Bourbon Lens

We're checking out a couple rye whiskies this week, including the Old Overholt 114 Proof (Ohio only Special Release) and Hudson Whiskey's new Do the Rye Thing Rye Whiskey. The new, higher proof Old Overholt is a spin on a classic rye. It is limited to Ohio only at this point, but it has garnered some good reviews from those who have had the opportunity to land a bottle. Find out how we think these two whiskies stack up. Thank you to Hudson Whiskey for sending us a care package featuring two of their new whiskies that have been totally rebranded. We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app, leave us a review, or tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show. Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt. Cheers, Scott, Michael & JakeThe Bourbon Lens Links: Whisky Advocate - The True Story Of Old Overholt Old Overholt Overhaul VinePair - Old Overholt Rye Whiskey History TheManual.com - Old Overholt Rye Whiskey Update Forbes - New Limited Edition Old Overholt HudsonWhiskey.com - Whiskey Lineup TheManual.com - Hudson Whiskey Relaunch WhiskyAdvocate.com - Hudson Whiskey Relaunched BourbonBanter.com Hudson Baby Bourbon Review TheSpiritsBusiness.com - Hudson Creates New Whiskey and Updates Recipes

We are joined by Jackie Zykan, Master Taster for Louisville's Bourbon Brand, Old Forester. Jake and Michael sat down to discuss the brand's growth and her rise through the ranks. We sipped Old Forester Rye Whiskey during this episode, which is another staple to add to any bar. We also discuss the growth of the lineup from the Whisky Row series, Statesman, and bringing back President's Choice. You'll learn how Jackie's background in the bartending industry helped her transition to this beloved brand. With an endless supply of Old Forester, do you want to take a guess at Jackie's go-to Old Forester pour. With a lot of new releases hitting shelves, Jackie even teases about more to come in the next few months. We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app, leave us a review, or tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show. Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers, Scott, Michael & JakeThe Bourbon Lens Links: OldForester.com Wall Street Journal Featuring Jackie Zykan LouisvilleFuture.com - 7 Questions with Jackie Zykan, Old Forester's Master Taster WHAS11.com - Feature on Jackie Zykan Observer.com - This Whisky Expert's Secret to Refining Your Palate: Go to…Target? WhiskyAdvocate.com - Bourbon as Escapism

The Bourbon Lens Crew had the privilege of taking a private tour of the Rabbit Hole Distillery in Downtown Louisville recently. We sat down with the Brand's Digital Ambassador, Adam Edwards, to discuss the history of the distillery, its founder Kaveh Zamanian, and the spirits they craft. We discuss the ultra exclusive Founder's Collection and its first offering, Boxergrail Rye Whiskey at Cask Strength as well as future plans for the brand. And we discuss, maybe for the first time publicly, the Heigold single barrel program which will launch in 2021. This program will initially be limited to only 10 barrels, but will grow each year. We thank Rabbit Hole for reaching out to us and hosting us for this podcast, we encourage you to check them out the next time you are in Louisville or find their bourbon on a shelf. We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app, leave us a review, or tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show. Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers, Scott, Michael & JakeThe Bourbon Lens About Rabbit Hole Distillery: Distilling is baked in Louisville's culture. Rabbit Hole is at the city's creative heart, the NULU district, the nexus of old and new, where artists and entrepreneurs pursue their vision without budgeting for regret. We could be nowhere else. From grain to bottle, inside Rabbit Hole, you'll witness the creation of modern spirits. Because those spirits don't come to life until they're shared, the easy sociability of Rabbit Hole's tasting bars and event center, the Over Look, complete the experience. About Founder, Kaveh Zamanian: As with all good stories, this one starts with love. While living in Chicago, Kaveh met Heather, a Louisville native, who introduced him to Bourbon. A Scotch devotee, he fell in love with her and Bourbon at the same time. He soon entrenched himself in the study of Bourbon and, with Heather by his side, ventured down a rabbit hole he may have never dared alone. About Adam Edwards: Adam, with his over 15 years experience in the spirits industry, has extensive knowledge on the history and depth of fine wines and whiskies. A graduate of the University of Kentucky, as well as a Certified Bourbon Steward, Adam joined Rabbit Hole distillery as a Tour Guide Educator in 2018. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Rabbit Hole created the innovative title of Digital Brand Ambassador (something never before seen in the Bourbon industry), which is especially suited for Adam's personality and passion for American Bourbon Whiskey. The Spirits: Cavehill - Our signature four-grain Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a homage to generations of proud Louisville distillers. Distinct and unorthodox, this expression sets a new standard for American whiskey while building on the legacy these great bourbon pioneers created as they traveled down their own whiskey rabbit holes. Crafted from a unique mash that couples malted grains with corn, this superpremium bourbon combines depth with style. Deliberately distilled from our proprietary cooking process and aged in hand-selected barrels, this authentic whiskey is expressly crafted in small batches to yield a flavor like no other. Heigold - Our Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, made with a high percentage of imported German rye, pays tribute to an immigrant maker. Strong and bold, this offering honors Christian Heigold, a German stonecutter who settled in Louisville prior to 1850 and went down a rabbit hole of his own. Taken with the hope of this new land, he carved ornate symbols of his patriotism on the facade of his landmark home. This super-premium bourbon, composed of 25% malted rye, places a distinct twist on a timeless recipe. Deliberately distilled from our proprietary cooking process and aged in hand-selected barrels, this authentic whiskey is expressly crafted in small batches to yield a flavor like no other. Boxergrail - Our Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, composed of 95% rye, celebrates Louisville's rich boxing heritage. Here, local fighters, emerging from neighborhood gyms, have followed a path down a boxing rabbit hole to become prizefighting champions. Bold and unexpected, this whiskey reveals a character worthy of the title. This super-premium rye whiskey adds malted barley to its mash bill to present a velvety mouthfeel, while subtle spice and brown sugar notes distinguish it from the rest. Deliberately distilled from our proprietary cooking process and aged in hand-selected barrels, this authentic whiskey is expressly crafted in small batches to yield a flavor like no other. Founder's Collection Boxergrail - Boxergrail Founder's Collection elevates Rabbit Hole's award winning Boxergrail Kentucky

This week we have a solid lineup of limited edition bourbons from Maker's Mark. Our first podcast back together as a group of 3 since the pandemic started, we had a lot of fun catching up and talking shop. We each brought something different to run through a tasting together. Jake had Maker's 101 and Maker's 46 Cask Strength, Scott brought Maker's Cask Strength (Batch 20-03), and Michael grabbed his Private Selection of Maker's from Match Cigar Bar. We discussed the legendary Maker's Mark red wax, Maker's bottle collections, and how we believe Maker's in a great position to continue to evolve its lineup. Maker's Mark may be one of the most well known wheated bourbons around today, but it was clear that they needed to branch out into different offerings to stay competitive. We enjoyed each of these bourbons for different reasons, so be sure to tell us which is your favorite bourbon from Maker's Mark. And finally, we wrapped up the show discussing our golf games and boozing on the golf course. Also, learn about one of our favorite new ways to carry some bourbon on the golf course or wherever. "The Chub" from XactlyLife; a double-wall, stainless steel insulated Travel Shot which holds 3.2oz of your favorite booze. The CHUB is TSA compliant too. This is not a sponsorship or an ad, just a damn cool product that we like to use. We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app, leave us a review, or tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show. Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers, Scott, Michael & JakeThe Bourbon Lens LINKS: MakersMark.com Maker's 46 XactlyLife.com -The Chub 3oz stainless steel vacuum tumbler VinePair - Maker's Mark Story Behind The Seal: The Story of the Maker's Mark Bottle Whisky Magazine - The Mark of a classic (Maker's Mark) Match Cigar Bar

Raj Peter Bhakta, the founder of WhistlePig and now Bhakta Farms, has left the world of rye whiskey and entered into the world of rare Armagnac brandy. Raj just introduced BHAKTA 50, a marriage of Argmanac's he discovered with Vintages from 1868 - 1970. And he's gone a step further and finished it in Islay casks. A complex spirit that is ideal for the curious whiskey lover. Sweet and smoky but not overly so, this finishing process for 50+ year old Armagnac is unlike anything else. Raj had us all on our toes for this episode and we were excited to explore something so rare and unique. And don't miss the teaser for Raj's next big project; his whiskey project, called Empire, a "global whiskey" coming out next year (2021). We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app, leave us a review, or tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show. Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers, Scott, Michael & JakeThe Bourbon Lens Links: BhaktaBrandy.com VinePair - Raj Peter Bhakta and Bhakta Brandy Bhakta Farms & Bhakta Spirits Bhakta 50 - Barrel 3 Review Whiskey Consensus - Bhakta 50 - The Armagnac Secret That Whiskey Drinkers Need to Know About About: Raj Peter Bhakta, founder of WhistlePig Whiskey and Bhakta Brandy, has a deep appreciation for rare and exquisite spirits—as well as a knack for bringing them to American attention. His success in rye established the category during a time when the industry overlooked it. Now, with BHAKTA, he is reviving another spirit: ancient Armagnac brandy, bottled stateside in Vermont. Bhakta is a first generation American. Both of his parents are immigrants. Born in 1975 to a Gujarati father and an Irish mother, he grew up in the Philadelphia area and attended the Hill School in Pottstown, PA before graduating Boston College in 1998. After beginning his career with investment banking firm Violy & Co, Bhakta departed to found Automovia, a valuation tech startup for pre-owned vehicles. He also worked for a time in the family business, leading a condominium development project in Vail, CO. While in Colorado in 2004, Bhakta scored a role on Trump's nascent reality show The Apprentice, Season 2. His business prowess and theatrical antics helped him navigate, barter, and flirt to the ninth week before being fired by Trump. His charisma with women became fodder for gossip columns like New York Post's Page Six, and his frequent wearing of bow ties was credited with a surge in the accessory's popularity. In 2006, Bhakta ran for U.S. Congress from Pennsylvania's 13th district. His campaign gained national notoriety due to his television background and playboy reputation. In October, Bhakta protested US-Mexican border weakness by riding an elephant along the Rio Grande with a 6-man mariachi band. This garnered even more publicity, and by the end of his unsuccessful campaign, Bhakta appeared on MSNBC, CNN's Crossfire, and Fox News. After his defeat in 2007, Bhakta moved from Manhattan to seek green fields. He purchased a decrepit Vermont dairy farm and began searching for obscure spirits to market under his new brand WhistlePig. Acquiring stocks from Canadian distiller Alberta Premium, Bhakta partnered with master distiller Dave Pickerel and began bottling his 10-year rye in 2010. Praised nationwide, WhistlePig put rye back on the map and grew to America's premier luxury whiskey in just a few years. After selling in 2019, Bhakta began a crusade for the world's finest spirits. On this journey, Bhakta stumbled on a stock of rare and exquisite Armagnacs in a Gers chateau. Distilled 1868-1970, the portfolio contains enough to bottle blends well over 50 years old. The vintages also predate Armagnac history's largest crisis, the Great French Wine Blight, which devastated vineyards and changed grape varietals forever. The oldest brandies use only original cultivars, making them perhaps the only genuine Armagnacs left in existence. Bhakta, immediately enamored, negotiated a hefty purchase and brought them back home to Vermont. With these assets, Bhakta is set to outdo his former ventures. BHAKTA 50 Year Brandy is older than any whiskey available and steeped in generations of small-scale craft. It also gets a unique Islay cask finish: the perfect marriage of brandy and Scotch. Bhakta has even put his own name on the bottle, showing just how proud he is of this magnum opus. BHAKTA offers a singular experience: brandy for the whiskey-lover. Just like he returned rye to the national spotlight, he's now found a niche new spirit with its own distinct category. Bhakta Brandy has just launched this 4th of July. Barrel 1 contains vintages 50-152 years old, with more released one-by

Maryland Style Rye Whiskey is the topic today. We explore a handful of rye whiskies from Sagamore Spirit in Baltimore Maryland. We're joined by Brian Treacy to talk about what makes Sagamore Spirit unique, their core lineup, and some exciting limited release rye whiskies. Sagamore Spirit jump started their brand sourcing some of the wildly popular "MGP Rye" from Indiana's largest distillery, but they are excited to move to their own distillate in the very near future. We enjoyed each of the whiskies that Sagamore sent to us for this episode and look forward to visiting their distillery in the future and tasting more of their whiskey. Enjoy this week's episode and be sure to check out Sagamore Spirit. Show Links: Sagamore Spirit and Brian Treacy's Story Sagamore Spirit on Instagram Brian on Instagram @Sagamorewhiskeybrian Independent Stave Company- "Wave Stave" Barrels Thrillist - This New Whiskey Was Aged With Sierra Nevada Beer Sagamore Spirit has released a limited-edition whiskey called the Sagamore Spirit Barrel Select Bartender's Barrel to benefit the local restaurant industry. NY Times - Maryland Rye Whiskey Has Finally Returned. But What Was It in the First Place? Under Armour's Kevin Plank Enters the Whiskey Wars -2016 Inc. article. About Sagamore Spirit Sagamore Spirit is a Maryland Style rye. Their five-acre waterfront distillery in Baltimore's Port Covington neighborhood opened in April 2017. The Distillery is equipped with a 40-foot mirrored finished copper column still, nine 6,500-gallon fermenting tanks, an 8,000-gallon beer well, and a 6,000-gallon mash cooker. The American Whiskey story started over 158 years before the first bottle of Kentucky bourbon, when great veteran distillers of the mid-Atlantic distilled Rye Whiskey. Maryland was home to 44 distilleries before Prohibition and by 1939, it held one-third of the nation's Rye Whiskey supply. Maryland Rye Whiskey was nationally renowned, and quickly became synonymous with quality and class. At Sagamore Spirit, we've picked up the torch. Our mission is to inspire a global passion for Maryland Rye Whiskey and revive – and dominate – the Rye Whiskey category. With over 75 awards for taste and packaging, we are committed to building awareness and excitement around Rye Whiskey's historic birthplace – Maryland. All Sagamore products are made from two mash-bills. The first is 52% rye, 43% corn and 5% malt barley. The second is 95% rye and 5% malt. The rye mash ferments for three days in 6,500-gallon open top fermenters. It's then distilled in the world's only 40-foot mirrored finished copper column still, then redistilled twice in a doubler. Three core offerings and limited releases: Signature Double Oak Cask Strength Manhattan Finished Rye - Upcoming limited release https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-styles/american-whiskey/latest-sagamore-rye-whiskey-finish-inspired-by-classic-manhattan-cocktail/ Other Limited Releases Port Finish Calvados Finish

Jake and Scott are at it again with another Bourbon Heritage Month episode. This time, we dive into the world of Bourbon Hunting and the madness created every Fall surrounding "Bourbon Hunting Season." Jake and Scott discuss their different perceptions of bourbon hunting and seeking out the rare and expensive bottles that pop up around this time every year. We also discuss some of this year's highly anticipated whiskey releases. Join us and let us know what your thoughts are on Bourbon Hunting Season. We also crack the wax on Jake's new bottle of Freddie Noe's Little Book Whiskey, Chapter 4. This is a unique blend of straight whiskies and we were excited to give it a try. We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app, leave us a review, or tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show. Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers, Scott & JakeThe Bourbon Lens Links: Eighth Generation Beam Distiller Freddie Noe Releases Fourth Chapter Of Little Book® Whiskey Series - "Lessons Honored" LittleBookWhiskey.com/ WhiskeyConsensus.com - Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Founder's Collection Bourbinsane.com - New Bourbon Releases 2020 BreakingBourbon.com - Bourbon Hunting Tips TheBourbonCulture.com - Bourbon Hunting BourbonLens.com - 2020 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Breakdown GoBourbon.com - Parker's Heavy Char

Jake and Scott taste through two heavy-hitting Bottled in Bond Bourbon releases; Old Fitzgerald 15 Year Old and Wild Turkey Master's Keep 17 Year Bottled in Bond. While both are limited releases, we discuss how they stack up against each other and in the bourbon world. Each has their own highlights, high price points, and we both had to pick a winner after a side-by-side tasting. We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app, leave us a review, or tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show. Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers, Scott, Michael & JakeThe Bourbon Lens Image Credits: Wild Turkey & Heaven Hill Distilleries LINKS: Wild Turkey Master's Keep RareBird101 Review of WT MK17 (2020) Old Fitzgerald - Heaven Hill Distillery

We're continuing National Bourbon Heritage Month with a relatively new Kentucky distillery. This week, it's New Riff Distillery, which claims to put "A New Riff on an Old Tradition". We are joined by Jay Erisman, vice-president of strategic development and co-founder of the distillery in Newport, Kentucky. We discuss the meaning of "New Riff", the brand's focus on bottled in bond whiskey, and what makes New Riff different. We also dive into some of the more technical distillation, fermentation, aging, and bottling techniques used by New Riff to produce their bourbons and rye whiskies. We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app, leave us a review, or tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show. Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers, Scott, Michael & JakeThe Bourbon Lens About Jay: Jay Erisman is vice-president of strategic development and co-founder of New Riff Distilling. A home brewer who became a fine spirits expert and then a self-taught distiller, Erisman is nicknamed New Riff's "chief blender and palate." He focuses on grains and raw ingredients, cooperage, aging strategies, product development and regulatory compliance. An expert in pot still distillation, Erisman also spearheads the distillery's gins. Previously, Erisman served as fine spirits manager at The Party Source. Links: https://newriffdistilling.com/ https://newriffdistilling.com/about/story/ https://www.whiskyadvocate.com/jay-erisman-combining-bourbons-highest-quality-standards-with-an-inventive-approach/ https://www.drinkmemag.com/distill-my-heart-new-riff-is-re-defining-kentucky-bourbon photo credit: New Riff Distilling

Jake and Scott are finally back on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. This time, we stop in Lebanon Kentucky at Limestone Branch Distillery, producers of the famed Yellowstone Bourbon. We sit down with Steve Beam and share the full lineup of Limestone Branch whiskies. Steve Beam is in the Beam Family Tree, which has had their hands in the bourbon of nearly every major distillery in Kentucky. In addition to some Beam family history, we also discuss the Dant Family of Bourbon. We also touch on the history of Yellowstone Bourbon, its links to the National Park, and the growth of Limestone Branch and its brands. We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app, leave us a review, or tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show. Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers, Scott, Michael & JakeThe Bourbon Lens Photo Credit: Limestone Branch Distillery LINKS: Yellowstone Select Bourbon Brand History by Michael Veach - Yellowstone Bourbon Rebirth of Yellowstone 2020 Limited Edition of Yellowstone Bourbon Chuck Cowdery - History of Yellowstone Limestone Branch Distillery

Just in time for National Bourbon Heritage Month, we are exploring a first for us, bourbon barrel aged wine. We may be familiar with wine barrel-finished bourbons, but what about the other way around? Josh Cellars recently introduced their Reserve Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon which was matured in Redemption Bourbon barrels for two months. We shared some whiskey and wine with the Founder of Josh Cellars. We're joined by Joseph Carr, Founder of Josh Cellars, to talk whiskey and wine. The son of a lumberjack (Josh; the brand's namesake), Joe started out serving beers and shots of Jack Daniels at the local bar. But, in chasing his American Dream, Joe advanced his career by working in New York City and eventually began traveling the world as a Wine Sommelier and whiskey lover. Michael and Scott picked Joe's brain and we explored similarities between the two worlds of wine and whiskey. This is especially true in the cooperage (barrels) used for each, unique woods, and perfectly tuned and crafted barrels are critical to unique whiskies and wines. The next time your wine-loving friends are looking for a bottle, but sure to point them toward this unique Cabernet Sauvignon, the best of both worlds. The bourbon barrel contributes subtle notes of vanilla, brown sugar, and rich caramel, which blend with traditional Cabernet flavors of red fruits. Thank you to the Deutsch Family of Spirits for connecting us with Josh Cellars and sending us the new Bourbon Barrel Cabernet Sauvignon and Redemption Bourbon to enjoy on the show. Links: Josh Cellars Official Website Deutsch Family of Spirits Bourbon Lens Podcast with Taconic Distillery Vintner Joseph Carr donates 500 meals to Capital Region hospital workers Operation Gratitude Camoflauge Wine from Josh Cellars Forbes Feature: Meet The Unlikely Vintner Behind The Hit Wine, Josh. Joe and wife Deirdre Carr, co-founders of Josh Cellars. We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app, leave us a review, or tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show. Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers, Scott, Michael & JakeThe Bourbon Lens

We're joined by Marianne Eaves to discuss her career in the whiskey world and her aspirations for the future. Marianne is currently the Master Blender behind Sweetens Cove Tennessee Bourbon. We were lucky enough to taste through Batch #1 with Marianne and learn her process behind selecting whiskey for blending and for single barrel selections. About Marianne Eaves: She's no stranger to the spirits industry or creating and growing one-of-a-kind premium spirits, Marianne will forever hold a place in history as Kentucky's First Female Bourbon Master Distiller since Prohibition. She was recognized by Whisky Advocate Magazine as "the Next Generation" of the bourbon industry; honored by Forbes in their 30 under 30 list in 2015; named as one of America' Top 40 under 40 Tastemakers by Wine Enthusiast Magazine; and, was identified as one of the top "Southern Women" by Garden & Gun Magazine in 2019. It is no wonder that she was recruited to serve as Master Blender of the first Sweetens Cove release. Photo Credits: Sweetens Cove Spirits and Marianne Eaves Links: Marianne Eaves Official Website Sweetens Cove Spirits Travel Channel Feature on Marianne at Castle & Key Esquire: Peyton Manning's New Bourbon Is So Legit I Can't Even Call It a 'Celebrity Bourbon' Andy Roddick dishes on Sweetens Cove, working with Peyton Manning and making bourbon Eli And Peyton Manning Are Launching A $200 Bourbon We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app, leave us a review, or tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show. Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers, Scott, Michael & JakeThe Bourbon Lens

MGP is well known in the bourbon and whiskey world, though there is a bit of mystery behind the historic Lawrenceburg Indiana distillery. We're joined by MGP Master Blender, David Whitmer, to explore the history of MGP, King of The Bootleggers George Remus, and MGP's core lineup of whiskies. We taste through two offerings of Rossville Union Rye, George Remus Bourbon, and a very special limited release of Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon. Are these MGP's best kept secrets? August is National Rye Month, followed by National Bourbon Heritage Month in September. MGP, as the "Masters of Rye", are doing their part to celebrate all things rye this month. They'll also be spending September celebrating Bourbon with the launch of Remus Repeal Reserve Series IV Bourbon. David Whitmer, Master Blender, has a background spanning nearly 30 years in the food and beverage industries. As you'll quickly learn, David Whitmer is a walking encyclopedia of the science, history and craft behind spirits and product innovation. As the head of quality production and innovation for MGP Ingredients, his responsibilities include managing the master blending and reserve program for the distillery's award-winning brands, George Remus Bourbon and Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey. We're thankful for MGP for sharing samples of their core lineup, which includes: Remus Repeal Reserve Series IV George Remus Straight Bourbon Rossville Union Barrel Proof Straight Rye Rossville Union Master Crafter Straight Rye Eight & Sand Blended Bourbon SHOW LINKS: GeorgeRemus.com RossvilleUnion.com Chicagobourbon.org - Inside MGP (MUST SEE!) Courier-Journal - 1 million whiskey barrels comes from this distiller you've probably never heard of CincinnatiMagazine.com - The Biggest Distillery You've Never Heard Of A Visit to MGP - Alcademics Forbes - How an Indiana Distillery Revolutionized Kentucky Bourbon PBS.org on George Remus King of the Bootleggers Book Ghosts of Eden Park Book George Remus - Inspiration behind The Great Gatsby Vinepair.com - George Remus is the Real Great Gatsby Smithsonianmag.com - History of George Remus We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app, leave us a review, or tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show. Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers, Scott, Jake, and Michael The Bourbon Lens

We're exploring whiskey on ice. Hockey Hall of Famer, Ed Belfour, has launched his own whiskey brand and we had the opportunity to sample two of their whiskies. We were honored to have the opportunity to interview 1999 Stanley Cup Champion, Eddie the Eagle. During this week's podcast we discuss: Ed's Canadian roots, his love for Canadian Rye Whisky, and these being the inspiration behind Belfour Spirits How Ed's hands on approach to hockey has bled into the whiskey craft. Ed has studied whiskey, the craft of distilling, selecting barrels, and oversees each batch from start to finish. Insight into each whiskey profile, including the Rye Whiskey and Bourbon Whiskey Finished with Texas Pecan Wood. Where Belfour Spirits is currently available and sneak peek into future markets We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app, leave us a review, or tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show. Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. About Belfour Spirits: Belfour Spirits – a recently launched (Oct. '19) ultra-premium whiskey producer known for its spirits' unique character and stunning packaging, led by Hockey Hall of Famer and Olympian, Ed Belfour. There are a lucky few who do what they love, not once in a lifetime, but twice. In this, his second landmark career, Hockey Hall of Famer, Stanley Cup winner and Olympian Ed Belfour has teamed up with his son and daughter to translate his on-ice intensity into a new passion: hand-crafting ultra premium spirits that honor legends, warriors and everyday heroes. From generational lessons to stories of underdog triumph, there's a legend in every glass. From On-ice Intensity to Distillation Precision: Since 2014, Ed and Dayn have been on an endless pursuit to learn all things whiskey, attending schools in Kentucky and Canada, exploring the finest ingredients and equipment, and talking with industry veterans and rookies alike. Today, these Founding Distillers are hands on in every aspect of the business, from creation of the Belfour family mash bill to blending, and from label design to consumer tastings. Future Growth: Belfour Spirits has created more than 1,700 barrels of whiskey, and more are slated for production in 2020 and each year beyond.With corporate headquarters in Dallas, Belfour Spirits plans to lay our distilling roots in Kentucky, growing the business in bourbon country. The distillery, tasting room and gift shop are expected to open to the public in 2022. For Ed Belfour, hockey is just the beginning of the legacy he wishes to leave. This is more than a job for him; it's a second dream come true. And he's all in. Belfour currently has three premium whiskeys in its profile: Rye Whiskey Bourbon Whiskey Finished w/ Texas Pecan Wood Limited Edition Straight Rye Whiskey Rye Whiskey 47% ABV, 94 Proof, 750 ML. Aged min. 18 mos. A nontraditional tasting Rye Whiskey, this spirit honors a nostalgic mash bill profile and lures you in with every sip. A burnt sea salted vanilla caramel aroma is followed by a warm sweet taste and soothing finish. You'll want to pour this unexpected spirit all night. Appearance: Golden honey, medium amber Nose: A burnt sea salted vanilla caramel aroma, leather Taste: Sweet caramel, butterscotch, tobacco Finish: Full-bodied velvety warmth that lingers with a peppermint finish Mash Bill: Rye, corn, malted barley Bourbon Whiskey Finished With Texas Pecan Wood 46% ABV, 92 Proof, 750 ML. The majestic beauty of a 300-year-old, over sized pecan tree on the old Belfour ranch in North Texas inspired this unique spirit. Born out of one of the natural wonders of the Lone Star State, this 92-proof Bourbon Whiskey aged beautifully in American white oak barrels then spent extra time mellowing with added staves of Texas pecan wood. These imparted subtle notes of brown sugar and heavy notes of smoky roasted pecan. Appearance: Golden honey, light amber Nose: Nutty, butterscotch, crème brulee Taste: Smoky vanilla, molasses Finish: Long mellow warmth with a rich mouthfeel layered with vanilla Mash Bill: Corn, wheat, malted barley Photo Credit: Belfour Spirits

Were you sad to see Yippie Ki-Yay bid farewell from the High West lineup? We sit down with High West Whiskey Production Manager, Isaac Winter, to understand the decision behind this classic bottle leaving the line up and what the brand has in store next! We discussed the full lineup of High West Whiskey and point out some of our favorites. High West calls Utah home and Isaac convinced Jake and Michael that they need to move to Park City during this week's episode. Scott was off on vacation, so you never know what's going to happen on this episode! We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers, Michael and JakeThe Bourbon Lens Links: Bourbon Lens Podcast - Episode 32 (High West Tasting Episode) High West Official Website High West Whiskey Offerings Quartz.com: A Utah distillery proudly drags the whiskey industry's dirty little secret out of the shadows Whiskey Advocate on Double Rye Join the High West Whiskey Club High West Debuts High Country American Single Malt Whiskey How Can Different Craft Whiskeys Come From One Big Distillery? MGPI - Midwest Grain Products Ingredients Photo Credit: High West Whiskey

Four Gate Whiskey Company recently released Batch 6 and 7 of their whiskey series and were nice enough to send us some samples to check out. Batch 6 is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon finished in Cognac and Rum Casks and Batch 7 is their first release of a Rye Whiskey. If you haven't already listened to Episode 58, be sure to check out that podcast interview with the brand owners, Bill Straub and Bob D'Antoni. Let us know what you think of Four Gate by sending us a note on social media and leaving a comment on this podcast. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Batch Details from Four Gate Whiskey Company Batch 6 - THE KELVIN COLLABORATION II In April of 2019, we released our very first barrel finished whiskey, dubbed THE KELVIN COLLABORATION. The reception was better than we ever could have hoped for. To follow up on that with our first release in 2020, we returned to the same mash bill that made batch 1 so popular and added a twist. In collaboration with Kelvin Cooperage, we took our now 12 year old high rye Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and filled three massive Cognac barrels and a selection of dark rum barrels Kelvin Cooperage acquired from the same rum distillery as the barrels used to finish batch 1. 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon finished in Cognac and Rum Casks Mash Bill: 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley Non-Chill Filtered 126.4 Proof 2,574 Bottles MSRP: $199.99 Available:now, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Seelbachs.com only TASTING NOTES Nose: Deep brown Taste: Sweet and spicy, the outer palate is coated with sugary molasses and dark rum notes while the rear palate is inundated with mature oak and booze-soaked red grapes. Finish: Medium-long, the rum and barrel tannins linger in a sweet yet oak-filled experience. Batch 7 - River Kelvin Rye 7 year blend of 95-5 (Rye/malted barley) Indiana straight rye (MGP). 113.2 Proof - barrel proof 1484 Bottles produced MSRP: $174.99 Available in KY, Indiana and Seelbachs.com This base whiskey will undergo two barrel finishes in the future for future batches 1st is Kelvin's Split Stave (holidays 2020) 2nd is Ruby Port-Rum Casks (2021) Four Gate Whiskey is releasing its first-ever Straight Rye Whiskey. Tasting Notes: Appearance: Medium Amber Nose: Mint, candied citrus, lemon zest, black pepper, dill. Taste: A splash of refreshing mint hits the tip of the tongue and is followed by candied oranges and lemon zest on the mid palate. The rear palate is greeted with spicy black pepper and sweet citrus. Finish: Medium in length, the black pepper, spice, and lemon zest coat the mouth with a pleasingly refreshing finish Previously, Four Gate releases have all been either straight bourbon or barrel finished bourbon. This marks the first expansion of the company's product line into a new spirit since its launch in 2018.

On this week's episode we sit down with High Wire Distilling owner and founder, Scott Blackwell, to discuss their unique ways for distilling some fine whiskey and Jimmy Red Corn. Scott comes from a culinary background. After selling his bakery to General Mills, Scott and his wife pursued their dream of starting a craft distillery located in Charleston, SC. Scott wanted to bring his culinary experience to distillation by focusing on the ingredients to make a unique whiskey and experience. Let us introduce you to Jimmy Red. Jimmy Red Bourbon is a 100% corn bourbon, but it's not what you may be thinking. Jimmy Red is the type of corn used to make this whiskey. It provides a rich, sweet and creamy taste that lingers on the palate and has an extremely viscous mouth feel and has a deep, dark amber color in the glass. Scott walks us through the start-up process and why he chose to make his whiskies with 100% Jimmy Red corn. We have to be honest, we weren't sure what to think when we received this bourbon made of 100% corn, but oh boy were we surprised! This would be a great whiskey to test your whiskey loving friends on, blind! Pour yourself a glass and follow along as Scott Blackwell educates us in the world of corn selection and how he used this philosophy to distill his Jimmy Red bourbon. LINKS: Daily Beast Article High Wire Distilling and Bourbon Using Heritage Grains Instagram Post Referenced in the Podcast re: Covid-19 Setbacks High Wire Distilling Co. Official Website High Wire on Instagram High Wire on Twitter High Wire on Facebook As always, we appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast player of choice and be sure to leave us a written review. We are grateful for our listeners who help us to spread the word to their friends. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected] Visit our website www.BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers, Scott, Jake, and MichaelThe Bourbon Lens

There's no question that twice-barreled bourbons are becoming more popular. However, a large majority these of bourbons are being finished in used barrels which previously contained wine, rum, or brandy. Some, such as the two bourbons we are discussing today are finished in a second, virgin charred oak barrel. We discuss the ever-popular Woodford Reserve Double Oaked and compare it to a bourbon from growing, innovative craft distillery. That is Starlight Distillery and their Carl T. Huber's Indiana Straight Double Oaked Bourbon Whiskey. We discuss the "double oaked" category and how it doesn't always mean "over-oaked". Sometimes, due to the secondary barrel's characteristics, more unique flavors can be developed in a relatively short period of time. What is your favorite double oaked bourbon? Be sure to reach out and let us know. As always, we appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast player of choice and be sure to leave us a written review. We are grateful of our listeners who help us to spread the word to their friends. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website www.BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers,Scott, Jake, and MichaelThe Bourbon Lens About Starlight Distillery Carl T. Huber's Indiana Straight Double Oaked Bourbon Whiskey Starlight Distillery's brand new Double Oaked project begins with a fresh blending of Carl T. bourbon that is at least 4 years old which is used to fill a second, new American Oak barrel from Seguin Moreau in Napa, California. We crafted 5 barrels for the first round of this project. 2 of these 5 barrels have already been selected as private barrel picks, one for a retailer in Washington D.C. and one for a retailer in Indianapolis. Historically, the Seguin Moreau Napa Cooperage only produced wine barrels. When the company decided to start producing bourbon barrels, Starlight Distillery became one of their first clients. For our Double Oaked project, Seguin Moreau created the Vanilla Toast barrel. Our Carl T. bourbon becomes richer, more oaky, bolder, and more flavorful in these barrels. To achieve this, the bourbon has aged for a minimum of 8 months in the barrel." Carl T. small batch bourbon is a blend of our 3 and 4 grain mashbills (60% corn, 20% rye, 20% malted barley and 51% corn, 20% rye, 20% malted barley, 9% wheat) Source: http://www.starlightdistillery.com/ About Woodford Reserve Double Oaked An innovative approach to twice-barreled bourbon creates the rich and colorful flavor of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. Uniquely matured in separate, charred oak barrels – the second barrel deeply toasted before a light charring – extracts additional soft, sweet oak character. TASTING NOTES (From Woodford Reserve) PROOF - 90.4° APPEARANCE - Deep Amber. NOSE - Rich notes of dark fruit, caramel, sharp honey, chocolate, marzipan and toasted oak. TASTE - A full-bodied mix of vanilla, dark caramel, hazelnut, apple, fruit and spices. FINISH - Long and creamy with lingering hints of honeyed apple. Source: https://www.woodfordreserve.com/whiskey/double-oaked/

He's the ultimate Wild Turkey fan and he's just released a new book on the history of Wild Turkey. You may know David Jennings better as "Rare Bird 101". He joins us on this week's episode to "talk Turkey". Wild Turkey's history is unique and full of rich family traditions. This is all detailed in the new book, American Spirit: Wild Turkey Bourbon from Ripy to Russell. We enjoyed the book and recommend any bourbon love to pick up the book at https://wildturkeybook.com/; you'll develop a new appreciation for that bottle of Wild Turkey 101 you see so frequently on the bar or store shelf. More links can be found below to Rare Bird 101's website, social media, and more. As always, we appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast player of choice and be sure to leave us a written review. We are grateful of our listeners who help us to spread the word to their friends. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected] Visit our website www.BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers, Scott, Jake, and MichaelThe Bourbon Lens About American Spirit: Wild Turkey Bourbon from Ripy to Russell, by David Jennings The story of Wild Turkey is in many ways the story of bourbon itself. From the struggles of nineteenth-century immigrants, to the triumphs of the longest-tenured master distiller in the world, a bold, uniquely American spirit emerges. American Spirit: Wild Turkey Bourbon from Ripy to Russell is a tribute to the perseverance of two families, each perfecting their passion through extraordinary circumstances. It's a testament to Jimmy Russell and his sixty-five years of unmatched dedication to quality. And much like a glass of fine bourbon, it's a journey – a personal reflection on something carefully crafted over time. This book is a love letter to Wild Turkey that all bourbon enthusiasts can raise a glass to and enjoy. Links: https://rarebird101.com https://www.patreon.com/rarebird101 https://wildturkeybook.com/ https://rarebird101.com/2020/06/09/wild-turkey-rare-breed-rye-112-2-2020/ https://rarebird101.com/2020/06/23/wild-turkey-masters-keep-bottled-in-bond-2020/ https://rarebird101.com/2020/06/30/camp-nelson-rickhouse-f-blind-comparison/ Image copyright 2019 David Jennings. Photography by Victor Sizemore.

A true whiskey lifestyle brand. We are joined by Aston LaFon, Co-Founder of 18.21 Man Made, to discuss the whiskey lifestyle and his men's grooming company. How do men's products fit into a whiskey lifestyle? Their brand was inspired by the bootlegging of Prohibition and customizing grooming products to fill a void in the market. The 18.21 Man Made namesake is an homage to the 18th Amendment which implemented Prohibition and was later repealed by the 21st Amendment. This is a Texas based business, owned and operated by Angel del Solar, Aston LaFon and David del Solar. Each shares a passion for making premium, uncommon goods that gentlemen will take pride in owning. Aston Lafon joins us to discuss the details behind what makes up this innovative men's grooming lineup. With scents like "Sweet Tobacco Spirits", their products draw inspiration from whiskey and cigar culture. We also dive in deeper to find that grooming products go through a lot of similar processes as bourbon/whiskey: from dreaming them up in a lab, distilling or making a product, to sampling, and then ultimately distribution. We encourage you to check out 18.21 Man Made the next time you're in need of next level grooming products for yourself or someone else. Head to their website or Instagram for more details. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected] Visit our website www.BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers, Scott, Jake, and MichaelThe Bourbon Lens

American Single Malt Whiskey is on the rise and Wanderback Whiskey is right in the middle and playing a unique role. Phil Downer, Founder of Wanderback Whiskey, joins the Bourbon Lens to discuss the growing market category and what inspired him to create his unique brand. Wanderback produces hand-crafted, limited edition American single malt whiskeys in Hood River, Oregon. Instead of making a flagship whiskey and reproducing the same taste over and over, Wanderback prefers to explore the endless possibilities of American whiskeys through partnerships. Once distilled, their whiskey is transported to the family Farm in Hood River, Oregon for aging. Barrel selection is a deep passion and exploring unique cask types allows the whiskey to unveil its final and fullest expression. This process gives Wanderback the freedom to interpret endless iterations of limited edition American single malt whiskeys. They have currently released 3 batches and intend to release annually in addition to special releases. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected] Visit our website www.BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.Cheers, Scott, Jake, and MichaelThe Bourbon Lens Links: The Whiskey Wash - Wanderback Whiskey - A Sourced Whiskey Story Done Right Hood River Oregon Tourism Distiller.com - American Malt Whiskey Seven Fifty.com - Emerging Styles of ASMW Vine Pair - American Single Malt Whiskey Esquire.com Best American Single Malt Whiskey Bottles Whisky Advocate - American Malt Whiskey American Single Malt Whiskey Commission More About The Brand Phil Downer founded Wanderback Whiskey Co. out of a strong passion for the burgeoning American single malt whiskey category, a belief that collaboration and transparency would create better whiskeys, and his desire to revitalize the family cherry orchard in Hood River, Oregon. Phil is currently completing his Brewing and Distilling Diploma at the famed Heriot Watt University in Scotland. Wanderback has a unique mission and production process that combines the experience of top distilleries around the country with the mastery and vision of Wanderback's founder, Phil Downer, to create small batches, of limited edition American single malt whiskeys in Hood River, Oregon that are unique, bold, and draw on the bounty of the Pacific Northwest. Details on the 3 Batches Enjoyed During this Episode Batch No 1 American single malt whiskeyMade in collaboration with Westland Distillery in Seattle, our first ever American Single Malt whiskey release is an exceptional single malt made from a mix of four flavorful PNW barley malts and aged in new American oak barrels. Winner of the 2018 double gold medal from The American Distilling Institute. Mash Bill: Washington Select Pale Malt, Pale Chocolate Malt, Munich Malt, Crystal MaltAged: Minimum 3 yearsDistillation Type: Double pot distilledBarrel: 53-Gallon High Toast, Low Char New American Oak CasksBottle Proof: 90 Proof Batch No 2 American single malt whiskey Batch No. 2 is made from the same grain bill as our first release. But, this time around we've explored unique finishes by transferring the whiskey into Nicaraguan ex-rum and Heaven Hill ex-bourbon barrels at our farm in Hood River, Oregon. The additional six months in these barrels lends the whiskey a sweeter, savory and less smoky flavor profile. Winner of the 2020 gold medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Mash Bill: Washington Select Pale Malt, Pale Chocolate Malt, Munich Malt, Crystal MaltAged: Minimum 4 years in New American Oak then additional 6 months finishing in Nicaraguan ex-rum and Heaven Hill ex-bourbon casksDistillation Type: Double pot distilledBarrel: 53-Gallon High Toast, Low Char New American Oak Casks plus 53-gallon Nicaraguan ex-rum and Heaven Hill ex-bourbon casksBottle Proof: 100 Proof Batch No 3 American single malt whiskeyBatch No. 3 is made from the same grain bill as the prior releases.This batch has been aged for a minimum of 5 years in new american oak and ex-bourbon barrels and finished in port wine casks. The port wine cask and the longer aging period have created a truly complete whiskey to add to our lineup. The effects of the port barrels display a smooth balanced mouthfeel with notes of dried dark fruits, cocoa nib, and toasted pecan. This is not your port forward whiskey. The true beauty of this whiskey is found in a happy medium of influence from the various casks used while not overshadowing the amazing product we started with. Mash Bill: Washington Select Pale Malt, Pale Chocolate Malt, Munich Malt, Crystal MaltAged: 5 years in New American Oak and ex-bourbon barrels with an additional 6 weeks finishi

"It ain't just a bourbon. It's a damn fistful." We had a great time with Anthony Bohlinger, National Brand Ambassador for Fistful of Bourbon. Fistful of Bourbon is a new, national release bourbon from William Grant & Sons. You may be more familiar with the company known for Scotch brands like Glenfiddich and The Balvenie (as well as Hendrick's Gin and Sailor Jerry rum), but this is the company's first new American Whiskey. Fistful is a blend of five straight American bourbons (five fingers … fist ... fistful, it all makes sense now) that are all aged at least two years. The blending is a joint effort by Master Blender Brian Kinsman and Kelsey McKechnie, both from William Grant & Sons. The bottle design is a unique one, evoking the Spaghetti Western theme. Learn more about the lifestyle this brand is trying to reflect, one that's full of fun if you follow Anthony's Instagram feed. The whiskey recently won a Double Gold at the 2019 International Spirits Challenge. Find out our thoughts on this 90 proof, $25 bottle of straight bourbon in this week's episode. We had a great time with Anthony and appreciate him sharing this whiskey with us. Fistful of Bourbon will have nationwide distribution and is currently available for about $25 on Drizly. Learn more about Fistful on their website. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers, Scott, Jake, and MichaelThe Bourbon Lens

Bruce Joseph, Master Distiller of Hotaling & Co., joins us to discuss one of the original craft rye whiskies post-Prohibition. Old Potrero emerged out San Francisco after a few brewers decided to try their hand at distillation in the mid-1990s. Hotaling & Co. (formerly the Anchor Distilling Company) produces several rye whiskies under the Old Potrero namesake. This unique rye whiskey is made from 100% malted rye grain and distilled using pot stills. We had the opportunity to try Old Potrero Straight Rye (aged 4.5 years in new charred oak) and 18th Century Rye (aged 2.5 years in toasted oak), each of which bear some similarities but are unique due to the influence of the barrels used in aging. About Old Potrero and Hotaling & Co. Hotaling & Co., formerly Anchor Distilling Company, was established in 1993 by Fritz Maytag, the same beverage visionary who sparked the craft beer movement with his purchase of Anchor Brewing in 1965. After several decades of exclusively producing beer, Maytag and his team saw an opportunity in craft distilling in the early 1990s. The team began experimenting after realizing that there were no copper pot-distilled whiskies or gins still being made legally in America. The Return of Pot-Distilled Whiskey to the United States Old Potrero recreates the original whiskey of America, and marks the return of pot-distilled whiskey in the United States, with rye being the grain of choice for America's first distillers. Finding inspiration in the rye whiskies of America's past and the great single malt whiskies of Scotland, the original distilling team, which included master distiller Bruce Joseph, who now marks his 40th anniversary at Hotaling & Co., began building a distillery. The first whiskey went into barrel in 1994, and the distillery soon began producing three rye whiskies, all pot-distilled from a mash of 100% malted rye at the Hotaling & Co. Distillery on San Francisco's Potrero Hill: Old Potrero Straight Rye Whiskey (48.5% ABV); Old Potrero 18th Century Style Rye Whiskey (51.2% ABV), and Old Potrero Single Malt Hotaling's Whiskey (50% ABV), in addition to limited-edition special finishes. Leading spirits historian David Wondrich has since named Old Potrero the "#6 most influential spirit of the last 25 years." A New Chapter as Hotaling & Co. In 2017, Anchor Brewing Company was sold, and although Anchor Distilling Company was not part of the sale, it relinquished the rights to use the "Anchor" trademark. In early 2018, the new name of "Hotaling & Co." was announced, a reference to one of Anchor Distilling's most beloved small batch whiskeys and to the San Francisco legend A.P. Hotaling, who came out West during the Gold Rush and quickly became one of the original and most reputable spirits dealers in the country. Born in 1828, Hotaling moved from New York to California in 1852, where he found his calling in San Francisco as a purveyor of fine whiskeys and proceeded to build the largest liquor wholesaler in the West. In San Francisco drinks culture, Hotaling's name became immortalized when his whiskey warehouse on Jackson Street survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. Today, Hotaling & Co. is a quickly growing distiller and importer representing a curated portfolio of super-premium artisanal spirits like Luxardo Liqueurs, Nikka Whisky, and HINE Cognac, and celebrates 26 years of production. Learn more at www.HotalingandCo.com We would appreciate you giving us a 5 STAR RATING on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers! Scott, Michael, & Jake The Bourbon Lens

We are joined by Alexander Berezowski, founder of My Cigar Pack and Cigar Yard, to talk cigars. We discuss the parallels in cigar culture and the world of whiskey as well as what makes the modern cigar smoker different. Alexander generously shared some fine cigars with us to pair with our whiskies of choice. Alexander is a driven entrepreneur who is constantly striving to bring the world's best cigars to all types of cigar lovers. My Cigar Pack and its sister company, Cigar Yard, have partnered with some of the world's premier cigar makers and brands. This subscription service is very affordable at $35 per month for 5 premium cigars plus a smoking accessory (HINT: We even landed a code for a discount for our listeners. See below). The only choice you need to make is whether you prefer Mild, Medium, or Full strength cigars and My Cigar Pack will handle the rest. We appreciate Alexander for sharing some cigars with us and we look forward to enjoy many more as we learn how to pair cigars with whiskey. We encourage you to check out MyCigarPack.com and subscribe; use Code: BOURBONLENS10 and pay ONLY $25 for your first month of 5 cigars. The Benefits of My Cigar Pack Explained We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers! Scott, Michael, & Jake The Bourbon Lens

We had a great time learning the history of Jefferson's Bourbon, sourcing whiskey in Kentucky, and sending bourbon on trips around the globe. Trey Zoeller, Founder of Jefferson's Bourbon, joins us for a great evening enjoying two of Jefferson's popular offerings, Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea and Jefferson's Reserve Pritchard Hill Cabernet Cask Finish. We also talked about a little friedly competition between himself and Julian Van Winkle (of the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery aka Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon) in the mid to late 1990s and early 2000s. Photo Credit: Jefferson's Bourbon Links: Jefferson's Bourbon Official Website Popular Mechanics Article on Aging Bourbon on a Boat (discussed during podcast) Details on Each Ocean Voyage Maxim Featuring Jefferson's Learn more about Ocearch We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers! Jake, Michael, & Scott The Bourbon Lens

Michael and Scott catch up over some bourbon and discuss some exciting, upcoming releases in the whiskey world. We also discuss our hopes in getting back out on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail as COVID-19 has dealt a heavy blow to the tourism industry. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers! Scott, Michael, & Jake The Bourbon Lens *Images Credit: Buffalo Trace Distillery

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a firefighter and first responder at one of the world's largest bourbon distilleries? This week, we sit down with Jim Beam Fire Chief Kevin Mercer and some whiskies from Knob Creek. You'll hear all about the fire department and some details about distillery operations at The James B. Beam Distilling Co. And hear our thoughts on the new Knob Creek 12 Year Old Bourbon and Single Barrel of Knob Creek Rye. Finally, be sure you check out what Chief Mercer is doing on Instagram in the Bourbon and Fire communities. Follow along with @Chief_Mercer and #FireCompanyAlliance and at his website, www.ChiefMercer.com Be sure to follow Chief Mercer on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook for some excellent behind the scenes photos of the Distillery. Links to some great images from Chief Mercer: Jim Beam American Stillhouse at NightJim Beam's Fire TruckChief Mercer in ActionT.W. Samuels Distillery in Deatsville, KY *Please note: All opinions of Kevin Mercer on this podcast are his own and do not express the views or opinions of his employer. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers! Scott, Michael, & Jake The Bourbon Lens

We line up 4 single barrel, store picks of the ever-popular Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon. We also discuss life during the Covid-19 quarantine. The quarantine has provided us with an opportunity to sample some great and some unique whiskies. The four picks we sampled are from: A) Louisville Bourbon Club/Evergreen Liquors, B) Bottles Unlimited, C) Liquor Barn, and D) Keg Liquors Indiana We think we've found a clear winner, but we discuss the nuances of store picks and single barrel programs. And, finally, we discuss the prospect of having a single barrel, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. Maybe just a dream of ours. What about you? For more on Elijah Craig, check out the following links from: Vine Pair on Elijah Craig Heaven Hill Distillery - Elijah Craig Small Batch About Elijah Craig Small Batch Elijah Craig Small Batch is made exclusively from batches of 200 barrels or less of 8- to 12- year-old Bourbon. First brought to market in 1986, Heaven Hill's Master Distillers were selecting a small number of barrels of the finest Bourbon to make Elijah Craig long before the term "small batch" even existed. It is this attention to detail and superb craftsmanship that give Elijah Craig an ideal balance of age, robust body and rich flavor. Its accolades have included a "Double Gold Medal" at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and two-time "Best of the Best" Bourbon by Whisky Magazine. This signature spirit bears the name of the Rev. Elijah Craig, "The Father of Bourbon" who established his distillery in 1789. He is credited with being the first distiller to age his Kentucky whiskey in charred oak barrels. The clear, unaged corn liquor became transformed into a bold amber liquid with a distinctively smooth flavor that makes Bourbon what it is. Produced by Heaven Hill Distillery and one of its bestselling Bourbons by case volume, it is complemented by Elijah Craig 12-Year-Old Barrel Proof, Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel and Elijah Craig 23-Year-Old Single Barrel in the portfolio. For more information, please visit www.elijahcraig.com. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers! Scott, Michael, & Jake The Bourbon Lens

On this week's episode we sit down with Chattanooga Whiskey Co-Founder and CEO Tim Piersant. Their signature Tennessee High Malt whiskey is made up of four grains including 3 specialty malts that provide a unique and very complex flavor profile (which, is a technically a Straight Bourbon also). Tim walks us through the history of distillation in the city of Chattanooga and the role they played in getting distillation legalized again in his hometown. Tim also talks about what made him start Chattanooga Whiskey and their interesting trial and error method of discovering their flagship whiskey mash bill. Their wild method of finding that perfect mash bill also lead to one of the most interesting experimental distillery programs we've heard of yet. Scott, Jake, and Michael really enjoyed this whiskey after much anticipation to try it. Kick back and pour yourself a dram and enjoy this episode. We were happy we discovered a great whiskey brand. This is a Tennessee whiskey that we can really get behind! We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers! Jake, Michael, & Scott The Bourbon Lens LINKS: Chattanooga Whiskey Website Forbes: Meet The Bourbon Distiller Who Refuses To Brand His Bourbon 'Bourbon'

Branching out and exploring Australian Whisky in this week's episode with David Vitale, Founder of Starward. Starward Australian Whisky was founded in 2007 but recently released in the US with two solid expressions; Nova Single Malt Whisky and Two-Fold Double Grain Whisky. We were able to enjoy both of with Founder David Vitale via Skype. Since its Australian debut in 2016, Starward Nova has received numerous accolades including two gold medals at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition for both the "World's Best Craft Distilled Whisky" and the "Best Australian Single Malt Whisky". Starward was also named "Best Australian Whisky Innovator" from Icons of Whisky and crowned "Best Australian Single Malt" by the World Whiskies Awards in 2016 and 2017. Starward was founded by David Vitale in 2007 in Melbourne, Australia and is a modern Australian whisky, matured in Australian red wine barrels. The ingredients used to distill Starward are a day's drive away from the Melbourne-based distillery. The red wine barrels that mature the whisky are built around a broad cross section of big Australian reds, including 100L Barossa Shiraz barrels. The quick turnaround time between the barrels being disgorged at the winery and arriving at Starward means that the barrels retain much of their original character that is apparent in the flavor and texture of the whisky. You'll find ample red fruit notes and complex aromas, we definitely enjoyed the departure from our usual American bourbons and ryes. LINKS: Find Starward on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @StarwardWhisky. Follow David on Instagram at @IAmDavidVitale Starward Whisky Website New York Times Feature on Australian Whisky Goodfood.com on Australian Whisky We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. -Jake, Michael, Scott The Bourbon Lens *Photo Credit: Starward Whisky

Self-proclaimed "Whiskey Farmers", Colby Frey and Ashley Frey recently introduced their first bourbon and have staked their claim in the craft bourbon space. Frey Ranch Distillery is a true ground-to-glass "whiskey farm" and distillery located in Northern Nevada's Lake Tahoe Watershed, where the Frey family has been farming since 1854. The 1,500-acre Frey Ranch is owned and operated by fifth-generation farmer Colby Frey and his wife Ashley, who founded a distillery on the property in 2006 and began aging whiskies onsite in a hand-built barrel warehouse in 2014. This past December, Frey Ranch released its first Straight Bourbon Whiskey ($49.99) in Nevada. This 90-proof bourbon is aged for a minimum of four years and boasts a 4 Grain mash bill of non-GMO corn, winter cereal rye, winter wheat, and two-row malted barley, 100% of which is grown onsite at Frey Ranch. This 4 year old, 4 grain bourbon is complex with a long finish, thanks to the varied climate and broad temperature swings in Northern Nevada. Frey Ranch is looking to expand their market share and will be available in California soon. Also, it will be available this summer, along with their Rye Whiskey, through online retailers, such as https://www.bountyhunterwine.com/. We recommend you seek out this bourbon, which stands out on any shelf and will stand out on your bar. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Thanks for listening, Scott, Jake, and Michael The Bourbon Lens *Blog Post Images Credit to Frey Ranch Distillery

On this week's episode we take a trip to Starlight, Indiana to visit the Starlight Distillery located at Huber's Orchard & Winery. Huber's is most known for their world-famous wine and entertainment at the winery. We were met by co-owner and Master Distiller Ted Huber and his son and associate distiller, Christian Huber. They were kind enough to give us a private tour of the distillery and share some very special whiskies with us. We then sat down to do what we do, record a podcast. Ted and Christian give us and you an inside look into what it takes to run a grain-to-bottle distillery, what they look for in their whiskies, and how their wine making experience plays a vital role in how they make whiskey. We were also joined by the Starlight Marketing Director, James Wood. James walks us through how Starlight is able to compete in a crowded marketplace and what sets Starlight apart through the distribution channel. If you have some Starlight whiskey or some Huber's wine, pour yourself a glass and listen to this exciting podcast. We think you will learn a lot from our great conversation with the Starlight team, cheers! We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts for news and reviews. Thanks for listening, Scott, Jake, and Michael The Bourbon Lens

It is hard to identify the flavors and aromas of whiskey without experiencing those flavors and aromas first. This is where the Nose Your Bourbon Kit comes into play. Chris Walters has created a bourbon nosing kit to help bourbon fans identify the various elements of bourbon aromas and tastes. The compact, travel-ready kit includes 18 different vials of some of the most common smells you may discover in a whiskey; peanut, corn, cinnamon and tobacco just to name a few. The Nose Your Bourbon Kit is a great way to train your nose to detect subtle notes in bourbon. Spend some of your extra free time developing your whiskey tasting skills with a kit of your own. Check out the coupon code below. We've secured a 10% Discount for our listeners and fans, just use the coupon code: BOURBONLENS Get your Nose Your Bourbon kit at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NoseYourBourbon We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts for news and reviews. Thanks for listening, Scott, Jake, and Michael The Bourbon Lens

We're discussing a new style of whiskey for us, American Single Malt Whiskey. And who better to talk with than Westland Distillery, co-founders of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission. We discuss what makes an American Single Malt Whiskey and the efforts to ratify a definition on a national level to protect the whiskey category. We enjoyed 3 of Westland's single malts; American Oak, Sherry Wood, and Peated. Made from 100% barley, American Single Malt Whiskey may not share a lot of similarities with Kentucky Bourbon, but we enjoyed exploring the style. The rise in interest of the category has developed a lot of unique offerings across the country to compete with bourbon and rye whiskey. According to the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission, there are six standards of identity. An American single malt must be: Made from 100% malted barley Distilled entirely in one distillery Mashed, distilled and matured in the U.S. Matured in oak casks of a capacity not exceeding 700 litres Distilled to no more than 160 proof (or 80% ABV) Bottled at 80 proof (40% ABV) or more LINKS: Westland Distillery American Single Malt Whiskey Commission How Westland Is Leading An American Single Malt Revolution Matt Hofmann, Westland Master Distiller - Interview What Is American Single Malt Seattle Scotch Is A Thing. And It's Good. NOTE: This show was recorded prior to the outbreak of Coronavirus/ Covid-19 in Seattle Washington and the surrounding areas. We do not address this topic in this show for that reason. We send our best wishes to everyone that has been impacted by this virus and pandemic. Thanks for sticking with us each week, we enjoy interacting with our listeners so please reach out anytime! We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. - Scott, Michael, & Jake

Is there more to Irish Whiskey than a shot of Jameson on St. Patrick's Day? We have a lineup of several different Irish Whiskies and found ourselves in uncharted territory as bourbon fans. Thank you to the contributors who helped make this episode possible. Irish Whiskey Glass Ltd. coordinated with Distillery Products to provide us with some beautiful Túath Irish Whiskey Glasses. These are designed with Irish Whiskey in mind. We'd encourage our listeners to check them out if they are looking for new and interesting whiskey glassware for tastings or drinking. Also, a big thanks to Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey and West Cork Distillers for providing several bottles of Irish Whiskey to incorporate into this lineup. Links, Whiskies and Products: Instant Expert Irish Whiskey - Requirements Distillery Products - Wholesale Branded Whiskey Glassware Túath Glass - Irish Whiskey Glass Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey West Cork Distillers Knappogue Castle Whiskey Proper Twelve Whiskey Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition Be sure to check out Distillery Products for all of your whiskey glassware needs. We appreciate them for sending the Túath glasses for our tasting. Podcast artwork courtesy of Túath Glass. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Thank you! - Jake, Michael, & Scott The Bourbon Lens

In honor of International Women's Day and Women's History Month, we sat down with a very influential woman in the Kentucky Bourbon world. Peggy Noe Stevens has played a huge role in crafting Kentucky's bourbon-ism culture and creating bourbon-centric experiences for many thousands of guests in her career. Even if you didn't know her name before today, you definitely know her work if you've ever traveled on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Peggy Noe Stevens has written a new book to share her knowledge of hosting parties, entertaining, and pairing bourbons with meals in her latest book, "Which Fork Do I Use with My Bourbon?", releasing in April 2020. Stevens, the first female master bourbon taster in the world, was recently inducted into the 2019 Bourbon Hall of Fame and the 2020 American Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame. In the Mid-1990s, Stevens spearheaded opening the Woodford Reserve Homeplace and co-created the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, which now attracts more than 1 million visitors a year. She founded the Bourbon Women Association to provide an opportunity for women to network and learn. With her company Peggy Noe Stevens & Associates, she also builds distilleries around the country creating unique consumer experiences in food, beverage and tourism. About the book: "Which Fork Do I Use with My Bourbon?" places America's native spirit at the center of entertaining. Whether elegant or casual, for the holidays or just to celebrate an evening with friends, this book will give you all the tools for planning your bourbon gathering. Conduct a bourbon tasting like a pro, make bourbon the focus of your cocktail party, or plan a delicious, intriguing dinner party that pairs specific bourbons with certain dishes. Plus, some of Kentucky's legendary distilleries share their tips for hosting the ultimate bourbon and dinner event. Along with co-author Susan Reigler, these two Kentucky natives and bourbon industry leaders walk you through all stages of planning and hosting with party tips and tricks, along with recipes for bourbon-centric cocktails and dishes. LINKS: Order "Which Fork Do I Use with My Bourbon?" 2019 Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Induction 2020 Icons of Whisky - Hall of Fame Induction Peggy on Instagram Peggy Noe Stevens & Associates Forbes Feature: Women Running the Liquor World Bourbon Women Association We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. - Scott, Jake, and Michael The Bourbon Lens

What is it like trying to make a name for yourself in the Kentucky Bourbon industry? Learn about running a small, family-owned business, risk tasking, and networking in Kentucky. We sat down with Rich Finck, Owner and Founder of Kentucky Straight Ice, "The Official Ice of Bourbon". Whether you add water, ice, bitters, or coke to your bourbon, you are bound to enjoy your favorite spirit more when you add a crystal clear cube of Kentucky Straight Ice. It is the Official Ice of Bourbon™. While not everyone may enjoy their bourbon on the rocks, it is clear (pun intended) that this ice deserves space in a home bar and craft cocktail bars. Kentucky Straight Ice™ provides a level of elegance, purity, and consistency to the premium spirits industry. Kentucky Straight Ice™ is The Official Ice of Bourbon™ and it is the perfect pairing for your top-shelf spirit. Pure, consistent, slow melting, and stunningly clear! Check out Kentucky Straight Ice on Instagram and on their website. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. [Logo Artwork Courtesy of Kentucky Straight Ice]

On this week's episode, The Bourbon Lens travels to the historic Beaumont Inn in Harrodsburg, KY to sit down with Kentucky Owl Co-founder, Dixon Dedman. Dixon resurrected his great-great grandfather, Charles Mortimer Dedman's whiskey brand that had fallen victim to prohibition in the early 1900's. The Kentucky Owl name laid dormant until Dixon had the idea to revitalize the family brand. Kick back and enjoy our conversation with Dixon, as we talk about growing up in his family's Beaumont Inn, and the historic relevance of this Inn that his family has owned since 1919. Hear Dixon's interesting tales of his great-great grandfather, C.M. Dedman, and what inspired him to bring back a brand that had been a family ghost for nearly 100 years. Dixon talks about what it takes to masterfully blend excellent whiskey and what the partnership with the SPI Group means for Kentucky Owl. We had a lot of fun sharing some pours with Dixon at the Beaumont Inn, we hope you enjoy the conversation too, Cheers! We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. And share this post with your friends and followers on social media. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. - Jake, Scott, and Michael The Bourbon Lens

A big thank you this week to Bill Straub for inviting us into his home to share his whiskey with the The Bourbon Lens. We sat down with Bill Straub and Bob D'Antoni, co-founders of Four Gate Whiskey, and explored the history of their brand as well as their unique take on whiskey. Four Gate is known for its collaborations with Kelvin Cooperage, a craft barrel maker in Louisville Kentucky. Four Gate produces unique batches of barrel-finished, barrel proof, and limited release American Whiskey for bourbon and whiskey enthusiasts. They just released Batch 5 and it's safe to say that every batch is unique. As a small-scale blender, finisher, and bottler of whiskey, Four Gate is currently available in limited markets but is looking to grow its footprint. We discuss the business side of being a non-distilling whiskey producer and how they leverage their close relationship with one of the best craft barrel suppliers in the state. Find out which Batches are our favorites and what Four Gate Whiskey Company has coming soon. More details on the brand can be found on their website: FourGateWhiskey.com [Stock Photography Courtesy of Four Gate Whiskey] DETAILS ON THE WHISKEY: Batch 1: The Kelvin Collaboration The first batch from Four Gate was the one that started it all for the company. They chose 14 of their oldest and most flavorful barrels of 11 year old whiskey and combined them into Kelvin's ex-sherry rum casks and let them age. The Mash Bill is 74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malted barley. 1732 bottles were released at 61.7%/123.4 Proof. Blend Selection Collaborators: Brian Haara (Bourbon author, aka "Sipp'nCorn,") Owen Powell & Craig Rupprecht (Louisville Bourbon Hounds), William Hornaday (Kelvin Cooperage). MSRP: $199.99 Batch 2: Outer Loop Orbit Likely the most unique offering from Four Gate, a blend of 5.5 Year and 12 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbons. Then finished in Orange Curaçao-Gin Casks from Kelvin Cooperage. The two bourbons that were blended were a 5.5 Yr Mash Bill: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley and a 12 Yr Mash Bill: 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley. Non-Chill Filtered and bottled at 120.3 Proof. 2,402 Bottles were released with an MSRP of $199.99. Batch 3: Foundation This is a unfinished 9 Year, 9 Month Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon; Mash Bill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley. It is Non-Chill Filtered and bottled at 119.4 Proof. Only 748 Bottles were produced and it carries an MSRP of $199.99. Batch 4: Split Stave™ by Kelvin The Split Stave is a creation of Kelvin Cooperage; Kelvin crafted a series of medium toast casks, then a series of #2 char casks, and finally a third series of #4 char casks. Then William Hornaday and his team at Kelvin broke all the barrels apart and rebuilt them, alternating between toasted staves and #2 char staves on some barrels, and toasted and #4 char staves on others, they have created the first ever "Split Stave™" barrels. It is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; consisting of a 5.5 Year Mash Bill: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley and a 12 Year Mash Bill: 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley. The blend was rested in Split Stave™ barrels for five months. It is Non-Chill Filtered and bottled at 115.6 proof. Only 2700 bottles were released with an MSRP of $174.99. Batch 5: Foundation #2 The second release of Foundation. This is the last of this whiskey the company will release, and only 590 total bottles were produced. It is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey distilled from a mash bill consisting of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley, and checks in at 120.2 proof, and aged 9 years, 9 months. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.

On this week's episode, we sit down with the co-founder of Angel's Envy, Wes Henderson, as we discuss the inspiration of the brand and the Angel's Envy product line. Wes is the son of bourbon hall of famer, Lincoln Henderson. Wes and Lincoln had a vision to start their own independent distillery and make unique products by barrel finishing their hand-crafted whiskey. On this episode, we discuss everything from their standard product offerings to their limited edition Cellar Collection releases. We dive into the resurgence of Whiskey Row in downtown Louisville and the role Angel's Envy played in making Whiskey Row what it is today. Wes also reveals what his daily sipper when he is at home relaxing. It may surprise you what an owner of a bourbon distillery sips on in the comfort of his own home. If you haven't had a chance to try the new, limited release, Tawny Port Finish Bourbon, from the Angel's Envy Cellar Collection, you may want to do yourself a favor and get your hands on a bottle before they are all gone. So kick back, pour yourself a bourbon, especially an Angel's Envy, and enjoy the conversation we had with Wes Henderson. Cheers! We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. (Stock photos for this post courtesy of Angel's Envy)

Michael enjoyed some whiskey from Christine Riggleman (aka Hooch Mama) and Lauren Riggleman Weller (Baby Hooch). Thanks to one of our fans, PCWhiskey on Instagram, we were introduced to this Mother-Daughter distilling duo from Silverback Distillery. Learn more about the Silverback team and their lineup of whiskey in this week's episode. Christine and Lauren make a great team and provide a great perspective on life as a growing distillery. Additionally, Silverback is active in their fight for legal and regulatory changes to Virginia laws which hinder their ability to compete in the alcoholic beverage industry in Virginia. Find out more about their fight for parity in the Commonwealth of Virginia in this article from the Washington Post, featuring Silverback Distillery. ABOUT: Silverback Distillery is the only mother-daughter distilling duo in the nation crafting high quality, award-winning spirits. From the refreshing, citrus-forward Strange Monkey Gin to real honey-liqueur infused Blackback Rye Whiskey to the "ultimate butterscotch bomb" Blackback Bourbon, Silverback Distillery strives to produce distinct, flavorful spirits from a unique mix of local grains, mountain water and good ol' American craft(woman)ship. With production facilities and tasting rooms in both the Pocono region of Pennsylvania and in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Silverback offers a unique visitor experience. From mini cocktail flights, barrel smoked cocktails, or whiskey served neat, however you fancy your tasting, our distillery offers a chest-thumping good time. Christine Riggleman (@HoochMamaDistiller) is the CEO and Master Distiller of Silverback Distillery. Born and raised in Manassas, Virginia, Christine married her high school sweetheart, Denver, at the age of 19. Shortly after, Denver joined the Air Force and their journey across the United States and far-off lands began. Christine earned a scholarship from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in 2000 but due to her husband's military career, she turned down the offer. Christine's passion for culinary delights never wavered and eventually veered into the world of extraordinary spirits. She became fascinated with distilling on a tour of Ben Nevis Distillery in Scotland in 2012, and shortly after began researching distillation and maturation processes with Denver. In 2014, after a year and a half of strenuous planning, research and construction, Silverback Distillery opened its doors. Although Silverback has only been open since August of 2014, Christine's spirits have racked up accolades, earning 16 international awards among numerous local and statewide awards. In 2014, she was named one of the top gin distillers in the United States through MSN.com, and in 2017 became the first person inducted into the ABV Network's Bourbon Hall of Fame. Lauren Riggleman (@BabyHooch) is the Assistant Distiller & General Manager for Silverback Distillery. A second generation distiller, Lauren received her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia in 2015. In 2017, she received her Master's Degree in Fermentation Sciences: Brewing and Distilling from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. While spending a year in Scotland, Lauren became a member of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling and spent time researching the similarities and differences between Scottish and American distilling and brewing practices. Lauren loves to get involved with all things whiskey on social media, and has appeared on the ABV Network's podcast The Bourbon Daily a number of times. She joined her mother in the ABV Network's Hall of Fame as the 39th inductee. Lauren is also teaching the first ever General Certificate in Distilling Course starting at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville. Lauren currently resides in Massanutten, Virginia with her husband, Brant, and their three dogs. As always, we would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.

Wheater Madness and Weller Bourbon! It has been exactly one year since we released our first podcast and this week's episode is a bit of free-for-all. And what better bourbon to discuss than Weller, "The Original Wheated Bourbon". We discuss voting for The Rock for President, old school pro wrestling, the bourbon secondary market, Conor McGregor fandom, and the wild world of Weller Bourbon. Listen in as we blind taste Weller's standard lineup to find our favorites. We tasted Weller Special Reserve, Weller Antique 107, Weller 12, Weller C.Y.P.B, and the new Weller Full Proof (Check the show notes below for what bourbon each of our glasses contained by number) We also discuss a new product and app that was recently introduced to us. Oak Bottle sent us one of their "Oak Bottle Mini", which is the 355 ml version of their rapid aging bottles. Oak Bottle is a white oak container that accelerates the oak aging process of your spirits, wine, and more. The Oak Bottle is charred inside to a medium level and is a great addition to your home bar if you like to tinker with your spirits. Be sure to check out their companion tasting app which is on the Apple App Store, just search Oak Bottle. For more info: www.oakbottle.com Jake's Glass Numbers: CYPB Weller 12 Full Proof Special Reserve Antique 107 Scott's Glass Numbers: Antique 107 Special Reserve Weller 12 Full Proof CYPB Michael's Glass Numbers: Weller 12 Antique 107 CYPB Full Proof Special Reserve We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.

Today's episode features the limited release Double Barrel Maple Bourbon from Taconic Distillery. Michael and Scott also dive into the world of Whiskey Instagram and how we see things changing on the platform. The Double Barrel Maple Bourbon is the 115 proof release and it was barreled in Catskill Mountain Sugarhouse maple syrup barrels. We also compared it to Taconic's Mizunara finished bourbon from Episode 48. Enjoy today's episode and be sure to keep an eye out for the whiskies coming out of New York's Taconic Distillery. About Taconic Distillery: Taconic Distillery, established in 2013, is a purveyor of fine craft spirits located in the Hudson Valley of New York. We handcraft our award-winning bourbon and rye whiskies in small batches using the finest ingredients, including grains grown in New York and natural spring water from our farm. Inspired by hunting and fishing, Taconic embraces a passion for the outdoors and that passion is imprinted on all our spirits. All of our spirits are brilliant for simple sipping. They also make excellent traditional and signature cocktails. We are proud members of the American Distilling Institute, the American Craft Spirits Association and the New York Distillers Guild. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.

The three of us are back together again and we have 3 barrel proof bourbons ready to go. This time, we taste a flight of the 2019 offerings of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. Heaven Hill released three high proof, 12 year old bourbons in 2019, as they do every year of their popular Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon. The Batches are as follows: RELEASE DATE BATCH NO. PROOF January 2019 A119 135.2 May 2019 B519 122.2 September 2019 C919 136.8 From Heaven Hill: To sip our Barrel Proof Bourbon is to experience Bourbon in its purest form—uncut, straight from the barrel, and without chill filtering. Each bottle is hand labeled with its unique proof and batch number but the nose, taste, and finish of every sip is pure Elijah Craig. We're proud to say that remarkable consistency earned us the award of Whisky Advocate's "Whisky of the Year." With Barrel Proof, you can enjoy Elijah Craig much the same way our Master Distillers do when they sample straight from the barrel in our Kentucky rickhouses. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.

On this week's episode, while Scott is out for the birth of his new son, Jake and Michael take time to reflect back on The Bourbon Lens' first year and highlights for us in 2019, and oh yeah, put some rye whiskies to the test. We put eight rye whiskies through the rye flight challenge. Comparing the match-ups by proof, we sipped some really fine rye whiskey, and one that was a real letdown, who will it be? Rye Flight Fights: Bulleit Rye 12 Year (92 Proof) vs. Colonel EH Taylor Straight Rye (100 Proof) Angel's Envy Finished Rye (100 Proof) vs. Wild Turkey 101 Rye (101 Proof) Parkers Heritage Rye 8 Year (105 Proof) vs. Pikesville Rye (110 Proof) Willett Family Estate Small Batch Rye 4 Year (111 Proof) vs. Wilderness Trail Rye (112 Proof) Tune in to see which was our favorite and least favorite. The beautiful thing about whiskey is that everyone's pallet is unique, so be sure to let us know which of these rye whiskies you prefer! As always, we would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.

On this week's episode Michael sits down with glassmaker Denver Cramer, co-owner of Denver & Liely. Denver & Liely is a company founded by two engineers in Melbourne, Australia with a passion for designing spirits glasses that enhance the drinker's connection with the spirit they are consuming. This episode takes a trip down memory lane as we discuss Denver's passions and life journeys that have been inspirational for his success. We discuss his decision to quit his day job and pursue the idea of creating a premier glass company, and the travels taken to gain inspiration in the designs of the glass. It was a lot of fun getting to chat with our new mate from the land down under. We have been long time fans of the glasses they make and certainly enjoy our whiskey just a little bit more when consuming from them. So enjoy the episode and go check out Denver & Liely, they have a glass to suit every type of drinker, cheers! Check out our full review on their Bourbon Glass on our website: https://bourbonlens.com/denverliely/ www.denverandliely.com Instagram: @denverandliely Facebook: Denver & Liely Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected].

The Bourbon Lens version of a Christmas Gift Guide. Gift guides can be found everywhere on the internet, but this podcast episode is a fresh spin on that idea. We take several "Whiskey Friend" stereotypes and suggest bottles of whiskey for each. Some of these gifts might be serious, most are sarcastic, but you're sure to find the perfect whiskey bottle to gift your friends. Here's the listing of those typical "Whiskey Friend" stereotypes: Whiskey Tater The guy who calls Old RIP Van Winkle, "Pappy" The guy who refers to all Whiskey as Bourbon The guy who drinks Bourbon and Coke on the rocks The guy who self proclaimed as "The Wheater" The guy who just started buying bourbon The guy who claims all bourbon is made in Kentucky Be sure to let us know if we missed any stereotypes or if there are any whiskies we may have overlooked in our episode. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.

On this week's episode we sit down with Broken Barrel Whiskey Founder and CEO, Seth Benhaim. Seth started the Infuse Spirits Company in 2012 when he was 25 years old. The Infuse Spirits line focuses on naturally infusing and blending spirits with natural fruits and spices. Seth's passion for infusing spirits led him to become the youngest brand owner to ever win Best-in-Show and Double-Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. While the Infuse Spirits line primarily focuses on blending and infusing Vodka spirits, Seth realized he wanted to expand his blending experience to whiskey. This created the spin off from Infuse Spirits to Broken Barrel. We sat down with Seth and shared some pours of his Single Oak series of Broken Barrel Whiskey. The premise of this project, was sourcing Kentucky and Indiana whiskey, and then additional aging in steel containers, using staves from used barrels. In the single cask series, Seth has created a Mizunara finish, a Peated Scotch finish, and an Amontillado Sherry finish. Seth's process for accomplishing this, is to use reclaimed barrels that have seen a life of aging other whiskies. Once Seth receives the used barrels at his Los Angeles warehouse, he removes the barrel hoops and then the fun part, smashing the barrels with a sledge hammer, giving him the staves needed to age his whiskey and created unique flavor profiles. It was fun getting to sit and talk with Seth for this podcast. Seth is not a Master Distiller, he is a spirits enthusiast who loves to blend sourced spirits and create new and interesting flavors that stand out in a crowded market. So pour yourself a dram and enjoy the show as we discuss what it's like to start a business in the spirits industry and the inspiration behind creating the Broken Barrel Single Cask Series: Mizunara, Isle of Peat, and The Cask of Amontillado. Cheers! Details on The Single Oak Series Lineup from Broken Barrel Whiskey: Isle of Peat Mizunara The Cask of Amantillado Read The Cask of Amontillado from Edgar Allen Poe As always, we would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Where is Broken Barrel Whiskey / Infuse Spirits Available? Available across the US (ask your retailer) In Kentucky (small sampling): TOTAL WINE & MORE BARDSTOWN BOURBON CO MAMMOTH LIQUORS LIBBYS COVINGTON DEPS FINE WINE & SPIRITS COVINGTON DEPS FINE WINE 424 ALEXANDRIA PIKE FORT THOMAS CORK & BOTTLE 584 BUTTERMILK PIKE FT MITCHELL GO BIG BLUE LIQUOR 1260 FOX CREEK RD STE B LAWRENCEBURG LUCKYS MARKET LIQUOR 210 N HURSTBOURNE PKWY LOUISVILLE ASPEN CREEK #376 8000 BARDSTOWN RD LOUISVILLE DOC CROWS SMOKEHOUSE 127 W MAIN ST LOUISVILLE JS LIQUORS 2216 NEW HARTFORD RD OWENSBORO SOUTHSIDE WINE & SPIRITS 222 S MAYO TRL PIKEVILLE THE BOURBON BARN 640 W KY 92 STE 1 WILLIAMSBURG

From Buffalo Trace to The Big Apple. Brandon Collins, Head Distiller for Taconic Distillery, joins us for this week's episode of The Bourbon Lens. Brandon moved on from his role at one of the most recognizable distilleries in world to take on craft distilling in New York state. Taconic Distillery is located 90 miles north of New York City and is gaining ground by their willingness to experiment with excellent barrel finishes and their ability to produce high quality bourbon and rye whiskey. On this episode, we were drinking Taconic's Mizunara Cask finished bourbon, weighing in at 107 proof. Read more on Mizunara Oak in this article from Wine Enthusiast We hope you enjoy this week's episode and maybe even discover a rising distillery you might not be aware of. Taconic Distillery has plans to expand its distribution to Kentucky during 2020, so look for them on a shelf near you soon. Brandon Collins Bio/Background: Raised in Carlisle, OH, Brandon grew up with a love of chemistry that eventually led to his passion for producing amazing whiskey. Brandon received a BS in Chemical Engineering at Ohio State University, where his studies included Brewing and Fermentation Science. After graduating college, he went on to hold a highly coveted Distillery Supervisor position at Buffalo Trace. During his tenure at Buffalo Trace, the oldest continuously operating distillery in the country, Buffalo Trace was named "Whiskey Distiller of the Year" in 2014 and "Brand Innovator of the Year" in 2015, by Whisky Magazine's "Icons of Whisky America". During his travels Brandon developed a love for New York City, where he currently resides. When an opportunity arose at Long Island Spirits in 2017 he decided it was time to combine his two passions and relocate to New York. There he went on to produce a "Chairman's Trophy Rye Whiskey" in the Ultimate Spirits Challenge. About Taconic Distillery: Taconic Distillery, established in 2013, is a purveyor of fine craft spirits located in the Hudson Valley of New York. We handcraft our award-winning bourbon and rye whiskies in small batches using the finest ingredients, including grains grown in New York and natural spring water from our farm. Inspired by hunting and fishing, Taconic embraces a passion for the outdoors and that passion is imprinted on all our spirits. All of our spirits are brilliant for simple sipping. They also make excellent traditional and signature cocktails. We are proud members of the American Distilling Institute, the American Craft Spirits Association and the New York Distillers Guild. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.

We sat down with Distiller Alan Bishop and Jolee Kasprzak from The Spirits of French Lick Distillery in West Baden Springs, Indiana. We recorded this episode on location in the Spirits of French Lick Barrel Chai (Warehouse) while enjoying some of their Lee W. Sinclair 4 Grain Bourbon. This is a distillery that truly embraces it motto, "Respect the Grain." Find out why Alan Bishop dislikes being called a Master Distiller and prefers "Alchemist" instead. Alan is a wealth of knowledge on the history of distillation, the spirited history of Indiana, and the process of making spirits with various techniques, technology, & ingredients. SHOW LINKS: Spirits of French Lick Distillery Official Website Spirits of French Lick product lineup Alan Bishop Blog Site for History Lessons and More Follow Spirits of French Lick on Instagram Follow Alan Bishop on Instagram - TheAlchemistCabinet Follow Jolee (aka Big Red) on Instagram We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.