Brandon McCraney walked away from a corporate career and cashed out his 401k to open Olde Raleigh Whiskey in January 2021—right in the middle of COVID. The original plan was distilling. The stills are still there. But a series of curveballs, including county inspectors who made him rebuild nearly everything they'd already approved, forced him to double down on what he actually loves: blending.

Today, Olde Raleigh sources from 11 different distilleries across five states and finishes whiskey in 14 different cask types from around the world. Brandon doesn't replicate batches. Ever. He's currently on a mission to release 1,000 unique one-off blends—a project he calls "Thousand Blends"—and he's tracking at 181 distinct releases this year alone.

We talk about the art of blending versus distilling, why he proofs his small batch down slowly over months rather than days, how a 130-year-old oak tree near the distillery ended up as finishing staves, and why his cigar bourbon—Old Stoge—took an extra six months because the Armagnac just needed more time to unfold.

Spirits Mentioned: Olde Raleigh Small Batch Bourbon, Olde Raleigh Barrel Proof, Olde Stogie (Armagnac & Tawny Port finish), Honey Cask Finish, Coffee Cask Finish, Savage Rye, 25-Year Hazmat (Palo Cortado Sherry finish)

Guest: Brandon McCraney – Owner & Master Blender, Olde Raleigh Whiskey

Links: Old Raleigh Whiskey: oldrealeighwhiskey.com Instagram: @olderaleighwhiskey

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