363: Jack Daniel’s New Tanyard Hill Rye & Heritage Barrel with Chris Fletcher
Bourbon Lens
In this episode of The Bourbon Lens Podcast, Jake and Scott sit down with Chris Fletcher, Master Distiller at Jack Daniel’s Distillery, to discuss several of the most exciting recent and upcoming releases from the historic Tennessee distillery. The conversation covers the debut of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Heritage Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, a new year-round offering built around barrels matured at the distillery’s highest elevations. Chris walks through the unique Heritage Barrel program, how lower barrel entry proof and warehouse placement influence flavor, and why this release...
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362: Inside The Classic Cocktail Revival with Jennifer Brian
Bourbon Lens
Bourbon Lens welcomes Jennifer Brian, "Cocktail Evangelist" and founder of , to discuss her upcoming book, , which released in September 2025 from the University Press of Kentucky. Born in the Bluegrass and shaped by deep family roots in Eastern Kentucky, Jennifer’s earliest memories of hospitality, food traditions, and gracious gatherings laid the foundation for her 25-year career in the hospitality industry. From luxury catering and event planning to becoming a nationally recognized cocktail evangelist, her work centers on collaboration, education, and making cocktails approachable for...
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361: Burnt Tavern Bourbon & William Berkele Distillery
Bourbon Lens
In this episode of The Bourbon Lens Podcast, Jake and Scott sit down with members of the team behind Burnt Tavern Bourbon, a new bourbon developed by William Berkele Distillery in collaboration with renowned whiskey maker Chip Tate. Joining the conversation are Bennett Clark, President of William Berkele Distillery, Royce Blevins, Lead Founder, and Chip Tate, Master Distiller. Together, they discuss the origins of Burnt Tavern Bourbon, the historical inspiration behind the brand, and how William Berkele Distillery is bringing a centuries-old story into the modern whiskey landscape. The episode...
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360: Inside the Estate Whiskey Alliance at UK's Beam Institute
Bourbon Lens
Bourbon Lens heads to Lexington, Kentucky for an on-location episode at the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits, located at the University of Kentucky. We sit down with Alexa Narel, Operations Manager for the Estate Whiskey Alliance, and Landon Borders, Director, to explore how the Alliance is reshaping the future of whiskey grain, sustainability, and transparency. The Estate Whiskey Alliance (EWA) brings together farmers, distillers, researchers, and industry partners to develop scientifically backed standards for estate-grown whiskey. Alexa and Landon break down what “estate...
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359: Field of Dreams Whiskey - Baseball, Bourbon, and Blending History
Bourbon Lens
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott sit down with Field of Dreams Whiskey Co-founders Andy Keller and Drew Storen, former Major League Baseball pitcher, to talk about how their shared passion for the game and great whiskey turned into one of the most unique whiskey projects in America. The conversation dives into the origin story of Field of Dreams Whiskey, Drew’s journey through the Major Leagues, and what life looks like after baseball. Andy and Drew share how the spirit of teamwork, community, and nostalgia behind Field of Dreams continues to inspire their approach to whiskey...
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358: Southern Distilling’s Pete Barger on American Whiskey
Bourbon Lens
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott welcome back Pete Barger, Co-Founder and CEO of Southern Distilling Company and Statesville Contract Distilling, for an in-depth conversation about the growth and innovation happening in North Carolina whiskey. Pete shares insights into the distillery’s world-class production operations and how Southern Distilling has positioned itself as one of the largest producers of American Whiskey in the Southeast. The discussion dives into two standout whiskeys from their portfolio — Southern Star American Single Malt Whiskey and Southern Star Bottled...
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357: Showcasing Westland Garryana 10th Edition American Single Malt
Bourbon Lens
Jake and Scott sit down with Shane Armstrong of Westland Distillery to explore the growing American Single Malt movement. Westland has helped pioneer the category through innovation, transparency, and a true sense of place in the Pacific Northwest. The conversation centers on the release of Garryana 10th edition, Westland’s acclaimed limited-edition Garryana American Single Malt Whiskey. Aged a full 10 years, this special release represents the apex of the Garryana story, showcasing the unique influence of Quercus garryana, the rare native oak of the Pacific Northwest. Shane discusses...
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356: Three Chord Bourbon Volume 2, Vinyl Revival, & Whiskey Maker Ari Sussman
Bourbon Lens
Bourbon Lens is joined by Ari Sussman, Whiskey Maker for Three Chord Bourbon, to talk about the brand’s newly released Volume 2 Series — a refreshed lineup featuring bold new blends, labels, and a creative direction deeply rooted in music culture. The Volume 2 collection introduces redesigned packaging that draws inspiration from classic vinyl records and live concert photography, reinforcing Three Chord’s connection between the worlds of whiskey and rock-and-roll. Ari shares the creative process behind these new blends and how the brand continues to evolve its identity through both...
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355: Organic Spirits & Mountain Craft with Warfield Distillery’s Alex Buck
Bourbon Lens
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake sits down with Alex Buck, Co-Founder and Managing Distiller of Warfield Distillery & Brewery in Ketchum, Idaho. The two discuss the origins of Warfield, how Alex transitioned from a career in law to distilling, and the inspiration behind the brand’s focus on organic spirits and sustainability. Alex shares insight into Warfield’s American Whiskey, Gin, and Barreled Gin, each crafted with a dedication to quality ingredients and a commitment to transparency in production. They explore what sets Warfield apart in the spirits world — from its...
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354: Whiskey with a Sense of Place - New Single Warehouse Releases
Bourbon Lens
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott explore how certain new whiskey releases capture a true sense of place — from the rickhouses of Kentucky to the hills of Tennessee. They start with the latest installment of the from Wild Turkey Distillery, featuring barrels aged in the legendary Camp Nelson E rickhouse. Each release in this series reflects the unique environmental conditions that make individual rickhouses so special to the final flavor profile. The discussion also touches on the releases from James B. Beam Distilling Co., continuing the brand’s innovative storytelling...
info_outlineIt’s the whiskey brand with an Italian name and they’re looking to make their mark in the world of Kentucky Bourbon. We are joined by Luca Mariano Distillery this week to talk about starting a bourbon brand, finding a home for your distillery, and growing brand awareness. Jennifer Brandt and Kenny Fuller are our guests this week as we taste through the full lineup Luca Mariano whiskey in downtown Louisville.
We are thankful for everyone who has supported us. A huge shoutout to our Patreon Community as well! We'd appreciate it if you can take the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.
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Cheers,
Scott, Jake, & Michael
Bourbon Lens
About the Distillery:
In 2016, LMD began prospecting for land to house its future distillery while waiting for the bourbon and rye whiskey to come of age. Francesco’s long-term vision is to create a distillery location that is like no other distillery. He envisions a place for family and friends to come and enjoy great music, food, and whiskey. The same way his family does it in Italy.
With the long-term goal in mind, in 2017, LMD found a 300 acre farm in Danville, Kentucky that would give plenty of space for what Francesco envisions. The farm includes a stone house that was built by a man named William Crow, which is the oldest stone house in the State of Kentucky. Although the stone house was left abandoned and in disrepair, LMD plans to restore the house to its original condition. Additional plans for the project include the following: construction of a fully-functioning distillery; a visitor’s center; multiple rickhouses for barrel aging; and, an entertainment pavilion.
About Francesco Viola, Founder/Owner:
Francesco began distilling as a hobby in his garage in 2010. He hadn’t planned on it becoming a business. After having a neighbor over to enjoy what he had created, his neighbor told him that it was illegal to distill liquor in his garage. After discovering that his hobby was illegal, Francesco called his lawyer to help him obtain a license to distill liquor, so he could carry out his grandfather’s dream.
Francesco’s grandfather was a man named Mariano Viola. His dream was for his family to build a business and create a legacy in the United States. Mariano taught Francesco many skills including gardening, making pasta and wine, and distilling brandy and whiskey. In honor of his grandfather, Francesco created recipes for Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey that are the foundation of Luca Mariano Distillery. The company is named after Francesco’s son, Luca Mariano, who is named after Francesco’s grandfather.
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