Bardstown Bourbon Co. Founders KBS Collaboration Bourbon 750ML

Bardstown Bourbon Co. Founders KBS Collaboration Bourbon 750ML is a 110-proof, 10-year-old Tennessee bourbon finished in Founders Brewing Co. Kentucky Breakfast Stout barrels (750ml, 55% ABV). Bardstown Bourbon Company — named Distiller of the Year at the World Whiskies Awards America 2025 — merges the worlds of barrel-aged stout and straight bourbon in a release that has drawn serious attention from the whiskey community.

Quick Facts: ABV: 55% (110 proof)  |  Origin: Bardstown, Kentucky  |  10-Year, Stout Barrel Finished  |  Distillery: Bardstown Bourbon Company

Production & Heritage

Bardstown Bourbon Company, founded in 2014 in the heart of Kentucky's bourbon country, has built its reputation around collaborative finished bourbons. For this release, the distillery sourced a 10-year-old Tennessee bourbon distilled from a mashbill of 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley, then finished it for 15 months in barrels that previously held Founders Brewing Co.'s legendary KBS — Kentucky Breakfast Stout, one of America's most acclaimed barrel-aged imperial stouts. The stout barrels impart layers of roasted malt and chocolate character that no standard aging program can replicate, setting this expression apart from other finished bourbons on the market.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich cocoa and roasted malt dominate the nose, followed by bright orange peel and undercurrents of sweet corn grain and musty cedar. There is a distinct stout-barrel influence that recalls freshly ground coffee beans and dried fruit.

Taste: The palate opens with dark chocolate and hazelnut, moving quickly into ripe black cherry and baking spice at mid-palate. At full proof, the 110-proof backbone carries the sweetness without cloying, and oak tannins provide structure through the peak.

Finish: Warm and lingering, the finish revisits cocoa and cedar with a fading hint of dark fruit. The stout barrel's roasted malt character persists as a final savory layer that anchors the entire experience.

How to Drink the Founders KBS Collaboration

Neat with a few drops of water is the ideal approach — water opens up the chocolate and fruit notes while tempering the 110-proof heat. A large ice cube also works well, gradually shifting the flavor profile toward creamier, sweeter territory.

• Boulevardier: The dark chocolate and roasted malt stand up beautifully against Campari's bitterness and sweet vermouth's herbal edge.
• Old Fashioned: A single sugar cube and orange peel amplify the bourbon's existing cocoa and citrus notes without masking the stout-barrel finish.
• Black Manhattan: Substituting Averna for sweet vermouth complements the espresso-like roast character from the KBS barrels.

Best For

• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who also appreciates craft beer culture
• After-dinner sipping alongside a rich chocolate dessert
• Adding a standout bottle to a barrel-finished bourbon collection
• Hosting a guided tasting comparing stout-barrel, port-barrel, and sherry-barrel finished bourbons

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Founders KBS Collaboration taste like? It leads with dark chocolate, hazelnut, and roasted malt — hallmarks of the KBS stout barrel — then transitions into black cherry and warming baking spice, all anchored by 10 years of oak maturation.

How does the Founders KBS Collaboration compare to Angel's Envy Port Wine Barrel Finish? Both are premium finished bourbons, but they head in very different directions: Angel's Envy leans toward dried fruit and maple sweetness from port barrels, while the KBS Collaboration skews toward dark chocolate, roasted malt, and espresso-like depth from the stout barrels. The KBS bottling is also notably higher in proof at 110 compared to Angel's Envy's 86.6 proof.

Is the Founders KBS Collaboration good for sipping neat? Absolutely — the 10-year age and 15-month stout-barrel finish provide enough complexity and depth to reward slow, undiluted sipping, though a splash of water helps tame the 110-proof intensity and unlock additional nuance.

Where is the Founders KBS Collaboration made? The bourbon is finished and bottled at Bardstown Bourbon Company in Bardstown, Kentucky, the self-proclaimed "Bourbon Capital of the World." The base spirit is a sourced 10-year-old Tennessee bourbon, and the finishing barrels come from Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

What foods pair well with the Founders KBS Collaboration? Dark chocolate truffles mirror the cocoa notes directly. Smoked brisket or pulled pork complement the roasted malt and oak character. A sharp aged cheddar contrasts the sweetness with savory tang. Pecan pie echoes the nutty hazelnut tones, and espresso-rubbed steak bridges the stout-barrel roast with rich umami.

What sizes does the Founders KBS Collaboration come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is the Founders KBS Collaboration worth the price? It positions as a premium expression within Bardstown Bourbon Company's Collaboration Series, justified by its 10-year age statement, unique stout-barrel finishing process, and the limited nature of the KBS barrels themselves — factors that place it above standard finished bourbons in both complexity and collectibility.

Why the Founders KBS Collaboration?

What separates this release from the growing field of beer-barrel-finished bourbons is the specific barrel source: Founders KBS is consistently ranked among America's top imperial stouts, and its barrels carry an intensity of chocolate, coffee, and roasted malt that lighter beer barrels simply cannot match. Layered onto a well-aged, 10-year Tennessee bourbon with a corn-forward mashbill, the result is a genuinely distinct flavor profile that earned Bardstown Bourbon Company recognition as a four-time consecutive winner of Whiskey Advocate's "Most Interesting Whiskey" distinction. At 110 proof and non-chill filtered, the bottling delivers those stout-barrel flavors at full intensity without dilution — a serious bourbon that happens to bridge two of America's most vibrant craft traditions.