Heaven Hill’s Deatsville Commemorative Release had us excited from the first nose with dark cherry, chocolate, leather, and classic sweet oak. But did the palate and finish live up to the legendary warehouse hype?

DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

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A few years ago I was given a bottle by Dr. Pat Heist and it made me say Nevada bourbon? And today, we get to hear the story of Frey Ranch with Colby and Ashley Frey. They turned a multi-generational agriculture operation into one of the most respected craft distilleries in the country. Long before the whiskeys, Colby was growing wheat, rye, barley, and corn in the high desert of Fallon, Nevada. Colby takes us through those early days of battline state legislation and assembling their custom Vendome hybrid still system. Meanwhile, Ashley walks us through crafting the brand's packaging, and if you own a bottle you know how heavy the glass bottle and and topper are. But there's a deeper meaning to it and I won't spoil it for you. From meeting in college to balancing rural farm life, raising a family, and navigating the operational pressures of scaling a modern brand, Colby and Ashley give us an inside look at how they divide responsibilities, manage controlled expansion, and roll out their latest releases.

Show Notes:

• How generations of Nevada agriculture paved the way for a 100% estate-grown, grain-to-glass whiskey operation
• The early legal and legislative battles required to make craft distilling legal in the state of Nevada
• Designing and assembling a hybrid Vendome still system to achieve both high-volume output and maximum flavor control
• The story behind Ashley’s farm-inspired bottle design, including the iconic bolt topper and belt-buckle label
• How Colby and Ashley divide leadership responsibilities while raising a family on a working rural ranch
• Scaling the brand intentionally, expanding into new markets, and what to expect from their upcoming rye releases

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Green River’s first Distillery Select release brings an 8 year toasted double oak bourbon with bakery notes, orange marmalade, buttered toast, apricot, and a touch of mango. The nose starts subtle, but the palate takes this one in a totally different direction from classic Green River.

DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

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When your entire professional life revolves around premium spirits, late-night industry events, and endless barrel selections, the lines between work and life don’t just get blurry—they can completely disappear. The bourbon lifestyle promises a lot of camaraderie and incredible pours, but what does it actually cost your health, your calendar, and your family dinner table? On this week's episode Fred and I sit down for a deeply personal conversation about balancing bourbon with the reality of raising kids. We're not going to be hitting on tasting notes or anything like that but it's a look into our personal lives of school, sports, tracking timeboxes on a calendar, and trying to stay present for our kids as they grow up.

Show Notes:

• Navigating school forms and schedule shifts while managing a global spirits brand
• The hidden physical toll of the whiskey trail: Managing sleep, health, and late-night industry expectations
• Kenny’s calendar timeboxing strategy for forcing boundaries between work and family
• Tasting vs. Consuming: Deconstructing moderation and the critical importance of drinking with intent
• Radical transparency: How Fred and his wife talk to their sons about alcohol, driving, and fentanyl
• Using the grueling discipline of youth wrestling to foster positive peer groups and work ethic
• The hidden financial trap of trying to turn a personal bourbon collection into a media business
• The reality of tax write-offs, charity auctions, and the true cost of over-collecting
• A definitive look at long-term responsibility, family support systems, and the power of being present

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Found North Batch 12 continues the brand's streak of impressive Canadian whiskey releases. This 16-year-old, 128.2 proof blend is rich with brown sugar, butter, cornbread, and sweet oak, while an extra maturation in new American oak barrels adds incredible depth without overpowering the whiskey. Is this one of the best Found North releases yet? Watch our full review to find out.

DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

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It's This Week in Bourbon for July 10th 2026. Fawn Weaver and Keith Weaver have been terminated from Uncle Nearest, a new investigation into Canada's ongoing boycott of American alcohol, and Barton now has their 1792 Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey.

Show Notes:

• Court-appointed receiver terminates Fawn and Keith Weaver from Uncle Nearest, Inc. amidst Humble Baron's collapse
• Jack Daniel Distillery partners with USO for national "United We Toast" campaign honoring the Armed Forces
• WhistlePig Whiskey sells Moriah Business Park auxiliary facility for over $17,000,000 to Zags 26
• Wyoming Whiskey returns to local ownership as WW Partners, LLC acquires an 80% stake from Edrington
• Congresswoman Claudia Tenney introduces the "Canada Act" to investigate Canada's ongoing boycott of American alcohol
• Country Boy Brewing expands into spirits production with Country Boy Distilling launching this autumn
• Shady Knoll Orchards & Distillery fights Washington's direct-to-consumer shipping restrictions in federal appeals court
• Kentucky Bourbon Trail expands to 74 total stops by welcoming four new distilleries to the trail
• Buffalo Trace Distillery debuts "Camp Buffalo Trace" immersive overnight adult summer camp experience
• Knob Creek introduces limited-edition 9-Year-Old Independence Edition with a blue wax seal for America's 250th
• Redwood Empire Whiskey officially releases Colonel Armstrong Wheated Bourbon, a premium four-grain blend
• Woodinville Whiskey Company launches national rollout of premium Single Barrel Bourbon and 100% Rye program
• Sagamore Whiskey announces nationwide launch of its 108-proof High Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Brush Creek Distillery expands 2026 Heroes Edition Straight Bourbon Whiskey release to three barrels
• Buffalo Trace Distillery unveils the third limited-edition release of its historic medicinal Prohibition Collection
• B.H. James Distillers launches Spirit 76 line of flavored Kentucky Bourbons at 76 proof
• Jackson Purchase Distillery debuts its first house-branded Bottled in Bond and Select Bourbons
• Barton 1792 Distillery introduces permanent Straight Rye expression alongside ultra-aged 1792 XV Bourbon
• Garrison Brothers Distillery announces the return of Laguna Madre alongside a new Cask Strength companion bottle

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Long before the modern bourbon boom, one family bet everything on a credit card cash advance business—and turned a single D.C. storefront into a legendary whiskey empire. On this week’s episode, we sit down with Prav Saraff and talk about an unbelievable immigrant success story that transformed a single, cash-strapped Washington, D.C. storefront into a premier destination for ultra-rare spirits and legendary barrel picks. Prav takes us back to his family’s roots—moving from India to Nepal before grinding through grueling hours in America as dishwashers and gas station attendants to finally buy their first liquor store in 1995. We talk about what it was like balancing high school by day and retail shifts by night, and how a chance encounter with a mentor customer completely shifted their business model away from the low-margin hustle and straight into luxury wine, dusty Van Winkle decanters, and vintage Willett bottles the rest of the industry ignored. Long before the modern bourbon boom, the Saraff family treated hard-to-sell, expensive inventory as a long-term asset, ultimately using their early producer relationships to help put powerhouse brands like Smooth Ambler, Smoke Wagon, and New Riff on the map. Prav breaks down how those foundational single barrel programs revolutionized their operation and laid the groundwork for Dream Spirits—a brand launched to honor his father's ultimate legacy.

Show Notes:

• From India to Northern Virginia: The Saraff family’s journey and the early days of American hustle
• Betting the future on a 28% interest rate credit card loan to buy a D.C. liquor store in 1995
• Balancing high school with retail shifts: How a customer mentor unlocked the world of high-end wine and spirits
• Buying what others ignored: Taking early risks on Van Winkle decanters, A.H. Hirsch, and vintage Willett
• Treating expensive, slow-moving inventory as long-term liquid gold
• How early store picks helped put Smooth Ambler, Starlight, and Smoke Wagon on the map
• Launching Dream Spirits: Honoring a father's legacy through independent blending and curation
• Inside the new Virginia estate designed for immersive, memory-making barrel pick trips

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Angel’s Envy celebrates 15 years of Cask Strength with one of its most ambitious releases yet. This 117.8 proof port-finished bourbon delivers rich blackberry jam, honey, tobacco, leather, and sweet oak notes that had us rethinking everything we thought we knew about Angel’s Envy. Is this the ultimate version of a bourbon fan favorite?

DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

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On this week’s Bourbon Community Roundtable, our panel is tackling the single biggest shockwave to hit the industry this year: Gallo’s massive acquisition of Four Roses. We're diving headfirst into what this tectonic ownership shift means for one of bourbon’s most fiercely protected heritage brands. We dissect the massive changes coming to the marketing playbook as corporate retail giant Gallo takes the driver's seat, debating whether we’re about to see aggressive national distribution, mainstream sports sponsorships, or an entirely new strategy to scale the brand beyond the enthusiast bubble. Of course, it wouldn't be a roundtable without confronting the ongoing allocation drama and the future of the beloved private barrel program. The team breaks down the internal inventory pressures that strained Four Roses' retail relationships, and we debate whether Gallo’s massive logistical network can actually repair that broken industry trust. Finally, we throw down over the controversial new Experimental Collection and its debut Mizunara Oak finish, debating whether the core 10-recipe lineup should remain sacred or if it's time for the brand to push new boundaries under its new corporate umbrella. Pour a glass and join the conversation as we look past the label to see what Gallo's next move means for your wallet.

Show Notes:

• Evaluating the industry fallout of E. & J. Gallo’s acquisition of Four Roses
• Fred Minnick on the Seagram's exile, the Kirin rescue, and Jim Rutledge's legendary brand revival
• The marketing gap: Overcoming Four Roses’ historically quiet consumer footprint
• Streamlining the portfolio, fixing the Small Batch Select naming issue, and eyeing mainstream sports sponsorships
• How inventory strain damaged the beloved Four Roses private barrel program
• Can Gallo’s distribution footprint rebuild broken trust with retailers and whiskey clubs?
• The Experimental Collection debate: Pushing boundaries with Mizunara Oak vs. protecting the core 10 recipes
• Why the panel believes finishes and RTDs need separate branding to protect the Four Roses legacy
• Why Small Batch Select is still a mandatory buy on today's liquor store shelf

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Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Mars collaboration blends Kentucky bourbon and Japanese single malt in a first-of-its-kind co-aging experiment. The result? Creamy chocolate, Rice Krispie treats, stone fruit, and a finish that completely surprised us. Is this Bardstown’s most unique release yet?

DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

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It's This Week in Bourbon for June 26th 2026. Willett Distillery has officially marked a major milestone at its brand-new Washington County facility, filling its very first barrel, The Bourbon Capital Alliance has announced the launch of its new Bourbon Capital Diplomat Certification Experience, and Four Roses Distillery is stepping into a new era of bourbon innovation with the debut of its highly anticipated Experimental Series.

Show Notes:

• Belmark partners with ADI Distilling for revenue and packaging uptime webinar
• Willett Distillery fills first barrel at brand-new Washington County expansion facility
• American Whiskey Association pushes for commercial access in historic U.S.-India trade talks
• Federal judge approves $2.595M Martha’s Vineyard estate sale in Uncle Nearest financing case
• Bourbon Capital Alliance launches Diplomat Certification Experience in Bardstown
• Four Roses debuts historic Experimental Series with Mizunara Oak-finished No. 001
• Chattanooga Whiskey launches four-year Intergalactic Comet Crusher at 102 proof

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