Aussie Bourbon Lovers

In this episode, we crack open a half-finished bottle of Penelope Toasted Bourbon (because we’ve already been loving it) and dig into what makes it so damn tasty. We cover: 🔥 The toasted barrel finish – what it is and why it matters 🛢️ Char level 5 – how intense barrel prep changes the profile 🌽 This Penelope’s mash bill (75% corn, 20% rye, 4% malted barley) 🪵 Vanilla, marshmallow, subtle campf...

What happens when an Aussie distiller takes on bourbon on its home turf? In this episode, we sip and unpack the Larrikin KBF Single Barrel — a true bourbon made by the team at Larrikin, distilled and aged in Kentucky. We explore the flavour, the story behind the distillery, and whether this cross-continental endeavour delivers the goods. It's Australia meets America in a bottle, and it makes for a...

What happens when you pour a Champagne-finished bourbon into two completely different glasses… with Denver Cramer, co-founder of Denver & Liely? In this episode, Denver brings two distinct glasses to the table as we do a side-by-side of Dumangin Batch 010, a French-finished bourbon with serious flair. We compare pours, geek out over glass design, and discover how much glassware truly changes y...

This isn’t your average bourbon origin story. It starts with a house swap — and ends with a bottle of Fernhill Station on the shelf in Australia. In the second ep with James from HP Bowlo, we hear how a simple home exchange led to a deep dive into American whiskey, inspired a brand name, and sparked a whole new obsession. We talk through the journey of building a label from scratch, balancing work...

This week we’re tasting something with a name that sounds like an insult from the 1800s — Linkumpinch Single Barrel Bourbon. But don’t let the label fool you. Behind the wild name is a bold Kentucky pour that hits with spice, complexity, and just enough mystery to keep us talking. We dig into the brand's frontier backstory, the experience of drinking it freshly cracked, and where it lands on the f...

In this first Fernhill Station episode, we crack open a single cask whisky from Mount Pleasant Club in Washington D.C., and chat with James Sommerlad, the man bringing this bourbon gem to Australia. We sip and chat through: 🥃 What makes this 5 year, 7 month four-grain whisky so special 🌽 A mashbill packed with yellow corn, winter red wheat, barley & rye 🏡 The uncanny connection between Moun...

Pour yourself a dram and join us as we crack open a 2019 Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel pick — courtesy of Kitty Hawk & Harry Stubbs. This is a bottle with character, and we’re joined by Denver from Denver & Liely to sip, share stories, and swirl some opinions. We get into: – What makes a single barrel pick special – The Wild Turkey connection with the Russell family – Tasting notes, glas...

In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, Dave cracks open a near-empty bottle of Michter’s Fort Nelson Reserve — hand-bottled at the Michter’s experience in Louisville and personally labelled “Dave Collins.” We chat about: 🥃 The Fort Nelson bottling experience on Whiskey Row 🛠️ Whether it's single barrel or vatted bourbon 📖 Writing your name in Michter’s bottling ledger 🤩 Bourbon joy that riva...

This episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers is all about the Old Forester 117 Series Bottled in Bond — a surprise last-minute pickup at the distillery in Louisville that turned out to be a showstopper. We unpack: 🥃 What makes this 100-proof Bottled in Bond bourbon special 🛍️ The story of how we accidentally ended up buying it 🍰 Tasting notes that include buttery caramel, vanilla, and pecan pie 🎁 How...

No cork pop this time — just a screw cap and a big surprise. In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we dive into the Evan Williams White Label Bottled in Bond, a bourbon that’s cheap, cheerful, and way better than we expected. We break down: 🥃 The Bottled in Bond rules (or at least most of them) 💰 Why this US$15–30 bottle is such a cult classic 👃 What we get on the nose and palate (spoiler:...

Tonight, we’re diving into Howler Head – the official flavored bourbon of the UFC – and possibly the wildest pour yet on Aussie Bourbon Lovers. This banana-flavoured bourbon takes us straight back to Aussie childhoods, lolly bags, and sugar highs – and maybe a little bourbon underneath? We chat about: 🥃 Banana lollies vs. real banana flavour 🧠 What (if any) bourbon notes are still in the glass...

In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we pour something truly special: the Elijah Craig 18 Year Single Barrel – a bottle Dave thought might be a unicorn. Turns out, it kinda is. We discuss: 🥃 The allure and frustration of single barrel bourbons 📦 How this one was bottled while we were likely in Kentucky 🥜 Nutty notes on the nose, from smoked almonds to Brazil nuts 🔍 Why Heaven Hill proofs...

This week on Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we’re pouring the iconic Weller 12 Year — Buffalo Trace’s beloved weeded bourbon that’s either overhyped or underrated, depending on who you ask. We discuss: 🌾 H’s farmer roots and what “harvest” smells like in a glass 🧃 Apple juice nostalgia and brown sugar sweetness 🍮 A bourbon that’s undeniably “desserty” 💬 The hype vs. the reality of tracking down Weller...

Tonight, we pour Kirkland Bottled in Bond Bourbon — the Costco special that may or may not be straight from 1792. And no, it doesn’t come in a typical 1792 bottle. It’s tall, green-labeled, and full of mystery. We explore: 🥃 Why the Kirkland BiB looks nothing like a typical 1792 🧪 The mash bill and whether it’s the same juice 🏷️ Sourced whiskey, Costco branding, and Barton 1792 speculation 💡 Wh...

In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we crack open a nearly-empty bottle of Peerless Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon — one of the few bottles we can’t get easily in Australia, and one that brings back distillery tour memories. We discuss: 🥃 The sweet, oaty, sticky-date nose that makes it a dessert dram 🥄 Glassware matters – how this pour behaves in a Peerless tasting glass 📸 Why we d...

In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we’re pouring the Old Forester Statesman — an elegant-looking bottle with a Hollywood backstory, but does the juice inside live up to the label? We discuss: 🍌 Tasting notes ranging from banana lollies to wooden cheeseboards 🪵 Why the nose smells like fruit, cheese, and timber prep 🧑‍⚕️ A quick history of Dr. Forrester and the missing “R” 📉 Why this mig...

In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we sip on Penelope Barrel Strength (Red Label) — a four-grain, 115.2 proof sourced bourbon with heart, flavour, and a great backstory. We talk through: 👨‍👩‍👧 How the brand was named after the founder’s daughter (jealous!) 🧪 What makes Penelope’s sourcing strategy so successful 🍰 Why this pour screams dessert without being overpowering 🧠 The full-circ...

Tonight, we pour the poetic and port-finished Midwinter Night’s Dram from High West — affectionately dubbed the Pappy of Rye (though not quite in price). We explore: 🥃 The unique blend of two rye mash bills (95/5 & 80/20) 🍇 Rich notes of soaked currants, raisins & plum 🍷 The port barrel finish that delivers that wintery hug ❄️ Why this dram is best enjoyed in front of a fire with chocol...

Tonight, we pour the iconic and shiny Blanton’s Gold — the single barrel bourbon with a golden horsey topper and velvety mouthfeel to match. We chat about: 🐎 The difference between Blanton’s Gold, Green & Original 🧈 Flavour notes of butter pecan, vanilla, sticky date & nutty crust 🍰 Pairing memories featuring cheesecake shop “damaged stock” 📚 Four fun facts about Blanton’s Gold that Da...

In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we crack into the elusive and delicious Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel – a re-barreled, flash-charred masterpiece that’s harder to find in Australia than a good cork pop. We talk about: 🔥 The difference between toasting and charring a barrel 🍫 Flavour notes of marshmallow, chocolate, and campfire goodness 🪵 Why rebarreling into toasted barrels gives a laye...

We crack open a fresh bottle of Lux Row Double Barrel 12-Year Bourbon — a distillery-only release that you can’t get in Australia, and maybe nowhere else outside Bardstown. In this episode, we talk: 🛢️ What “double barrel” really means in this case (2-barrel batch, not rebarreled) 🏭 The contrast between Lux Row’s massive operation and smaller craft distilleries 🧪 Neck pours, proof levels, and ag...

In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we crack into the tail end of our bottle of Monk’s Road Wheated Bourbon — a 94-proof gem from Log Still Distillery with a distinctive nostalgic charm. We discuss: 🌾 What makes wheated bourbon different (and gentler) ✍️ Our surprising shared history with calligraphy (seriously) 📚 Tasting notes of “caramel-coated old bookstore” and wheat field memories 🏭...

In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we crack into a rare bottle of Hirsch Single Barrel Double Oak Bourbon — something you’ll be lucky to ever see in Australia. We unpack: 🍑 A nose full of stone fruit, apple, and orchard nostalgia 🛫 The San Fran bottle shop story that brought this one home 🧠 Why double oaking adds complexity (without the bitterness) 🏷️ A quick dive into what “72/13/15” ma...

In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we taste a bourbon from Freeland Spirits, a women-owned distillery out of Portland, Oregon — and quite possibly the best-looking bottle we’ve ever featured. We explore: 💃 The Freeland story: Meemaw inspiration, women-led vision 🧪 Why women have more taste buds (it’s science!) 🍷 Finishing notes: hints of Pinot Noir cask ageing 🎥 How a work trip turned i...

This one’s not a bourbon — but it’s made with bourbon barrels, so we’re letting it in. We pour a Tasmanian single malt from Old Kempton, batch four of The Old Stables, and explore why it impressed even the bourbon faithful. We cover: 🥃 What makes Aussie whisky special — and how bourbon barrels help 🏆 This batch's award-winning claim at the World Whisky Awards 🛢️ The crossover between Aussie malt...