Aussie Bourbon Lovers

We’re back in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky with Greg from Larrikin Bourbon Company to taste a fresh release that just launched at the Bourbon Festival: Larrikin Cigar Lounge. It’s a nine-year-old, high-rye bourbon built from five finishing barrels, including French cognac, Spanish Madeira, maple syrup barrels, and Brazilian jackfruit wood, plus the smallest possible “whisper” of Ambarana to make the who...

We’re kicking off the year with a bourbon that doesn’t come from Kentucky, and that’s exactly why we wanted to talk about it. This episode features Fray Ranch straight bourbon whiskey from Fallon, Nevada. A true farm-to-bottle operation where every grain is grown, malted, distilled, and bottled on site. That approach gives this bourbon a flavour profile that surprised us straight away, with bright...

This is a different kind of Aussie Bourbon Lovers episode. There’s no pop, no pour, and no whiskey consumed during the recording. While visiting Michter’s in Shively, Kentucky, we spent the day with Dan McKee and Andrea Wilson and surprised them with something unexpected: Australian chocolate. We brought Cadbury Caramello Koalas and Cadbury Furry Friends and asked them to pair each chocolate with...

Merry Christmas from Aussie Bourbon Lovers. For this special Christmas Day episode we crack open a gift bottle: an Angel’s Envy Whiskey Hunt Australia single barrel pick. Angel’s Envy is famous for its port finished bourbon and it’s easy to find in Australia, but this one is different. It’s a single barrel pick chosen by the Whiskey Hunt team, and it arrives in a bottle that just feels made for gi...

We’re back at the Bardstown Bourbon Company with Jake Sulek, the experience and education manager, recording in the Heritage Library surrounded by dusty bottles and stories from Kentucky’s whiskey past. We’re tasting the Origin Series Rye, a minimum six year rye that’s produced, aged and bottled at Bardstown Bourbon Company and available in Australia. While the mash bill looks familiar at 95 perce...

To close out the year we pour a Larrikin single barrel Delta 5 from Kentucky, signed by Greg, and use it as the starting point for a chat about our bourbon highlights from 2025. The idea was simple. Each of us had to choose a bourbon of the year and then pick a single bourbon memory that fits inside 120 seconds. In practice it was a lot harder, because 2025 has been full of ridiculous opportunitie...

We visit the Blending House in Kentucky and sit down with Ashleigh Barnes, the master blender behind Lucky Seven and Curley. Ashleigh brings us the New Yorker, an Amburana finished bourbon that tastes like hummingbird cake, oatmeal cream pies and dessert in a glass. She explains how she manages such a powerful finishing wood by tasting at day five, pulling liquid at the exact moment it peaks, and...

We’re back at Star Hill Farm in Kentucky, sitting in the Heritage Room at Maker’s Mark, joined by Dr. Blake Layfield, the master distiller and head of innovation and blending. It’s the perfect day for bourbon, and Blake takes us through one of the most fascinating tastings we’ve ever done on the show. In front of us are three glasses that tell the whole story of Maker’s Mark: the classic cask stre...

In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers we crack open Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Revival a barrel finished bourbon that sparks one big question should you drink it or collect it? We are joined by Denver Cramer from Denver & Liely who tells the story of being paid by Wild Turkey’s owners, Campari not in cash but in bottles, two of every Master’s Keep release. Together we talk about What Master’...

In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we taste O.H. Ingram River Aged Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — a bourbon that ages on a floating barge on the Mississippi River. We discuss how the movement of water, temperature fluctuations, and humidity create a completely different aging environment, producing a rich, smooth, and surprisingly “juicy” bourbon that feels far older than its four year...

Recorded at Michter’s Shively Distillery in Kentucky, this episode features a sit-down with Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson — two icons of modern bourbon. We dive into the origins of Michter’s Toasted Sour Mash Whiskey, the innovation that helped spark the toasted barrel movement, and taste it alongside the classic US*1 Sour Mash. Dan and Andrea share insights on...

In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we open a bottle of Wiseman Bourbon — a modern Kentucky classic from the makers of Kentucky Owl. We dig into how Wiseman came to life, what sets it apart, and why it could be a go-to for bourbon fans who want rich flavour without the premium price tag. If you enjoy smooth, balanced Kentucky bourbons with curious pyramid-related backstory, this one’s for yo...

In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we open a bottle of Buzzard’s Roost Toasted French Oak Bourbon — a whiskey that shows how innovation can live inside tradition. We dive into the details behind Buzzard’s Roost’s unique toasting and finishing methods, share our tasting notes (think butterscotch, vanilla and warm baking spices), and talk about what makes this brand one of the most exciting i...

Recorded at Larrikin Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, this episode features Greg Keeley, the Australian distiller crafting exceptional bourbon in the heart of Kentucky. We sit down to taste and talk about Larrikin Delta 5, a single barrel bourbon that represents Greg’s mission to merge Australian boldness with Kentucky tradition. We discuss what makes the Delta 5 single barrel unique, the art...

Bardstown Bourbon Company has built its reputation as the “modern bourbon maker” — blending, innovating, and crafting for some of the biggest names in the industry.  In this episode, we sit down with Jake Sulek, Bardstown’s Head of Education and VIP Experience, to discuss the company’s first release in their origin series, their wheated Bottled-in-Bond bourbon, and why it represents a most signifi...

In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we open a fresh bottle of Nulu Maple Brûlée Single Barrel, a Kentucky Bourbon Festival pick that delivers rich, dessert-like flavour in every sip. We talk through how the maple brûlée process works, the unique way barrels are treated, and why this whiskey has a sticky mouthfeel and dessert-style notes like sticky date pudding, butterscotch, and dark chocol...

Recorded in the Heritage Room at Maker’s Mark in Kentucky, this episode marks a truly historic moment in American whiskey. We sit down with Dr. Blake Layfield, Master Distiller and Head of Innovation at Maker’s Mark, to discuss the launch of Star Hill Farm Wheat Whiskey. This is the first new mash bill from Maker’s Mark since 1953, and it represents a turning point in American whiskey history. We...

This might be the most unique bourbon story we’ve ever shared. Recorded at Larrikin Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, we sit down with Australian founder Greg Keeley to taste and discuss Larrikin Rosewater Bourbon. Instead of using spring water, this bourbon is proofed with rosewater, inspired by Greg’s time in the Middle East and the cultural tradition of rose tea. The innovation took more th...

Recorded live at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers is all about Chicken Cock Bourbon — one of the most historic names in American whiskey. We explore the legacy of Chicken Cock, from its rise in the 1800s to its role in Prohibition-era speakeasies, and its revival for today’s bourbon fans. Along the way, we share our tasting notes, talk about the energy of the fe...

We're getting ready for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival and what better way to prep than with a bottle of Old Forester 100 Proof? In this pre-trip pour, Dave and Helen share their thoughts on the bottle, the quirky screw-top, and what it feels like to sip a bourbon that’s harder to find back home in Australia. They also share updates on what they're excited about for the trip, how they’re preparing...

This pour started with a cork pop and turned into a conversation that blurred the lines between rye and bourbon. In this episode, we try Minor Case Sherry Cask Finished Rye — a rye whiskey that brings the sweetness of sherry with the warmth of Kentucky-style grains. Helen and Dave dive into mash bills, argue about what counts as a bourbon, and compare the grassy, peppery ryes to this softer, sweet...

We’re pouring something a little extra special today — Blanton’s Gold. And to match the pour, we’re joined by someone extra special too: Denver Cramer from legendary Aussie glassware company Denver & Liely. This one’s part bourbon tasting, part banter, and part deep appreciation for what makes bourbon and glassware such a great pairing. We talk about: The real reason Blanton’s Gold is smoother...

Tonight’s pour is Rock Hill Farms – a 100-proof single barrel bourbon from Buffalo Trace that once earned the title “world’s finest” from Washingtonian Magazine. This one’s got mystery, nostalgia, and a dentist with bourbon in every cupboard. Dave and Helen share the story of discovering this elusive bottle on a work trip to Kentucky, why it's so hard to find in Australia, and how it ended up in a...

This week on Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we go off-book – literally – and dive into something local, legendary, and a little bit special: Sullivans Cove from Tasmania. Why? It’s Tassie Whisky Week, and what better way to celebrate than with a 14-year-old single cask from the distillery that put Australian whisky on the global map? H pours us the very last drops of bottle TD0275 – a second-fill American...

Dave and H uncork Booker's Bourbon (Batch 2023-01 "Charlie’s Batch"), a 63.3% ABV barrel-proof bourbon from the Jim Beam Distillery in Kentucky, and find it brimming with rich flavor and stories. They’re amazed at the deep caramel and maple syrup notes in this whiskey and how smooth it drinks despite its high proof. Along the way, the guys share plenty of laughs and bourbon insights in their signa...