Lagralane Spirits
How unbelievable it feels to say this, but... the final episode is here! In the Season 3 finale, we bring you an intimate and spirited conversation with Mark Carter, the founder of Old Carter Whiskey. This entrepreneur, mentor, and friend has built a Bourbon legacy through grit, camaraderie, and unyielding positivity. Tune in to hear about Mark’s journey, his philosophy on life, and the waiting list for a bottle of Old Carter that has become a legend in of itself. In this episode, we are also joined by Rob Beatty, the Founder of the Kentucky Black Bourbon Guild, who looks to Mark...
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In this episode, we take a tour of Bespoken Spirits, the innovative distillery that is transforming the Bourbon industry, one molecule at a time. Instead of waiting years for whiskey to age in barrels, Bespoken Spirits has developed a method that replicates the aging process in just a few days. Tune in to hear how this distillery uses cutting-edge technology like gas chromatographs and mass spectrometers to create bourbons that are delicious, sustainable, and accessible. This episode is for everyone—whether you’re a science enthusiast, a bourbon lover, or simply curious about what the heck...
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In this episode, we meet with Tia and Sean Edwards, a couple whose journey began at a gas station and led to redefining the bourbon industry. Tia and Sean’s Lexington-based distillery, Fresh Bourbon, is on a bold mission to make bourbon accessible to everyone. Their journey is not just about crafting a drink but about reclaiming ownership (a word that speaks volumes to us) in an industry that hasn’t always been inclusive. We recorded this episode with Sean and Tia shortly after an interactive “build-your-own Old Fashioned” tasting experience, led by Nate Taylor, the VP of Brand...
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We reconnect with Jason’s long-time friend, Cyndi Gatterdam, and her husband, Chris Grecco. Cyndi has 20+ years experience in the bourbon industry, currently serving as the District Sales Manager at Republic National Distributing. In classic “Cocktail Confession” fashion, Jason and Yvonne discuss how bourbon has become an integral part of culture, a symbol of identity, and a bridge between generations. In this episode, we enjoy homemade cocktails by Jason – self-dubbed the “Best At-Home Bartender in Studio City.” The sounds of Jason making another round of drinks, setting...
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In this episode, Jason and Yvonne take listeners on a trip through the grounds of the Old Taylor Distillery – a historic site that was abandoned for over 30 years before Castle and Key brought it back to life in 2018. At the time of our visit, our lovable guest and guide, Valerie (Val) Colella, was Castle & Key’s Single Barrel Specialist and National Brand Ambassador. Join us as we explore the castle-inspired architecture, the rich history of bourbon-making, and the untold stories of the women and enslaved individuals who shaped the industry. As you listen to this episode, you’ll...
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What does it take to break into an industry that hasn’t made room for you? For Victor Yarbrough and his brothers, the answer is clear: a whole lot of grit, a little bit of chemistry, and an unshakable commitment to their community. In this episode, we sit down with Victor, one-third of the trio behind Brough Brothers Distillery — one of the only Black-owned distilleries in Kentucky. In the Spirit of Bourbon: Brough Brothers was recorded in 2024. You know what that means? Any Bourbon releasing “this year” …is available now. So pour yourself a glass of Brough Brothers — this is one...
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In this special episode, we chatted LIVE with Rob Beatty, Founder of the Kentucky Black Bourbon Guild — a groundbreaking initiative to preserve hidden histories, promote inclusivity, and celebrate the legacy of African Americans in bourbon culture. Rob was instrumental in the making of Lagralane Spirits Season 3. He connected us to several incredible guests this season and guided us through Louisville and Lexington’s rich Bourbon culture. It was a delight to pick Rob’s brain again. So please pour a glass of your favorite Bourbon and hear from a multi-faceted entrepreneur who is...
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In this episode, we meet with Elizabeth McCall, the Master Distiller of Woodford Reserve, who leads a tasting that feels more like an art class than a lesson in Bourbon. Elizabeth shows us how pairing curated foods with Bourbon releases new flavors. And together, we experience how pairing a few good stories with Bourbon can unlock an unforgettable conversation. Our greatest takeaway? Bourbon is more than a drink — it’s a way to explore identity and history. This episode also features the voices and palettes of our dear friend, Cyndi Gatterdam and our Producing Team. We hope...
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Jason and Yvonne share a quick message about this special season of Lagralane Spirits.
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Is food central or trivial to the formation of identity? In our final episode of the season, hosts Jason and Yvonne Lee welcome Yvonne’s sister, Chef B.B. Huff to the show. Chef Huff left the corporate world to begin her own company, , which is a boutique catering firm specializing in storytelling through food. In this episode, these three bring food into the story of our lives. They ask questions like how do we use ingredients and dishes to tell a story? How does art and the story of food connect us to the past? What is food’s role in preserving culture? This spirited...
info_outlineWar, marriage, and opportunity are just some of the reasons we might uproot our entire lives from one homestead to another. And while there are incredible opportunities that come with leaving all that we know and love behind, there can also be immense violence and loss -- be it to culture, identity, or life. What is at stake for those who try to assimilate into a brand new world?
In episode two of Lagralane Spirits, The Violence of Migration, we tell our own migration stories and explore what our roots mean to our past, present, and future. We dig into this joy and pain with guest Natividad Lagramada Huff, also affectionately known as “Mama Nattie.”
This week:
- Enjoy a Sazerac and share this recipe’s origins
- Yvonne asks, “What gets lost in migration?”
- Yvonne dives into the importance of language in her biracial household
- Yvonne shares with Jason how war played a part in how her parents met
- Jason poses a question, “Our complete identity cannot be wrapped up in our name, so does that make us other?”
- Jason shares his thoughts on the current racial climate in America and how we are going through a reconstruction era again where we’re finding out more information about the meaning of race in our country
- Jason and Yvonne talk to Mama Nattie, Yvonne’s mother, about her migration story from the Philippines to The United States
- Mamma Nattie explains to Yvonne that when she moved to America, she didn’t have many people to speak Tagalog with and how that affected her using the language at home, and why it wasn’t taught to her children.
- Mamma Nattie tells Yvonne and Jason, “Wherever you guys are I’ll be home."
Cocktail: Sazerac
Recipe
- 1.5 oz of Cognac or Rye Whiskey
- 1.4 oz Absinthe
- 1 Sugar Cube
- 3 dashes of Peychaud's Bitters
History & Meaning
The Sazerac was invented in 1838 by Antoine Amedie Peychaud. Peychaud was a Creole apothecary who immigrated to New Orleans from the West Indies. This drink was invented in the same year the forced migration of the Trail of Tears took place. Peychaud was living in New Orleans during the Slave Trade, which forcibly migrated and sold millions of West African people to slave trading ports all over the New World, including a port in New Orleans.