Neat & Mixed from Hops & Spirits

We try the fourth release from Kentucky Senator Bourbon named after US Senator John Sherman Cooper. This comes in at 107 proof with an MSRP of $135. Roughly 1,000 bottles of this was released.

We tried the Blue Note Juke Joint Single Barrel Uncut at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. This came in at 121.7 proof with an MSRP of $40.

While at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, we tried the Three Chord Honey Toasted Whiskey. This features 5 & 6 year old MGP Bourbon and 8 year old KY Corn Whiskey blended together and aged for 3 months in toasted barrels from Independent Stave Company and Speyside Cooperage. Those 3 months were followed by 1 month in barrels that previously held honey from Fern Valley Farms in Arkansas. Cheers!

We had questions for E.J. Curley & Co.'s Ashley Barnes at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. We talked to Ashley about how started working for EJ Curley, working in the bourbon business while pregnant, what she's trying to do for EJ Curley, future releases and more.

We've got questions for Lexington Brewing & Distilling's Dave Bob at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. We ask Dave Bob about his role, their barrel-aged beers, how he got into this industry, their bourbons, what's coming soon and much more.

We've got questions for Filmland Spirits founder Troy Bolotnick at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. We ask Troy how Filmland started, their unique approach to their bottles, what's coming soon and much more. Cheers!

We had questions for Christian Saylor, GM of Repeal Oak-Fired Steakhouse in Louisville. Chris talks about what can folks expect when they visit Repeal and Hotel Distill, how they're able to have such an amazing collection of spirits, their in-room Hotel Distill bourbon cart, being part of Whiskey Row and more.

While at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, we tried the NuLu Whiskey finished in Amburana barrels. This was finished on average for 6 weeks to 3 months in those barrels. How does it stack up against some of the other Amburana finishes? Cheers!

Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey is Hard Truth’s debut sweet mash whiskey, a culmination of years of careful planning and precise crafting. Sweet mash is the distilling process in which each batch of whiskey begins with entirely fresh ingredients. Mash bill one features 94 percent rye and 6 percent malted barley. This comes in at $70 MSRP. Cheers!

Jonathan and Brandon sit down with Wally Dant to try four expressions from Log Still Distilling. We enjoy their Monk's Road bourbon barrel finished gin, Monk's Road Wheated Bourbon, Monk's Road Fifth District Series bourbon, and Rattle & Snap 4-year Tennessee Whiskey. Wally also talks about his family's history in the industry, how Log Still came to be, their name, the exciting things happenin...

We celebrate one year of reviews with a special pour thanks to a good friend. We try the Old Forester 2021 Birthday Bourbon. It comes in at 104 proof with an MSRP of $130 (if you can ever find it in the wild!). Cheers!

We had questions for Bardstown Bourbon Master Distiller Steve Nally at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown. Steve talks about their approach to collaborations, how their release series work, what's coming up and more.

In an industry steeped in tradition, Bespoken is different from anything you've seen or tasted thanks to a refined yet creative approach; one that aligns purpose with passion. What they call Tailored Wood Finishing allows a hand-selected cultivar of bespoke flavors to erupt within each bottle, all while using less wood, water, and energy than any whiskey ever before. We chat with CEO Peter Peter I...

Hemingway Rye is built on family traditions. Just as Ernest Hemingway lived a life full of timeless tales worth regaling, the same is true for the Call and Groth Families. The men who crafted this whiskey have distilling in their blood, along with stories and lessons passed down for more than 230 years. We chat with Master Distiller Jacob Call and Marketing Director Forrest Smallwood about how Hem...

Louisville-based Barrell Craft Spirits is the original, pre-eminent independent blender of unique, aged, cask strength whiskey and rum. Recognized for its blending expertise since 2013, Barrell skillfully designs, produces, and launches leading, unique products that surprise and delight whiskey aficionados and novices alike. We chat with Stefanie Bair, Barrell Craft Spirits US Director of Sales, a...

First opened in September 2020, Atrium Brewing seeks to bring their passion for making beer for Louisville through a series of ever-evolving experimental and true-to-style beers with locations in Shelby Park and Norton Commons. We chat (2:40 mark) with Princeton Hurst,  co-owner/president of Atrium Brewing, about how Atrium was launched, why the name, his entrepreneurial spirit, their Logan Street...

Streetside Brewery beers run the gamut from IPAs and Wheats to Lagers and Stouts and specialty beers are featured seasonally. The taproom also spotlights guest taps to support fellow local breweries and is rooted in Cincinnati's oldest neighborhood, Columbia-Tusculum. We chat (3:20 mark) with Garrett Hickey, Managing Brewer & Owner at Streetside Brewery, about how his family got into the busin...

CRAVE is a festival featuring food and live at the Bluegrass Fairgrounds at Masterson Station Park in Lexington. CRAVE has more than 40 food restaurants, chefs, food trucks, craft beer and cocktails, kids stuff, a car show and 10 musical acts performing over two days. We chat (3:10 mark) with Chris Eddie of Smiley Pete Publishing which runs the event. Chris talks about how the festival came to be,...

Country Boy Brewing was founded in 2012 by four native Kentuckians with a passion for great craft beer. Since then, Country Boy has expanded to a new brewing facility and three taprooms. We chat (2:55 mark) with Pete Weiss, Marketing Director for Country Boy, about their new Louisville Taproom in the Omni's Falls City Market, how it differs from the other taprooms, their Georgetown facility/taproo...

Out of the darkness emerges a creature born of American craft and Japanese tradition. And that is exactly happening at The Void Sake in Lexington, Kentucky's only sake brewery. We chat (2:50 mark) with Justin LeVaughn, co-owner and head brewer, about how Void got started, why sake, the process to make it, what's next for them and so much more. What's Pouring Kentucky (0:30 mark): The Ketch Seafood...

It's a two guest episode this week as we hit the 75-episode mark. First, we chat (2:45 mark) with David Mandell, chairman of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, about how the festival has changed over the years, what folks can expect with more than 50 brands in attendance, new additions to this year's festival and what's next. Then we chat (24:45 mark) with Holly Doscher, Director of Marke...

The Farm Distillery Project at Locust Grove in Louisville illustrates the small farm-scale distilling activities of early Kentucky, before mass production. The farm distillery opened in May 2017 and since has been used in exhibits, first-person interpreter programs and demonstrations. The farm distillery also plays a role in Locust Grove’s Unfolding The Story tour experience since distilling was h...

We welcome in Larry Horwitz (2:50 mark), brewmaster for Crooked Hammock Brewing in North Myrtle Beach, for the latest stop on our Road Trip Series. He talks about how he got into craft beer, how he ended up at Crooked Hammock, how his beer journey has impacted what he brews, being part of the Brewers Association, releasing new beers for Crooked Hammock, places to visit in Myrtle Beach and more. Wh...

Hannah Lowen, currently the VP of operations and incoming CEO, has been at New Riff Distilling since before the distillery opened. Hannah established New Riff’s operating systems, company branding and distillery programs as the company launched. Hannah talks (3:30 mark) about how she ended up at New Riff, has she always enjoyed bourbon, how New Riff has changed over the years, stepping into the CE...

It's a two guest episode this week as we get a grilling tip from chef Alison Settle while Chad Watson wonders if bourbon drinkers will care about American single malt whiskey. Chef Alison Settle (3:00 mark) talks about a new idea to try this summer in using your charcoal grill as a smoker. Chad Watson (aka MyDailyBourbon) discusses (12:30 mark) the new American single malt whiskey options hitting...