Awards

This closing chapter feels like a perfect finale … experimental, elegant, and rooted in the bourbon world’s global evolution.

Proof, Price, and Availability

This release comes in at a sturdy 104.2 proof (52.1% ABV) and, like all Distillery Reserve bottles, is available in a 375mL format for $99.99. Quantities are extremely limited, and bottles will hit Bardstown Bourbon’s distillery gift shop and their Louisville Tasting Room starting Nov. 28th.

If you’re the lucky type, or at least willing to test your luck, Bardstown Bourbon is also hosting a digital raffle for the chance to purchase all three 2025 Distillery Reserve expressions as a set. A few winners will even enjoy a tasting with Master Blender Dan Callaway himself. Details will go out exclusively to the brand’s email list, so consider this your cue to hop onto BardstownBourbon.com and sign up.

A Whiskey for the Curious

Normandie Calvados Brandy Barrel Finish is more than another limited-edition bottle, it’s a peek into what happens when Kentucky bourbon makers bring the world into their rickhouses. It’s daring, it’s thoughtful, and it tastes like nothing else on the shelf.

For the whiskey fan who appreciates craftsmanship with a bit of wanderlust, this one’s worth the chase.