The 2026 limited edition of the Bardstown Collection is coming
I confess, I’m a lightweight when it comes to this rich juice. However, I do adore it.
Each bottle of the collection has a unique flavor profile and will only be available once.
Bardstown, Kentucky, opens up the bourbon experience quite nicely, and within a 16 mile radius, there are 11 distilleries that offer a taste of the good life.
I confess, that as I walked through the rick houses, sipped an Old Fashioned, listened to the master distillers debate recipes, and sip signature and special collections, I brought with me the years of teachings of a 1930 moonshiner whose edges were rough while his passion for brewing was honed. As one who came before these Bardstown distillers, the moonshiner defined excellence, even if it was located among trees and creek beds. Another confession: I compared their product to his.
At the end, the moonshiner would have been proud. In the bottles of Heaven Hill, Bardstown Bourbon, Preservation distillery + farm, Lux Row, Log Still, Limestone Branch Distillery, and Barton 1792 Distillery, I experienced liquid passion and pride. Not that I could taste the notes or profiles (again, a confession of a bourbon lover, not a bourbon expert), but I definitely understood the elements that encouraged me to take another sip.
And from these seven come the Bardstown Collection. It’s a one-of-a-kind bourbon series; distilleries have a hand-selected premium bourbon available only on-site.
This collaborative project further establishes this region as the Bourbon Capital of the World.
Bourbon is celebrated year-round, and one night will stand above the rest this year. On November 19, 2026, the Bardstown Collection returns during a highly anticipated Release Party that transforms the Bourbon Capital of the World into a hub of collaboration, craftsmanship, and community. Available exclusively in Bardstown, and now moving to a release cycle of every two years, the Collection is a moment to be savored.
First introduced in 2022, the Bardstown Collection unites some of the destination’s most respected distilleries in an inspiring show of collaboration over competition. Each partner contributes specially selected barrels and their own distinctive blending and aging philosophies. The result, a one-of-a-kind limited bourbon series that cannot be replicated and cannot be purchased anywhere else.
Following its transition to a bi-annual schedule after the 2024 release, the 2026 Collection represents the most intentional and elevated expression yet. The extended timeline allows master distillers to take a more deliberate approach to barrel selection, blending, and storytelling, ensuring that each release feels less like a product launch and more like an historic occasion.
The Bardstown Collection has always been about more than what’s in the bottle. Since its inception, the initiative has raised more than $360,000 to support scholarships, local initiatives, and community programs across Bardstown and Nelson County. Every bottle poured contributes directly to the place that made it possible.
Heaven Hill Distillery | The rickhouse on site at Heaven Hill. It’s a simple warehouse used for storing and aging bourbon. Barrels sit on the wooden ricks, usually multiple stories high. The weather, space and movement determines taste. Hundreds of barrels wait in the rickhouses for the right moment to be exposed to the light.
Bardstown Bourbon Company | Visit the history center at Bardstown and see some of the oldest bourbon bottles available.
Preservation distillery + farm | Bardstown first official craft bourbon operation and only pot still distillery. It specializes in small batch bourbon and unique releases.
Lux Row Distillers | Opened in 2018, Lux Row is the home of Ezra Brooks, Rebel, Blood Oath Bourbons and more. It is capable of producing 50,000 barrels annually.
Log Still Distillery | Built on a foundation of faith, family and community, Log Still unites three generations and is led by a female master distiller.
The 2026 release welcomes a new participating partner, Barton 1792 Distillery, further strengthening the spirit of unity that defines the Collection.
“The Bardstown Collection shows what’s possible when our distilling community comes together with a shared purpose,” said Ross Cornelissen, Master Distiller, Barton 1792 Distillery. “We’re honored to officially join and contribute to something that not only showcases exceptional bourbon but also gives back to the people and the community that make Bardstown so special.”
Unlike traditional limited releases, the Bardstown Collection is rooted in place. Bottles are sold on-site in Bardstown only, turning the purchase into a pilgrimage and the release party into a bucket-list event for collectors and connoisseurs.
“The Bardstown Collection represents what makes our bourbon community special,” said Stacey Phelps, president of Visit Bardstown. “It’s collaboration over competition and every bottle poured helps give back to the place we all call home.”
As anticipation builds, additional details (including bottle specifics, ticket information, and exclusive event programming) will be announced in the coming months. Stay tuned to bardstowncollection.com and visitbardstown.com.
