Blood Oath Pact 12 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Montepulciano and Sangiovese Casks

Lux Row Distillers has announced the latest release from Master Distiller John Rempe: Blood Oath Pact 12. This edition features a double Italian wine cask finish. Read on for the full release details!

Press Release – Blood Oath Pact 12

The latest offering from master distiller John Rempe, Blood Oath Pact 12, features Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Montepulciano and Sangiovese casks

ST. LOUIS, March 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lux Row master distiller John Rempe continues his annual pact with bourbon drinkers with the release of Blood Oath Pact 12 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Montepulciano and Sangiovese Casks. Blood Oath Pact 12 is available for in-person purchase at Lux Row Distillers starting Saturday, April 25 while supplies last. A limited supply of 17,000 (3-pack) cases will arrive at retail in June at a minimum suggested retail price of $129.99 per 750mL bottle. As with all of Rempe’s pacts, Blood Oath Pact 12 is offered at 98.6 proof (49.3% ABV).

Double Italian Wine Cask Finish

Blood Oath Pact 12 features a combination of the finest ryed bourbons Rempe could find, including a blend of 9-year ryed and 12-year ryed bourbons, as well as a 7-year ryed bourbon finished first in Montepulciano casks then in Sangiovese casks. Montepulciano, a fruit-forward dry red wine from the Abruzzo region of Italy, infuses the bourbon with deep notes of ripe black cherry, leather, and spiced cocoa. Sangiovese is a savory dry Italian red wine primarily from the Tuscany region that elevates the nose with ripe red fruit, dried herbs, and a hint of sun-kissed tomato leaves. The combination of the two casks makes Blood Oath Pact 12 an unforgettable pour.

Like with previous pacts, Rempe promises to craft the best bourbon possible, while never disclosing the origin of the bourbons used to create Blood Oath Pact 12.

“I’m a fan of Italian wines’ flavor profiles and complexities, and I’m proud I was able to find the perfect combination for my first double Italian wine cask finish. Although I won’t share the recipe, I can tell you the complexity and nuances that the Montepulciano and Sangiovese casks have brought to this year’s Blood Oath Pact are next level,” said Rempe.

Blood Oath Pact 12 Tasting Profile From The Brand

“Pact 12 opens with notes of stone fruit and caramel, balanced with a hint of vanilla. Then cocoa, leather and oak develop over the mid-palate, leading to a pleasant spice and black cherry finish. It’s a stellar pour and I can’t wait to share it.”


Please help support this website at my page on Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you!


Packaging and Trilogy History

Lux Row only releases one new Blood Oath Pact annually, and each limited edition features a distinctive label on an embossed glass bottle. This year, to give a nod to the two red Italian wines, the Pact 12 label is burgundy-colored with golden highlights. And like its predecessors, each bottle of Blood Oath Pact 12 comes in a commemorative fire-branded wooden display box.

The official launch of Blood Oath Pact 12 will include a total allocation of 51,000 bottles, 1,400 of which will be held for a future Trilogy release. The first Trilogy featuring Pacts 1, 2 and 3, was released in 2018; the second Trilogy featuring Pacts 4, 5 and 6, was released in September 2021 in conjunction with National Bourbon Heritage Month; and the third Blood Oath Trilogy, featuring Pacts 7, 8 and 9, was offered in 2023.

For more information or to find a bottle, visit LuxRowDistillers.com.


Will you be picking up a bottle of Blood Oath Pact 12? Next read these related articles: Blood Oath Pact 10 Review and Blood Oath Pact 11 Bourbon Finished in Añejo Tequila Barrels Launches April 2025.

Bourbon Obsessed Logo items ad - Blonde wearing bourbon obsessed shirt, fanny pack and hat v3.0

Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!

Sign up to receive our newsletter!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Get our free bourbon, distillery and new releases news every week!

We don’t spam! You can unsubscribe at any time.

About the author: Ed Escott is truly "Bourbon Obsessed". He is the founder of Bourbon Obsessed, LLC, and an Executive Bourbon Steward of the Stave and Thief Society. In addition, he has authored and edited over 600 bourbon and other whiskey reviews, over 50 in-depth distillery write-ups, and many other related articles. He is on the board of the Kentucky Bourbon Influencers and a member of the Lexington Bourbon Society and the Bourbon Capital Guild. Last, but not least, Ed has attended many bourbon-related educational sessions, visited countless distilleries, and is on a never-ending quest to try every bourbon.

Prior to focusing solely on Bourbon Obsessed, Ed practiced in academic medicine for three decades. He most recently was a Professor at the University of Kentucky and served as Chief of the Division of Neuroradiology and Vice Chair For Faculty Mentoring, Development & Wellness of the Department of Radiology. He has extensive editorial experience in academic medical publication, and brings that same academic mindset to Bourbon Obsessed, which is a unique approach for a spirit-focused media company.

Ed can be found on social media on Instagram at @bourbon_obsessed and on Facebook at @BourbonObsessed

If you find our website, newsletters and social media posts valuable and would like to help support our work, please consider buying me a cup of coffee. We would greatly appreciate it!