Whiskey Tangent

Round 1 (Ed): Witch’s Brew – Sazerac Rye • Cranberry Juice • Lime Juice • Raspberry Simple Syrup • Mint Simple Syrup

Round 2 (Alex): Do the 50.9% Mash – Bulleit Mesquite Smoked Malt Bourbon • Cotija-washed Elote Mezcal • Nixta Corn Liqueur • Atole with Vanilla and Cinnamon • Chili and Citrus Bitters • Cilantro and Lime Oil • Corn Milk Foam

Round 3 (Kayla): And You Better Not Say That Two More Times! – Bear Fight American Single Malt • Diplimático Rum • Ube Vanilla syrup • Lime Juice • White Chocolate Egg White Foam

Round 4 (Scott): The Headless Horseman – Bulleit Rye • Cointreau • Absinthe • Peychaud’s Bitters • Orange Oil

Tangents: New mixologically inclined guests Kayla and Alex join us to scare up and knock back some homemade Halloween whiskey cocktails! • Ed’s drink will sneak up on you • Halloween Quiskey! • Kayla was on a Harry Potter podcast before • Why is candy corn pizza a thing? • Alex’s candy corn-inspired cocktail might be the most complicated thing ever • Save the baby corns! • The password is “Loose” • Kayla’s Beetlejuice-themed cocktail is almost as complicated as Alex’s • Scott’s cocktail is gonna be just a Captain & Coke with a live bat in it • Ed can be an ube • Kayla milked a tentacle • We’re big in Singapore • Scott’s New Orleans-y cocktail tastes like prison sex • Ed’s cocktail is now called "Bitch’s Brew" • The Obituary Cocktail sounds amazing • You gotta show the taco meat • Alex and Kayla are chaos agents (but not terrorists)

Music Credits: Whiskey on the Mississippi, Come Play with Me, Political Action Ad by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.com • Escape Route by David Robinson from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com

Video version: https://youtu.be/0giRRb1I54o

Today we’re exploring the controversy surrounding Willett’s new “purple top” Bourbons, previously highly sought-after single barrels, but now made in small batches and bottled at cask strength—a confusing situation that has many whiskey enthusiasts scratching their heads. And given all that, will we be disappointed by what the new, less expensive, lesser aged “purple top” tastes like? Press play to find out!

Music Credits: Freedom courtesy of Choc Mic McNeil at  https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Vb55i9ubwPnxUnY6OG3nH • Slow Burn and River Valley Breakdown by Kevin MacLeod at https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

Before we say see ya later to Season 15, we have one last thing to talk about. Ok, several last things. So, join us for a review of the past six months and a preview of Season 16.

Last Things – Shout-outs: Our usual guest hosts • New guest Joe has a lovely wife and no-longer-adorable-in-a-childlike-way children • James Hetfield sings the theme from “Cops” • Stats: 62,000 downloads! • California continues to dominate the state stats • Ed’s gonna sing a song for every state • 3 new countries • We had fun at the pavilion! • The Ship of Theseus v. Your Grandfather’s Axe • Ed retains all his cells • #georgraphyjokes • New stat: World Domination Score! • Scott shuts down 36 countries with his bad accent • Appallness v. Appallity • Bolivian belligerence • Season 15 Recap: 12 Podcasts (318 all time) • 24 New Whiskeys (460 all time) • Scott really needs Rachel to slap him • The Lost Lantern folks are whiskey nomads • Scott sings Donna Summer and Rob Halford • Ed read about cocaine in Playboy when he was 12 • Our first news ep recap! • Ulysses got us kicked out of a restaurant • Ed’s grandmother died of consumption • The math ain’t methin’ • Jeff wrote an epic D&D backstory • Ed killed all the baby dragons • Sazerac shade! • Don’t look in Gabe’s garage • #scrumptious • Bulleit lost our number • SCOTT DOES NOT OWN DOLLS! • Ed takes his granddaughter to the liquor store • Bacardi Tangent • We consider selling the podcast to Sazerac • We’re all sad drinking whiskey in our apartments • Old strippers dance to the Charleston in blackface • Joe literally needles Gabe • Scott sings Warrant and Morrissey • Try pouring whiskey on your nuts! • Are there really 8 continents? • Scott mutes Ed • Season 16 Preview: Episodes on Halloween Cocktails, George Dickel + Lost Lantern, Kinsey, ScotchFest 2026 • QuickTaste audio/videos on Willett Purple Top, Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Rye • Bonus Xmas and Pinhook • Whiskumentary Update and Whiskey Wormhole • Whiskey Madness 2027

Thank you all so much for listening!

Music Credits: Octoblues by Kevin MacLeod | Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4152-octoblues | License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license • Whiskey on the Mississippi by Kevin MacLeod | Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4624-whiskey-on-the-mississippi

New News: MGP Experiences Shocking Decline in Sales • Irish Whiskey Rules Under Review • Scientists Study Antarctic Whisky • Powering Tiny Machines with Whisky • Man Drinks Bottle of Whiskey Before Going to the Airport • Woman Arrested After Whiskey-Fueled Country Club Crash

New Whiskeys: Baker’s 13 Year Single Barrel Bourbon • Basil Hayden Cognac Cask Reserve Bourbon • Blue Note Cherry Wood Cask Finished Bourbon • Bulleit ‘87 Whiskey • Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt • Jameson Distiller’s Batch Irish Single Pot Still • Joseph Magnus 10 Year Cask Strength Rye • MGP Chapter One Bourbon • Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Cask Strength Rye • New Riff Sherry Finish Malted Rye • Penelope Cigar Sessions Chapter 2 Blended American • Redemption Single Barrel Bonded Bourbon • Repeal Reserve Series X Bourbon • Remus Repeal Reserve Rye • Stranahan’s Bottled-in-Bonded American Single Malt

New Music Credits: Retro News at Nine (Stinger 1) by Steve Oxen and Just Breaking (Softer) by David Fesliyan from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com • News Sting and Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.filmmusic.io

Whiskeys: Benchmark Bonded Bourbon • Benchmark Single Barrel Bourbon • Col. E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon • Col. E.H. Taylor Single Barrel Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon (Bob)

Tangents: Gabe and a new guest (our old friend Joe) join us for a blind (and unblind) tasting of Buffalo Trace expressions, all of which have the same mashbill • Everyone likes Gabe on the podcast (except Ed) • Joe’s name wasn’t Joe on Facebook • Tasting all four expressions double-blinded • Apparently, “Gabe being immature” is a nosing note now • #orchardidity • The winners will defenestrate the losers • Joe speaks a little Spanish and the Pineys revolt • #cinnamy • That time when Joe literally needled Gabe • We raise a glass to Ed’s dad who passed 30 years ago • She’s my berry pie! • Morrissey Tangent • Col. E.H. Taylor Jr. was neither a colonel nor a junior, discuss • Scott recites the Bottled in Bond act • Not Peaches and Herb • Ed recites the difference between small batch and single barrel • So much shade today • Our blind rankings v. our unblind rankings • Gabe, wake up and take a shot! • Taylor Single Barrel is like a Peppermint Patty for your balls

Music Credits: Whiskey on the Mississippi, River Valley Breakdown, Bama Country, and Fig Leaf Rag Distressed by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.com

Video version: https://youtu.be/5dV_KkwkeQ4

So, when a listener gifted us a bottle of whiskey, we took a look at the label and said, “Wait, Malört makes a Bourbon?!” Because if you’re not familiar with Malört, it’s an extremely bitter liqueur made from wormwood, the main ingredient in Absinthe, but without any anise, sweetness, or complexity. So, can the palates that produce the most bitter drink on the planet be trusted to craft a good whiskey? Press play and find out!

Music Credits: Freedom courtesy of Choc Mic McNeil at  https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Vb55i9ubwPnxUnY6OG3nH • Fig Leaf Rag by Kevin MacLeod at https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

New News: Bacardi Takes Ownership of Teeling • Sazerac Tries to Buy Brown-Forman… Again • Uncle Nearest’s Legal Woes Continue • Trump Escalates Canadian Tariff War • Global Whisky Challenge winners • North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition winners • ASCOT Awards winners

New Whiskeys: Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon 100 Proof, Cask Strength, and 1776 Edition • Bardstown Bourbon Co. Victoria Pineapple Whiskey • Barton 1792 Rye • Bib & Tucker 8 Year Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon • Breckenridge Rye • Buffalo Trace’s 2026 Prohibition Collection • Bulleit 20 Year Rye • Booker’s “The Milkshake Batch” Bourbon • Heaven Hill Double Mash Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon • Old Elk 10-Year-Old Collection • Penelope Classic Series Bourbon and Rye

New Music Credits: Retro News at Nine (Stinger 1) by Steve Oxen and Just Breaking (Softer) by David Fesliyan from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com • News Sting and Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.filmmusic.io

Whiskeys: High West Cask Collection Whiskey Finished in Sauvignon Blanc Barrels • High West Cask Collection Whiskey Finished in Chardonnay Barrels • High West Cask Collection Whiskey Finished in Petite Sirah Barrels • High West Cask Strength Blend of Straight Whiskeys

Tangents: Marty and Rachel get high in the west with us for a wine-soaked trek into the mountains of Utah! • Rachel isn’t actually Japanese (or a geisha) • Ignorance never stopped Ed (or America) before • High West history • We’re considering giving out The Chancellor Award from the Whiskey Tangent Society • Our High West origin story • Once again, Ed doesn’t speak French • Black (box wine) is slimming • We’re recording remotely at Marty and Rachel’s house • Apparently, “new shoe” and “Mormon marital sheet” are tasting notes now • #dolltangent • Stop trying to make “Fijian wine” a thing • Ed’s granddaughter thinks expensive whiskey is dumb (and she’s right) • Marty and Rachel meet-cute Scott and Ed (thanks Anders!) • Rachel thinks we’re fabulous • The springs got sprung • Top 10 Fun Facts About Utah • I’m kidding, it’s a joke! • Sorry, any kind of ambrosia is gross • Anybody remember Geno’s? • Marty didn’t get a tilde this time • Jeff and Marty have a sword fight • Zoey is the quietest Siberian Husky ever • Apparently, “New wooden porch swing” is a tasting note now • Ed kums violently • The Bangtail cocktail identifies as apple

Music Credits: Whiskey on the Mississippi, Hyperfun, and French Café by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.com • Jungle Roll by Winnie the Moog from https://filmmusic.io

Video with Bonus Cocktail: https://youtu.be/vr7A7Gi5pyU

Ever since they opened their own distillery in 2017, Bulleit has been doing some interesting things with their whiskeys, including higher-aged versions of their Bourbon and Rye, an American Single Malt, and even a Bottled-in-Bond. But now they’ve gone and done something truly unique by replacing the rye component in their own-make Bourbon with some mesquite-smoked malted barley. Will it be too smoky? Or not smoky enough? Will we miss the rye? Or will it strike the balance between single malt and bourbon that the mashbill implies? Tune in and find out!

Music Credits: Freedom courtesy of Choc Mic McNeil at  https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Vb55i9ubwPnxUnY6OG3nH • River Valley Breakdown by Kevin MacLeod at https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

New News: Is Brown-Forman No Longer for Sale? • Brown-Forman Halts Distilling at Slane Irish Whiskey • Jim Beam CEO Talks Whiskey's Future • Uncle Nearest Has a Secret Buyer • The Tarriff Nonsense Continues • Grandmother Found Guilty of Whiskey Manslaughter • Half a Million Dollars of Whiskey Stolen from Philadelphia Warehouse • Woman Arrested for Starting Impromptu Happy Hour at Costco

New Whiskeys: Chicken Cock Old Glory Rye • Evan Williams Single Barrel 250 • Four Branches Liberty Reserve Bourbon • Rittenhouse 10 Year BiB • WhistlePig Declaration Wheat • WhistlePig Red, White & Blue PiggyBank Rye • Blue Note Small Batch Wheated Bourbon • Blue Run Blueprint Bourbon • Col. E.H. Taylor x 2 • Elijah Craig 108 Proof PGA Edition Bourbon • First West Explorer Bourbon • Garrison Brothers Ranch Reserve Series x 2 • Little Book Chapter 10 • Old Grand-Dad 114 Single Barrel • Widow Jane Tequila Ocho Cask Finished Bourbon

New Music Credits: Retro News at Nine (Stinger 1) by Steve Oxen and Just Breaking (Softer) by David Fesliyan from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com • News Sting and Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.filmmusic.io