Aussie Bourbon Lovers

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...

In this special episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we’re joined by Caryn Luz, National Brand Ambassador for Green River Distilling Co., as we explore their wheated bourbon — a near-identical twin to their flagship high-rye bourbon. We explore: 🧪 What happens when you swap wheat for rye in a mashbill 🥃 How the same char, yeast, and age delivers two very different pours 🎓 Caryn’s bourbon tasting a...

We’re back with Sean McCormick from Burton James Distillery, sipping their single barrel wheated bourbon and diving deep into Sean’s path from hotel kitchens to creating a custom bourbon for us. In this episode: 👨‍🍳 Sean’s journey from culinary school to Kraft Foods 🧪 The accidental career switch that led him to food science 🥣 Developing cereal flavours and why bourbon came next 🥃 What makes...

In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we pop open the gloriously retro bottle of Chicken Cock Single Barrel Bourbon, a 130.8 proof beast we almost didn’t bring home. We talk through: 🧳 The bourbon-buying rule we broke to grab this bottle 🥃 Tasting after 10 bourbons — and why it still stood out 👃 The surprise “rum and raisin” nose (yeah, we said it) 💥 How this high-proof Kentucky straight b...

In this special episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we open a unicorn: Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year. Not for clout, but to celebrate 15 years of marriage — and a shared love of good bourbon and good stories. We chat through: 🥃 First impressions of the Pappy nose and palate 🪵 That sweet woodiness that smells like a sharpened pencil (you’ll get it) 🥂 The joys and absurdities of marking...

In this end-of-year wrap-up, we each poured a blind bourbon for the other — and sat down to count down our Top 5 Bourbon Moments of 2024. From Kentucky Bourbon Festival memories to surprise tasting wins by the fire, we revisit the bottles, places, and people that made this year one to raise a glass to. You’ll hear: 🥃 Our favourite bourbons and bourbon events of the year 🔍 The blind tasting sessi...

This might be the best conversation about bourbon Dave and H have ever had. Dan McKee, Master Distiller and Andrea Wilson, Master of Maturation, take time out of their breakfast to pop the top of a 2024 10yr Bourbon and tell us more about what make Michter's special and share some more of the incredible stories. In this extended episode you'll find out more about what a Michter's age statement rea...

Dave and H share some suggestions of how they like to enjoy their bourbons over a hot Australian Summer. There are a couple of cocktail ideas, their suggestions for the perfect Aussie version of a Kentucky Mule and lots of ways to keep cool with a sensational bourbon this summer.   Chapters 00:00 Crafting the Perfect Summer Cocktail 01:00 Our Aussie-Kentucky Mule Recipe 02:10 Bourbon is not just f...

Dave and H welcome Caryn Wells, the National Brand Ambassador for Green River Bourbon and they chat about the rich history of Green River, its revival of the once infamous brand after nearly a century, and the unique tasting notes of their bourbon. Caryn shares insights into the fact that it was once the most widely advertised whiskey in the world, considered the most expensive ever sold at one po...

Dave and H enjoy a pour of New Riff 8 Year Old Bourbon and enjoy some stories and some 'facts' about the New Riff story and their whiskeys. It might be the best use of a liquor store/bottle shop carpark we've heard of. Get your hands on a pour and you'll soon see why.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to New Riff Bourbon Whiskey 01:30 A Stop at a Distillery on Another Business Trip 03:30 New Riff and...

H and Dave are again joined by Dan McKee, Master Distiller and Andrea Wilson, Master of Maturation of Michter's for another extended episode. This time for a special occasion, to celebrate 10 years since Michters first released their Toasted Barrel Bourbon. They share stories about that very first release in 2014, a story about a blind tasting that took Dave and H back home to the other side of th...