Bardstown Bourbon Co. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout Collaboration Bourbon 750ML

Bardstown Bourbon Co. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout Collaboration Bourbon 750ML is a 100-proof (50% ABV) Kentucky bourbon finished in Goose Island Bourbon County Stout barrels. This limited collaboration earned Gold medals at both the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the World Whiskies Awards, distinguishing it as one of the more acclaimed stout-finished bourbons on the market.

Quick Facts: ABV: 50% (100 proof)  |  Origin: Kentucky, USA  |  Blended Ages: 6, 7, and 9 Year  |  Distillery: Bardstown Bourbon Company (sourced blend)

Production & Heritage

Bardstown Bourbon Company, founded in 2014 in Bardstown, Kentucky, has built its reputation on innovative collaborative releases alongside its own distillate. This expression is a three-mashbill blend: 56% seven-year bourbon (53% corn, 26% rye, 21% malted barley), 26% six-year bourbon with the same high-rye mashbill, and 18% nine-year bourbon from a corn-forward recipe (78% corn, 13% rye, 9% malted barley). The six- and seven-year components were aged an additional 12 months in freshly emptied Goose Island Bourbon County Stout barrels — barrels that were not rinsed before filling, allowing residual stout to mingle directly with the bourbon. In a logistical feat that preserved maximum stout character, barrels were emptied at Goose Island's Chicago brewery in the morning and filled with bourbon in Bardstown that same afternoon. After finishing, the stout-aged components were married with the nine-year straight bourbon to create the final blend.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark chocolate and honey arrive first, followed by toasted almond, vanilla cream, and a distinct layer of roasted grain. Deeper inhalation pulls up caramel and cocoa with subtle toasted oak underneath.

Taste: The entry is rich with brown sugar and toffee, quickly giving way to dark chocolate and roasted malt at mid-palate. Coffee undertones emerge alongside cacao and allspice as the bourbon opens up, with each sip revealing new layers of that stout barrel influence.

Finish: Long and warming, anchored by lingering roast character and oak spice. The chocolate and coffee notes echo steadily, fading slowly into a dry, malty close.

How to Drink the Goose Island Collaboration

Neat at room temperature is the ideal serve — this bourbon's layered stout barrel influence rewards patient sipping, and a few drops of water can open the chocolate and malt notes further. For cocktails, it brings unique depth to three classics: an Old Fashioned, where the dark chocolate and coffee notes create a dessert-like twist on the template; a Boulevardier, where roasted malt and toffee complement Campari's bitterness; and a Black Manhattan, where the stout-barrel character amplifies the amaro and sweet vermouth components.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who is exploring bourbon
• Adding a standout bottle to a bourbon-finished-in-beer-barrel collection
• Serving as an after-dinner sipper alongside chocolate desserts
• Tasting side-by-side with other Bardstown Bourbon collaborative releases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Goose Island Collaboration taste like? It leads with brown sugar, toffee, and dark chocolate, layered with roasted malt, coffee undertones, and allspice. The stout barrel influence is prominent but balanced, giving the bourbon a dessert-like richness without overwhelming sweetness.

How does the Goose Island Collaboration compare to the Bardstown Founders KBS Stout Finish? Both are stout-barrel-finished bourbons from Bardstown Bourbon Company's Collaborative Series, but they use different stout barrels — Goose Island Bourbon County Stout versus Founders KBS. The Goose Island collaboration tends toward darker chocolate and roast character, while the KBS finish is often described as leaning more toward coffee and vanilla from the KBS barrel treatment.

Is the Goose Island Collaboration good for sipping neat? Yes — at 100 proof it has enough structure and complexity to reward neat drinking, and the stout barrel finishing adds layers of flavor that unfold gradually over time.

Where is the Goose Island Collaboration made? The bourbon components were sourced from undisclosed Kentucky distilleries and finished and blended at Bardstown Bourbon Company in Bardstown, Kentucky. The Bourbon County Stout barrels came from Goose Island Beer Company in Chicago, Illinois.

What foods pair well with the Goose Island Collaboration? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cocoa and roast notes; smoked brisket stands up to the bourbon's proof and spice; crème brûlée mirrors the brown sugar and toffee sweetness; aged Gouda echoes the caramel and nutty qualities; and espresso-rubbed pork pairs naturally with the coffee and malt undertones.

What sizes does the Goose Island Collaboration come in? This release is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is the Goose Island Collaboration worth the price? It positions as a premium limited-release bourbon, priced above core Bardstown offerings. The dual Gold medals, multi-mashbill blending complexity, and the logistical care taken with same-day barrel transfers all contribute to its value proposition within the competitive stout-finished bourbon category.

Why the Goose Island Collaboration?

What separates this release from the crowded field of beer-barrel-finished bourbons is the level of intentionality in the process. Filling bourbon into still-wet, unrinsed Bourbon County Stout barrels within hours of emptying preserved stout character that would otherwise oxidize and fade. The three-mashbill blend adds structural complexity — the high-rye components contribute spice and depth, while the corn-forward nine-year bourbon smooths everything into cohesion. Gold medals from both the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and World Whiskies Awards confirm that the approach delivers results beyond novelty, placing this collaboration among the strongest stout-finished bourbons released in recent years.