324: Augusta Distillery and Its Future with Master Distiller Alex Castle
Bourbon Lens
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, hosts Jake and Scott sit down with Augusta Distillery’s master distiller, Alex Castle. Alex shares the story of her journey to Augusta after her time at Old Dominick Distillery in Tennessee, offering a behind-the-scenes look at her transition and the innovative direction she's taking Augusta Distillery. During the conversation, we dive into Augusta's approach to sourced whiskey, their unique commitment to producing single cask and cask strength bourbons, and the philosophy that drives their craft. Alex also shares insights into their future plans as...
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323: The Origin Story of Bourbon Lore with Mason Walker & Clay Risen
Bourbon Lens
In this episode of the Bourbon Lens Podcast, host Jake sits down with Mason Walker and Clay Risen from Bourbon Lore®, a unique community of bourbon enthusiasts, collectors, and connoisseurs built around a shared love for the best American whiskey has to offer. Together, they discuss the history of bourbon, delving into its origins, the iconic figures behind its rise, and the enduring legacy that has made it one of America’s most celebrated spirits. Tune in and discover the origin story of Bourbon Lore! If you’re ultra-passionate about bourbon or want to learn more about its most legendary...
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322: Exploring Whiskey Thief Distilling Co.'s New Location with Walter Zausch
Bourbon Lens
In this episode of the Bourbon Lens podcast, hosts Jake and Scott take a trip to the . We sit down with Walter Zausch to learn about the distillery’s exciting new space and what visitors can expect when they visit either of their locations. From the one-of-a-kind experience of thieving unique whiskies directly from the barrel to the vibrant atmosphere of NuLu, this episode dives into the distinct experience Whiskey Thief offers its guests. Walter shares behind-the-scenes insights into the distillery's growth, the evolving bourbon scene in Louisville, and what makes their approach to bourbon...
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321: Bottled in Bond with Heaven Hill’s Bernie Lubbers & Adam Edwards
Bourbon Lens
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, we take a trip to the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience on Whisky Row, located in the heart of Louisville, Kentucky. We sit down with two of Heaven Hill’s finest, Bernie Lubbers and Adam Edwards, to dive deep into the world of Bottled in Bond. As one of the most significant designations in the bourbon industry, Bottled in Bond holds a special place at Heaven Hill. Bernie and Adam provide invaluable insight into its history, its meaning to both bourbon enthusiasts and consumers, and why this category is still thriving in today’s bourbon landscape. Tune in as...
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320: Bulleit Unveils New Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon: Celebrating Bottled in Bond Day
Bourbon Lens
In this special episode of the Bourbon Lens podcast, Jake and Scott dive into an exciting new release from Bulleit Whiskey – their first-ever Bottled-in-Bond bourbon expression. In honor of Bottled in Bond Day (March 3), we're joined by Courtney King. Courtney is the Distillery Manager at Bulleit Distillery and she joins us to share insights on the distilling process, the importance of the Bottled-in-Bond designation, and what makes this new expression stand out. Discover the journey behind Bulleit's latest innovation, how the team crafted this whiskey to meet the stringent...
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319: Exploring Larrikin Bourbon Co. with Co-Founder Greg Keeley
Bourbon Lens
In this exciting new episode of Bourbon Lens, hosts Jake and Scott sit down with Greg Keeley, the co-founder of Larrikin Bourbon Co., to dive deep into the building (and rebranding) of a bourbon company. Together, they discuss the origins of Larrikin Bourbon Co., the brand’s ethos, and what makes their whiskey stand out in a crowded market. 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...
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318: The Best Bourbon Distilleries from Around the United States
Bourbon Lens
In this episode of the Bourbon Lens Podcast, hosts Jake and Scott take a closer look at some of their favorite bourbon distilleries from across the United States. Join us as we explore Wyoming Whiskey, Boulder Spirits, Holladay Distillery, and more, and dive into what makes each of these distilleries unique. Did we miss any of your favorite "non-Kentucky Bourbon" distilleries? Drop us a line and tell us which distillery we need to discover next. We are thankful for your support over the last 6 years. We must give the biggest shoutout to our amazing community of Patreon supporters!...
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317: High Bank Small Batch Bourbon: A New Chapter for Ohio Distillery
Bourbon Lens
In this episode of Bourbon Lens podcast, Jake and Scott are joined by Adam Hines, co-founder of High Bank Distillery Co., to discuss the release of their highly anticipated High Bank Small Batch Bourbon. This release marks a new chapter in the distillery's journey, bringing their very own well-aged and flavorful bourbon to market. Adam talks about the six years of waiting and crafting that went into creating this unique bourbon, highlighting its wheated mash bill. According to the distillery, High Bank Small Batch Bourbon offers a rich nose of malted chocolate and oak, followed by sweet wheat,...
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316: Chicken Cock Whiskey's New Stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Bourbon Lens
In this episode of the Bourbon Lens podcast, Jake and Scott are joined by Will Woodington, the National Brand Ambassador for Chicken Cock Whiskey. Together, they dive deep into the rich history of Chicken Cock Whiskey, discuss its distinctive branding, and explore its exciting new chapter as it joins the Kentucky Bourbon Trail with their visitor experience, Circa 1856 in Bardstown. Tune in to learn more about this iconic whiskey brand, its legacy, and what makes Chicken Cock Whiskey appealing for any bourbon enthusiast. Plus, get an inside look at Circa 1856 as Chicken Cock continues to expand...
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315: On the Hunt for Buffalo Trace Antique Collection
Bourbon Lens
In this episode of the Bourbon Lens podcast, hosts Jake and Scott dive deep into the highly anticipated Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2024. Join them as they explore the flavors and complexities of these limited release whiskies, giving their thoughts and insights on each whiskey in the collection. A special thanks to the team at Sazerac for providing the opportunity to taste these rare whiskeys. Without their support, this episode wouldn't have been possible. Don't miss out—listen now for an inside look at the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2024! We are thankful for your support over...
info_outlineOur guest today is Shane Fitzharris for Templeton Distillery in Iowa. Shane is the Senior VP for Commercial for Infinium Spirits, owner of the Templeton Distillery and brands. We discuss the next chapter in Templeton’s history as they recently released their first spirit distilled in-house; Fortitude Straight Iowa Bourbon. We discuss the history of the brand, their revival of the brand, and how they sourced a very popular Rye Whiskey to grow their brand to be in a position to distill and release their own distilled spirits.
Stream this episode on your favorite podcast app and be sure to drop us a review while you’re there.
We are thankful for your support over the last 5 years. We must give the biggest shoutout to our growing Patreon Community of 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 review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.
Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X. Also, consider supporting Bourbon Lens on Patreon for some of the behind the scenes, to earn Bourbon Lens swag, join the Bourbon Lens Tasting Club, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, please email us at [email protected].
Check out BourbonLens.com to read our blog posts, whiskey news, podcast archive, and whiskey reviews.
Cheers,
Scott and Jake
Bourbon Lens
About Templeton:
Templeton Rye Whiskey tracks back to the early 1920s when residents of the small town of Templeton, Iowa distilled a much sought-after rye whiskey. That bootlegging enterprise, forced underground during the Prohibition era, nonetheless flourished during that period and the famous “Templeton Rye” becoming legendary. When prohibition ended, Templeton was a legend lost to history until it was re-introduced in 2006 as an independent bottler brand. The Templeton Rye whiskey portfolio which contains a 4 year old, 6 year old, 10 Year Single Barrel, and limited Cask Finish releases remains inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of the original bootleggers.
On August 7, 2018, Templeton Rye Spirits, LLC marked the beginning of a new chapter, highlighting a rich history with the community they call home with the opening of a 34,500 square-foot distillery, visitor center and museum in Templeton, Iowa. A $35 million project and a significant investment in the community of Templeton. A milestone date that would allow the Templeton brand to control its own destiny in relation to distillation, fermentation, and maturation.
About Templeton Fortitude Straight Bourbon
- Style: Iowa Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Proof: 92 (46% ABV)
- Mash Bill: 55% Corn, 40% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
- Locally Sourced Iowa Corn: Within 15 Miles of Templeton Distillery
- Age: Non-Aged Stated (4+ Years Old)
- Aged in American Oak Virgin Barrels / Char Level 4
- Natural Color and Non-Chill Filtered
- Distilled at Templeton Distillery, Templeton, Iowa
- Column and Copper Stills from Forsyths
- Fermentation time : 3-4 Days
- Yeast Strain: Fermentis Safspirit
- Availability: Launching in the USA market and select international markets in May 2024.
Templeton FORTITUDE Bourbon introduced in 2024 marked the first distillate release out of the Templeton Distillery as the brand continues to evolve from an independent bottler to a distiller. Over the coming years, Templeton will continue to play in both the independent bottler and the distilling world which will allow the brand to push the boundaries of innovation by releasing exciting additions from both our extensive sourced barrel stocks and owned distillate out of Templeton Distillery.
Templeton whiskey portfolio is now exported to 75 international markets outside of North America.
Distillery Snapshot:
- 2 x 55,000 square-foot barrel aging warehouse that can store up to 54,000 barrels
- Located on 20-acres of land just east of downtown Templeton
- Produces up to 500,000 proof gallons of rye whiskey annually
- Capability to produce all styles of American whiskey under one roof
- Features stills imported from Forsyth’s in Scotland to produce the highest quality spirits
- Includes museum, visitor center and tasting room
About Shane Fitzharris, Senior VP, Commercial Infinium Spirits :
Shane joined our organization in 2018 as head of International Sales for Templeton Distillery and transitioned into Infinium Spirits in 2020 taking up the role of Sr. VP, Commercial, where he has successfully elevated our product portfolio to over 70 countries. Shane has more than 20 years’ experience in the industry holding senior commercial roles. Prior to joining Infinium, Shane built the Walsh Whiskey business with its founders culminating in opening a $40 million distillery with a global footprint of 90 Countries. He created and launched several new brands including Writers Tears and The Irishman Whiskey portfolio. Shane’s positive attitude, strong leadership, and relentless dedication to Infinium and our team will help drive our success as we continue to build our brand family.