Brims and Barrels

Some episodes are planned… and some just happen the way they’re supposed to.

This one right here? This is family.

In Episode 22, we sit down with our brother Shane—not just a guest, but someone who’s been locked in with us long before the cameras were rolling. From connecting over bottles to building real-life brotherhood, this conversation is a reminder of what bourbon is really about.

We talk about Shane’s journey—from growing up on a ranch outside of Chicago, to working with animals, to finding his purpose in education and impacting the next generation. We also tap into rodeo life here in Houston, the discipline it takes, and the lessons these kids are learning that go way beyond the arena.

Of course, we’ve got pours in hand—but this episode isn’t about what’s in the glass… it’s about who you share it with.

Because at the end of the day:Bourbon brings people together—but real ones turn into brothers.

🥃 What We Get Into:

• From Facebook to real-life brotherhood
• Ranch life vs city life
• Houston Rodeo behind the scenes
• Mentorship, discipline, and impacting youth
• Real conversations over real pours
• 🌾 What is FFA?
  FFA (Future Farmers of America) is where a lot of this journey starts. It’s about learning responsibility, putting in real work, and building discipline—whether that’s raising animals, competing, or finding your path. It’s bigger than farming… it’s about becoming who you’re meant to be.

📢 Shoutout to Our Sponsors:This episode is brought to you by our guys at:

• OnlyDrams – Track your lineup, scan bottles, and never overpay.
• Chophouse Barber Company – If you take your haircut as serious as your bourbon, this is the place to be.

🧢 About Brims & Barrels:Two Fits. One Pour.

We’re not here to tell you what to drink—we’re here to have real conversations, share good pours, and build something bigger than bourbon.

📲 Tap In With Us:Instagram: @brims_and_barrelsYouTube: Brims & BarrelsTikTok: @brims_and_barrels

👍 Like, Comment, SubscribeIf you rock with real conversations and good energy, you’re in the right place.

Keep chiming in. Keep sharing your thoughts.That’s what makes this what it is.

Two Fits. One Pour. 🧢🥃

Welcome back to Brims & Barrels: Game Ready — where we keep it quick, real, and all about the pour.

This week, we’ve got something special on the table: Seelbach’s Private Reserve 17 Year, 114.2 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon (Batch 001) — and we’re not running it solo. Our brother Shane joins us for the first-ever Game Ready guest appearance, and let’s just say… the conversation matched the pour.

From the jump, this one brings that cherry-heavy profile, layered with stone fruit, blackberry cobbler vibes, light spice, and a smooth, easy finish that makes you go back for another sip without thinking twice. We talk through the hype around these “Buff Turkeys,” whether it’s marketing or not… but one thing we agreed on:

👉 The juice speaks for itself.

Then we take it where we always do — sports analogies:

• 🏈 Andre Johnson type of bottle – reliable, bold, your go-to when you need a play
• 🏀 Hakeem “The Dream” level – stands out in a crowded lineup
• 🏈 Brian Urlacher energy – approachable, respected, and backed by real performance

So the real question is…
Is this bottle GAME READY… or is it riding the bench?

You already know how we closed it out.

🎯 This bottle was purchased by us — no sponsorship, no hype train. Just honest pours and real conversation.

Subscribe & Stay Connected:
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📱 Follow us on IG & TikTok: @brims_and_barrels

💬 Drop a comment — have you had any of the Seelbach’s Private Reserve releases? Where does this one rank for you?

Two Fits. One Pour. 🧢🥃

#BrimsAndBarrels #GameReady #Seelbachs #BuffTurkey #BourbonReview #WhiskeyTube #BourbonCommunity #KentuckyBourbon #WhiskeyReview #BourbonTalk #TwoFitsOnePour

What happens when you take control completely out of your hands… and let an app decide what you’re drinking?

In this episode, we put our palate to the test using the OnlyDrams “Pick My Blind” feature—and let’s just say… this lineup is NOT something we would’ve ever chosen ourselves.

No labels. No bias. No idea what’s in the glass.

Just real reactions.

From unexpected flavor profiles to bottles that surprised us (and a few that didn’t), this blind turned into one of the most unpredictable—and fun—sessions we’ve had.

And that’s the whole point…

👉 Step outside your comfort zone
👉 Trust your palate
👉 Enjoy the moment

Because sometimes the best pours… are the ones you didn’t plan.

🥃 Featured in This Blind:

We let the app pull from the lineup and mix it up in a way we never would’ve:

• A familiar hitter that showed out on the nose
• A high-rye profile that brought the spice
• A classic pour that didn’t hold up in this lineup
• And one standout bottle that stole the show

(Yeah… we weren’t ready for that last one 👀)

📲 About OnlyDrams

We used the Pick My Blind feature (Elite Tier) to generate this random lineup—and it delivered.

Scan your bottles. Track your lineup. Never overpay.
And when you don’t know what to pour… let the app decide.

🎯 Tap In With Us:

👍 Like
💬 Drop your guesses before the reveal
🔔 Subscribe for more pours, real conversations, and unfiltered reactions

We’re dropping:

• Game Ready (Quick Hits) every Wednesday
• Full Episodes every Friday

Follow us across all platforms + check out our newsletter for deeper dives, bottle talk, and more:

🧢 Brims & Barrels
“Two Fits. One Pour.”

🗣️ Join the Community:

In this Brims & Barrels Game Ready, we crack open the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 9 Year Spring 2025 and put it to the test.

From rich caramel and dark cherry notes to a smooth, balanced finish, this wheated bourbon surprised us especially on a fresh crack. But we don’t just review… we relate it to the game.

🏀 Point Guard or 🏈 Defensive Tackle… which one is it?
More importantly…is it Game Ready or riding the bench?

Tap in, pour up, and decide with us.

Two Fits. One Pour.

#BrimsAndBarrels #GameReady #OldFitzgerald #WheatedBourbon #BourbonReview #WhiskeyTube #BourbonCommunity #HeavenHill #BottleInBond #WhiskeyReview

⚠️ DISCLAIMER:Background music was present during the live recording of this episode at a public event. We do not own or claim rights to any music captured.We pulled up to the Houston Whiskey Riot and stepped right into the action real pours, real conversations, and real reactions.From chopping it up with brands like The Ingram Distillery and Old Dominick Distillery, to diving into what’s coming out of Leiper's Fork Distillery, this episode was all about hearing the stories behind the bottle not just what’s in the glass.We tapped in with Bardstown Bourbon Company, checked out what Pursuit United is bringing to the table, and even got into some conversations around picks and pours from Ampersand Distilling Company.No scripts. No overthinking. Just being in the moment and letting the experience speak.Some pours surprised us.Some conversations stuck with us.And some moments… you just had to be there.In This Episode:* Live reactions from Houston Whiskey Riot* Conversations with distilleries & brand reps* Unique aging processes (including barge-aged bourbon 👀)* Craft vs known names — what really stood out* Real-time tasting notes with no bias🔔 STAY LOCKED IN:👍 Like the video💬 Drop your favorite bottle from the episode📺 Subscribe on YouTube🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts & SpotifyNew Episodes Every FridayGame Ready Drops Every WednesdayTwo Fits. One Pour.Featured Brands: The Ingram Distillery, Old Dominick Distillery, Leiper’s Fork Distillery, Bardstown Bourbon Company, Pursuit United, Ampersand, Brothers and Bond#IngramDistillery #OldDominick #LeipersFork #BardstownBourbon #PursuitUnited #ampersand #podcast #whiskeyadvice

In this Brims & Barrels Game Ready, we break down the King of Kentucky Small Batch Batch 3 (2026) a new release from Brown-Forman that’s stepping out of the shadow of its legendary single barrel lineup.

Blended from 12–18 year barrels and bottled at 110 proof, this one brings chocolate, brown sugar, oak, and a surprising citrus brightness that keeps it balanced and approachable.

But let’s be real…

🏆 The Single Barrel is the franchise player
👊 So where does this Small Batch land?

Is it a superstar… or just a strong team player?

We break it down the only way we know how—through the lens of the game.

🏈 Edge rusher or defensive anchor?
💭 And most importantly… is it worth that $300 price tag?

Is it Game Ready… or riding the bench?

Tap in, pour up, and decide with us.

Two Fits. One Pour.

#BrimsAndBarrels #GameReady #KingOfKentucky #BrownForman #BourbonReview #WhiskeyTube #LimitedEditionBourbon #BourbonCommunity #WhiskeyReview #TopShelfBourbon

Everybody loves what's in the glass… but do we really know who's behind it?

This week on Brims & Barrels, Xavier and Ray go blind with four standout NDP single barrels Short Barrel, Reveries, Rare Character, and Pursuit United to see which one truly delivers.

We break down:

• The rise of non-distilling producers

• Why blending is becoming respected craftsmanship

• How trust, transparency, and reputation shape what we drink

• And whether flavor matters more than the name on the label

With notes ranging from pecan pie sweetness to green apple punch, each pour tells a different story, and the rankings might surprise you.

At the end of the day, it's simple:

We don’t drink the bottle… we drink what’s inside it.

🥃 Two fits. One pour.

Join us as we break down Smoke Wagon Rare & Limited Triple Sevens, a unique blend of three different 7-year whiskeys — two bourbons and one rye — bottled at 108 proof.

In this Game Ready segment, we dive into the mash bill, flavor profile, and the story behind this limited release from Smoke Wagon. With only 1600 bottles produced, the question is simple:

Did Smoke Wagon hit the jackpot with Triple Sevens… or is this bottle riding the bench?

If you're a bourbon enthusiast, collector, or just enjoy discovering unique pours, this one’s for you.

🥃 Bottle Details

• Batch No. 2

• Bottle 505 / 600

• 108 Proof (54% ABV)

• Blended Straight Whiskey

• Distilled in Indiana, blended and bottled in Las Vegas

At Brims & Barrels, we respect every palate and every perspective. Some bottles surprise you… others spark great conversation.

The only question left is:

Is this bottle Game Ready?

#SmokeWagon
#BourbonReview
#WhiskeyTube
#BrimsAndBarrels
#GameReady

Wheated bourbon… smooth, approachable, and often full of surprise.

In this episode of Brims & Barrels, we're diving into a blind tasting of four wheated bourbons to see which one truly stands out when it counts. No labels, no price tags—just nose, palate, and finish.From well-known heavy hitters to hidden craft gems, we’ll break down each one and keep it real the whole time. Plus, we’ll chat about what makes wheated bourbon different, why it’s a great choice for newcomers, and how flavor can totally change your expectations in a blind tasting.One of these bottles might surprise you… and another might not live up to the hype.In the end, it’s all about good bourbon, honest conversations, and discovering what’s truly Game Ready.So relax, pour yourself something good, and enjoy the ride.Two fits. One pour.#WhiskeyLovers #BourbonLovers #DrinkBourbon #WhiskeyGram #BourbonLife #CraftBourbon #allocatedbourbon

Join us as we explore the rich history and unique characteristics of Old Forester's 1924 whiskey, including its mash bill, historical significance during Prohibition, and tasting notes. Discover how this limited release compares to other classics and get expert insights on pairing and collecting.

Keywords:

Old Forester, whiskey, bourbon, 1924 release, mash bill, Prohibition, tasting notes, whiskey review, bourbon collection, limited edition

Key topics:

History of Old Forester during Prohibition

Mash bill and production details of 1924 release

Tasting notes and flavor profile of 1924 bourbon

Takeaways:

Old Forester's 1924 is a tribute to their heritage during Prohibition.

The new mash bill of 79-11-10 offers a high corn content, similar to Jack Daniel's.

Limited release makes it a sought-after collector's item.

Tasting notes include vanilla, chocolate-covered graham cracker, and plum.

The whiskey's balance and flavor complexity make it a versatile choice for enthusiasts.

Key frameworks:

Mash Bill Analysis

Historical Context of Prohibition

Action items:

Try Old Forester 1924 for a balanced, flavorful experience.

Compare 1924 with 1910 and 1920 releases to understand flavor evolution.

Share your tasting notes and favorite whiskey stories.

Titles:

The Story Behind Old Forester's 1924 Whiskey: A Limited Edition Review

How Old Forester's 1924 Honors Prohibition and Tradition

Sound bites:

"Chocolate covered graham cracker flavor"

"Reverting to 1910 and 1920 bottles"

"A reliable bottle, like a good catcher"

Resources:

Old Forester Whiskey Series - https://www.oldforester.com/whiskey-series

Prohibition Era Whiskey Brands - https://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/prohibition

Whiskey Tasting Guide - https://www.whiskyadvocate.com/whisky-tasting-guide/

https://linktr.ee/brimsandbarrelspodcast