Bardstown Bourbon Company Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey Review

Bardstown Bourbon Company
Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey
Blend of Straight Whiskeys
Finished in Rum Barrels with Oak Staves and Pineapple
106 Proof
SRP: $139.99 / 750ml
Review

Please enjoy my Bardstown Bourbon Company Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey Review!

Bardstown Bourbon Company Introduces Victoria Pineapple

Bardstown Bourbon Company released Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey as the first expression in its Finishing Series, an evolution of the brand’s limited-edition collaborations. The Kentucky-exclusive whiskey was released on July 24, 2026, in fewer than 350 9L cases.

Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish combines 10- and 11-year-old Indiana bourbons with 11-year-old Indiana rye. The blend was finished for 27 months in Caribbean-sourced pineapple rum casks. This rum is unique, as Victoria pineapples are incorporated directly into it during maturation. As with the rum that originally aged in these barrels, fresh pineapple was also added to the barrels of finishing whiskey. Toasted oak staves were then added at the end of the finishing period.

Details – Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey Review

• Producer: Bardstown Bourbon Company
• Expression: Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey
• Type: Blend of Straight Whiskeys Finished in Rum Barrels with Oak Staves and Pineapple
• Blend: 40% 11-year-old Indiana bourbon, 40% 10-year-old Indiana bourbon and 20% 11-year-old Indiana rye
  • 11-Year Bourbon Mash Bill: 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley
  • 10-Year Bourbon Mash Bill: 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley
  • 11-Year Rye Mash Bill: 95% rye and 5% malted barley
• Finishing Casks: Caribbean-sourced pineapple rum casks
• Finishing Time: 27 months
• Additional Finishing: Fresh pineapple was added to the barrels, and toasted oak staves were added at the end of the finishing period to help cut and balance the sweetness
• Proof: 106
• ABV: 53%
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Release Size: Fewer than 350 9L cases
• Availability: Kentucky only, including the Bardstown Bourbon Company distillery and Louisville Tasting Room
• Release Date: July 24, 2026
• SRP: $139.99 / 750ml

Tasting Notes — Bardstown Bourbon Company Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested: 15 minutes in a Glencairn glass

👉🏻 Nose: Mildly sweet; rye spices, caramel, subtle pineapple, a touch of oak and tart orange peel; subtle hot cinnamon later on; alcohol vapor appropriate for the proof
👉🏻 Taste: Quite sweet, sugary and syrupy; subtle rum, light oak, sweet pineapple and tart citrus
👉🏻 Finish: Syrupy, sugary sweetness, along with sweet pineapple; mild to moderate hot cinnamon and white pepper spice; drier at the end, with mild dry wood, but lingering sweetness; moderately long

From a Subtle Nose to Pronounced Pineapple Sweetness

The nose is mildly sweet, with a mix of bourbon and rye flavors such as rye spices, tart orange citrus, caramel and mild oak. There is only a hint of sweet pineapple. After a couple of sips, hot cinnamon appears.

However, on the palate, there is fairly pronounced sugary, syrupy sweetness combined with subtle rum flavors, hints of oak and mild sweet pineapple. There is also a bit of tart citrus, but not enough to offset the pronounced sweetness.

Heading into the finish, the syrupy sweetness continues, along with sweet pineapple. As time goes on, the mouthfeel becomes somewhat drier, and a bit of white pepper and hot cinnamon spice provides some degree of cleansing from the sweetness. In the end, I am left with mild dry wood, lingering syrupy sweetness and sweet, almost candied pineapple.

Why Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey Tastes The Way It Does

After going down the rabbit hole of Victoria pineapples (also known as Baby Queen Victoria pineapples, Baby South African pineapples and other related names), I can better understand the flavors of this whiskey. Victoria pineapples primarily grow in the volcanic and coastal soils of Réunion Island, Mauritius and the coastal regions of South Africa. They are smaller than “regular” pineapples and very sweet, with low acidity. (Source: SpecialtyProduce.com, Planterayrum.com, arrangeblard.com)

Given that this whiskey was not only finished in barrels that contained rum made with these pineapples, but also had fresh pineapple added to it, with a finishing time of more than two years, the pronounced sweetness is completely expected. The toasted oak staves added at the end of the finishing period were intended to cut and balance that marked sweetness somewhat.

A Whiskey For Those Who Like Things Sweet

If you have followed me for any length of time, you know that I am a huge fan of Bardstown Bourbon Company. I own virtually everything they have ever made. However, this one is just not to my taste. I am not a fan of sweet drinks, and this is overwhelmingly syrupy sweet to me on the palate, with the base whiskey flavors largely lost, other than in the nose.

However, I know that many people like sweet drinks, and if you are one of those people, this is one you may want to try. Have you tried the Bardstown Bourbon Company Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

I hope you have enjoyed my Bardstown Bourbon Company Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey Review! Next, read these related articles: Bardstown Bourbon Company Normandie Calvados Brandy Barrel Finish Bourbon Review, Bardstown Bourbon Company Amrut Collaborative Series Review and Bardstown Bourbon Company Hokkaido Mizunara Oak Review.

Note: This sample was graciously provided by the Brand for my review. I appreciate it!

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