Kentucky Bourbon Festival

Held in Bardstown, KY; typically mid-September.

Cigar Blend Bourbon: Is Buzzard’s Roost the BEST

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🥃 Buzzard’s Roost Double Oak Cigar Blend Bourbon Review | The Ultimate Cigar Pairing Whiskey?

Welcome to Your Bourbon Journey! Wayne and Rebecca are diving into one of the most exciting, limited-edition releases of 2025: the Buzzard’s Roost Double Oak Cigar Blend Straight Bourbon Whiskey!

Released for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival (KBF), this 6-year, 105-proof high-rye bourbon (60% Corn, 36% Rye) uses Buzzard’s Roost’s proprietary double oak process—a secondary maturation in their custom, lightly-charred, heavily-toasted barrels. This technique is designed specifically to enhance the pairing experience with a fine cigar.

On the Nose & Palate: We found intense notes of confectionary sweetness, oak, and a beautiful, non-overpowering campfire smokiness. The finish delivers lovely coffee notes that make this a fantastic pour on its own, but we discuss why this profile is perfectly engineered for a premium cigar pairing!

The company’s co-founder and master blender, Jason Brauner (also of The Bourbon Bistro), definitely nailed it with this limited-time offer. Did this bottle live up to the hype? Watch our full review to see why we’re fans of Buzzard’s Roost and why this might be their best release yet!


What cigar would YOU pair with this Double Oak Bourbon? Let us know in the comments!

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✴️  Buzzard’s Roost Double Oak Cigar Blend

  • Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Buzzard’s Roost Spirits, LLC
  • Distillery: Undisclosed/Indiana (Likely MGP)
  • Mash Bill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
  • Age: NAS on bottle but PR has 6 years
  • Proof: 105
  • Released: September 2025 for KBF
  • Other: Came with a branded cigar cutter
  • Purchased: 09/04/25 for $85 at Buzzard’s Roost via the KBF

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

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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.

#bourbon #cigarblend #buzzardsroost #DoubleOak #bourbonreview #Whiskey #bourbontasting #KBF #kentuckybourbonfestival #WhiskeyReview #bourbonjourney #CigarPairing #ToastedBarrel #StraightBourbon #LimitedRelease 

Limited Edition Bourbon from The Bard Distillery!

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We’re tasting three incredible bourbons from The Bard Distillery! Join us as we compare the exclusive Cinder & Smoke Founder’s Select 10 Year with both the 2022 and 2025 John Prine “You Got Gold” special editions. Get ready for a side-by-side Kentucky bourbon journey!

Hello bourbon friends! Wayne and Rebecca from Your Bourbon Journey are back with a super special tasting featuring our friends at The Bard Distillery in Graham, KY!

In this exciting side-by-side review, we dive deep into three distinct and acclaimed Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys:

🌟 Cinder & Smoke Founder’s Select 10 Year Review

We start with a very special bottle: the Cinder & Smoke Founder’s Select 10 Year (Batch X, Bottle 5 of 497). This ultra-small batch, 100 proof bourbon is the oldest and final three-barrel blend in this specific series.

  • Tasting Notes: Expect an incredible sweetness on the palate, rich caramel, cinnamon, and a very pleasant smokiness that reminds us of a smoked cocktail. At 10 years old, it boasts layers and body without being over-oaked or drying, finishing with tobacco and black pepper. This is a must-try for fans of aged bourbon!

🎶 John Prine “You Got Gold” Edition Comparison

Next, we taste and compare two special editions honoring the legendary singer-songwriter John Prine, with proceeds benefiting the Hello in There Foundation. The proof on both is set at 101.0 to honor Prine’s birthday (10/10).

  • 2022 Edition (Sold Out): A wheated bourbon (corn, wheat, malted barley) with a classic Muhlenberg bourbon profile. Notes of honey, honeysuckle, and sweet bread-like notes. We suggest checking out The Bard’s regular Muhlenberg as a highly available alternative!
  • 2025 Edition (New Release): A rye bourbon (corn, rye, malted barley), aged 5 years. This bourbon is completely different from the others, showcasing a beautiful profile of black tea on the front, caramel, brown sugar, and a vibrant, effervescent finish with cinnamon and pepper pops. This one is highly available online and at the distillery!

🗺️ Visit The Bard Distillery

We also share our love for The Bard’s commitment to community and their beautiful restoration of the historic Graham school building. Find out how you can visit the west end of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and grab a bottle before they’re gone!

So grab your favorite glass, settle in, and let’s explore this bourbon together! Click play ▶️ NOW!

👇 Have you tried spirits from The Bard Distillery? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

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Ordering Information – The Bard Distillery John Prine 2025 Edition: https://thebarddistillery.com/john-prine-2025-edition/ 

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

ABOUT THE BOTTLES REVIEWED

✴️ Cinder & Smoke Founder’s Select 10 Year

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Blended & Bottled: The Bard Distillery
  • Mash Bill: Corn, Rye, Malted Barley
  • Age: 5 Years
  • Proof: 100
  • MSRP: $100
  • Released: September 2025
  • Other: Batch X – Bottle 5 of 497
  • Provided: 10/11/25 to us by The Bard Distillery at KBF

✴️ John Prine – You Got Gold (2022 Edition)

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: The Bard Distillery
  • Mash Bill: Corn, Wheat, Malted Barley
  • Age: NAS
  • Proof: 101.0 (in honor of John Prine’s birthday, 10/10)
  • MSRP: $76
  • Released: October 2022, Limited to 6,000 Bottles
  • Other: 700 ml bottle
  • Purchased: 2022 for $76 at The Bard via online distribution

✴️ John Prine – You Got Gold (2025 Edition)

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: The Bard Distillery
  • Mash Bill: Corn, Rye, Malted Barley
  • Age: 5 Years
  • Proof: 101.0 (in honor of John Prine’s birthday, 10/10)
  • MSRP: $79.99
  • Released: October 2025, Limited to 7,000 Bottles
  • Other: 700 ml bottle
  • Purchased: 10/11/25 for $79.99 at The Bard Distillery in Graham, KY

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: Two spirits in this review were purchased by us and one was gifted. 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.

#TheBardDistillery #CinderAndSmoke #JohnPrine #YouGotGold

#KentuckyStraightBourbon #bourbonreview #whiskeytasting #SmallBatch

#BourbonComparison #LimitedEdition #KentuckyBourbon #WhiskeyLife

Is Silk Velvet Whiskey the BEST Bourbon for Your Money?

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🥃 Silk Velvet Small Batch Bourbon Review: Is this a Great Under $50 Kentucky Whiskey?

Join Wayne and Rebecca from Your Bourbon Journey as they dive into the highly anticipated Silk Velvet Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey! This is the newest release from Hargis Spirits LLC & Western Kentucky Distilling Co., unveiled at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival (KBF) in September 2025.

We share our tasting notes, breakdown the unique mash bill blend, and tell you why you need to grab this under $50 bourbon!

Our Tasting Notes:

  • Nose: Bright notes of Cinnamon, Caramel, and Orange citrus.
  • Palate: A unique and complex profile dominated by a distinctive Charred Orange note, accompanied by Cinnamon.
  • Finish: Long and enjoyable, with lasting notes of Orange Zest, Char, and a touch of Pepper.

We discuss why the $49.99 price point is an absolute Buy All Day Long and how this small batch is making the revived Henderson, Kentucky brand accessible to a wider audience. Don’t miss our full review and rating!

So grab your favorite glass, settle in, and let’s explore this bourbon together! Click play ▶️ NOW!

👇 Have you tried Silk Velvet Whiskey? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

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! 

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✴️ Silk Velvet Small Batch

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Hargis Spirits LLC & Western Kentucky Distilling Co.
  • Distillery: Green River Distilling & Western Kentucky Distilling under Jabob Call as Master Distiller
  • Mash Bill:
    • 4 barrels of 6.5-year-old: 78% corn, 13%winter rye, 9% 6-row malted barley
    • 8 barrels of 4.5-year-old: 71% corn, 20% winter rye, 9% 6-row malted barley.
  • Age: 4 Years Old
  • Proof: 107
  • MSRP: $49.99
  • Released: at KBF in September 2025
  • Purchased: during KBF for $49.99

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

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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.

Booker’s Tequila vs. Hardin’s Creek Warehouse R

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🤯 Tequila vs. Terroir! Jim Beam Double Review! Booker’s Reserve 2025 (Tequila Finish) & Hardin’s Creek Warehouse R (Mushroom)

Wayne and Rebecca from Your Bourbon Journey are diving into a Jim Beam double whiskey review that pits a high-proof, experimental finish against a unique exploration of aging terroir! 🥃 We snagged both the Hardin’s Creek Warehouse R (The Mushroom) and the Booker’s Reserve 2025 Tequila Finish at the exclusive Kentucky Bourbon Festival’s Bourbon in the Air event!

Hardin’s Creek Warehouse R (The Mushroom): Jim Beam’s Warehouse Series is a fascinating study in whiskey terroir, with three 11-year-old bourbons aged on different warehouse floors (Floor 1, 5, 9). We picked up Warehouse R (Floor 1), known as “The Mushroom” for its cool, damp aging environment and supposedly earthy profile. Did the 110-proof ‘Mushroom’ deliver? Spoiler: One of us got straight-up “dirt” notes! 🍄 Find out our honest review and why we think Jim Beam missed an opportunity with their marketing and transparency for this $150 bottle.

Jim Beam Booker’s Reserve 2025 (Tequila Finish): Is a tequila-finished bourbon any good? We were nervous! This 123.3-proof special release (Batch 2025) was finished in barrels that previously held a limited-edition tequila. Is it a bold experiment or a masterful blend? Join us as we explore the agave, caramel, creamy mouthfeel, and classic Booker’s peanut notes! If you love high-proof bourbon and are curious about barrel finishes, this is a must-watch. We’ll tell you why we bought two! 👀

So grab your favorite glass, settle in, and let’s explore this bourbon together! Click play ▶️ NOW!

👇 What’s your favorite Jim Beam releases? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

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! 

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✴️ Booker’s The Reserves (2025 Release)

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Suntory Global
  • Distillery: James B Beam
  • Mash Bill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
  • Age: 8 Years, 10 months, 11 days
  • Proof: 123.3
  • Released: September 2025
  • Other: Finished in 85th Anniversary El Tesoro Tequila Barrels
  • Purchased: 09/04/25 for $135 at Jim Beam via KBF

✴️ Hardin’s Creek 2025 Warehouse R, Floor 1

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Suntory Global
  • Distillery: James B Beam
  • Mash Bill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
  • Age: 11 years
  • Proof: 110
  • Released: September 2025
  • Other: Warehouse R, First Floor
  • Purchased: 09/04/25 for $150 at Jim Beam via KBF

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

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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 Hunting for 7 Days in Kentucky (32 Bottles)

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Get ready for an epic bourbon adventure! Join us on a week-long journey through the heart of Kentucky, including a can’t-miss trip to the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. We’re not just tasting bourbon—we’re on a mission to hunt down some of the most sought-after bottles in the state.

In this video, we’re detailing our 32-bottle bourbon haul, breaking down everything we found both inside and outside the festival grounds. We hit up legendary spots like Heaven Hill, Preservation, and Lux Row, and even managed to snag a coveted Booker’s Reserve 2025. But the biggest highlight? Finally scoring a bottle of the elusive Jim Beam Bowling Pin after striking out multiple times.

Whether you’re a seasoned bourbon connoisseur or just starting your collection, you’ll love the detailed breakdown of each bottle we acquired, from the unique OCD Premium Hazmat to the intriguing Blind Pig Santa Claus Lawn Gnome Decanter. We’ll cover every bottle, share our honest recommendations, and give you a glimpse into what it’s really like to spend seven days immersed in Kentucky’s bourbon culture.

Don’t miss out on the full bottle list and our final recommendations. This is one bourbon hunt you won’t want to skip!

Did you attend the 2025 Kentucky Bourbon Festival? Let us know in the comments below!

So grab your favorite glass, settle in, and let’s share this hunt together! Click play ▶️ NOW!

What’s the most exciting bottle you’ve ever hunted down? Let us know in the comments below!👇

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! 

#bourbonhunting #BARDSTOWN #kentuckybourbonfestival 

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

✅ Please SUBSCRIBE and hit the LIKE button!

✅ Visit: https://yourbourbonjourney.com  for additional stories to enhance Your Bourbon Journey!

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: The spirits in this episode were purchased by us and for us. Your Bourbon Journey does NOT sell alcohol.