First in category NFC-powered gift tags debut ahead of Father’s Day, blending bourbon with meaningful connection

Bardstown Bourbon Company is introducing Bourbon Gifting Reimagined, a first-of-its-kind innovation in American whiskey that transforms how consumers personalize and share a bottle. While NFC technology has appeared in packaging before, it has never been deployed at scale as a secondary, consumer-driven gifting application—until now.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260429141637/en/

Bourbon Gifting Reimagined transforms any bottle of Bardstown Bourbon into a memorable gifting moment using near field communication technology to attach a custom message, photo, or video that lives directly with the gift. With the simple tap of a smartphone, the recipient unlocks a personal experience created by the giver—turning a great bottle into something that lasts well beyond the pour.

Launching ahead of Father’s Day, the program allows consumers to apply a premium NFC sticker to any bottle and attach a custom message, photo, or video that lives directly with the gift. With the simple tap of a smartphone, the recipient unlocks a personal experience created by the giver—turning a great bottle into something that lasts well beyond the pour.

While spirits brands have historically used connected packaging to ensure authenticity or deliver brand storytelling, Bourbon Gifting Reimagined shifts the focus to the consumer—giving them a simple, intuitive way to create and share their own story directly on the bottle.

“At Bardstown Bourbon Company, we’re always exploring what bourbon can become,” said Dan Callaway, Master Blender. “This is a natural extension of that mindset. It’s not about changing the bottle—it’s about adding something to it. Something personal. Something that lasts.”

The technology behind the program was developed in partnership with Eurostampa and io.tt, combining premium label craftsmanship with a seamless digital experience.

“By embedding NFC tag technology into the special front-label medallion, Bardstown Bourbon Company has unlocked a personalized gifting experience unique to the American whiskey category,” said Ermanno Bosco who leads marketing innovation for Eurostampa North America. “Unlike hidden back-label QR codes, NFC labels preserve a premium look while delivering immediate, purposeful value to consumers with a single phone tap. We believe the future of packaging lies in elevated engagement, and we are excited to help Bardstown shepherd the industry forward.”

“This is where connected packaging becomes truly meaningful,” said Cameron Worth, Founder and CEO of io.tt. “Instead of brands simply pushing content, this platform lets consumers create something of their own. Bardstown saw that opportunity and made it effortless—one tap, and the bottle becomes personal.”

The program will be available nationwide across retail, events, and at the brand’s Bardstown distillery and Louisville Tasting Room. Consumers can also request an NFC sticker to be shipped directly to their home at no cost by visiting bardstownbourbon.com/gifting.

While launching around Father’s Day, Bourbon Gifting Reimagined is designed to extend far beyond a single occasion. The digital platform supports a range of moments—from birthdays and celebrations to thank-yous and everyday gestures—turning the bottle into a lasting expression of connection.

As a company known for pushing the boundaries of bourbon, this launch reinforces Bardstown Bourbon Company’s belief that innovation doesn’t stop at the liquid. Even in packaging and gifting, there is nowhere they won’t go.

ABOUT BARDSTOWN BOURBON

Bardstown Bourbon Company is pushing the boundaries of innovation while honoring the traditional art of making great whiskey. With the most modern, technically advanced whiskey distillery, Bardstown Bourbon combines the highest quality distillation and spirited hospitality into a modern, authentic bourbon experience unlike any other on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail^TM. Bardstown Bourbon Co. is working to push the entire industry in a direction that is more innovative, more transparent and more collaborative. Bardstown Bourbon was named Icons of Whisky Global Brand Innovator of the Year (2025), IWSC’s Worldwide Whisky Producer of the Year (2023), and the only brand represented on Whisky Advocate’s Top 20 list in five different years (2019, 2021-2025). Bardstown Bourbon Co. is part of Lofted Spirits, one of the largest American Whiskey distillers in the U.S. For more information visit BardstownBourbon.com.

High-resolution photography and assets can be found here

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260429141637/en/

The program allows consumers to apply a premium NFC sticker to any bottle and attach a custom message, photo, or video that lives directly with the gift.