The Bourbon Life

On this episode of The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief sits down with Anthony DeYoung from Three Chord Bourbon, a brand founded by legendary guitarist Neil Giraldo. Built on the rhythm of rock and roll and the craft of blending whiskey, Three Chord brings the energy of music into every bottle. More than just a whiskey brand, Three Chord Bourbon is deeply connected to the music community and philanthropy....

This week on The Whiskey Trip Podcast, Big Chief takes the ride with Dina Coker, founder of Lythgoe Bourbon, and Steffani Scheurich, the brand's Master Blender. Together they dive into the story behind a bourbon brand that is bold, confident, and completely unapologetic—just like the woman who inspired it. Lythgoe Bourbon draws its spirit from Gertrude "Cleo" Lythgoe, often called the Queen of the...

This week on The Whiskey Trip Podcast, Big Chief takes listeners for a ride to Bryan, Texas to sit down with Caleb Clanton, founder and distillery manager of Hush & Whisper Distilling Company. What makes this episode stand out isn't just the whiskey, it's the building itself. Hush & Whisper operates inside a restored old JCPenney building in historic downtown Bryan, and the space carries serious A...

In this episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast , the entire TBL Crew is back together for a laid-back but lively roundtable that feels like you're hanging out in the studio with the guys. There's no formal guest this week— just good bourbon, honest opinions, and the kind of unfiltered conversation that only happens when the crew gets together. Across three segments, the guys catch up on what's been h...

This week on The Whiskey Trip Podcast, Big Chief takes listeners for a ride to San Antonio to sit down with Tim Crofton, the distiller behind Ranger Creek and a fellow Army Veteran. This episode goes beyond the glass. It is about service, transition, discipline, and building something meaningful after the uniform comes off. Founded in 2010, Ranger Creek was one of the first brewery and distillery...

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief sits down with President Mark Shilling and Head Distiller Brandon Onstott of Maverick Distilling for a conversation built on Texas history, independence, and whiskey that carries the weight of the Maverick name. The legacy of Samuel Maverick sets the tone early, independent, unbranded, and unapologetically Texan, and that same spirit shows up in every pour....

In this episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast , Mark and Matt welcome Barry and Tori Brinegar into The Bourbon Life Studios for a conversation that's equal parts bourbon history, industry insight, and good-natured chaos. Barry is well known across the whiskey world as the former Co-Founder and National Brand Ambassador of RD1 Spirits, and he's joined by his wife Tori—affectionately known around here...

This week on The Whiskey Trip Podcast, Big Chief sits down with Emiliano A. C. Guajardo, Head Distiller at Still Austin Whiskey Co., and Samantha Olvera, Distiller at Garrison Brothers Distillery, for a conversation that runs far deeper than what's in the glass. This episode is about whiskey, yes, but it is also about identity, roots, and the Mexican and Hispanic heritage that helped shape Texas l...

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time in The Bourbon Life Studios with April Catron, Brand Ambassador, and Junior Cecil, Co-Founder/Owner, of Southern Kentucky Distillery. The guys talk with April and Junior about their respective backgrounds and how they each ended up in the Bourbon industry, the story of how Southern Kentucky Distillery was created from a pas...

Big Chief takes the ride to Henderson Kentucky and sits down with Zach Hargis and Master Distiller Jacob Call for a deep and honest conversation about the resurrection of Silk Velvet Whiskey, a storied Kentucky label with roots that stretch back well over a century. Silk Velvet was once a household name, known for its smooth character and dependable quality during an era when whiskey was as much a...

This week on The Whiskey Trip Podcast, Big Chief sits down with April Weller Cantrell, widely known throughout the whiskey world as The Bourbon Baroness. A trusted voice in American whiskey and one of Big Chief's closest confidants in the industry, April brings experience, perspective, and straight shooting honesty to a conversation that is honest and deep, rooted in respect for the craft and the...

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, The Bourbon Life Crew (minus Stacey) spend some time hanging out together in The Bourbon Life Studios sharing some great conversation and great pours. The Crew talk about the recent BourbonCon event that was just held in Lexington, KY for the 4 th year, some updated news regarding several troubled distilleries and brands and the impact that may have on...

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief heads into the rolling hills of East Tennessee to sit down with Stephen Callahan for a straightforward, no nonsense conversation about building whiskey the right way. The discussion is rooted in experience, patience, and respect for the craft, giving listeners an honest look at what it really takes to build a distillery with intention instead of chasing tre...

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time in The Bourbon Life Studios hanging out with our good friend and Bourbon Life Crew Member, Chad Watson, Blending & Operations Manager, for Rare Character. Chad was previously a guest on Episode 199. The guys talk with Chad about his background in retail and how his passion for Bourbon and writing reviews on Instagram led hi...

On this episode of The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief sits down with Clinton Dugan, co-founder and master blender of Short Barrel Bourbon out of Atlanta. Clinton dives into his approach to blending, barrel selection, and what it really takes to build a whiskey brand that stands out without chasing trends. This is a conversation rooted in patience, experience, and letting the whiskey speak louder than the...

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time in The Bourbon Life Studios hanging out with one of their favorite people in the Bourbon industry, the wonderful Ashley Barnes, Co-Founder & Master Blender, from The Blending House. Ashley was previously a guest on Episodes 144 and 249. The guys talk with Ashley about how she got started in the industry and the incredible e...

On this episode of The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief heads into the North Georgia mountains to sit down with distiller Randy Stamey at SharpTop Distilling Company in Jasper. The conversation explores SharpTop's Appalachian roots, hands-on approach to distilling, and the careful balance between honoring traditional mountain spirits and building a modern Georgia whiskey program grounded in patience and pu...

On this week's episode of The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief pulls up a chair with his brother Little Feather for a no-nonsense, end-of-year sit-down rooted in family, flavor, and hard-earned opinions. With a year of miles behind them and a table full of whiskey in front of them, the brothers look back on Big Chief's 2025 Whiskey Trail while taking on the challenge of naming Whiskey of the Year and Disti...

On this special holiday episode of The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief sits down with Doc Brown Farm and Distillery  founders Amy Brown and Paige Dockweiler for a conversation rooted in family, farming, and true grain to glass distilling. More than distillers, Amy and Paige are stewards of the land, driven by a shared determination to keep small scale farming alive at a time when doing things the right wa...

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, the entire Bourbon Life Crew gets together for their Christmas Spectacular and The 15 Blinds of Christmas.  The Crew discusses the current state of the Bourbon industry and what appears to be some potential hard times coming for some brands, the different bottles that they have each purchased (or haven't purchased this year), and they also make their in...

On this week's episode of The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief sits down with old friend and master distiller Lee Kennedy of Leiper's Fork Distillery for a conversation rooted in tradition, craftsmanship, and the future of American whiskey. The episode opens with Big Chief sipping on Revenuers Reserve, a standout release from Leiper's Fork Distillery. This small batch blend of three 8 year old Tennessee wh...

Featuring Distillers Laurie & Bernard Quandt On this week's episode of The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief heads into the rugged granite country of Llano, Texas, to spend the day with distillers Laurie and Bernard Quandt of War Trail Spirits. Their passion for the Hill Country, their hands-on approach, and their embrace of modern distilling tools make this stop one of the most memorable rides of the seaso...

On this week's episode of The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief takes listeners on a ride to the heart of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, where music, history, and whiskey all share the same soul. He sits down with Thom and Kim Bard, the founders of The Bard Distillery, inside their beautifully restored 1920s schoolhouse to talk about heritage, community pride, and the craftsmanship behind their exceptional li...

On this week's episode of The Whiskey Trip Podcast, Big Chief takes listeners on a ride to North Conway, New Hampshire, to visit Cathedral Ledge Distillery and sit down with owner and head distiller Christopher Burk. Set against the backdrop of the White Mountains, Cathedral Ledge is known for its certified-organic spirits, its respect for the land, and the clean, hands-on approach Christopher and...

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief steps into one of the most impressive private whiskey sanctuaries in Texas, Kevin Hemingway's Hemingway House of Bourbon. Built on passion, hospitality, and a deep love for the spirit, Kevin's space is a living museum of rare bottles, Texas standouts, and stories collected over years of sharing pours with friends. Surrounded by this curated treasure trove,...