bourbonwhiskey

Rachael Bloom Soto was destined to be in the hospitality industry. With a blend of food and nurturing, quite literally in her blood, she was destined to care. When a calculated move to Texas, for a different reason than you might think, ended up with her behind the bar at Rosewater She naturally transitioned into the brand role at Maker's Mark because after all, it was the only job she applied for. We chat Maker's blending components (as told through horror movies), motherhood, and robots.

This is not your typical bourbon podcast. Dixon Dedman (Infamous Bourbon Icon & Part-Time Chicken Frying Busboy) joins David Mark Young (Award Winning Blender & 10 Time ‘Best Hair of Omaha’ Winner) to give you a look at the Whiskey Industry you’ve never seen.  What got them into Whiskey? Who were they before they found whiskey? What can we expect in upcoming episodes? Dixon and David kick things off with bourbon bottles and all.

We are joined by Marcus Niemann to discuss his involvement in Kentucky To The World, a non-profit which celebrates the accomplishments of Kentuckians across the globe.  Kentucky To The World is having a major fundraiser to cap off Bourbon Heritage Month and we want you to grab a ticket to support a great cause and have the opportunity to win some rare bourbon.  Full details on the campaign can  be found below, but how about a chance to win a Four Roses 2017 Limited Edition 50th Anniversary Small Batch Bourbon (frequently referred to as the “Al Young Bottle”).  The Grand Prize pack is worth over $7,000 and only 500 tickets will be sold. Bourbon Lens has donated two bottles from our Lux Row Barrel Picks, single barrels of Rebel Wheated Bourbon and Ezra Brooks which will be released this fall. Don’t miss this opportunity; and talk about great odds!

Stream this episode on your favorite podcast app and be sure to drop us a review while you’re there.  

We are thankful for everyone who has supported us. A huge shoutout goes to our growing Patreon Community as well! We'd appreciate it if you can take the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.

Follow  us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support our endeavors, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com.

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt.

Cheers,
Scott and Jake
Bourbon Lens

Learn more about the "Best of Bourbon Raffle 2" 

Don’t miss your chance to win rare bourbon expressions during our celebration of #BourbonHeritageMonth on Tuesday, Sept. 27, from 6 to 8 pm during our Bourbon Social at The Local Seltzery prior to the live prize drawing at 7:30 pm.

Our second bourbon collection grand prize features a standout selection of six unique expressions from iconic Kentucky bourbon brands. 

Additional prizes include Misc Goods Co. Black Ceramic Flask with two decks of KTW Illustrated Playing Cards and Lux Row Distiller’s Collection Rebel Bourbon Bottles with tasting glass set. 

To enter to win one of our prizes, purchase your tickets for $50 each at the link in bio now through Sept. 27th.

Visit www.kentuckytotheworld.org/raffle-rules for official rules and regulations. Open to the general public, ticket purchasers and the person named on a ticket must be at least 21 years of age at the time of purchase and reside in Kentucky.

Offer void where prohibited by law. License # EXE-0002505. This event is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.

Learn more about the Best of Bourbon Raffle 2 

Our guest this week is Bobby DeMars, founder and CEO of Blind Barrels. Bobby developed Blind Barrels as a quarterly blind tasting experience that ships straight to your door. Blind Barrels is an exploration of the craft whiskey scene of America and we were excited to test our palates. Blind tastings remove any “label bias” that whiskey drinkers may encounter when tasting their whiskies and we’ve found that blind tasting is one of the best ways to get serious about learning whiskey.  Sign up for a one off box, or save some extra cash by signing up for a year’s subscription of 4 unique tasting lineups. Check them out at BlindBarrels.com.

Stream this episode on your favorite podcast app and be sure to drop us a review while you’re there.  

We are thankful for everyone who has supported us. A huge shoutout goes to our growing Patreon Community as well! We'd appreciate it if you can take the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.

Follow  us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support our endeavors, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com.

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt.

Cheers,
Scott and Jake
Bourbon Lens

About Blind Barrels:

Blind Barrels was born to disrupt the whiskey industry, by showcasing American craft whiskey that don’t make their way to liquor store shelves due to distribution limitations. Our blind tastings are all about discovery, education, removing brand bias, and supporting smaller distillers who are making some amazing, innovative, and delicious products.

Every quarter (March, June, September, and December), a premium tasting box will ship to Blind Barrels members, which includes four 50 mL samples, labeled Samples A, B, C, and D. The box will also include an introduction to the club, a tasting table, and a QR Code and link to learn what spirits are in each sample - distillery, mash, abv, tasting notes, distillery back story. If a member discovers a new whiskey they wish to add to their cabinet or share with their friends, shipping discounts are available for full bottle purchases in our Bottle Shop. Members will have access to rare offerings from Craft distilleries, including rare and limited selections from American craft distilleries.

About Bobby DeMars:

Bobby DeMars is the Founder & CEO of Blind Barrels - a blind whiskey tasting subscription that is disrupting the industry’s current distribution model by showcasing American craft distilleries, ones which rarely get the shelf space they deserve. The recent quarantine brought about blind whiskey tastings with friends, and DeMars saw an opportunity for a startup unlike any other in the alcohol industry. These blind tastings are all about discovery, education, removing brand bias, and, of course, supporting smaller distillers that are making some amazing handmade products. Each quarter, subscribers get to test their senses by tasting and discovering hard-to-try-or-find craft whiskey brands - ones that deserve to be discovered.

A former USC football player (1997-2001), DeMars is an award-winning filmmaker whose documentary, "The Business of Amateurs" (2016), took on the NCAA’s exploitation of college athletes and the prevalence of brain trauma inherent to college football. He is on the oversight committee for the National College Players Association (NCPA). Both the film and the NCPA have been instrumental in passing laws for college athlete rights, including the Supreme Court ruling in 2021 that opened the door for college athletes to make money from their Name Image Likeness (NIL).

“IT’S (BOURBON) TIME!” with Bruce Buffer and Umberto Luchini as we talk about their brand Puncher’s Chance Bourbon and its two current offerings.  If you don’t know Bruce Buffer, you likely know his voice and his iconic trademarked introduction; “IT’S TIME!”®. He’s the official Voice of the Octagon for the UFC and he is putting his name and reputation behind this bourbon brand that he loves so much.  We are also joined by the brand’s founder, Umberto Luchini.  He’s an Italian with tons of experience in the international spirits world as well as Kentucky Bourbon; he previously helped grow the Campari Group portfolio, which also included Wild Turkey.  Don’t miss this episode and get hyped to grab a bottle of this Kentucky Straight Bourbon when you see it on shelves or online.

Download or stream this episode on your favorite podcast app and be sure to drop us a review while you’re there.  

We are thankful for everyone who has supported us. A huge shoutout to our growing Patreon Community as well! We'd appreciate it if you can take the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.

Follow  us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support our endeavors, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com.

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt.

Cheers,
Scott & Jake
Bourbon Lens

About Bruce Buffer: “The Voice of Mixed Martial Arts”

Bruce Buffer, an entrepreneur, announcer, entertainer, and motivational speaker who excites the public about products and events he represents, is perhaps best known for introducing events worldwide with his internationally trademarked phrase, IT’S TIME!®

Most will recognize Bruce as the official “Voice of the Octagon” for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) since 1997. He currently appears on all ESPN -televised UFC events and Pay Per Views. Bruce also appears and announces for many other sporting events such as the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, various collegiate sporting events such as the University Of Kentucky’s March Madness event, as well as Fantasy and Esports events.  On the virtual side, Bruce is a feature character in nine UFC video games released since 2014 (ex., CRAVE, THQ, UFC) and is the model and voice for the boxing character Tony T. in the Ready 2 Rumble Boxing Round 2 video game by Midway.

Among numerous TV and movie appearances, Bruce has appeared with Robin Williams and Billy Crystal on “Friends”; on HBO’s “Entourage”; alongside Antonio Banderas in the motion picture “Play it to the Bone,” and Will Ferrell in the comedy “Holmes & Watson”; as well as performed voice over work for Clint Eastwood’s 2004 Best Picture Oscar award winner “Million Dollar Baby.” A ranked professional poker player, Bruce has been seen on NBC’s Poker After Dark, the Travel Channel’s popular “World Poker Tour TV Show,” and co-stars in the critically acclaimed instructional poker DVD “All In” along with poker pro Phil Gordon.

Bruce manages his entrepreneurial ventures through Buffer Enterprises, Inc., as well as guides and manages the career of his brother Michael Buffer, including the creation, design, and management of all product and promotional licensing surrounding Michael Buffer’s world famous LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE® trademark phrase, which has grown into a major international enterprise, approaching $500,000,000 in retail sales worldwide.

Bruce’s latest project is Puncher’s Chance™ pure Kentucky Straight Bourbon, inspired by two great American traditions: whiskey, and fighting for what we believe in. Bruce explains: “A puncher’s chance means that anyone has the potential to succeed, whatever the odds, if he or she works for it. Being the underdog is often the greatest strength. Puncher’s Chance is the bourbon for everyone who believes and lives that credo.”

About Umberto Luchini

Founder & Proprietor, Wolf Spirit

Umberto Luchini (pronounced: oom-BEAR-toe loo-KEE-nee) is the founder and proprietor of Wolf Spirit, a different kind of spirits company started in a former Eugene, Oregon laundromat (Nanny’s Wash & Dry, in fact). Wolf Spirit brands include Puncher’s Chance Bourbon, Blood x Sweat x Tears Vodka, Bosscal Mezcal and Tom of Finland Organic Vodka from Finland.

Umberto was born in Milan, Italy into a small, tightly-knit family. He attended school in London, worked in France, became jobless after 9/11, and took a low-paying job with a great brand: Campari (Monaco). Umberto rose through the marketing ranks, ultimately moving to San Francisco in 2004, where he resides today as an American citizen.

Umberto worked with Campari America for 17 years, during which time he formed an award-winning team of 30 marketers and developed well-known marketing programs for globally recognized brands. Umberto led the team behind the reimagining of Wild Turkey, following the purchase of the brand by Campari Group from Pernod Ricard in 2009. He also took an unknown tequila brand named Espolòn and turned it into “the Tito’s of Tequila,” selling more than 400K 9L cases. In 2017, Umberto left Campari with multiple business models and dreams of becoming an entrepreneur; that same year Wolf Spirit was founded.

Umberto is happier than ever and working harder than ever to grow his own brand, as he did for so many others. In his spare time, he enjoys ultra-endurance sports and traveling.

About Puncher’s Chance Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Eugene, Oregon-based Wolf Spirit released its first foray into fine whiskey with the release of Puncher’s Chance® Kentucky Straight Bourbon in Fall 2020. Crafted through a partnership with IJW Whiskey Company of Louisville, Kentucky, Puncher’s Chance is now available at fine spirits retailers and online at $34.99 SRP for a 750 ml. Inspired by two great American traditions – whiskey and fighting for what you believe in – Puncher’s Chance was created for the whiskey curious who appreciate an approachable knockout bourbon with finesse.

Puncher’s Chance Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a five- and six-year-old blend of fine whiskies, crafted from a 75 percent corn, 13 percent rye and 12 percent barley mash bill and proprietary yeast. The liquid coming off the all-copper column still is aged in American white oak barrels with a #4 alligator char in traditional wood rickhouses. Clocking in at 90 proof, the final whiskey strikes the nose with aromas of apricot and maple oatmeal.

“Our goal with Puncher’s Chance is to create perfectly balanced whiskies,” says Umberto Luchini, Founder of Wolf Spirit. “This means the flavors and aromas that comprise a memorable whiskey, such as sweet, spicy, fruity, floral or savory, sing in resolute harmony, with none outshining another. Puncher’s Chance will explore how that is achieved as we release new expressions in the future, including extra aged/barrel finished and single barrel offerings in 2022.”

On the palate, this new-to-market American Whiskey entry leads with caramel, spicy, slightly sweet, and creamy vanilla notes. On the back end, the bourbon shows complex oaky sweetness alongside orange, dark chocolate, leather, and baking spices. The finish is long with sweet maple and sugar notes.

The brand name “Puncher’s Chance” is a boxing reference, denoting that almost anyone can deliver a knockout punch, no matter what the odds... particularly if that punch is delivered with perfect balance.

Puncher’s Chance comes housed in a jet-black, screen-printed bottle with a gentle fade at the bottom to reveal the amber liquid within. The brand’s tiger mascot, a common symbol in boxing and MMA fighting, prowls the label. Bruce Buffer (IG: @BruceBufferUFC), the “Voice of Mixed Martial Arts,” serves as a partner in Puncher’s Chance – introducing his more than one million fans to this fine whiskey.

Exceptional as a sipper, Puncher’s Chance also brings perfect balance to a well-crafted Manhattan, Old Fashioned or Boulevardier.

The brand may be purchased in California, Florida, Kentucky, Colorado, Oklahoma and New Mexico (Southern Glazer’s); New York, Tennessee and Georgia (Empire); Massachusetts and Rhode Island (Atlantic Beverage); Missouri (Major Brands); Connecticut (Murphy); and Wisconsin (Badger/Frank), and through the Puncher’s Chance website.

Find Puncher’s Chance online at www.puncherschancebourbon.com and on social media Instagram and Facebook @puncherschancebourbon.

About Puncher’s Chance The D12tance

Finished in California Cabernet Sauvignon Barrels in January 2022.  The D12TANCE is a Straight Tennessee Bourbon. Aged for 12 years in traditional stone and wood rickhouses and finished in California Cabernet Sauvignon barrels, The D12TANCE is now available at fine spirits retailers at $120 SRP for a 750 ml.

Just 70 barrels of The D12TANCE, sourced from the IJW Whiskey Company in Louisville, Kentucky, were born from a mash bill of 84 percent corn, eight percent malt, eight percent rye and a proprietary yeast strain. With a complex aroma of vanilla, dark cherry fruit and toasted oak, this Tennessee Bourbon yields incredible flavor. At a respectable 96 proof, the warm hint of caramel and vanilla hits the palate first. As the proof gently fades, the tongue picks up a long, fruity finish reminiscent of the French Oak wine barrels in which the liquid rested for two months.

The D12TANCE is the second release from Puncher’s Chance – a new American Whiskey entry from Wolf Spirit, out of Eugene, Oregon, and comes on the heels of the fall 2020 release of the company’s foray into aged dark spirits with the release of Puncher’s Chance Kentucky Straight Bourbon. The brand name of Puncher’s Chance itself is a boxing reference, denoting that almost anyone is possible of a knockout punch, no matter what the odds. Naming our latest aged spirit entry The D12TANCE is a double entendre – referring both to the age of the liquid and the 12 official rounds in a formal boxing match.

Says Umberto Luchini, Founder of Wolf Spirit, “As a relative newcomer to the whiskey category, Wolf Spirit knew the liquid for Puncher’s Chance The D12TANCE needed to pack a punch (pun intended) if we wanted to make our mark, which is why we partnered with the talented team at IJW.”

“With The D12TANCE, we are finishing a 12-year-old Bourbon in wine casks, which is quite unique, as you usually see much younger whiskies receiving this treatment. This was critical to us because we didn’t want the fine Bourbon overpowered by the wine barrel finishing. Our goal was to use the finishing to coax more of the existing characteristics out of the whiskey,” Luchini continues.

The D12TANCE comes housed in the traditional Puncher’s Chance jet-black bottle with a gentle fade at the bottom to reveal the amber liquid within. The Puncher’s Chance tiger, a common symbol in boxing and MMA fighting, again graces the label, but this time in striking gold leaf making it easily identifiable on the backbar.

The D12TANCE is best served neat or on the rocks to truly experience the subtle effects the finishing has on this perfectly-balanced and nuanced liquid.

With only 2,000 cases produced for the U.S. market, The D12TANCE may be purchased in California, Florida, Kentucky, Colorado, Oklahoma and New Mexico (Southern Glazer’s); New York, Tennessee and Georgia (Empire); Massachusetts and Rhode Island (Atlantic Beverage); Missouri (Major Brands); Connecticut (Murphy); and Wisconsin (Badger/Frank).

About Wolf Spirit

Perhaps the only liquor company in the world founded in an old laundromat (Nanny’s Wash & Dry, to be exact), Wolf Spirit is a true Eugene, Oregon original, producing fine, handcrafted products that capture the pioneering spirit of the American northwest. Founded by Campari Group veteran Umberto Luchini and helmed by longtime spirits industry expert Bradd Levitan, Wolf Spirit embodies the traits of its namesake. Guided by instinct and fueled by a hunger for brands with authentic stories, Wolf Spirit is building a pack of unique products with courageously bold identities that come together with purpose. Our premium brands include Puncher’s Chance® Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Tom of Finland® Organic Vodka, Blood x Sweat x Tears® Vodka and Bosscal Mezcal. Launched in 2017, Wolf Spirit’s products are now available in more than 35 states across the US with a keen focus on national and regional on- and off-premise chains. Find out more at https://wolfspiritdistillery.com/.

Show Links:

• Puncher's Chance Bourbon
• WolfSpiritDistillery.com
• Puncher's Chance™ Kentucky Straight Bourbon - Wolf Spirit Distillery 
• Puncher's Chance Bourbon®️ (@puncherschancebourbon) • Instagram photos and videos
• Bruce Buffer
• Here's the origin story of Bruce Buffer's iconic UFC 'It's time!' catchphrase 
• Facebook Video on Bruce Buffer
• @brucebufferufc • Instagram photos and videos
• Puncher's Chance™ Kentucky Straight Bourbon: A Pandemic Success Story

The guys challenge each other to create a diverse whiskey bar but only using one Distillery. Find out which Distillery each of us select and our logic behind the choice. And one of us maybe gets a little too creative with their choice.  Does it follow the rules?  Let us know which Distillery you’d pick to craft the perfect “Five Bottle Whiskey Bar”. 

Download this episode on your favorite podcast app and be sure to drop us a review while you’re there.  

We are thankful for everyone who has continued to support us. We must give a huge shoutout to our growing Patreon Community as well! We'd appreciate it if you can take the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.

Follow  us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support our endeavors, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com.

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt.

Cheers,
Scott, Jake, & Michael
Bourbon Lens

*Image Credit: Lux Rox Distillers and MGPI

We’re discussing New York Rye Whiskey this week with Alex Clark, Founder of Fort Hamilton Distillery in Brooklyn. We taste through 4 offerings from Fort Hamilton, including Single Barrel Rye, Double Barrel Rye, Double Barrel Bourbon, and a private selection of Rye.  We enjoyed chatting with Alex about his background in the cocktail world and what drove him to start a rye whiskey distillery in New York.  If you are looking for a new rye whiskey, grab a bottle of Fort Hamilton.

Download this episode on your favorite podcast app and be sure to drop us a review while you’re there.  

We are thankful for everyone who has continued to support us. We must give a huge shoutout to our growing Patreon Community as well! We'd appreciate it if you can take the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.

Follow  us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support our endeavors, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com.

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt.

Cheers,
Scott, Jake, & Michael
Bourbon Lens

About Fort Hamilton Distillery:

Based in Brooklyn and surrounded by landmarks of the Revolutionary Way, Fort Hamilton Distillery started barreling whiskey in 2016.

On a mission to recapture America’s finest spirits, we celebrate America’s original whiskey style, New York Rye. This style was the most popular libation in America pre-prohibition and serves as the base for the most discerning classic American cocktails.

We honor the authentic tradition of New York Rye by using zero corn in our mash bills and by avoiding colorings, flavorings, or adulterating our whiskeys in any way.

HEARTS OF OAK

In August 1775, Alexander Hamilton’s Hearts of Oak Militia orchestrated a daring raid on lower Manhattan. Under fire from HMS Asia, they seized and repurposed the battery of British cannons, thereafter forming America’s first artillery company. 

THE PROCESS

Our whiskeys are barreled at a low proof for a smoother profile that emphasizes the rye grain over the barrel, promoting a softer, fruit-driven style of rye. It is non-chill filtered & aged in heavily charred new American white oak barrels on the Brooklyn waterfront for years. As is tradition for New York ryes, the barrel house is heated in winter to augment the aging process, thus creating an incredibly nuanced and historic whiskey.

THE WHISKEY

Fort Hamilton Rye Whiskey is distilled purely from rye grain, malted barley, yeast & water in a traditional New York-style with zero corn in the mash bill. It is barreled at a low proof & always non-chill filtered to achieve a beautifully balanced, bold, rich & round rye whiskey expression. 

Distilled from honest ingredients without the addition of flavoring or coloring,  Fort Hamilton is equally at home neat or on the rocks as it is in a deeply authentic Old Fashioned or Manhattan.

DOUBLE BARREL BOURBON STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY BLEND PRICING

• Age: At least 3 years
• Cooperage: 53 gallon Char #3 American White Oak
• Mash bills: 70% NY Corn / 25% NY Rye / 5% NY Malted Barley. 60% Corn / 36% Rye / 4% Malted Barley (IN)
• Barreled at: 120 proof
• Bottled at: 92 proof / 46% ABV
• Non-Chill Filtered
• Our High Rye Bourbon barrels are individually
• tasted & blended in small batches to achieve an amazingly smooth and rich bourbon with gorgeous notes of Vanilla, Caramel & Cocoa.

SINGLE BARREL RYE WHISKEY STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY

• Age: At least 3 1⁄2 years
• Cooperage: 30 gallon Char #3 American White Oak
• Mash bill: 90% New York State Rye Grain & 10% Malted Barley
• Barreled at: 120 proof
• Bottled at: 90 proof / 45% ABV
• Non-Chill Filtered
• Only our most unique barrels are hand selected for our flagship offering.
• With zero corn in the mash, our perfectly balanced, soft, rich & round style appeals to all American whiskey lovers. Fort Hamilton proudly produces traditional New York style whiskeys originating from the revolutionary war era. Distilled from the purest ingredients, with no additional coloring, flavoring or excessive filtration. Join us in The Spirit of Revolution.

DOUBLE BARREL RYE WHISKEY STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY BLEND

• Age: At least 3 years
• Cooperage: 30 & 53 gallon Char #3 American White Oak
• Mash bills: 90% Rye / 10% Malted Barley (NY). 95% Rye / 5% Malted Barley (IN)
• Barreled at: 120 proof
• Bottled at: 92 proof / 46% ABV
• Non-Chill Filtered
• We painstakingly blend our 2 barrel types and sizes together to achieve small batch perfection. This Classic Rye provides the perfect backbone
• for cocktails whilst offering luscious honeyed notes and a long finish for sipping.

PRIVATE BARREL / CASK STRENGTH RYE WHISKEY

• Age: At least 3 1⁄2 years
• Cooperage: 30 gallon Char #3 American White Oak
• Mash bill: 90% New York State Rye Grain
• & 10% Malted Barley
• Barreled at: 120 Proof
• Bottled at: 117 proof / 58.5% ABV
• Non-Chill Filtered
• Purely Uncut, Unfiltered, Distilled, Aged & Bottled in New York, this is the true Spirit of Revolution.

Show Links:

• Fort Hamilton Distillery
• A Maple Syrup With a Hint of Brooklyn Bourbon - The New York Times
• Fort Hamilton Distillery Announces New Rye Revolution Tour – Craft Spirits Magazine 
• Fort Hamilton Army Base Guide
• Empire Rye
• What is Empire Rye? A Guide to New York's New Whiskey Association | The Manual
• Fort Hamilton Whiskey is the Spirit of Revolution | Brooklyn to the Catskills | Recipes, Real Estate & Entrepreneurs 

It’s the whiskey brand with an Italian name and they’re looking to make their mark in the world of Kentucky Bourbon. We are joined by Luca Mariano Distillery this week to talk about starting a bourbon brand, finding a home for your distillery, and growing brand awareness. Jennifer Brandt and Kenny Fuller are our guests this week as we taste through the full lineup Luca Mariano whiskey in downtown Louisville. 

We are thankful for everyone who has supported us. A huge shoutout to our Patreon Community as well! We'd appreciate it if you can take the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.

Follow  us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support us, join in whiskey tastings, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com.

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt.

Cheers,
Scott, Jake, & Michael
Bourbon Lens

About the Distillery:

In 2016, LMD began prospecting for land to house its future distillery while waiting for the bourbon and rye whiskey to come of age. Francesco’s long-term vision is to create a distillery location that is like no other distillery. He envisions a place for family and friends to come and enjoy great music, food, and whiskey. The same way his family does it in Italy.

With the long-term goal in mind, in 2017, LMD found a 300 acre farm in Danville, Kentucky that would give plenty of space for what Francesco envisions. The farm includes a stone house that was built by a man named William Crow, which is the oldest stone house in the State of Kentucky. Although the stone house was left abandoned and in disrepair, LMD plans to restore the house to its original condition. Additional plans for the project include the following: construction of a fully-functioning distillery; a visitor’s center; multiple rickhouses for barrel aging; and, an entertainment pavilion.

About Francesco Viola, Founder/Owner:

Francesco began distilling as a hobby in his garage in 2010. He hadn’t planned on it becoming a business. After having a neighbor over to enjoy what he had created, his neighbor told him that it was illegal to distill liquor in his garage. After discovering that his hobby was illegal, Francesco called his lawyer to help him obtain a license to distill liquor, so he could carry out his grandfather’s dream.

Francesco’s grandfather was a man named Mariano Viola. His dream was for his family to build a business and create a legacy in the United States. Mariano taught Francesco many skills including gardening, making pasta and wine, and distilling brandy and whiskey. In honor of his grandfather, Francesco created recipes for Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey that are the foundation of Luca Mariano Distillery. The company is named after Francesco’s son, Luca Mariano, who is named after Francesco’s grandfather.

Show Links:

• Luca Mariano | Kentucky Straight Bourbon & Rye
• Luca Mariano Distillery (@lucamarianodistillery) • Instagram photos and videos
• Luca Mariano on Twitter
• Distillery considers options for historic William Crow house - The Advocate-Messenger

A grain-to-glass distillery since 2011, FEW Spirits produces craft whiskey in a tucked away alley located in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, IL.  A historical town where Prohibition lasted until 1972, Founder & Master Distiller Paul Hletko changed the future of Evanston when he opened FEW Spirits Distillery, the first (legal) alcohol-production facility of any kind to ever open there.  

We are thankful for everyone who has supported us. A huge shoutout to our growing Patreon Community as well! We'd appreciate it if you can take the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.

Follow  us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support our endeavors, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com.

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt.

Cheers,
Scott, Jake, & Michael
Bourbon Lens

About the Brand:
Paul Hletko always knew he wanted to make craft spirits —produced in the local Chicago area -that offered something different, delicious and fun. Living in Evanston, a town that was prime for change after being dry for four decades post the repeal of prohibition, Paul felt it was the perfect home and backdrop for FEW and the brand. Deeply integrated into the brand story, both Evanston and Chicago are crucial elements of the FEW DNA and its inspiration. From its liquid, created from locally grown or sourced ingredients, to the look & feel of the design, which pays homage to the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago— FEW is the true definition of a local Illinois craft spirit.

FEW Spirits features a refreshing and innovative portfolio including a stable of core spirits and several small batch limited edition specialty expressions. Each flagship spirit is a new take on the timeless liquors of the past; distilled from the very best grains, aged to perfection, and bottled under the FEW roof. The small batch limited editions hold true to the premium quality FEW drinkers have to come to love and expect from the brand, but offer something novel to the oft-ordinary taste and style we’ve all grown accustomed to.

In a world over saturated with mass-produced spirits, only few remain truly handcrafted, locally sourced and small-batched. FEW has never strayed from this —even as it grows, Paul and his team continue to provide consistently impeccable spirits that are true to their craft roots and reminiscent of their home base.

About Paul Hletko - Founder & Master Distiller

A maverick for the ages, Paul Hletko wore many hats before launching FEW Spirits, but one thing has always remained consistent throughout —he loves to make new things. Whether that was making blueprints as an engineer, deals as a lawyer or music for his rock-n-roll band, at his core Paul is a creative and always wants to bring something to the table that hasn’t been done before. 

“All my life, I’ve tried to be a creative person and beat to the sound of my own drum,” says Paul. “At the end of the day, I like to have created something that didn’t exist that morning and offers something completely different.” FEW Spirits was and is exactly that. And while that notion, and Evanston’s history itself led to the creation of FEW, the biggest inspiration for Paul was his own family history. Prior to World War II, Paul’s grandfather owned a large brewery in what is now the Czech Republic and after losing the brewery to the Nazi invasion he fought the remainder of his life to get the brewery back. When his grandfather passed away and Paul was at the end of his time with the music industry, he decided to start a distillery of his own. He says, “I wanted to create something that would honor my family history but didn’t want to try and replicate it. With FEW, I am able to celebrate my roots while being able to create something new.”

In 2011 Paul opened the FEW Distillery and since then has produced award wining spirits that are original, distinctive and playful. His love for the nuances & flavor of whiskey and his flexibility to innovate with gin have made them FEW’s backbone products, but he continues to play around and innovate daily with limited expressions and new collaborations. In the future, Paul aspires to take FEW to an even bigger production facility where he and his team can continue to produce their liquid for enthusiasts around the world, while still remaining true to their craft roots. Recently, Paul was named the 2018 World Distiller of the Year in Gin Magazine’s annual ”Icons of Gin” feature. 

About the Production

Small but mighty, FEW Distillery makes its spirits using three stills, which according to Founder Paul Hletko is a rarity among production facilities of its size. Both the whiskey and gin originate in a Vendome still used for initial distillation, then a 1,500-liter hybrid still is used to finish the whiskies, while a smaller 150-liter pot still is used exclusively to distill the gins with their botanicals. The distillery team consists of Paul as Master Distiller and a small group of loyal and passionate craft spirit professionals.

A Letter from the Founder:

Dear friends of FEW,

FEW Spirits is proud to share our passion and single minded obsession with whiskey with whiskey fans all over the world. Our accomplishments are not ours alone, but indeed are shared with you our loyal consumers, trade partners and distributors. We are humbled by your deep interest and are thrilled about the continuing this journey with you by our side.

A Decade of Defiance

We built FEW on defiance and a refusal to accept the status quo. We defied the odds by choosing Evanston as our home - we changed the laws of our beloved Prohibitionist hometown. Inspired by the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, itself a celebration of innovation and new ways of thinking and doing things, we deliberately chose to craft a product that would require years of aging before it could be sold. We chose to create grain-to-glass spirits, using local grains and materials, although cheaper and easier alternatives are everywhere. And we defiantly made a world class Bourbon from Chicago, when most people thought that wasn’t even possible. We defiantly and intentionally broke from bourbon tradition and expectation. We defiantly distill a Rye Whiskey deemed ‘the rye against which all others must be judged’. We released innovative products like Cold Cut Bourbon and Immortal Rye. We entered spirits competitions and won... a lot, winning best in the world more than once. We collaborated with musicians before it was the “in thing” to do. We have supported our community. We have endured challenges and enjoyed celebrations. On This Great Milestone,we are excited to release limited edition, 10th Anniversary four-grain Bourbon. It is bold, yet smooth - undeniably FEW. Here we stand, tall and proud, and eager for what lies on the horizon.

Leveling Up and Looking Ahead

Never content to sit still, we anticipate remarkable things ahead for FEW. We are expanding our facilities and investing in our future, laying down thousands of whiskey barrels and aging whiskey stocks for decades to come. We are reaching dozens of new markets, hitting new store shelves, proudly adorning new bar shelves and menus nationwide, and expanding our footprint internationally. Our FEW & a Brew program, pairing our bold and complex whiskeys with specific styles of beer, continues to connect with craft beer drinkers’ love of explosive flavor. We continue to push the limits of innovation, crafting creative and bold new whiskeys. We continue to forge collaborations with interesting people, brands and musicians. We are looking ahead and will be releasing FEW Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon, which conforms to the strict code of the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897. This coincides with our effort to establish a minimum age of four years for all our whiskeys and will continue to make high caliber and world class credentialed whiskeys.

In short, here’s my promise to you: we will keep doing what we have been doing the last 10 years: making interesting, creative, and bold whiskeys. These whiskeys will push boundaries, defy the ordinary, and live up to the high standards we have always held ourselves to at FEW Spirits. We believe that fortune fancies the bold, and you better believe - excitement lies ahead. For this, and all the support you have shown us these first 10 years, we humbly thank YOU.

Sincerely,

Paul Hletko
Founder & Master Distiller

Show links:

• FEW Spirits – Fortune Fancies The Bold
• FEW Spirits on Instagram 
• BuyFewSpirits.com 

Rob Samuels is our guest this week and we are honored to have this 8th generation of whisky-maker on our podcast.  The Samuels family has long been known for founding Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto Kentucky. Rob is the Managing Director of Maker’s Mark and is a passionate story-teller ensuring his family’s history is told to the masses.  Rob knows that Maker’s Mark is the result of a “purposefully inefficient handmade process” but recognizes the importance of it to his family, their legacy, and to the quality of their bourbon. After this episode, hopefully you will recognize that Maker’s Mark is about so much more than the whisky.

We are thankful for everyone who has supported us. A huge shoutout to our growing Patreon Community as well! We'd appreciate it if you can take the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.

Follow  us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support our endeavors, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com.

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt.

Cheers,
Scott, Jake, & Michael
Bourbon Lens

* Dripping Wax Logo and Branding Courtesy of Maker's Mark

About Maker’s Mark® Bourbon

In 1953, in Loretto, Ky., Bill Samuels, Sr., fulfilled his dream to create a handmade and delicious bourbon. He decided to make his whisky in small batches, using soft red winter wheat to enhance the softness and sweetness. He then rotated each barrel by hand for consistency and, finally, aged each barrel to taste. Bill Samuels, Sr., transformed bourbon from a “commodity” into a premium handmade spirit, and today Maker’s Mark® continues to make its bourbon the same way. In recent years, Maker’s Mark has introduced thoughtful, super-premium innovations to its portfolio, including Maker’s Mark 46®, Maker’s Mark® Cask Strength and Maker’s Mark® Private Selection, the brand’s first-ever custom barrel program. For more information, visit www.makersmark.com.

Show Links:

• An Oral History of Bourbon Part II: Maker’s Mark’s Bill Samuels Jr. and Rob Samuels
• Maker's Mark | Handmade Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
• Samuels Family | Our Story 
• Maker's Mark: a brand history
• The LEE Initiative
• The LEE Initiative Partners with Maker's Mark® to Release "CommUNITY Batch" Bourbon with 100% of Proceeds Supporting the Hospitality Industry
• How Maker’s Mark Bourbon Is Made — From Barrel to Iconic Red Wax Seal
• Unique Kentucky Getaway - Vacation Rental by Makers Mark 
• The Family Behind Maker's Mark Has Opened Their House for Overnight Stays
• The 25 Most Important Bourbons Ever Made | Food & Wine
• You Can Now Stay in the Original Kentucky Home of the Maker's Mark Family
• NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION
• The Core Bottles Of Maker's Mark Bourbon Whisky, Ranked
• Column: Maker’s Mark Barrel Entry Proof Experiment Proves Its Tradition Is Solid
• LEADERS Interview with Rob Samuels, Global General Manager and Chief Distillery Officer, Maker's Mark 
• Earth Day Champions: UK Introduces World’s Largest American White Oak Repository and Genome Mapping Study With Maker’s Mark
• UK, Maker's Mark partnership leads to American white oak research | Lexington Herald Leader
• UK, Makers Mark collaborate to sustain American white oak with repository and genome mapping study 
• Independent Stave Company

Jake and Scott sit back down in the Office and blind taste two 10 year old Kentucky Bourbons. This week, we’ve cracked open a bottle of Russell’s Reserve 10 Year from Wild Turkey and Eagle Rare from Buffalo Trace Distillery.  How do they match up?  Are these great value bourbons for their age?  We discuss this and more on this week’s episode.  What is your favorite 10 year age-stated bourbon?

We are thankful for everyone who has supported us. A huge shoutout to our growing Patreon Community as well! We'd appreciate it if you can take the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.

Follow  us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support our endeavors, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com.

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt.

Cheers,
Scott, Jake, & Michael
Bourbon Lens

Show Links:

• Wild Turkey's Best Bourbon Isn't Wild Turkey. Allow Me to Explain
• Russell's Reserve 10-Year Bourbon (2020) – Rare Bird 101
• Eagle Rare Bourbon: Where to Buy It, What It Is and Why It's So Popular
• Eaglerare.com | Eagle Rare

Jackie Zykan, Master Taster for Old Forester, is back on the Bourbon Lens Podcast.  This time, we talk about the unique, new offering from her 117 Series; Warehouse K Barrels.  We discuss the various warehouses of Old Forester and what makes some of them unique and different; including the spiders of Warehouse K.  A true bourbon nerd is going to love the insight Jackie provides in this episode.  We discuss the construction of various warehouses, heat cycling warehouses, finding the perfect balance of proof and flavor, and more.  Enjoy this episode and be sure to let us know what your favorite Old Forester Whisky is!

We are thankful for everyone who has supported us. A huge shoutout to our growing Patreon Community as well! We'd appreciate it if you can take the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.

Follow  us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support our endeavors, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com.

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt.

Cheers,
Scott, Jake, & Michael
Bourbon Lens

Press Release: Old Forester’s The 117 Series: Warehouse K Barrels Batch  

Louisville, Ky. (August 11, 2021) – Today, Old Forester Distilling Co. announces the release of the second expression in the 117 Series -- a blend of barrels from historic Warehouse K.   

The 117 Series is a limited-expression lineup created in Spring 2021, directed by the unique palate of Old Forester Master Taster Jackie Zykan. 

117 Series: Warehouse K features a blend of barrels aged on different floors from a warehouse known to produce exceptional liquid. Constructed in 1953, Warehouse K uses the time-honored tradition of heat-cycling and has long been one of Old Forester’s favorite places for Single Barrel expressions. 

"Warehouse K has gained a cult following among bourbon connoisseurs,” Zykan said. “This blend is a representation across multiple floors and locations within this warehouse, giving a more holistic example of the profile its barrels yield." 

This year marks Old Forester’s 151st anniversary, making it the only bourbon brand with an uninterrupted history, sold by the same family company before, during, and after Prohibition.  

Old Forester Warehouse K is bottled at 110 proof and will be available starting August 12th at the retail shop at Old Forester Distilling Co. for $49.99 in limited quantities -- and at select Kentucky stores.  Visit OldForester.com for more information. 

Distillery Notes: 

• Color:   Rich honey 
• Aroma: On the nose, creamy chocolate, caramel, and brown sugar lead, with a hint of golden raisin and a foreshadowing of the pepper the finish will unveil. 
• Taste: The palate brings with it a full-bodied and rich viscosity, peripheral spice, and a  touch of black cherry alongside bitter molasses. 
• Finish: The robust yet balanced spice finish completes the story of the well-known complexity which is the K warehouse. 

Links:

• Old Forester - First Bottled Bourbon™
• 95: Old Forester Master Taster, Jackie Zykan - Bourbon Lens 
• Old Forester 117 Series: Warehouse K Bourbon Review 

Image Credit: Old Forester and Brown-Forman

The Legacy of Brown-Forman begins with Old Forester - Old Forester Bourbon History & a Legacy of “Firsts”

• 1846 George Garvin Brown (GGB) was born in Munfordville, KY.
• 1870 GGB, a young pharmaceutical salesman starts J.T.S. Brown and Bro. with his half-brother with $5,500 in saved and borrowed money.
• Old Forester becomes America’s First Bottled Bourbon​, the first bourbon to be sold exclusively in sealed glass bottles to ensure quality and consistency, an innovative approach at a time when whisky is commonly sold by the barrel.
• Their offices are housed at 322 W. Main Street
• Old Forester was blended from different distilleries, including Mattingly, Atherton and Mellwood to create a consistent flavor profile. Old Forester is originally presented at 90 Proof.
• Old Forester is named after a prominent physician and friend of GGB, Dr. William Forrester who endorsed Brown’s innovative concept of medicinal whisky sold only in sealed glass bottles. Old Forester, originally spelled with 2 “r”s to be associated with the doctor, drops the second “r” when Forrester retired.
• 1882-1919 Brown-Forman offices and bottling lines were housed at 125 W. Main Street (today 119 W. Main Street). Main Street was the hub of the bustling bourbon business in Kentucky, home to 89 distilling companies. Only one of those companies is still operating today – Brown-Forman and its founding brand, Old Forester.
• 1890 George Garvin Brown gifts first single barrel selection to then Governor of Kentucky, Simon Bolivar Buckner
• 1897 U.S. Bottled in Bond Act is enacted. Old Forester moves to 100 Proof to comply with regulations.
• 1901 George Garvin Brown moved from blender to distiller with the purchase of B.F. Mattingly Distillery.
• 1910 Fire on the bottling line, housed at 125 Main Street (today 119 W. Main Street) threatened the building and the business. (October 2, 1910)
•  1920 Prohibition begins.
• Brown-Forman applies for and receives No. 3 of only six federal licenses in the state of Kentucky to continue selling Old Forester for medicinal purposes.
• 1924 Brown-Forman and Old Forester moves its headquarters to Howard Street at Dixie Highway
• 1933 Prohibition repealed. Old Forester increases production.
• Old Forester is the only Bourbon sold by the same company before, during and after Prohibition.
• 1941 Old Forester begins producing industrial alcohol (ethanol) to help World War II efforts.
• 1951 Old Forester is the first to issue Holiday Decanters
• 1959 Old Forester 86 Proof introduced, 100 Proof retained.
• 1964 Old Forester The President's Choice introduced by then President George Garvin Brown II
• 1970 Old Forester celebrates its 100th anniversary
• 2002 Old Forester celebrates the 156th birthday of founder George Garvin Brown with a limited-edition Old Forester Birthday BourbonTM on his birthday, Sept 2. Birthday Bourbon is the result of a single day’s production and aged 12 years.
• 2014 Brown-Forman announces plans for Old Forester distillery on Whiskey Row
• 2015 Fire on Whiskey Row; 119 W. Main was not fire damaged, it becomes a vital piece of support while structural integrity was restored to the entire block, delaying completion by about one year. (July 7, 2015)
• 2018 Old Forester Distilling Co. returns home to Whisky Row and opens at 119 W. Main Street, housed in the same building that the brand called home from 1882 – 1919.
• Old Forester is the only bourbon continually sold by the same company before, during, and after Prohibition.
• Old Forester distillery is the only downtown distillery which houses an active cooperage, charring barrels in the same facility where spirits are being aged.
• 
  
  

The E.H. Taylor series of bourbon and rye whiskey has gained a huge following and has become harder and harder to locate. Is all the hype warranted? Scott and Jake sit down with E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon, Single Barrel Bourbon, and Straight Rye and compare tasting notes. We also discuss the upcoming Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, September 17 - 19th. Bourbon Lens will be there, on Press Row, amongst some legends of the Bourbon industry. 

We are thankful for everyone who has supported us. A huge shoutout to our growing Patreon Community as well! We'd appreciate it if you can take the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.

Follow  us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support our endeavors, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com.

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt.

Cheers,
Scott, Jake, & Michael
Bourbon Lens

Photo Credit: E.H. Taylor, Jr. & Buffalo Trace Distillery

Jake heads down to Owensboro Kentucky to smash some barrels with the crew from Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. He sits down with Founder Seth Benhaim to discuss the brand’s re-introduction to the market, donning new packaging and seeing great growth since we last visited with Seth.  Check out Episode 49 (link below) for our first episode with Seth way back in December 2019. They spend the episode tasting through the core lineup of Broken Barrel Whiskies, which is sure to include something for everyone.  

We are thankful for everyone who has supported us. A huge shoutout to our growing Patreon Community as well! We'd appreciate it if you can take the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.

Follow  us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support our endeavors, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com.

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt.

Cheers,
Scott, Jake, & Michael
Bourbon Lens

Show Links:

• Bourbon Lens & Broken Barrel - Episode 49 from December 2019
• Broken Barrel Whiskey on Instagram
• Broken Barrel - Official Website

The Whiskey Lineup:

SMALL BATCH BOURBON - 95 Proof

Our flagship Small Batch Bourbon is finished with our signature Oak Bill. What is an Oak Bill? Unlike traditional methods of simply barrel aging and bottling a whiskey, our process entails additional steps to create layered, complex flavors not commonly found in your everyday bourbon. By smashing used barrels and combining the staves from Ex-Bourbon, Sherry, and French oak barrels in a specific ratio, we have built an award-winning bourbon that defies expectations and delivers delicious flavor and harmonious balance.​

COLOR
Dark honey
AROMA
Oak forward, sherry, and marzipan
TASTE
Woody, walnut, with charred brown sugar
FINISH
Peppery fiery finish, with notes of  orange blossom and close.
OAK BILL
40% Ex-Bourbon Cask, 40% / Medium Charred French / 20% Sherry Cask
MASH BILL
70% Corn / 21% Rye / 9% Malted Barley

CALIFORNIA OAK - 88 Proof

Our founder, born and raised in California, is both wildly passionate about both wine and whiskey. His love for excellent bourbon coupled with his access to fresh Central Coast cabernet sauvignon casks combined for a truly exceptional whiskey. We are proud to present our California Oak Straight Kentucky Bourbon, which earned a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition right out of the gate in 2020. This bourbon beautifully represents its dual citizenship by showcasing the superiority of Kentucky distilled and aged bourbon, as well as the rich nuanced complexities of California's Central Coast cabernet. 

COLOR:
Red-Amber
AROMA:
Mild oak/woody aroma, subtle fruit layered over a deeper dark cherry note and hints of baking spices.
TASTE:
Caramel body and balanced sugars, dates, persimmons and cranberry essence.
FINISH:
Peppery with cabernet tannins, fruity body and sweetened honeycomb-like finish.
OAK BILL™:
80% Central Coast Cabernet Cask Staves / 20% French Oak Staves
MASH BILL:
70% Corn / 21% Rye / 9% Malted Barley

CASK STRENGTH BOURBON - 115 Proof 

Broken Barrel Cask Strength bourbon is unapologetically bold, offering a stronger-than-most in class value. There are fewer Kentucky Bourbon’s offering 115 Proof quite like this, and even fewer that finish with Sherry or French Oak to deliver complexity and depth. Enjoyable neat, over ice or in a high-proof cocktail, this bourbon can go where many others cannot. There Is a unique profile within the Broken Barrel range, but none can compete with the power of the cask strength offering. There is a surprisingly smooth finish and flavor to this powerhouse whiskey that's unexpected given the proof. 

COLOR
Dark Copper
AROMA
Herbal, vanilla, Crème Brûlée, kettle corn
TASTE
Hazelnut, candy corn, warm spice, banana bread, vanilla
FINISH
Fresh blackberry, caramel, hint of orange, corn and cinnamon spice.
OAK BILL
40% Ex-Bourbon Cask, 40% / Medium Charred French / 20% Oloroso Sherry
MASH BILL
70% Corn / 21% Rye / 9% Malted Barley

HERESY RYE - 105 Proof

Like our other whiskeys, our Rye is distilled grain-to-glass in Owensboro, Kentucky. Our Heresy Rye whiskey is unlike any rye you’ve had. Charred French oak give lend oak-forward to the spirit, while freshly dumped ex-bourbon barrel and sherry cask staves all join forces to create a balanced and smooth taste and finish to this fiery rye. Just like our Broken Barrel, we proudly infuse this whiskey our way, and we’re not sorry. Call it sacrilegious, call it untraditional, call it heresy - we won’t be offended. Trust us, once you taste our whiskey you may begin to question the tradition yourself.

​COLOR
Deep Amber Brown
AROMA
Cedar, plum, pumpernickel bread
TASTE
Sweet vanilla, bread yeast, charred oak and brown sugar
FINISH
Spicy rye finish, with a buttery mouthfeel and caramel sweetness
MASH BILL
95% Rye; 5% Malted Barley
OAK BILL
40% Ex-Bourbon Cask / 40% New French / 20% Oloroso Sherry

We have another special guest this week, Jake Ireland, founder and entrepreneur behind Off Hours Bourbon. Off Hours is a lifestyle brand of bourbon, aimed at giving you some of the best whiskey for those moments when you kick back and relax. Launched in 2020, some might say this brand came along at just the right time; the perfect time for a little “Off Hours” bourbon. 

This bourbon is distilled and aged at MGP in Lawrenceburg Indiana; near and dear to Jake Ireland being his hometown.  It’s over 5 years old and it proofed at 95 proof by the Master Blender, Ashley Barnes (one half of the spirits consulting firm, The Spirits Group). As you’ll hear from Jake, he skips the folklore and backstories so many bourbons depend on. Instead, he embraces full transparency in the bourbon’s sourced origin, age, and its mashbill.  Off Hours is marketing itself to the next generation of bourbon drinkers. The branding is a modern design and utilizes simple messaging, and allows drinkers to choose how they want to drink their bourbon: straight, on the rocks, or in a cocktail. 

Off Hours is seeing great growth and looking to expand their market footprint. They are exploring Single Barrel Bourbon releases very soon as well. It can be found in major retailers around Kentucky and surrounding states. You can also purchase Off Hours Bourbon from retailers like Flaviar, Caskers and Drizly starting at $41.99 for a 750 ml bottle.

We are thankful for everyone who has supported us, including our amazing Patreon Community. We'd appreciate it if you would give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.

Follow  us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support our endeavors, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com.

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt.

Cheers,
Scott, Jake, & Michael
Bourbon Lens

About Jake Ireland:

Jake Ireland grew up in Indiana, close by to the distillery that Off Hours currently sources barrels from. He went to Indiana University and started his career in healthcare and then moved into venture capital investments.

During his time spent in this field, Jake was able to invest in and become an owner in a bourbon brand where he learned a host of lessons on both what works and what to avoid in order to breakthrough in the hyper competitive spirits industry.

Jake founded Off Hours after years of perfecting the product and launched the brand in 2020. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife Lauren and two children, Evan and Ella.

Show Links:

• Drink Off Hours Official Website
• Voyage L.A. Feature - Exploring Life and Business with Jake Ireland
• Forbes Feature - Modernizing A Traditional Spirit: Off Hours Wants To Change The Way You Think Of Bourbon
• Yahoo Life Feature - Whiskey of the Week: Off Hours Is a New Bourbon Great for Sipping & Cocktails 
• Thrillist Feature on Ashley Barnes - What It's Like to Be a Professional Whiskey Taster

Jake and Scott are back in “the office” and we are sharing some Kentucky Senator Bourbon. Kentucky Senator is a revived brand and each release of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey will carry the name of an esteemed U.S. Senator from the Bluegrass State. We taste their first two releases, including a 15 year and a 6 year Kentucky Straight Bourbon. We discuss many topics in this episode including sourcing whiskey, celebrity brands, the premium bourbon market, and whether we view whiskey as a good investment vehicle. We’d love to hear your thoughts on some of these discussion topics, so be sure to interact with us on social media.  A big thank you to Kentucky Senator Bourbon who provided these bourbons to us for the purposes of discussing them on our podcast.  We were not compensated for this podcast and the provision of bourbon for sampling does not bias our independent opinions.

Batch 1 is a fifteen year old Kentucky Straight Bourbon with a mash bill of 78.5% corn, 13% rye and 8.5% malted barley and bottled at 107 Proof. The first release was limited to 1320 bottles and has an SRP of $199.99. 

Batch 2 is aged six years, this Kentucky Straight Bourbon has a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley and is proofed at 107. The second release was limited to 1300 bottles and has an SRP of $109.99. 

We are thankful for everyone who has supported us over this journey. We'd appreciate it if you can take the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, or tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.

Follow  us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support our endeavors, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com.

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt.

Cheers,
Scott, Jake, & Michael
Bourbon Lens

About Kentucky Senator Bourbon:

The Kentucky Senator brand was originally distilled and bottled by Crigler & Crigler in Covington, Kentucky, then by Double Springs Distillers, Inc. in Bardstown. Revived by Kentucky Senator Spirits, LLC in 2019, each release of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey will carry the name of an esteemed U.S. Senator from the Bluegrass State. The brand revival is led by Andre Regard and Damon Thayer as they work to restore this vintage Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey to its glory days. Both men possess a unique background in Bourbon that they bring to the management team.

Show Links:

• Kentucky Senator Bourbon - Official Website 
• History of Batch 2 Namesake - Alben W. Barkley
• History of Batch 2 Namesake - William J. DeBoe
• Peyton Manning’s Sweetens Cove Could Impact Bourbon Boom by Fred Minnick for Forbes
• A British Man Is Retiring Early After Making a 4,700% Profit on His Whiskey Barrel Investment

Jake and Scott are back in the Bourbon Lens office and have lined up two powerhouse bottles from Heaven Hill’s wheated mashbill; Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond (a 9 year from Fall 2018) and Larcey Barrel Proof (Batch A121 featuring 6-8 year old bourbon). It is clear that wheated bourbons are a big hit in the bourbon world right now, partially attributable to the Pappy Van Winkle and Weller Bourbon craze.  But does Heaven Hill have some of the best wheated bourbons out right now? Hear our thoughts on this matchup of two Heaven Hill “Wheaters”. Jake also discusses his interest in becoming the “World’s Top Whiskey Taster” in Bardstown Bourbon Company’s competition. Bardstown Bourbon Company’s 2nd annual competition to find the World’s Top Whiskey Taster is COMING SOON!  Head to https://worldstopwhiskeytaster.com/ for all the details of how to enter, but here’s the quick rundown:

1. Submit your application before August 15th, 2021.
2. Qualified applicants will receive a link to complete a video interview between July 15th and August 15th.
3. All interviews will be conducted and recorded online through MyInterview.
4. BBCo. will ask 3 questions to get to know you.
5. Selected contestants will be invited to compete in one of the five regional showdowns.
6. Regional finalists will receive a trip to the Bardstown Bourbon Company distillery December 10 -12th, with the final showdown taking place on Saturday, December 11th.
7. Go to WorldsTopWhiskeyTaster.com to enter. 

We are thankful for everyone who has supported us over this journey. We'd appreciate it if you can take the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, or tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.

Follow  us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support our endeavors, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com.

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt.

Cheers,
Scott, Jake, & Michael
Bourbon Lens

Stock Bottle Images produced by Heaven Hill Distillery.

Links:

• Here's How to Decode Elijah Craig (And Larceny) Barrel Proof Labels
• Heaven Hill Distillery Announces Release of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Series
• World's Top Whiskey Taster | Presented by Bardstown Bourbon Co.

Recently, we had the opportunity to sample 6 single barrels from Western Spirits Beverage Company; you may remember our previous episode. This was all in preparation for their upcoming release of Sam Houston Bourbon Release No. 6. We were honored to be selected, along with several other “bourbon influencers”, to help provide feedback that would contribute to a final batch for Release No. 6, a 15 year old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.  The Release is now on shelves and we were sent bottles of the final batch as a thanks for participating in this project for Sam Houston Bourbon.  Check out this episode to get all the details of Release 6 and our thoughts on the final blend.

This was an awesome opportunity for us and we are so appreciative of Western Spirits Beverage Company and Sam Houston Bourbon.  This release is 103 proof / 51.5% alc/vol, non-chill filtered, and has an MSRP of $129.99.  Be sure to also check out Bourbon Lens Episode 121 where we tasted through the 6 barrels that were ultimately ranked and some were incorporated into this final batch.

We are thankful for everyone who has supported us over this journey. We'd appreciate it if you can take the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, or tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.

Follow  us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support our endeavors, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com.

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt.

Cheers,
Scott, Michael, and Jake
Bourbon Lens

It’s National Bourbon Day and we are having a brand new bourbon this week. Will Schragis, Stellum Spirits’ Chief Sales & Innovation Officer, joins Bourbon Lens to chat about all things Stellum, whiskey industry, and the modern whiskey drinker. A wildly popular blending house, Barrell Craft Spirits, just created a more affordable spinoff brand (at $55, Will says it’s the best whiskey for the price on the market).  New from the team at Barrell, it’s Stellum Rye and Bourbon. 

We are thankful for everyone who has supported us over this journey. We'd appreciate it if you can take the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, or tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.

Follow  us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support our endeavors, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com.

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt.

Cheers,
Scott and Jake
Bourbon Lens

About Stellum Spirits

A new national brand created to celebrate the modern-day whiskey drinker, officially launched its inaugural flagship offerings, including bourbon (blue label), rye (green label), and single barrels, which are all bottled at cask strength. By embracing the vitality of American whiskey today, Stellum is focused on creating the next generation of classic whiskeys that include all facets of the American story in its vision.

The new brand is produced by Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS), the award-winning independent blender and bottler of unique aged, cask-strength sourced whiskey and rum. Stellum strives to improve the flavor, process and ideals of traditional American whiskeys. American culture has always been about reaching towards modernity. Stellum looks beyond outdated assumptions of who whiskey drinkers (and whiskey makers) are to embrace that fundamentally progressive ethos.

The launch of Stellum Spirits is the result of BCS’ years of industry-leading innovation in American whiskey. This new project investigates the importance of nuance and micro differentiation in a paired down and minimalist setting. Stellum is designed to be clean, straightforward, and remarkably polished. This is whiskey factored down to its most defining essentials, blended and packaged with an eye towards clean lines and definition.

“We wanted to create a brand that brings American Whiskey into the modern age with simple elegant blends and single barrels selected with care and intention,” said Founder Joe Beatrice. “Our whiskeys are created through a rigorous process of study, observation, and experimentation. We are driven by progress, polish and—above all—attention to detail. We will always think critically about how to make our whiskey better.”

Joe is intimately involved with every step of the production process, using his exceptional palate to choose and create great spirits alongside Chief Whiskey Scientist Tripp Stimson, Chief Product Innovation Officer Will Schragis, and Assistant Blender Nic Christiansen.

Stellum Bourbon is bottled at 114.98 proof (57.49% ABV) while Stellum Rye is bottled at 116.24 proof (58.12% ABV). Both expressions have an SRP of $54.99 and are available at select retailers in 45 U.S. markets and online via the Stellum website at www.stellum.com.

For more information, follow Stellum Spirits on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit www.stellum.com.

Image Courtesy of Stellum Spirits.

About Will Schragis - Chief Sales Officer & Chief Product Innovation Officer

• A graduate of Wesleyan University and the Culinary Institute of America, Will started his career in drinks as a bartender and intern distiller at Kings County Distillery in Brooklyn, New York. After a stint in Napa Valley, he returned to New York to work as a sommelier in Eli Zabar’s family of restaurants and wine shops. 
• Later, he moved to Zachys Retail and Auction, one of the world’s leading fine wine and spirits retailers, where he managed sales and purchasing for the spirits department. It was there he met Joe, when Zachys became one of the very first retailers to carry Barrell Bourbon Batch 001.
• From retail, Will transitioned his interest in terroir to a position managing brand development for Spiribam (then called House of Agricole) in Texas and the East Coast. There, he oversaw the growth of flagship super-premium rum brands like Rhum Clément, Rhum J.M., and Rhum Damoiseau.
• In May of 2016, Will joined Barrell Craft Spirits as National Director. He works closely with our distributors and key accounts, and has an active role in product development. Will is also responsible for compliance, communications, incentives, planning, and market work. When he’s not busy spreading the word about the wonders of Barrell Craft Spirits, he also guest lectures on distillation science at his alma mater, the Culinary Institute of America.

Two heavy-hitting craft distilleries go head-to-head as Scott and Jake discuss their spin on Double Oaked Rye Whiskey. There’s no question that the Bourbon Lens is a big fan of these two craft distilleries; Starlight and Peerless. We were excited to have the chance to compare their unique rye whiskies. Here’s the “Tale of the Tape”:

Peerless “Double Oak I” Single Barrel Rye Whiskey:

• Proof: 109.4
• Age: Undisclosed (estimated 3-5 years)
• Price: $32 / 200 mL (Distillery Only: Purchase here)
• Mashbill:  Undisclosed
• Unique Traits:  Sweet Mash process, “Bourbon Drinker’s Rye”
• Fighting Out of: Louisville Kentucky

Starlight Old Rickhouse Double Oaked Rye Whiskey:

• Proof: 112.4
• Age: 5 years + 3-8 months in second new oak
• Price: $59.99 / 750 mL
• Mashbill:  90% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
• Unique Traits:  5 year air dry oak
• Fighting Out of: Starlight, Indiana

*Label Images via TTB

We are thankful for everyone who has taken the time to give us feedback on our podcast.  If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, or tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.

Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support our endeavors, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com.

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt.

Cheers,
Scott, Jake, & Michael
Bourbon Lens

Links:

• Starlight Distillery
• Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co.
• Peerless Double Oak - Purchase online, pick up at distllery
• Bourbon Lens Episode 65 with Starlight Distillery
• Bourbon Lens Episode 35:  Inside the Kentucky Peerless Speakeasy