The Whiskey Rocks Podcast

Before bourbon hunting, whiskey influencers, and seemingly endless craft distillery openings, there were a handful of people willing to take a chance on an industry that barely existed. Phil Prichard was one of them. In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, Joel and Chris sit down with Phil Prichard, founder of Prichard’s Distillery, to talk about building a craft whiskey brand long before craft whiskey...

Most whiskey companies start with a still. Root Shoot started with a farm. In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, Joel and Chris sit down with Heyward Gualandi and fifth-generation farmer Todd Olander to explore one of the most unique stories in American whiskey. Instead of building a distillery and sourcing grain, Root Shoot flipped the traditional model on its head…growing, harvesting, and malting th...

On this episode of Whiskey Rocks, we sit down with Clinton Duggan, co-founder and master blender of Shortbarrel Bourbon, to talk about the wild ride from weekend barrel picks to building one of the most talked-about brands in modern whiskey. We dive into the art of blending, the evolution of bourbon culture, the rise of Atlanta whiskey, and what really goes into creating bold, memorable pours that...

In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, we sit down with Nicolas Lee of Glacier Distilling Company in Montana to talk about building a craft distillery near Glacier National Park and why American single malt whiskey is on the rise. We dive into their origin story, what makes Montana whiskey different, and break down their Logan Pass American Single Malt with music-inspired tasting notes. If you’ve ever...

What happens when you take traditional bourbon-making… and drop it into the Texas heat? In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, we sit down with Robert Likarish of Ironroot Republic Distilling to break down the science—and the fun—behind Texas whiskey aging. We get into how extreme temperature swings accelerate the aging process, why Texas whiskey often tastes older than it actually is, and how Ironroot...

On this episode, Joel and Chris dive into Journeyman Distillery, a Michigan craft whiskey operation with bootlegger roots, a factory-turned-distillery story, and a philosophy built on organic grains and craftsmanship. We taste their Pit Spitter Cherry Whiskey, Last Feather Rye, and cask strength expressions, each one telling a story that hits like a classic rock anthem. Plus, Bill and Johanna Welt...

The future of whiskey is here. For this special Women of Whiskey roundtable, Whiskey Rocks brings together Blair from Milam & Greene, Sydney Jones from Heaven Hill, Jaz’min Weaver from Bardstown Bourbon Company, and Liz Pirnat from Napa Valley Wine Academy for a conversation that goes beyond the glass. Whiskey has long been marketed one way but the reality is evolving. In this episode, we explore...

In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, Joel and Chris sit down with Ryan Gill, Director of Marketing & Brand Development at Three Chord Bourbon, the music-inspired bourbon brand founded by legendary producer and guitarist Neil Giraldo. How does a rock icon go from platinum records to whiskey barrels? Was Three Chord born as a passion project… or a serious bourbon philosophy from day one? And what does...

In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, we head to Tennessee to hang out with Brandon O’Daniels, Head Distiller at Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery, and uncover one of the most incredible comeback stories in American whiskey. Founded in 1860, Nelson’s Green Brier was once one of the largest whiskey distilleries in the world before disappearing before Prohibition....only to be resurrected over a century l...

What do Kentucky bourbon, a legendary racehorse, a risky 33–1 wager, and the birth of The Beatles have in common? Apparently… everything. In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, we sit down with Brian Luftman, co-founder of Never Say Die Bourbon, to unpack one of the most unbelievable origin stories in whiskey. From a Kentucky-born horse shocking the world at the 1954 Epsom Derby, to a Liverpool bet tha...

In this special Mezcal Rocks episode, we step outside the whiskey world and challenge some long-held assumptions as we dive into mezcal with Desolas Mezcal. Joined by Sammy Halpern, former Blue Run Spirits executive and co-founder of Desolas, we break down what whiskey drinkers often get wrong about mezcal, why smoke doesn’t have to dominate the conversation, and how Desolas is approaching the cat...

What does it really mean to make whiskey with conviction? In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, we sit down with Jim Hough of Liberty Pole Spirits, a distillery that isn’t interested in shortcuts, trends, or chasing hype. Instead, they’re laser-focused on doing things the hard way — local grain, grain-to-glass production, and a deep respect for Pennsylvania rye’s rebellious roots. Jim walks us through...

This week on Whiskey Rocks, we’re heading straight into the Rockies with Minturn Whiskey Company—where the elevation is high, the air is thin, and the whiskey doesn’t need any gimmicks to stand out. We talk about what it actually means to make whiskey at altitude, how Minturn balances mountain-town roots with serious distilling chops, and why their approach feels refreshingly honest in a category...

In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, Joel sits down with Chris Crowe from Burnt Church Distillery for a deep dive into what truly sets this Lowcountry standout apart. Chris shares the origin behind the unforgettable name, the intentional philosophy guiding every decision, and how Burnt Church blends Southern heritage with modern whiskey-making. From grain selection to barrel strategy to the experimen...

Who we are, what we’re about and what to expect when you click “Play Episode”

In this Whiskey Rocks Whiskey Nerd Takeover, Joel and Chris welcome back Blair Ault from Milam & Greene for a deep dive into a special release, The Answer. What starts as a behind-the-scenes breakdown of blending philosophy, flavor decisions, and how this bottle came to life quickly turns into a full-on whiskey masterclass when Master Distiller Marlene Holmes drops in unexpectedly. But that’s only...

What does it really mean for a whiskey to be “local”? Is it about where the grains come from, the climate where the barrels age, the people who make it, or something deeper about place and identity? In this episode, we sit down with Will and Ric at St. Augustine Distillery in the nation’s oldest city to talk about what makes their whiskey unmistakably Floridian. We get into how heat and humidity s...

In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, Joel and Chris sit down with Owen King, the distiller behind Iron Clad Distillery out of Newport News, Virginia, a brand that’s as bold and unapologetic as its name. Owen takes us deep into Iron Clad’s roots, from the Civil War history that inspired its name to the modern craft grit that defines its bourbon. We talk family hustle, local pride, and what it means to...

What happens when bourbon meets a prison cell? You get one of the most fascinating stories in whiskey. In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, Joel, Chris and guest host Brad Hughes from @bradsbourbonreviews dive into the incredible journey of Thomas Thacker, co-founder of Southern Grace Distillery…the North Carolina whiskey that ages its barrels inside a former prison. From converting cell blocks into...

In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, Joel and Chris sit down with Trey Boggs, co-founder of Palmetto Distillery, the trailblazing South Carolina brand behind the state’s first legal moonshine. Trey takes us inside the Palmetto story — from family roots and Southern tradition to building a distillery that celebrates Carolina pride with every pour. We dive into Palmetto’s journey from moonshine to whis...

On this episode of Whiskey Rocks, Joel and Chris sit down with Blair Ault of Milam & Greene Whiskey, a trailblazing voice in the world of American whiskey. Milam & Greene isn’t just another Texas distillery, it’s a woman-owned and woman-led brand that’s breaking barriers while crafting some of the most exciting bottles on the market today. Blair takes us inside the story of Milam & Greene, from th...

Keeper’s Heart Whiskey is making waves with a bold idea: blending the rich tradition of Irish whiskey with the deep character of American bourbon. In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, Joel and Chris sit down with Keeper’s Heart’s lead distiller, Kate Douglas, to talk about the inspiration behind the blend, how it’s crafted, and why it’s turning heads across the whiskey world. From the challenges of m...

From Bourbon Pursuit to Pursuit Spirits, Ryan Cecil has carved out a unique path in the whiskey world, transforming his passion for storytelling into a whiskey brand that’s challenging industry norms. In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, Joel and Chris sit down with Ryan to dig into the origins of Pursuit Spirits, the philosophy behind their blends, and what it takes to move from documenting whiskey...

Watershed Distillery has been quietly making waves in the world of craft whiskey — and it’s time you heard the story straight from the source. In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, Joel and Chris sit down with Tommy Householder, U.S. Brand Ambassador for Watershed, to talk about how a Columbus, Ohio distillery is redefining what bourbon can be. From their bold approach to flavor to the surprising hist...

What if your favorite whiskey… wasn’t actually your favorite? In this “Voices of the Industry” episode of Whiskey Rocks, we sit down with Bobby DeMars, founder of Blind Barrels, the underground whiskey subscription that’s flipping the script on how we taste, discover, and love American whiskey. Bobby shares the story behind launching Blind Barrels, why blind tasting reveals more than any label eve...