The Bourbon Lens

The Bourbon Lens is a discussion amongst friends over bourbon. During this project, we look to explore the bourbon industry, learn more about our favorite spirit, and even interview bourbon industry insiders, makers, entrepreneurs, and business people. The Bourbon Lens is about all of this and more. We welcome you on this journey and found that the best way to document it is in podcast form. The Bourbon Lens is made up of 3 friends; Jake, Michael, and Scott. We have different backgrounds, but we all have ties to Kentucky, the bourbon capital of the world. We have all grown to have an appreciation for Kentucky’s native spirit and enjoy our time together over bourbon. We welcome you to pop that cork from your whiskey bottle and join us. We are always looking for show topics, discussion starters, and new whiskies to try. Contact us on social media or send us an email to: TheBourbonLens@gmail.com with ideas, comments, or questions.

82: High West Whiskey 08/03/2020

81: Four Gate Whiskey Batch 6 and 7 07/27/2020

81: Four Gate Whiskey Batch 6 and 7 Four Gate Whiskey Company recently released Batch 6 and 7 of their whiskey series and were nice enough to send us some samples to check out. Batch 6 is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon finished in Cognac and Rum Casks and Batch 7 is their first release of a Rye Whiskey. If you haven't already listened to , be sure to check out that podcast interview with the brand owners, Bill Straub and Bob D'Antoni. Let us know what you think of Four Gate by sending us a note on social media and leaving a comment on this podcast. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on , , & . If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at . Visit our website to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Batch Details from Batch 6 - THE KELVIN COLLABORATION II In April of 2019, we released our very first barrel finished whiskey, dubbed THE KELVIN COLLABORATION. The reception was better than we ever could have hoped for. To follow up on that with our first release in 2020, we returned to the same mash bill that made batch 1 so popular and added a twist. In collaboration with Kelvin Cooperage, we took our now 12 year old high rye Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and filled three massive Cognac barrels and a selection of dark rum barrels Kelvin Cooperage acquired from the same rum distillery as the barrels used to finish batch 1. 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon finished in Cognac and Rum Casks Mash Bill: 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley Non-Chill Filtered 126.4 Proof 2,574 Bottles MSRP: $199.99 Available:now, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Seelbachs.com only TASTING NOTES Nose: Deep brown Taste: Sweet and spicy, the outer palate is coated with sugary molasses and dark rum notes while the rear palate is inundated with mature oak and booze-soaked red grapes. Finish: Medium-long, the rum and barrel tannins linger in a sweet yet oak-filled experience. Batch 7 - River Kelvin Rye 7 year blend of 95-5 (Rye/malted barley) Indiana straight rye (MGP). 113.2 Proof - barrel proof 1484 Bottles produced MSRP: $174.99 Available in KY, Indiana and Seelbachs.com This base whiskey will undergo two barrel finishes in the future for future batches 1st is Kelvin’s Split Stave (holidays 2020) 2nd is Ruby Port-Rum Casks (2021) Four Gate Whiskey is releasing its first-ever Straight Rye Whiskey. Tasting Notes: Appearance: Medium Amber Nose: Mint, candied citrus, lemon zest, black pepper, dill. Taste: A splash of refreshing mint hits the tip of the tongue and is followed by candied oranges and lemon zest on the mid palate. The rear palate is greeted with spicy black pepper and sweet citrus. Finish: Medium in length, the black pepper, spice, and lemon zest coat the mouth with a pleasingly refreshing finish Previously, Four Gate releases have all been either straight bourbon or barrel finished bourbon. This marks the first expansion of the company’s product line into a new spirit since its launch in 2018. /episode/index/show/bourbonlens/id/15353003

80: High Wire Distilling Co. 07/20/2020

79: Double Oaked Bourbon 07/13/2020

79: Double Oaked Bourbon There's no question that twice-barreled bourbons are becoming more popular. However, a large majority these of bourbons are being finished in used barrels which previously contained wine, rum, or brandy. Some, such as the two bourbons we are discussing today are finished in a second, virgin charred oak barrel. We discuss the ever-popular Woodford Reserve Double Oaked and compare it to a bourbon from growing, innovative craft distillery. That is Starlight Distillery and their Carl T. Huber’s Indiana Straight Double Oaked Bourbon Whiskey. We discuss the "double oaked" category and how it doesn't always mean "over-oaked". Sometimes, due to the secondary barrel's characteristics, more unique flavors can be developed in a relatively short period of time. What is your favorite double oaked bourbon? Be sure to reach out and let us know. As always, we appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast player of choice and be sure to leave us a written review. We are grateful of our listeners who help us to spread the word to their friends. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at Visit our website to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers,Scott, Jake, and MichaelThe Bourbon Lens About Starlight Distillery Carl T. Huber’s Indiana Straight Double Oaked Bourbon Whiskey Starlight Distillery’s brand new Double Oaked project begins with a fresh blending of Carl T. bourbon that is at least 4 years old which is used to fill a second, new American Oak barrel from Seguin Moreau in Napa, California. We crafted 5 barrels for the first round of this project. 2 of these 5 barrels have already been selected as private barrel picks, one for a retailer in Washington D.C. and one for a retailer in Indianapolis. Historically, the Seguin Moreau Napa Cooperage only produced wine barrels. When the company decided to start producing bourbon barrels, Starlight Distillery became one of their first clients. For our Double Oaked project, Seguin Moreau created the Vanilla Toast barrel. Our Carl T. bourbon becomes richer, more oaky, bolder, and more flavorful in these barrels. To achieve this, the bourbon has aged for a minimum of 8 months in the barrel.” Carl T. small batch bourbon is a blend of our 3 and 4 grain mashbills (60% corn, 20% rye, 20% malted barley and 51% corn, 20% rye, 20% malted barley, 9% wheat) Source: About Woodford Reserve Double Oaked An innovative approach to twice-barreled bourbon creates the rich and colorful flavor of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. Uniquely matured in separate, charred oak barrels – the second barrel deeply toasted before a light charring – extracts additional soft, sweet oak character. TASTING NOTES (From Woodford Reserve) PROOF - 90.4° APPEARANCE - Deep Amber. NOSE - Rich notes of dark fruit, caramel, sharp honey, chocolate, marzipan and toasted oak. TASTE - A full-bodied mix of vanilla, dark caramel, hazelnut, apple, fruit and spices. FINISH - Long and creamy with lingering hints of honeyed apple. Source: /episode/index/show/bourbonlens/id/15125525

78: Rare Bird 101 Talking Wild Turkey Bourbon 07/06/2020

78: Rare Bird 101 Talking Wild Turkey Bourbon He’s the ultimate Wild Turkey fan and he’s just released a new book on the history of Wild Turkey. You may know David Jennings better as “Rare Bird 101”. He joins us on this week’s episode to “talk Turkey”. Wild Turkey’s history is unique and full of rich family traditions. This is all detailed in the new book, American Spirit: Wild Turkey Bourbon from Ripy to Russell. We enjoyed the book and recommend any bourbon love to pick up the book at ; you’ll develop a new appreciation for that bottle of Wild Turkey 101 you see so frequently on the bar or store shelf. More links can be found below to Rare Bird 101’s website, social media, and more. As always, we appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast player of choice and be sure to leave us a written review. We are grateful of our listeners who help us to spread the word to their friends. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at Visit our website to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers, Scott, Jake, and MichaelThe Bourbon Lens About American Spirit: Wild Turkey Bourbon from Ripy to Russell, by David Jennings The story of Wild Turkey is in many ways the story of bourbon itself. From the struggles of nineteenth-century immigrants, to the triumphs of the longest-tenured master distiller in the world, a bold, uniquely American spirit emerges. American Spirit: Wild Turkey Bourbon from Ripy to Russell is a tribute to the perseverance of two families, each perfecting their passion through extraordinary circumstances. It’s a testament to Jimmy Russell and his sixty-five years of unmatched dedication to quality. And much like a glass of fine bourbon, it’s a journey – a personal reflection on something carefully crafted over time. This book is a love letter to Wild Turkey that all bourbon enthusiasts can raise a glass to and enjoy. Links: Image copyright 2019 David Jennings. Photography by Victor Sizemore. /episode/index/show/bourbonlens/id/15088994

77: Whiskey Lifestyle with 18.21 Man Made 06/29/2020

76: Wanderback - American Single Malt Whiskey 06/22/2020

76: Wanderback - American Single Malt Whiskey American Single Malt Whiskey is on the rise and Wanderback Whiskey is right in the middle and playing a unique role. Phil Downer, Founder of Wanderback Whiskey, joins the Bourbon Lens to discuss the growing market category and what inspired him to create his unique brand. Wanderback produces hand-crafted, limited edition American single malt whiskeys in Hood River, Oregon. Instead of making a flagship whiskey and reproducing the same taste over and over, Wanderback prefers to explore the endless possibilities of American whiskeys through partnerships. Once distilled, their whiskey is transported to the family Farm in Hood River, Oregon for aging. Barrel selection is a deep passion and exploring unique cask types allows the whiskey to unveil its final and fullest expression. This process gives Wanderback the freedom to interpret endless iterations of limited edition American single malt whiskeys. They have currently released 3 batches and intend to release annually in addition to special releases. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at Visit our website to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.Cheers, Scott, Jake, and MichaelThe Bourbon Lens Links: More About The Brand Phil Downer founded Wanderback Whiskey Co. out of a strong passion for the burgeoning American single malt whiskey category, a belief that collaboration and transparency would create better whiskeys, and his desire to revitalize the family cherry orchard in Hood River, Oregon. Phil is currently completing his Brewing and Distilling Diploma at the famed Heriot Watt University in Scotland. Wanderback has a unique mission and production process that combines the experience of top distilleries around the country with the mastery and vision of Wanderback’s founder, Phil Downer, to create small batches, of limited edition American single malt whiskeys in Hood River, Oregon that are unique, bold, and draw on the bounty of the Pacific Northwest. Details on the 3 Batches Enjoyed During this Episode Batch No 1 American single malt whiskeyMade in collaboration with Westland Distillery in Seattle, our first ever American Single Malt whiskey release is an exceptional single malt made from a mix of four flavorful PNW barley malts and aged in new American oak barrels. Winner of the 2018 double gold medal from The American Distilling Institute. Mash Bill: Washington Select Pale Malt, Pale Chocolate Malt, Munich Malt, Crystal MaltAged: Minimum 3 yearsDistillation Type: Double pot distilledBarrel: 53-Gallon High Toast, Low Char New American Oak CasksBottle Proof: 90 Proof Batch No 2 American single malt whiskey Batch No. 2 is made from the same grain bill as our first release. But, this time around we’ve explored unique finishes by transferring the whiskey into Nicaraguan ex-rum and Heaven Hill ex-bourbon barrels at our farm in Hood River, Oregon. The additional six months in these barrels lends the whiskey a sweeter, savory and less smoky flavor profile. Winner of the 2020 gold medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Mash Bill: Washington Select Pale Malt, Pale Chocolate Malt, Munich Malt, Crystal MaltAged: Minimum 4 years in New American Oak then additional 6 months finishing in Nicaraguan ex-rum and Heaven Hill ex-bourbon casksDistillation Type: Double pot distilledBarrel: 53-Gallon High Toast, Low Char New American Oak Casks plus 53-gallon Nicaraguan ex-rum and Heaven Hill ex-bourbon casksBottle Proof: 100 Proof Batch No 3 American single malt whiskeyBatch No. 3 is made from the same grain bill as the prior releases.This batch has been aged for a minimum of 5 years in new american oak and ex-bourbon barrels and finished in port wine casks. The port wine cask and the longer aging period have created a truly complete whiskey to add to our lineup. The effects of the port barrels display a smooth balanced mouthfeel with notes of dried dark fruits, cocoa nib, and toasted pecan. This is not your port forward whiskey. The true beauty of this whiskey is found in a happy medium of influence from the various casks used while not overshadowing the amazing product we started with. Mash Bill: Washington Select Pale Malt, Pale Chocolate Malt, Munich Malt, Crystal MaltAged: 5 years in New American Oak and ex-bourbon barrels with an additional 6 weeks finishing in port wine casks.Distillation Type: Double pot distilledBarrel: 53-Gallon High Toast, Low Char New American Oak Casks plus 53-gallon French ex-port and Heaven Hill ex-bourbon casksBottle Proof: 90 Proof /episode/index/show/bourbonlens/id/14910392

75: Fistful of Bourbon 06/15/2020

74: Rye Whiskey Born From Brewers 06/08/2020

74: Rye Whiskey Born From Brewers Bruce Joseph, Master Distiller of Hotaling & Co., joins us to discuss one of the original craft rye whiskies post-Prohibition. Old Potrero emerged out San Francisco after a few brewers decided to try their hand at distillation in the mid-1990s. Hotaling & Co. (formerly the Anchor Distilling Company) produces several rye whiskies under the Old Potrero namesake. This unique rye whiskey is made from 100% malted rye grain and distilled using pot stills. We had the opportunity to try Old Potrero Straight Rye (aged 4.5 years in new charred oak) and 18th Century Rye (aged 2.5 years in toasted oak), each of which bear some similarities but are unique due to the influence of the barrels used in aging. About Old Potrero and Hotaling & Co. Hotaling & Co., formerly Anchor Distilling Company, was established in 1993 by Fritz Maytag, the same beverage visionary who sparked the craft beer movement with his purchase of Anchor Brewing in 1965. After several decades of exclusively producing beer, Maytag and his team saw an opportunity in craft distilling in the early 1990s. The team began experimenting after realizing that there were no copper pot-distilled whiskies or gins still being made legally in America. The Return of Pot-Distilled Whiskey to the United States Old Potrero recreates the original whiskey of America, and marks the return of pot-distilled whiskey in the United States, with rye being the grain of choice for America’s first distillers. Finding inspiration in the rye whiskies of America’s past and the great single malt whiskies of Scotland, the original distilling team, which included master distiller Bruce Joseph, who now marks his 40th anniversary at Hotaling & Co., began building a distillery. The first whiskey went into barrel in 1994, and the distillery soon began producing three rye whiskies, all pot-distilled from a mash of 100% malted rye at the Hotaling & Co. Distillery on San Francisco’s Potrero Hill: Old Potrero Straight Rye Whiskey (48.5% ABV); Old Potrero 18th Century Style Rye Whiskey (51.2% ABV), and Old Potrero Single Malt Hotaling’s Whiskey (50% ABV), in addition to limited-edition special finishes. Leading spirits historian David Wondrich has since named Old Potrero the “#6 most influential spirit of the last 25 years.” A New Chapter as Hotaling & Co. In 2017, Anchor Brewing Company was sold, and although Anchor Distilling Company was not part of the sale, it relinquished the rights to use the “Anchor” trademark. In early 2018, the new name of “Hotaling & Co.” was announced, a reference to one of Anchor Distilling’s most beloved small batch whiskeys and to the San Francisco legend A.P. Hotaling, who came out West during the Gold Rush and quickly became one of the original and most reputable spirits dealers in the country. Born in 1828, Hotaling moved from New York to California in 1852, where he found his calling in San Francisco as a purveyor of fine whiskeys and proceeded to build the largest liquor wholesaler in the West. In San Francisco drinks culture, Hotaling’s name became immortalized when his whiskey warehouse on Jackson Street survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. Today, Hotaling & Co. is a quickly growing distiller and importer representing a curated portfolio of super-premium artisanal spirits like Luxardo Liqueurs, Nikka Whisky, and HINE Cognac, and celebrates 26 years of production. Learn more at We would appreciate you giving us a 5 STAR RATING on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on , , & . If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at Visit our website to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers! Scott, Michael, & Jake The Bourbon Lens /episode/index/show/bourbonlens/id/14726957

73: Pairing Whiskey with My Cigar Pack 06/01/2020

72: Around the World with Jefferson's Bourbon 05/25/2020

71: Bourbon News and Upcoming Releases 05/18/2020

70: Knob Creek with Fire Chief Mercer 05/11/2020

69: Elijah Craig Single Barrel Picks 05/04/2020

69: Elijah Craig Single Barrel Picks We line up 4 single barrel, store picks of the ever-popular Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon. We also discuss life during the Covid-19 quarantine. The quarantine has provided us with an opportunity to sample some great and some unique whiskies. The four picks we sampled are from: A) Louisville Bourbon Club/Evergreen Liquors, B) Bottles Unlimited, C) Liquor Barn, and D) Keg Liquors Indiana We think we’ve found a clear winner, but we discuss the nuances of store picks and single barrel programs. And, finally, we discuss the prospect of having a single barrel, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. Maybe just a dream of ours. What about you? For more on Elijah Craig, check out the following links from: About Elijah Craig Small Batch Elijah Craig Small Batch is made exclusively from batches of 200 barrels or less of 8- to 12- year-old Bourbon. First brought to market in 1986, Heaven Hill’s Master Distillers were selecting a small number of barrels of the finest Bourbon to make Elijah Craig long before the term “small batch” even existed. It is this attention to detail and superb craftsmanship that give Elijah Craig an ideal balance of age, robust body and rich flavor. Its accolades have included a “Double Gold Medal” at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and two-time “Best of the Best” Bourbon by Whisky Magazine. This signature spirit bears the name of the Rev. Elijah Craig, “The Father of Bourbon” who established his distillery in 1789. He is credited with being the first distiller to age his Kentucky whiskey in charred oak barrels. The clear, unaged corn liquor became transformed into a bold amber liquid with a distinctively smooth flavor that makes Bourbon what it is. Produced by Heaven Hill Distillery and one of its bestselling Bourbons by case volume, it is complemented by Elijah Craig 12-Year-Old Barrel Proof, Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel and Elijah Craig 23-Year-Old Single Barrel in the portfolio. For more information, please visit . We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on , , & If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at . Visit our website to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers! Scott, Michael, & Jake The Bourbon Lens /episode/index/show/bourbonlens/id/14266133

68: Chattanooga Tennessee High Malt Whiskey 04/27/2020

67: Talking Australian With Starward Whisky’s David Vitale 04/20/2020

67: Talking Australian With Starward Whisky’s David Vitale Branching out and exploring Australian Whisky in this week’s episode with David Vitale, Founder of Starward. Starward Australian Whisky was founded in 2007 but recently released in the US with two solid expressions; Nova Single Malt Whisky and Two-Fold Double Grain Whisky. We were able to enjoy both of with Founder David Vitale via Skype. Since its Australian debut in 2016, Starward Nova has received numerous accolades including two gold medals at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition for both the “World’s Best Craft Distilled Whisky” and the “Best Australian Single Malt Whisky”. Starward was also named “Best Australian Whisky Innovator” from Icons of Whisky and crowned “Best Australian Single Malt” by the World Whiskies Awards in 2016 and 2017. Starward was founded by David Vitale in 2007 in Melbourne, Australia and is a modern Australian whisky, matured in Australian red wine barrels. The ingredients used to distill Starward are a day’s drive away from the Melbourne-based distillery. The red wine barrels that mature the whisky are built around a broad cross section of big Australian reds, including 100L Barossa Shiraz barrels. The quick turnaround time between the barrels being disgorged at the winery and arriving at Starward means that the barrels retain much of their original character that is apparent in the flavor and texture of the whisky. You’ll find ample red fruit notes and complex aromas, we definitely enjoyed the departure from our usual American bourbons and ryes. LINKS: Find Starward on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at . Follow David on Instagram at We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on , , & . If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at . -Jake, Michael, Scott The Bourbon Lens *Photo Credit: Starward Whisky /episode/index/show/bourbonlens/id/14056313

66: Whiskey Farmer - Ground to Glass Bourbon 04/13/2020

65: Winemakers Turned Whiskey Distillers 04/06/2020

64: This Bourbon Smells Like What?! 03/30/2020

63: Westland American Single Malt Whiskey 03/23/2020

63: Westland American Single Malt Whiskey We're discussing a new style of whiskey for us, American Single Malt Whiskey. And who better to talk with than Westland Distillery, co-founders of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission. We discuss what makes an American Single Malt Whiskey and the efforts to ratify a definition on a national level to protect the whiskey category. We enjoyed 3 of Westland’s single malts; American Oak, Sherry Wood, and Peated. Made from 100% barley, American Single Malt Whiskey may not share a lot of similarities with Kentucky Bourbon, but we enjoyed exploring the style. The rise in interest of the category has developed a lot of unique offerings across the country to compete with bourbon and rye whiskey. According to the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission, there are six standards of identity. An American single malt must be: Made from 100% malted barley Distilled entirely in one distillery Mashed, distilled and matured in the U.S. Matured in oak casks of a capacity not exceeding 700 litres Distilled to no more than 160 proof (or 80% ABV) Bottled at 80 proof (40% ABV) or more LINKS: NOTE: This show was recorded prior to the outbreak of Coronavirus/ Covid-19 in Seattle Washington and the surrounding areas. We do not address this topic in this show for that reason. We send our best wishes to everyone that has been impacted by this virus and pandemic. Thanks for sticking with us each week, we enjoy interacting with our listeners so please reach out anytime! We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on , , & . If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at . Visit our website to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. - Scott, Michael, & Jake /episode/index/show/bourbonlens/id/13641734

62: Barley & Blarney - St. Patrick's Day 03/16/2020

61: Peggy Noe Stevens 03/09/2020

61: Peggy Noe Stevens In honor of International Women's Day and Women's History Month, we sat down with a very influential woman in the Kentucky Bourbon world. Peggy Noe Stevens has played a huge role in crafting Kentucky's bourbon-ism culture and creating bourbon-centric experiences for many thousands of guests in her career. Even if you didn't know her name before today, you definitely know her work if you've ever traveled on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Peggy Noe Stevens has written a new book to share her knowledge of hosting parties, entertaining, and pairing bourbons with meals in her latest book, “Which Fork Do I Use with My Bourbon?”, releasing in April 2020. Stevens, the first female master bourbon taster in the world, was recently inducted into the 2019 Bourbon Hall of Fame and the 2020 American Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame. In the Mid-1990s, Stevens spearheaded opening the Woodford Reserve Homeplace and co-created the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, which now attracts more than 1 million visitors a year. She founded the Bourbon Women Association to provide an opportunity for women to network and learn. With her company Peggy Noe Stevens & Associates, she also builds distilleries around the country creating unique consumer experiences in food, beverage and tourism.  About the book: "Which Fork Do I Use with My Bourbon?" places America's native spirit at the center of entertaining. Whether elegant or casual, for the holidays or just to celebrate an evening with friends, this book will give you all the tools for planning your bourbon gathering. Conduct a bourbon tasting like a pro, make bourbon the focus of your cocktail party, or plan a delicious, intriguing dinner party that pairs specific bourbons with certain dishes. Plus, some of Kentucky's legendary distilleries share their tips for hosting the ultimate bourbon and dinner event. Along with co-author Susan Reigler, these two Kentucky natives and bourbon industry leaders walk you through all stages of planning and hosting with party tips and tricks, along with recipes for bourbon-centric cocktails and dishes.   LINKS: We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on , , & . If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at . - Scott, Jake, and Michael The Bourbon Lens /episode/index/show/bourbonlens/id/13448282

60: Kentucky Straight Ice 03/02/2020

59: Kentucky Owl and Dixon Dedman 02/24/2020

58: Four Gate Whiskey Company 02/17/2020

58: Four Gate Whiskey Company A big thank you this week to Bill Straub for inviting us into his home to share his whiskey with the The Bourbon Lens. We sat down with Bill Straub and Bob D'Antoni, co-founders of Four Gate Whiskey, and explored the history of their brand as well as their unique take on whiskey. Four Gate is known for its collaborations with Kelvin Cooperage, a craft barrel maker in Louisville Kentucky. Four Gate produces unique batches of barrel-finished, barrel proof, and limited release American Whiskey for bourbon and whiskey enthusiasts. They just released Batch 5 and it's safe to say that every batch is unique. As a small-scale blender, finisher, and bottler of whiskey, Four Gate is currently available in limited markets but is looking to grow its footprint. We discuss the business side of being a non-distilling whiskey producer and how they leverage their close relationship with one of the best craft barrel suppliers in the state. Find out which Batches are our favorites and what Four Gate Whiskey Company has coming soon. More details on the brand can be found on their website: [Stock Photography Courtesy of Four Gate Whiskey] DETAILS ON THE WHISKEY: Batch 1: The Kelvin Collaboration The first batch from Four Gate was the one that started it all for the company. They chose 14 of their oldest and most flavorful barrels of 11 year old whiskey and combined them into Kelvin's ex-sherry rum casks and let them age. The Mash Bill is 74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malted barley. 1732 bottles were released at 61.7%/123.4 Proof. Blend Selection Collaborators: Brian Haara (Bourbon author, aka “Sipp’nCorn,”) Owen Powell & Craig Rupprecht (Louisville Bourbon Hounds), William Hornaday (Kelvin Cooperage). MSRP: $199.99 Batch 2: Outer Loop Orbit Likely the most unique offering from Four Gate, a blend of 5.5 Year and 12 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbons. Then finished in Orange Curaçao-Gin Casks from Kelvin Cooperage. The two bourbons that were blended were a 5.5 Yr Mash Bill: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley and a 12 Yr Mash Bill: 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley. Non-Chill Filtered and bottled at 120.3 Proof. 2,402 Bottles were released with an MSRP of $199.99. Batch 3: Foundation This is a unfinished 9 Year, 9 Month Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon; Mash Bill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley. It is Non-Chill Filtered and bottled at 119.4 Proof. Only 748 Bottles were produced and it carries an MSRP of $199.99. Batch 4: Split Stave™ by Kelvin The Split Stave is a creation of Kelvin Cooperage; Kelvin crafted a series of medium toast casks, then a series of #2 char casks, and finally a third series of #4 char casks. Then William Hornaday and his team at Kelvin broke all the barrels apart and rebuilt them, alternating between toasted staves and #2 char staves on some barrels, and toasted and #4 char staves on others, they have created the first ever “Split Stave™” barrels. It is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; consisting of a 5.5 Year Mash Bill: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley and a 12 Year Mash Bill: 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley. The blend was rested in Split Stave™ barrels for five months. It is Non-Chill Filtered and bottled at 115.6 proof. Only 2700 bottles were released with an MSRP of $174.99. Batch 5: Foundation #2 The second release of Foundation. This is the last of this whiskey the company will release, and only 590 total bottles were produced. It is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey distilled from a mash bill consisting of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley, and checks in at 120.2 proof, and aged 9 years, 9 months. We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on , , & . If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at . Visit our website to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. /episode/index/show/bourbonlens/id/13165271

57: Angel's Envy Founder Wes Henderson 02/10/2020

56: Mother-Daughter Distilling Duo 02/03/2020

56: Mother-Daughter Distilling Duo Michael enjoyed some whiskey from Christine Riggleman (aka Hooch Mama) and Lauren Riggleman Weller (Baby Hooch). Thanks to one of our fans, on Instagram, we were introduced to this Mother-Daughter distilling duo from Silverback Distillery. Learn more about the Silverback team and their lineup of whiskey in this week's episode. Christine and Lauren make a great team and provide a great perspective on life as a growing distillery. Additionally, Silverback is active in their fight for legal and regulatory changes to Virginia laws which hinder their ability to compete in the alcoholic beverage industry in Virginia. Find out more about their fight for parity in the Commonwealth of Virginia in , featuring Silverback Distillery. ABOUT: Silverback Distillery is the only mother-daughter distilling duo in the nation crafting high quality, award-winning spirits. From the refreshing, citrus-forward Strange Monkey Gin to real honey-liqueur infused Blackback Rye Whiskey to the "ultimate butterscotch bomb" Blackback Bourbon, Silverback Distillery strives to produce distinct, flavorful spirits from a unique mix of local grains, mountain water and good ol' American craft(woman)ship. With production facilities and tasting rooms in both the Pocono region of Pennsylvania and in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Silverback offers a unique visitor experience. From mini cocktail flights, barrel smoked cocktails, or whiskey served neat, however you fancy your tasting, our distillery offers a chest-thumping good time. Christine Riggleman () is the CEO and Master Distiller of Silverback Distillery. Born and raised in Manassas, Virginia, Christine married her high school sweetheart, Denver, at the age of 19. Shortly after, Denver joined the Air Force and their journey across the United States and far-off lands began. Christine earned a scholarship from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in 2000 but due to her husband's military career, she turned down the offer. Christine’s passion for culinary delights never wavered and eventually veered into the world of extraordinary spirits. She became fascinated with distilling on a tour of Ben Nevis Distillery in Scotland in 2012, and shortly after began researching distillation and maturation processes with Denver. In 2014, after a year and a half of strenuous planning, research and construction, Silverback Distillery opened its doors. Although Silverback has only been open since August of 2014, Christine’s spirits have racked up accolades, earning 16 international awards among numerous local and statewide awards. In 2014, she was named one of the top gin distillers in the United States through MSN.com, and in 2017 became the first person inducted into the ABV Network's Bourbon Hall of Fame. Lauren Riggleman () is the Assistant Distiller & General Manager for Silverback Distillery. A second generation distiller, Lauren received her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia in 2015. In 2017, she received her Master's Degree in Fermentation Sciences: Brewing and Distilling from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. While spending a year in Scotland, Lauren became a member of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling and spent time researching the similarities and differences between Scottish and American distilling and brewing practices. Lauren loves to get involved with all things whiskey on social media, and has appeared on the ABV Network's podcast The Bourbon Daily a number of times. She joined her mother in the ABV Network’s Hall of Fame as the 39th inductee. Lauren is also teaching the first ever General Certificate in Distilling Course starting at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville. Lauren currently resides in Massanutten, Virginia with her husband, Brant, and their three dogs. As always, we would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on , , & . If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at . Visit our website to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. /episode/index/show/bourbonlens/id/12979277

55: Weller Bourbon Blind Flight 01/27/2020

54: Taconic Double Barrel Maple Bourbon 01/20/2020

53: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon 01/13/2020

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