Bourbon Lens
Bourbon Lens is the podcast for every whiskey drinker. During this project, we look to explore the whiskey and bourbon industry, learn more about our favorite spirit, and interview industry insiders, makers, entrepreneurs, and business people. We welcome you on this journey with us. Bourbon Lens was founded by Jake and Scott from Louisville, Kentucky. We have grown our appreciation for Kentucky’s native spirit and look to learn all that we can about every type of whiskey. We welcome you to pour a glass of whiskey and join us. We are always looking for show topics, discussion starters, and new whiskies to try. Contact us on social media or send us an email to: Info@BourbonLens.com with ideas, comments, or questions.
Episodes
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott explore how certain new whiskey releases capture a true sense of place — from the rickhouses of Kentucky to the hills of Tennessee.
They start with the latest installment of the Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Collection from Wild Turkey Distillery, featuring barrels aged in the legendary Camp Nelson E rickhouse....
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott dive deep into Heaven Hill’s newest innovation — the Grain to Glass® Specialty Barrel Series. The series launches with three unique whiskeys, each aged entirely in Chinquapin Oak barrels, showcasing Heaven Hill’s continued commitment to experimentation and craftsmanship.
The trio includes:
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott turn the spotlight on the craft and independent distilleries making waves across the Bourbon and American Whiskey landscape. From Kentucky to Nevada, Colorado to New York, they highlight more than dozen distilleries to watch in 2025 and beyond — brands that are redefining what it means to craft whiskey in America today.
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In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott sit down with Joe O’Sullivan, Master Distiller at Minden Mill Distilling, to discuss his journey in American Whiskey and what makes Minden Mill one of Nevada’s most exciting distilleries.
Joe shares his early experiences learning from one of the greats in American Whiskey, St...
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott tackle a hot topic in the bourbon world: does great bourbon have to be high proof? While barrel-strength and cask-strength whiskeys continue to dominate the conversation, the guys make the case for exploring the sub-100 proof range (80–99 proof) as well.
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In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott recap their time at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, sharing highlights from the annual celebration of Bourbon in Bardstown, Kentucky. From new releases to conversations with fellow enthusiasts, the festival once again showcased why Bourbon continues to thrive as Kentucky’s signature industry.
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott dive into the highly anticipated Four Roses 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch release. Bottled at barrel strength and showcasing some of Four Roses’ most unique recipes, this year’s Limited Edition is built around two 13-year-old V batches, said to deliver notes of apric...
Celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month with a special Bottled-in-Bond showdown! In this episode, Jake and Scott sit down to compare two 7 Year Bottled-in-Bond Bourbons: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year and Old Grand-Dad 7 Year Bonded Bourbon from the James B. Beam Distilling Co.
The discu...
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake sits down with Eric Gregory, President of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA), to officially kick off Bourbon Heritage Month. Eric shares insights on the current state of the Bourbon industry, the exciting events planned throughout September, and the continued growth and global reach of Kentucky Bourbon.
From economic ...
In this episode of the Bourbon Lens Podcast, Jake and Scott sit down with Rick and Ricky Johnson, the father-son duo behind 15 STARS Fine Aged Bourbon. Known for their dedication to craftsmanship and innovation, the Johnsons share how 15 STARS has grown its portfolio with three standout releases: Small Batch, Toasted Oak, and Extra Aged Kentucky Straight Bourbon.
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake sits down with Brian Luftman, Co-Founder of Never Say Die Bourbon, to explore the unique story behind the brand. From its Kentucky roots to its transatlantic journey to England, Never Say Die Bourbon combines American craftsmanship with a global perspective.
Brian shares the inspiration behind the brand’s name, its connection...
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake sits down with Colby and Ashley Frey, the husband-and-wife duo behind Frey Ranch Distillery in Fallon, Nevada. We dive into what it takes to operate a true farm distillery in a relatively remote part of the state, and the unique challenges—and rewards—that come with growing, harvesting, and distilling all of their own grain.
...This week on Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott dive into the wave of exciting whiskey releases that have dropped during the summer of 2025. From heritage distilleries to rising craft brands, the whiskey and bourbon world has been anything but quiet.
We kick things off with Starlight Distillery’s milestone 10-Year Bourbon, their oldest bourbon release to date and a maj...
Bourbon Community Pick #1: Whiskey War Barrel Select with High Bank Distillery Goes On Sale Monday, August 4th.
In this episode of the Bourbon Lens Podcast, Jake and Scott unveil Bourbon Community Pick #1, a special collaboration featuring Whiskey War Barrel Select from High Bank Distillery. This unique bottling marks the launch of an exciting new series of community barrel picks curated by Bourbon Lens and fellow whiskey creators.
...In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott take a deep dive into one of the most iconic bottles in American whiskey: Wild Turkey 101. From its long-standing role as a go-to everyday bourbon to the newly released Wild Turkey 101 8 Year, we explore what makes this brand a staple in bourbon culture.
We compare the standard Wild Turkey 101 to the newly age-stated 8 Year release, now available in the Uni...
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott sit down to explore two highly anticipated Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond releases from Heaven Hill Distillery. The featured bourbons include:
- Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond
- Old Fitzgerald Spring 2025 9 Year Bottled-in-Bond
We taste and discuss both expressions, breaking down tasting notes, b...
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott sit down with Chris Canale, Founder of Old Dominick Distillery, and David Valentine, the Memphis Distillery's Head Distiller and Lead Blender. The conversation dives into the revival of a family legacy, Old Dominick’s approach to crafting Tennessee whiskey and bourbon, and the innovation behind their Cask Strength Bourbon, Bottled in Bond Tennessee W...
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott are joined by world-renowned bartender and cocktail pioneer Charles Joly. A James Beard Award-winning mixologist and co-founder of Crafthouse Cocktails, Charles brings decades of experience to the table, from co-creating The Aviary in Chicago to elevating the ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail game.
We dive into:
- Cocktail fundamentals for hom...
Sagamore Spirit Ushers in a New Era with Maryland-Made Rye Whiskey.
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott sit down with Clint Spotleson, Global Advocacy & Engagement Manager at Sagamore Spirit, to talk all things Maryland Rye. The conversation marks an exciting new phase for the Baltimore-based distillery as it moves forward with its first Maryland-distilled rye whiskeys.
We discu...
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake sits down with Rick Franco, Co-Founder of Four Branches Bourbon, and their newly appointed Strategic Advisor, Master Distiller Gregg Snyder. The conversation explores the brand’s ties to military service, its approach to bourbon, and its expanding product lineup.
We dive into Four Branches’ signature Founder's Blend, a complex four grain bourbon, and what sets it apa...
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