Bourbon Showdown Podcast

This week on The Bourbon Showdown, Jesse sits down with Mitch Mahar, Head of Whiskey Innovation, and Meghan Ireland, Chief Blender at WhistlePig Whiskey, to dive into the latest chapter of one of the wildest series in American whiskey — The Boss Hog XIII: The Golden Pharaoh.

Inspired by an ancient Egyptian recipe for tiger nut cake, The Golden Pharaoh takes WhistlePig rye and finishes it in barrels seasoned with Egyptian black honey and tiger nuts, creating one of the most unusual Boss Hog releases yet.

Mitch and Meghan take us behind the scenes of how a 3,000-year-old recipe became inspiration for a whiskey, how those flavors were translated into a finishing barrel, and what it takes for an experiment this ambitious to earn the Boss Hog name.

Then, of course, WE DRINK IT!

We taste Boss Hog XIII and break down the flavors, the finish, and what makes The Golden Pharaoh unlike anything WhistlePig has released before.

It’s ancient Egypt, innovative whiskey, and a whole lot of rye — all on this week’s Bourbon Showdown Podcast.

This week, Jesse sits down with Dr. Blake Layfield, Master Distiller and Head of Innovation & Blending at Maker’s Mark, to dive into the highly anticipated Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2026.

Blending 11-, 12- and 14-year-old bourbon and bottled at 112.1 proof, cask strength, this release features the oldest whiskey ever used in a Cellar Aged blend.

Blake takes us behind the scenes of its creation, how Maker’s Mark pushes bourbon to 14 years without becoming over-oaked, and why their limestone cellar makes it possible.

And when the Master Distiller shows up with a bottle…

WE DRINK IT!

We pour up Cellar Aged 2026, break down what’s in the glass, and find out if all that extra time really makes a difference.

Dr. Blake Layfield. Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2026. The Bourbon Showdown Podcast.

This week on The Bourbon Showdown, Jesse sits down with Courtney Sandora, Founder of GoSocial and Co-Founder of Bourbon Signals, to explore how AI is changing the way consumers discover, research, and choose bourbon.

Courtney takes us inside Bourbon Signals and the fascinating question behind it: When someone asks AI what bourbon to buy, which brands get recommended—and why?

We talk about what influences those recommendations, why some bourbon brands are showing up while others are being left out, and how reviews, social media, podcasts, creators, awards, and the larger digital conversation surrounding a whiskey can help shape what AI knows—and ultimately recommends.

We also dig into what this means for the future of bourbon marketing, brand discovery, and the spirits industry, and what whiskey brands should be thinking about right now as consumers increasingly turn to AI for recommendations.

It's bourbon, branding, marketing, technology, and the future of how we discover what's in our glass.

And you know the rule…

What do we do when we're talking to good people about good whiskey? WE DRINK IT! 🥃

Remus Lou Gehrig Reserve with Ian Stirsman of Ross & Squibb

This week on The Bourbon Showdown, Jesse sits down with Ian Stirsman of Ross & Squibb Distillery to crack open and drink through the new Remus Lou Gehrig Reserve.

Ian takes us behind the bottle to talk about how this special release came together, what makes it different from the rest of the Remus lineup, and the story behind pairing one of baseball’s most legendary names with American whiskey.

Then we get down to business and taste the whiskey.

We break down what’s in the glass, talk bourbon and blending, dig into what Ross & Squibb is doing with Remus, and find out if the Lou Gehrig Reserve is a bottle worth hunting down.

Bourbon. Baseball. History. And a damn good whiskey.

What do we do when talking to good people about good whiskey?

WE DRINK IT!

🥃 The Bourbon Showdown
Good people. Good whiskey. Great conversations.

This week on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast, Widow Jane is back!

Jesse sits down with Sienna Jevremov, Head Distiller at Widow Jane, to talk about one of the distillery’s most exciting releases yet: Widow Jane 10-Year Bourbon finished for eight months in Tequila Ocho casks.

Sienna takes us behind the scenes of this unique collaboration and explains what happens when mature bourbon meets the rich, roasted-agave character of Tequila Ocho. We get into how the partnership came together, why tequila and bourbon can work so well together, and the challenge of finishing a 10-year-old bourbon while still keeping the bold character that makes it unmistakably Widow Jane.

And then, of course, we do what we do when talking to good people about good whiskey…

WE DRINK IT!

Jesse and Sienna pour up the new Widow Jane Tequila Ocho Cask Finish Bourbon and break down the aromas, flavors, and character you can expect when you get this bottle into your own glass.

Great whiskey, a seriously cool collaboration, and one of our favorite people to talk whiskey with—it’s all here on this week’s Bourbon Showdown Podcast!

This week on The Bourbon Showdown, we’re raising a glass with one of the best in the business — Lux Row Master Distiller John Rempe — for a deep dive into the brand-new Blood Oath Pact 12.

John takes us behind the scenes of Blood Oath and into the mind of the man who has created every Pact since the beginning. We talk about the challenge of making each release completely unique, how he chooses the whiskies that make the final blend, and what went into creating Pact 12.

And, of course, we drink it.

John and I crack open Blood Oath Pact 12 and taste through his latest creation while talking whiskey, blending, and what keeps Blood Oath one of the most anticipated annual bourbon releases.

If you’re a Blood Oath collector, a Lux Row fan, or just love hearing how great whiskey gets made, this is one you don’t want to miss.

This week on The Bourbon Showdown, Jesse Jones is joined by James Bowker, Global Advocacy Manager for The House of Suntory, for an unforgettable deep dive into the world of Japanese whisky.

Whether you're new to Japanese spirits or already a devoted fan, this episode is a true masterclass. James walks us through the fascinating history of whisky in Japan, how it evolved into one of the world's most respected whisky traditions, and the philosophy behind The House of Suntory's iconic portfolio. From craftsmanship and culture to flavor and innovation, you'll gain a whole new appreciation for what makes Japanese whisky so special.

Of course, we couldn't have a conversation like this without tasting some incredible pours. Together we sip through:

🥃 Toki
🥃 Hibiki Japanese Harmony
🥃 Yamazaki Single Malt 12 Year

If you've ever wanted to understand the artistry, precision, and heritage behind Japanese whisky, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

What happens when you take one exceptional bourbon from every single state in America and blend them into one bottle?

On this episode of the Bourbon Showdown Podcast, Jesse Jones welcomes back Lost Lantern co-founder and Head of Sourcing Adam Polonski to dive into one of the most ambitious whiskey projects ever attempted, the Lost Lantern, United States of Bourbon—the first-ever blend of whiskey from all 50 states.

Adam shares the incredible journey behind sourcing whiskey from fifty different distilleries, the challenges of creating a cohesive blend from such a diverse range of flavor profiles, and how he and Lost Lantern co-founder and Head Blender Nora Ganley-Roper transformed a five-year passion project into a bottle that celebrates the incredible diversity of American bourbon during the United States' 250th anniversary.

Then, of course...we drink.

In this episode, we taste:

• United States of Bourbon (100 Proof)
• United States of Bourbon (Cask Strength)
• United States of Bourbon: 1776 Edition — a blend featuring bourbon from the original 13 states.

As a bonus, Don Jenkins, Head Blender at Broad Branch Distillery—the North Carolina distillery selected to represent the state in this historic blend—joins the conversation to discuss what it was like collaborating with Lost Lantern and seeing his whiskey become part of bourbon history.

From sourcing and blending to tasting and storytelling, this is a conversation every bourbon fan will appreciate.

If you enjoy the show, be sure to subscribe on YouTube, follow the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps us keep bringing you conversations with the people shaping the future of whiskey.

Pour yourself a glass and enjoy another episode of the Bourbon Showdown Podcast.

On this week's episode of The Bourbon Showdown, Jesse sits down with acclaimed whiskey writer Noah Rothbaum to explore one of the most ambitious books ever written about the world's favorite spirit: The Whiskey Bible.

More than just a reference guide, The Whiskey Bible is a deep dive into whiskey's history, the legendary distilleries and brands that shaped the industry, iconic cocktails, and the stories behind the bottles we love. Noah shares what it took to research and write such a monumental work, the fascinating discoveries he made along the way, and why preserving whiskey's history has never been more important.

Whether you're just beginning your whiskey journey or you've spent years building your collection, this conversation is packed with history, insight, and behind-the-scenes stories from one of whiskey's most respected voices. If you love learning the "why" behind what's in your glass, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Pour yourself a dram, settle in, and join us for a conversation that celebrates the people, places, and stories that make whiskey one of the world's greatest spirits.

Every summer, the spirits world turns its attention to New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail, one of the industry's most influential celebrations of cocktails, education, and hospitality.

On this episode of The Bourbon Showdown, Jesse Jones sits down with Charlotte Voisey, Executive Director of the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, to talk about what makes this event so special and why 2026 is shaping up to be the biggest and best year yet.

Whether you're planning your first trip to Tales or you're simply passionate about great cocktails and the people behind them, this conversation offers an inside look at one of the most important events in the world of spirits.

Pour yourself a drink and join us for another episode of The Bourbon Showdown, where we share the good word of good whiskey—and the incredible people who make the spirits industry what it is.