In this episode, Colonel Craig Duncan, founder of Whiskey University, pours us a sample of Russell's Reserve 13 year and then pours us a sample of Russell's Reserve 2003 which is at 89.5 proof. A unicorn that we have never seen. the russell's 13 year is everything you hoped it would be, but the Russell's Reserve 2003 is in another hemisphere...And the conversation ends up down the path of explaining what a Scotcheroo is to the Colonel. Which is a midwest treat. It's pure insanity. If you are interested in Whiskey University classes to learn more about all things whiskey, make sure and go to whiskeyuniv.com and sign up for 4 free classes. Just mention Whiskey Cookers.

American Single Malt is having a day. Now that It's an official category, we are seeing all sorts of them pop up. However, Westward Whiskey in Oregon is one of the OG's of the American Single Malt producers. So, I put one of their single malts in front of Kirk in a blind taste test to see what he thinks of this whiskey.

Let's be real, most whiskey marketing stories are just a bunch of hooey! They're like the tall tales of the Wild West, but with more barrels and beards. But, some distilleries are all about keeping it real, like Blaum Bros. Distillery in Galena, Illinois. They're the whiskey equivalent of that one friend who always tells it like it is, no fluff or fancy words needed.

It's a blind tasting Friday. On this episode, I lure our elusive camera man Kirk out from behind the camera’s to try a Middle West Spirits Dark Pumpernickel Rye in a blind tasting. This one has received rave reviews, so what does Kirk think of it? 

The whiskey laws are so weird, and outdated. Have you ever heard the name Rectifier? It's an old term. But, it's still used today in the whiskey industry when it comes to licensing. Today we know it as Blender. Spirits Attorney Brian Haara gives us some insight into the definition of these terms and what it all means in the whiskey sphere.

In this blind tasting, I put Kirk on the hot seat to see what he thinks of one of our new favorite distillers. MB Roland from Pembroke Kentucky. This time it’s a single barrel from MB Roland, which is also a regular release.

We are wrapping up 2025 with a banger of a blind tasting. Heaven Hill 18 year against Penelope 10 year. We know what you are thinking….Yes, there’s a big age difference in this whiskey but, this is two highly sought after allocated bottles. So that’s the rub. And when we get into it, there’s quite a bit of debate between all of us. Check it out and see who picked what.

Well, it's that time of year where we recap all the distillery's we have filmed at in 2025. In this episode, I make the guys pick their favorite Distillery or favorite episode while we sip on some of the whiskey's from these distilleries. You just never know what's going to come out of everyone's mouth when we start talking.

There is a legend from Tennessee in the moonshine world by the name of Popcorn Sutton. His real first name is Marvin, but everyone knows him by Popcorn. Every moonshiner knows his name. And likely, his moonshine. Old Smokey distillery has teamed up with his widow to produce a bourbon to honor the legacy of Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton. Let's Blind taste it and see what we think of it.

Welcome to Episode #107 of the Great American Whiskey Cookers! In this podcast, we take you on an immersive adventure to the historical Iowa Legendary Rye Distillery. 

There is one distillery that has stayed true to the prohibition whiskey recipe and is keeping the prohibition whiskey making tradition alive in Iowa. And that's Iowa Legendary Rye. In this episode we get a guided tasting of their highly limited Purple Label Rye whiskey from none other than the bootleggers grandson, Heath Schneider.