Bourbon Barrel Talk

The crew reviews the latest 13th Colony Barrel Strength and 95 Proof releases. Brian picked up these bad boys and we tried and compared them.  

The crew ventures down to Jack Daniels and has a great conversation with Chris Fletcher Master Distiller for Jack Daniels. Chris Fletcher is Vice President, Master Distiller and Director of Quality at the Jack Daniel Distillery. In this role, he uses an extensive knowledge of the whiskey-making process to supervise and ensure the world’s top-selling whiskey. In this episode we discuss this, how he...

The crew reviews and compares the Hotel Tango Port & Midwinter’s Night Dram Act 11 Scene 3. These as of now are my two favorite Port finishes of the year. It's early in the year, but damn these were both delicious. Picking one over the other was harder than I expected. 

The crew has a coversation around Wood, Barrels and Sustainability of White Oak. How does this affect the industry? Will there be changes? Or will we be just fine, because younger people will rebel like earlier generations did? 

The crew interviews Alan Kennedy with Redemption Whiskey. We discussed his journey to the whiskey business. From chef to bartender/waiter, to time spent with Dave Pickerel learning his craft; to today. We also tried and walk through three pours, Redemption Rye, the Cognac finished and their upcoming release Sur Lee. 

The crew compares and contrast the Wild Turkey Unforgotten & Angels Envy Cask Strength Rye Finished in Sauterne and Toasted Oak Barrels. Two pour that are super unique to what each company traditionally does. While both had fantastically delicious baking spice and sweetness, one came out with a different level of flavor, especially for Andy...LOL.

The crew sits down and reviews a Blue Note Single Barrel. We found out that Tim is much harder to please than the rest of us. Evidently he only likes Weller and Mic Drop..LOL.

The crew sits down and reviews one of the first batches of 4 year old Ole Smoky Whiskey Company's bourbon. Mashbill is 84/8/8, similar to other Tennessee distillation. Being young it still shows qualities that will grow into a nice 6-10 year product. 

The crew sits down and discussed and reviews the Field of Dreams Bourbon released in 2022. With Batch 2 about to be released, we figured we should give our take on Batch 1. 

Ed Bley sends the crew batch 2 of the Old Stubborn for us to review. Although the both batches are good, I think I lean in to Batch 2 a bit more than 1.  Mainly because I prefer the rye over the wheater.

Jonny Tsunami brought back a bottle of barrel strength Jameson Whiskey from his trip abroad. In honor or his sister Leah and her husband Liam's first child arriving, Jonny wanted to pay homage with a toast to them. 

The crew reviews a couple of ryes. We compare and contrast the Bulliett 12 yr and Kentucky Owl Batch 1 Ryes. It's always fun when you can put a recent release up to a release thats 7 years old. What is your favorite rye, new and old?

The crew discusses and reviews the most recent wheated bourbon released by Starlight from the 2023 Repeal Day. 

The crew reviews and compares the Discovery 6 and KBS Founders from Bardstown Bourbon Company. The comparisons are like apples and oranges, but offer a wide variety in flavors. Do you have a favorite Discovery bottle or Collaboration? 

The crew reviews these exceptionally hard to find wheated bourbons. The Makers Cellar age is the oldest Makers that I am aware of, as is the Select Stock Wheat from Heaven Hill. Both are sweet and tasty, but one is just a bomb of flavor. 

The crew reviews the 2019 release of Mic Drop from PM Spirits. These releases tend to be fairly good and solid MGP blends. While their early releases were older, the newer ones have been 4-6 years old. 

The Den of Thieves take over the Brock's and review 3 super unique barrels available right now in Old Louisville's Single Barrel Program. We reviewed two 36% high rye MGP, a 8 yr Columbian Oak, 11 yr Regular and a 51/49 rye/malt barrel. Check out Old Louisville Whiskey Company for your next single barrel selection. 

The crew sits down and discusses two Derby Cocktail that are alternatives to the Mint Julep, Spire and Lilly. The Ky. Buck is a refreshing take on the Ky Mule, and The Forbidden Sour is a refresh of a whiskey sour, made with pomegranate liquor. 

The crew interviews and talks High West Distillery with Isaac Winter - Blending and Distilling Manager.  We discussed his background in the industry, his early career as a brewer and yeast guru, and what he does for fun. We discuss the Bottled in Bond Rye, Bourye and other expressions and what makes them unique. 

The crew sits down and reviews the 26th iteration of the Old Foresters President's Choice Bourbon. The PC bottles are a select group of chosen barrels that the Master Taster and Master Distiller set aside for the President to chose as their favorites and so PC's are born. 

The Final Four and Finals had a couple of surprises, but this may have been the most fun promos we have done in a while. I predict more blinds in the future. Special thanks to our Sponsor Dynasty Epoxy. 

Round 3 the Elite 8 of the NIT Tournament of Whiskeys did not disappoint. Nick and Scott actually disagree on one...LOL. a few match up results will really shock you. 

The crew sits down to discuss and review the late fall release from Jack Daniels, the Twice Barreled Rye. The more JD I drink the more I find it to be fantastic, especially their ryes. 

This was a fun conversation through these blinds of round 2 of the ryes and barrel proof whiskeys. 

The crew blinds round 2 of the 100 proof/Bottled in Bond and Finished/under 100 proof bourbon and whiskeys. It's fun to see how everyday shelf whiskey still gets the crew excited.