The Bourbon Life

This week on The Whiskey Trip Podcast, Big Chief takes a ride to to explore Buffalo Trace Distillery and chat with Dominic Guglielmi, author of Warehouse H: The Story of Blanton's Bourbon, America's Most Influential Whiskey.

Dominic tells listeners about his journey from being the ultimate Blanton’s Tater and collecting everything ever produced with a horse on top of a bottle to writing his amazing book. Warehouse H is the ultimate guide of the original single barrel bourbon. With history, education and icon photos, this is one amazing read.

Big Chief starts the show by sipping on Blanton’s single barrel and Dom cracks open a Blanton’s Japanese gold. To close out the first half the big man pours a Takara black label that is 80 proof. It reminds him of Irish whiskey.

Big Chief starts the second half with Blanton’s Gold, while Dom sips on a straight from the barrel. The big man then moves onto a straight from three barrel himself. To close out the show Big Chief cracks a sample of Blanton’s from 1988. To him it has notes of freshly roasted peanuts. Nice and tasty.

This ride on The Whiskey Trip showcases one man’s love and passion for Blanton’s Bourbon.

Cheers to being this committed.

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, presented by Liquor Barn, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out with Graham McTavish, Founder & President, of McTavish Spirits.

The guys talk with Graham about his remarkable career as an actor and how his secret love for Bourbon that began over 20 years ago led him to start McTavish Spirits, the designation of “celebrity whiskey” that has been slapped on some celebrity endorsed brands and how Graham stays actively involved with McTavish Spirits to avoid that moniker being applied to his whiskies, as well as what the future looks like for McTavish Spirits.

They also taste and review McTavish Spirits’ “The Keeper” Kentucky Straight Rye and “The Warchief” Bottled in Bond Bourbon.

This Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast is presented by Liquor Barn and is also sponsored by Penelope Bourbon, Limestone Farms Bourbon, Pappy & Co., Old Dominick, The Stave Restaurant, Three Chord Bourbon, James E. Pepper Distillery, and The Kitchen Table at James B. Beam Distilling Co.

Check out all of our amazing sponsors online at: 

www.liquorbarn.com 

www.penelopebourbon.com

www.limestonefarms.com

www.pappyco.com

www.olddominick.com             

www.thestavekentucky.com 

www.threechordbourbon.com

www.jamesepepper.com  

www.visitthekitchentable.com

This week on The Whiskey Trip Podcast, Big Chief takes a ride to the Bourbon Capital of the World to chat with Lisa Wicker, Master Distiller and Founder of Saints and Monsters Distillery/Distilling Consulting.

Lisa tells listeners about her journey from seamstress, to wine maker, and then to whiskey. Lisa is the living example that everything in life happens for a reason. From Limestone Branch to Widow Jane to her consulting firm of Saints and Monsters, Lisa has earned the respect of all in the whiskey community.

They start the show by sipping on Widow Jane that has notes of cherry cough syrup. It’s a beautiful small batch bourbon. They then move on to Leopold Brothers Bottled in Bond. Big Chief believes that this whiskey could compete for this whiskey of the year.

They start the second half with Reservoir Distillery’s small batch. This Richmond, Virginia distillery is gaining steam and now Lisa has put them on the big man’s radar. They finish the show with The Bard Distillery, Cinder and Smoke 13 year old bourbon whiskey. It’s flooded with fruit notes, butterscotch, and a beautiful floral, perfumesque profile. So tasty.

This ride on The Whiskey Trip showcases the life story of an amazing whiskey woman.

Cheers!

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, presented by Liquor Barn, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out with Ruth Oesterman, Owner, of La Bonne Vie in Lexington, Kentucky.

The guys talk with Ruth about her background and education, including formal training and certification as a Le Cordon Blue Culinary & Pastry Chef from the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago, the creation of La Bonne Vie and all of the incredible services and classes that they provide to the public, and their exciting Bourbon Chef’s Table Dinner coming up on July 19th and how you can get tickets for that event.

They also taste and review Never Say Die Rye, the Spring 2024 Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond Bourbon, and the new Green River Full Proof Bourbon. They pair these different expressions with some delicious Peach Bruschetta with Blackberry Balsamic that Ruth so graciously prepared for them to enjoy during this Episode.

This Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast is presented by Liquor Barn and is also sponsored by Penelope Bourbon, Limestone Farms Bourbon, Pappy & Co., Old Dominick, The Stave Restaurant, Three Chord Bourbon, James E. Pepper Distillery, and The Kitchen Table at James B. Beam Distilling Co.

Check out all of our amazing sponsors online at: 

www.liquorbarn.com 

www.penelopebourbon.com

www.limestonefarms.com

www.pappyco.com

www.olddominick.com             

www.thestavekentucky.com 

www.threechordbourbon.com

www.jamesepepper.com  

www.visitthekitchentable.com

This week on The Whiskey Trip Podcast, Big Chief takes a ride to the heart of the Bourbon Trail to chat with Matt King, Production Manager, for The Blending House.

Matt tells listeners about The Blending House, their operations, and some of the whiskey brands that they currently represent. He also tells listeners about his journey with the big man and how their friendship has blossomed into something special.

They start the show by sipping on EJ Curly small batch bourbon. At 95 proof it has notes of honeysuckle, tobacco, and peanut brittle and shows the brilliance of Ashley Barnes’s blending skills.

They start the second half with a pour of Lucky Seven Workhorse. This 97 proof Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey has notes of spice, mint, nutmeg, and some more of that peanut brittle.

This ride on The Whiskey Trip showcases the making of a whiskey friendship.

Cheers!

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, presented by Liquor Barn, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out with Freddie Johnson, VIP Visitor Lead, from Buffalo Trace Distillery. This Episode originally aired on April 14, 2023 as Episode 166.

The guys talk with Freddie about his role at Buffalo Trace and how he leads visitors on an experience to make Bourbon inclusive for everyone; how the concept of “promises made, promises kept” led him back home to Frankfort and to his position at Buffalo Trace; and his 3 rules for sharing your Bourbon. 

They also taste and review their flagship Buffalo Trace Bourbon, E.H. Taylor Small Batch, and Weller Antique 107.

This Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast is presented by Liquor Barn and is also sponsored by Penelope Bourbon, Limestone Farms Bourbon, Pappy & Co., Old Dominick, The Stave Restaurant, Three Chord Bourbon, James E. Pepper Distillery, and The Kitchen Table at James B. Beam Distilling Co.

Check out all of our amazing sponsors online at: 

www.liquorbarn.com 

www.penelopebourbon.com

www.limestonefarms.com

www.pappyco.com

www.olddominick.com              

www.thestavekentucky.com 

www.threechordbourbon.com

www.jamesepepper.com  

www.visitthekitchentable.com

This week on The Whiskey Trip Podcast, Big Chief invites his baby brother Mitch (Little Feather) Grey to take a ride and sip on some Georgia whiskey.

Mitch tells listeners how a Gary Stewart song was inspiration for the podcast’s name. They discuss how Mitch recently moved to Georgia and how the Peach State has started to gain some respect for their whiskeys.

They talk about their military experiences and life in the Hill Country of Texas. This has defined them both.

They start the show by sipping on 13th Colony Distillery’s Southern Bourbon whiskey. At 95 proof the Big Man would like to see a little more age on it. They then move onto Big Creek Distilling Company’s wheated bourbon. A little caramel, caramel and lots of cereal notes that shine through. A beautiful craft whiskey to showcase Georgia’s distillery scene.

To start the second half they sip on some Legends 100 bourbon that is double barreled. Their unique filtration system takes the edge off the roughness off this rye bourbon. They finish off the show with ASW Distillery’s Fiddler Georgia Heartwood. Its high wheat mash bill of 51% corn, 45% wheat and 4% malted barley is finished with the heartwood staves of Georgia Oaks.

This is a bottle to be respected at 115.6 with loads of flavors like Caramel, maple, fresh orange, and sandalwood. Mitch says it is warm buttered waffles with syrup and a sweet river of caramel. This leads to it having a long finish.

This ride on The Whiskey Trip showcases two brothers who have been around the world, served their nation, and came back better for it.

Cheers!

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast presented by Liquor Barn, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out in The Bourbon Life Studios with Barry Downing, Master Crafter & Blender and Chief Sales Officer, from Limestone Farms Bourbon. Barry was previously a guest on Episode 196.

Matt and Mark talk with Barry about the current status of their new distillery that is currently under construction in Georgetown, Kentucky, Barry’s unique and amazing process of creating Limestone Farms’ Bourbon which combines both the art of crafting and the art of blending, as well as the current state of the Bourbon industry as it relates to the accessibility of barrels in the market and the health of the Bourbon market overall.

They also taste and review the new Limestone Farms Bloodlines Bourbon, the new Limestone Farms Bloodlines Small Batch Bourbon, and the yet to be released Limestone Farms Bloodlines Cask Strength Bourbon.

This Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast is presented by Liquor Barn and is also sponsored by Penelope Bourbon, Limestone Farms Bourbon, Company Distilling, Bluegrass Distillers, The Stave Restaurant, Three Chord Bourbon, James E. Pepper Distillery, and The Kitchen Table at James B. Beam Distilling Co.

Check out all of our amazing sponsors online at: 

www.liquorbarn.com 

www.penelopebourbon.com

www.limestonefarms.com

www.companydistilling.com

www.bluegrassdistillers.com     

www.thestavekentucky.com 

www.threechordbourbon.com

www.jamesepepper.com  

www.visitthekitchentable.com

This week on The Whiskey Trip Podcast, Big Chief takes a ride to Danville, Kentucky to chat with Dr. Pat Heist, co-founder of Wilderness Trail Distillery.

Dr. Heist tells Big Chief and listeners how his partner Shane and himself went from playing heavy metal music to being the leaders in fermentation. Their work with distilleries around the world would and their love of whiskey provided the passion to create their own distillery.

Pat explains that they use age old traditions, but improve them with science. Wilderness Trail Distillery’s products are handcrafted with precision focusing solely on a unique sweet mash process and producing consistent great tasting award winning spirits.

They start the show by sipping on their wheated straight bourbon whiskey. This bottled in bond 64 % corn, 24 % wheat and 12 % malted barley is one of the big man’s favorites with its high wheat and malted barley. The sweet mash takes away the burn. They then move onto the rye bourbon expression that is made up of those same percentages as the wheat. The rye adds that spice that’s great in any cocktail.

To start the second half they sip on the rye whiskey that has a 56% rye 33% corn and 11% malted barley is the perfect example of a Kentucky rye. This is a balanced whiskey of flavor offset from higher rye mash bills. They finish off the show with their bottled in bond rye bourbon that has become a fan favorite. If Big Chief had to pick a rye bourbon to drink for the rest of his life, this would be it.

This ride on The Whiskey Trip showcases a brand that has risen to the top of the industry in short timing.

 Cheers!

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast presented by Liquor Barn, Matt and Mark are on location at Augusta Distillery in Augusta, Kentucky for the release of their 17-Year Old Buckner’s Bourbon and they also spend some time hanging out with 4x guest, and Augusta Distillery’s brand new Master Distiller and Director of Distillery Operations, Alex Castle, and Co-Founder and President, Ryan Edwards.

Matt and Mark talk with Alex and Ryan about Alex’s decision to leave Old Dominick in Memphis, where she also served as Master Distiller, to take the reins at Augusta Distillery and Ryan’s perspective on making such a tremendous hire for Augusta, the transition that Augusta Distillery will have to make over the next few years in moving from sourced Bourbon to using their own distillate (a process that Alex previously went through at her Old Dominick), and what the future looks like for the brand and for Augusta Distillery.  

They also taste and review Augusta Distillery’s full Buckner’s lineup including Buckner’s 10-Year Old Bourbon, Buckner’s 13-Year Old Bourbon, Buckner’s 15-Year Old Bourbon, and their brand new Buckner’s 17-Year Old Bourbon.

This Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast is presented by Liquor Barn and is also sponsored by Penelope Bourbon, Limestone Farms Bourbon, Company Distilling, Chevalier Casks, The Stave Restaurant, Three Chord Bourbon, James E. Pepper Distillery, and The Kitchen Table at James B. Beam Distilling Co.

Check out all of our amazing sponsors online at: 

www.liquorbarn.com 

www.penelopebourbon.com

www.limestonefarms.com

www.companydistilling.com

www.chevaliercasks.com           

www.thestavekentucky.com 

www.threechordbourbon.com

www.jamesepepper.com  

www.visitthekitchentable.com