This week we welcome Bruce Russell and Wild Turkey back to the show to talk all things Master’s Keep! It’s been a minute since I sat down with Bruce, but we figured the last Master’s Keep was a good reason to get together and talk some Turkey! Him and I discuss what went into this final Master’s Keep: Beacon, how it is truly a family affair and acts as the proper send off to a collection his father started so many years ago! We talk about how he has been on the Beacon world tour, he is just getting back from Australia and Europe where he’s been waving the Wild Turkey flag and spreading the good word that is the 2025 Master’s Keep. Then we pop the top on Beacon and I gotta tell you guys, this is a testament to everything people love about Turkey and the good work Bruce has been putting in on some of the best Wild Turkey offerings we have seen in recent years. It’s a helluva an episode on this week’s Bourbon Showdown so buckle up and get ready, its Wild Turkey day on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast! 

This week we welcome Penelope Bourbon and long time friend of the show Co-founder and master blender, Danny Polise back to the Bourbon Showdown! We go through the brands history, some of the mega whiskey hits they have had, how they are absolutely rocking the ready-to-drink category in 2025 and of course their current line-up of Estate Collection whiskey! We pop the top on their new Estate Collection Omega, an amazing 11 year whiskey that has been finished in French oak, and Danny lets me know what’s next for Penelope on this episode of the Bourbon ShowdownPodcast! 

This week we welcome 15 Stars Founders Rick and Ricky Johnson to The Bourbon Showdown to talk about the newest addition to the brand, First West Bourbon! They walk me through what led them to create these new whiskeys and the thought process that continues to drive innovation at 15 Stars, we talk mash bill, we talk age statements, we talk blending and barrel finishes and then we drink that whiskey! We drink through the small batch, the toasted oak and the extra aged, breaking each expression down and talking about the what and why that went into each bottle, while also looking at the future of the brand and what Rick and Ricky have in store for 15 Stars moving forward! It’s a full flavor episode this week on the bourbon showdown that I think everyone is going to enjoy!

This week we welcome Dan Callaway from Bardstown Bourbon Company to The Bourbon Showdown Podcast, him and I crack open their new Discovery Series 13 and the Ferrand II from their Collaborative Series as he walks me through what went into each expression, the history of the company, his path to whiskey and what we can expect next from Bardstown Bourbon Company.

This week, we welcome Chief Blender, Meghan Ireland and Research & Development Distiller Mitch Mahar from WhistlePig to the Bourbon Showdown to talk all things Boss Hog! We dive into the new Boss Hog XII: Feather & Flame, and let me tell you guys, this one is something special! We drink through this Mesoamerican inspired rye whiskey that’s been  finished in a pulque curado de cacao barrels and they explain to me all the intricacies involved in making that happen. I love the innovation and the outside the box thinking that goes into every Boss Hog and this one is a delicious pour of whiskey, so buckle up and get ready because we are taking you to the WhistlePig farm in Vermont for some Boss Hog XII on todays Bourbon Showdown Podcast! 

This week, we welcome Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall back to the show! We sit down for a big pour of Woodford’s new Batch Proof Rye and she walks us through how it came to fruition and all the amazing things she’s been doing since becoming Master Distiller. It’s a Batch Proof Rye conversation on this week’s Bourbon Showdown Podcast!

This week we welcome Joseph A. Magnus back to the show which means the return of Master Blender Nancy Fraley! This episode she brings with her Head Distiller Will Fabry and the three of us sit down and talk all things whiskey and all things Joseph A. Magnus! Nancy of course synonymous with good whiskey across the industry and Will, coming out of the gate strong and taking the future reigns at Magnus, this is a great conversation for anyone that loves good whiskey! We go through the history of Joseph Magnus, the man, the whiskey and how Nancy has brought a brand back to life using the original whiskey as her DNA building blocks. We talk about her journey through the whiskey world and highlight Wills rise through the whiskey ranks. It’s a master class on all things whiskey this week as the 11th season continues on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast! 

This week we welcome Maker’s Mark, Master Distiller, Dr. Blake Layfield to the Bourbon Showdown, as we kick off season 11 with a big pour of Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2025! Blake and I do a deep dive not only on this delicious pour but on all things Maker’s Mark. We go through the brands history, his path to whiskey and how he became Master Distiller of one of the most recognizable brands in the world. We talk about whiskey innovation, his philosophy on innovation and brand consistency as well as what he has in store for the future of Maker’s Mark, all while enjoying a pour of this years Cellar Aged goodness! It’s a full flavor, high proof start to the Season 11 on this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast!  

This week we welcome Four Roses Master Distiller, Brent Elliott back to the show to celebrate his 10th year as Master Distiller and 20th year at Four Roses! Brent reflects on two decades in whiskey—how the industry has grown, how Four Roses helped lead the single barrel movement, and how the brand continues to set the standard for quality bourbon. We crack open the 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch, a blend of 13- and 19-year-old whiskeys, as Brent walks us through what makes this year’s release so special. It’s a flavor-packed episode full of insight, history, and a toast to Brent’s incredible journey in bourbon on this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast! 

This week on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast, we’re joined by Bushmills Master Blender Alex Thomas and Stranahan’s Head Blender Justin Aden. Together, we dive deep into the art of blending and what it takes to create your favorite whiskeys. Along the way, we sip through some incredible American Single Malts and Irish Whiskeys—ranging from 10 to 21 years old—while exploring the craft, challenges, and passion behind each pour. If you’ve ever wanted to be a fly on the wall as two experts break down their process, this is the episode for you. It’s a double-stop whiskey road trip to Ireland and Colorado on this week’s Bourbon Showdown!