Bourbon Showdown Podcast: Recent Episodes
Jesse Jones
The official podcast of the Bourbon Showdown! Featuring reviews, news, tastings and interviews with the top names in the Bourbon industry. Learn how your favorite bourbons get made as the leaders of the industry walk you through their process. We'll be talking to Master Distillers, authors, industry insiders and more! A new podcast every week as we do a deep dive on what makes bourbon America's spirit of choice.
This week we welcome Redwood Empire back to the show! Thats right, we welcome Jeff Duckhorn and Lauren Patz back to the Bourbon Showdown and we talk about all the good whiskey they have on the shelves right now! We talk their new Screaming Titan, their Rocket Top Bottled in Bond Rye and we bring it home with their Cask Strength Lost Monarch! And what do we do on this show after we talk about good whiskey? WE DRINK IT!!! As always it’s so much fun talking to Jeff and Lauren about Redwood Empire. We share some good pours, we talk about what’s next and spend as much time laughing as we do sipping. It’s a fantastic conversation and I think you guys are really going to enjoy this episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome Carey Bringle to the show from Peg Leg Porker! Thats right, on this episode we are talking WHISKEY AND BBQ! We cover everything from how to smoke the perfect boston butt to how Peg Leg Porker came to be and of course we do so all while drinking some delicious Peg Leg Porker whiskey. It’s a tasty episode this week on the Bourbon Showdown with something for everyone as long as you love whiskey, bbq and good conversation.
This week we welcome Tara Lindley and the return of High West! Tara is of course High West’s Director of Sensory QA & New Product Development, one of the coolest titles in whiskey and her and I sit down and we talk BOU-RYE! It’s a fantastic conversation with Tara this week as we talk about what brought her to whiskey and how she has built her palette and developed her sensory skills. She also lets me geek out on how she puts her blends together and how people just getting started in whiskey can set their palette up for success, it’s a great episode and we can’t thank Tara enough for coming back on this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome Oaklore Distilling to the show! Coming to you straight from the distillery in North Carolina, we sit down with cofounders Matt Simpkins and Tom Bogan and head of sales & commercial operations Jack Shute to talk NC whiskey! We talk about how this North Carolina whiskey brand came to be, what it takes to stand up a new brand in todays whiskey landscape and all the good whiskey that is coming out of Oaklore right now. We drink through Oaklore’s Bourbon and Rye whiskey with a surprise Port finished whiskey to take us home. It’s a fantastic conversation that we got to do at the distillery, which is always special because you get to sit and share whiskey in person and that’s really what it’s all about. We were excited to have Oaklore Distilling on this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast.
This week we welcome Rifino Valentine, founder of Valentine Distilling and Mayor Pingree Whiskey. We sit down and talk about how he got into the whiskey business and all the changes and growth he has seen since starting Valentine Distilling. He has an awesome perspective on what it takes to make good whiskey and has been in the game since before the boom. It was great having him on the show, learning more about the good whiskey the state of Michigan is making and tasting through some badass bottles of Mayor Pingree on this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week, Jesse welcome Ari Sussman back onto the show to talk the new Whiskey JYPSI, Explorer. The first in a series of whiskey releases that embodies that JYPSI spirit for whiskey adventure. Him and I dive into a tall pour and he walks me through what went into this inaugural Explorer release and how this whiskey truly embodies that EXPLORER spirit. We go everywhere from the forests of France to the hills of the Appalachian mountains with a pit stop in Eric Church’s backyard, we talk about the whole teams involvement in making this unique and flavor-forward whiskey and then WE DRINK IT! It’s a great conversation with Ari, and we were happy to have him back on this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast.
This week we welcome Mike Montgomery and Blue Run back to the show, that’s right my buddy Mike is back on to talk all things BLUE RUN! We talk Trifecta and Emerald Rye, which both recently won double gold and gold respectively at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. We talk about how Blue Run got started and how Mike assembled a whiskey dream team when starting the brand, how the living legend Jim Rutledge has been such an intricate part of the Blue Run story and of course we we dive into how they are now part of the Molson Coors family and how that will help them continue their growth into the whiskey future. A brilliant move by both Blue Run and Coors Spirits co.. It’s a fantastic conversation and as always I can’t thank Mike enough for being on the show. It’s Blue Run and Mike Montgomery on this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome Elizabeth McCall, the Master Distiller from Woodford Reserve back to the show to talk all things Kentucky Derby! We talk about how Woodford is the Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby, “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” and we talk about the release of the 2024 commemorative Derby bottle, featuring the artwork of Kentucky native Wylie Caudill, and of course we talk their new Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby 150 Baccarat Edition! It’s the Kentucky Derby go home show on this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome Kyle Merklein from Holladay Bourbon to the show and we sit down and talk everything Holladay! We talk about how how the brand got started, how he got started and what it takes to make whiskey in Missouri. It’s a great conversation and we dig deep into how Holladay has created such delicious whiskeys and how enamored the whiskey loving public is with them. It’s Kyle Merklein and Holladay Bourbon on this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome Aaron Goldfarb, author of "Dusty Booze", and we sit down and talk dusty’s! He has written this book, which I am completely enamored with about the whiskey loving publics fascination with spirits from yester-year and how there is an entire community of whiskey hunters tracking down whiskey’s from the past. It is a phenomenal read and it was a pleasure talking to him about the book and the dusty culture on this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome 1792 Master Distiller, Ross Cornelissen to the show! Ross walks us through the history of 1792 and his journey to the coveted title of Master Distiller all while we sip through some amazing bottles of 1792 12 Year, Full Proof and Thomas S. Moore. We cover everything from cereal, to mushrooms to whiskey and back again all on this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome Lost Lantern Whiskey back to the show! Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski join us to talk about their new Spring 2024 Midwest Collection! We go into how every region has its own whiskey personality and how they scoured the midwest for the best whiskies possible to make up this new Sprint 2024 Collection. It’s a great conversation and I can’t thank Nora and Adam enough for coming back on the show and sharing this good whiskey with us on this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we celebrate EPISODE 100 of the Bourbon Showdown Podcast! It’s a big milestone for the Bourbon Showdown and HOW do we CELEBRATE? By having Harlen Wheatley from Buffalo Trace Distillery on the show! That’s right, the Master Distiller from Buffalo Trace Distillery joins us on the program for a great conversation about whiskey, the bourbon boom, Buffalo Trace Distillery and where he sees the brand going in the future. It’s a proper celebration for our 100th episode and I can’t thank Harlen enough for coming on the show for this weeks 100th Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome Old Elk's, Melinda Maddox to talk CASK Finishing! It's a great conversation as Mel and Jesse drink through some Old Elk Port Cask Finish, some Cigar Cut and then she invites him to be a part of the tasting panel for the NEW Old Elk Wheat Whiskey Cognac Finish! It's a great episode as we get closer to Episode 100! It's Episode 99 of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast with Melinda Maddox from Old Elk!
This week we welcome Majure Markow from Cathead Distillery and Old Soul back to the show! We sit down and we talk Tin Type 2, Tin Type 1, Old Soul Barrel picks and then we do what we do when we have someone at The Showdown Hotel, we DRINK the whiskey we're talking about! We talk concerts, whiskey and the blues, everything you need to make it a damn good episode for this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome Graham McTavish from McTavish Spirits onto the show! You might know him from The Hobbit, Game of Thrones, Outlander, Men in Kilts, his list of TV and film credits go on and on and now he adds McTavish Spirits to his long list of accomplishments! He is a modern day raconteur and we can't thank him enough for coming onto the show! It's a great conversation this week as we talk whiskey, acting, comedy and of course McTavish Spirits!
This week we welcome A. Smith Bowmans Master Distiller, David Bock to the show! A wealth of knowledge on all things whiskey, David and Jesse go through the A. Smith Bowman history, the whiskey and David's own whiskey journey to Master Distiller. All while sipping on some delicious A. Smith Bowman whiskey! It's a great conversation on this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome Kevin Heffernan and Steve Lemme from Tacoma FD to the show! You may know them best as Farva and Mac from ‘Super Troopers’ or Landfill and Fink from ‘Beerfest’, they stop by to talk whiskey, comedy and Tacoma FD! Tacoma FD is a hilarious show that follows the hijinks of Kevin and Steve as Firefightersin Tacoma WA and just had all 4 seasons added to Netflix so you can go on and binge every episode now! It was a great conversation! We talk Tacoma FD, we talk Super Troopers, Super Troopers 3, Pappy Van Winkle, WhistlePig, we cover the gambit and it makes for a damn good conversation! So check out Kevin Heffernan and Steve Lemme on this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome UFC Legend Bruce Buffer, the voice of mixed martial arts and Umberto Luchini the founder and proprietor of Wolf Spirit Distillery to talk Puncher’s Chance whiskey! It’s a great conversation where we talk Puncher’s Chance, MMA, Comedy and Whiskey Production! We also drink a lot of good whiskey and I can’t thank Bruce and Umberto enough for taking time out of their busy schedules to talk/drink some Puncher's Chance with me on this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome Ari Sussman and Whiskey JYPSI to the show. We talk about the new expression from Eric Church and how this new premium whiskey came to be. We also talk about how Ari got started in the whiskey business and what's next for him and Whiskey JYPSI. It's a great conversation about Whiskey, Whiskey-making and Rock and Roll, this week on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome Founder and Distiller from FEW Spirits Paul Hletko to the show! Jesse and Paul sit down and crack a few bottles of FEW whiskey and talk about everything from prohibition to FEW being at the forefront of the current whiskey boom. They also talk about FEW's collaboration with Alice In Chains and how that collab led to the "ALL SECRETS KNOWN" expression that saw FEW whiskey finished in Tequila barrels! It's a great episode and we can't thank Paul enough for joining on this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome Amir Peay and Cody Giles back to the show! Amir is of course the man responsible for brining James E. Pepper back to life and Cody, the head distiller is putting down some delicious whiskey for the brand! We sit down and talk about their history, how the whiskey gets made and what went into their new Barrel Proof, James E. Pepper offering, this week on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
his week we welcome Lindsay Gulics and Barrell Craft Spirits back to the show for another episode of good whiskey and good conversation! Lindsay is the Regional Manager of the NorthEast for Barrell and her and I pour up a couple delicious drams and talk all things Barrell Craft Spirits! We talk about how Joe Beatrice started the brand and how far they’ve come since the company began, we talk about all the new expressions Barrell has coming out both in 2023 and in 2024 and we talk how Lindsay came to be a part of the company and her current role with Barrell. It’s a great conversation and I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with Lindsay and learning more about her whiskey journey and the future of Barrell on this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast.
This week I welcome Caryn Wells from Green River to the show! Caryn is the National Brand Ambassador for Green River and her and I got to sit down for a pour of some delicious Green River whiskey. We talk about how she got into this wonderful world of whiskey and the history behind the Green River brand. Then as always after we talk about the whiskey… we drink the whiskey! It’s a fun conversation with Caryn that I think you guys are really going to enjoy on this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast.
This week I welcome Celina Perez from Great Jones Distilling Co. to the program for a great conversation about all things New York City and New York City Whiskey. We go through how she got started in whiskey as well as what it took for her and the team at Great Jones to get a distillery off the ground in the middle of a pandemic. It’s a great conversation and I thoroughly enjoyed having Celina on the show. The art that she puts into her whiskey shines through on this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast.
This week we welcome Victoria Horn and Brandi Bowles, the founders of Boss Molly Bourbon onto the show and we talk about everything under the bourbon sun. We talk about what it takes to start a bourbon brand, the sleepless nights spent making sure you get your recipe 100% perfect, the endless hours spent introducing your brand to new consumers and how it is all totally worth it when you see someones reaction to that first sip of good whiskey. It's a great conversation and we were super excited to welcome the ladies into the whiskey den for a great pour of Boss Molly and a damn good conversation on this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast.
This week we welcome Liz Rhoades and WhistlePig back to the Bourbon Showdown and we talk BOSS HOG X! That’s right, Liz is back and we do a deep dive into Boss Hog X and Robbie’s Blend, two distinct whiskey’s that properly represent why WhistlePig is and has always been at the forefront of pushing boundaries in the whiskey world! So sit back, pour a big dram of WhistlePig rye and get ready for Jesse and Liz to explore the wonderful world of WhistlePig on this weeks episode of the Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome Lori Fetrick, better know as ICE from the American Gladiators to the Bourbon Showdown Podcast! Thats right Ice herself is on the show today to talk all things whiskey and American Gladiators. We talk about the new Docuseries on Netflix "Muscles & Mayhem" which acts as an unauthorized deep dive into the the American gladiator story, we talk about how she got started with the gladiators and what she has been doing since the show ended… and of course we do this while drinking on some delicious whiskey. So get your jousting sticks ready and pour up a tall glass of something tasty as we welcome Lori Fetrick to the Bourbon Showdown podcast.
This week we welcome Bruce Russell back to the show and talk about the new Wild Turkey Generations expression! The first time in the history of Wild Turkey that there are three generations of Russell's collaborating on one bottle. We talk about how this expression came to be and what it felt like to get his name on the bottle alongside his Grandfather Jimmy Russell and his father Eddie Russell. It's a great conversation and an amazing whiskey! We can't thank Bruce enough for sitting down with us to talk Generations on this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome High West Distillery back to the show! Tara Lindley and Holly Booth join us and take us on a sensory and cocktail journey through everything High West! We talk about how the brand got started, what led both of them to whiskey and then we drink some whiskey! Tara takes me through the sensory process of identifying whats in the glass and Holly teaches me how to make a High West Old Fashioned, there is literally something for everyone in this episode and we can’t thank Tara and Holly enough for being on this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast.
This week we welcome back long time friends of the show, Michael and Danny from Penelope. We sit down and discuss everything from the success of Rio to the recent acquisition by MGP. It's a great conversation that covers the full scope of Penelopes rise in whiskey and a comprehensive look at what they have in store for whiskey lovers in the future. Its a deep dive into Penelope Bourbon on this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast.
While we were at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival last week, we were fortunate enough to be a part of Kentucky Owl’s unveiling of their new Maighster edition, limited release, Bourbon Whiskey. This comes on the heels of Kentucky Owl naming Maureen Robinson as their new Master Blender! We were able to sit down with this Scotch Whisky Hall of Famer and talk about everything from her very brief retirement to her new venture with Kentucky Owl. The challenges she faced moving from Scotch to Bourbon and where she plans to take Kentucky Owl now that she has its arsenal of delicious whiskey at her disposal. It was such a great conversation and we thank Maureen for the time she gave us on this weeks episode of the Bourbon Showdown podcast.
This week we welcome Old Forester Master Taster, Melissa Rift to the show! We talk about what brought her to Old Forester and her whiskey journey, all while sipping on some delicious 117 Series, Bottled in Bond whiskey! She tells us about what goes into the creation of each 117 Series offering, the role she plays in its production and what she has in store for us in the future. It’s a great conversation that we think you guys are going to enjoy. We thoroughly enjoyed having her on the show and look forward to seeing her in Kentucky this week at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. So buckle up and get ready for Melissa Rift on this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome Peter Nevenglosky from Rare Character onto the show. Pete and Jesse talk about Fortuna and everything it takes to bring a classic brand back from the whiskey beyond as well as Petes origin story into the whiskey world. They go everywhere from the pandemic in NYC to drinking with Mr. Belding in Las Vegas. This episode has something for everyone! So grab a tall pour of Fortuna, sit back and get ready for Peter Nevenglosky and Rare Character, this week on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast.
It is the official SEASON PREMIERE of the Bourbon Showdown and we have our buddy John Rempe from Lux Row Distillers on the show to talk BLOOD OATH PACT 9! It’s a great interview and we were so happy to have John back on the show. We went to Kentucky and got to drink some Pact 9 with John at Lux Row and let me tell you, this is some delicious whiskey! We go through his whiskey journey to Lux Row master distiller, the conception of Blood Oath starting with Pact 1 and how it has evolved since that original offering. It was a great conversation that we think you guys will really enjoy so go pour yourself a tall glass of some Lux Row goodness and get ready for John Rempe and Blood Oath Pact 9 on this episode of the Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
The Bourbon Showdwon is back for a new season and we have Randy Prasse with us to talk everything Kentucky Bourbon Festival! The festival is less than a month away and Randy comes on the show to tell us about everything he has planned for the big event this year. We talk whiskey, we talk what it takes to put on a festival of this magnitude we talk all the special events he has planned all while sipping on some deliciousness from Bardstown Bourbon Company. Its a great start to the new season of the Bourbon Showdown Podcast and we're just getting started! Stay tuned for more bourbon every week on the Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week Jesse welcomes one of his good whiskey buddies Dan Spivey from Broad Branch Distillery onto the show! Jesse and Dan go way back and this conversation has been a long time in the making. They talk about how Broad Branch Distillery got started, the delicious whiskeys that they are currently producing and the state of North Carolina whiskey in general. They go into the history of NC whiskey and touch on what it takes to make a distillery work in this current whiskey boom. Always a good conversation we are very happy to have Dan on the show and for the chance to showcase some of the good whiskey Broad Branch is putting out right now on this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week Jesse welcomes Ryan Perry from Heaven’s Door back to the show! The Founder and Master Blender at Heaven’s Door, Ryan walks Jesse through his 10 year Decade Series Straight Bourbon Whiskey. They talk about the patience it takes to sit on good barrels for that long and how that patience has paid off in this 10 year offering. On top of sipping and talking about good whiskey, they also catch up on everything Heaven’s Door, talk about Bob Dylan’s hand in the brand, comedy, hecklers and VHS tapes. It’s a great conversation and we were very happy to have Ryan back on the show in this weeks episode of the Bourbon Showdown podcast!
This week we welcome Lance Winters to the show! The Master Distiller at St. George Spirits, Lance is a recent inductee into the Whiskey Hall of Fame and one hell of a whiskey maker. He and Jesse sit down and go through how he went from being a nuclear engineer to spirits maker and the struggles he faced early in his career when introducing his vision for American Single Malt to an industry that hasn’t always been so accepting of spiritual change. They also talk art, books and the philosophy of being true to your craft. It’s a great conversation and we want to thank Lance for coming on the show and talking American Single Malt and St. George Spirits with us on this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown podcast!
This week Jesse welcomes Nick Scarff, the Master Blender & VP of Business Development at Next Century Spirits to talk about Bear Fight American Single Malt Whiskey! Nick and Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane have been working to help bring American Single Malt to the masses and they have succeeded! Jesse and Nick talk about how that partnership came to be, what their plans are for the brand and how Nick got started with Next Century Spirits. They also talk about Creek Water Whiskey, Yelawolf and what’s next for Nick, Seth and Next Century Spirits.
This week Jesse welcomes Chicken Cock Whiskeys Master Distiller Gregg Snyder to the show! Gregg walks Jesse through the history of the brand, it's ups and downs and it's reemergence on the whiskey scene. They talk about Gregg's own whiskey journey and how he has spent the last 40 + years of his career creating some of the best and best known whiskies in the industry. This is a master class on whiskey production. Gregg walks Jesse through the whiskey process and even after an hour it feels like they only scratched the surface. This is a must listen for anyone that loves whiskey.
This week Jesse welcomes Gerard Patrick Garland to the show for Irish Whiskey Day! That's right, it's St. Patrick's Day and what better way to celebrate than with a big pour of something delicious and Irish! Gerard and Jesse sit down with four unique bottles of Method + Madness and drink through all four! They go through what brought Gerard into the whiskey business and how Method + Madness created these amazing expressions. We had a great time having Gerard on the show and welcome Method + Madness to this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast.
This week I welcome my buddy Trey Wade to the show! Trey is the NEW Chief Experience Curator for Blue Run and has been selected to lead their first Private Barrel Program. Trey and I sit down and talk about his whiskey journey and how he got to Blue Run. As well as his new Chosen, Private Barrel Program and how he is bringing whiskey to the people by giving everyone a shot to be “Chosen” and be a part of this new private barrel program! It’s a great conversation, Trey is a true renaissance man, and any time we get together, good conversation follows. We are very happy to have him on this weeks Bourbon Showdown podcast.
This week we welcome Elizabeth McCall, the NEW Master Distiller for Woodford Reserve to the show! Elizabeth has been a guest before and we are so happy to have her back on to discuss her new role as Master Distiller for the company. She takes Jesse through her career with Woodford Reserve, and what it takes to become Master Distiller. How not only is she overseeing quality and innovation and leading special releases, but she is also overseeing so much more of the process than you might think when you think about what the Master Distillers day to day responsibilities look like! On top of that she then walks Jesse through her first release as Master Distiller and they taste through the new Master’s Collection Historic Barrel Entry offering. It's a great conversation and we can't congratulate Elizabeth enough on her new role and title and welcome her back to the show for this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week Jesse welcome Dan Callaway, the Vice President of Hospitality and Product Development at Bardstown Bourbon Co.! They sit down to talk the new Bardstown Bourbon Co. Origin Series and Dan walks Jesse through all three of their new expressions! They talk about how Dan got into whiskey and his journey from music into the whiskey world, all while drinking some of that sweet, sweet whiskey! It's a great episode and we are very happy to have Dan Callaway on this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
We kick off Bardstown Bourbon week today with National Brand Ambassador, Sam Montgomery! Jesse welcomes Sam to the show and they walk through the history of the Bardstown Bourbon brand, how they got started, the liquid they are creating and the top of the line facility they have created in Bardstown Kentucky. It's a great conversation and Sam and Jesse talk about everything from Bourbon to Comedy to The Never-ending Story! You never know where its going to go on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast, but you can count on it always being a damn fun ride getting there!
This week Jesse invites Cold Case Investigator Paul Holes onto the show to talk whiskey and True Crime! Paul is probably best known for his contributions to solving the Golden State Killer case using advanced methods of identifying the killer with DNA and genealogy technology. He is also an author and has written the New York Times bestseller - UNMASKED My life solving Americas cold cases. We were thrilled to have him on the show so he and Jesse could talk about how he got into the world of Cold Case investigation and his work on not only the Golden State Killer case but what it takes to work in murder day in and day out and how he has balanced career and normalcy throughout his life. It's a great conversation, so pour yourself some Elijah Craig and drink along with them as Jesse welcomes Paul Holes to this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast.
This week we welcome Andy and Charlie Nelson to The Bourbon Showdown! They walk Jesse through their families history in whiskey and how they grew up not knowing the role their family played in Tennessee spirits. They discuss the trials and tribulations of bringing their great great great Grandfathers whiskey brand back to the whiskey world and how they have taken his brand and made it their own in this current whiskey landscape. It's a great episode filled with history and that entrepreneurial spirit that all great distilleries have. We think you will enjoy this weeks episode and want to thank Andy and Charlie Nelson for being the guests on this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast.
This week Jesse welcomes Brendan Coyle, the Master Distiller from High West Distillery to the show! Jesse and Brendan talk the history of High West as well as all the amazing expressions they have been responsible for. They talk about and sample A Midwinter's Night Dram: Act 10, The Prisoner's Share and High Country: American Single Malt. It's a great conversation as Brendan walks Jesse through what got him into whiskey and what it takes to launch a successful whiskey brand. They talk about everything from whats next for High West to how humidity affects the final whiskey product! We want to thank Brendan for coming on the show and can't wait for you to hear this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome Aaron Chepenik back to the show! Aaron is always a wealth of knowledge not only about whiskey and whiskey production but the logic that goes into growing a whiskey business. We always love having him on the show just to see where the conversation goes and he never disappoints! Him and Jesse talk about everything from music to muscle cars to Smoke Wagons new Rye whiskey offerings! They sit down and sample the new Bottled in Bond Straight Rye whiskey as well as the Malted Straight Rye all while going through what makes each one stand out from the rest of Smoke Wagon's amazing offerings. It's a great episode this week with Aaron Chepenik on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome Bruce Russell back to the show! We sit down and talk about everything Wild Turkey while sipping on the newest Master's Keep, Unforgotten! It's a great conversation where we talk about everything under the whiskey sun. We talk about all the goodness Wild Turkey puts out as well as the public's fascination with some of their more limited offerings, and we go generational! We talk about how his grandfather Jimmy made whiskey, how his father Eddie makes whiskey and how he thinks he will combine both traditions to forge his own path in the industry. It's fascinating conversation with Bruce, and it is a great deep dive into the past, present and future of the whiskey world.
This week we welcome Ryan Lang from Middle West Spirits in Ohio onto the show. Ryan walks us through what brought him to the whiskey industry and led him to start Middle West Spirits. This is not only a good conversation about tasty whiskey but a great conversation about what it takes to get a craft distillery off the ground. Ryan serves up Whiskey 101 in this episode and it was an absolute pleasure having him on the show. We sampled some delicious Middle West whiskey as well, so before you start this episode, I would recommend going to the store, picking up a bottle of that delicious Middle West Wheated whiskey and drinking along with us at home as we welcome Middle West Spirits to this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
You could say this episode is High on the Hog as we welcome the amazing Liz Rhoades from WhistlePig onto the show for this weeks episode. Liz walks us through the rise of WhistlePig as one the industries measuring sticks for good rye whiskey, we talk about how WhistlePig got started, what brought her to the brand and all the goodness they are producing right now. There are pig puns flying everywhere on this weeks episode, so when you hear one, grab a pour and take a sip because we’re taking you to WhistlePig land this week on the Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week Jesse welcomes Colorado whiskey makesrs Laws Whiskey to the show! Head Distiller Sam Poirier and Barrel Manager James Kunz from Laws Whiskey join Jesse to talk about all the good whiskey they are producing and how Laws has become a quick favorite to bourbon drinkers across the country. They talk about how the brand got started and do a deep dive into whiskey production and what it takes to make good whiskey and rye! It’s a great conversation and we want to thank Sam and James for their time. The passion for what they do not only comes through in this interview but also in the whiskey they are making! It’s Laws Whiskey on this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week on the Bourbon Showdown Podcast, we continue to say thank you to all of our men and women who have served this country with a Veterans Day episode focused on the story of the Horse Soldiers and Scott Neil from Horse Soldier Bourbon. This is a team of people that found themselves under extraordinary circumstances following the tragedy of 911 and how they persevered in those circumstances. A story of a group of friends that wondered what to do next after returning to civilian life and the whiskey brand that grew from that entrepreneurial spirit and that spark to create something they could be proud of and leave to their families when they are gone. It is an amazing story and we thank Scott for his time and his service. We also want to say thank you again to all of our Veterans on this Veterans Day and thank them for their service as well as all of our active men and women serving our country today.
This week Jesse welcomes Mark McLaughlin from Old Line Spirits onto the show. They sit down and talk about his time in the Navy flying EA-6B Prowlers and how after more than a decade of flying off of aircraft carriers and being stationed all over the world, he and Old Line co-founder and friend from the Navy Arch Watkins decided it was time to get into whiskey. We talk about their journey from the Navy to Old Line Spirits, the trials and tribulations of starting a distillery and then of course we talk about the delicious American Single Malt whiskey they are producing. It was great having Mark on the show and we want to thank him for his time and to thank him and all our Veterans for their service to our country. This Friday is Veterans Day and we couldn’t think of a better time to share our conversation with Old Line, a Veteran owned distillery, it’s a great conversation that we hope you all enjoy.
This week Jesse welcomes Limestone Branch Distillery and Stephen Beam to the show! They sit down in the tasting room of Limestone Branch Distillery for a one on one about Yellowstone whiskey, the prestigious Beam name and all the goodness Stephen has been making as Master Distiller. It's a deep dive into what Stephen got into whiskey and how having the last name Beam comes with whiskey expectations that he has more than met in his time as Master Distiller. It's a great episode that you can also watch on YouTube, so pour yourself some Yellowstone whiskey and get ready for Stephen Beam on the Bourbon Showdown Podcast.
This week Jesse welcomes TNA superstar and bourbon enthusiast Matt Rehwoldt onto the show! Jesse and Matt have a great conversation about all things whiskey and wrestling related! From his start in pro-wrestling, to his run in the WWE as Aiden English to his love of bourbon and his new home in TNA. Jesse and Matt sip on some delicious Prideful Goat whiskey from their buddy Kristopher Hart and talk about everything from wrestling to whiskey and beyond. We were thrilled to welcome Matt onto this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast.
This week on the Bourbon Showdown Podcast we welcome Michter's back to the show! One of our favorites, Andrea Wilson, the Master of Maturation comes returns to the show and brings Dan McKee, the Master Distiller with her! It is a triathlon episode this week as we discuss distilling whiskey, maturing whiskey and of course.... drinking whiskey! It is a great episode and we sincerely thank Andrea and Dan for their time! We sip through some Michter's Barrel proof rye and barrel proof bourbon as well as discuss their Fort Nelson distillery in Louisville. Its a high-proof episode this week on the Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
In this official Season 5 premiere, This week Jesse welcomes Tim Heuisler to the show! Tim is an expert on all things Booker's and he and Jesse break down the history of the brand and how Booker's helped usher in the current whiskey boom by being one of the first barrel strength offerings! It's a fun episode where Jesse and Tim swap whiskey and New York stories while sharing a pour of some delicious Booker's bourbon.
This week Jesse welcomes Fred Minnick onto the show! Acclaimed bourbon author and co-founder of Bourbon & Beyond, a bourbon and music festival in Louisville KY taking place September 15-18th! Jesse and Fred hit the ground running with the story behind Fred's famous ascot and from there, dive into how he got involved with Bourbon & Beyond (tickets available at BourbonandBeyond.com) his love of writing and what brought him into the whiskey world. It's a great conversation as Fred and Jesse talk about everything from comic books to magic mushrooms. You never know what you're going to get on the Bourbon Showdown and this episode is a lot of damn fun!
The Bourbon Showdown is back and right in time for Bourbon Season! It's National Bourbon Heritage Month and we are kicking it off right with Randy Prasse, the President and COO of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival! Randy and Jesse do a deep dive into this years festival and all the goodness (and headaches) that can go into putting on such a massive Bourbon event! Randy shares how he got into the whiskey world as well as what led him to the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. They talk about how the festival has been getting stronger every year since the pandemic and how this year will be the largest yet. It's a fun episode leading up to the festival (Sept 15-18) and it was great having Randy on the show!
Bonus content! As we at the Bourbon Showdown thrive to learn more about all spirits, we were able to do a LIVE tasting with David Sikora from Crystal head vodka. It was a great LIVE tasting and David and Jesse hit it off so well we thought everyone would like to listen in!
This week Jesse welcomes the Whiskey Raconteur Alan Bishop back to the program! Jesse and Alan do a deep dive into everything whiskey, wrestling, distilling, life, you name it, it's covered in this weeks episode. Producing some of the finest spirits on the market today, Spirits of French Lick has given Alan the platform to bring what he thinks good whiskey can be to the industry and he does just that. I sip on some of his delicious Mattie Gladden and we discuss his upcoming documentary, My Whiskey Journey, as well as all the upcoming offerings from Spirits of French Lick. It's always a roller-coaster ride when we have Alan on the show and we think everyone will enjoy this weeks episode.
This week we welcome Mike Montgomery back to the show and he brings with him Blue Runs new Whiskey Director, Shaylyn Gammon, it’s a great conversation where Mike talks about what Blue Runs been up to, we talk Shaylyn’s whiskey journey to the company and of course that sweet sweet whiskey, Blue Runs newest expression… Reflection, which just so happens to be dropping today, May 4th at 3pm via bluerunspirits.com! We always love talking Blue Run with Mike, he’s such a good guy and the conversation is never boring when him and Jesse start talking whiskey. Throw Shaylyn into the mix and you have a damn good show! It was a damn good time and we thank Mike and Shaylyn for their time! We hope you enjoy this episode of the Bourbon Showdown Podcast with Blue Run!
This week we welcome John Little from Smooth Ambler onto the show! John is the Founder of Smooth Ambler and he brings the heat in this episode! Jesse and John go through 4 bottles of his delicious Rye whiskey all while learning that they went to same college and knew some of the same people 25 years ago! It's a blast from the past while still meeting for the first time. They talk how he started Smooth Ambler, how hard it is to get a whiskey brand off the ground, owning his own narrative and telling the whiskey story he wanted to tell. He's making some delicious whiskey and we thank him for sharing it with us for this episode of The Bourbon Showdown podcast!
This week Jesse welcomes Majure Markow to the show from Cathead Distillery, the maker of Old Soul Whiskey. Jesse and Majure talk Mississippi, the Blues and whiskey! How he got into the spirits game and how Cathead got started. It's one of those great whiskey conversations and neither one of them hold back on how they feel about the state of whiskey and what makes it the best industry to be a part of. If a fun episode this week and we thank Majure for coming on the show! So grab a glass of Old Soul, sit back and enjoy this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week Jesse welcome Kristopher Hart to the program from The Prideful Goat! It's one of the most fun episodes we've had on The Bourbon Showdown and Jesse and Kristopher really go all over the world in this one. They talk whiskey, they talk comedy, they talk Epstein Island, former Presidents, boxing legends, comedy icons and everything in between! This is one of those episodes that every time you think you know the answer, they change the question and it really is a fun damn conversation to listen to. So sit back, relax and pour yourself something tasty (The Prideful Goat if you have a bottle) and get ready for The Bourbon Showdown Podcast and Kristopher Hart.
This week we welcome our friends at Redwood Empire back to the show. We have Jeff Duckhorn, the Master Distiller and Lauren Patz, the Head Distiller of Redwood Empire who if you listen to the show you know we are huge fans! They are back for another round on the Showdown and once again its a damn good conversation. We talk about their new Bottled in bond offerings, the Grizzly Beast, their Bottled in bond bourbon and Rocket top, their bottled in bond rye! It was so good talking to Jeff again, we’ve been doing this show long enough that we have built some good friends in the industry and Jeff at Redwood has always been a friend of the show so we are so happy to have him back and learn what he’s been up to and learn more about Lauren and her whiskey journey to Redwood! It’s a great episode filled with good people and good whiskey. We thank them for their time and if you have Redwood Empire in your state I definitely recommend you go out and pick up a bottle. They are some damn tasty bottles! Photo courtesy of Redwood Empire
This week we have Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski, co-founders of Lost Lantern whiskey! They are doing something pretty awesome in the industry right now, they track down the best whiskey in the country and then they put it out for all us whiskey nerds to experience and enjoy! They are like the Indiana Jones’s of Whiskey, they hunt down whiskies that people haven’t discovered yet and shine the spotlight on the distilleries, it's a beautiful thing!
As you know timing is everything and the NEW Lost Lantern Whiskey 2022 collection comes out… today! Thats right on March 1st they will announce the Lost Lantern's Spring 2022 collection that will feature four limited edition single casks from four celebrated distilleries: Smooth Ambler in West Virginia, Westward in Oregon, Frey Ranch Distillery in Nevada and Spirit Works in California. Beginning March 9, the Spring 2022 single cask collection will be available for sale on LostLanternWhiskey.com and Seelbachs.com. All offerings are bottled at cask strength, are non-chill-filtered and have natural color. Do yourself a favor and experience these amazing whiskeys for yourself! I had a great time interviewing Nora and Adam about their whiskey adventures and think all of you are really going to enjoy this episode!
This week Jesse welcomes John Rempe, the Master Distiller at Lux Row! We were all so excited to have Lux Row on the show and John did not disappoint! Jesse and John do a side by side tasting of all the Daviess County whiskies plus Ezra Brooks and Rebel 100! They talk about everything from the state of whiskey today to hunting and everything in between. John is a wealth of knowledge on not just whiskey and whiskey production but building a family of products that work cohesively together to create a soulful spirits line-up. It was a great conversation and we thank John for his time! So get ready for a damn good show as we welcome John Rempe from Lux Row to The Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
Today we welcome Ashley and Colby Frey of Frey Ranch Distillery onto the program! We talk about how they got started in the whiskey game and how they are producing some delicious farm to table whiskey in their home state of Nevada. Its a great conversation and we want to thank both of them for coming on the show. We love people that make things and Colby and Ashley are taking their passion for farming and agriculture and using it to produce some amazing whiskey! I think you guys will definitely learn a lot in this episode!
This week for the Season 4 premiere we welcome back Rob Dietrich, the Master Distiller and Blender of BLACKENED - the official whiskey of one of the best bands in the world Metallica! We always love having Rob on the show and this time was no different, Rob and Jesse talk about everything from whiskey to vinyl records and everything in between. It was a great conversation where we talk Blackened’s The “Masters of Whiskey Series” a new series of limited edition whiskeys that Rob has started, where he collaborates with some of his illustrious peers to create a symphony of good liquid and bring it to the masses. For this first batch he enlisted Willett Distillery’s own Master Distiller, Drew Kulsveen and together they created the BLACKENED X Willett Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Madeira Casks. You can’t even say that it without getting excited about. And then what did they did? They drank it! Its a damn fun episode that we hope everyone enjoys for this Season 4 Premiere!
Happy New Year! In this first episode of 2022 Jesse welcomes Ryan Perry from Heaven's Door Whiskey! They hit it off and start talking about how Ryan got into spirits and how Bob Dylan came into the picture to create Heaven's Door all while drinking some of the deliciousness they produce. They sample the bourbon, the rye, the double barrel, the Redbreast finished and the Cask Strength! It's a great episode with a lot of great whiskey on this first episode of 2022 of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome Brandon McCraney from Olde Raleigh onto the show! Brandon and Jesse talk about what led Brandon to start Old Raleigh and what it takes to start a distillery in North Carolina. His passion for whiskey really shows in this interview and we want to thank him for coming on! Located in Zebulon NC right outside of Raleigh it is fantastic to see Brandon representing North Carolina as well as all the other local distillers that are showing NC has a place at the table when it comes to producing good whiskey!
This week Jesse welcomes Caleb Kilburn from Peerless to the program. The Master Distiller of Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co., Caleb and Jesse talk about Peerless’s return to the whiskey landscape and the history behind one of the old brands in bourbon. They talk about how Caleb got started in distilling and his path to Master Distiller. It’s a fun episode where they everything from whiskey to Greg Allman with a hint of Al Gore, so get ready for another fun ride on this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
You asked for it and we listened! This week Jesse welcomes Jay Erisman, the Vice President and Distiller of New Riff Distilling onto the show! They talk about everything whiskey under the sun. They talk about how he got into whiskey, how New Riff got started, what kind of liquid they produce and what they have coming up next. On top of that they talk gin, cars and guitars, it’s a damn good conversation and we want to thank Jay for coming onto the show. Him and Jesse hit it off proper and we hope everyone enjoys this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast with New Riff!
This week Jesse welcomes Michael Hinds and James Davenport from Nashville Barrel Company onto the program, or we should say they welcome him! Jesse was in Nashville to perform at Zanies Comedy Club and Michael and James were gracious enough to invite him into their facility to talk whiskey. They spent the morning barreling whiskey, then spent the afternoon talking and drinking whiskey! From the sound of it, they had a great time and we think everyone is really going to enjoy this conversation. They talk wrestling, they talk comedy, they talk whiskey! Its got something for everyone! So sit back, relax and pour yourself something awesome as we talk to Nashville Barrel Company this week on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
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This week we welcome Bruce Russell from Wild Turkey onto the program! Jesse and Bruce drink some Russell’s Reserve 13 and talk about how Bruce's family got started in whiskey. Bruce also talks about what Wild Turkey has coming out in future releases and what it was like growing up in a household full of whiskey legends. It’s whiskey fueled episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast and we want to thank Bruce for coming on and talking Wild Turkey with us! Image courtesy of Wild Turkey.
This week Jesse welcomes Amir Peay to the program. The owner / operator of the historic James E. Pepper Distillery in Lexington, Kentucky. Amir is the man responsible for bringing the iconic James E. Pepper brand back into the public focus and its beautiful whiskey back to the whiskey world. Jesse and Amir talk about the history of James E. Pepper and how one families legacy continues to mold the brown spirit landscape. They talk about how James E. Peppers legacy connects to Colonel E.H. Taylor, the plot of land now known for producing Woodford Reserve and how Amir has brought the brand back to life. It is a walk down the bourbon/rye memory lane with one of the best brands to ever produce whiskey. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed making it because James E. Pepper is one of the whiskey legacies that deserves preserving and Amir is doing all the right things to make sure it is properly cared for.
This week we welcome Mike Montgomery from Blue Run onto the program! He is a fascinating guy and him and I break down how Blue Run has quickly joined the ranks of some of the best whiskey brands on the market today. We break down how the company enlisted the help of veteran whiskey maestro Jim Rutledge to create a super tasty whiskey that goes outside your whiskey norms in terms of the story they are telling and the marketing behind it. Jesse and Mike really hit it off and this episode will definitely make you thirsty, so pour yourself a glass of Blue Run and get ready for this weeks episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast with Mike Montgomery!
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This is a special week on The Bourbon Showdown as we welcome someone that you guys have been asking for us to have on the show for a while now! We have JACKIE ZYKAN on the show! Thats right the Master Taster for Old Forester sits down with Jesse and the two of them go all over the place. From how she got started in the industry, to her first release for Old Forester, to stories about why neither of them like Spiders, to how Old Forester got started and why they are in such capable hands with Jackie as their Master Taster. It's one of the funniest episodes in recent memory and we hope everyone enjoys this conversation with Jackie Zykan!
This week we welcome Ed “Eddie the Eagle” Belfour onto the show to talk about everything hockey and everything whiskey! Ed has done literally everything you can do in Hockey, from winning a NCAA Championship to winning The Stanley Cup to winning a Gold Medal in the Olympics and we were thrilled to have him on the show. He walks Jesse through how he got started in hockey and what led him to whiskey. They talk about his family business Belfour Spirits, and taste some of the delicious whiskey they are producing. It is a great episode for Hockey and whiskey fans alike and we thank Ed for being so gracious with his time on this episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast.
This week we welcome Michter's own Master of Maturation, Andrea Wilson onto the show. Andrea walks us through the bourbon philosophies that make Michter's whiskey the juggernaut that it is in the market today and we were absolutely thrilled to have her on the show. She explains the art-form that is whiskey maturation and how the time spent in the barrel affects the whiskey and creates those unique tasting notes that can make or break the final product. It is an absolutely wonderful conversation and we can't thank Andrea enough for being on the show.
This week we welcome the man himself, Mr. Eric Bischoff to the program! We talk whiskey and wrestling and its a damn good time! He is a legend of the wrestling world and one of the brilliant minds of the television age. It was a pleasure to pick his brain and sit under the learning tree of someone who changed the face of professional wrestling. It's Eric Bischoff day here at The Bourbon Showdown. We drink Four Roses Single Barrel and learn what it takes to make wrestling history, So sit back, relax and enjoy the ride as we talk to Eric Bischoff on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast.
Welcome to the Season 3 premiere of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast! Today we are talking to Brent Elliott, the master distiller of Four Roses bourbon! We talk about the history of Four Roses, its resurgence in the early 2000s, what led him to the whiskey world and what Four Roses has coming up in 2021 and beyond. It's a great conversation that is very befitting for the season 3 premiere, and this is just the start! This season promises to be the best season we have had so far, as we prepare to welcome not only Brent Elliott from Four Roses, but Jackie Zykan, Nick Offerman, Eddie Belfour, Eric Bischoff, Marc Cuban, Andrea Wilson and so many more! So keep tuning in every week because we have so much show to offer in this third season of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast! (Photo courtesy of Four Roses)
On this special episode of The Bourbon Showdown podcast we welcome David Mandell, the festival board chair onto the program to discuss the 30th annual Kentucky Bourbon festival which takes place September 16-19, 2021. We have a great conversation and talk about how he got started in Whiskey, his involvement with the festival and everything this 30th anniversary of the festival is going to have to offer. It's going to be like Lollapalooza for Whiskey and it was awesome to talk to him and learn more about it! The Premium Event tickets will go on sale June 14th to coincide with National Bourbon Day and that link can be found at https://kybourbonfestival.com/events/.
It is the SEASON 2 FINALE of the Bourbon Showdown Podcast and to celebrate we bring you Kait Whitenack with Bulleit Bourbon! It is a great episode where we talk everything whiskey and everything Bulleit! We talk about how the brand got started, how Kait got started in spirits her role with the company and where she sees the company going in 2021. It is a great episode to close out season 2 and we want to thank Kait for being on the show!
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This week we welcome Sean Josephs, the founder and master blender of Pinhook Bourbon. We go everywhere in this marathon conversation, covering it all from his start in NYC to the inception of Pinhook and where he sees the brand going next. We drink whiskey and shoot the shit about sourcing, marketing and the state of bourbon today.
This week on the Bourbon Showdown Podcast, we welcome Rob Dietrich from BLACKENED Whiskey onto the show, and we have a damn good conversation. If you like Metallica and you like whiskey then this is the episode for you. We go through Metallica's partnership with the legendary Dave Pickerell, to how Rob went from working rock shows to making whiskey. This episode covers two of my favorite things in the world, Metallica and whiskey so I thank Rob for coming on and talking both with me!
It's a special day on the Bourbon Showdown podcast, because today we are talking to Ron White and Alex Reymundo about... Tequila? That's right! It's tequila day on the Bourbon Showdown and we have Mr. Ron White himself on to talk Number JUAN tequila with his partner Alex Reymundo! The two of them learn us up on how tequila gets made, how its different from other spirits and how Number JUAN is the best damn tequila on the market today! It's a fun episode that we taped between shows at the Hard Rock while they were out on the road spreading laughter and tequila wherever they go, so enjoy Ron, Alex and Number JUAN Tequila on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This week we welcome Chris Morris and Elizabeth McCall the Master Distiller and Assistant Master Distiller of Woodford Reserve onto the show. We talk about the history of Woodford, how Chris came to be their Master Distiller and all of his contributions to the whiskey industry. We also talk about how Elizabeth got into the whiskey game, what she's learned from Chris and what she has in store for the future. It is an amazing episode and I thoroughly enjoyed talking to the masterminds behind one of the most innovative brands in whiskey today.
This week we welcome the dynamic duo of Jeff Duckhorn & Dave Trebilcock, the Master Distiller and head of Marketing for Redwood Empire Whiskey. They share with me the history of the company and how the giant Redwoods they are surrounded by play a role in their mythos and how each expression is inspired by a specific Redwood tree. We discuss their roots in preservation and how John Muir and his philosophy regarding the spiritual union of “man and nature” inspires their distillery in the heart of the Redwood Empire. And of course we taste all of their delicious whiskey. Pipe Dream, Emerald Giant and Lost Monarch, they walk me through what makes each one special and damn if it isn't some awesome whiskey!
This week we welcome Spirits of French Lick, with Head Distiller Alan Bishop and Marketing Director Jolee Kasprzak. This conversation was one of the most fun we have had during our time putting this show together. Alan is a mad scientist of whiskey distilling and Spirits of French Lick has continually coming out with some of the most innovative and tasty liquid on the market today! Him and Jolee combined is like a whiskey dream team and we thoroughly enjoyed having them on the show this week. Jesse, Jolee and Alan hit a groove immediately in this episode and the result is a fever dream of whiskey, good people and good conversation... and profanity, a lot of profanity! It's the way all good conversations should go, they all love this industry and it comes through in this conversation, so buckle up and enjoy Spirits of French Lick on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast.
This week we welcome William Schragis, Chief Sales Officer and Chief Product Innovation Officer at Barrell Bourbon. Will and I discuss everything Barrell Bourbon and have a damn good time doing it. We talk about how the brand got started, how he got started in whiskey and the art of the blend. We go through 3 amazing Barrell Craft Spirits and talk about New York, fine wine and our love of whiskey. It's a great episode and we thank Will for being on the show!
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This week we welcome Fawn Weaver to the program. She is the founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest and we dive into not only the history of the Uncle Nearest brand but the history of the man behind this whiskey. She walks me through the contributions that Nathan "Nearest" Green made to the whiskey world, the special relationship he had with Jack Daniel, and how his legacy has been restored thanks in a large part to her efforts to reintroduce this lost icon of whiskey to the American public.
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This week we welcome Scott Nelson, President of Preservation Distillery. We go through the history of the company starting with its founder Marci Palatella and how she capitalized on the growing whiskey trend in Japan back in the 80s and how that set this now famous brand name on a path to create some of the tastiest whiskey on the market today. We talk about what it takes to compete in todays market, how to make a brand stand out and of course that delicious whiskey that Preservation makes. It's a fun conversation that I think everyones going to enjoy. Get yourself a bottle of Very Olde St. Nick and pour a dram while you listen to Scott Nelson tell us how this whiskey gets made!
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This week on the show we have Nicole Austin, General Manager / Distiller at Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. and we talk about her journey from New York to Tennessee with a pit stop in Ireland along the way. She was such a fun guest and we hit if off right off from the start. She truly is doing great things with Cascade Hollow and the George Dickel brand! Her and I shoot the shit and talk some whiskey. It's a damn good time and I hope everyone enjoys it! Photo courtesy of Larry McCormack / The Tennessean
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We welcome Penelope Bourbon to the show this week and what a damn good time we had! Mike Paladini and Danny Polise join the showdown to talk New Jersey, how awesome the Bourbon community is and that sweet sweet whiskey! Mike and Danny have been friends since childhood and they turned their passion for bourbon into one of the fastest growing bourbon brands on the market. This is one of the most fun episodes we have put out as Jesse, Danny and Michael hit if off and spent almost 2 hours talking everything whiskey!
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On the first episode of Season 2 we are joined by Aaron Chepenik from Smoke Wagon and man do we have a good time! Aaron and I talk about everything from how he got into Whiskey to 8-Track tapes and 70's sci-fi! It's a great kick off to season two and it's just the beginning! Tune in every Tuesday as we keep talking to the biggest names in the whiskey world!
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It's the season finale of the first season of Bourbon Showdown and we are ending strong with Wes Henderson from Angel's Envy! He is our guest for this last episode of season 1 and we had an amazing conversation! We talk bourbon, we talk stand-up comedy, we talk Boyz II Men, there may even be the worst Tracy Morgan impersonation of ALL TIME on this episode! It has everything! So we thank Wes for his time and welcome him to this season finale edition of the Bourbon Showdown!
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This week we welcome Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart, Founder and President of KOVAL Distillery, one of the largest independent and female-owned craft distilleries in the US! She talks us through what it took to distill whiskey in Chicago for the first time since prohibition. How her and her husband Dr. Robert Birnecker started KOVAL and how they built their business from the ground up, leaving her job in academia to follow her whiskey dreams. She is truly an inspiration in the field and it was an absolute pleasure picking her brain and sampling her delicious spirits!
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This week we welcome Tim Piersant from Chattanooga Whiskey onto the program, and him and I cover everything under the sun. We talk about the history of Chattanooga Whiskey, founded in 2011 with a mission to bring back "Whiskey to the People.” We dive into the products they distill and… we talk everything else. It’s a very fun episode where we jump back and forth from whiskey to music, to Harry Potter, to Toadies to Britany Spears. We go everywhere! We thank Tim for his time as this is a great episode of the Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
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This week we welcome the Brand Ambassador for Woodinville Whiskey, Mrs. Ariel Jahn onto the program! She walks us through what it means to be a brand ambassador and why it just may be the best damn job in whiskey! She tells us the story of Woodinville, how their delicious juice gets made and whats next for this craft whiskey juggernaut. It's a great conversation and we thank her for her time this week on the Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
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This week we welcome Erik Wolfe of Stoll & Wolfe Distillery out of Pennsylvania onto the program. This episode has it all, we talk Bourbon, we talk history, we talk New York, comedy, Broken Lizard, Surfing, you name it, it comes up! Erik was such a great guest and brings with hims such a great story, that has a little bit of everything. A piece of bourbon history combined with the good fortune of bringing a bourbon legend, Dick Stoll out of retirement to partner with him and create what is some of the best juice on the market today. We were very fortunate to have Erik on the Bourbon Showdown Podcast and look forward to seeing him again for some much needed surfing and rye!
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On this week's episode of the Bourbon Showdown podcast we have Marianne Eaves on the program. You may know her from Brown-Forman, Castle & Key, Eaves Blind or maybe the documentary "Neat" she has accomplished so much in her career and we are absolutely thrilled to have her on the program today! She was an absolute delight to speak to and learn more about and I really hope you enjoy this episode with Marianne Eaves.
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This week we welcome Dan Garrison, the founder of Garrison Brothers, the first legal whiskey distiller in Texas in over 100 years. We talk about everything from how he got into the whiskey game to control state laws and proper whiskey distribution. Its a great conversation and I thoroughly enjoyed talking to Dan about Texas whiskey. Give this episode a listen and hear the trials and tribulations he went through to get this remarkable juice to the public. Listen now and please like and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and everywhere you listen to podcasts.
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This week we welcome Head Distiller of Widow Jane, Lisa Wicker. Her expansive career has led her to Widow Jane, where as Head Distiller, she has helped to build one of the best craft brands on the market today. We were lucky enough to talk to this legend of the whiskey game about where she started, how she made the move from wine to whiskey and what's next for her and Widow Jane. She was an absolute pleasure to talk to and one of the best interviews we have had so far on Bourbon Showdown.
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On this episode of the Bourbon Showdown Podcast we welcome Rob Samuels of Maker's Mark. Many people would say that without his family and their contribution to the whiskey industry that bourbon would not be where it is today. I agree with that sentiment and welcome him onto the show where we discuss that history, what he sees for their future and of course good bourbon.
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On the third episode of Bourbon Showdown Podcast, a podcast dedicated to everything Bourbon, we welcome Wright Thompson to the program! He walks us through his new book Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon, and the Things That Last. It's a great read and is currently on the New York Times best sellers list. It’s a fun episode of the Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
The official podcast of Bourbon Showdown! Featuring reviews, news, tastings and interviews with the top names in the Bourbon industry. Learn how your favorite bourbons get made as the leaders of the industry walk you through their process. We’ll be talking to Master Distillers, authors, industry insiders and more! A new podcast every week as we do a deep dive on what makes bourbon America’s spirit of choice.
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On the second episode of the Bourbon Showdown Podcast, a podcast dedicated to everything Bourbon, we welcome the legendary, 2020 Impact Award winner, Mr. Greg Metze of Old Elk Bourbon! He walks us through his 40+ year career, how he started, how he became known as the Godfather of Modern Rye Whiskey and how he came to be the Master Distiller for Old Elk Bourbon. We taste three of Old Elks delicious offerings, their Blended Whiskey, their Wheated Bourbon and their Rye Whiskey and guess what... all three are amazing! Join us for the second episode of the Bourbon Showdown Podcast and our special guest, Mr. Greg Metze!
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
This is the premiere episode of the Bourbon Showdown Podcast, a podcast dedicated to everything Bourbon. On this first episode we have Conor O’Driscoll, the Master Distiller for Heaven Hill! He walks us through the history of Heaven Hill, how he became a Master Distiller, his thoughts on the state of whiskey today and then treats us to a tasting walk-through of Elijah Craig Small Batch, Pikesville Rye and Larceny Barrel Proof. It’s a fun first episode of the Bourbon Showdown Podcast!
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app