Bourbon Podcast

Today's proof positive is a hot one! A little bit about the juice: Each Barrel Proof release is distinct, and Batch A125 follows this tradition. The batch code reveals its story: "A" indicates the first release of the year, "1" signifies January, and "25" refers to the year 2025. Expect a rich flavor profile featuring notes of caramel, toasted oak, vanilla, and subtle spice, followed by a robust and warm finish. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is a must-have for bourbon enthusiasts and collectors seeking depth, complexity, and bold character. Cheers!

Their most indulgent double-barreled expression. This bourbon undergoes an extended slumber in a second, custom-crafted barrel. Deeply toasted and lightly charred, it unlocks an unparalleled depth of flavor – a richness and complexity rarely encountered in American whiskey. Cheers!

Crafted in small batches from Ohio soft red winter wheat to emphasize the regional flavor of their agriculture, their flagship whiskey is then aged in new Ohio-made white American oak barrels to round out its mid-western flavor foundations. Ohio soft red winter wheat. Aged a minimum of 3 years in fresh white American oak 92 Points “Exceptional” – Tastings.com / Gold Medal – Beverage Testing Institute / Gold Medal – Wizards of Whisky / Distillery of the Year – Wizards of Whisky. Cheers!

 David Coors returns and we welcome Trey Wade, Head of Consumer Experience with Blue Run Spirits, as we chat about bourbon and select a special barrel of Blue Run for our local club. 

Ian is a retired actor know for his roles in shows like Vampire Diaries and Lost. Ian is now ventured over into the bourbon market with Brothers Bond Bourbon. For close to a decade while filming in the south, Ian and Paul drank bourbon together on and off screen. Through their deep sense of brotherhood and shared love of bourbon, they formed a vision of crafting an exceptional whiskey company.This prompted them to embark on a meticulous journey of visiting distilleries, experimenting with various mash bills, and hand-selecting whiskeys for their final blends.

Each bottle of Little Book "The Infinite" encapsulates the Noe family's passion and dedication to whiskey-making. This 2024 release is an homage to the infinite possibilities of blending, capturing the essence of the family's legacy in a bottle. The whiskey's profile is an intricate tapestry of flavors, masterfully blended to deliver notes of vanilla, oak, and a whisper of sweet spices, culminating in a long, satisfying finish.The Little Book "The Infinite" is not just a bourbon; it's a collector's piece and a conversational gem. Sip it neat or with a dash of water to unveil its full spectrum of aromas and tastes. It's a perfect gift for whiskey aficionados and a prestigious addition to any connoisseur's collection. Cheers!

This is a don’t miss episode. Ben, Joe, Kyle and special guest, Preston Van Winkle, answer the age-old question: Which is better, Pappy 20 or Pappy 15?  Tune in for this incredible episode as the guys do a Double Barrel blind of these iconic bourbons. Cheers!

The bold powerhouse of Buffalo Trace’s annual Antique Collection, this fifteen-year-old whiskey is bottled directly from the barrel. The George T Stagg 2023 release is uncut and unfiltered, the bourbon explodes on the palate with rich notes of dark chocolate, oak, and effervescent cherry. Cheers!

Pappy 13:When first approached by Buffalo Trace, Julian III was honored, but not immediately interested. He had ample bourbon aging, but the concern was for future reserves, since by this time, bourbon was increasing in popularity. Buffalo Trace bought the W.L. Weller label in 1999 and had been making the bourbon with nearly the same recipe as Pappy's. The transition was easy. As of May 2002, Buffalo Trace has produced the Van Winkle bourbons, using Pappy's exact recipe. This change allows Old Rip Van Winkle to maintain their strict quality standards while producing more barrels for future enjoyment.Michter's 10: The 10 Year Rye expression reflects the exceptional results of uncompromising craftsmanship and Kentucky’s unrivaled climate for aging outstanding whiskey. Often much older than the age statement on the label, only a select few barrels age with the elegance required for inclusion in these highly limited releases. 

Woodford Reserve 2024 Master’s Collection release. This bottling features Woodford Reserve Whiskey that was finished in Madeira casks and blended with wheat whiskey.“Madeira Cask Finish is a tremendous way to celebrate 20 years of the Master’s Collection,” said Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall. "In 2007, Woodford Reserve was among the first bourbons to finish in wine casks. It was quite controversial at the time, but is now a common practice by other distillers. This 20th expression marks that historic milestone, with a new Madeira wine cask. " Cheers!

(From the company website): Each year an unstoppable search for whiskey wonder beckons The Boss Hog to the far corners of the earth... a karmic quest that Knows No Bounds, beginning with Single Barrel Rye. For this, our eleventh utterance of the mantra, WhistlePig's whiskey makers journey to Rajasthan, India - the Land of Kings - in search of precious spices to forge the world’s first Thandai barrel aged Rye. An alluring elixir served in celebration of victory and creation, Thandai joins the shakti of Straight Rye Whiskey with a floral meditation of saffron, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg, further enlivened by fennel, poppy and black peppercorn. The result is a splendid wellspring of strength and majesty; a saga befitting the maharajah of Rye. Fearlessly First Among all Whiskeys, Powerfully Complex and Bottled at Proof, The Juggernaut hails to the grandest of all The Boss Hog promises... Stupendous!

Bold Rye Whiskey fortified with Ancient Armagnac. BHAKTA 1928 embodies the Spirit of the Roaring Twenties—Boom Times, Boundless Optimism, and Big American Dreams. In this breakthrough blend, America’s finest rye is unified with France’s oldest spirits, including Armagnac from the rare and exquisite 1928 vintage, to capture the essence of an iconic era’s je ne sais quoi. Cheers!

Maker’s Mark 46 is the recipe of Bill Samuels Jr., son of founders Bill and Margie, and the first new major expression since classic Maker's was released in 1958. Maker’s 46® is aged longer with special seared French oak staves. With subtly layered bourbon notes and balanced complexity. Cheers!

Prav Saraff is a bourbon and whiskey connoisseur and the Director of Operations at 1 West Dupont Circle Wines and Liquors in Washington, DC. He has been featured on podcasts and has shared his passion for whiskey on Instagram. 

The guys were joined by special guest Freddie Johnson at an event hosted by the Bourbon Podcast to raise money for bulletproof vests for police K-9's. Here's some background on Freddie Johnson and what he means in the world of bourbon: Freddie Johnson is a third generation employee at Buffalo Trace Distillery and serves as its Distillery VIP Visitor Lead.  Born in Paris, KY (Bourbon County), he spent some of his early childhood summers in the mountains of Breathitt County with his maternal grandfather who was a coal miner and friend to the moonshiners.  The family moved to Frankfort, KY when he was five.  Freddie enjoyed hunting, fishing and hanging out with his paternal grandfather, Jimmy Johnson Sr., and father, Jimmy Johnson Jr., at what is now known as Buffalo Trace Distillery. Freddie was in the middle of a successful career as a network/operations engineer in Atlanta, GA when he put all of it aside to fulfill a promise made to his father, Jimmy, more than 20 years earlier.  He had promised his father that he would work at the Distillery during his lifetime so they could say they had three generations of the Johnson family that worked at Buffalo Trace.  Freddie took early retirement and moved back to care for his father and brother.  Jimmy got him a job as a tour guide at the Distillery in 2002 but Freddie has been in and around the Distillery since he was five years old. Freddie weaves together his childhood memories with the Distillery’s rich history as his entertains thousands each year in various tours around Buffalo Trace.  One of the Distillery’s most popular and highly sought after tour guides, Freddie is the recipient of the 2015 ROSE (Recognition of Service Excellence) Award, the 2017 Lexington (Ky) Hospitality Award and was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2018.

Huge episode! What is the whiskey of the year according to the guys!! Cheers!

(Per Breaking Bourbon) King of Kentucky has cemented itself as one of the most consistent great tasting bourbons year after year ever since Brown-Forman began releasing it in 2018. The 2024 version marks the seventh edition for the brand, and like the 2023 release, it again features a 16 year age statement. Unlike last year, the 2024 release goes up $50, now sporting a $350 price tag.The release consists of two lots of barrels to set aside for the limited release product from 2007. Master Distiller Chris Morris states that “This year’s release of 63 barrels came from the production dates July 19, 2007, and November 15, 2007. All the barrels were aged in Warehouses G and J at the Brown-Forman Distillery. This showcases what a difference production dates and warehousing can have on barrels hand-crafted in the same year.” The company additionally states in their press release that “while the majority of this year’s volume will remain in Kentucky, the expression will also be available in limited quantities in Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Metro New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas.” Cheers!!

This 2024 Limited Edition release is a symphony of lively flavors that captivate the senses with every sip. Creamy vanilla, honey and brown sugar on the nose are followed by the flavors of ripe berries and tangy citrus on the palate. Intertwined are herbal notes and Four Roses' signature mellow spice to balance out the layers of complexity and sweetness with a delicate finish – for a pour that's ready to savor and enjoy. Cheers!

Larceny Barrel Proof Batch #A124 is a standout expression in the world of bourbon, offering a unique and intense flavor profile. This cask-strength bourbon, bottled at 124.2 proof (62.1% ABV), is part of the highly acclaimed Larceny Barrel Proof series from Heaven Hill Distillery. Cheers!

The 2024 release of William Larue Weller Bourbon from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is a tribute to the legacy of wheated bourbon pioneer W.L. Weller. Aged over twelve years on the lower floors of Buffalo Trace’s rickhouses, this uncut, unfiltered bourbon is bottled at a bold 125.8 proof. Its wheated mashbill, crafted at a barrel entry proof of 114, reveals rich, layered flavors with an exceptional depth that whiskey enthusiasts cherish. Last year’s release earned “Best of Class” for North America at the 2024 Global Whisky Challenge, underscoring this bourbon’s standout quality.