Laurie and Bernard Quandt left corporate New York, landed in Llano, Texas, and built a distillery where she runs the still and he runs the road. This is WarTrail Spirits — and their Broken Halo Bourbon is doing something most Texas distilleries won't: 100% Texas grains, four years old, no malted barley on purpose.
In this episode we get into the science behind the iStill, why six-to-seven-day ferments matter more than most people think, the 193-proof shower Bernard took the hard way, and the kangaroo that walked into their tasting room. Plus a Drain the Swamp answer that every craft bourbon fan needs to hear.
📍 WarTrail Spirits — 122 E Main St, Llano, TX
🥃 Broken Halo Bourbon: 80% corn / 20% rye, 100% Texas grains
🔗 Follow @wartrail on Instagram
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Cold open
00:35 Why a married couple started the hardest business
02:30 Buying an iStill from a "punk rock scientist"
04:00 The 193-proof shower (Bernard's worst day)
07:30 How Laurie and Bernard split the work
11:00 From rural New York to Houston to Llano
15:00 The kangaroo in the tasting room
18:30 Why they took malted barley OUT of the mashbill
20:30 Sourcing 100% Texas grain from MBS Seed
23:00 Tasting the 94 proof and 115 proof Broken Halo
24:00 Black cherry notes and oak striping every third barrel
29:00 The distribution grind and getting into Total Wine
33:50 DRAIN THE SWAMP: "Stop chasing allocated. Drink craft."
36:30 Closing
🐊 ABOUT SWAMP SIPPIN'
Long-form sit-downs with craft distillers and brand founders, hosted by Kevin — The Bourbon Gator. New episodes every Friday.
▶️ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@thebourbongator
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📸 Instagram: @thebourbongator
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🔔 FTC: Broken Halo Bourbon was gifted by WarTrail Spirits. All opinions are my own.
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