Bourbon Lens

It is hard to identify the flavors and aromas of whiskey without experiencing those flavors and aromas first.  This is where the Nose Your Bourbon Kit comes into play.  Chris Walters has created a bourbon nosing kit to help bourbon fans identify the various elements of bourbon aromas and tastes.

The compact, travel-ready kit includes 18 different vials of some of the most common smells you may discover in a whiskey; peanut, corn, cinnamon and tobacco just to name a few.

The Nose Your Bourbon Kit is a great way to train your nose to detect subtle notes in bourbon. Spend some of your extra free time developing your whiskey tasting skills with a kit of your own.  Check out the coupon code below.

We've secured a 10% Discount for our listeners and fans, just use the coupon code:  BOURBONLENS
Get your Nose Your Bourbon kit at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NoseYourBourbon

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Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts for news and reviews.

Thanks for listening, 

Scott, Jake, and Michael
The Bourbon Lens

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:

1. Made from 100% malted barley
2. Distilled entirely in one distillery
3. Mashed, distilled and matured in the U.S.
4. Matured in oak casks of a capacity not exceeding 700 litres
5. Distilled to no more than 160 proof (or 80% ABV)
6. Bottled at 80 proof (40% ABV) or more

LINKS:

Westland Distillery
American Single Malt Whiskey Commission
How Westland Is Leading An American Single Malt Revolution
Matt Hofmann, Westland Master Distiller - Interview
What Is American Single Malt
Seattle Scotch Is A Thing. And It's Good.

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 Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected].

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.

- Scott, Michael, & Jake

Is there more to Irish Whiskey than a shot of Jameson on St. Patrick's Day?  We have a lineup of several different Irish Whiskies and found ourselves in uncharted territory as bourbon fans.

Thank you to the contributors who helped make this episode possible. Irish Whiskey Glass Ltd. coordinated with Distillery Products to provide us with some beautiful Túath Irish Whiskey Glasses. These are designed with Irish Whiskey in mind.  We'd encourage our listeners to check them out if they are looking for new and interesting whiskey glassware for tastings or drinking.  Also, a big thanks to Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey and West Cork Distillers for providing several bottles of Irish Whiskey to incorporate into this lineup.

Links, Whiskies and Products:
Instant Expert Irish Whiskey - Requirements
Distillery Products - Wholesale Branded Whiskey Glassware
Túath Glass - Irish Whiskey Glass
Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey
West Cork Distillers
Knappogue Castle Whiskey
Proper Twelve Whiskey
Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition

Be sure to check out Distillery Products for all of your whiskey glassware needs. We appreciate them for sending the Túath glasses for our tasting. Podcast artwork courtesy of Túath Glass.

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 [email protected].

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.

Thank you!

- Jake, Michael, & Scott
The Bourbon Lens

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: 

Order "Which Fork Do I Use with My Bourbon?"

2019 Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Induction

2020 Icons of Whisky - Hall of Fame Induction

Peggy on Instagram

Peggy Noe Stevens & Associates

Forbes Feature: Women Running the Liquor World

Bourbon Women Association

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 [email protected].

- Scott, Jake, and Michael
The Bourbon Lens

What is it like trying to make a name for yourself in the Kentucky Bourbon industry?  Learn about running a small, family-owned business, risk tasking, and networking in Kentucky. We sat down with Rich Finck, Owner and Founder of Kentucky Straight Ice, "The Official Ice of Bourbon". Whether you add water, ice, bitters, or coke to your bourbon, you are bound to enjoy your favorite spirit more when you add a crystal clear cube of Kentucky Straight Ice.

It is the Official Ice of Bourbon™. While not everyone may enjoy their bourbon on the rocks, it is clear (pun intended) that this ice deserves space in a home bar and craft cocktail bars.  Kentucky Straight Ice™ provides a level of elegance, purity, and consistency to the premium spirits industry.

Kentucky Straight Ice™ is The Official Ice of Bourbon™ and it is the perfect pairing for your top-shelf spirit.

Pure, consistent, slow melting, and stunningly clear!

Check out Kentucky Straight Ice on Instagram and on their website.

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 [email protected].

[Logo Artwork Courtesy of Kentucky Straight Ice]

On this week's episode, The Bourbon Lens travels to the historic Beaumont Inn in Harrodsburg, KY to sit down with Kentucky Owl Co-founder, Dixon Dedman. Dixon resurrected his great-great grandfather, Charles Mortimer Dedman's whiskey brand that had fallen victim to prohibition in the early 1900's. The Kentucky Owl name laid dormant until Dixon had the idea to revitalize the family brand. 

Kick back and enjoy our conversation with Dixon, as we talk about growing up in his family's Beaumont Inn, and the historic relevance of this Inn that his family has owned since 1919. Hear Dixon's interesting tales of his great-great grandfather, C.M. Dedman, and what inspired him to bring back a brand that had been a family ghost for nearly 100 years. Dixon talks about what it takes to masterfully blend excellent whiskey and what the partnership with the SPI Group means for Kentucky Owl.

We had a lot of fun sharing some pours with Dixon at the Beaumont Inn, we hope you enjoy the conversation too, Cheers!

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.   And share this post with your friends and followers on social media.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected].

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.

- Jake, Scott, and Michael
The Bourbon Lens

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:  FourGateWhiskey.com

[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 Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected].

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.

On this week's episode, we sit down with the co-founder of Angel's Envy, Wes Henderson, as we discuss the inspiration of the brand and the Angel's Envy product line. Wes is the son of bourbon hall of famer, Lincoln Henderson. Wes and Lincoln had a vision to start their own independent distillery and make unique products by barrel finishing their hand-crafted whiskey. On this episode, we discuss everything from their standard product offerings to their limited edition Cellar Collection releases. We dive into the resurgence of Whiskey Row in downtown Louisville and the role Angel's Envy played in making Whiskey Row what it is today. Wes also reveals what his daily sipper when he is at home relaxing. It may surprise you what an owner of a bourbon distillery sips on in the comfort of his own home. 

If you haven't had a chance to try the new, limited release, Tawny Port Finish Bourbon, from the Angel's Envy Cellar Collection, you may want to do yourself a favor and get your hands on a bottle before they are all gone. So kick back, pour yourself a bourbon, especially an Angel's Envy, and enjoy the conversation we had with Wes Henderson. Cheers!

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 [email protected].

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.

(Stock photos for this post courtesy of Angel's Envy)

Michael enjoyed some whiskey from Christine Riggleman (aka Hooch Mama) and Lauren Riggleman Weller (Baby Hooch). Thanks to one of our fans, PCWhiskey 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 this article from the Washington Post, 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 (@HoochMamaDistiller) 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 (@BabyHooch) 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 Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected].

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.

Wheater Madness and Weller Bourbon! It has been exactly one year since we released our first podcast and this week's episode is a bit of free-for-all. And what better bourbon to discuss than Weller, "The Original Wheated Bourbon". We discuss voting for The Rock for President, old school pro wrestling, the bourbon secondary market, Conor McGregor fandom, and the wild world of Weller Bourbon.  Listen in as we blind taste Weller's standard lineup to find our favorites. We tasted Weller Special Reserve, Weller Antique 107, Weller 12, Weller C.Y.P.B, and the new Weller Full Proof (Check the show notes below for what bourbon each of our glasses contained by number)

We also discuss a new product and app that was recently introduced to us. Oak Bottle sent us one of their "Oak Bottle Mini", which is the 355 ml version of their rapid aging bottles.  Oak Bottle is a white oak container that accelerates the oak aging process of your spirits, wine, and more. The Oak Bottle is charred inside to a medium level and is a great addition to your home bar if you like to tinker with your spirits.  Be sure to check out their companion tasting app which is on the Apple App Store, just search Oak Bottle. For more info: www.oakbottle.com 

Jake's Glass Numbers:

1. CYPB
2. Weller 12
3. Full Proof
4. Special Reserve
5. Antique 107

Scott's Glass Numbers:

1. Antique 107
2. Special Reserve
3. Weller 12
4. Full Proof
5. CYPB

Michael's Glass Numbers:

1. Weller 12
2. Antique 107
3. CYPB
4. Full Proof
5. Special Reserve

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 [email protected].

Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to.