Season 1 · Episode 546

546 - From Reddit to Reveries with Jay West

This is Jay's second time on the show and this time without the cload and veil. He went from a quiet contributor and guy behind the scenes on a subreddit to one of the most respected voices and blenders in the game. We dive into the staggering growth of the Reddit whiskey community—now 300,000 members strong—and why keeping that culture supportive and nontoxic is so important to the overall whiskey community. We also geek out on the barrel-picking process and how he’s managed to scale up to hundreds of barrels a year to meet the insane demand for unique bottles people are searching for. Of course, we also had to talk about Jay’s brand, Reveries, and his unique philosophy on acquiring great barrels, blending and storytelling.

Bourbon Pursuit

December 25, 20251h 5mExplicit

Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (podtrac.com) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.

Original episode page

Show Notes

We’ve seen plenty of people try to make the jump from enthusiast to industry pro, but nobody has done it quite like Jay West. It’s been a few years since he was last on the show, and we’re thrilled to welcome back the mastermind behind the massive r/bourbon barrel program on Reddit and the Principal Whiskey Maker at Reveries. This is Jay's second time on the show and this time without the cload and veil. He went from a quiet contributor and guy behind the scenes on a subreddit to one of the most respected voices and blenders in the game. We dive into the staggering growth of the Reddit whiskey community—now 300,000 members strong—and why keeping that culture supportive and nontoxic is so important to the overall whiskey community. We also geek out on the barrel-picking process and how he’s managed to scale up to hundreds of barrels a year to meet the insane demand for unique bottles people are searching for. Of course, we also had to talk about Jay’s brand, Reveries, and his unique philosophy on acquiring great barrels, blending and storytelling.

Show Notes:

Jay West’s evolution from anonymity to industry leader
Current growth of the r/whiskey community
Insights into the expanding barrel-picking process
The role of moderation and community engagement
Reveries brand philosophy and blending techniques
Highlights of standout whiskey blends from Reveries
The interplay of creativity, storytelling, and community feedback
Ways to support Reveries and engage with r/bourbon on Reddit

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

← All episodes of Bourbon Pursuit