Bourbon Lens
In this episode of the Bourbon Lens podcast, we dive deep into the world of Benromach, one of Scotland's most celebrated distilleries. We’re joined by Keith Cruickshank, Distillery Manager at Benromach, who walks us through the rich history and what make their subtly smoky Speyside whiskies stand out. We’re honored to taste through their impressive portfolio, including their rare and limited-release 50-Year-Old Scotch, a truly exceptional and costly expression that showcases the artistry and dedication behind Benromach’s craft. Keith shares insights into the distillery’s commitment to...
info_outline 304: Fawn Weaver on Her New Book, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, and Honoring Nathan GreenBourbon Lens
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, hosts Jake and Scott sit down with Fawn Weaver, the trailblazing founder of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. Fawn takes us on a journey through her remarkable story—how she discovered the legacy of Nathan “Nearest” Green, the first African-American master distiller, and how she turned that discovery into the globally recognized whiskey brand, Uncle Nearest. Fawn also shares insights into her newly released book, Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest, which...
info_outline 303: A Deep Dive with Ross Cornelissen, Master Distiller of 1792 BourbonBourbon Lens
This week, we’re talking about Barton 1792 Distillery and 1792 Bourbon. Master Distiller Ross Cornelissen joins Bourbon Lens to talk about the workhouse bourbon distillery. Barton 1792 is a historic distillery in the Bourbon Capital of the World and owned by Sazerac Company. We discuss three limited releases from Barton 1792, including Sweet Wheat, Aged Twelve Years, and Thomas S. Moore Port Cask Finished Bourbon. 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...
info_outline 302: Sitting Down with Dierks Bentley and His New ROW 94 WhiskeyBourbon Lens
We’re joined by multi-Platinum country music artist, Dierks Bentley, in this special episode of Bourbon Lens. Dierks recently wrapped up his Gravel & Gold Tour and is firmly planted back in Nashville preparing for his next album. We had the privilege to sit down with Dierks to talk about his newest project, Row 94 Whiskey. Row 94 is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey distilled at the historic Green River Distilling Company. Dierks aims for Row 94 to be the bourbon you reach for when you’re enjoying a night with friends, listening to live music, or pouring a whiskey...
info_outline 301: Restoration and History with Cook’s Mill Whiskey Founder Jason QueenBourbon Lens
On a recent trip to Myrtle Beach we crossed paths with Jason Queen as he was working to promote his bourbon in South Carolina. Jason shared a bit of history with us and a whiskey too. That chance meeting and conversation inspired this latest episode of the Bourbon Lens Podcast. Jason, a serial entrepreneur and conservationist purchased Cook’s Mill, an old grist mill in order to restore this once thriving mill. That goal set him on a path to creating a whiskey that is focused paying homage to North Carolina’s past. Sit back and buckle in for the latest episode of the...
info_outline 300: Celebrating a New Milestone with Birthday Bourbon at Old ForesterBourbon Lens
We are celebrating a BIG milestone this week as we release the 300th Episode of Bourbon Lens. Old Forester and Brown-Forman were gracious enough to invite Jake and Scott to Whiskey Row to celebrate. Bourbon Lens is joined by Melissa Rift and Caleb Trigo from Old Forester to discuss the historic brand, its legacy and future, and to toast our milestone with the 2024 Edition of Birthday Bourbon. We couldn’t think of a better choice for celebrating this milestone episode and thank the team at Brown-Forman and Old Forester for their support all these years. As we celebrate this...
info_outline 299: Building the Best 5 Bottle American Whiskey BarBourbon Lens
It’s the question that every whiskey enthusiast has been asked: What’s the one bottle of whiskey you keep on your bar? Since one bottle clearly wouldn’t make a great podcast, we decided to up the ante a bit and decided to build the Ultimate 5 Bottle American Whiskey Bar. Jake and Scott run through how they would build their whiskey bar if only afforded 5 slots. We’ve given ourselves criteria in hopes of finding a bottle for every niche and occasion. We run through our choices for 1) best everyday whiskey, 2) best cocktail whiskey, 3) high proof whiskey, 4) Top Shelf...
info_outline 298: The Most Exciting New Whiskey Releases for Fall 2024Bourbon Lens
It’s been a wild season of new whiskey and bourbon releases and we’re catching up on some of the ones you may have missed. The press releases have been coming in fast and furious of late and Bourbon Lens is doing our best to keep you abreast of all the news. We recap some of the most exciting releases from the heritage Kentucky distilleries, the best distilleries both inside and outside of Kentucky, and even some celebrity brands that have the whiskey world talking. As always, be sure you’re following along at BourbonLens.com for all the latest news and notes of the whiskey world. ...
info_outline 297: Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2024 Recap and Planning for Next YearBourbon Lens
Scott and Jake sit down to debrief after a long weekend at the We discuss some of our favorite pours and experiences from yet another memorable Festival. We must give a shoutout to our AirBnB housemates who joined us to celebrate and to all our listeners who introduced themselves over the weekend. We wrap up this recap episode with some tips to consider as you plan your trip to the . Thank you to the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, its board and staff, and Estes PR for inviting us to the Festival to cover the events and festivities of the weekend. Image Credit: We are thankful for your...
info_outline 296: Our Trip to New Riff Distilling with Jay ErismanBourbon Lens
Scott and Jake travel to Newport Kentucky to visit New Riff Distilling and sit down with co-founder Jay Erisman. We kick back inside the Aquifer Bar to discuss New Riff’s history, their whiskey portfolio, and what’s ahead now that the distillery recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. In this episode, we taste New Riff Bottled in Bond Bourbon, Silver Grove Bourbon, Malted Rye, and their 8 Year Bourbon. Stay tuned to Bourbon Lens for more coverage of New Riff coming soon, including their second batch of Kentucky Single Malt and their Whisky NRD tasting courses currently...
info_outlineJake travels to Bardstown for an early look (and taste) of Bardstown Bourbon Company’s first estate-distilled collection of whiskey releases; The Origin Series. These whiskies release later this week and we had the opportunity to be among the first to try each of the 3 releases. If you’ve followed the Bourbon Lens for a while, you know that we have anticipated these whiskies for many years. We discuss the new lineup with Dan Callaway and Brandon Smith from BBCo.
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Cheers,
Scott and Jake
Bourbon Lens
Bourbon Lens Coverage of Bardstown Bourbon Co.:
- New! Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Coming Soon!
- Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Latest Collaboration Focuses On The Barrel
- Bardstown Bourbon Company: The Penultimate Fusion Series
- Bardstown Bourbon Company: is Fercullen Their Best Collaboration?
- Bardstown Bourbon Co. to Release Final Expressions in Fusion Series
- 191: Inside the Vintage Whiskey Library at Bardstown Bourbon Company
- Bardstown Bourbon Reimagines Château de Laubade Collaboration with Second Release
- Finding Gold at The Bar: Bardstown Bourbon Company: Muscat Mistelle Collaboration
- 42: Bardstown Bourbon Co.'s Dan Callaway
- 31: Discover Bardstown Bourbon Company
About the Bardstown Bourbon Co. Origin Series:
New core product collection features Straight Bourbon, Bottled-in-Bond and Rye whiskies distilled and aged at the brand’s Bardstown homeplace.
Six years after their first whiskey was distilled, Bardstown Bourbon Company, one of the largest and most sophisticated distilleries in the country, will release its first estate-distilled collection of whiskies in early 2023.
The Origin Series introduces consumers to the modern brand’s core product line through three distinct 6-year-old whiskies: Origin Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Origin Bottled-in-Bond and Origin Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. The full series, all of which has been distilled, aged and bottled at Bardstown Bourbon Co., will be distributed to retailers in 24 states, at the distillery gift shop, and via a number of online retailers.
“The Origin Series is the first opportunity to taste an expression that is 100 percent our whiskey,” said Dan Callaway, VP of Product Development for Bardstown Bourbon Co. “We’ve put years of patience into this bottle, waiting six years until we felt it was truly ready to share with the world. The full technical capabilities of our distillery are on display with these three bespoke products.”
Origin Series Bourbon is a 6-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This 36 percent high-rye mash bill showcases the best of classic bourbon with a burst of rye spice. A balanced blend of apricot, orange blossom, and mint rests on caramel, nutmeg, and rich oak unfolds on the nose. On the palate, waves of cinnamon and vanilla lead to a bold, signature lasting finish. Origin Series Bourbon is presented at 96 proof (48 percent ABV) for a suggested price of $44.99.
Wheated Bottled-in-Bond presents the best locally sourced corn and wheat grains in this 6-year-old straight bourbon whiskey. This bourbon features 20 percent wheat in the mashbill, creating a beautifully balanced modern expression. Baked peach with cream meets cocoa with hints of lemon on the nose. An indulgent, smooth mouthfeel of stone fruit and toffee leads to an alluring and enduring finish. Origin Series Bottled-in-Bond is presented at 100 proof (50% ABV) for a suggested price of $49.99.
Kentucky Straight Rye is finished in custom barrels comprised of alternating toasted American oak and toasted cherry wood staves. This finishing process creates a wholly unique flavor unlike anything seen in the rye category. Ripe cherry resonates through toasted oak, highlighted by white flower, dill, and cinnamon. A rich, round mouthfeel bursts with fruit flavor leading to a one-of-a-kind sublime finish. Origin Series Kentucky Straight Rye is presented at 96 proof (48% ABV) for a suggested price of $69.99.
In addition to the three core products, the launch of the Origin Series will include for the first time, a single barrel program for Bardstown Bourbon Co. A limited number of Origin Series Bourbon single barrels will be available annually for purchase by the barrel to on- and off-premise retailers. Each retailer will be able to hand-select their unique single barrel on-site at Bardstown Bourbon Co.
Origin Series Bourbon:
Mashbill: 60 percent corn, 36 percent rye, 4 percent malted barley
Proof: 96 proof (48% ABV)
SRP: $44.99
Origin Series Bottled-in-Bond:
Mashbill: 68 percent corn, 20 percent wheat, 12 percent malted barley
Proof: 100 proof (50% ABV)
Price: $49.99
Origin Series Kentucky Straight Rye:
Mashbill: 95 percent rye, 5 percent malted barley
Proof: 96 proof (48% ABV)
Price: $69.99
Since 2016, Bardstown Bourbon Co. has grown from a 600,000 proof gallon per year distillery to the 7th largest in America, custom distilling and bottling more than 7 million proof gallons per year. In this time, when many would release un-aged spirits, the brand has instead become known for its boundary-defying approach to bourbon blending, pulling from both old and newer stock, a variety of mashbills and origins to create single-release products. Founded in the spirit of bringing transparency to an industry often cloaked in secrecy and lore, Bardstown Bourbon Co. has established itself through not only custom distillation but also unprecedented collaboration with a number of spirits brands.
About Bardstown Bourbon Company:
Founded in 2014 by Peter Loftin in the heart of Bourbon Country on 100 acres of active farmland, Bardstown Bourbon Company, 1500 Parkway Drive, Bardstown, Ky., is one of the country’s most modern and technically advanced whiskey distilleries. Celebrating the art of making high-quality, authentic bourbons, the innovative distillery produces custom rye, whiskey and bourbon for prominent brands including Jefferson’s, Blue Run, Belle Meade and many others through its one-of-a-kind collaborative distilling program. Bardstown Bourbon Company honors tradition and drives innovation with their exceptional destination experience for visitors, offering the only full-service restaurant located within a distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, The Kitchen and Bar at Bardstown Bourbon Company.