Four Grain Bourbon

Neeley Family 10-Year Papaw’s Legacy Reserve Bourbon Review 

/ bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

Join Wayne and Rebecca on Your Bourbon Journey for an exclusive pre-release tasting and review of two milestone whiskeys from Neeley Family Distillery (Sparta, KY) ahead of the 2026 Kentucky Bourbon Festival! A massive thank you to Royce and Rebekah Neeley for sending these advance media samples to our table.

The Banana Batch Four Grain Bourbon (112.4 Proof Barrel Strength) Blended by Rebekah Neeley, this is her second Four Grain Small Batch creation featuring Neeley’s signature mashbill with oatmeal. Originally destined to be Bottled in Bond, Rebekah tasted the blend at cask strength and decided it was simply too exceptional to proof down! Sitting at a potent 112.4 proof, it delivers unmistakable notes of Banana Runts, vanilla, and warm, fresh-baked banana bread with an ultra-creamy mouthfeel. Wayne famously dislikes banana notes in whiskey—so does Rebekah’s barrel-strength blend finally crack the code?

PaPaw’s Legacy Reserve: 10-Year Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey (110 Proof) An emotional and historic release, this marks Neeley Family Distillery’s first-ever 10-year age statement. Distilled by Royce and his beloved late Papaw, Royce hand-selected 10 of their oldest, finest barrels and blended them together. Designed to never run out, this perpetual Solera-style blend will have a portion bottled annually and replenished with exceptional barrels so Papaw’s whiskey lives on decades into the future. Bottled at 110 proof barrel strength, only 750 bottles comprise this inaugural run, packaged in a custom presentation box. Expect profound notes of dark caramel, confectionary sugar, rich cocoa, and roast coffee.

Official Release Details:

  • The Banana Batch: Available now at the Neeley Family Distillery gift shop and pouring at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival!
  • PaPaw’s Legacy Reserve: Releases Friday, September 11 at 11:00 AM EDT at both the distillery in Sparta, KY, and at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, KY (Strictly limited to 750 bottles).

Heading to Bardstown? Make sure to visit the Neeley Family Distillery tent, taste these incredible pours, and tell Rebekah whether she made the right call keeping the Banana Batch uncut!

🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe to follow along with our whiskey travels and honest reviews! Always remember to drink responsibly. Cheers! 🥃

Connect With Us & Support The Journey! 

🎓 Want to earn a FREE Whiskey Certificate? Start your bourbon education journey with Whiskey University today! Take your first steps here: https://www.whiskeyuniv.com/first-steps

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

Banana Batch Bourbon

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: Neeley Family Distillery (Sparta, KY)
  • Mash Bill: Four Grain (Typically 63% Corn, 17% Oats, 8% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley)
  • Age: 5 Years
  • Proof: 112 Proof (56% ABV) – Barrel Strength
  • Released: Kentucky Bourbon Festival (September 2026)
  • Other: Annual single-batch release; kept uncut at barrel strength; pot-distilled; media sample taken 8/20/26

Papaws Legacy Reserve 10 Year

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: Neeley Family Distillery (Sparta, KY)
  • Mash Bill: Wheated Bourbon (Typically 64% Corn, 28% Wheat, 8% Malted Barley or 68% Corn, 19% Wheat, 13% Malted Barley)
  • Age: 10 Years
  • Proof: 110 Proof (55% ABV)
  • SRP: TBD (Pre-release)
  • Released: Kentucky Bourbon Festival & Distillery Release (September 2026)
  • Other: Ultra-limited release of only 750 bottles; packaged in a custom presentation box; pot-distilled; media sample taken 8/20/26

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: The spirits featured in this review were provided to us as a media sample by the producer for review purposes. We were not compensated for this video, and our opinions remain entirely our own. Please drink responsibly.

#BourbonJourney #NeeleyFamilyDistillery #BourbonReview #KentuckyBourbonFestival #BourbonFestival #WhiskeyReview #KentuckyBourbon #CraftDistillery #BarrelStrengthBourbon #WheatedBourbon #PapawsLegacyReserve #BananaBatchBourbon #BourbonTasting #KBF2026 #WhiskeyTasting

We Tried Jeptha Creed’s NEW Speakeasy Tour in Shelbyville, KY! 

/ bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

Jeptha Creed Speakeasy Tour Experience & Exclusive Double Barrel Review! | BTTT Ep. 64

Welcome back to Bourbon Trail Tales and Tastes! In Episode 64, Wayne and Rebecca travel to Shelbyville, Kentucky, to take you behind the scenes at Jeptha Creed Distillery for their brand-new, exclusive Speakeasy Tour.

Join us as we explore this family-owned, grain-to-glass operation—from their original pot stills and famous distillery cats (Barley, Wheat, Rye, and Malt!) to a secret door hidden behind the outdoor concert stage. Inside the speakeasy, we sample directly from the barrel and bring home two ultra-rare, distillery-exclusive pours: the Master Distiller Select 4-Grain Bourbon and the Master Distiller Select Single Barrel Bourbon.

Watch as we break down the unique flavor profiles of heirloom Bloody Butcher corn, heavy malted grain mash bills, “dusty funk” notes, and sweet cinnamon red-hot spice!

If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Comment, and Subscribe to follow along on Your Bourbon Journey! Remember to drink responsibly. Cheers! 🥂

Connect With Us & Support The Journey! 

🎓 Want to earn a FREE Whiskey Certificate? Start your bourbon education journey with Whiskey University today! Take your first steps here: https://www.whiskeyuniv.com/first-steps

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

Jeptha Creed Master Distiller Select 4-Grain Bourbon

  • Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company/Distillery: Jeptha Creed Distillery (Shelbyville, KY)
  • Mash Bill: 70% Heirloom Bloody Butcher Corn, 15% Malted Rye, 10% Malted Wheat, 5% Malted Barley
  • Age: 7 Years, 4 Months
  • Proof: 118.53 Proof
  • SRP: $100
  • Released: March 2026 (Distillery Exclusive)
  • Other: Thieved directly during the Speakeasy Tour. Cask strength / Single Barrel.
  • Purchased: 03/29/2026 for $100 at Jeptha Creed Distillery

Jeptha Creed Master Distiller Select Bourbon

  • Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company/Distillery: Jeptha Creed Distillery (Shelbyville, KY)
  • Mash Bill: 55% Heirloom Bloody Butcher Corn, 25% Rye, 20% Malted Barley
  • Age: 6 Years, 5 Months
  • Proof: 122.5 Proof
  • SRP: $100
  • Released: March 2026 (Distillery Exclusive)
  • Other: Cask strength / Single Barrel.
  • Purchased: 03/29/2026 for $100 at Jeptha Creed Distillery

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: The spirits in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

#Bourbon #Whiskey #KentuckyBourbonTrail #JepthaCreed #BourbonReview #CraftDistillery #SingleBarrel #CaskStrength #FourGrainBourbon #WhiskeyTasting #BloodyButcherCorn #YourBourbonJourney #ShelbyvilleKY #BourbonLife #DistilleryTour

5094 Transplant Bourbon: The Better Double-Oaked? 

/ bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

Empire Meets Bluegrass: 5094 Transplant Bourbon Review 🥃

What happens when New York spirit meets Kentucky craftsmanship? You get the 5094 Transplant by 5094 Distilling, an incredible 4-year four-grain bourbon that made its debut at Glenns Creek Distilling. In today’s journey, we sit down with a bottle of the very first release (Barrel #1, Bottle #5!) to see if this “transplant” has found a perfect home in the Bluegrass state.

Distilled in New York and finished for three years in world-renowned Radoux Tonnellerie toasted French oak barrels, this 94.8 proof bourbon offers a sophisticated profile far beyond its $54 price point. We’re talking dark brown sugar, charred marshmallow, espresso, and cocoa notes that give even the most famous double-oaked bourbons a run for their money.

We also dive into the story of Tom Jones and his vision for 5094 Distilling at the historic, abandoned Old Lewis Hunter Distillery site. Is this a contender for Whiskey of the Month? Watch to find out!

Connect With Us & Support The Journey! 

🥃 Become a Patron & Get Exclusive Content

🔔 YouTube

📸 Instagram 

👍 Facebook

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

✴️ 5094 Transplant

  • Classification: Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: 5094 Distilling
  • Distillery: Distilled in New York
  • Bottled: Glenns Creek Distilling
  • Mash Bill: Four Grain
  • Age: 7 Years (4 years in new charred oak, followed by 3 years in a toasted barrel)
  • Proof: 94.8
  • MSRP: $54
  • Released: February 2026
  • Purchased: 02/28/26 for $54 at Glenns Creek Distilling in Frankfort KY

5094 Transplant Product Link: https://glennscreekdistillery.com/product/transplant-radoux-barrel-finished-bourbon-we-dont-ship-this-product-please-scroll-down/

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: The spirit in this review was purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

#BourbonReview #5094Distilling #GlennsCreekDistilling #YourBourbonJourney #KentuckyBourbon #WhiskeyTasting #ToastedBarrel #CraftBourbon #BourbonCommunity #NewWhiskeyRelease #SingleBarrel #BourbonLife #DrinkResponsibly #WhiskeyJourney #TomJonesBourbon

Blind Tasting SHOWDOWN: Three Amazing Whiskeys, One Champion!

/ bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

Alright, buckle up, whiskey lovers! 🥃 Get ready for a showdown of EPIC proportions! 🔥 In this blind tasting adventure, we’re putting three incredible contenders to the ultimate test to crown the UNDISPUTED CHAMPION 🏆 of our Third Quarter 2025! 🎉

Prepare your senses as we dive deep into the aromatic world 👃 and tantalizing flavors 😋 of:

✴️ Neeley Bottled in Bond Four Grain

✴️ Starlight 2025 10-Year Cask Strength

✴️ W.H. McBrayer 2025 Release, Batch 5

No labels, no biases – just pure, unadulterated whiskey appreciation! 👀 Join us as we meticulously nose, sip, and savor each dram, dissecting the nose 👃, the dance on the palate 👅, the lingering finish ✨, and that all-important je ne sais quoi. 🤔

Will the barrel proof powerhouse 💪 dominate? Will the aged elegance 👑 steal the show? Or will a unique mashbill or special aging ✨ take the crown? We’re ranking them from 3rd place🥉 to the coveted 1st place spot🥇, and the suspense is BUILDING! 🤩 The results will be used for seeding in our Whiskey of the Year competition! 🏆

Hit play ▶️ and join the tasting party! 🎉

Grab your own glass 🥃 (of whatever you fancy! 😉), settle in 🛋️, and experience the thrill of the reveal with us. Get ready for some serious whiskey talk 🗣️, maybe a few surprises 😮, and definitely a good time! 😄 Cheers to an unforgettable evening of delicious discovery! 🥂

Don’t forget to subscribe! 👍 and let us know in the comments below 👇 which whiskey YOU thought would win! 🤔💬

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🔥DETAILS REGARDING OUR THREE FINALISTS🔥 (in alphabetical order): 

✴️ Neeley Bottled in Bond Four Grain

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: Neeley Family Distillery
  • Mash Bill: 63% corn, 17% Oats, 8% Wheat and 12% Malt
  • Notes: Jug Yeast A-1, Sweet Mash, Copper Pot Still, Non-Chill Filtered, Limestone Well Water, Cypress Fermented, Barrel Char 2, Batch Size 7
  • Age: 4 Years
  • Proof: 100
  • MSRP: $79.99
  • Released: Spring 2025
  • Made with no enzymes, blended by Rebekah Neeley
  • Purchased: 07/11/25 for $79.99 at Neely Family Distillery in Sparta, KY

Original YouTube Review >

✴️ Starlight 2025 10-Year Cask Strength

  • Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: Starlight Distillery
  • Mash Bill: 60% Corn, 20% Rye, 20% Malted Barley
  • Other: Grain-to-glass; sweet mash; double pot distilled; barrel entry proof 112-116
  • Age: 10 Years
  • Proof: 120.3
  • MSRP: $250
  • Released: July 2025
  • Aging: Sequin Moreau Icone barrels.
  • Purchased: 08/14/25 for $250 at Starlight Distillery

Original YouTube Review >

✴️ W.H. McBrayer 2025 Release, Batch 5

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: McBrayer Legacy Spirits
  • Distillery: Undisclosed
  • Mash Bill: 88.4% Bloody Butcher Corn, 5.8% Heritage Rye, 5.8% Malted Barley
  • Age: NAS; blend of 15 barrels – 8 are 6.5 years old and 7 are 5.5 years old
  • Proof: 106.8
  • MSRP: $100
  • Other: Small Batch (15 hand-selected barrels), Non-Chill Filtered
  • Released: May 10, 2025
  • Purchased: 05/10/25 for $100 at McBrayer Legacy Spirits

Original YouTube Review >

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

✅ Please SUBSCRIBE and hit the LIKE button!

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: The spirits in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

#BlindTasting #WhiskeyOfTheQuarter #bourbonreview #NeeleyBottledInBond #StarlightWhiskey #WHMcBrayer #Whiskey #Bourbon #WhiskeyReview #BlindWhiskeyTasting #KentuckyBourbon #CaskStrength #BottledInBond #CraftBourbon #WhiskeyTube 

Blind Taste Test: August’s Whiskey of the Month!  

/ bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

🔥🥃 Blind Whiskey BATTLE ROYALE! Who Will Be Our August 2025 CHAMPION?! 🏆

Alright, buckle up, whiskey fanatics! 🚀 Get ready for a showdown of EPIC proportions! 🥃 In this thrilling blind tasting adventure, we’re putting FOUR incredible contenders head-to-head to crown the UNDISPUTED champion of our August 2025 whiskey lineup! 👑

Prepare your senses for an immersive journey into the captivating aromas and tantalizing flavors of these contenders (alphabetical order):

  • Bomberger’s Declaration 2025
  • Green River Wheated Bourbon Single Barrel
  • Lineage Batch 2
  • Neeley Bottled in Bond Four Grain

🚫 No labels, no biases – just pure, unadulterated whiskey appreciation! 👀 Join us as we meticulously nose 👃, sip 😋, and savor each dram, dissecting the intricate notes on the nose, the delightful dance on the palate 👅, the satisfying lingering finish ✨, and that crucial je ne sais quoi that makes a whiskey truly special. 🤔

Will the barrel-proof powerhouse 💪 dominate the competition? Will the elegantly aged spirit ⏳ steal the show? Or will a unique finish 🍇 or a captivating single barrel charm ✨ take home the ultimate crown? We’re ranking them from 4th place to the coveted 1st place spot🥇, and the suspense is building with every sip! 🤯

Smash that play button ▶️ and join the ultimate tasting party!

🎉 Grab your own glass 🥂 (of whatever you’re sipping on!), settle in for some serious whiskey talk 🗣️, and experience the thrill of the grand reveal with us! Get ready for potential surprises 🎁 and definitely a fantastic time! Cheers to an unforgettable evening of delicious discovery! 🥳 Sláinte! 🍀

#WhiskeyOfTheMonth #BlindWhiskeyTasting #bourbonreview 

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🔥DETAILS REGARDING OUR FOUR FINALISTS🔥 (in alphabetical order): 

✴️ Bomberger’s Declaration 2025

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Michter’s Distillery
  • Distillery: Michter’s Fort Nelson
  • Mash Bill: Undisclosed but likely high corn plus rye and malted barley
  • Age: NAS (at least 4 years)
  • Proof: 108
  • MSRP: $120
  • Released: July 2025
  • Specifics: Batch 25F1978, Bottle 1436 of 2673
  • Other: Aged in Chinquapin Oak. This year’s release utilizes barrels seasoned for different periods (18 months, 3, 4, and 5 years) before toasting and charring.
  • Purchased: 07/18/25 for $129 at Michter’s Fort Nelson

✴️ Green River Wheated Bourbon Single Barrel

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Bardstown Bourbon Co.
  • Distillery: Green River Distilling Co.
  • Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 21% Wheat, 9% Malted Barley
  • Age: NAS (5 years per website)
  • Proof: 117.6
  • MSRP: $60
  • Other: “Home Wheat Home”
  • Purchased: 07/18/25 for $59.99 at Green River Tasting Room, Louisville KY

✴️ Lineage Batch 2

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Suntory Global Spirits
  • Distillery: Booker Noe Plant
  • Mash Bill: 77% corn, 13% rye, and 10% malted barley
  • Age: 15-year-old (blend of 15 and 20-year-old bourbons)
  • Proof: 111
  • MSRP: $250 (700 ml)
  • Released: 07/18/25
  • Other: Crafted in collaboration by Fred & Freddie Noe
  • Purchased: 07/18/25 for $250 at the Jim Beam Distillery 

✴️ Neeley Bottled in Bond Four Grain

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: Neeley Family Distillery
  • Mash Bill: 63% corn, 17% Oats, 8% Wheat and 12% Malt
  • Notes: Jug Yeast A-1, Sweet Mash, Copper Pot Still, Non-Chill Filtered, Limestone Well Water, Cypress Fermented, Barrel Char 2, Batch Size 7
  • Age: 4 Years
  • Proof: 100
  • MSRP: $79.99
  • Released: Spring 2025
  • Made with no enzymes, blended by Rebekah Neeley
  • Purchased: 07/11/25 for $79.99 at Neely Family Distillery in Sparta, KY

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

✅ Please SUBSCRIBE and hit the LIKE button!

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: The spirits in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

Epic Bourbon: Neeley’s Four Grain BIB + Bonus

/ bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

Get ready for a bourbon adventure! 🥃 We’re cracking open two exceptional bottles from our recent trip to Neeley’s Family Distillery in Sparta, Kentucky.

Join us as we dive deep into the highly anticipated Neeley Bottled in Bond Four Grain. We trekked all the way to the distillery just for this, and trust us, it was worth it!

But that’s not all! As a special bonus, we’re also doing a detailed tasting of the Neeley Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon, a private barrel selection by ABV Barrel Shop. You won’t want to miss our thoughts on this unique pour.

We sampled a ton of amazing spirits at Neeley’s, including Old Jett finished in Port Wine and Hidden Barn Organic Single Barrel, and we’ll share a bit about those too.

So grab your favorite glass, settle in, and let’s explore these incredible bourbons together! Click play ▶️ NOW!

Are you a true bourbon fanatic, always on the hunt for the next exceptional pour? Then smash that like button 👍 to show your appreciation for fine whiskey! Hit subscribe 🔔 so you never miss our reviews of rare and remarkable spirits, and share this video ➡️ with your fellow whiskey lovers. Let’s build a community of enthusiasts who appreciate the art of exceptional bourbon! 

#bourbonreview #NeeleyFamilyDistillery #bottledinbond 

Neeley Family Distillery

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

✴️ Neeley Bottled in Bond Four Grain

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: Neeley Family Distillery
  • Mash Bill: 63% corn, 17% Oats, 8% Wheat and 12% Malt
  • Notes: Jug Yeast A-1, Sweet Mash, Copper Pot Still, Non-Chill Filtered, Limestone Well Water, Cypress Fermented, Barrel Char 2, Batch Size 7
  • Age: 4 Years
  • Proof: 100
  • MSRP: $79.99
  • Released: Spring 2025
  • Made with no enzymes, blended by Rebekah Neeley
  • Purchased: 07/11/25 for $79.99 at Neely Family Distillery in Sparta, KY

✴️ Neeley Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon: Private Barrel Selected by ABV Barrel Shop

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: Neeley Family Distillery
  • Mash Bill: 66% corn, 25% Wheat and 9% Malt
  • Notes: Jug Yeast A-1, Sweet Mash, Copper Pot Still, Non-Chill Filtered, Limestone Well Water, Cypress Fermented, Barrel Char 2, Barrel No 126
  • Age: 6 Years
  • Proof: 105.1
  • MSRP: $79.99
  • Released: Spring 2025
  • Purchased: 07/11/25 for $79.99 at Neely Family Distillery in Sparta, KY

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

✅ Please SUBSCRIBE and hit the LIKE button!

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: The spirits in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.