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.

Stephen Gould, Owner of Golden Moon Distillery & Gun Fighter Whiskey, joins The Bourbon Lens Podcast. Stephen has close to 30 years of distilling experience. Golden Moon and Gun Fighter are Stephen's brands and he is looking to grow in the industry. Stephen has also collaborated with many others including the Legend, Dave Pickerell. His expertise is not limited to whiskey; Stephen enjoys creating several unique and historical spirits. You'll find Stephen distilling gin, absinthe, and many more you've likely never heard of. We hope you enjoy this episode and discover Golden Moon Distillery. Be sure to check out Gun Fighter Double Cask Bourbon Whiskey which we enjoyed while recording this episode. Find more about Golden Moon Distillery and Gun Fighter Whiskey at the following links: Golden Moon Distillery - Official Website Golden Moon Distillery 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.

What is it like to run a small business in the Kentucky Bourbon industry? We sat down with the Owner and leather craftsman behind the BourbonWare brand. BourbonWare is the brainchild and nearly lifelong passion of Micah Sierp. Micah has been involved in the leather crafting trade for over 20 years and is proud to follow in his father's trade. BourbonWare's flagship product, the Lexington Rocks Glass was developed by Micah in 2007; a 13.5oz Libbey rocks glass which is tightly wrapped with an English Bridle leather sleeve. According to the brand, "Anything Else is Just a Glass." BourbonWare's story started when Micah convinced Woodford Reserve to buy a dozen of these glasses with their original Labrot & Graham logo. Woodford Reserve has been a strong supporter and customer ever since. In 2011, Micah took this glass creation and started BourbonWare. Today, you'll see a variety of BourbonWare's products in distilleries across the Bluegrass and beyond. BourbonWare features vegetable tanned English bridle leather from Wickett & Craig tannery in Pennsylvania and Libbey glassware. The next time you are in a gift shop, ask for BourbonWare. Grab a glass for yourself or as a gift, you'll recognize the fine leather craftsmanship immediately. If you are interested in ordering, head to BourbonWare.com. Micah has generously given our listeners a 15% discount on his website; just use the COUPON CODE: BW15. Also, check out BourbonWare on Instagram. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps 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.

It may not be Avengers: Infinity Wars, but we had a battle this week. We found out how difficult it is to blend whiskey. Each of us tried our hands at blending our own whiskey (blend recipes listed below) and we lined them up in a blind tasting. Find out who wins this week's challenge and who might need some more practice. Also, during the episode you'll learn how you can get your hands on these same whiskey blends to taste for yourself. Be sure to follow us on Instagram for more details. What is an "Infinity Bottle"? How the Infinity Bottle Became a Whiskey Nerd Obsession How to experience the glories of the Whiskey Infinity Bottle Infinity Bottle Tips Every Whiskey Drinker Needs an Infinity Bottle 1) Jake's Bottle Contents: Blantons Uncle Nearest Peerless Single Barrel Rye Buffalo Trace store pick Weller Special Reserve Weller CYPB Weller 12 Kentucky Owl Rye batch 2 Four Roses Small Batch Four Roses Small Batch Select EH Taylor Small Batch Paniolo Woodford Double Oaked store pick St Augustine Double Barrel Jim Beam Legent Angel's Envy Oloroso Sherry Cask High West - Double Rye High West - American Prairie High West - Campfire High West - Bourye High West - Yippie Ki Yay 2) Michael's Bottle Contents: Sazerac Rye Henry McKenna BIB Weller Antique107 Blantons Elijah Craig BP - Batch B Stagg Jr Wilderness Trail Rye Old Forester 1910 Peerless Rye single barrel EH Taylor Small Batch Knob Creek Single Barrel Eagle Rare Wild Turkey Rare Breed Willett Rye Pikesville Rye Makers Mark Cask Strength Evan Williams BIB Four Roses Small Batch Select 3) Scott's Bottle Contents: JTS Brown BIB Wild Turkey Rare Breed Russel's Reserve 10 Year Henry McKenna BIB Stagg Jr. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A119 Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Early Times BIB 1792 BIB Single Barrel Store Pick Buffalo Trace Wilderness Trail Single Barrel Bourbon Rabbit Hole Heigold Virgin Bourbon 101 Proof - NAS Heaven Hill BIB - 6 Year Old We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps 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 dive into a set of samples sent to us by Bourbon Charity. This is a blind tasting to find the best bourbon under $30. Bourbon Charity is an organization which is utilizing bourbon to benefit several non-profit and charitable organizations. "Drink for A Change" is one of their mottos and this latest effort will benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Children's Tumor Foundation, Fisher House Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of East Valley, and Charity: Water. Learn more about Bourbon Charity, the organizations that support, and how you can help on their website, BourbonCharity.org. The Blind Tasting Lineup Features: 1. Four Roses Small Batch 2. Maker's Mark 3. Woodford Reserve 4. Knob Creek Small Batch 5. Buffalo Trace {SPOILER ALERT} 30 people from across the USA took the Under $30 Blind Tasting Challenge and the winner is: Buffalo Trace 1st Place: Buffalo Trace (3.32 average score)2nd Place: Four Roses (3.04 average score)3rd Place: Knob Creek (3.04 average score)4th Place: Woodford Reserve (2.96 average score)5th Place Makers Mark (2.80 average score) NOTE: Four Roses and Knob Creek tied but Four Roses had more first place votes. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps 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.

There is no "smoke and mirrors" when it comes to Bardstown Bourbon Company. This episode features an interview with Dan Callaway from Bardstown Bourbon Company. Dan is the Assistant Vice President of Customer Relations for Bardstown Bourbon and handles the customer facing side of the business as well as product development. We enjoyed several excellent whiskies from Bardstown Bourbon Company as we learned about their take on the future of the bourbon industry and how they intend to be a part of it in a big way. Dan shared the Discovery Series with us as well as some exciting new, fall releases from Bardstown, part of their Collaborative Series. Be sure to check out Dan on Instagram for some behind the scenes at Bardstown Bourbon Company (BBCo Official Instagram). Links: Bardstown Bourbon Company Website Whiskey We Enjoyed During this Episode Bardstown Bourbon Company Drops 3 New Collaborative Whiskeys Copper & Kings American Brandy Company Bardstown restaurant credits foreign exchange program for its recent success About Bardstown Bourbon Company: We operate one of the most sophisticated distilleries in the country, with a focus on transparency — all open spaces and clear glass — putting the science and craft of whiskey-making front and center for all to see. Our Collaborative Distilling Program brings together some of the most experienced distillers in the industry under one roof. This completely unique and inclusive process allows our customers to create alongside us and drives education, innovation, and experimentation. We produce nearly 40 unique mash bills for some of the finest whiskey and bourbon brands, including Jefferson's, High West, Belle Meade, Hirsch, Calumet, James E. Pepper, Cyrus Noble, and many others. Thank You! We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps 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 line up 3 single barrel bourbons from Jake's whiskey collection this week. The newcomer, Kentucky Peerless Bourbon, takes on the ever-popular EH Taylor Single Barrel from Buffalo Trace and the ultra-aged 18 year old Elijah Craig from Heaven Hill. We also discuss the benefits of small batch and blending vs. single barrel bourbons. Find out how each ranked in our blind tasting episode of single barrel bourbons. SHOW LINKS: Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Collection Kentucky Peerless Single Barrel Bourbon Don't forget to give us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps others discover our podcast and will help us expand our listener base. 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]. And finally, visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.

A Chicago whiskey enthusiast is gaining popularity on Instagram. We sat down with Chris aka UrbanBourbonist on Instagram and discuss bourbon tourism in Louisville, Instagram as a social media platform, and how Chris is utilizing the platform with his live stream interviews of those in the whiskey industry. Chris is also an Executive Bourbon Steward and discusses his experience with the training through The Stave and Thief Society. Biography: Chris Blatner is a whiskey enthusiast from Chicago, IL. He is an Executive Bourbon Steward and hosts the semi-regular live talk show "The Urban Bourbon Hour" on Instagram where he talks to Master Distillers, distillery Founders, Master Tasters, Blenders, and other interesting people in the world of whiskey. He is also co-creator of "Sunday Night Fights"; a live show on Instagram pitting two whiskeys against each other in a battle of aroma, taste, and finish. Chris likes his music on vinyl, his coffee with cream, and his whiskey neat. Connect with Chris on Instagram @urbanbourbonist. Show Links: Learn more about Chris here. Fight Night Posters - UrbanBourbonist The Stave & Thief Society Executive Bourbon Steward - Stave & Thief We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps 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 paid a visit to The Four Roses Bourbon Distillery in Lawrenceburg Kentucky. Four Roses Quality Manager, Marcus Niemann, sat down with us in the sensory lab and we sipped some very rare bourbon while learning more about the people and the bourbons behind the brand. Be sure to check out Four Roses the next time you are in Kentucky. More information can be found at FourRosesBourbon.com. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps 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 some whiskey and had a great discussion with Matthew Evans. Matthew is the founder/owner of Whiskey Consensus. He has devoted a lot of time and effort to growing an Instagram account into a brand. Whiskey Consensus is a website dedicated to easy-to read and honest bourbon and whiskey reviews and high quality photography. We encourage you to check out WhiskeyConsensus.com to find your next whiskey bottle; we think you'll like their no-nonsense approach to whiskey reviews. Also, be sure to follow Whiskey Consensus on Facebook and Instagram. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps 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.

Two bourbon podcasts collide. The result is some great conversation and a lineup of 5 cask strength rye whiskies. We sat down with Jim and Mike (aka Big Chief) from The Bourbon Road Podcast for this week's collaboration episode. In an effort to mix things up, we decided to kick back with bourbon's rival, rye whiskey. If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to subscribe to The Bourbon Lens for future episodes and be sure to check out The Bourbon Road Podcast at TheBourbonRoad.com and on all social media platforms. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps 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.

A blind tasting of some of the most widely available bourbon whiskey from Jim Beam, Four Roses, Evan Williams, and Buffalo Trace. In honor of Bourbon Heritage Month, we explore the flagship whiskey of some of Kentucky's biggest bourbon makers. Bourbons Tasted include: A. Jim Beam "White Label" 80 proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey No age statement - approximately 4 years old or greater B. Four Roses "Yellow Label" 80 proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey A blend of all 10 Four Roses recipes No age statement C. Buffalo Trace 90 proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey No age statement Mash Bill #1 (Estimated to be a low rye, less than 10% rye) D. Evan Williams "Black Label" 86 proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey No age statement - Label Claims to be "Extra Aged" We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps 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 sit down with some fine bourbon and have a conversation with whiskey maker Caleb Kilburn. Caleb Kilburn is the Master Distiller at Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps 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.

A battle of ten year old bourbon whiskey. An Elijah Craig store pick goes head-to-head against Henry McKenna Bottled In Bond. How did it fair? Find out as Scott and Michael compare the two bourbons from Heaven Hill. Michael also tested Scott with a blind tasting of Early Times Bottled-in-Bond. Does it hold up for Scott? We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on whichever podcast app you are listening and please leave us a written review. This helps others discover our podcast and will help us grow. 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 archived podcast episodes.

Grab your favorite bourbon or whiskey and listen as we discuss our experience on a private distillery tour at Jim Beam. The Jim Beam Fire Chief showed us around The James B. Beam Distilling Co. and their Craft Distillery. We sampled a 9 year old Knob Creek straight from the barrel; a unique whiskey tasting experience. We discuss what the Jim Beam has in the works for the future as they look to expand their reach even further as the world's #1 bourbon brand. Special thanks to Fire Chief Kevin Mercer and Ben Burks for the experience and for having us out to your distillery. Check them out on Instagram: @Chief_Mercer & @BennysBizzness Show Links Kentucky Bourbon Festival Barrel rolling competition Bourbon and Beyond Hometown Rising Knob Creek Straight from the Barrel Fred B. Noe Craft Whiskey Distillery - Coming Soon We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps others discover our podcast and will help us grow. 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, we take a trip out west to the High West Distillery. We sample 6 different High West whiskies and provide our impressions of the products and the brand. High West Whiskey We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps others discover our podcast and will help us grow. 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 Bardstown Bourbon Company is looking to mix things up in the Bourbon and American Whiskey industry. It's taking on the big names like MGP (Midwest Grain Products) and becoming the new source of high quality spirits for non-distilling producers. The Bardstown Bourbon Co. is also producing its own products and is mixing in some into older bourbons to produce blends that drink like much older bourbons. We sample two bourbons being produced by Bardstown Bourbon Company, The Fusion Series and The Discovery Series. Hear our thoughts on each in the week's episode. SHOW NOTES AND LINKS: Blending whiskey and bourbon. Older aged products mixed with newer stock. Who does it? Smooth Ambler Contradiction High West Double Rye Spirits of French Lick -The Wheater Whistle Pig Farmstock Graton Distilling - Redwood Empire MGP Ingredients Stock Plunged as Aged-Whiskey Sales Dashed Spirits Mark Gillespie (@WhiskyCast) says: The key takeaway from that story was buried...when Gus Griffin told analysts that buyers were having trouble raising capital to buy large stocks of MGP's aged whiskey. Is that a short-term issue, or are investors starting to shy away from building new Bourbon brands? Craft Whiskey: Sourcing to Distilling Transition Smooth Ambler Contradiction At Smooth Ambler, after we began merchant bottling the whiskey we call Old Scout, it occurred to us that at some point it may be fun and interesting to blend a little of the delicious bourbon we source with the smooth and sweet wheated bourbon we distill here in West Virginia. With that notion in mind, Contradiction was born; a blend of whiskey we make with whiskey we do not. NDP, CDP, and Distillers -Rabbit Hole Blog MGP By Mashbill More MGP Whiskeys We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps others discover our podcast and will help us grow. 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.

Do we still need "bottled-in-bond"? Stay Bonded! The motto of Bernie Lubbers, the "Whiskey Professor" and brand ambassador for Heaven Hill Distilleries. Bernie is a wealth of knowledge of all things bourbon and The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. We attended a tasting event at Liquor Barn recently and we are reporting back on the event. We discuss the products we sampled and compared. We also discuss some of Bernie's insight into the recent news from Heaven Hill, 7 year Bottled-In-Bond. He addressed the controversial product marketing decision being made by the brand. We enjoyed the event and hope to attend many more in the future. We highly recommend you do the same. SHOW LINKS: Liquor Barn Event Description The Whiskey Professor's Website Heaven Hill Bottled-In-Bond (New 7 Year Old Bourbon) More Whiskey From Heaven Hill We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps others discover our podcast and will help us grow. 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.

A detour from the Kentucky Bourbon Trail for the podcast. We toured Louisville's only brandy distillery, Copper and Kings, for this week's episode of the podcast. We discuss how to make brandy and how Copper and Kings is innovating and staying relevant in the city that runs on bourbon. Copper & Kings does not ignore the influence of Bourbon in this city and they embrace it in some of their processes. Copper & Kings utilizes sonic aging, the process of rapidly aging spirits using sound waves generated by music. Show Links: Music Playlist Is A Key Ingredient For Louisville Distillery Copper & Kings Official Website Loud Music Is the Key Ingredient in This Distiller's Brandy Take a self-styled Everything-But-Bourbon tour of Louisville Chilled Magazine - Copper & Kings is America's Most Imaginative Distillery Brandy in the Heart of Bourbon County: A Visit to Copper & Kings Heavy Metal Aged Whiskey - More on Sonic Aging Sonic Aging: Pro Audio's Next Untapped Market? We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps others discover our podcast and will help us grow. 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.

Whatever you do, do not call it Bourbon!! It's Tennessee Whiskey and they get very protective of the name. Although Tennessee Whiskey and Bourbon might share some characteristics, do not confuse the two. Rival states and rival whiskies. What is Tennessee Whiskey and how does it differ from Bourbon? Find out in today's episode. Flight of Whiskey from Tennessee: Uncle Nearest 1856 George Dickel Bottled in Bond What is Tennessee Whiskey? Lincoln County Process The Science Behind the Lincoln County Process The Alcohol Professor - Lincoln County Process (1) Manufactured in Tennessee; (2) Made of a grain mixture that is at least fifty-one percent (51%) corn; (3) Distilled to no more than 160 proof or eighty percent (80%) alcohol by volume; (4) Aged in new, charred oak barrels in Tennessee; (5) Filtered through maple charcoal prior to aging; (6) Placed in the barrel at no more than 125 proof or sixty-two and one-half percent (62.5%) alcohol by volume; and (7) Bottled at not less than 80 proof or forty percent (40%) alcohol by volume. Bourbon Veach on the Process We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps others discover our podcast and will help us grow. 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.

Are age statements on whiskey labels a thing of the past? Or are they making a comeback in the bourbon world? We have seen distilleries remove age statements from bottles over the years, but it seems that some distilleries are making a return to the practice. Are age statements valuable to you and your purchasing decisions for bourbons? We discuss the relative importance of age statements to other types of whiskies, including Scotch Whisky. Show Links: Knob Creek to Restore 9 Year Age Statement (Removed in 2016) Barton 1792 Bourbon to Release 12 Year Old Bourbon Why You Should Be Drinking Non-Age Statement Whisky - WHISKY ADVOCATE Age Statements - A Catch 22 : BREAKING BOURBON COM TTB ONLINE Re: Age Statement Rules Is No Age Statement Trend Bad News for Bourbon? Demystify Age Statements on Labels Fred Minnick's Article from 2016 on Elijah Craig Age Statement Changes THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps others discover our podcast and will help us grow. 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.

Happy Michter's Monday! We love bourbon and visiting bourbon distilleries. On this week's episode, we feature our tour of the new Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery in Downtown Louisville, Kentucky. We've toured a lot of facilities and we always find something that sets a distillery tour apart from the rest. Sometimes its the process of whiskey making, other times it's the history of the American whiskey maker. Find out more in this episode. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps others discover our podcast and will help us grow. 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 discuss the brand new bourbon from Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company. Peerless decided to never source their whiskey and have had a lot of success with their rye whiskey. Their bourbon has been aging for 4 years and is finally ready for release to the public. We grabbed a bottle and will give our thoughts on the bourbon as well as Kentucky Peerless as a brand. We also discuss Heaven Hill Distillery and the re-release of their Bottled in Bond Bourbon. With one additional year of age, a new bottle and label, this bourbon will release in more markets with an MSRP of 3 times higher than the previously discontinued version. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps others discover our podcast and will help us grow. 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 bourbon industry was hit with some bad news when a portion of a multi-story rickhouse collapsed at Owensboro's O.Z. Tyler Distillery. We discuss this and some other bourbon news in this week's episode. Facebook cracks down on bourbon sales and the bourbon secondary market is scrambling. The new visitor center for the Bulleit Distillery is opening on June 25, 2019 in Shelbyville Kentucky. And finally, the Dant Family is re-entering bourbon production and we are always excited to hear about historic brands and families being revived. Show Links: J.W. Dant Restarting Distillery in Bardstown The History of Dant in Distilling Bulleit Distillery Opening in Shelbyville KY June 25th O.Z. Tyler Rickhouse Collapse O.Z. Tyler Video O.Z. Tyler Cleanup Efforts We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps others discover our podcast and will help us grow. 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. Photo Credit: O.Z. Tyler Distillery Facebook Page

As promised, The Bourbon Lens visits another distillery as part of its summer travel plans. This week, we discuss the James E. Pepper Distillery in Lexington, KY. There is some history to this revived brand and while we discuss some of it, we recommend you visit and learn more for yourself. There is also a connection to Woodford Reserve for the Pepper Distillery and the Pepper lineage. We discuss what makes a great tour and provide our recommendations. Check the show links below for more. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps others discover our podcast and will help us grow. James E. Pepper Distillery Website History of Old Oscar Pepper and Woodford Reserve Connection Lexington Distillery District - Info Goodfellas Pizza at the Distillery Whiskey Brands That Are Made at MGP 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 whole crew is back and enjoying some bourbon together. The weather is changing and summer is near. We discuss whether bourbon is a summer drink or if we should mix up our drink of choice for the next few months. Do you lean towards bourbon on the rocks or a bourbon cocktail? Or do you find a lower proof bourbon to sip neat? We also discuss what happens when you go off the deep end and pour yourself vodka or tequila. We have some summer plans in xgofd, which will include some distillery tours. There are a few new options for those wishing to experience the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, including Tuk Tuk tours of Louisville and bus tours around the Bluegrass State. If you have any suggestions for tour guides, please feel free to contact us as we would love to experience them this summer. Find some summer cocktail ideas in the links below. SHOW LINKS: Minibar Mixology on Flipboard Half-Strength 'Scotch' Is Here to Capitalize on the Less-Boozy Booze Trend Frozen Whiskey Cocktails for Summer National Geographic: The Rebirth of Bourbon in Louisville Mint Julep Experiences launch new, eco-friendly Louisville adventure - Derby City Weekend Kentucky Bourbon Boys - Touring the Bourbon Trail; "Bourbon Country done right." https://mintjuleptours.com/louisville/Mint Julep Tours

Grab your favorite bourbon and pour a glass as we invite a recurring guest to the podcast. Landon from The Brothers Bourbon Instagram joins us to discuss the current trends in whiskey marketing. We discuss a transition from less traditional forms of media to the influencer marketing of today. Is this trend harmful to the bourbon industry, or is this just a sign of the times for all industries? We discuss the Fyre Festival and the sour taste the scam brought to critics of influencer and social media marketing. Advertising dollars are being spent in many different places today, which ones are paying off? We wrap up the discussion with talk about a 5 bottle bar setup and what bourbons and whiskies we'd keep on our home bar. Be sure to follow Landon and The Brothers Bourbon on Instagram We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps others discover our podcast and will help us grow. 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've hit a milestone in podcasting. This bourbon podcast has hit 20 Episodes and we are happy to toast some whiskey to our listeners and followers. In this episode, Michael and Scott challenged themselves to find a bourbon for $20 that they've never had before. We try to figure out if some whiskies are overpriced or if cheap bourbon is cheap for a reason. Scott picked up a less well known Bourbon from Heaven Hill, Evan Williams 1783, and Michael grabbed a bottle of Ezra Brooks 90 proof bourbon. Find out our thoughts on these two budget brands and the pricing of bourbon in general. Thanks to all of our listeners over the past 20 episodes, we look forward to continuing to produce good content for our fans. If you love our podcast, please leave us a 5 star rating and provide us a review on your podcast listening app of choice. Share our podcast with your family and 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 BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.