289: Blue Note Bourbon is the New Fuel of the Pros of Pickleball
Release Date: 07/28/2024
327: A Conversation with Tripp Stimson of Barrell Craft Spirits
Bourbon Lens
In this week’s episode of the Bourbon Lens Podcast, Jake sits down one-on-one with Tripp Stimson, Chief Whiskey Scientist at Barrell Craft Spirits. This in-depth conversation takes listeners behind the scenes of one of the most innovative non-distilling producers (NDPs) in American whiskey. The Art of Blending at Barrell Craft Spirits Tripp unpacks what sets Barrell apart in a crowded whiskey market, especially its blender-first approach to crafting high-quality, small batch and single barrel releases. Listeners will get an insider’s view of how Barrell sources and blends its whiskey,...
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326: Crafting a Unique Whiskey Blend at J. Mattingly 1845
Bourbon Lens
In this week’s episode of the Bourbon Lens Podcast, Jake and Scott take you inside their exclusive in Frankfort, Kentucky. From hands-on barrel sampling to creating custom bourbon blends, this immersive experience is a must for any whiskey enthusiast. A special thanks goes out to Amy Preske for arranging this memorable day, and to Dakota and the entire J. Mattingly team for the warm hospitality and deep knowledge of bourbon blending. The episode also touches on the recent severe weather in Kentucky, including destructive tornadoes, historic flooding, and other storms that have deeply...
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325: Building The MACKLOWE Whiskey Brand with Julie Macklowe
Bourbon Lens
In this latest episode of the Bourbon Lens Podcast, Jake sits down with Julie Macklowe, the founder of The MACKLOWE, known as the first luxury American Single Malt Whiskey. During the episode, they taste both the American Single Malt and Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey releases from The MACKLOWE, discussing the unique qualities that set these spirits apart in the world of whiskey. Julie shares her insights on building a successful whiskey brand, her deep passion for high-quality spirits, and how The MACKLOWE stands out in an increasingly competitive market. They also dive into the current state...
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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!...
info_outlineThe Bourbon Lens is joined by Logan Welk, President and Chief Operating Officer of B.R. Distilling Company. B.R. Distilling is known for their portfolio of Blue Note Bourbon and Rye Whiskeys. Logan has moved up the ranks at Blue Note and is well-versed in the ins-and-outs of the business of bourbon and brand-building. We also discuss whether Blue Note Bourbon and Rye will help improve your pickleball game, on the heels of their recent announcement of becoming the official bourbon of Major League Pickleball. Join us for this insightful and inside-look at growing a bourbon brand.
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
Blue Note Bourbon™, the award-winning whiskey portfolio which features big notes and a smooth structure, is making waves in the spirits industry. Founded in 2014, B.R. Distilling Company holds the oldest distillery license in the city of Memphis, Tennessee. Blue Note, launched in 2018, is artfully crafted to honor the rich blues music that is synonymous with Memphis.
The brand’s whiskey portfolio is distilled in partnership with Bardstown Bourbon Company (parent company of Green River Distilling Company) and then aged just north of downtown where the Mississippi and Wolf Rivers collide. The long summers filled with infamous Memphis heat and cooler evenings forces the whiskey deep into the oak, creating an unmistakably rich flavor that’s bold yet smooth.
“The location of our warehouses with high humidity and higher average temperatures than Kentucky make it the perfect place to age our whiskey,” said Logan Welk, President and Chief Operating Officer, B.R. Distilling Company. “Our award-winning flagship Blue Note expressions prove that point, with both Juke Joint and Crossroads winning Double Gold at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition two years running and Blue Note Uncut being named #7 on Whisky Advocate’s list of top whiskeys in 2022.”
The Blue Note Bourbon portfolio includes:
- Blue Note Juke Joint ($34.99)
- Blue Note’s flagship Straight Bourbon Whiskey is bottled at 93-proof, unfiltered
- Mash Bill: 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley
- Awards: 2024 Platinum Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition; 2022, 2023 and 2024 Double Gold Medals, Wine Enthusiast (93 pts)
- Blue Note Crossroads ($44.99)
- Finished with several types of toasted French oak staves and bottled at 100-proof, unfiltered
- Mash Bills: 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley and 78% corn, 13% rye, 9% malted barley
- Awards: 2024 Platinum Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition; 2022, 2023 and 2024 Double Gold Medals
- Blue Note Uncut ($49.99)
- Aged for a minimum of four years and bottled at variable proofs
- Mash Bill: 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley
- Awards: Whisky Advocate’s #7 top whiskeys of 2022 (92 pts)
- Blue Note Straight Rye Whiskey ($34.99)
- The most recent release is bottled at 93-proof, unfiltered
- Mash Bill: 95% rye and 5% malted barley
- Awards: 2024 ASCOT Awards Double Platinum, Whisky Advocate (90 pts)
- The brand has also introduced several highly awarded limited-release offerings, which include Premium Small Batch, Single Barrel Reserve, 17-year, and Special Reserve.
Blue Note’s packaging is unique and quintessentially Memphis. Metallic blue music notes accent the front label, which features a guitar-like illustration, further reinforcing the product’s connection to the Bluff City’s musical roots.
Production Facility & Tasting Room
The 110,000 square foot production facilities, located on Royal Avenue just North of downtown Memphis, are open from Monday through Friday from 10am – 4:00pm and includes a unique and intimate tasting room. Guided tours are available on Thursdays and Fridays for $10 plus tax & fees. Guests can add a Tasting Flight Experience for an additional $5. For more information and to book a guided, behind-the-scenes tour, visit www.bluenotebourbon.com.
About B.R. Distilling Company
Founded in 2014 in Memphis, TN, B.R. Distilling Company is the oldest licensed distillery in Memphis, TN, and producer of world-famous Blue Note Bourbon. Currently, the company produces four flagship expressions, along with regular limited releases, which are distributed across 17 U.S. states, including: AL, AR, CO, CT, FL, GA, KS, KY, LA, MS, MO, NY, NJ, OK, SC, TN, and TX, and online at BlueNoteBourbon.com via Bevstack, which can be shipped to: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MN, MO, NE, NJ, NC, NM, NV, NH, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, TX, VA, WA and WI. Please sip responsibly.
Image Credit: Blue Note Bourbon / B.R. Distilling