Kentucky Owl Mardi Gras XO Rum Cask Limited Edition starts as Kentucky Owl’s 11 year old rye whiskey, which was then finished in 38 freshly emptied Bayou Mardi Gras XO Rum casks. According to the press release, the whiskey was finished for over a year, entering the rum barrels in March and aging through two summers. Is it worth 500 a bottle? Listen to see if the guys think so in the latest Proof Positive Review!

This is the newest release in their Reserve Series line for Spring 2023. Requiring careful aging and thoughtful blending, and this 8-Year-Old Straight Rye Whiskey embodies the power of both. After aging their rye in new charred American white oak barrels for at least 8 years, their distillers crafted this complex rye with notes of dried cherries, clove, and smoked vanilla on the nose. A perfect balance of sweet and spice, this rye whiskey has a bold palate with flavors of candied ginger, sweet orange, molasses, and nut brittle.

This bottle had an original release in 2021 which earned a Gold Medal from the ASCOT Awards and a Double Gold from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The guys sit down with a nice bottle of The Phoenix Blend and talk to 2XO master whiskey blender Dixon Dedman. Known for reviving Kentucky Owl, which is now owned by Stoli, The Phoenix Blend is Dedman’s re-entry into the bourbon world after he left from Kentucky Owl, a brand founded in 1879 by his great-great-grandfather, Charles Mortimer Dedman. Dixon Dedman relaunched Kentucky Owl in 2014, and the brand was acquired by Stoli in 2017. Make sure to give the show a review on Apple, Spotify, and Google. Thank you for listening and cheers!

The guys try this extremely different type of Proof Positive. About the bourbon based off the company site: A complex, welcoming bouquet of blackberry and black cherry blended with aromas of rich honey, vanilla, and baking spices. Hints of the original premium grape blend take the lead on the palate with a touch of sweetness, turning to a ringing, balanced finished. Listen to our take and review on this particular bourbon.

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is an annual release from Old Forester celebrating its founder, George Garvin Brown. Birthday Bourbon is released every year on September 2nd in honor of George Garvin Brown’s birthday. The 2022 release of Birthday Bourbon is bottled at 96 proof, has an 11 Year age statement. This small batch bourbon was hand selected by Master Distiller Chris Morris for its unique character and flavor.

A truly special whiskey is the culmination of a few key characteristics: Experience. Teamwork. Quality in every step. And last but not least, passion.  At Old Carter Whiskey Co, it’s their promise to ensure you can taste our expertise and inspiration with every unique release, and in every sip.

Old Carter is the passion project of “flavor chaser” partners Mark Carter and Sherri Carter, whose beverage industry roots trace back to award-winning careers in the California wine business. After resurrecting the long-dormant bourbon brand Kentucky Owl in 2011, the two were irreversibly hooked on the art of whiskey making and blending. Kentucky Owl sold unexpectedly in 2017, but by then Sherri & Mark were so enamored with the vibrant spirit of Kentucky’s whiskey community, they made a commitment to carry on their love affair with whiskey by making a statement of their own, right in the Bluegrass. And Old Carter Whiskey Co was born.

Headquartered in Louisville, the Old Carter team produces Straight Ryes, Bourbons and American Whiskies in locations throughout Kentucky. Each bottle is personally crafted by Mark and Sherri, who create every blend and select every single barrel program release together.

For some, whiskey is a business. For them, it’s a labor of love.

The guy's got another great rendition of proof positive with a wonderful bottle of brown water. The third release in the Old Forester 117 Series sees the company taking the standard 1910 Old Fine Whiskey and aging it for an extra 18 months in a secondary barrel. This extra aging affords the bourbon its name “Extra Old.” According to Old Forester Master Taster Jackie Zykan, “This release in The 117 Series is a curious exploration into the intensity of the proprietary heavily charred 1910 barrel. This liquid was allowed to rest for 18 months in this secondary barrel, extracting significantly more of the heavily charred influence.” See what the guys think about this bourbon on this week's episode. 

The guys are joined by special guest Freddie Johnson at an event hosted by the Bourbon Podcast to raise money for bulletproof vests for police K-9's. Here's some background on Freddie Johnson and what he means in the world of bourbon:

Freddie Johnson is a third generation employee at Buffalo Trace Distillery and serves as its Distillery VIP Visitor Lead.  Born in Paris, KY (Bourbon County), he spent some of his early childhood summers in the mountains of Breathitt County with his maternal grandfather who was a coal miner and friend to the moonshiners.  The family moved to Frankfort, KY when he was five.  Freddie enjoyed hunting, fishing and hanging out with his paternal grandfather, Jimmy Johnson Sr., and father, Jimmy Johnson Jr., at what is now known as Buffalo Trace Distillery.

Freddie was in the middle of a successful career as a network/operations engineer in Atlanta, GA when he put all of it aside to fulfill a promise made to his father, Jimmy, more than 20 years earlier.  He had promised his father that he would work at the Distillery during his lifetime so they could say they had three generations of the Johnson family that worked at Buffalo Trace.  Freddie took early retirement and moved back to care for his father and brother.  Jimmy got him a job as a tour guide at the Distillery in 2002 but Freddie has been in and around the Distillery since he was five years old.

Freddie weaves together his childhood memories with the Distillery’s rich history as his entertains thousands each year in various tours around Buffalo Trace.  One of the Distillery’s most popular and highly sought after tour guides, Freddie is the recipient of the 2015 ROSE (Recognition of Service Excellence) Award, the 2017 Lexington (Ky) Hospitality Award and was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2018.

On this edition of proof positive, Ben and Joe take Elijah Craig Single Barrel Proof Private Barrels number 54 for a test run. The regular releases of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon are small batches and bear a 12-year age statement. The Private Barrels tend to be a bit younger anywhere from 8 years old and up, with most probably in the 9-10 yr range. Enjoy because we certainly did! 

Jack Daniel's Bonded is Jack's time-honored recipe of 80% corn, 12% malted barley, and 8% rye. Barrels were hand selected for their unique and particular characteristics of deeper color, flavor, and aroma, which bring a darker, richer, and more oak-forward character to Jack Daniel's Bonded. Listen in to see what the guys think of the whiskey of the year on this week's Proof Positive.