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Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series vs Barrell Foundation Bourbon
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series and Barrell Foundation Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, classically built craft style versus a blender-built, rye-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series | Barrell Foundation Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 73% corn, 23% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 5 years |
| Proof | 98.9 proof (49.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$50 – $60 ~$8 less |
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series and Barrell Foundation Bourbon do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Barrell Foundation Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series Barrell Foundation Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 7 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 3 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series: A blend of Bardstown's own young distillate with older sourced Kentucky whiskey, which is exactly what the name describes. Polished and fruit-leaning, and a clear demonstration that the blending is the skill on show.
- Barrell Foundation Bourbon: Barrell's everyday bottle: a multi-state blend proofed down to 100 instead of bottled at cask strength. Creamy cake and vanilla up front, then a dry, rye-driven peppery finish.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series if you want a well-built modern blend that shows what careful blending does rather than what age alone does.
- Go with Barrell Foundation Bourbon if you want an approachable, 100-proof Barrell blend that still shows off multi-state blending at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Barrell Foundation Bourbon).