The Bourbon Life

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief takes a break from the highways and settles into the cozy charm of The Hemmingway Hideout in Bridge City, Texas. It's the kind of spot where whiskey wisdom is shared over a well-loved bar top—and today, Big Chief is joined by none other than Kevin Hemmingway, a local aficionado with a deep love for finely crafted bourbon. In the first half, they dive into a...

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Mark and his special co-host, Stacey, spend some time hanging out on location at The Kitchen Table at The James B. Beam Distilling Co. with Jason Betts, Consumer Relations Manager, for The James B. Beam Distilling Co. This Episode originally aired on June 14, 2024 as Episode 227. Mark & Stacey talk with Jason about his extensive background and how...

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief heads down to the legendary streets of New Orleans for a visit to the heart of one of the most iconic names in American whiskey, The Sazerac House. In the first half of the episode, Big Chief sits down with Matt Ray and Gregg Trishe, two key players behind the scenes at Sazerac, and they open a bottle of something truly special: the new Eagle Rare 12-Year E...

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Stacey, Philip, and Mark (3/5 of The Bourbon Life Crew) spend some time hanging out together in The Bourbon Life Studios enjoying some great pours and great conversation. They talk about the different events that were held as part of the recent National Bourbon Week in Bardstown, several different new distillery openings here in Kentucky this month, and...

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief ventures into the high-altitude heart of the Colorado Rockies to sit down with Lenny Eckstein, founder and head distiller at Deerhammer Distillery in Buena Vista. What starts as a tasting becomes a deep dive into the wild spirit of craft whiskey done the mountain way. Lenny's approach is anything but conventional. He's built Deerhammer with an unapologetica...

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, presented by Liquor Barn, Matt and Mark spend some time together hanging out with Chris Walters, Creator, of Nose Your Bourbon. This Episode originally aired on September 20, 2024 as Episode 241. They talk with Chris about how his passion for Bourbon and his desire to create a system for himself to understand nosing and tasting notes better led to...

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief heads deep into the heart of Acadiana, where cypress trees whisper secrets and the whiskey runs as bold as the people who craft it. He sits down with Philip Mestayer, owner and distiller at Distillerie Acadian, a man on a mission to bottle the very soul of Louisiana. In the first half, they pour "Cajun's Cut"—a cask strength, single barrel, four grain bourb...

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out with Kyle Merklein, Master Distiller, from Holladay Distillery. This Episode originally aired on May 3, 2024 as Episode 221. The guys talk with Kyle about his educational background and experience, as well as growing up on a farm in Kansas, and how that led him to the world of whiskey and his current role...

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief pulls no punches as he sits down with the straight-shooting Brandon Carlton—the man behind Brewtally Honest Bourbon. A voice unafraid to call it like he tastes it, Brandon brings his raw enthusiasm and no-nonsense style to a tasting session that dives deep into the powerhouse that is the 1792 lineup. From the approachable sweetness of 1792 Small Batch, to t...

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out in The Bourbon Life Studios with Damon Thayer & Andre Regard, Co-Founders, of Kentucky Senator Bourbon. Damon and Andre were previously guests on Episodes 128 and 182. They talk with Damon and Andre about all of the exciting things that have been going on with Kentucky Senator Bourbon since their last appearance...

Big Chief heads into the whiskey-rich hills of Somerset, Pennsylvania, where coal dust memories and rye whiskey pride still echo through the mountains. He sits down with Maximilian Merrill, owner of Ponfeigh Distillery, a man reviving the bold legacy of Monongahela Rye, one barrel at a time. With roots tracing back to the Ponfeigh Smokeless Coal Company and a family hunting cabin where rye once fl...

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, the Bourbon Life Crew (minus Chad) spend some time hanging out together in The Bourbon Life enjoying some great conversation and some great pours. The Crew kicks things off with Bourbon Life Jeopardy , inspired by Philip's idea to turn a love of trivia into a spirited game. From there, they dive into three big topics: the grand opening of the new RD1 Di...

This week on The Whiskey Trip , Big Chief barrels into Northern Kentucky—a land where whiskey history runs thicker than molasses and the ghosts of rectifiers past still linger in the mash. He sits down with Bill Whitlow of Wenzel Whiskey, housed in a restored 1873 brick beauty that's equal parts heritage and hustle. Together, they toast to the long-overlooked rectifiers—those scrappy, bootleg-era...

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out with Robert Likarish, Founder, Jonathan Likarish, Master Distiller & Blender, and Marcia Likarish, the Mother of Texas Whiskey, of Ironroot Republic Distillery. This Episode origianlly aired on December 6, 2024 as Episode 252.  The guys talk with Robert, Jonathan, and Marcia about their respective backgrou...

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief heads to one of the most cherished stops on his whiskey journey—Leiper's Fork Distillery—a place where friendship has aged into family and the spirits are as bold as the stories behind them. He sits down with the powerhouse herself, Kendra Anderson, the head distiller whose path began behind the bar mixing cocktails and now leads the charge in the stillhous...

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief takes the backseat and lets the Bottled-in-Bond Professor himself, Bernie Lubbers, steer us through a masterclass in American whiskey history. Known for his relentless advocacy, storytelling talent, and undying love for the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, Bernie has been the face of bonded whiskey for decades—especially with iconic brands like Henry McKenna 10...

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out in The Bourbon Life Studios with Juliet Schmalz, CEO & Founder, of Fortune's Fool Whiskey. The guys talk with Juliet about her decision to leave her career as an anesthesiologist to pursue a career and launch a new brand in the whiskey industry, the creation of the brand and the challenges that she has faced sin...

This week on The Whiskey Trip , Big Chief takes us deep into the heart of Texas—the Hill Country—where dusty wind runs in the blood, and memories ride tall in the saddle. He's joined by none other than his little brother, Mitch Grey—known to many as Little Feather . Together, they ride back through time, sharing stories of their rural upbringing, their military service, and the unbreakable bond on...

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out with Matt Cunningham, Founder, of Old Glory Distilling Co. from Clarksville, Tennessee. This Episode originally aired as Episode 235 in August 2024. We talk with Matt about his background and how he transitioned from studying finance in college to becoming a firefighter in Clarksville to becoming the Found...

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief plants his boots firmly in Atlanta, Georgia — a city that has tasted fire, risen from ruin, and come back stronger every time. He sits down with Jerry McCall from ASW Distillery, a man whose passion for whiskey burns as hot as the city's fighting spirit. Together, they dive deep into the raw, unvarnished story of Georgia distilling — a story born from hards...

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, The Bourbon Life Crew spends some time hanging out together in The Bourbon Life Studios sharing some great pours and even better conversation. They talk about the recent news regarding the closure of Garrard County Distilling Co. and whether that is an indicator of the current Bourbon market overall, the recent flooding in Kentucky and the impact that i...

This week on The Whiskey Trip , Big Chief rolls into the beating heart of the South—Atlanta, Georgia—where whiskey meets modern art in a way you've never seen before. He sits down with Matt Greif, the visionary Head Distiller at Distillery of Modern Art, a place where creativity flows as freely as the spirits. It's not just a distillery—it's an immersive experience. Picture this: a contemporary ar...

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out with Zach Johnston, Chief Brand Officer and Senior V.P. of International Sales, for Blackwood Distilling Co. in Versailles, Kentucky. This Episode originally aired on April 12, 2024 as Episode 218. The guys talk with Zach about his incredible background that saw him living in multiple countries over an ext...

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief rolls into Statesville, North Carolina—a city once hailed as the "liquor capital of the world", where whiskey-making wasn't just a trade, it was the lifeblood of the region. He heads to Southern Distilling Company, where that spirit of craftsmanship and community is alive and well. There, he sits down with founder and owner Pete Barger, a visionary reviving...

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, presented by Liquor Barn, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out in The Bourbon Life Studios with Owen Martin, Master Distiller, from Angel's Envy. This Episode originally aired as Episode 233 on July 26, 2024. The guys talk with Owen about his impressive background and education, which included a stint in Scotland for a degree in brewing and d...