Great American Whiskey Cookers

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What if one of the best-kept secrets in craft whiskey isn't a distillery at all, but the people making the barrels?

Way up north in Avon, Minnesota, we discovered The Barrel Mill, a family-owned cooperage that has quietly built a reputation among craft distillers. Their whiskey barrels are earning attention in the industry, but not everyone knows where they come from.

We got an inside look at how this family operation builds its barrels and the craftsmanship that goes into creating something that plays such an important role in the whiskey making process.

From the cooperage to the barrel room, this is a side of the whiskey industry most bourbon and craft whiskey fans rarely get to see.

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It’s Friday, and that means it’s time to put another whiskey matchup to the test! This week, Wes picked the challenge, and we’re going head-to-head with two unique bourbon expressions: Cedar Ridge Orange Sherry Bourbon vs. Penelope Valencia.
This is a showdown between two different approaches to craft whiskey. Cedar Ridge brings its own distilling identity to the glass, while Penelope Valencia features whiskey sourced from MGP, one of the major whiskey producers supplying brands across the industry.
Can Cedar Ridge’s Orange Sherry Bourbon outshine Penelope Valencia? Does the source of the whiskey make a difference in the glass? And which bottle will come out on top when the labels are out of sight?
No labels. No bias. Just a blind bourbon tasting, honest reactions, and one winner!
🥃 Cedar Ridge vs. Penelope—who wins this craft whiskey showdown? Listen now and find out!

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Louisville, Kentucky, is filled with bourbon history, and some of its most fascinating stories are hidden inside the buildings that helped shape the industry.
In this episode, Old Louisville Distillery gives us a behind-the-scenes look inside the historic Seagram’s warehouse before renovation begins on its new space.
We explore a piece of Louisville’s whiskey legacy, take a look inside a historic bourbon property, and get a glimpse of the building before its next chapter begins.
For fans of bourbon history, historic distilleries, and the stories behind Kentucky whiskey, this is a rare look at a place with a past worth discovering.
🥃 What secrets does this old Seagram’s warehouse hold? Join us for a look inside this piece of Louisville bourbon history!

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This Friday, we’re putting an unfamiliar whiskey under the box—and this one comes courtesy of our intrepid videographer, Kirk!

Meet Clay Turner 8-Year Bourbon from Stone Faces Distillery in South Dakota. It’s a bourbon we’ve never tasted and, honestly, had never even heard of before. That’s exactly what makes these blind tastings so much fun!

With eight years of age behind it, can this South Dakota bourbon surprise us and earn a spot on our list of favorites? Or will it fall short of expectations?

No label. No hype. Just a blind bourbon tasting and our honest opinions.

🥃 Can Clay Turner 8-Year Bourbon win us over? Check out this Friday’s episode and find out!

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Bourbon history can sometimes get stretched, embellished, or lost over time. But every once in a while, you discover a place where the history speaks for itself.
Right in the middle of Louisville, Kentucky, we found Oxmoor Farm—a remarkable historic property with deep roots in the region’s past and a story that bourbon history buffs need to hear.
In this episode, we explore the history behind Oxmoor Farm and its connection to Louisville’s rich bourbon heritage. It’s a fascinating reminder that some of the most interesting stories in American whiskey history are hiding in plain sight.
🥃 Love bourbon history? Put Oxmoor Farm on your radar and join us as we rediscover a piece of Louisville’s past!

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Honey barrel whiskey under the box! This Friday, we’re putting Dragon’s Milk Honey Barrel to the test in a blind whiskey tasting.
Coming from Michigan, this whiskey brings a unique twist to the glass—but will the honey barrel character win us over? We’re tasting blind, sharing our honest reactions, and deciding whether this Michigan whiskey deserves a spot on our shelves.
No labels. No expectations. Just whiskey in the glass! 🥃
Will Dragon’s Milk Honey Barrel be a hidden gem or a miss? Check out the episode to find out our verdict!

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What makes a great toasted bourbon stand out? We’re back in Louisville, Kentucky, at Pursuit Spirits for a guided tasting of their Toasted Bourbon!
In this episode, Kenny Coleman and Ryan Cecil walk us through the details of this regular release, sharing insights into the whiskey’s character, flavor profile, and what makes toasted bourbon an interesting expression for whiskey fans.
We dive into the tasting experience and explore what Pursuit Spirits brings to the glass with this toasted bourbon. Whether you’re a longtime bourbon enthusiast or a fan of exploring new whiskey expressions, this episode offers an inside look at another pour from Pursuit Spirits.
🥃 Join us for the guided tasting and discover what makes Pursuit Spirits Toasted Bourbon worth checking out!

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Three ages. Three bourbons. One triple-blind tasting! 🔥
This Friday’s Blind Tasting Challenge features Rush Creek Distilling in Harvard, Illinois. With the release of their new 7-Year Double Oak Bourbon, we’re putting it head-to-head against the 6-year and 5-year expressions.
Does more age mean better bourbon? Will the new 7-year release take the crown, or could one of the younger Double Oak bourbons surprise us?
We’re tasting all three blind, comparing their flavors, and picking our favorite—with no labels to influence our verdict!
🥃 Which Rush Creek Double Oak Bourbon will win: 5, 6, or 7 years? Listen now to find out!

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What makes a great Tennessee Whiskey Single Barrel stand out?

On this episode, the team at Old Glory Distillery takes us through a guided tasting of their Tennessee Whiskey Single Barrel—a regular release that showcases what this distillery is all about.

We dig into the whiskey’s flavor, character, and single-barrel profile while learning more about what makes this expression a staple in the Old Glory lineup.

Sometimes the best bottles aren't limited releases or hard-to-find unicorns. They're the ones you can actually find and enjoy.

👉 Listen to the guided tasting and hear why we think Old Glory Tennessee Whiskey Single Barrel is worth checking out!

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This Friday’s Blind Tasting Challenge comes courtesy of Patreon supporter Joe Schwartz, who sent us a bottle of Driftless Glen 10 Year Hazmat Bourbon.

We’ve already tasted a lower-proof version of this 10-year bourbon. Now the question is: Does the higher proof make this one better, or does the extra proof change the experience?

We’re tasting it blind, putting our palates to the test, and comparing this high-proof Driftless Glen 10 Year Bourbon to the one we tried earlier.

🔥 More proof. Same 10 years. Different experience?

👉 Listen to the blind tasting and hear what we think!