The Bourbon Playbook

🎤 ANNOUNCEMENT: This episode marks the end of Season 1! We’re shifting from weekly pours to monthly drops, seasoned with deeper dives, social surprises, and a few bonus pours along the way. It’s not goodbye. Just a refill break. We close Season 1 with Episode 35, and it's a barrel-aged banger: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon. From meeting the legendary Jimmy Russell at Wild Turkey to unpa...

Ben Holladay 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond is a Missouri-made bourbon with deep roots, bold flavor — and a comeback story that spans 160 years. This week, the guys head down to the basement to discuss the "Stagecoach King," the limestone rickhouses of Weston, and why this sleeper bourbon continues to turn heads in the BiB world. Connect with the Bourbon Playbook at tbplaybook.com.

Join us as we reflect on our visit to the Heaven Hill Distillery and uncork one of the classiest bottled-in-bond bourbons in the game: Old Fitzgerald 7-Year. With its vintage decanter and rich wheated profile, this week's pour delivers caramel charm, cinnamon spice, and the fascinating legend of the man behind the juice: John E. Fitzgerald, Plus, some advice on how to transport your bourbon during...

In this episode of The Bourbon Playbook , the guys cover their trip to the Willett Distillery, popping a precious bottle that screams top shelf. This week, we're talking Willett's Wheated 8 Year Purple Top . With its rich oak, cherry cola charm, and cinnamon-sweet punch, this bottle will be among the elite in any bourbon enthusiasts cabinet. In this episode: Why dining at The Bar at Willett is a m...

We continue our Bourbon Trail Series with a stop in Loretto, Kentucky —home of red wax, rolling hills, and some of the smoothest bourbon magic you’ll ever sip. In this episode, the guys dive into Maker’s Mark’s 2024 Wood Finishing Series: The Heart Release , a silky, high-proof wheated bourbon designed as a tribute to the unsung heroes behind every barrel. Join us as The Bourbon Playbook breaks do...

Fresh off their trip to Bourbon Country, the guys break down their visit to the iconic Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, sharing stories from the tour, the pours, and everything in between! In this week's episode: Top takeaways from the Trail, from Whiskey Row to Lexington How navigate Buffalo Trace's daily allocated bottle drops What bourbons (and other spirits) to expect in Buffal...

On this week's minisode, the guys put their palates to the test with a blind tasting that brings bold flavors, wild guesses — and just a bit of humble pie. The lineup: Ben Holladay 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond E.H. Taylor Single Barrel Bottled in Bond Bardstown Bottled in Bond Origin Series Which unbiased bottle rises to the top? Join the show and share your own blind tasting notes and experiences at tb...

Alright folks, pour one and buckle in — because this episode is all about bourbon bucket lists. We’re talkin’ about the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Not from the perspective of seasoned veterans…. but from two guys who’ve never done it and are finally making the trip. Yep — it’s happening. We’re headed to bourbon country. And we’re coming in hot with a game plan, a cooler, and just enough hearsay to so...

This week on The Bourbon Playbook , we suit up for a sip that brings refinement without the roar—Basil Hayden 10 Year. It’s the bottle that shows up to the tailgate in a blazer, and we’re diving deep into whether that 80-proof polish hides enough oak and spice to win over even the proof chasers. Plus: 🥃 Whiskey history: Featuring Meredith Basil Hayden Sr.—bourbon’s original rye rebel. 📝 Tasting...

On Episode 26 of The Bourbon Playbook, we crack open the Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Batch Proof (2023) and give it the full Playbook treatment. It’s bold, it’s rare—and it might just slap harder than your uncle at a family cookout. In this episode of the pod, we unpack: What makes Batch Proof different from your average small batch label NBA MVP race, media blind spots, and whether voter...

In Episode 25 of The Bourbon Playbook , we’re sipping something bold: Chestnut Farms Single Barrel at a fiery 125 proof. It’s barrel strength, hard to find, and wrapped in mystery—no farm, no age statement, just big Barton 1792 flavor and Total Wine exclusivity. We also pour this week's drams out to the 151st Kentucky Derby, where every horse was a descendant of the GOAT—Secretariat. Does bourbon...

This week, we're pouring Blend No. 40—aka Traveller Whiskey—a smooth, award-winning collab from Buffalo Trace and Grammy-winner Chris Stapleton. But is it just a celebrity cash-in or a legit daily dram? We break it down with tasting notes, awards cred, and whether this 90-proof blend hits the right notes, Before the pour, we riff on Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Draft slide, Mel Kiper's meltdown, and more!...

This week, we dive into the story of Barrell Craft Spirits, where a tech entrepreneur turned a barrel tasting into a bourbon empire. No stills, No chill filtering. No distilling whatsoever. Just bold, high-proof blends sourced from over 65 distilleries worldwide. Join us we cover Barrell’s playbook, their new $2.4 million rickhouse, and taste a cherry-loaded single barrel pick that borders on prec...

In this week's episode, the guys pour a bold Memphis-born bourbon with blues in its soul. From its high-rye mash bill to its wild backstory — including a warehouse collapse that turned into a fan-favorite release — the guys explore why this $30 bottle is punching way above its weight class. Hosts Ryan O'Leary and Mike Zika cover Blue Note Juke Joint, pour one out to Rory McIlroy's gut-wrenching Ma...

In this week’s pour, we’re diving deep into the story of a modern bourbon powerhouse: Bardstown Bourbon Company. What started as a contract distillery quietly crafting premium bourbon for over 30 other brands has transformed into one of the most innovative and transparent producers in the game. We rewind to 2014 to trace Bardstown’s bold mission to become the “Napa Valley of Bourbon,” unpack the u...

In this week's edition of The Bourbon Playbook , the guys explore the unique connection between the beer- and whiskey-making process, and uncover a famous Midwest brewery famous for turning its famous stout into a legendary pour of brown juice! Join hosts Ryan O'Leary and Mike Zika for new episodes every Tuesday, and be sure to drop the guys a dram at tbplaybook.com.

On this week's episode of the pod, the guys put a highly sought-after toasted barrel bourbon under the microscope. It’s got the accolades, the cult following and a flavor profile that promises toasted marshmallow heaven… but does it deliver? Hosts Ryan O'Leary and Mike Zika break down the history, the hype, and the hot takes from the internet—because not every unicorn bottle is a golden pour. Chec...

This week, join us as we dive into a bourbon that carries the name of a true American firebrand. From frontier distillers to tax revolts, hosts Ryan O'Leary and Mike Zika uncover the story of a man who stood against the system, only to become a legend in the process. But does the bourbon named in his honor live up to the hype? The guys break down the origins of this cask-strength pour, explore its...

This week, we’re diving into the history of one of the most notorious figures in bourbon—and crime—history. Before Prohibition, he was a respected lawyer. During it, he became the “King of the Bootleggers,” controlling nearly a third of all illegal liquor in the U.S. His story is filled with fortune, betrayal, and even murder. And now, his legacy lives on in a high-proof bourbon that’s just as bol...

This week on The Bourbon Playbook , the guys dive into a bourbon with deep Irish roots and Kentucky heritage—one that’s aged to perfection and wrapped in Bottled-in-Bond prestige. We’re talking about a whiskey that went from a $30 sleeper pick to an award-winning, must-have bottle practically overnight.

Some bottles are more than just bourbon — they’re stories poured into a glass. This week, the guys dive into a whiskey with a legacy so rich, it was almost lost in time. From a hidden pioneer in distilling history to one of the most awarded brands today, this pour is as bold as the man behind it. Join us as we celebrate Black History Month while uncovering the truth behind a master distiller’s for...

Recognized for its award-winning French oak stave finishing process, this week's pour brings a sophisticated yet spicy profile to the table. Join hosts Ryan O'Leary and Mike Zika as they explore a unique and rapidly growing brand in the Bourbon world. In this week's episode: 2:30 — Super Bowl pours 17:30 — Bourbon of the Week 19:30 — History 24:30 — Let's talk MGP (Midwest Grain Products) 32:00 —...

In this week's episode, learn about a bourbon made famous for its groundbreaking port cask finishing. Hosts Ryan O'Leary and Mike Zika explore the science behind one of the most iconic brands in the bourbon game, all while giving first-hand tasting notes and rapping about life in general. In this week's episode: 2:50 — Personal pour outs / Zika's birthday surprise 16:50 — Bourbon of the Week / His...

Some bourbons have history, some have mystery — and this one has both. This week, the guys are uncovering the truth behind a legendary whiskey brand with a love story so good, it might just be made up. In this week's episode: 2:15 — Ryan's personal pour of the week 11:50 — Mike's personal pour of the week 19:45 — Bourbon of the Week 22:30 — History 26:45 — Specifics on this week's double dram 33:0...

In this week's episode, the guys dive into a bottle that blurs the lines between categories, proving that labels don’t always tell the whole story. It’s bonded, bold, and brings a rich history that goes all the way back to one of the most legendary figures in American whiskey! Join hosts Mike Zika and Ryan O'Leary as they uncover the fascinating history behind the brand—including a mentor who shap...