The Third Pour

The Funk, The Whole Funk, and Nothing But The Funk Buckle up, folks, because things are getting weird in the tasting room. Today, Izzy and the Doc pull Sample #38 from the blind box, and it’s safe to say neither of them was prepared for what hit the glass. From the first sniff, it’s clear this isn't your standard bourbon. The Doc—usually the voice of reason and precise tasting notes—finds himself...

It’s Friday, and you know what that means—we’re breaking the seal! In today’s episode of The Third Pour, The Doc and Izzy sit down for a highly anticipated "Fresh Crack Friday." We’re popping the cork on a bottle of Hard Truth Sweet Mash Bourbon to see if this Indiana craft spirit lives up to the massive hype. From the moment the stopper comes out, the aromas fill the room, and the tasting only ge...

This episode is the perfect example of the "chaos energy" that makes The Third Pour so entertaining. When the Blind Box decides to be unkind, it usually results in the most memorable banter, and Sample #57 definitely delivered on the weirdness. Here is the breakdown of that sharp (literally) and strange session: The Mystery: Sample #57 The "Blind Box" lived up to its reputation for being unpredict...

When The Doc and Izzy get together to break the seal on a bottle like Kings County Bourbon, nobody is safe—from the distillery's home state to the local liquor store manager. Here is the breakdown of the episode: The Target List: Shots Fired The episode is less of a tasting and more of a roast session, as the duo takes aim at several "geographic and corporate" targets: New York: The Doc is origina...

This episode is a masterclass in why The Doc and Izzy (the "Dynamic Duo" of the Blind Box) are so fun to watch. In Sample #53, the Blind Box finally met its match—or at least came dangerously close to being completely dismantled by The Doc’s palate. Here is the breakdown of that high-stakes tasting: The Blind Box Challenge: Sample #53 The atmosphere was electric as they moved through the evaluatio...

It’s another Fresh Crack Friday on The Third Pour, and this week, the Doc is coming through with some serious heat straight from the Bluegrass State. After a recent trip to Kentucky, the Doc returned with a very specific prize in tow: a bottle of Dark Arts Whiskey House Malted Whiskey finished in Red Ale Casks. This isn't just any pour; this bottle was hand-selected and brought back specifically f...

Special Guest: Bobby Duncan (The Cigar District) In this episode of The Third Pour, Izzy and The Doc are joined by a true connoisseur of the leaf, Bobby Duncan from The Cigar District. We’re stepping into the lounge to explore the intricate relationship between premium tobacco and high-end bourbon whiskey. The centerpiece of today’s pour is the Penelope Cigar Blend, a whiskey specifically crafted...

On this week’s Fresh Crack Friday, GT and the Doc are pulling the foil on a true heavy hitter. We’re diving into the legendary Sazerac Rye and putting it head-to-head against its bold new sibling: the Sazerac Rye Full Proof. Does the classic "Baby Saz" hold its ground with its signature spice and balance, or does the added proof of the new release take this rye to a whole new level? We break down...

Headline: Sample #48 Chose Violence. The Doc and Izzy sit down for a Blind Box session that starts with a punch to the jaw. Sample #48 isn’t just high proof; it’s hot, aggressive, and seemingly determined to ruin their palates. Between the heat and the spice, the guys try to pin down the numbers—and let’s just say, the bourbon won this round. Grab a pour and watch the "experts" get humbled by a my...

The Third Pour: The Smooth Operator The weekend is officially here, and The Doc and Izzy are dialing back the heat but keeping all the flavor. We’re cracking into the Whiskey War Black Label (88 Proof). While its high-proof siblings are out there starting fights, the 88 proof is here to end the week on a high note. It’s the "approachable" warrior—the kind of bottle that doesn't demand a water drop...

Episode Description: The Blind Box Gamble 🥃 What happens when you put a "Heavy Hitter" in the box? GT and the Doc are back for a special Blind Box Edition of The Third Pour! This week, the stakes are high and the proof is higher. We’re diving into Sample #56, and let’s just say... the box did not disappoint. In this episode, we tackle a bottle that defies the laws of ABV. It’s got the complexity...

The best things in life are worth the wait." In this special (and slightly agonizing) birthday episode, the Doc reveals the surprise bottle he secured for GT: a pristine, unopened bottle of Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof. While the seal is still intact and the temptation is high, the "Third Pour" isn't complete without the full crew. We’re keeping the cork in and the glasses empty until the Prof...

"When Ben Holladay gets experimental, things get interesting... and a little bit difficult." In this marathon episode, The Doc and Izzy take on the full lineup of the Ben Holladay Experimental Expressions. With four unique bottles on the table, we knew we were in for a long night of discovery, but we didn’t account for the "Battle of the Cork." Between the laughs and the technical difficulties of...

Episode Title: The Forgettable Fifty-Two 🥃 GT is back in the studio, and we aren't wasting any time. In this episode, the Doc and GT go head-to-head with the mysterious Blind Box Sample #52, and let’s just say... it wasn't what we expected. We’re diving deep into a pour that is the ultimate liquid contradiction. It hits the palate with a unique, spicy punch that keeps things interesting right up...

The seal is broken, and so are our spirits. It’s Fresh Crack Friday on The Third Pour, and this week, The Doc and Izzy are diving into a bottle that comes with a lot of hype: Duck Club High Brass. Usually, a "fresh crack" is a moment of anticipation and hope... but sometimes, the hunter becomes the hunted. In this episode, we don't hold back. From the first whiff to the questionable finish, we bre...

Doc and guest host Izzy draw and crack open Sample #26, a pour that’s been staring us down from the dark corner of the Blind Box. What started as a 'polite' tasting turned into a full-on sensory interrogation. Doc is hunting for heritage oak and barrel-aged pedigree, but Izzy just found a flowery, fruit-forward curveball that throws the whole mash bill into question. Is this a top-shelf trophy or...

It’s Fresh Crack Friday on The Third Pour! The Doc is joined by special guest host Izzy to break the seal on the highly anticipated Whiskey War Cigar Cask. This episode is proof that your palate is your own. While they both loved the pour, their final ratings tell two different stories. Come for the tasting notes, stay for the laughs as they navigate the smoke, spice, and everything in between. In...

In this episode, The Doc takes The Third Pour on the road. Broadcasting on location, The Doc sits down with Frank Jameson, owner of Spiriteaux Wine & Liquor, for a behind-the-counter conversation about the realities of running a liquor store in today’s bourbon-crazed market. From allocated bottle madness to customer trends and store picks, Frank shares what it really looks like on the retail side...

It’s Friday, the glencairns are clean, and the seal is officially coming off. In this episode, The Doc and The Professor sit down with a bottle of Raconteur Rye to see if the liquid inside lives up to the storytelling on the label. Is this a spicy masterpiece or just another rye on the shelf? We’re breaking down the initial nose, the first-sip mouthfeel, and that crucial finish. We don’t do "neck...

What happens when a seasoned veteran and a fresh perspective take on the same mystery pour? In this episode, The Doc welcomes guest host Izzy to the table to tackle Blind Box Sample #61. It’s a masterclass in sensory notes as the duo dissects the mash bill and mouthfeel. While they showed off their expertise by correctly identifying the proof and the "hook," the final reveal caught them both off g...

This Fresh Crack Friday, The Professor, Doc, and GT are popping the seal on a highly anticipated limited release: the James E. Pepper Gold Label Decanter Bourbon. This isn't your standard grocery store find; we’re looking at a small-batch blend of just 25 barrels, aged between 6 and 7 years and bottled at an uncut, unfiltered 104 proof. The James E. Pepper Distillery has been making waves with the...

We’re back in the blind box for Sample #60! While some episodes are about the "hunt," this one is all about the discovery. The guys peel back the layers on a mystery pour that keeps them guessing from the first nose to the final finish. It’s a fun, unfiltered look at how we process flavor when the label is stripped away. Will this be a budget-friendly hero or a high-proof heartbreaker? Tune in to...

It’s the biggest game of the year, and we’re playing it in a Glencairn. Today, The Professor and Doc are flying blind. Labels don’t matter when the lights are this bright. In our official version of the Big Game. The Professor and Doc go head-to-head with three mystery pours in a triple-threat double blind. No bottle shapes to give it away. No distillery loyalty. Just the juice. Which heavy hitter...

Nothing says "weekend" quite like the sound of a foil seal ripping and a cork popping. For this Fresh Crack Friday, we’re heading up to Nashville, Indiana, to see if the crew at Hard Truth is still batting 1.000 with their legendary Sweet Mash process. The Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye has been winning awards left and right, but you know how we do it on The Third Pour—we don't care about the trophies...

We always say that labels cloud judgment. That’s why the Blind Box episodes are the heart of what we do at The Third Pour. In this session, The Doc takes the hot seat. Without any context, he navigates the nose, the palate, and the finish of a mystery sample. It’s one thing to describe a whiskey; it’s another thing entirely to name it. Stick around to see the reveal and find out if The Doc’s medic...