Louisville, KY – Louisville-based Pursuit Spirits has introduced a limited-edition, barrel-proof rye whiskey that spent nearly two years in premium secondary-maturation barrels, with just 720 bottles available exclusively through the company’s Whiskey Row location and membership program.
Pursuit United XS Double Oak Rye is the inaugural release in the brand’s XS series, short for “Extra Special.” The series builds on Pursuit Spirits’ double-oak whiskey program by placing finished blends into specially selected, full-sized finishing barrels designed to develop additional layers of flavor.
The new rye is bottled at 126.2 proof and carries a suggested retail price of $149.99. Availability began Oct. 14 at Pursuit Spirits on Whiskey Row in downtown Louisville.
The release will not be distributed to traditional retail outlets or sold online. Approximately 92% of the 720-bottle allocation is reserved for existing P. Club members. Remaining bottles are available exclusively to new members who join in person at the Louisville location. The whiskey will also be served at Trial + Error, the cocktail lounge beneath the Whiskey Row venue.
Premium barrels drive extended aging process
Pursuit Spirits was founded by Kenny Coleman and Ryan Cecil, the creators behind the Bourbon Pursuit whiskey podcast. The company develops its Pursuit United expressions by blending contract-distilled whiskeys produced to its specifications at partner distilleries.
For the XS Double Oak series, the company takes its finished blends and transfers them into carefully selected finishing barrels sourced from craft cooperages.
The inaugural rye release uses custom American oak barrels made by Seguin Moreau’s Napa cooperage. The barrels feature a No. 3 char and toasted heads, reflecting the profile used during the original development of Pursuit United Bourbon. According to the company, the custom barrels cost approximately six times as much as a typical new barrel.
Coleman and Cecil first encountered the influence of Seguin Moreau barrels while developing Pursuit United Bourbon. Whiskey aged in the barrels developed a deep color and rich character that prompted the founders to acquire the remaining available stock. The final barrel from that initial purchase was bottled as Pursuit Series Episode 063, a release that has developed its own following among enthusiasts.
For the new project, Pursuit commissioned additional barrels using the same general profile and filled them with Pursuit United Barrel Proof Rye, a blend of straight rye whiskeys from Bardstown Bourbon Company and Sagamore Spirit.
Ryan Cecil, Pursuit Spirits co-founder and master blender, said the team tracked the whiskey’s development through repeated samples over an extended period.
“We pulled samples on these barrels for a year and a half,” Cecil said. “At six months, it was already good, but good is where most finishes stop. Every time we tasted it, the whiskey kept evolving. After 20 months, it reached what I consider whiskey of the year potential.”
Rye features savory and sweet tasting notes
Pursuit describes the finished whiskey as having aromas of pepperoni, dried herbs, buttery toffee and maple syrup. The palate is full-bodied, with sweet oak and caramelized sugar, followed by notes of pipe tobacco, cola and roasted mocha.
The XS series reflects a continuing effort to expand the flavor profiles of the brand’s core Pursuit United whiskeys.
“We’ve been developing our double oak program since 2022,” Coleman said. “It’s a continual journey to find new ways to develop flavors for our core Pursuit United whiskeys. The intentionality with XSDO is making sure the barrels are not a commodity. Every release under XS Double Oak will feature barrels that are specifically curated for this project.”
Additional XS Double Oak releases are already aging, with future announcements expected.
Louisville remains at the center of the brand
Pursuit Spirits operates from Louisville’s Whiskey Row, where visitors can explore the company’s whiskey offerings and participate in experiences such as exclusive barrel selections and personalized bottling. The company is also a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Its business model differs from that of a traditional distillery, relying on partnerships with distilleries around the country to produce whiskey to its specifications before blending and finishing the spirits in Louisville.
The XS Double Oak launch adds another premium offering to Louisville’s bourbon and whiskey scene while keeping this inaugural release tightly controlled through the company’s membership program and downtown location.
