Bourbon Lens
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott take the podcast on the road to Loretto, Kentucky, home of the iconic Maker’s Mark Distillery. Recorded on-site, we sit down with Dr. Blake Layfield, Master Distiller, and Beth Buckner, Lead Blender, to dive deep into the storied past and exciting future of the Maker’s Mark brand. Together, we explore how Maker’s Mark continues to honor its traditional roots while innovating for the next generation. From the introduction of the distillery’s first new mashbills in decades to the debut of Star Hill Farm Whisky, a brand new wheat whiskey,...
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In this episode of the Bourbon Lens Podcast, Jake sits down with Jason Johnstone-Yellin, co-founder of Single Cask Nation, to explore the world of independent bottling. Jason shares the story behind the brand, the art of selecting unique casks, and how Single Cask Nation builds transparency and trust with its community of whisky lovers. From Scotch to American Whiskey and beyond, Jason discusses how Single Cask Nation navigates the global spirits market, cultivates relationships with distilleries, and continues to push the boundaries of what independent bottlers can offer. Whether you’re a...
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In this week’s episode of the Bourbon Lens Podcast, Jake and Scott raise a glass to Frey Ranch Distillery as they unveil the 10th Anniversary Harvester Series. The duo dives into the history of Frey Ranch, explores the innovation behind this milestone release, and shares stories from years of collaboration and friendship with the Frey Ranch team. Listeners will get an inside look at what makes Frey Ranch’s grain-to-glass approach so unique, how the Harvester Series stands out in the market, and why this Nevada-based distillery continues to be a fan favorite in the American whiskey...
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Jake travels down 1-64 to Lexington to see the new RD1 Distillery Brand Home. While there, he sits down with co-founder and National Brand Ambassador Barry Brinegar. Sit back and buckle into the latest episode of the bourbon lens. We are thankful for your support over the last 6 years. We must give the biggest shoutout to our amazing community of Patreon supporters! As always, we’d appreciate it if you would take a few minutes time to give us feedback on Bourbon Lens podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 Star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a written...
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In this week’s episode of the Bourbon Lens, Jake sits down with one of the original ultra premium bourbons: Joseph A Magnus. We are joined by CEO of Craft Co Ali Anderson and world renowned blender Nancy Fraley. You won’t want to miss this episode as we unpack the history of Joseph Magnus, Murray Hill Club and the original Cigar Blend. We are thankful for your support over the last 6 years. We must give the biggest shoutout to our amazing community of Patreon supporters! As always, we'd appreciate it if you would take a few minutes time to give us feedback on Bourbon Lens...
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In this episode of the Bourbon Lens Podcast, Jake and Scott dive into the . The conversation highlights three standout new bottles: Angel’s Envy Cellar Collection Vol. 5 Tequila Cask Finish, Blood Oath Pact 11, and Woodinville Tequila Finished Bourbon. It's the perfect podcast to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. The hosts explore how finishing bourbon in tequila barrels affects aroma, flavor, and overall complexity—bringing out vibrant citrus, vegetal agave notes, and a unique sweetness not typically found in traditional bourbon and rye. They also discuss the influence American Whiskey has...
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In our latest episode of the Bourbon Lens, Jake travels to Bardstown to sit down with John Rempe, Master Distiller of Lux Row. During the interview the distillery was electric as their Front Row members were awaiting some of the first sips of the new . Our conversation centered around the new bourbon finished in anejo Tequila barrels. However, there is a lot happening at the distillery as they continue to become a household name across the world. Sit back and buckle in for the latest episode of the Bourbon Lens. We are thankful for your support over the last 6 years. We must...
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In this week’s episode of the Bourbon Lens Podcast, Jake sits down one-on-one with Tripp Stimson, Chief Whiskey Scientist at Barrell Craft Spirits. This in-depth conversation takes listeners behind the scenes of one of the most innovative non-distilling producers (NDPs) in American whiskey. The Art of Blending at Barrell Craft Spirits Tripp unpacks what sets Barrell apart in a crowded whiskey market, especially its blender-first approach to crafting high-quality, small batch and single barrel releases. Listeners will get an insider’s view of how Barrell sources and blends its whiskey,...
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In this week’s episode of the Bourbon Lens Podcast, Jake and Scott take you inside their exclusive in Frankfort, Kentucky. From hands-on barrel sampling to creating custom bourbon blends, this immersive experience is a must for any whiskey enthusiast. A special thanks goes out to Amy Preske for arranging this memorable day, and to Dakota and the entire J. Mattingly team for the warm hospitality and deep knowledge of bourbon blending. The episode also touches on the recent severe weather in Kentucky, including destructive tornadoes, historic flooding, and other storms that have deeply...
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In this latest episode of the Bourbon Lens Podcast, Jake sits down with Julie Macklowe, the founder of The MACKLOWE, known as the first luxury American Single Malt Whiskey. During the episode, they taste both the American Single Malt and Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey releases from The MACKLOWE, discussing the unique qualities that set these spirits apart in the world of whiskey. Julie shares her insights on building a successful whiskey brand, her deep passion for high-quality spirits, and how The MACKLOWE stands out in an increasingly competitive market. They also dive into the current state...
info_outlineRaj Peter Bhakta, the founder of WhistlePig and now Bhakta Farms, has left the world of rye whiskey and entered into the world of rare Armagnac brandy. Raj just introduced BHAKTA 50, a marriage of Argmanac’s he discovered with Vintages from 1868 - 1970. And he’s gone a step further and finished it in Islay casks. A complex spirit that is ideal for the curious whiskey lover. Sweet and smoky but not overly so, this finishing process for 50+ year old Armagnac is unlike anything else. Raj had us all on our toes for this episode and we were excited to explore something so rare and unique. And don’t miss the teaser for Raj’s next big project; his whiskey project, called Empire, a “global whiskey” coming out next year (2021).
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Cheers,
Scott, Michael & Jake
The Bourbon Lens
Links:
- BhaktaBrandy.com
- VinePair - Raj Peter Bhakta and Bhakta Brandy
- Bhakta Farms & Bhakta Spirits
- Bhakta 50 - Barrel 3 Review
- Whiskey Consensus - Bhakta 50 - The Armagnac Secret That Whiskey Drinkers Need to Know About
About:
Raj Peter Bhakta, founder of WhistlePig Whiskey and Bhakta Brandy, has a deep appreciation for rare and exquisite spirits—as well as a knack for bringing them to American attention. His success in rye established the category during a time when the industry overlooked it. Now, with BHAKTA, he is reviving another spirit: ancient Armagnac brandy, bottled stateside in Vermont.
Bhakta is a first generation American. Both of his parents are immigrants. Born in 1975 to a Gujarati father and an Irish mother, he grew up in the Philadelphia area and attended the Hill School in Pottstown, PA before graduating Boston College in 1998. After beginning his career with investment banking firm Violy & Co, Bhakta departed to found Automovia, a valuation tech startup for pre-owned vehicles. He also worked for a time in the family business, leading a condominium development project in Vail, CO.
While in Colorado in 2004, Bhakta scored a role on Trump’s nascent reality show The Apprentice, Season 2. His business prowess and theatrical antics helped him navigate, barter, and flirt to the ninth week before being fired by Trump. His charisma with women became fodder for gossip columns like New York Post’s Page Six, and his frequent wearing of bow ties was credited with a surge in the accessory’s popularity.
In 2006, Bhakta ran for U.S. Congress from Pennsylvania’s 13th district. His campaign gained national notoriety due to his television background and playboy reputation. In October, Bhakta protested US-Mexican border weakness by riding an elephant along the Rio Grande with a 6-man mariachi band. This garnered even more publicity, and by the end of his unsuccessful campaign, Bhakta appeared on MSNBC, CNN’s Crossfire, and Fox News.
After his defeat in 2007, Bhakta moved from Manhattan to seek green fields. He purchased a decrepit Vermont dairy farm and began searching for obscure spirits to market under his new brand WhistlePig. Acquiring stocks from Canadian distiller Alberta Premium, Bhakta partnered with master distiller Dave Pickerel and began bottling his 10-year rye in 2010. Praised nationwide, WhistlePig put rye back on the map and grew to America’s premier luxury whiskey in just a few years. After selling in 2019, Bhakta began a crusade for the world’s finest spirits.
On this journey, Bhakta stumbled on a stock of rare and exquisite Armagnacs in a Gers chateau. Distilled 1868-1970, the portfolio contains enough to bottle blends well over 50 years old. The vintages also predate Armagnac history’s largest crisis, the Great French Wine Blight, which devastated vineyards and changed grape varietals forever. The oldest brandies use only original cultivars, making them perhaps the only genuine Armagnacs left in existence. Bhakta, immediately enamored, negotiated a hefty purchase and brought them back home to Vermont.
With these assets, Bhakta is set to outdo his former ventures. BHAKTA 50 Year Brandy is older than any whiskey available and steeped in generations of small-scale craft. It also gets a unique Islay cask finish: the perfect marriage of brandy and Scotch. Bhakta has even put his own name on the bottle, showing just how proud he is of this magnum opus. BHAKTA offers a singular experience: brandy for the whiskey-lover. Just like he returned rye to the national spotlight, he’s now found a niche new spirit with its own distinct category.
Bhakta Brandy has just launched this 4th of July. Barrel 1 contains vintages 50-152 years old, with more released one-by-one this year. With only 38 total barrels, the $250 price tag seems impossible. As more barrels launch, demand will swiftly outpace his vanishing supply to create a fast-appreciating asset. Recall Bhakta’s BossHog Line and WhistlePig 111, which began at $111 and now sells for upwards of $2,300. For followers of these previous ventures, the upward potential in Bhakta’s liquid investment is easily tenable. The rest will have to taste and find out themselves if his unique brandy is worth the acclaim.
photo credit: Bhakta Farms / Bhakta Spirits