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Off Hours with Bourbon Lens Featuring Chef Dafne Mejia

Bourbon Lens

Release Date: 05/31/2023

309: Gabriel Macht Talks Bear Fight Whiskey, Acting, and His Love for Whiskey show art 309: Gabriel Macht Talks Bear Fight Whiskey, Acting, and His Love for Whiskey

Bourbon Lens

In this exciting new episode of the Bourbon Lens Podcast, we’re joined by actor Gabriel Macht! Known for his iconic role as Harvey Specter on the hit TV show Suits, Gabriel opens up about his latest venture into the world of whiskey as an investor and partner in Bear Fight Whiskey.  During this conversation, Gabriel dives deep into his love for fine spirits, the entrepreneurial side of the whiskey industry, and how he found a perfect match with Bear Fight Whiskey. He also reflects on his career in Hollywood, the lasting impact of Suits, and what it’s like to balance acting with his...

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308: True Story Whiskey with Wes Henderson: A New Chapter in the Henderson Family Legacy show art 308: True Story Whiskey with Wes Henderson: A New Chapter in the Henderson Family Legacy

Bourbon Lens

In this episode of the Bourbon Lens podcast, we’re joined by Wes Henderson, the co-founder of Angel’s Envy, as he talks about his exciting new brand, True Story. Wes takes us on a journey through the creation of this new venture, offering insights into the inspiration behind the brand and what sets True Story apart in the world of whiskey. We also dive into two new whiskies from the True Story lineup:   Wes shares how True Story marks a new chapter in the Henderson family’s distilling history, reflecting both his personal journey and the family’s commitment to crafting...

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307: Blanton’s Bourbon Super Fan Dominic Guglielmi and His New Book show art 307: Blanton’s Bourbon Super Fan Dominic Guglielmi and His New Book

Bourbon Lens

In the newest episode of the Bourbon Lens Podcast, we sit down with Dominic Guglielmi, a Blanton’s Bourbon super fan and author of the new book Warehouse H: The Story of Blanton’s Bourbon, America's Most Influential Whiskey. We dive deep into the history of Blanton’s, its role in shaping the modern bourbon landscape, and the stories from Warehouse H at Buffalo Trace Distillery. Whether you're a die-hard bourbon aficionado or a casual fan, this episode is a must-listen! We are thankful for your support over the last 6 years. We must give the biggest shoutout to our amazing community of...

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306: Kaveh Zamanian of Rabbit Hole Distillery Talks Innovation and New Role at Pernod Ricard show art 306: Kaveh Zamanian of Rabbit Hole Distillery Talks Innovation and New Role at Pernod Ricard

Bourbon Lens

In this episode of the Bourbon Lens podcast, Jake sits down with Kaveh Zamanian, the founder and former CEO of Rabbit Hole Distillery, to discuss his journey in the whiskey world, the evolution of Rabbit Hole, and his new role within the spirits industry. Kaveh and Jake also talk about the new Founder’s Collection – 8-Year-Old Boxergrail Rye Whiskey from Rabbit Hole. We also dive deep into Kaveh’s exciting new chapter at Pernod Ricard as he transitions into his role as Chief Operating Officer and Head of North American Distillers. This role brings a significant opportunity to impact the...

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305: Benromach's Unique Speyside Scotch Whisky with Keith Cruickshank show art 305: Benromach's Unique Speyside Scotch Whisky with Keith Cruickshank

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...

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304: Fawn Weaver on Her New Book, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, and Honoring Nathan Green show art 304: Fawn Weaver on Her New Book, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, and Honoring Nathan Green

Bourbon 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...

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303: A Deep Dive with Ross Cornelissen, Master Distiller of 1792 Bourbon show art 303: A Deep Dive with Ross Cornelissen, Master Distiller of 1792 Bourbon

Bourbon 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...

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302: Sitting Down with Dierks Bentley and His New ROW 94 Whiskey show art 302: Sitting Down with Dierks Bentley and His New ROW 94 Whiskey

Bourbon 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...

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301: Restoration and History with Cook’s Mill Whiskey Founder Jason Queen show art 301: Restoration and History with Cook’s Mill Whiskey Founder Jason Queen

Bourbon 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...

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300: Celebrating a New Milestone with Birthday Bourbon at Old Forester show art 300: Celebrating a New Milestone with Birthday Bourbon at Old Forester

Bourbon 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...

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More Episodes

Jake & Jake sit down with Dafne Mejia, Private Chef and runner up on Season 21 of Hell’s Kitchen to discuss her passion for cooking, bourbon and much more.  Of course, Jake L. had to talk about his passion for cooking during this episode. Tune into the latest episode of Off Hours with Bourbon Lens on your favorite podcast listening app today.

During this podcast, we discuss a story involving a DUI and the impact that can have on one's life.  We ask you to please drink responsibly in your Off Hours.

Thanks for listening to another episode of Off Hours with Bourbon Lens.
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This has been another production of Bourbon Lens LLC.  Thank you for your continued support.

Scott & Jake
Bourbon Lens

About Off Hours

Off Hours Bourbon is made for afternoon relaxations and late night convos as it dispels the idea that you have to wear a suit to drink a glass of Bourbon or that it can only be enjoyed poured over rocks at the end of the day. The award-winning liquid is aged in American white oak barrels for over 5 years. Tasting notes include aromas of creamy vanilla, hint of nutmeg and toasted pecans, rich notes of cinnamon and a silky finish of lingering honey. 

You can find out more about Off Hours with Bourbon Lens here.

 

About Dafne Mejia

Born in Los Angeles in 1992, Chef Dafne is the daughter of Suyapa and Luis, first generation immigrants from Honduras. Dafne started her career by following the American Dream, seeking to fulfill her parents’ hope for a better life in the land of opportunity. En route to becoming an OBGYN, Dafne attended SFSU where she was a biology major and quickly realized this was not her dream, but the dream of her parents.

From early in her childhood, Dafne’s creativity was what brought her the most joy. As she realized medicine was not her true passion, she made a bold transition and decided to follow her heart to the creative arts. Committed to forging her own destiny, Dafne enrolled in The Art Institute of California - San Francisco where she graduated with an Associates degree of Science in the Culinary Arts. During her education, Dafne started apprenticing under a Certified Master Chef, learning the art of cooking at the highest level for four years.

Moving back to Los Angeles in 2015, Dafne began cooking as a private chef for Aubrey ‘Drake’ Graham, a high profile assignment that catapulted her to a Sous Chef level. Following her time as a personal chef, Dafne was soon hired by a fine dining Vietnamese restaurant, allowing her to hone new skills, honor different traditions and discover a new level of respect for the sometime tedious process of cooking.

For most of her culinary career, Dafne’s primary love has been found in Italian cuisine. Her specialty, and most requested dish is born from the craft she’s perfected through more than ten thousand hours of meticulous work: Handmade Corn and Truffle Ravioli. Reminding her of her Latin American roots, Dafne fell in love with the culinary traditions of Italy as she proclaims, both cultures’ cuisines are  “dominated by grandmas”. Following her passion for pasta, Dafne worked under many talented Italian Chefs, who all imparted their own expertise and artistry, ultimately inspiring Dafne to lean on her creativity in the kitchen.

In 2019 Dafne became the Executive Sous Chef at Spring Place, a private membership club in the heart of Beverly Hills. After helping to organize and build the restaurant from the ground up, Chef Dafne (and the rest of the culinary world) was rocked by the arrival of the pandemic. Though not discouraged for long, Chef Dafne was able to shift and once again, re-entered the private chef world.

While working as a private Chef Dafne was able to indulge in new found creativity, playing around with the culinary arts on her social media - creating captivating stories of her pasta making endeavors. It was through this that she began to gain some notoriety, and towards the end of 2021, Dafne was invited to partake in the world renowned cooking show, Hell’s Kitchen.