Today, we take a trip out west to the High West Distillery. We sample 6 different High West whiskies and provide our impressions of the products and the brand. High West Whiskey We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app of choice and please leave us a written review. This helps others discover our podcast and will help us grow. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram , Facebook , & Twitter . If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please ...
Aug 19, 2019•28 min
The Bardstown Bourbon Company is looking to mix things up in the Bourbon and American Whiskey industry. It's taking on the big names like MGP (Midwest Grain Products) and becoming the new source of high quality spirits for non-distilling producers. The Bardstown Bourbon Co. is also producing its own products and is mixing in some into older bourbons to produce blends that drink like much older bourbons. We sample two bourbons being produced by Bardstown Bourbon Company, The Fusion Series and The...
Aug 12, 2019•54 min
Do we still need "bottled-in-bond"? Stay Bonded! The motto of Bernie Lubbers, the "Whiskey Professor" and brand ambassador for Heaven Hill Distilleries. Bernie is a wealth of knowledge of all things bourbon and The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. We attended a tasting event at Liquor Barn recently and we are reporting back on the event. We discuss the products we sampled and compared. We also discuss some of Bernie's insight into the recent news from Heaven Hill, 7 year Bottled-In-Bond. He addresse...
Aug 05, 2019•34 min
A detour from the Kentucky Bourbon Trail for the podcast. We toured Louisville's only brandy distillery, Copper and Kings, for this week's episode of the podcast. We discuss how to make brandy and how Copper and Kings is innovating and staying relevant in the city that runs on bourbon. Copper & Kings does not ignore the influence of Bourbon in this city and they embrace it in some of their processes. Copper & Kings utilizes sonic aging, the process of rapidly aging spirits using sound wa...
Jul 29, 2019•37 min
Whatever you do, do not call it Bourbon!! It's Tennessee Whiskey and they get very protective of the name. Although Tennessee Whiskey and Bourbon might share some characteristics, do not confuse the two. Rival states and rival whiskies. What is Tennessee Whiskey and how does it differ from Bourbon? Find out in today's episode. Flight of Whiskey from Tennessee: Uncle Nearest 1856 George Dickel Bottled in Bond What is Tennessee Whiskey? Lincoln County Process The Science Behind the Lincoln County ...
Jul 22, 2019•43 min
Are age statements on whiskey labels a thing of the past? Or are they making a comeback in the bourbon world? We have seen distilleries remove age statements from bottles over the years, but it seems that some distilleries are making a return to the practice. Are age statements valuable to you and your purchasing decisions for bourbons? We discuss the relative importance of age statements to other types of whiskies, including Scotch Whisky. Show Links: Knob Creek to Restore 9 Year Age Statement ...
Jul 15, 2019•33 min
Happy Michter's Monday! We love bourbon and visiting bourbon distilleries. On this week's episode, we feature our tour of the new Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery in Downtown Louisville, Kentucky. We've toured a lot of facilities and we always find something that sets a distillery tour apart from the rest. Sometimes its the process of whiskey making, other times it's the history of the American whiskey maker. Find out more in this episode. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on you...
Jul 08, 2019•54 min
We discuss the brand new bourbon from Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company. Peerless decided to never source their whiskey and have had a lot of success with their rye whiskey. Their bourbon has been aging for 4 years and is finally ready for release to the public. We grabbed a bottle and will give our thoughts on the bourbon as well as Kentucky Peerless as a brand. We also discuss Heaven Hill Distillery and the re-release of their Bottled in Bond Bourbon. With one additional year of age, a new ...
Jul 01, 2019•44 min
The bourbon industry was hit with some bad news when a portion of a multi-story rickhouse collapsed at Owensboro's O.Z. Tyler Distillery. We discuss this and some other bourbon news in this week's episode. Facebook cracks down on bourbon sales and the bourbon secondary market is scrambling. The new visitor center for the Bulleit Distillery is opening on June 25, 2019 in Shelbyville Kentucky. And finally, the Dant Family is re-entering bourbon production and we are always excited to hear about hi...
Jun 24, 2019•34 min
As promised, The Bourbon Lens visits another distillery as part of its summer travel plans. This week, we discuss the James E. Pepper Distillery in Lexington, KY. There is some history to this revived brand and while we discuss some of it, we recommend you visit and learn more for yourself. There is also a connection to Woodford Reserve for the Pepper Distillery and the Pepper lineage. We discuss what makes a great tour and provide our recommendations. Check the show links below for more. We wou...
Jun 17, 2019•41 min
The whole crew is back and enjoying some bourbon together. The weather is changing and summer is near. We discuss whether bourbon is a summer drink or if we should mix up our drink of choice for the next few months. Do you lean towards bourbon on the rocks or a bourbon cocktail? Or do you find a lower proof bourbon to sip neat? We also discuss what happens when you go off the deep end and pour yourself vodka or tequila. We have some summer plans in xgofd, which will include some distillery tours...
Jun 10, 2019•48 min
Grab your favorite bourbon and pour a glass as we invite a recurring guest to the podcast. Landon from The Brothers Bourbon Instagram joins us to discuss the current trends in whiskey marketing. We discuss a transition from less traditional forms of media to the influencer marketing of today. Is this trend harmful to the bourbon industry, or is this just a sign of the times for all industries? We discuss the Fyre Festival and the sour taste the scam brought to critics of influencer and social me...
Jun 03, 2019•56 min
We've hit a milestone in podcasting. This bourbon podcast has hit 20 Episodes and we are happy to toast some whiskey to our listeners and followers. In this episode, Michael and Scott challenged themselves to find a bourbon for $20 that they've never had before. We try to figure out if some whiskies are overpriced or if cheap bourbon is cheap for a reason. Scott picked up a less well known Bourbon from Heaven Hill, Evan Williams 1783, and Michael grabbed a bottle of Ezra Brooks 90 proof bourbon....
May 28, 2019•51 min
Bottled-in-Bond. What does this designation mean when it is on a bourbon or whiskey label? Are you more or less likely to pick up a bottle of liquor when it states that it is "under U.S. Government Supervision"? We discuss the Bottled-in-Bond Act and whether the law's requirements are still necessary today or if it is just a marketing gimmick. Scott shares why this is one of his favorite types of whiskey. Craft distillers are starting to produce "bonded" products, does it set them apart from the...
May 20, 2019•36 min
Four Roses Bourbon and the Kentucky Derby! It's a great time to be in Kentucky for bourbon lovers. The Kentucky Derby is here and a new bourbon just released from Four Roses. We discuss some of the events surrounding the Greatest Two Minutes in Sports. And we partake in a side-by-side whiskey tasting of Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon and their newest product, Small Batch Select. Learn about the alphabet soup of the Four Roses brand and their different flavor profiles. Show Topics - Four Roses Ne...
May 13, 2019•56 min
We discuss the controversial aging process of double barreled whiskeys and "bourbons". Does this aging process produce higher quality whiskey than traditionally aged whiskey? Is this a fad or a trend that will gain in popularity? We also dive into how much science is too much science when it comes to making whiskey. And finally, will flash or rapid aging ever gain the acceptance of purists in the industry? SHOW LINKS: Understanding the Nightcap - What is your nightcap drink of choice? 8 Double B...
May 06, 2019•48 min
We put the bourbon away for a night and explore Japanese whisky thanks to a friend. Landon from The_Brothers_Bourbon on Instagram joins us for the podcast. We discuss some of the differences between various whisk(e)y from around the world, including scotch, bourbon, and Japanese Whisky. Landon was generous enough to share some samples of Hibiki Harmony and a 12 year old Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky. We also discuss how to grow your Instagram following while maintaining connections with your follo...
Apr 29, 2019•1 hr 11 min
The winner of our Tournament of Whisky is finally announced. If you've stayed up with us on Instagram and our live feed, you may already know the winner. We discuss the "controversy" surrounding our pick for best whiskey from our 16 selections. We also discuss if larger bourbon producers, like Woodford Reserve and Jim Beam, have a stigma in the industry. We dive into another controversial product head on and debunk any negativity towards it. And Jake hits us with the quote of the week when discu...
Apr 22, 2019•41 min
It's April, Fools! Scott pulls one over on Michael and Jake for April Fools Day in embarrassing fashion. We also continue the Tournament of W hiskey, completing our 1st round of 16 whiskies. We announce the Elite 8 of our tournament. Listen along as we give a full recap of our notes on each whiskey and why we advanced each one to the next round. There were definitely some surprises in this tournament so stay tuned to see what advanced and which were upset early! The Elite Eight is set: From last...
Apr 15, 2019•54 min
We recorded this podcast on International Whisk(e)y Day and discover that there is an important purpose for this day. It is not just another "Hallmark Holiday". We also discuss our thoughts on the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, which recently named its "Best in Show Whiskey": Heaven Hill's Henry McKenna 10 Year, Bottled In Bond, Single Barrel Bourbon. We also discuss the opening matchups of our own Tournament of Whiskey and whether we were surprised by any of the whiskies. Find out mor...
Apr 08, 2019•58 min
In the style of March Madness and the NCAA Basketball Tournament, the Bourbon Lens creates a bracket of 16 whiskies from our home bars. We discuss the regions, seeding, and matchups of the 1st Annual Bourbon Lens Tournament of Whiskey. Matchups by Region: 4 Regions (names only, not indicative of whiskey type) Rye Thomas H. Handy (1) JTS Brown BIB (16) Weller 107 (8) E.H Taylor Small Batch BIB (9) Finished Bourbon Angel’s Envy Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish (4) Legent (13) Kentucky Owl Rye Batch 2 (5...
Apr 01, 2019•34 min
With the St. Patrick's Day holiday, what do we think about Irish Whiskey? Should we try Proper Twelve? We discuss a bit of nostalgia with WWF and WCW wresting. And the crew weighs in on Jim Beam's newest whiskey, Legent, a collaboration between Jim Beam and Suntory. Find out our thoughts on whether Legent can bring the Japanese whiskey drinkers to bourbon. And finally, we reveal our March Madness Tournament of Whiskey. Whisky Advocate discusses Legent Be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagr...
Mar 25, 2019•41 min
The fellas take a trip to up-and-comer craft distiller Rabbit Hole Distillery. Rabbit Hole is located in Downtown Louisville, Kentucky and they are taking a more modern approach to the bourbon industry. We discuss our experience, their whiskies, and their Overlook Cocktail Bar and event space that will be open to the public as a swanky new place to hang out and socialize on weekends. Cheers! Rabbit Hole Distillery Be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram , Facebook , & Twitter . If you...
Mar 18, 2019•40 min
We discuss some of our recent travels, including Disney World and the bourbon selection you will find there and some drinking stories from the west coast. We also dive into budget bourbons under $20. You will find out some of our favorites from the "bottom (sic: budget) shelf" and some random banter. Be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram , Facebook , & Twitter . If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com . Visit our website Bourb...
Mar 11, 2019•35 min
We have a guest appearance on The Bourbon Lens from long time friend, Brad Wood. Brad shares his recent experience at the Boone County Distilling Company. We discuss the smoke and mirrors behind sourced whiskey, contract distilling, and the role that MGP plays in it all. SHOW LINKS: Whisky Brands That Are Made at MGP Instead of Fretting About How to Store Your Whiskey, Drink It All Immediately Www.BourbonWeekly.com - satire stories about the ridiculous world of bourbon. MGP announces “tit has ru...
Mar 04, 2019•49 min
We discuss the importance of the millennial to the bourbon industry as well as marketing schemes and social media. Which one of these outlets should be credited with saving the bourbon industry and creating what we now call the Bourbon Boom? We also discuss what role the craft distillers play in all of this. We hope you enjoy this episode and also realize not all opinions align with ours. We would love to get your opinion and feedback! Cheers! Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram...
Feb 25, 2019•29 min
Old Forester Rye is the drink of the night and the secondary market goes wild driving its price up quickly. Michter's invades downtown Louisville. The Bourbon Lens will be making a visit soon It isn’t just the Bourbon Boom, Downtown Louisville is feeling the impact too. Goodwood Bourbon? There is an unsolved mystery and Scott has the scoop. Show Links: Goodwood's New Bourbon Fred Minnick says not so fast! Old Forester 100 Proof Rye Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery Opening. Also, be sure to follo...
Feb 18, 2019•39 min
We pay a visit Kentucky Peerless Distillery and provide our thoughts on the revived distillery brand. We also discuss our thoughts on their rye whiskey and the processes they use as they prepare to launch their first bourbon. We also discuss the new partnership with the UFC and ESPN+ and if the first ever ESPN-UFC event was a bust or success. See the links below for photos from our tour at Kentucky Peerless. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram , Facebook , & Twitter . If you...
Feb 11, 2019•50 min
The whole gang is here and we discuss why everyone freaks out in Kentucky when snow is in the forecast, Bryan taking advantage of the free sushi samples, and why Bryan is drinking Mich Ultra on The Bourbon Lens. In bourbon news, Maker’s Mark filed a lawsuit against long-time partner Ted’s Cigars. We have some other conversations about food pairings with bourbon, work stressors and after-work drinks, one bourbon that we would pick if we could only have one for rest of time (had to currently be on...
Feb 07, 2019•47 min
This week on The Bourbon Lens we discuss best Christmas gifts, our thoughts on New Year’s resolutions, NFL Playoff predictions, and UK & U of L sports. We also discuss how to choose a bourbon at a bar that won’t break the bank, what proof whiskey we prefer, and where our next stops will be on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram , Facebook , & Twitter . If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com V...
Feb 01, 2019•56 min
