In this episode of Double Bitter, we sit down with none other than Ceola McGowan, two-time world champion and reigning Canadian champion in double bit axe throwing. Fresh off her victory at the Canadian Championships in Barrington, Ceola joins us with her trophy in hand to share the thrill of competition, the mental toughness it takes to perform under pressure, and the unique training routines that have made her one of the sport’s most dominant throwers.

From battling the wind with her lighter axe to pushing her limits through unconventional training methods, Ceola gives us a rare look into what it takes to compete—and win—on the world stage. But there’s more to her story than axes. We explore her passion for pole dancing and how it complements her athletic mindset, her musical roots and love for open mic nights.

All the way from Ireland, please welcome Ceola!

The recipe you've been waiting for:

LADY OF THE GLEN:

2 oz Glendaloch whiskey

3 dashes of Fee Brothers Turkish Tobacco Bitters

1/4 oz simple syrup

2 Maraschino cherries for garnish

Sitka Spruce wood shavings (for smoke)

Add all liquid ingredients into a lowball glass with ice. Using a smoking kit, add your wood chips and torch them! Add cherries to a cocktail pick. Let the smoke dissipate, and enjoy! Drop in the cherry pick and save the snack for later!

Get ready to meet Suzy Atwood, the powerhouse axe thrower, community leader, and president of the Nova Lumberjack Society. In this episode, Suzy shares her journey from picking up her first axe to winning multiple podiums at the World Championships and the Swiss Open.

She also dives into her passion for bringing the Canadian Axe Throwing Championships to Barrington, Nova Scotia, and how her initiatives like Wild Axe Women are empowering women and growing the sport.

Show notes:

00:00 - Introduction

3:00 - Please welcome Suzy

5:45 - Preparing for the world championships in Barrington, NS

7:55 - Today’s whiskey of choice

12:10 - Suzy’s journey as an axe thrower

21:20 - Suzy on Wild Axe Women

27:00 - Suzy on competing in axe throwing competitions

The recipe you've been waiting for:

THE HEART OF BARRINGTON:

2 oz Ironworks Heart Iron Whisky

3 dashes of spruce bitters Dried Orange Slice

1/4 oz of maraschino cherry syrup Maraschino cherry for garnish

Maple & Oak wood chips (for smoke)

Add all liquid ingredients into a lowball glass with ice. Drop in dried orange. Using a smoking kit, add your wood chips and torch them! Add cherries to a cocktail pick. Let the smoke dissipate, and enjoy!

This week on Double Bitter, Ryan and Kim sit down with Darren Hudson. Darren isn’t just any guest—he’s the owner of Timber Lounge Axe Throwing (Dartmouth & Moncton), the founder of Wild Axe Productions, and the visionary behind the Wild Axe Championships TV series on TSN.

But beyond that, he’s a 7-time world champion log roller, a Nova Scotia legend, and someone whose family heritage is deeply rooted in the forestry and lumberjack tradition. In this episode, we go everywhere—from epic global adventures to log rolling on the set of Cheaper by the Dozen, whiskey tasting, and stories from Darren’s unbelievable life.

Be sure to check out other episodes of Season 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLozfmcWylWNetuQdQZGfvJl1FvLOFx8On

What you'll hear in part 2:

Darren's incredible appearance on the David Letterman show which included meeting Will Ferrell!

Darren speaks on the Wild Axe Park, youth camps, and the Timber Lounge to keep the tradition alive

Darren stepping in last-minute to save the 2016 Nova Scotia Lumberjack Championships and where he sees the future of the sport going!

The recipe you've been waiting for:

"Log Driver's Waltz"

2 oz Glynnevan Triple Barrel Rye Whisky

2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

1/4 oz of simple syrup

1/8 tsp squeeze of fresh orange

2 maraschino cherry

Hickory wood chips (for smoke)

Add all liquid ingredients into a lowball glass with ice. Squeeze in fresh orange. Using a smoking kit, add your wood chips and torch them! Add 2 cherries to a cocktail pick. Let the smoke dissipate, and enjoy!

This week on Double Bitter, Ryan and Kim sit down with Darren Hudson. Darren isn’t just any guest—he’s the owner of Timber Lounge Axe Throwing (Dartmouth & Moncton), the founder of Wild Axe Productions, and the visionary behind the Wild Axe Championships TV series on TSN. But beyond that, he’s a 7-time world champion log roller, a Nova Scotia legend, and someone whose family heritage is deeply rooted in the forestry and lumberjack tradition.

In this episode, we go everywhere—from epic global adventures to log rolling on the set of Cheaper by the Dozen, whiskey tasting, and stories from Darren’s unbelievable life.

What You’ll Hear in Part 1:

Roots of a Champion: Darren shares his family’s lumberjack legacy—watching the last log drive in Nova Scotia at age 5, his mom’s log rolling career, and his uncles Phil & Stanley, both legends in the sport.

Global logger sports stories: From training with icons like Jason Wynyard & David Bolstad in New Zealand to diving for sea urchins, fishing at dawn, and even log rolling in the Mediterranean on a patched-up boiler tank (yes, really).

The West Coast connection: How chance hitchhiking to a logger sports competition in BC led to nearly 20 years of friendship and countless adventures.

This episode is packed with stories, laughs, heritage, and the kind of serendipity that defines the Double Bitter vibe. Whether you’re into whiskey, axe throwing, logger sports, or just great storytelling—you’re in for a treat.

The recipe you've been waiting for:

"Log Driver's Waltz"

2 oz Glynnevan Triple Barrel Rye Whisky

2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

1/4 oz of simple syrup

1/8 tsp squeeze of fresh orange

2 maraschino cherry Hickory wood chips (for smoke)

Add all liquid ingredients into a lowball glass with ice. Squeeze in fresh orange. Using a smoking kit, add your wood chips and torch them! Add 2 cherries to a cocktail pick. Let the smoke dissipate, and enjoy!

This week on Double Bitter, Ryan and Kim sit down with Josh Clark from Stihl Timbersports Canada. Josh has helped shape competitions across North America — but today, he steps into the spotlight to talk shop.

From his roots in Ontario bush parties to a career producing concerts and festivals with artists like Ringo Starr, Colin Hay, and the Beach Boys, Josh brings a wealth of stories from the live entertainment world. He shares how those experiences prepared him for the fast-paced, high-energy environment of TimberSports — and why he thinks the sport is primed for growth.

The conversation covers everything from nosing whiskey and smoked old fashioneds to the thunder of hot saws, the thrill of world championships, and how athlete trading cards might just turn casual spectators into lifelong fans.

Along the way, Josh reflects on the artistry (and danger) of custom-built chainsaws, the challenges of growing a niche sport, and the importance of creating moments that stick with audiences.

Pour yourself a glass, pull up a chair, and enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at how Stihl TimberSports is building its future!

The recipe you've been waiting for:

THE MIC DROP:

2 oz Forty Creek Whiskey

2 dashes of Orange Angostura Bitters

1/4 oz of simple syrup

1 maraschino cherry Cherry wood chips (for smoke)

Start smoking your glass over the rocks. Then, add all liquid ingredients into a lowball glass. Using a smoking kit, add your wood chips and torch them again! Add your cherry. Let the smoke dissipate, and enjoy responsibly.

In the debut episode of Double Bitter, co-hosts Ryan and Kim crack open the mic, the bitters, and the whiskey to kick off a brand-new podcast that pairs the grit of timber sports with the smooth finish of handcrafted cocktails.

For their first pour, Kim mixes a smoked applewood old fashioned featuring Caldera Whiskey and Ironworks spiced apple bitters—a drink tailored for their inaugural guest: Tyler Wentzell.

If you’ve followed competitive timber sports, you’ll know Tyler’s name. A proud Nova Scotian from Berwick and breakout star of TSN’s Wild Axe Championships, Tyler has led his East Coast team to victory and claimed individual titles along the way. He joins Ryan and Kim to talk about his rise in the world of axe throwing—from local leagues at Halifax’s Timber Lounge to representing Canada on the world stage.

Over the clink of glasses and the haze of applewood smoke, the conversation covers:

• Tyler’s championship run on Wild Axe and what it felt like to land a bull’s-eye under intense pressure.

• The difference between throwing solo and competing as part of a team—and why the latter can be even more rewarding.

• His journey from backyard practices in 2017 to placing among the top throwers in the world.

• The international axe throwing community, where camaraderie, mentorship, and encouragement are as strong as the competition itself.

• How he builds mental focus at the line—comparing the discipline to a golfer’s pre-shot routine.

• Battling the elements in outdoor competitions, from wind gusts to rain, and learning how to adapt.

• The importance of stepping into competitions big and small to grow as an athlete.

• His other passions, including music, and how playing with more skilled musicians mirrors the way he hones his skills in axe throwing.

Listeners also get a taste of Kim’s mixology expertise as she explains why certain whiskeys shine in cocktails while others are best left neat.

Part sports talk, part storytelling, part cocktail education, Episode 1 sets the tone for Double Bitter: a spirited space where culture, competition, and craft drinks collide.

Raise a glass with Ryan, Kim, and Tyler, and join the conversation where sharp steel meets smooth whiskey

The recipe you've been waiting for:

2 oz. Caldera Whiskey 2 dashes of Ironworks Distillery Apple Bitters 1/4 oz of simple syrup 1 maraschino cherry• Applewood chips (for smoke)

Add all liquid ingredients into a lowball glass with ice. Using a smoking kit, add your wood chips and torch them. Add cherry garnish. Let the smoke dissipate, and enjoy!

"Refined by fire, forged by the coast — a slow ember with the strength of a champion"

Double Bitter podcast is a series of captivating interviews with the most interesting characters from the world of timbersports and axe throwing. While our expert lumberjack host, Ryan McIntyre, chats with guests, his lovely co-host, Kim Moser blends  finely crafted Old Fashioned cocktails live while tailoring the recipe to each guest. 

Grab a axe and pour a glass, this is Double Bitter.