The Whiskey Ring Podcast

Hey Whiskey Ringers, thanks for tuning in to another episode of the Whiskey Ring Podcast. This week's guest is Stephen Fante, National Brand Ambassador for Limestone Branch Distillery.

Stephen has a fascinating back story: between being a tea sommelier (a new thing for me that I love), a childhood friend of Stephen Beam who lost touch then reconnected over the latter's distillery, and now a national brand ambassador, he is a damn interesting character. 

Limestone Branch Distillery is on the newer side, but there's no denying the massive heritage behind it. The Beam family, the most prolific single family in American whiskey, is here, too, in the form of Stephen and Paul Beam, 7th generation distillers. 

Then there's the connection with Yellowstone National Park. The Yellowstone brand is as old as the Park, being founded in 1872 in its honor. Though it's changed hands over the years, it is a venerable brand with a nearly continuous history. Now owned by Limestone Branch, the brand is in its new glory days - and Stephen Fante is at the front lines. 

Donate to the National Parks Conservation Association Here.

Before we jump into the interview just a few quick notes:

If you haven’t joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so. It's Episode 50! 

• The $5 tier will have access to the new, Patreon-only segment called “Under the Influencer”, where some of your favorite YouTubers/Instagrammers/Podcasters and more join me to talk about a topic that’s under their skin in whiskey. This tier will also have priority access to upcoming barrel picks, including one coming up in partnership with the This is my Bourbon Podcast. 

You can still support for as little as $1 a month if you’d like to stay up to date with these changes and news about what we’ve got coming up. 

Finally, please do like and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening - it really helps the Whiskey Ring Podcast move up the rankings. 

If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 

Thanks for listening! Now here’s Stephen Fante of Limestone Branch Distillery.

Limestone Branch Distillery

Limestone Branch Distillery Website

Limestone Branch Distiller Facebook

Limestone Branch Distiller Instagram

Limestone Branch Distiller YouTube

Thanks to our Sponsor, ImpEx Beverages

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Hey Whiskey Ringers, thanks for tuning in to another episode of the Whiskey Ring Podcast. This week's guest is Scott Brunow from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. 

You might recognize Scott from his still-going and long-running series with friend Bart, the Scotch Test Dummies. Scott has spent nine years trying Scotch (and other whiskies) and reviewing them on a journey to try and learn about the whisky. Recently, he brought his talent and experiences to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS). 

SMWS was founded by Pip Hills as just a group of friends in Scotland purchasing a cask of whisky here or there from distilleries. Since then, the SMWS is now 20,000 members strong around the world, with 5,000 in America. No longer just bottling Scotch single malts, the SMWS is now bottling single barrels from around the world and blending their own whisky releases. There's a lot to get into!

Before we jump into the interview just a few quick notes:

If you haven’t joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so. I’ve reworked the levels, and here are a few of the changes: 

• The $5 tier will have access to the new, Patreon-only segment called “Under the Influencer”, where some of your favorite YouTubers/Instagrammers/Podcasters and more join me to talk about a topic that’s under their skin in whiskey. This tier will also have priority access to upcoming barrel picks, including one coming up in partnership with the This is my Bourbon Podcast. 

You can still support for as little as $1 a month if you’d like to stay up to date with these changes and news about what we’ve got coming up. 

Finally, please do like and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening - it really helps the Whiskey Ring Podcast move up the rankings. 

If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 

Thanks for listening! Now here’s Scott Brunow from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. 

Scotch Malt Whisky Society

SMWS Website

SMWS Facebook

SMWS Instagram

SMWS Twitter

Thanks to our Sponsor, ImpEx Beverages

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Hey Whiskey Ringers, thanks for tuning in to another episode of the Whiskey Ring Podcast. This week's guests are Terry Lozoff and Randall Bird of Wheel Horse Whiskey. 

Wheel Horse is sourced - as transparently as I've seen a brand be - from Owensboro, KY and Green River Distilling. Green River, temporarily named OZ Tyler, didn't have the greatest reputation due to the TerraPURE process being used from some products. But, behind the scenes, Ron and Jacob Call were distilling and aging the old fashioned way. The results so far have been fantastic. 

Wheel Horse Whiskey is one of the first new products coming out of Owensboro, preceding even their own Green River Bourbon. Plus, Wheel Horse Rye was the first rye ever to come out of the distillery. 

There's a lot to talk about here, and it's a hell of a conversation. 

Before we jump into the interview just a few quick notes:

If you haven’t joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so. I’ve reworked the levels, and here are a few of the changes: 

• The $5 tier will have access to the new, Patreon-only segment called “Under the Influencer”, where some of your favorite YouTubers/Instagrammers/Podcasters and more join me to talk about a topic that’s under their skin in whiskey. This tier will also have priority access to upcoming barrel picks, including one coming up in partnership with the This is my Bourbon Podcast. 

You can still support for as little as $1 a month if you’d like to stay up to date with these changes and news about what we’ve got coming up. 

Next up is the Advent Calendar! After you all made the Jack Daniels events such a success, I had to follow it up, so here’s what’s coming up: 

The calendar is starting on July 1st, so it might be too close to order one, but you can still enjoy the show!

This event is available ONLY to people in the Whiskey Ringers Facebook group or to website subscribers. 

Finally, please do like and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening - it really helps the Whiskey Ring Podcast move up the rankings. 

If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 

Thanks for listening! Now here’s Terry Lozoff and Randall Bird of Wheel Horse Whiskey. 

Wheel Horse Whiskey

Wheel Horse Whiskey Website

Wheel Horse Whiskey Facebook

Wheel Horse Whiskey Instagram

Thanks to our Sponsor, ImpEx Beverages

https://impexbev.com

ImpEx on Instagram

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Hey Whiskey Ringers, thanks for tuning in to another episode of the Whiskey Ring Podcast. This week's guest is Blair Ault from Milam & Greene Whiskey. 

Milam & Greene is a Texas distillery with a heart in Kentucky. Drawing on the combined talents and lineages of Marlene Holmes and Heather Greene, Milam & Greene distills in both Texas AND Kentucky (at Bardstown Bourbon Company) to their own specifications. 

Then, there's Blair, a national brand ambassador and woman of whiskey in her own right (seriously - she's a renowned mixologist and co-hosts the Whiskey Women Podcast, linked below). Blair joins the podcast to talk Milam & Greene's founding, present, and future - and set the stage for her own return in the Patreon-only Under the Influencer show.  

Before we jump into the interview just a few quick notes:

If you haven’t joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so. I’ve reworked the levels, and here are a few of the changes: 

• The $5 tier will have access to the new, Patreon-only segment called “Under the Influencer”, where some of your favorite YouTubers/Instagrammers/Podcasters and more join me to talk about a topic that’s under their skin in whiskey. This tier will also have priority access to upcoming barrel picks, including one coming up in partnership with the This is my Bourbon Podcast. 

You can still support for as little as $1 a month if you’d like to stay up to date with these changes and news about what we’ve got coming up. 

Next up is the Advent Calendar! After you all made the Jack Daniels events such a success, I had to follow it up, so here’s what’s coming up: 

• In July, an advent calendar curated by me that includes 15 samples, 15 different producers (and 14 different distilleries), two samples that have whiskey older than I am, and a special pour I promise you won’t find anywhere else. This event is available ONLY to people in the Whiskey Ringers Facebook group or to website subscribers. As of this recording, ten of the fifteen spots are already claimed, so grab yours today, and join the Facebook group for discount codes and insider access.

Finally, please do like and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening - it really helps the Whiskey Ring Podcast move up the rankings. 

If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 

Thanks for listening! Now here’s Blair Ault of Milam & Greene Whiskey. 

Blair Ault and Milam and Greene

Milam and Greene Whiskey Website

Milam and Greene Whiskey Facebook

Milam and Greene Whiskey Instagram

Milam and Greene Whiskey Twitter

Whiskey Women Podcast

Thanks to our Sponsor, ImpEx Beverages

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Hey Whiskey Ringers, thanks for tuning in to another episode of the Whiskey Ring Podcast. This week's guest is David Mandell, founder of Bardstown Bourbon Company, now of Kentucky Owl and Kentucky Bourbon Festival fame. 

After a career in government (the NTSB and the FAA) and as a lawyer, David and his college friend decided they wanted to get into distilling. That's the short story - today, he's the Chairman of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival and running Kentucky Owl Bourbon, with a long legacy still in place at Bardstown Bourbon Company. 

Make sure to grab your tickets to this year's KBF in the show notes below!

Before we jump into the interview just a few quick notes:

If you haven’t joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so. I’ve reworked the levels, and here are a few of the changes: 

• The $5 tier will have access to the new, Patreon-only segment called “Under the Influencer”, where some of your favorite YouTubers/Instagrammers/Podcasters and more join me to talk about a topic that’s under their skin in whiskey. This tier will also have priority access to upcoming barrel picks, including one coming up in partnership with the This is my Bourbon Podcast. 

You can still support for as little as $1 a month if you’d like to stay up to date with these changes and news about what we’ve got coming up. 

Next: there are THREE upcoming events. After you all made the Jack Daniels events such a success, I had to follow it up, so here’s what’s coming up: 

• In July, an advent calendar curated by me that includes 15 samples, 15 different producers (and 14 different distilleries), two samples that have whiskey older than I am, and a special pour I promise you won’t find anywhere else. This event is available ONLY to people in the Whiskey Ringers Facebook group or to website subscribers. As of this recording, eight of the fifteen spots are already claimed, so grab yours today, and join the Facebook group for discount codes and insider access.

Finally, please do like and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening - it really helps the Whiskey Ring Podcast move up the rankings. 

If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 

Thanks for listening! Now here’s David Mandell of Kentucky Owl, the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, and (formerly) Bardstown Bourbon Company.

David Mandell, Kentucky Owl, and KBF Links

Kentucky Bourbon Festival

Kentucky Owl Bourbon

Thanks to our Sponsor, ImpEx Beverages

https://impexbev.com

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Hey Whiskey Ringers, thanks for tuning in to another episode of the Whiskey Ring Podcast. This week's guest is Colin Keegan, founder of Santa Fe Spirits. In just over a decade as a distiller, Colin has gone from newbie to veteran to industry powerhouse, all while maintaining the cool, calm, informed demeanor that mixes his childhood in Northern England with his life in Santa Fe. 

Santa Fe Spirits, in my opinion, is on the leading edge of the American Single Malt movement. Their core products are ready to drink right now, with finishings being experimented with. It's single malt comparable to anything you'd find from Scotland, Ireland, Japan, or India - and the single malt is just the start. 

Summary? I HIGHLY recommend this brand, every product. And I know you'll enjoy Colin getting into the details of distilling and his roles in the craft and American single malt movements. 

Before we jump into the interview with Colin Keegan of Santa Fe Spirits, just a few quick notes:

If you haven’t joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so. I’ve reworked the levels, and here are a few of the changes: 

• The $5 tier will have access to the new, Patreon-only segment called “Under the Influencer”, where some of your favorite YouTubers/Instagrammers/Podcasters and more join me to talk about a topic that’s under their skin in whiskey. This tier will also have priority access to upcoming barrel picks, including one coming up in partnership with the This is my Bourbon Podcast. 

You can still support for as little as $1 a month if you’d like to stay up to date with these changes and news about what we’ve got coming up. 

Next: there are THREE upcoming events. After you all made the Jack Daniels events such a success, I had to follow it up, so here’s what’s coming up: 

• In July, an advent calendar curated by me that includes 15 samples, 15 different producers (and 14 different distilleries), two samples that have whiskey older than I am, and a special pour I promise you won’t find anywhere else. This event is available ONLY to people in the Whiskey Ringers Facebook group or to website subscribers. As of this recording, two of the fifteen spots are already claimed, so grab yours today, and join the Facebook group for discount codes and insider access.

Finally, please do like and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening - it really helps the Whiskey Ring Podcast move up the rankings. 

If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 

Thanks for listening! Now here’s Colin Keegan of Santa Fe Spirits.

Santa Fe Spirits

Santa Fe Spirits Website

Santa Fe Spirits on Facebook

Santa Fe Spirits on Instagram

Santa Fe Spirits on Twitter

Thanks to our Sponsor, ImpEx Beverages

https://impexbev.com

ImpEx on Instagram

ImpEx on Facebook

ImpEx on Twitter

That's right, he's back!

Welcome Whiskey Ringers to Episode 44, the return of the Alchemist himself, Alan Bishop. 

The star of this episode is one of Alan's newer concoctions, The Whiskey Witch, a wheat, oat, barley, and Indiana peat-smoked mash that defies categorization. Seriously - we don't know how this will be categorized! 

As always, this episode with Alan is a blast. I can't wait to visit Spirits of French Lick and see his Alchemist Cabinet in person. 

If you haven’t joined the Patreon community, now is the time: you can now support the site and podcast for as little as $1 a month. There are also $5 and $25 tiers available, and you’ll want to get in on the ground floor today for big events coming up this year. Just go to patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring to sign up.

If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 

Finally, please subscribe to the Whiskey Ring Podcast on your favorite podcast platform today! Please leave a 5-star rating and review and share with your friends and fellow whiskey lovers.

Thank you for listening and for supporting, and please enjoy this episode with Alan Bishop of Spirits of French Lick.

Spirits of French Lick Distillery

Spirits of French Lick Distillery Website

Spirits of French Lick on Facebook

Spirits of French Lick on Instagram

Spirits of French Lick on Twitter

Alan Bishop's Instagram

Thanks to our Sponsor, ImpEx Beverages

https://impexbev.com

ImpEx on Instagram

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Welcome Whiskey Ringers to Episode 43! Today's guest is Victoria Eady Butler, Master Blender and 5th-generation descendant of the distillery's namesake, Nathan "Nearest" Green.  

Uncle Nearest Distillery is no stranger to the Whiskey Ring: earlier this year, Fawn Weaver joined the Podcast for a conversation about the Distillery's place in the whiskey world and a retrospective on the then-and-now of its history. Delving deep into Uncle Nearest as a man, the ways Fawn endeavored to bring his legacy to life, and how Clay Risen's original research inspired Fawn to pursue her own was an incredible episode. 

Victoria, however, comes in as a Whiskey Ring newbie. With Fawn we spoke about business and ideation - with Victoria, we go deep into the whiskey itself, through the sourcing to the new Master's Blend that is 100% Uncle Nearest-distilled spirit. Of course, Nearest Green's heritage had to be included, but this focused on what Victoria is doing as blender and distiller in her own right. 

If the Master's Blend is any indication, this is the next phase of Uncle Nearest - and it's ready to blast off. 

There are only 5 tickets left for the Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey Event! Sign up for your samples here: Jack Daniel's Tasting Events and grab them before tomorrow, May 12th!

If you haven’t joined the Patreon community, now is the time: you can now support the site and podcast for as little as $1 a month. There are also $5 and $25 tiers available, and you’ll want to get in on the ground floor today for big events coming up this year. Just go to patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring to sign up.

If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 

Finally, please subscribe to the Whiskey Ring Podcast on your favorite podcast platform today! Please leave a 5-star rating and review and share with your friends and fellow whiskey lovers.

Thank you for listening and for supporting, and please enjoy this episode with Victoria Eady Butler of Uncle Nearest Distillery.

Uncle Nearest Distillery

Uncle Nearest Distillery Website

Uncle Nearest Distillery on Facebook

Uncle Nearest Distillery on Instagram

Uncle Nearest Distillery on Twitter

Thanks to our Sponsor, ImpEx Beverages

https://impexbev.com

ImpEx on Instagram

ImpEx on Facebook

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Welcome Whiskey Ringers to Episode 42! Today's guest is Chris Swonger, President and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) and Responsibility.org. 

Chris has a long history in the spirits world, but after ten years away he was asked to take the reins of the industry's leading advocacy organization. In 2019, he assumed his role, leading both DISCUS and the alcohol-use awareness organization, Responsibility.org. 

We discuss how DISCUS is the "tip of the spear" for the spirits industry, advocating on the federal and state levels for improved economic conditions (and against tariffs!), working within the three-tier system to increase connections between distilleries and consumers, and leading the charge for responsible consumption.

From the smallest, newest craft distilleries to the heritage brands known around the world, DISCUS represents them all. Dealing with 50 different state systems is no easy feat, yet Chris and the DISCUS team have led the charge for direct-to-consumer shipping, increased state-to-state reciprocity, and for the easing of excise taxes. 

He's also incredibly accessible for the head of a 48-member, $17M national organization. Reach out via email or social media - Chris cares and will respond. 

Finally, a note on Responsibility.org. The mission comes down to one word: moderation. Nobody wants a return to Prohibition, and even less so overconsumption, drunk driving, accidents, and other effects of overindulgence. The industry has a self-interest in promoting moderation, and Responsibility.org is, like DISCUS, the tip of the spear. I'm an advocate for drinking what you like how you like it, and for always tasting something new when you can. But always - always - drink responsibly. 

If you haven’t joined the Patreon community, now is the time: you can now support the site and podcast for as little as $1 a month. There are also $5 and $25 tiers available, and you’ll want to get in on the ground floor today for big events coming up this year. Just go to patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring to sign up.

If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 

Finally, please subscribe to the Whiskey Ring Podcast on your favorite podcast platform today! Please leave a 5-star rating and review and share with your friends and fellow whiskey lovers.

Thank you for listening and for supporting, and please enjoy this episode with Victoria Eady Butler of Uncle Nearest Distillery.

DISCUS

DISCUS Website

DISCUS on Facebook

DISCUS on Instagram

DISCUS on Twitter

Responsibility.org

https://www.responsibility.org

https://www.facebook.com/GoFAAR

https://instagram.com/go_FAAR

https://twitter.com/goFAAR

Thanks to our Sponsor, ImpEx Beverages

https://impexbev.com

ImpEx on Instagram

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Welcome Whiskey Ringers to Episode 41! Today's guest is Erik Wolfe, co-founder of Stoll & Wolfe Distillery in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. 

Erik founded Stoll & Wolfe with the late Dick Stoll, who worked for decades at Bomberger's (later Michter's) Distillery until it closed in 1989. After nearly three decades, Erik convinced Dick to come out of retirement to found a brand new distillery honoring Pennsylvania Whiskey tradition. With the heritage Rosen Rye, a mashbill from Stoll's days at Michter's, and a custom still, Stoll & Wolfe is producing some of the best Pennsylvania Rye (and bourbon!) around. 

Oh, and it's only about 1 year old in the bottle. 

There are only 5 tickets left for the Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey Event! Sign up for your samples here: Jack Daniel's Tasting Events and grab them before May 12th!

If you haven’t joined the Patreon community, now is the time: you can now support the site and podcast for as little as $1 a month. There are also $5 and $25 tiers available, and you’ll want to get in on the ground floor today for big events coming up this year. Just go to patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring to sign up.

If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 

Finally, please subscribe to the Whiskey Ring Podcast on your favorite podcast platform today! Please leave a 5-star rating and review and share with your friends and fellow whiskey lovers.

Thank you for listening and for supporting, and please enjoy this episode with Erik Wolfe of Stoll & Wolfe Distillery.

Stoll & Wolfe Distillery

Stoll & Wolfe Distillery Website

Stoll & Wolfe Distillery on Facebook

Stoll & Wolfe Distillery on Instagram

Stoll & Wolfe Distillery on Twitter

Thanks to our Sponsor, ImpEx Beverages

https://impexbev.com

ImpEx on Instagram

ImpEx on Facebook

ImpEx on Twitter