Hops & Spirits: Neat & Mixed

We try Three Chord Bourbon Volume 2 by breaking down two (of their four) releases that showcase the brand’s refreshed look and music-driven storytelling. Dropped in summer 2025, Volume 2 marks a new chapter for Three Chord, pairing bold finishes with artist collaborations that tie bourbon and music together.

We dive into Flipside Triple Wood, a blend of 4-7 year old bourbons aged in new charred American oak barrels, then finished in a mix of new and used toasted French and American oak barrels for 2-3 months. Triple Wood features blues legend Guitar Shorty on the label.

We also try Strange Collab, a unique release featuring Neil Giraldo and Rick Derringer on the label, and notably the only Pinot Noir-finished bourbon widely available on the market, with barrels sourced from Strange Family Vineyards. Beyond flavor and finish, we discuss the story behind the bottle, including the tribute to Johnny Strange and the charitable component supporting the Johnny Strange Foundation.

We explore what it means to support your favorite brands, even during moments like Dry January, by taking a closer look at three unique bourbons — Tradewater Single Barrel, Sagamore High Rye Bourbon and Copper & Cask Cigar Blend.

We review the Tradewater Kentucky Straight Bourbon Single Barrel, a find by Brandon on the shelves. We also dive into Sagamore High Rye Bourbon, the brand’s first straight bourbon whiskey with a high-rye mash bill and six years of aging. Rounding out the episode is Copper & Cask Small Batch Series Batch 13: Cigar Blend, an eight-year bourbon finished across multiple cask types, including PX and Oloroso sherry, Armagnac, Cognac, and Tawny Port.

We explore where New England craft meets Kentucky bourbon with a deep dive into Wheel Horse Whiskey’s latest releases — Barrel Proof and Baltic Porter Beer Barrel Finish.We break down the brand’s first-ever barrel proof small batch, a 5-year Kentucky Straight Bourbon bottled at 112.6 proof, offered at an approachable $40 MSRP. We also dig into Wheel Horse’s innovative Baltic Porter Beer Barrel Finish, created in partnership with Narragansett Beer, where four-year-old Kentucky bourbon spent an additional 4–5 months finishing in barrels previously used for a barrel-aged Baltic porter.

In this episode, Andrew Varga—founder of the Kentucky Bourbon Country Auction and Celebration and co-owner of J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery—dives deep into the vision behind one of the most ambitious bourbon weekends in Kentucky. Set for Fe 13-15 in Louisville, the Kentucky Bourbon Country Auction and Celebration is designed as a multi-day experience rather than a traditional festival, bringing together legendary distilleries, rising bourbon makers, exclusive releases, and chef-driven culinary events.

Andrew breaks down what attendees can expect from the weekend, including the Grand Reveal Tasting, immersive food pairings, and a live auction featuring rare and one-of-a-kind bourbon offerings.

In this episode, Pete Marino, President of Lofted Spirits, shares an inside look at his unconventional career path—from PR and consulting to Molson Coors and ultimately leading one of the most influential operations in American whiskey. Pete talks candidly about what surprised him most when he entered the whiskey world, how he balances building brands like Bardstown Bourbon Company and Green River while supporting custom distillation partners behind the scenes, and where the category must protect tradition while still evolving.

The conversation explores how Lofted has continued to grow in a shifting market, the evolution of tasting room experiences in Louisville, Bardstown, and Owensboro, and what today’s whiskey drinker looks like compared to a decade ago. Drawing on lessons from emerging categories like non-alcoholic and cannabis beverages, Pete also shares his perspective on smart growth, what excites—and concerns—him about the future of American whiskey, and what newcomers often misunderstand about how the whiskey business really works.

Brandon and Jonathan are back exploring the Travel. Explore. Drink Bourbon mindset—where vacations, discovery, and trying new pours go hand in hand.

In this episode, we dive into three releases that highlight unique mash bills, high proof character, and global finishing styles: the Louisiana Senator Bourbon: The Huey P. Long Release, the first in an 8–10 year vertical series bottled at 107 proof; the hard-to-find Frey Ranch 5 Grain Single Barrel, featuring all five grains distilled together at a hefty 130+ proof; and the RD1 Sister Cities 2025 Edition, finished with Japanese Mizunara and French Oak.

From aging and proof to price and availability, we break down what makes each bottle unique—and which ones are worth chasing on your next bourbon adventure.

We caught up with Jade Peterson of Trackside Distilling at this year’s Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown to sample their pours and talk about the launch of his new whiskey brand. Jade shares what pushed him to start Trackside Distilling, why he made the bold choice to use chocolate malt in the mash bill, and what's next for the brand.

We tried Potter Jane Distillery’s White Dog at this year’s Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown. As a brand-new distillery launching in 2025, Potter Jane brought some unique early pours to give bourbon fans a first look at what they’re building.

We caught up with Craig Beam of Jackson Purchase Distillery at this year’s Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown to talk about his return from retirement, how the distillery got its start, and the story behind their Batch #1 Full Proof Bourbon. Craig shares what brought him back into the industry, what makes Jackson Purchase’s approach unique, and what fans can expect next from the distillery.

We hit one of the busiest booths at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown to review a pour from Dark Arts Whiskey House.