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_outlinePerfect for summer, our guest today is here to talk about all things Cocktails! He is Jonathan Pogash, also known as “The Cocktail Guru”. Jonathan joins Jake to talk about being creative with cocktails at home and his tips for any home bartender. Join us as we expand our palate from our usual whiskey neat to more complex drinks. Cheers!
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Check out our BourbonLens.com to read our blog posts, whiskey news, podcast archive, and details on our upcoming single barrel picks.
Cheers,
Scott and Jake
Bourbon Lens
About Jonathan Pogash:
Jonathan Pogash is the founder, owner and President of The Cocktail GuruTM - one of the most premier cocktail and full-service hospitality consultancy companies in the country. He was initially trained by cocktail-world luminaries Steve Olson, Gary Regan, Julie Reiner, and Albert Trummer. Under these legends, he studied technique, cocktail history, fresh ingredients, and seasonality and developed his hallmark techniques.
Jonathan launched The Cocktail Guru in 2006 initially as a side hustle, while he worked as an actor and craft cocktail bartender in NYC. The demand for The Cocktail Guru’s services skyrocketed quickly, which turned into a full time, multi-platform hospitality consulting business. Jonathan swiftly assembled an all- star team of world-renowned mixologist, drinks experts, and scholars dedicated to bringing liquid joy and cocktail knowledge to the roster of clients.
Today, The Cocktail Guru is an eclectic collective that has expanded its’ offerings. The unique mix of creative, engaging, and informative services that the Gurus deliver are inspirational and impactful. In addition to consulting services for bars, brands, restaurants, and hotels, the team has expanded to accommodate requests for a growing number of special events for the public. The Collective of Gurus offer not only trainings, but menu & signature cocktail development, event hosting, company happy hours, bachelor and bachelorette parties, private parties, weddings, media appearances and more.
Jonathan and his savvy team of Cocktail Gurus execute private and corporate events, design signature cocktails for small to large spirit brands, host team building mixology courses and Masterclasses, and develop craft cocktail programs for restaurants, bars, hotels and resorts.
Jonathan himself represents beverage brands by leading educational experiences, training bartenders, presenting consumer‐facing classes and seminars, and acting as media and industry spokesperson. With nearly 25 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, Jonathan shares his insights with the most influential publications from around the world and frequently contributes his unique talents to morning television shows and national radio. His signature cocktails can be seen and enjoyed in many of North America’s most upscale cocktail lounges and restaurants.
In 2021, Jonathan and his father, notable author and celebrated spirits industry veteran Jeffrey Pogash (“How to Read a Wine Label”, “Bloody Mary”) launched The Cocktail Guru Podcast, where they host and toast everyone from spirits industry icons to celebrities.
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