Drew Thorn helped build Sagamore Spirit from a three-person startup and later became its CEO. In 2026 he launched Silverthorn Reserve, a Maryland bottler focused on 10- to 14-year-old whiskeys and small, intentional blends. In its first year, Silverthorn's Blender's Art Bourbon scored 98 points and Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. It's now a Best-in-Class finalist, and the winner will be announced Nov. 8.

Drew walks Jake through how he sourced barrels in six months and why he bottled a 13-year-old Georgia whiskey. He explains the three-part bourbon blend, which includes a high-malt MGP bourbon originally distilled by Greg Metze. He also explains why he thinks the 10- to 14-year range is the sweet spot of the aging curve, and why he'll only bottle what he likes himself.

Chapters

Time

Chapter

• 0:00: Welcome, with Scott on vacation
• 1:02: Crab cakes, the Ravens and the Terps
• 2:31: From craft beer to Sagamore Spirit
• 6:27: Pulling a retirement hobby forward: Silverthorn Reserve
• 7:18: First bottling and a soft launch in Baltimore
• 8:46: Licenses, subleases and sourcing barrels in six months
• 11:21: Why 13-year-old Georgia whiskey?
• 15:31: Small-batch blends and the NDP advantage
• 16:32: Inside the Blender's Art bourbon blend
• 20:32: Malt, grapefruit and balance at 115 proof
• 23:15: Blending at Sagamore, and how Drew builds a blend
• 26:26: Two Double Golds at San Francisco
• 28:24: The 13-year-old MGP rye single barrel
• 30:40: The portfolio and the $100 price point
• 32:20: Do age and proof matter to buyers?
• 35:21: Why the founder's own palate matters
• 38:31: What 2027 looks like: staying in Maryland and DC
• 41:47: Where to buy Silverthorn

Chapter times come from the Riverside edit; confirm against the final published file.

Blender's Art bourbon blend, batch 1

• Component Share Notes
• Kentucky bourbon
• 62%
• 10 years old, 74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malt
• MGP high-malt bourbon
• 28%
• 34% malted barley, distilled by Greg Metze and acquired through Old Elk
• Georgia four-grain bourbon
• 10%
• 14 years old, from Ivy Mountain stock bought through Bardstown Bourbon Co.

The blend is 10 years old and 115 proof. Its awards are 98 points, a Double Gold and a Best-in-Class finalist spot at SFWSC 2026. Percentages are as discussed on the show. Drew notes that batch 2 differs slightly.

In this episode

• Guest: Drew Thorn, Founder and Master Blender, Silverthorn Reserve
• Host: Jake Lewellen

Links

• Buy or learn more: silverthornreserve.com and Seelbach's
• Support the show: Patreon · The Weekly Pour newsletter · YouTube · Instagram

Keywords: Silverthorn Reserve, Silverthorn Reserve Blender's Art, Blender's Art Bourbon, Drew Thorn, Silverthorn whiskey, Maryland whiskey, Sagamore Spirit, non-distiller producer, NDP whiskey, bourbon blend, high malt bourbon, Georgia whiskey, Ivy Mountain, 13 year rye, San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2026, Best in Class, double gold bourbon, Seelbach's, whiskey podcast, Bourbon Lens, Bourbon Lens News

#bourbon #whiskey #whiskeyaging #silverthornreserve #marylandwhiskey #bourbonlens

In November 1996, fire swept through Heaven Hill's original Bardstown distillery, sending a river of burning bourbon down the campus with smoke visible for miles. Not one life was lost, and Heaven Hill rebuilt. On the eve of that anniversary, Jake Lewellen reads Executive Chairman Max Shapiro's reflection on the fire and tastes the brand-new Heaven Hill Phoenix.

Phoenix is 18-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon aged in heavy-char barrels, enriched with a rare touch of 30-year-old reserves distilled at the original Heaven Hill distillery. It's bottled at 107 proof with a suggested retail price of $325.

In this Five Minute Fridays tasting, Jake covers:
🔥 The story of the 1996 Heaven Hill fire, in Max Shapiro's words
🥃 How Phoenix is built: 18-year bourbon plus 30-year reserves from the original distillery
👃 Nose: tobacco, leather, brown sugar, caramel, maple and baked apple pie
👅 Palate: rich baking spice, char, tobacco and crème brûlée with tannin on the finish
🏆 Why it shot to the top of Jake's favorite whiskeys of 2026

Timestamps
0:00 Welcome to Five Minute Fridays
0:28 Max Shapiro on the November 1996 fire
0:58 "Not one life was lost"
1:27 "What we chose to do next"
1:57 Introducing the Phoenix batch
2:33 The pour
2:51 Nose
4:10 Palate
4:52 "Bold, dark, rich, but sweet"
5:20 A top whiskey of 2026
5:50 Price and Heaven Hill's tasting notes
6:50 A toast to Heaven Hill and Bardstown

Catch this week's full conversation with Adam Edwards of Heaven Hill on the channel. Have you tried Phoenix? Tell us in the comments 👇

Please drink responsibly. Must be 21+.

• Subscribe for more weekly discussions, tastings, and bourbon insights from the Bourbon Lens community.
• Follow on Instagram: @bourbonlens
• Visit: www.bourbonlens.com
• Merch: https://bourbon-lens-shop.printify.me/products
• Discord: https://discord.gg/pd6ys5nRSU

#HeavenHill #HeavenHillPhoenix #Bourbon #BourbonReview #KentuckyBourbon #Bardstown #FiveMinuteFridays #BourbonLens #WhiskeyPodcast

Heaven Hill Phoenix, Heaven Hill Phoenix review, Heaven Hill fire 1996, Heaven Hill 18 year, 30 year bourbon, 18 year old bourbon, ultra-aged bourbon, Heaven Hill Distillery, Bardstown bourbon, Kentucky straight bourbon, Max Shapiro, Heaven Hill new release 2026, limited edition bourbon, best bourbon 2026, bourbon tasting, bourbon review, heavy char barrel, 107 proof bourbon, Five Minute Fridays, Jake Lewellen, bourbon podcast, whiskey podcast, Bourbon Lens, Bourbon Lens News

Adam Edwards of Heaven Hill is the first five-time guest on the Bourbon Lens. He joins Jake and Scott at Kentucky Bourbon Festival to break down Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash. It's a 9-year-old, $49.99 blend of Heaven Hill's traditional and wheated bourbon mash bills, and Adam calls it "one of one" on the market.

Adam explains why rye overpowers wheat in four-grain bourbons and why the blend needed nine years instead of seven. He also does the math on just how rare an age-stated bottled-in-bond blend is. Then the conversation widens to cover following in Bernie Lubbers' footsteps, the Old Fitz and Larceny flavor spectrum, why barrels older than eight years start to "fail," and why Heaven Hill is building more capacity during a bourbon slowdown.

Chapters

• 0:00: Live from Kentucky Bourbon Festival with five-time guest Adam Edwards
• 0:58: Following in Bernie's footsteps
• 2:19: A deep portfolio, a 40-second brand training and Christian Brothers
• 3:37: Two iconic mash bills in one bottle
• 6:21: Why rye dominates four-grain bourbon
• 8:09: Inside the blend, and why it's nine years old instead of seven
• 9:29: Tasting notes with Scott
• 11:13: $49.99 and "one of one": the bottled-in-bond rarity math
• 13:33: How the Heaven Hill name went premium
• 15:09: "Bourbon is dead?" Max Shapira's long view
• 17:49: Will Double Mash stay consistent?
• 18:45: The Heaven Hill bottled-in-bond portfolio
• 20:13: Old Fitz, Larceny and the Decanter Series flavor spectrum
• 22:13: Why barrels older than eight years start to "fail"
• 24:47 ;Bernheim, Old Springs and 3,000 barrels a day
• 25:44: Why big companies are betting on bourbon
• 27:21:Wrap-up and cheers

Double Mash at a glance

• Detail: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash
• Blend: About 2/3 traditional bourbon (78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley) and 1/3 wheated bourbon (68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley)
• Age: 9 years
• Proof: 100, Bottled-in-Bond
• Official tasting notes:Toasted oak, honey and white pepper on the nose; honey and citrus oil on the palate; caramel and baking spice finish
• Price: $49.99 SRP
• Availability: Limited quantities nationwide since August 2026

In this episode

• Guest: Adam Edwards, Heaven Hill
• Hosts: Jake Lewellen and Scott
• Recorded at Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Bardstown, Ky.

Links

• Learn more: heavenhilldistillery.com
• Support the show: Patreon · The Weekly Pour newsletter · YouTube · Instagram

High West turns 20 this year, and it's marking the occasion with the boldest version of its most famous release. Jake sits down with Tara Lindley, Director of Sensory & New Product Development at High West, to talk about A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 14.

For the first time, the Rendezvous Rye blend includes whiskey finished in Amontillado, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, alongside the usual Ruby and Tawny port barrels. It also includes High West rye that sat in port barrels for six years. Tara explains how she builds the blend, why Act 11 is her personal favorite, and why you should let this one rest in the glass for 30 minutes before you drink it.

Chapters

Time Chapter

0:00 Welcome to the Bourbon Lens

0:37 Celebrating High West's 20th anniversary

2:03 From 14-component Rendezvous to a deep whiskey library

2:58 A decade of Midwinter Night's Dram, from Ruby port to Tawny

4:26 What's new in Act 14: sherry casks and six-year port barrels

5:53 Acts vs. scenes, explained

6:56 How Tara builds the blend

9:41 The sensory panel, and why Act 11 is Tara's favorite

11:13 How to drink it: let it rest for 30 minutes

12:16 The rye "bell curve" on the palate

12:59 Older stock or barrel influence?

14:32 Dark fruit, sweetness and balance

17:10 Wrap-up and cheers

Act 14 at a glance

Detail Act 14

Base whiskey: High West Rendezvous Rye, straight rye whiskeys aged 4–10 years

Finish:Ruby and Tawny port barrels, plus Amontillado, Oloroso and PX sherry barrels

Proof: 98.6 (49.3% ABV)

Filtration: Non-chill filtered, no flavor added

Price: $124.99 SRP

Availability

National limited release, High West General Stores and highwest.com

In this episode

• Guest: Tara Lindley, Director of Sensory & New Product Development, High West Distillery
• Host: Jake Lewellen

Links

• Buy or learn more: highwest.com
• Support the show: Patreon · The Weekly Pour newsletter · YouTube · Instagram

People are drinking Still Austin so fast the distillery had to grow. In Part 2 of our conversation, co-founder and CEO Chris Seals walks Jake and Scott through The Still Austin Quarter: a move from one and a half buildings to ten buildings on six and a half acres, with a live music venue built as the home of "The Musician" from their label.

Chris takes us room by room. The Atrium honors Austin musicians before they were famous, with portraits of artists at age 17. The Vinyl Lounge holds 5,000+ records and a bar shaped like a Stratocaster. And thanks to concert posters donated by the Steamboat's owners, the Music Room recreates the legendary 1977 Austin venue — "a room where literally anything can happen."

The Quarter's public grand opening is Thursday, Nov. 5, with Shakey Graves in the Music Room at 7:30 p.m. and Adrian Quesada DJing the Vinyl Lounge from 7 p.m.

Chapters

Time

Chapter

0:00

Welcome back to Thursday Thoughts

0:28

"We're gonna run out": why Still Austin is expanding

1:27

The back fence becomes the front door: The Still Austin Quarter

2:24

Telling Austin's story without a marketing experience

3:05

Building the musician's home

4:22

The Atrium: before they were famous

5:26

The Vinyl Lounge: 5,000 records and a Stratocaster bar

6:58

A Stevie Ray Vaughan mixtape and the Steamboat

8:38

"We recreated the Steamboat"

9:12

Liquid courage and the life of an Austin musician

10:07

Wrap-up and thanks

Chapter times come from the Riverside edit; confirm against the final published file.

In this episode

• Guest: Chris Seals, co-founder and CEO, Still Austin Whiskey Co.
• Hosts: Jake Lewellen and Scott
• Venue: The Still Austin Quarter, 4211 Willow Springs Road, Austin, TX

Links

• Catch Part 1 from earlier this week: 406: Still Austin Brings Kentucky-Style Bourbon to Texas
• Read more: The Still Austin Quarter Opens in South Austin, With Shakey Graves Headlining the Nov. 5 Grand Opening
• Visit: stillaustin.com/still-austin-quarter · Instagram @stillatxquarter
• Support the show: Patreon · The Weekly Pour newsletter · YouTube · Instagram

Is Texas bourbon really bigger? Jake and Scott head south to find out with Chris Seals of Still Austin, one of the most unique craft distilleries in America. Still Austin makes traditional Kentucky-style bourbon and rye in the Texas heat, and the whiskey doesn't taste like it.

Chris shares the story behind the distillery. It started as a "feasibility study" meant to bond with his retired dad and turned into a grain-to-glass operation now raising about 23,000 barrels.

In this episode:

• How a father-son bonding project became Still Austin
• Why Texas grain is different: white corn, Brassetto rye, and the highest starch content in the U.S.
• The élevage maturation philosophy, borrowed from Cognac and Armagnac, and what makes Still Austin the largest whiskey producer using it
• Slow water reduction, aged water, and how they tame tannins in a hot climate
• Tasting The Artist (100% rye) vs. the Cask Strength Rye, a "watercolor vs. technicolor" comparison
• The Musician bourbon mash bill (70% white corn, 25% Brassetto rye, 5% malted barley), plus the Musician Cask Strength
• Barrel entry proof, age statements, and what "aged at least two years" really means
• Inside the new Still Austin Quarter in Austin's Saint Elmo Arts District: 10 buildings on 6.5 acres, a recreated Steamboat music venue, and a musician's home built around 5,000 vinyl albums

Whether you're a bourbon fan, a rye lover, or curious about Texas whiskey, this one will change how you think about whiskey made outside Kentucky.

Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch the full episode on YouTube.

🔔 Subscribe for more weekly discussions, tastings, and bourbon insights from the Bourbon Lens community.
📸 Follow on Instagram: @bourbonlens
🌐 Visit: www.bourbonlens.com
Merch: https://bourbon-lens-shop.printify.me/products
Discord: https://discord.gg/pd6ys5nRSU

HASHTAGS

#StillAustin #TexasWhiskey #TexasBourbon #BourbonLens #BourbonPodcast #WhiskeyPodcast #RyeWhiskey #CaskStrength #CraftDistillery #AustinTexas

KEYWORDS

Still Austin, Still Austin Whiskey, Chris Seals, Texas bourbon, Texas whiskey, Texas rye whiskey, Still Austin Musician, Still Austin Artist rye, Still Austin cask strength, 100% rye whiskey, Brassetto rye, white corn bourbon, élevage whiskey, Nancy Fraley, slow reduction whiskey, craft distillery Texas, Austin distillery, Saint Elmo Arts District, Still Austin Quarter, grain to glass, bourbon podcast, whiskey podcast, Bourbon Lens, Jake Lewellen, Scott Bourbon Lens, cask strength bourbon, Texas distillery tour

Can a bourbon drinker fall for Highland single malt? Jake Lewellen tastes Aberfeldy for the first time with Gareth Howells, North American brand ambassador, including the brand-new Aberfeldy 18 Year Old finished in Sangiovese casks.

In this episode of Whiskey Lens, you'll learn:
✅ Aberfeldy's 127-year story in the heart of Scotland
✅ Why a 70+ hour fermentation creates that honeyed profile
✅ How ex-bourbon, sherry and wine casks shape each bottle
✅ Why the 18's nose reminds Jake of bourbon
✅ Why Aberfeldy is unpeated and not all Scotch is smoky

🥃 Tasted in this episode
Aberfeldy 12 (40% ABV): honey, vanilla, citrus, baking spice
Aberfeldy 16 (40% ABV): first-fill Oloroso sherry finish, dark chocolate, dried fruit
Aberfeldy 18 Sangiovese Cask Finish (46% ABV): limited release, candied citrus

⏱️ Chapters
0:00 Welcome
0:48 Gareth's favorite American whiskeys
2:44 The Bacardi whisky portfolio
5:43 Aberfeldy's history, 1898 to today
11:34 Long fermentation and the honeyed house style
12:55 Cask makeup explained
14:52 Tasting: Aberfeldy 12
23:17 The US lineup and wine cask series
26:02 Pricing and value
30:05 Tasting: Aberfeldy 16
36:32 The blending question
39:24 Tasting: Aberfeldy 18 Sangiovese
44:27 Was it French oak?
50:16 Scotch isn't all peat
51:04 Wrap-up

Listen on your favorite podcast platform and tell us in the comments: what's your gateway Scotch for bourbon drinkers?

Please drink responsibly. Must be 21+.

Subscribe

🔔 Subscribe for more weekly discussions, tastings, and bourbon insights from the Bourbon Lens community.
📸 Follow on Instagram: @bourbonlens
🌐 Visit: www.bourbonlens.com
Merch: https://bourbon-lens-shop.printify.me/products
Discord: https://discord.gg/pd6ys5nRSU

Hashtags

#WhiskeyLens #Aberfeldy #ScotchWhisky #HighlandSingleMalt #WhiskyTasting #BourbonLens #WhiskeyPodcast

Keywords

Aberfeldy, Aberfeldy 18 Sangiovese, Aberfeldy 12, Aberfeldy 16, Aberfeldy review, Highland single malt, Scotch tasting, Scotch for bourbon drinkers, Sangiovese cask finish, wine cask whisky, Gareth Howells, Jake Lewellen, Dewar's, whisky podcast, whiskey tasting, new Scotch release 2026, Whiskey Lens, Bourbon Lens, Bourbon Lens News

Bardstown Bourbon Company Master Blender Dan Callaway joins Jake and Scott of Bourbon Lens to taste and break down three of the year's most talked-about American whiskeys: the 99-point Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish, the Garryana Oak 2026 Discovery, and the polarizing Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish.

Dan explains how Bardstown Bourbon Company blends Indiana and Kentucky bourbon and rye with single malt barrels, Barbados pineapple rum casks, and rare Pacific Northwest Garryana oak. He also covers the 2026 label redesign, the growth of Green River Whiskey in Owensboro, the first-of-its-kind honey bourbon, and what it was like to appear on 60 Minutes.

If you love bourbon reviews, whiskey blending, finished bourbon, and Kentucky distillery stories, this episode is for you.

In this episode:

• Why Bardstown redesigned its core bottle and how it makes ordering at the bar easier
• Lochs of Jura: a 32-month finish in ex-Jura single malt barrels (ex-bourbon and ex-sherry), 104 proof
• Garryana Oak Discovery: campfire, s'mores, and wood sugar from handmade barrels
• Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish: 27 months in rum casks, then fresh pineapple and staves
• How rickhouse floor placement changes a whiskey
• Cocktail ideas: highballs, tiki drinks, and a Painkiller

Chapters:
0:00 Welcome and meet Dan Callaway
1:04 Bardstown Bourbon's 2026 package redesign
4:09 Green River Whiskey, Distillery Select, and Owensboro
5:35 The honey bourbon and the barrel-leak lessons
8:03 Dan on 60 Minutes
9:30 From Distillery Reserve experiments to national releases
10:49 Tasting #1: Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish
21:41 The 99-point IWSC score
23:13 Tasting #2: Garryana Oak Discovery
27:35 Barrels, rickhouse floors, and the art of blending
31:11 Tasting #3: Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish
38:34 How to drink it: highballs and tiki
38:55 Where to find it: Kentucky Bourbon Festival
39:08 Final thoughts

Chapter times come from the raw recording. Please check them against your final edit before posting.

Subscribe

🔔 Subscribe for more weekly discussions, tastings, and bourbon insights from the Bourbon Lens community.

📸 Follow on Instagram: @bourbonlens
🌐 Visit: www.bourbonlens.com
Merch: https://bourbon-lens-shop.printify.me/products
Discord: https://discord.gg/pd6ys5nRSU

Hashtags

#BourbonLens #BardstownBourbon #BardstownBourbonCompany #LoftedSpirits #LochsOfJura #Garryana #PineappleWhiskey #BourbonReview #BourbonTasting #WhiskeyPodcast #BourbonPodcast #KentuckyBourbon #FinishedBourbon #DanCallaway #GreenRiverWhiskey

Keywords

Bardstown Bourbon Company, Bardstown Bourbon review, Dan Callaway, Lofted Spirits, master blender interview, Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish, Jura single malt barrels, Bardstown Bourbon Discovery 2026, Garryana oak whiskey, Garryana oak bourbon, Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish, pineapple rum cask whiskey, finished bourbon, split base whiskey, 95/5 rye bourbon, Green River Whiskey, Distillery Select, honey bourbon, IWSC 99 points, Kentucky Bourbon Festival, bourbon podcast, bourbon tasting, whiskey review, bourbon cocktails, Bourbon Lens

Jake Norris was the founding head distiller of Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey and later of Laws Whiskey House. He joins Jake Lewellen on The Bourbon Lens to talk about the Curated Barrel Project, his direct-to-consumer, cask-finished bourbon series.

Jake Norris covers:

• How he went from Stranahan's and Laws to building his own Colorado distillery
• A hybrid still design: a continuous column stripper paired with a 4-plate pot column
• Why Colorado's altitude, microbiome, and locally grown grain shape the whiskey
• The Curated Barrel Project: eight quarterly releases of 7-year-old high-rye bourbon, including an unfinished control, an oloroso sherry cask finish, and a port cask finish still to come
• The vinyl-record idea behind each release: a handwritten zine, a Spotify playlist, and 50-person chef-driven warehouse dinners
• Why whiskey isn't dying, just repositioning, and why he is "anti-snobbery"

Learn more at thecuratedbarrelproject.com

⏱️ Chapters
0:00 Meet Jake Norris
1:17 From Stranahan's to Laws Whiskey House
3:16 Building his own distillery
5:24 Continuous column + pot column design
9:22 Colorado terroir, altitude & local grain
16:29 Watercolor, whiskey & learning your still
18:13 Origin of the Curated Barrel Project
24:26 The vinyl record idea, zines & playlists
29:16 The releases: control, oloroso & port
32:11 Membership & warehouse dinners
34:30 Whiskey's future & anti-snobbery
36:54 Where to find Curated Barrel Project

Subscribe

🔔 Subscribe for more weekly discussions, tastings, and bourbon insights from the Bourbon Lens community.

📸 Follow on Instagram: @bourbonlens
🌐 Visit: www.bourbonlens.com
Merch: https://bourbon-lens-shop.printify.me/products
Discord: https://discord.gg/pd6ys5nRSU

Hashtags

#BourbonLens #JakeNorris #CuratedBarrelProject #ColoradoWhiskey #BourbonPodcast #WhiskeyPodcast #Bourbon #CaskFinish #CraftDistilling #Stranahans #HighRyeBourbon #Whiskey

Keywords

Jake Norris, Curated Barrel Project, Colorado whiskey, Stranahan's founding distiller, Laws Whiskey House, bourbon podcast, whiskey podcast, craft distilling, cask finish bourbon, oloroso sherry cask bourbon, port cask finish, high rye bourbon, direct to consumer whiskey, craft distillery startup, hybrid column pot still, whiskey club membership, whiskey zine, anti-snobbery whiskey, whiskey market 2026, Bourbon Lens

Is rye whiskey having a moment? Jake Lewellen reviews Proof & Precedent, a brand-new 11-year-old straight rye whiskey from Illinois bottled at 121.6 proof (60.8% ABV). It's a small batch blend of Illinois ryes, created with Brian Harris of Sipping Corn, Matt Cusack, and Marcus Neiman.

In this Five Minute Fridays tasting, Jake covers:
🥃 Why rye is surging, with Angel's Envy's Peach Brandy Cask finished rye, Silverthorn's 13-year, Dark Arts' 15-year, and Joseph Magnus' batched rye
🥃 Nose: apricot, peach, brûléed sugar, candied orange, honeysuckle, and a "hot toddy" aroma
🥃 Palate: fruit cocktail syrup, star anise, warm baking spices, and heavy oak on the finish
🥃 Why this high-rye rye drinks with the complexity of a high-rye bourbon, which makes it a good pick for bourbon drinkers who find rye too spicy
🥃 Jake's verdict: one of the top rye whiskeys he's had in 2026

⏱️ Chapters
0:00 Intro: a new Illinois rye from Proof & Precedent
0:42 Why this release matters
1:10 Rye whiskey is having a moment
2:02 Nose: apricot, peach & candied orange
2:53 First sip: 121.6 proof
4:13 Verdict: rye for bourbon drinkers
5:15 Final thoughts & rating

Have you tried Proof & Precedent? Tell us in the comments!

🔔 Subscribe for more weekly discussions, tastings, and bourbon insights from the Bourbon Lens community.
📸 Follow on Instagram: @bourbonlens
🌐 Visit: www.bourbonlens.com
Merch: https://bourbon-lens-shop.printify.me/products
Discord: https://discord.gg/pd6ys5nRSU

#ProofAndPrecedent #RyeWhiskey #IllinoisWhiskey #WhiskeyReview #BourbonLens #FiveMinuteFridays #StraightRye #BarrelProof #WhiskeyTasting #BourbonCommunity

Proof and Precedent, Proof & Precedent review, Proof and Precedent rye whiskey, Illinois rye whiskey, 11 year old rye whiskey, 121.6 proof whiskey, straight rye whiskey, high proof rye, small batch rye, rye whiskey review, new whiskey release 2026, best rye whiskey 2026, rye whiskey tasting notes, Sipping Corn, Brian Harris, Matt Cusack, Marcus Neiman, rye whiskey for bourbon drinkers, Five Minute Fridays, whiskey podcast, bourbon podcast, bourbon review, Bourbon Lens, Jake Lewellen

How did Bardstown go from a quick distillery stop to a true bourbon destination? Bourbon Lens hosts Jake and Scott sit down with Sam Lacy, Executive Director of the Bourbon Capital Alliance (BCA), to break down the growth of Bardstown bourbon tourism, from new hotels and downtown tasting rooms to the Bourbon Capital District, where you can carry your drink from bar to bar.

Sam shares the story behind the Bourbon Capital Alliance, the nonprofit uniting 10 partner distilleries, and how National Bourbon Week grew from a 30-minute lawn ceremony in 2018 into an eight-day event in 2026. He also shares new data showing bookings from 37 states and 70% of them from out of state.

You'll also hear about the new Bourbon Capital Diplomat Certification Program, a hospitality course that teaches bartenders and servers about bourbon, Bardstown history and proper pours. We get into why it matters, what Jake and Scott scored on the exam, and what's coming for National Bourbon Week 2027.

⏱️ Chapters
0:12 – Welcome and meet Sam Lacy
1:17 – What the Bourbon Capital Alliance does
2:41 – How the BCA started (2016–2026)
5:34 – New hotels, restaurants and the premium shift downtown
7:37 – The Bourbon Capital District (open carry downtown)
8:33 – Downtown tasting rooms: Chicken Cock, Old Steel House, Boundary Oak, The Bard
14:14 – The history of National Bourbon Week
18:53 – 2026 data: 37 states, 70% out-of-state bookings
23:19 – The Bourbon Capital Diplomat Program
35:24 – Why proper glassware and "pour, not shot" matter
41:06 – What's next for National Bourbon Week 2027
49:16 – How to sign up: Academy, Guild and National Bourbon Week

Resources mentioned
Bourbon Capital Academy (Diplomat Program, $75): BourbonCapitalAcademy.com
National Bourbon Week: NationalBourbonWeek.com
Bourbon Capital Guild (member lottery): BourbonCapitalGuild.com

Subscribe for more weekly discussions, tastings, and bourbon insights from the Bourbon Lens community.
Follow on Instagram: ⁨@bourbonlens⁩
Visit: www.bourbonlens.com
Merch: https://bourbon-lens-shop.printify.me/products
Discord: https://discord.gg/pd6ys5nRS

Hashtags

#BourbonLens #Bardstown #BourbonCapitalOfTheWorld #NationalBourbonWeek #BourbonTourism #BourbonPodcast #KentuckyBourbon #BourbonTrail #BourbonCapitalAlliance

Keywords

Bardstown bourbon tourism, Bourbon Capital Alliance, Sam Lacy, Bourbon Capital of the World, National Bourbon Week 2027, Bourbon Capital Diplomat, Bourbon Capital Academy, Bourbon Capital Guild, Bourbon Capital District, Bardstown Kentucky, Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Bardstown distilleries, Bardstown tasting rooms, Bardstown hotels, things to do in Bardstown, bourbon certification program, bourbon education, bourbon hospitality training, Potter Jane Distilling, Limestone Branch, Heaven Hill, Maker's Mark, Lux Row, Bardstown Bourbon Company, Kentucky Bourbon Festival, bourbon podcast, Bourbon Lens, Jake Lewellen