Bourbon, Brass & Beyond

Dan Sneddon and Bob Hird are joined by Chief Master Sergeant Patrick Kilgore (retired) to mark 30 years since the Heaven Hill fire and to honor Veterans Day. They thank veterans and the families who support them, toast them, then taste three Heaven Hill elite bottles: 19 Year, 90th Anniversary, and 22 Year Heritage Collection.

#bourbon #whiskey #heavenhilldistillery #elijahcraig #oldfitzgerald #wheated #toastedbarrel #aged #history #heavenhillfire #veteransday #bourbonbrassandbeyond #chiefsbourboncabinet

• 19-year wheated whiskey (100 proof): Oak-forward and softer than Old Fitzgerald, with orange, caramel and toast and a long finish.
• Heaven Hill 90th Anniversary 9-year (107 proof): A blend of 70% nine-year bourbon and 30% nine-year bourbon aged in heavy-char barrels. Mellow, vanilla, velvety, with great legs. The hosts say taste should matter more than age, and they see strong value for MSRP. They say it hangs with Elijah Craig 12.
• Heritage Collection 22-year (129.2 proof): From Y Rickhouse floors five and six, 2026 release. Dark oak, deeply done caramel and cacao, with stone fruit later. Rich, long and surprisingly drinkable for almost 130 proof, and not too oaky.

• Dan and Chief agree the 22-year stands above the other two, though all three are excellent.
• Chief would pick the Heaven Hill 22 over Pappy 23 at this point, though Pappy 15 remains a favorite.
• The hosts compare it with Pappy 23, Elijah Craig 21 and Elijah Craig 15, and suggest a future blind tasting (next Episode #106).
• They call the 22 a special-occasion pour, discuss the effort and low yield behind a 22-year whiskey, and estimate MSRP around $299-$349 against much pricier aged bottles.

• (0:01) Welcome
• (0:30) Heaven Hill fire anniversary and the lineup
• (1:00) Veterans Day tribute
• (1:36) Why Heaven Hill
• (2:05) 19-year wheated whiskey specs
• (2:32) First tasting
• (4:18) Orange and caramel notes
• (5:06) Oak and age
• (6:36) Comparing it with Old Fitz
• (7:39) Heaven Hill 90th Anniversary
• (8:24) Nine-year release: age vs. taste
• (9:31) Nose and proof
• (10:26) Velvety vanilla
• (11:37) Taste, presentation and value
• (13:26) Heritage Collection 22-year
• (14:19) Comparison to George T. Stagg
• (14:43) Opening bottles to enjoy them
• (16:08) Oak, caramel and cacao
• (17:34) MSRP and rarity
• (18:04) Stone fruit develops
• (19:05) Proof and value
• (22:05) Ranking the 22-year
• (22:45) Where it sits among Heaven Hill
• (24:28) Proposed Elijah Craig 21 blind tasting
• (25:26) Pappy comparisons
• (27:14) Flagship age-stated bourbons compared
• (28:13) Aging and oak balance
• (29:10) Final verdict
• (30:12) Toast and closing

We want to thank Chief for driving out for the podcast! Please check him out @chiefsbourboncabinet on IG, YouTube, and TikTok.

You can also check out Bourbon, Brass & Beyond at https://www.bourbonpod.com or on IG, YouTube, TikTok, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Deezer, and Amazon Music.

Thank you to all who have served. Cheers to you!

Dan Sneddon and Nick Hardy (@nickfrom330) taste through part two of the Wild Turkey Masters Keep trilogy. They cover Revival, Cornerstone Rye, and a 17 year Bottled-in-Bond, then add a bonus single barrel pick. Part three is planned for next weekend.

#wildturkey #masterskeep #russellsreserve #jimmyrussell #eddierussell #brucerussell #campnelson #bourbon #whiskey #rye #podcast #bourbonbrassandbeyond

• Revival, Cornerstone Rye, and the 17 year Bottled-in-Bond, all tasted fresh-cracked
• Recap of part one and the Masters Keep lineup
• Bonus round: a store-pick Wild Turkey single barrel
• Part three lineup and a planned blind showdown
• Appreciation for Eddie Russell's experimental approach and packaging
• Catch-up on recent pours and finds

• Revival (4th release, 101 proof): 12-15 year bourbon finished in 20-year-old Oloroso sherry casks hand-selected by Eddie Russell. Grapey, Armagnac-like nose, dark fruit, herbal, dessert-like, rich and viscous, with a sweet finish and some oaky bitterness possibly from the wine. Nose and palate differ. Neither is a big fan of finished bourbon, but both liked it.
• Cornerstone Rye (2019, batch one, 109 proof): Wild Turkey's oldest rye release, with a 9-year-old backbone and rare 11-year-old barrels. No ethanol on the nose, great legs, turkey funk, rye candy melting, mint on the back end, sweeter with air, and a fantastic aftertaste.
• Bottled-in-Bond 17 year (100 proof): Aged in Camp Nelson rickhouses, DSP KY 67. Best nose of the night, with turkey funk, oak, and plum. Brief tannic oak up front recalls Pappy 23, and the finish lasts. Seen as 100% Eddie style.
• Bonus, Dream Spirits pick: 10.5 year bottled-in-bond single barrel from Prav at Pieces wine shop in DC, picked with Kevin from Bourbon Notes. Cask strength that landed at 100 proof. Cinnamon, vanilla, campfire smoke, caramel, orange, almond icing, and a phenomenal aftertaste. Dan missed it at release and later found it at MSRP.

1. Bottled-in-Bond 17 year
2. Cornerstone Rye and Revival, close for second

• Part three: a blend of 9 and 14 year finished in toasted oak and charcoal-treated barrels; Unforgotten (13 year bourbon and 8-9 year rye, inspired by Forgiven); Voyage (10 year finished in Jamaican rum casks)
• After that: Triumph (2024, 10 year rye) and Beacon
• A top-three blind showdown, the "battle royale"

• 0:31 - Welcome and part two of the Masters Keep trilogy
• 0:59 - Revival: sherry-finished 12-15 year bourbon
• 6:20 - Cornerstone Rye, the oldest Wild Turkey rye
• 11:06 - Part one recap: 17 year, Decades, 1894
• 14:30 - Bottled-in-Bond 17 year and the night's ranking
• 22:26 - Bonus: Dream Spirits 10.5 year single barrel
• 30:30 - Six down; part three lineup and blind showdown plan
• 34:10 - Eddie's experiments and packaging
• 35:04 - Catch-up: Eagle Rare 12 finds, Stagg 2025 at 142.8 proof, missed Colonel Taylor BTAC
• 43:58 - Oddballs: Knob Creek double barreled rye, Lost Lantern 250, Jackson Purchase, Garrison Brothers
• 45:26 - Thanks, Nick, and sign-off

Bourbon, Brass & Beyond- https://www.bourbonpod.com

Dan hosts Chief (Patrick Kilgore) of Chief's Bourbon Cabinet, a retired Air Force senior enlisted leader and bourbon reviewer. They pour E.H. Taylor Single Barrel and talk about the first Colonel E.H. Taylor BTAC release, how relationships with store owners land bottles, and why flavor beats age and proof. Runs about 1 hr 27 min.

#bourbon #podcast #BTAC #buffalotrace #ehtaylor #stagg #bourbonhunting #bourbonbrassandbeyond #chiefsbourboncabinet #chief #dreamcar #MercedesAMG #eaglerare #ER12 #SL65

• Chief calls the debut 15-year, 4-month Taylor BTAC his favorite Taylor. He says it is soft, oaky and dessert-like. Dan agrees and says it completes the Taylor set.
• Dan's friend Calvin won the full BTAC lineup on a $100 raffle ticket. Dan ranked the Taylor second of six.
• Dan compares the BTAC's nose to a 1971 Old Taylor. Chief names Elijah Craig 18 as a favorite.
• Chief got a $39 store pick and a Golden Ticket win at a Baraboo, Wisconsin shop. He also bought his first Pappy 15 through a store-pick raffle.
• Dan names a Pappy 15 and 1960s Old Fitzgerald as his all-time favorites, and praises Log Still's America's 47 blend.
• Eagle Rare 10 is their value pick. Dan's wife found an Eagle Rare 12 in Florida for $56.
• Chief recommends craft distilleries and NDPs, plus store picks.
• Family passions: Dan's drag racing and his son's first car, Chief's sons' military service, and Dan playing taps at military funerals.

0:01 - Welcome and the Taylor BTAC that prompted the episode
1:54 - Pouring Taylor Single Barrel and first impressions
4:44 - Why single barrels vary, and Taylor pricing
6:35 - A $61 Stagg in a Publix and shopping in West Virginia
9:41 - Mom and pop stores and a $46 recommendation
10:43 - Golden Ticket store pick story from Wisconsin
14:37 - Why the Taylor BTAC is Chief's number one
17:50 - Calvin's raffle win and ranking the six-bottle lineup
19:58 - Chasing flavor over proof: Elijah Craig 18, Russell's Reserve
23:15 - The 1954 Mercury and cars with Dad
28:43 - Dan's first car and his dream Mercedes
31:44 - Passing on passions to kids and a family military tradition
36:30 - Playing taps and honoring veterans
41:50 - Family who support the hobby without loving bourbon
45:26 - Friendships made in drop lines and online
51:04 - Favorite Taylor bottles: cured oak, small batch, barrel proof
56:00 - Trying a BTAC at a bar or winning one in a raffle
60:05 - Heaven Hill 22 and planning an in-person visit
61:37 - Dan's favorites: Pappy 15, old Fitzgerald, high-rye mash bills
67:24 - Log Still Distillery and America's 47
69:43 - Michter's master distiller Dan McKay and Bomberger's
72:27 - Eagle Rare 10 as best value
74:23 - Tasting Eagle Rare 12 and secondary prices
80:43 - A relationship-built find: a held Wild Turkey bottle
84:03 - How Dan's bourbon hunting began with George T. Stagg
87:44 - Craft distilleries and NDPs, including Whiskey Odin and Three Witches
94:20 - Where to find Chief and sign-off

• "It's not about the price. And it's not about the age, it's not about the proof, it's about the taste." - Chief

Build relationships with local store owners, enter store-pick raffles, and try craft and NDP bottles. Chief's channel is @ChiefsBourbonCabinet on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Bourbon, Brass & Beyond - https://www.bourbonpod.com

https://linktr.ee/bourbonbrassbeyond

The hosts open Kentucky Boy, a Brown-Forman release from the Kentucky Bourbon Festival honoring master distiller emeritus Chris Morris. They taste it, debate blending, and talk about what sells in the bourbon market. Rich brought the bottle. Please sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight!

#brownforman #bourbon #kentuckyboy #chrismorris #oldforester #birthdaybourbon #woodfordreserve #kingofkentucky #whiskey #bourbonbrassandbeyond

• The release: Kentucky Boy straight bourbon, 100 proof, distributed by Brown-Forman in Louisville. The hosts say it blends higher-aged barrels from Old Forester, Woodford Reserve and Jack Daniel's. Per the label, it marks Morris's 50-year legacy, which began in 1976, and revives a classic Brown-Forman trademark. The MSRP is $99.
• Tasting notes: Butterscotch, good legs, a great nose, and some grape. One host also tastes a 1910-style char and a Woodford Reserve note on the palate. Another compares it to a blend of Old Forester 1910 and the double oaked, and also notes some "old funk."
• No age statement: The hosts wish there were one. They note the multi-brand mix makes it hard to read, and say Barrel Town-style transparency about the components would help. One host says he heard on a podcast that the Old Forester barrels were President's Choice barrels.
• Why don't big distillers blend more? The hosts say big producers bring trusted profiles, while blending is more of a gimmick for small brands. They wonder whether blending across brands dilutes the individual brands.
• Pricing and repeat releases: They like a unique, accessible bottle at $99 rather than $500, and would chase a yearly or every-five-years Kentucky Boy as long as it doesn't become overpriced.
• Market talk: They discuss whether Beam white label is selling poorly versus special releases. Others counter that bottom-shelf bourbon still sells to party and bar buyers. Rowan's Creek under $50 gets a recommendation.
• Festival takeaways: This was the bottle that went crazy at KBF. Reports they cite say smaller producers, NDPs and lower-priced bottles shone this year over highly allocated ones. Their view is that a gimmick sells a bottle but flavor gives it legs.
• Side notes: One host recounts trading two single reds for all seven Benchmark bottles and suggests a future Benchmark episode, including a comparison with E.H. Taylor Single Barrel.

00:01 - Introducing Kentucky Boy and the Chris Morris tribute
00:29 - Which barrels went into the blend
01:29 - Ric reads the label and Morris's career highlights
03:23 - First sip: butterscotch and banana pairing
03:49 - Wishing for an age statement and blend transparency
04:19 - President's Choice barrels and the nose
05:23 - Palate: 1910 char meets Woodford Reserve
06:09 - Why big distillers should blend more often
07:28 - Is it a Brown-Forman brand or a standalone?
07:59 - $99 MSRP and accessible allocated bottles
08:58 - Do white labels or special releases sell?
09:57 - Rowan's Creek and the Benchmark trade
11:26 - Surprising profile and chasing a repeat release
11:55 - KBF takeaways: gimmick versus flavor
12:44 - Final verdict and sign-off

"It sells on the gimmick. It gets legs on the actual flavor."

Bourbon, Brass & Beyond - https://www.bourbonpod.com

Bourbon Brass and Beyond: Wild Turkey 101 Night with a 1983 Bottle, the 70th Anniversary Russell's and a Japan-Only 12 Year

Dan and Calvin open three Wild Turkey 101 pours, plus a 120-proof gold foil bottle for the nightcap, and compare how age, proof and mouthfeel shape each one. Come for the tasting notes and the story behind a bottle found in an estate basement. Stay for their take on how Bruce Russell may steer the brand after Jimmy and Eddie.

#wildturkey #russellsreserve #jimmyrussell #eddierussell #russellryeguy #bourbon #whiskey #101 #bourbonbrassandbeyond

In this episode

• Catching up on the last episode: They still rate the BTAC Colonel Taylor as the best Taylor Calvin has had. It was underwhelming on first opening, then showed butterscotch and soft caramel on the second round.
• The 1983 Wild Turkey 101: This is the host's second bottle of it. It came from an estate where they went to look at a piano, and the seller also had bourbon barrel furniture and cases of liquor in the basement. They describe dusty funk, orange, a little rye, a very oily mouthfeel, pepper and sweetness trading places across sips, and a consistent finish that doesn't turn bitter.
• Why the older bottle finishes differently: They suggest the oil keeps the flavor from washing away, and that a lower barrel entry proof then compared with higher entry proofs now may play a part. They also discuss whether dustiness and earthiness are the same thing.
• The 70th Anniversary Russell's: Described as curated by Jimmy Russell, 8 years old and 101 proof, though the age statement is uncertain (they guess a minimum of seven or eight years). Notes include molasses-like sugar on the nose, caramel, butterscotch, mint, orange marmalade, balanced rye and great legs.
• The Wild Turkey 12 Year: A Japan exclusive bought through a third party at a good price. Some say it is discontinued, but the host isn't sure. It is darker, with sweeter caramel, a hint of licorice, oak, spice, and a mouthfeel between the 1983 and the 70th Anniversary. They note that 101 proof is rare for an export bottle, and they praise the packaging.
• The Wild Turkey leadership handoff: They discuss Jimmy, Eddie and now Bruce Russell, and how Bruce is starting with a throwback release.
• Nightcap with the gold foil, 120 proof: The youngest barrel is 16 years old. They find less ethanol on the nose than the earlier pours, with deep brown sugar, a hint of cherry, a spicy side-of-tongue note and lasting flavor.
• Allocation frustration: They complain about drops and raffles for bottles like the gold foil and Russell's 15, and joke about the Ohio liquor control system's selection.
• Coming up: The Masters Keep series parts two and three, an Ass Pocket Whiskey series and an Elijah Craig series.

Timestamps

(0:00) Welcome, recovery from last episode, Colonel Taylor recap
(0:57) Tonight's three Wild Turkey 101s
(1:53) Origin of the 1983 bottle: the estate and the basement
(3:57) Why the older bottle's finish stays consistent
(6:17) Jimmy, Eddie and Bruce Russell
(7:16) Rye versus sweet bourbon preferences
(7:40) Setting up the 70th Anniversary Russell's
(10:00) Nose and palate of the 70th Anniversary
(12:37) The story of the Japan-only 12 year
(14:22) Tasting the 12 year: oak, spice, licorice
(16:00) Japanese label and packaging
(18:01) Scotch, peat and Ohio liquor control jokes
(20:48) Drop frustrations and Russell's events
(21:43) Gold foil nightcap
(24:07) Cherry note and 16-year-old youngest barrel
(25:17) Weekly updates and family news
(27:47) Closing thoughts on Wild Turkey and upcoming series

Bourbon, Brass & Beyond - https://www.bourbonpod.com

Bourbon Brass and Beyond celebrates its 100th episode with a tasting of six sought-after Buffalo Trace Antique Collection whiskeys. Dan, Bob, Calvin, Michael, and Rich compare how age, proof, and whiskey style shape each pour—and share different rankings along the way.

#buffalotrace #ehtaylor #sazerac #stagg #weller #wlw #saz18 #thomashhandy #rye #bourbon #tasting #episode100 #bourbonbrassandbeyond #bourbonpod #podcast #BTAC

• The hosts kick off the anniversary episode with the story behind Calvin’s raffle win and the lineup.
• Sazerac 18 brings notes of plum, licorice, and oak, with mellowed rye spice and a long finish.
• Colonel Taylor.

H. Taylor** surprises the group with a mature character, a rich nose, and a smoother profile than they expect.

• Eagle Rare 17 delivers cherry, stone fruit, oak, and a lingering finish that stays true to the Eagle Rare profile.
• William Larue Weller stands out for its wheated sweetness, grape notes, and sustained finish.
• Thomas H. Handy sparks debate over its assertive rye spice, citrus, and heat.
• George T. Stagg closes the tasting with high proof, cherry, dark tobacco, and a powerful finish.
• The hosts discuss how proof, age, and personal preference affect their rankings—and how whiskey can change after a bottle is opened.
• The episode wraps with thanks to listeners and a look ahead to episode 101.

00:00 — Celebrating 100 episodes
02:18 — Starting the tasting with Sazerac 18
03:54 — The story behind the Sazerac
05:44 — Plum, licorice, oak, and softened rye spice
10:07 — Bottle design and whiskey presentation
13:23 — Moving on to E.H. Taylor
16:34 — E.H. Taylor’s history and mature character
19:54 — Bourbon community stories
23:23 — Introducing Eagle Rare 17
24:42 — Eagle Rare tasting notes and discussion
33:33 — William Larue Weller’s wheated bourbon legacy
37:02 — Weller’s grape notes and lingering finish
43:13 — The first round of rankings
47:43 — Thomas H. Handy and the history of rye in the Sazerac
50:09 — Comparing Handy with Sazerac 18
55:05 — Introducing George T. Stagg and discussing high proof
57:21 — The history behind Stagg
59:25 — Comparing recent Stagg releases
63:29 — Final rankings
68:24 — What makes a rye whiskey stand out
74:39 — How bottles can change after opening
77:02 — Closing thoughts and a preview of episode 101

“Episode 100. It’s a hundred? Holy cow.”

“It drinks well under proof.”

“What happens when this grows up?”

Bourbon, Brass & Beyond - https://www.bourbonpod.com

https://www.bourbonbrassandbeyond.com

Buffalo Trace Distillery - https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com

Episode 99 — 99 Problems, The Bourbon Ain’t One

Dan and Steph celebrate nearly a year of Bourbon, Brass & Beyond and look back on the show’s first 99 episodes while tasting Jack Daniel’s 10, 12, and 14 Year releases. Along the way, they revisit favorite bottles, memorable guests, recording-room changes, and how their whiskey preferences have evolved.

In this episode

• Dan and Steph mark episode 99 and reflect on the show’s growth.
• They compare Jack Daniel’s 10, 12, and 14 Year releases, discussing proof, flavor, heat, and value.
• They describe the 10 Year as easy-drinking but less complex, the 12 Year as sweeter and more layered, and the 14 Year as hotter but more complex.
• They look back at early episodes, from Van Winkle Lot B to whiskey flights and vintage bottles.
• They share stories about memorable guests and visits, including conversations with Wally at Log Still and Preston Van Winkle.
• They talk about evolving palates, including Steph’s changing attitude toward rye whiskey.
• They reflect on the podcast’s technical challenges and the changes to their recording space.
• They preview a big group celebration for episode 100.

Chapters

00:00 — Episode 99 kickoff and the show’s milestone
00:58 — Looking back at the first episodes
01:23 — Jack Daniel’s 10, 12, and 14 Year tasting
03:41 — The podcast’s early recording setup
04:28 — Top-floor aging and the whiskey’s dark color
05:37 — Echo problems and other recording challenges
06:52 — First impressions of the 10 Year
08:12 — Drinkability versus flavor in the 10 Year
09:11 — Early bourbon flights and mash bill comparisons
11:43 — The first remote guest episode
12:35 — Visiting Log Still and recording with Wally
14:46 — Ass Pocket Whiskey and favorite pours
16:56 — Moving on to the 12 Year
18:15 — Spice, caramel, and marshmallow notes in the 12 Year
20:53 — College drinking memories and discovering bourbon
22:05 — Elijah Craig, Old Forester, and memorable releases
24:14 — Stories about Bill Samuels Jr. and Maker’s Mark
25:36 — Family milestones and driver’s permits
28:39 — Elijah Craig 15 versus 18 and recording with Nick
30:30 — Vintage Yellowstone and Old Taylor
32:06 — Opening the 14 Year and discussing batch variation
34:04 — Heat, molasses, and the 14 Year’s finish
36:01 — Why the 14 Year feels the most complex
37:28 — Comparing value and availability across the lineup
40:01 — Limited releases and “tater” culture
42:29 — Buffalo Trace, Tom’s Foolery, and a barrel pick
46:23 — The podcast room renovation
53:41 — Buzzard’s Roost, Preston Van Winkle, and a lost recording
55:54 — Wild Turkey, vintage bottles, and recent episodes
58:13 — Hamish joins the conversation
59:20 — Plans for the episode 100 celebration
61:23 — Closing thoughts and where to find the show

Listener notes

New listeners can start from episode one to hear how the show began. The hosts also point listeners back to episode 98 for the John Wayne bottle discussion and tease a group tasting for episode 100.

Bourbon, Brass & Beyond - https://www.bourbonpod.com or https://www.bourbonbrassandbeyond.com

Link Tree - https://www.Linktr.ee//BourbonBrassBeyond

Dan and Steph welcome Brandon and Joe from Bidaste, an auction and estate sale company. They discuss the final auction of a John Wayne collector’s memorabilia, compare several bourbons, and share how online auctions have transformed the estate-sale business.

#dukespirits #johnwayne #wildturkey #bidaste #auctions #bourbon #whiskey #memorabelia #theduke #bourbontasting #history #estatesales #bourbonbrassandbeyond #bourbonpod

• The story behind Bidaste’s name and how Brandon and Joe built the business together.
• The third and final auction from a collector’s extensive John Wayne and Western memorabilia collection.
• John Wayne’s connection to bourbon and a tasting of Duke Spirits alongside several Wild Turkey bottles.
• Why old bourbon can differ in flavor, texture, and finish from newer releases.
• Why china cabinets, buffets, pianos, and pool tables can be harder to sell than expected.
• How online auctions reach buyers beyond the local area—including international customers.
• The importance of having auctioneers assess belongings before throwing anything away.
• How trends influence demand for collectibles such as uranium glass, hen-on-nest pieces, and fairy lamps.
• Practical advice for moving heavy items and managing estate-sale deadlines.

00:00 — Welcome and introduction to Bidaste
00:31 — The third and final John Wayne memorabilia auction
01:53 — The collection and John Wayne commemorative bourbon
03:52 — The meaning behind the name Bidaste
05:20 — How Brandon and Joe started working together
06:48 — Building the business around customer service
10:40 — John Wayne’s yacht and the iceberg story
12:27 — Items that can be surprisingly difficult to sell
14:35 — Why online auctions have grown in popularity
16:29 — Reaching buyers across the country and around the world
17:28 — Tasting the Wild Turkey 101 8-year release
19:26 — How bourbon proof and aging affect flavor
21:28 — Favorite bourbons and choosing by mood
23:16 — John Wayne auction highlights
23:46 — What a lapidary auction includes
24:39 — Conversation about finding a first car at auction
28:41 — Comparing an older Wild Turkey bottling with a newer one
30:16 — Finding bourbon and collectibles at auctions
31:28 — Why pianos and pool tables need professional movers
34:39 — How niche resale markets create demand
35:37 — Estate-sale deadlines and planning
37:55 — Why not to throw belongings away before an auctioneer looks
39:21 — The stories behind collections and bourbon
42:43 — Tasting the Austin Nichols Archives 16-year bourbon
45:19 — Flavor notes and developing a palate
47:15 — How barrel aging shapes bourbon
48:41 — Letting a newly opened bottle of bourbon rest
51:26 — Stoneware jugs, crocks, and collectibles
54:06 — How buyers determine auction prices
55:22 — Collectible trends and changing demand
56:41 — John Wayne auction items to watch
58:46 — Bidaste’s website and shipping information

“We do things the way we would like to do work consignments and deal with consigners how we like to be treated.”

“We can bring the willing able buyers to the table. They’re gonna tell us what it’s gonna sell for today.”

“Leave the moving to the professionals.”

• Ask an auctioneer to assess belongings before discarding them; items that seem ordinary may have value.
• Plan for professional moving and setup when buying heavy items such as pianos or pool tables.

Bidaste- https://www.bidaste.com

Bourbon, Brass & Beyond - https://www.bourbonpod.com

Dan and Bob welcome Dude Poole and JD Fritzges from The Bourbon Hunters Podcast for a conversation about bourbon history, book research, and the bottles that keep bourbon fans curious. Dude shares the inspiration behind Men Who Made American Bourbon and explains how he works through public records to separate documented history from marketing lore. The group also discusses future books on Prohibition, E. H. Taylor, and the J. W. Dant family. Between pours, they compare barrel picks from Old Forester, Jack Daniel’s, Maker’s Mark, Russell’s, Nulu, and Old Louisville—and talk about why smaller producers and thoughtful single-barrel selections can be more rewarding than chasing rare bottles. Dan also traces his interest in bourbon to his grandfather’s J. W. Dant highball and the search that led him to bourbon collecting and podcasting.

#bourbon #history #bourbonpod #bourbonbrassandbeyond #thebourbonhunters #menwhomadeamericanbourbon #dudepoole #fritterpour #whiskey #prohibition #bourbontasting #Brownforman #ehtaylor #buffalotrace #interview #author #jwdant #elijahcraig #reading #book #bourbonbook #oldforester #oldlouisville #jackdaniels #tanyardhill

• Why Dude wanted bourbon’s real stories told, including the facts that complicate familiar legends
• How Elijah Craig, James Crow, George Garvin Brown, Weller, and E. H. Taylor shaped bourbon
• Dude’s research process, upcoming book ideas, and “mash bill genealogy”
• Tasting notes and favorite barrel-pick experiences
• How NDPs and bourbon clubs have shifted the focus from “unicorn” hunting
• The history of J. W. Dant and the personal story behind JD’s search for the brand
• A lively detour into podcasting, collecting, and life not going to plan

00:40 — Dude’s book and the value of bourbon history
02:10 — Research, new discoveries, and the two-volume plan
04:06 — Future books on E. H. Taylor and J. W. Dant
08:10 — The Buffalo Trace visit that sparked JD’s research
11:57 — Bottling, consumer trust, and bourbon’s evolution
13:22 — Old Forester 100 tasting notes
16:38 — Mash bills, bourbon flavors, and the art and science of whiskey
27:57 — Dan’s grandfather and the J. W. Dant connection
34:16 — Old Louisville and how bourbon changes in the glass
36:09 — NDPs, blending, and the changing bottle hunt
45:06 — Jack Daniel’s single-barrel tasting
54:43 — Favorite barrel picks and the Maker’s Mark blending process
63:02 — Why the best barrel-pick experiences can be simple and hands-on
76:53 — George Garvin Brown and the legacy of Old Forester
81:31 — The people and innovations behind bourbon history
86:44 — Volume two and the J. W. Dant family story
91:52 — Where to find Dude’s book
95:22 — Plans for a December crossover episode“I like to hear the real stories.”

To find Dude's book: Men Who Made American Bourbon find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or for a signed copy:

Dude Poole - https://www.dudepoole.com

The Bourbon Hunters - https://www.thebourbonhunters.com

Bourbon, Brass & Beyond - https://www.bourbonpod.com or https://www.bourbonbrassandbeyond.com

French Oak Bourbon Face-Off: Penelope Omega vs Maker's Mark 46 French Oaked Cask Strength

Two French oak finished bourbons go head to head in this episode of Bourbon Brass and Beyond, with a focus on how finishing, mash bill, age, and proof shape the final pour. Dan and Bob compare Penelope Omega 11 Year and Maker's Mark 46 French Oaked Cask Strength, then dig into Maker's history, tours, and a few personal stories along the way.

#penelope #bourbon #makersmark #frenchoak #whiskey #billsmauelsjr #wheated #bourbontasting #podcast #bourbonbrassandbeyond #barrelseasoning

Key topics

In this episode: Dan and Bob compare Penelope Omega 11 Year and Maker's Mark 46 French Oaked Cask Strength side by side.

Penelope Omega is introduced as an 11 year bourbon finished 3 to 4 years in French oak, bottled at 109.8 proof.

Maker's Mark 46 French Oaked Cask Strength is bottled at 112 proof and is discussed as a toasted French oak stave finish.

They break down Penelope's mash bill as 79% corn, 10% rye, 1% barley, and note that it reads as corn-forward with a toasted nose.

The Penelope shows notes of caramel, vanilla, sweet oak, raisin, and dark fruit, with a medium finish and strong mouthfeel.

They compare it to prior Penelope estate releases and suggest the older single barrels may have been softer and more muted than this bottle.

Maker's Mark gets a deeper history segment, including the Samuels family, Bill Samuels Jr., the move from engineering and NASA toward whiskey, and the brand's long-standing wheated style.

Dan and Bob discuss how Maker's finishes its whiskey after the core liquid is aged, including stave seasoning and stave finishing rather than true single-barrel variation.

They note the Maker's nose is sweeter and more pronounced than Penelope's, with classic caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar notes.

The episode closes with a direct preference comparison: Penelope wins on flavor and finish for them, Maker's wins on nose.

Timestamps

00:00 - French oak theme and the two bottles on deck

01:26 - Penelope Omega mash bill and proof breakdown

02:30 - First impression of Penelope's toasted nose

03:28 - Penelope's mouthfeel, finish, and flavor

04:33 - Raisin and dark fruit notes from French oak

05:23 - Comparing Penelope to earlier estate single barrels

06:26 - Penelope estate packaging and proof differences

08:39 - Maker's Mark 46 French Oaked Cask Strength intro

09:08 - Bill Samuels Jr. story and Maker's origin

10:38 - Makers' wheated mash bill and Pappy Van Winkle yeast

11:07 - Tasting prep for Maker's French Oaked 46

12:17 - Maker's sweeter nose and caramel vanilla profile

13:48 - Maker's flavor evolution and familiar top-of-tongue note

15:05 - How Maker's uses stave finishing after aging

16:18 - Woodford, Buffalo Trace, and distillery tour comparisons

17:51 - Why this is a cask strength version of the standard whiskey

18:52 - Flavor vs nose: Penelope and Maker's side by side

19:19 - Star Hill Farm, Heart releases, and Cellar Aged talk

20:33 - Kids, permits, and the chaos of teen driving years

22:20 - Looking for Wyatt's first car and a father-son road trip idea

23:19 - Learning to drive young, including a 13-year-old road home

24:38 - Final verdict: Penelope on flavor, Maker's on nose

25:36 - Closing thoughts and future guest tease

26:06 - Subscribe, comment, and where to find the show

Bourbon, Brass & Beyond - https://www.bourbonbrassandbeyond.com