Our guest this week is David DeFazio, co-founder of Wyoming Whiskey. We discuss building a distillery on a ranch and making whiskey in Wyoming. David is a former lawyer turned whiskey maker and has a wealth of experience in working hard, solving problems, and crafting whiskey. We also want to give a huge shoutout to Bob Cutler of Novio’s Bistro in Bangor Maine for connecting us with Wyoming Whiskey. He’s a long-time supporter of the show and of Wyoming Whiskey and we are so excited that we were ...
Dec 06, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Our guests this week are the founders of Talnua Distillery in Arvada Colorado. Patrick and Meagan Miller fell in love with the traditionally Irish, Single Pot Still Whiskey on a honeymoon trip to Ireland. They aimed to recreate the style of whiskey featuring malted and unmalted barley, but with an American twist. Talnua created the first Single Pot Still distillery outside of Ireland. They wanted to bring this style of whiskey to America and imbue it with the nation's terroir while honoring Gael...
Nov 29, 2021•1 hr 10 min
We’re celebrating 150 episodes of the Bourbon Lens with some very special bourbons. We appreciate each and every one of our supporters, listeners, fans, and friends. Without you, we wouldn’t have the drive to continue producing the bourbon and whiskey content that we do. Cheers to you! And here’s to 150 more! In this episode, Jake and Scott have a blind lineup of the last 3 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch releases. Which will come out on top? Which year is your favorite? Our 3 Glasses con...
Nov 22, 2021•34 min
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 Commun...
Nov 15, 2021•40 min
In a special Veterans Day episode, we are joined by retired, Special Forces Veteran Scott Neil who is the co-founder of Horse Soldier Bourbon. Horse Soldier, was co-founded by the horse-mounted Green Berets who lead America’s counter-terrorism effort in Afghanistan almost immediately following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Scott Neil has an incredible story, a warrior’s mindset, and a soldier’s determination with everything he does, including his current mission: growing a bourbon brand. A huge th...
Nov 08, 2021•1 hr 16 min
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! ...
Oct 31, 2021•54 min
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, an...
Oct 24, 2021•50 min
We are joined by Alastair Brogan, Founder and Owner, and Ryan Negley, Lead Ambassador and Whiskey Fellow for Boulder Spirits by Vapor Distillery. We learn about the Scottish influence that Alastair brought to Colorado and American Single Malt while still finding a unique niche in the American Whiskey Category, including their high-malt bourbons. Boulder Spirits features the largest pot still in the state of Colorado which adds an impressive layer of complexity to their whiskies as does their usa...
Oct 17, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Taking a break from the metal and rock music at Louisville's Louder Than Life music festival, Rob Dietrich joins the Bourbon Lens to talk whiskey. Rob Dietrich is Master Distiller for Blackened American Whiskey and has taken over their reins from the late Dave Pickerell. Rob is a talented distiller (formerly of Colorado's Stranahan's) and even has a history of working in the music industry, so landing with Metallica's Blackened brand is a natural fit for him. You'll hear a lot about Rob's philos...
Oct 10, 2021•38 min
We are joined by Widow Jane Distillery President and Head Distiller & Blender, Lisa Wicker. Her fingerprints have been left in many distilleries over the years and she’s landed in her new home away from Kentucky, Widow Jane Distillery in Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY. We discuss two different bourbons with Lisa Wicker, including Widow Jane 10 Year (5 barrels, 6+ years, small batch, 91 proof) and Lucky Thirteen Bourbon (small batch, less than 10 barrels, 93 proof). You’ll hear about Lisa’s time in t...
Oct 03, 2021•1 hr 7 min
Texas Whiskey is a growing category looking to make its mark in the world of American Whiskey and Kentucky Bourbon. We’re joined by Nico Martini, who just published his book Texas Whiskey , an ever-evolving chronicle and guidebook of the “history” and people of Texas Whiskey. Nico is also co-founder of Grayson Whiskey, author of Texas Cocktails, and a lover of all things Texas. Grayson Whiskey is a blend of Texas bourbon and wheat whiskies and just hit the shelves only a few months ago after a s...
Sep 26, 2021•1 hr
We are joined by Tim Heuisler, American Whiskey Ambassador for Beam Suntory, to discuss the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection of Whiskey. We taste through the lineup of Basil Hayden and talk about all things Beam. A big thanks to Beam Suntory for allowing us to try the lineup. 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 ...
Sep 20, 2021•52 min
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!...
Sep 12, 2021•39 min
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 o...
Sep 05, 2021•45 min
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 ...
Aug 29, 2021•43 min
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....
Aug 22, 2021•46 min
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...
Aug 15, 2021•42 min
Do Scott and Jake have what it takes to be the “World's Top Whiskey Taster”? We traveled to the Bourbon Capital on the World to hang out with some of the crew from Bardstown Bourbon Company. We are joined by Brandon and Sam to discuss the distillery's upcoming products and the World’s Top Whiskey Taster Competition. We even get a little test of our own as we sample and analyze 3 whiskey samples in a blind tasting. Listen in to hear how Jake and Scott fared in our own Top Whiskey Taster competiti...
Aug 09, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Long overdue, we sit down with 3 bottles of Bottled in Bond bourbons from Heaven Hill. These bottles share the same mashbill and proof, but run the gamut of age and price. A blind tasting is the best way to see how they stack up. Enjoy this week’s episode and be sure to let us know your favorite bourbon from Heaven Hill. Here’s the lineup: Glass 1 - Henry McKenna 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bottled in Bond Glass 2 - Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond 7 Year Glass 3 - J.T.S Brown Bottled in Bond Jake’s Fi...
Aug 02, 2021•33 min
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 ...
Jul 26, 2021•32 min
These days, it’s really easy to spend $100 on a bottle of bourbon, but how do you avoid getting burned at the liquor store? Stick with some of our choices for the $50 - $100 price range and you’ll find some heavy hitting bourbons. Don’t get burned at the liquor store, shop smart with these tips. 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 ...
Jul 19, 2021•47 min
Castle & Key just released its 3rd installment of Restoration Rye, 2021 Batch #1. This batch was crafted from 80 barrels and was meant to highlight some notes that are perfect for summer whiskey drinking. We compare this 2021 release to Batch 1 from 2020 in this episode. Each batch of Restoration Rye Whiskey is blended using a series of pods. Each pod is created by grouping barrels to create a specific sensory profile. Restoration Rye features a mashbill of 63% Rye; 20% Malted Barley; 17% Ye...
Jul 12, 2021•32 min
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...
Jul 06, 2021•30 min
You won’t find us reaching for the barrel proof bourbons often in the summer heat, so what do we reach for when the temperature rises? In this week’s episode, we discuss some of our favorite choices when summertime rolls around and we want to enjoy our favorite booze outside or poolside. Whether it’s low proof, on the rocks, finished whiskey, or the ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail craze, we give you some ideas for this summer. Let us know what you reach for as the weather warms up! Shoutout to Jim...
Jun 28, 2021•32 min
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 o...
Jun 21, 2021•29 min
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 ...
Jun 14, 2021•59 min
Our first Bourbon Lens Barrel Pick is now available for purchase ! Jake and Scott sit down in the Bourbon Lens Office to taste through the unique finished bourbon we picked from Starlight Distillery. This is a 4 ½ Year Old, Straight Bourbon distilled by Starlight and finished in a French, Sauternes Wine Cask. The bourbon is available for purchase via Shared Pour for $59.99. Be sure to head there to get yours before it sells out: SharedPour.com. We are thankful for everyone who has supported us o...
Jun 07, 2021•30 min
Jake and Scott catch up about life and bourbon as they sip through 3 different Bulleit Bourbons. Scott recently had the opportunity to help a local store, Bottles Unlimited in New Albany, IN select a barrel of 11 year old Bulleit. And thanks to some help from Bottles Unlimited, we were able to secure two more limited bottlings of Bulleit to taste them side-by-side with this 11 year old store pick called “Quarantine Breakout”. The barrel is available now at Bottles Unlimited and we recommend you ...
Jun 01, 2021•36 min
It’s Kentucky’s newest distillery; Log Still Distillery is located in Gethsemane (just outside of Bardstown in Southern Nelson County). We toured the 300-acre “Dant Crossing” property with Founder and President, Wally Dant. Wally, along with his family, Lynne and Charles Dant, are taking on this large project to create a “destination distillery” that is perfect for the whole family. Wally discussed the Dant family history in Nelson County and his efforts to revive the family name in the World of...
May 24, 2021•54 min
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...
May 17, 2021•29 min
