High Proof Ashes Podcast - Bourbon and Cigars Unite!

This episode is all about the thrill of the hunt. We’re cracking open another Kentucky Bourbon Fest pickup—Burton James Bourbon, a bottle that never leaves the state of Kentucky and caught our attention for being both solid and fairly priced while wandering the festival grounds. Sometimes the best pours aren’t the loudest names, and this one made the cut.

For the cigar, we’re going next-level exclusive with the Drew Estate Unico...

This week on High Proof Ashes, we dive into a true boutique bourbon experience with a single barrel pick from River Roots Barrel Co. 10 yrs old Kentucky Bourbon sourced at Red Hot Liquors. River Roots Barrel Company is a Cleveland, OH - based spirits curator dedicated to hand-selecting top-tier single barrels and small-batch offerings with bold character and distinct profiles — perfect for whiskey lovers looking for s...

In this episode of High Proof Ashes, we put the Pinhook Vertical Series Bourbon 9 Year head-to-head with the 10 Year in a mini bourbon battle. Same series, just one year apart—but the difference in flavor, balance, and character might surprise you. We break down where that extra year shows up and let the glasses do the talking.

For the cigar, we’re smoking the Rocky Patel 20th Anniversary Maduro, a bold and refined stick wrapped...

This week on High Proof Ashes, we’re pouring Brothers of the Leaf Toasted Batch 1, a Kentucky-only bourbon finished in toasted French oak casks that gives this release a deeper sweetness and a refined edge. The French oak brings out waves of vanilla cream, warm pastry, light caramel, and a subtle roasted spice that builds as the glass opens up. Riding shotgun is the La Flor Dominicana Super Bowl 2025 Special Edition, a once-a-year ...

In this episode of High Proof Ashes, we’re diving into a bottle you can only find in the Bluegrass State—Burton James Single Barrel Bourbon from the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. This limited Kentucky-only brand brings a classic profile with a warm sweetness, seasoned oak, and a surprising depth for a young label. It’s the kind of pour that makes road trips to Kentucky worth it.

For our smoke, we’re continuing our run with the Casa...

This week on High Proof Ashes, we’re pouring one we brought home from our trip to the Kentucky Bourbon Festival — Buzzard’s Roost Char #1 Bourbon. Aged in lightly toasted, #1-char barrels, this whiskey highlights the brand’s unique approach to flavor: soft vanilla, layered oak, and subtle spice, all balanced with the smoothness Buzzard’s Roost fans have come to love.

For our smoke, we’re reaching back to one of our early podcast...

This week on High Proof Ashes, we’re pouring something that’ll catch you off guard — Found North Batch 011, an 18-year Canadian whisky that drinks nothing like you’d expect. Rich, complex, and layered with depth, it’s proof that great whiskey doesn’t always have to come from Kentucky.

Alongside it, we’re firing up the Jefferson’s Reserve Cask Strength, a bold, full-bodied bourbon that delivers the heat, spice, and caramel kick w...

In this episode of High Proof Ashes, we’re pouring one of Penelope’s most intriguing limited releases — Project X, finished in rich Pedro Ximénez (PX) sherry casks. This bourbon takes Penelope’s classic four-grain profile and layers on deep notes of dried fruit, dark honey, toasted oak, and just enough sherry sweetness to turn every sip into a dessert-worthy pour.

To match that complexity, we’re firing up the Oliva V Melanio Mad...

In this episode of High Proof Ashes, we’re diving into two bourbons we handpicked during our Kentucky Bourbon Festival trip — both crafted by the team at Log Still Distillery in Gethsemane, Kentucky.

First up is a Monk’s Road Wheated Single Barrel, bottled at high proof — something you don’t see often in a wheated expression. It’s smooth yet bold, showing off Log Still’s classic balance of sweet grain, oak, and spice. Then we mo...

In this episode of High Proof Ashes, we’re diving into a unique pour and a cigar with a reputation.

For the pour, we’ve got Bluegrass Elkwood Reserve Spanish Oaked 10 Year—a Kentucky bourbon finished with Spanish oak influence. This expression brings out deep, layered notes and if you’re a fan of oak-driven finishes, it’s one you should seek out.

On the cigar side, we light up the Gurkha Grand Age 2 Maduro. Gurkha is a brand ...

This week on High Proof Ashes, we’ve got a lineup that packs a punch in both glass and hand.

🥃 Chattanooga Whiskey Founders 13th Anniversary – A special release from Chattanooga that celebrates 13 years of pushing Tennessee whiskey forward with bold, high-malt character.

🥃 Bhatka Red Hot Store Pick – A unique blend built on rye whiskey and finished with layers of Calvados and Armagnac, delivering a complex mix of spice, orc...

This week’s High Proof Ashes is a little different—no featured cigar, just us sitting down for a long pour and giving you the REAL review of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. 🍻

We take you behind the scenes of our KBF trip: what we did, where we went, and the unforgettable experiences around Bardstown. On the table, we’ve got some of the bottles we hauled back, and you’ll hear all about the pours that stood out along the way.

I...

In this episode of High Proof Ashes, we’re pouring 1792 Full Proof Bourbon, a bold, high-octane expression from Barton 1792 Distillery that delivers rich caramel, spice, and oak with an unmistakable full-bodied punch. To pair with it, we light up the LFD La Volcada from La Flor Dominicana—a striking dark cigar that honors Dominican dance and tradition. Known for its Mexican San Andrés wrapper and complex flavor profile, the La Volc...

We’re taking it back with a true classic this week. For the pour, we’ve got the legendary Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon—a highly sought-after bottle that delivers rich caramel, vanilla, and spice in every sip. On the cigar side, we’re revisiting the Espinosa Crema, a smooth and creamy smoke we last reviewed over two years ago.

How does the Crema hold up after all this time? Does it still deliver the mellow creaminess and ba...

In this episode of High Proof Ashes, we’re diving into a bourbon that’s been buzzing in the whiskey world — the Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Bottled in Bond. This wheated bourbon from Heaven Hill carries the Bottled-in-Bond pedigree, offering classic sweet and smooth wheater notes, but with the layered depth that has made Old Fitz one of the most anticipated limited releases each year.

For the cigar side, Jason lights up his very first...

We’re back with a loaded lineup of spirits and smokes! First up, we crack into the newly released Knob Creek Bourye, a unique blend of bourbon and rye that’s making waves for its balance of rich sweetness and rye spice. From there, we pour a store pick from Red Hot Liquor — a nearly 5-year-old Dettling Single Barrel that shows what Alabama whiskey can really do.

Our smoke of the day is the Drew Estate Liga Privada H99 Flying Pig...

We’re back with two bold spirits and a classy cigar in hand!

This episode features:

🥃 Still Austin Cask Strength – If you caught our fresh crack short, get ready for a verydifferent take. One of us flat-out goes off about this bottle, and let’s just say… it gets passionate.

🥃 Old Forester Single Barrel 100 Proof – A classic that’s hard to ignore, bringing all the brown sugar and oak you’d expect from a house favorite.

And pai...

In this episode of High Proof Ashes, we’re diving into some rare territory — both in spirits and cigars.

We light up the La Galera 85th Anniversary Broadleaf, a limited edition blend crafted by Tabacalera Palma in the Dominican Republic to celebrate their 85 years in the cigar world. This is a double-boxed release that contains 10 Connecticut and 10 Broadleaf cigars. The Broadleaf wrapper brings deep richness, backed by a Domini...

In this episode of High Proof Ashes, we light up the Lalibela by Black Star Line Cigars, a boutique blend with a bold mission. Named after the sacred Ethiopian city of rock-hewn churches, this cigar is rich with symbolism—and flavor. Black Star Line, founded by Chicago firefighter Aric Bey, has quickly made waves in the premium cigar world for its bold blends and Black-owned pride.

We pair this unique smoke with something deeply...