Our Bourbon Journey

New Riff’s Newest Releases Are Incredible—Here’s Why

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🥃 New Riff Double Feature! Silver Grove Bourbon & High Note Wheat Whiskey Review 🥃

Join Wayne and Rebecca from Your Bourbon Journey as they dive into two brand-new, exciting, and highly-anticipated releases from New Riff Distilling: the 2025 Silver Grove Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and the groundbreaking High Note Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey (The Confluence Project: Vol. 1 collaboration with Chattanooga Whiskey)!

Featured Whiskeys

1. Silver Grove Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (2025)

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Proof: 110.3 (Barrel Proof Blend)
  • Give Back: Supports the Silver Grove Community Foundation and local community projects, like the park at Green Valley Pond.
  • Special Feature: This is the first New Riff product to carry Master Distiller Brian Sprance’s signature!

2. New Riff High Note Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey – The Confluence Project: Vol. 1

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey (100% Wheat)
  • Proof: 120.9 (Barrel Strength Single Barrel)
  • The Collaboration: This is the inaugural volume of The Confluence Project, a unique seven-year collaboration between New Riff’s Brian Sprance and Chattanooga Whiskey’s Grant McCracken. Both distilleries made a 100% wheat whiskey from the same mash bill but applied their own distinct techniques, highlighting the effect of different terroirs and distilling philosophies (New Riff’s Kentucky Regimen vs. Chattanooga’s Tennessee High Malt style).

Don’t miss the hosts’ final thoughts on value and their strong recommendation to visit the distillery’s beautiful upstairs bar, The Aquifer Tasting Room, in Newport, KY!

Are you a member of the New Riff Online Whiskey Club? Let us know in the comments if you picked up these bottles!

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❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

✴️ Silver Grove Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (2025)

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: New Riff Distilling
  • Mash Bill: 65% Corn, 30% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
  • Age: 4 Years
  • Proof: 110.3
  • Released: October 2025
  • Other: First New Riff product to carry Brian Sprance’s signature
  • Purchased: 10/30/25 for $59.99 at New Riff Online Whiskey Club

✴️ New Riff High Note Kentucky Straight Wheated Whiskey

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey
  • Distillery: New Riff Distilling
  • Mash Bill: 60% Red Turkey Wheat, 24% Appalachian Malted Wheat, 8% Dark Malted Wheat, 8% Caramel Malted Wheat
  • Barrel Entry Proof: 110
  • Age: 6 Years
  • Proof: 120.9
  • Released: October 2025
  • Other: Confluence Project: Volume 1, a collaboration with Chattanooga Whiskey
  • Purchased: 10/30/25 for $69.99 at New Riff Online Whiskey Club

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

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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.

#NewRiff #SilverGrove #ConfluenceProject #HighNoteWhiskey #wheatwhiskey #bourbonreview #KentuckyBourbon #whiskeytasting #BarrelProof #WhiskeyReview #NewRiffDistilling #ChattanoogaWhiskey #LimitedEdition #CraftWhiskey #bourbonjourney 

The Bourbon Trail’s Grand Finale: Woodford Reserve 

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🥃 FINAL STAMP! Woodford Reserve Wheat Review & Kentucky Bourbon Trail DOUBLE Complete! | Bourbon Trail Tales & Tastes E46

Join Wayne and Rebecca from Your Bourbon Journey for the emotional final stop on their incredible quest to complete the entire Kentucky Bourbon Trail (both the main and craft trails)! In Episode 46 of Bourbon Trail Tales & Tastes, they take you back to May 21, 2023, at the stunning Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, KY.

This visit was momentous — the 50th distillery and the 42nd and final stamp on the trail, achieved after 13 months and 394 days! Hear all about the beautiful limestone campus, the breathtaking cathedral-like still house featuring six massive Scottish copper pot stills, and the memorable bottle etching ceremony that book-ended their journey (starting with a Knob Creek bottle and ending with a commemorative Woodford Reserve).

Plus, they finally unveil their grand prize for completing the double trail (the Heritage and Craft trails): a commemorative bourbon barrel stave!

🥃 Woodford Reserve Wheat Whiskey Review

Wayne and Rebecca taste the Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey (90.4 Proof, 52% Wheat mash bill) that they picked up on a later trip.

The Woodford Reserve Wheat Whiskey features a unique mash bill of 52% Wheat, 20% Corn, 20% Malted Barley, and 8% Rye. Typically, wheat whiskeys are known for their sweet, bread, and confectionary notes. Did this one live up to the standard set by favorites like Bernheim or Maker’s Mark Star Hill Farms?

Watch the episode to see if this pour gets a recommendation and hear why, even if the Wheat Whiskey wasn’t their favorite, the Woodford Reserve Distillery tour is a must-see destination!

Tasting Notes (Spoiler Alert!):

  • Nose: Surprisingly off-putting, with notes of “industrial,” “turpentine,” and unexpected ethanol for a 90.4 proof pour.
  • Palate: Described as bitter and not featuring the expected sweet wheat notes. An unusual profile for this grain type.

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✴️ Woodford Reserve Wheat Whiskey

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey
  • Company: Brown-Forman
  • Distillery: Woodford Reserve
  • Mash Bill: 52% Wheat, 20% Corn, 20% Malted Barley, 8% Rye
  • Age: NAS (at least 4 years)
  • Proof: 90.4
  • Purchased: 05/21/23 for $39.99 at Woodford Reserve Distillery

❌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.

#WoodfordReserve

#KentuckyBourbonTrail

#FinalStamp

#WoodfordReserveWheat

#BourbonJourney

#DistilleryTour

#BourbonReview

#KentuckyWhiskey

#WhiskeyTasting

#BourbonTrailTailsAndTastes

#PotStills

#BourbonLife

#VersaillesKY

#Whiskey

#WheatWhiskey

Touring Evan Williams & A Surprise 12-Year Bourbon! 

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Bourbon Trail Tales & Tastes Episode 30 – Evan Williams Bourbon Experience

Prepare to be transported back to the heart of Bourbon Country! In this thrilling video, we’re uncorking a tale that’s as rich and complex as the bourbon we love. Join us as we journey to the legendary Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in Louisville, Kentucky!

While it kicked off our unofficial bourbon journey, it later became the 12th coveted stamp in our KBT passport – a testament to its undeniable allure! Seriously, if we’re in Louisville, you can bet we’re making a pilgrimage to Whiskey Row and Evan Williams.

But the excitement doesn’t stop there! After reliving those cherished memories, we’re diving deep into an exclusive tasting you won’t want to miss. Get ready to explore the tantalizing notes of a truly special bottle we acquired: the Evan Williams Red Label (Japan). What extraordinary flavors lie within this unique pour? Will it be a sweet symphony or a spicy surprise?

Click play ▶️ now to join the adventure and discover the secrets of Evan Williams with us!

Ready to explore the world of whiskey with us? Join the YBJ family!

👍 Like this video if you’re excited for the Kentucky Bourbon Trail! 

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In this series, Bourbon Trail Tales & Tastes, we navigate the rich tapestry of our memorable experiences on the Bourbon Trail, a journey that has undeniably enriched our appreciation for this iconic American spirit. We tackle intriguing questions such as: What stands out as the most profound memory of that bourbon trail experience, one that has etched itself firmly in our minds? What exceptional and bourbon or whiskey did we discover during this journey, perhaps one that surprised us with its intricate and delightful flavor profiles? What lasting impressions do we have of that bourbon or whiskey today, as we reflect on its complexities and how they resonate with our evolving palates and preferences? Through this exploration, we passionately recount our adventures and celebrate the stories and connections we’ve forged along the way, highlighting the essence of the Bourbon Trail.

#bourbonreview  #KentuckyBourbonTrail #evanwilliams

Evan Williams

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

ABOUT THE BOTTLE REVIEWED

✴️ Evan Williams Red Label (Japan)

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Old Evan Williams Distillery (Heaven Hill)
  • Distillery: Heaven Hill
  • Mash Bill: 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye
  • Age: 12 Years
  • Proof: 101
  • MSRP: $149.99
  • Other: Made for the Japanese market; distillery exclusive in Louisville.
  • Purchased: date for $149.99 at Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in Louisville, 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 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.

Our First Tour: The Bard Distillery Experience!

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Bourbon Trail Tales & Tastes Episode E28 – The Bard Distillery

Get ready for an adventure down the Kentucky Bourbon Trail as we revisit a truly special stop! In this thrilling episode, we’re taking you back to our very first visit to The Bard Distillery in Graham, Kentucky. This wasn’t just another distillery; it was our 33rd distillery exploration and snagged us our 25th coveted stamp in our Kentucky Bourbon Trail Book – a massive milestone on our bourbon journey!

Join us as we relive every unforgettable moment from our initial tour of The Bard Distillery. But the excitement doesn’t stop there! We’ll then uncork a bottle of their exclusive Cinder & Smoke Founder’s Select for an in-depth tasting. What hidden notes and unique flavors await us in this one-of-a-kind pour? You’ll have to watch to find out!

Click play ▶️ now to join the adventure and discover the magic of The Bard Distillery!

Ready to dive deeper into the world of whiskey with us? Become part of the YBJ family!

  • 👍 Like this video if you’re as passionate about the Kentucky Bourbon Trail as we are!
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Historical Roots and Family Legacy

The Bard Distillery is deeply rooted in history, both locally and within Kentucky’s bourbon heritage. Housed in a beautifully renovated 1920s-era school building in Graham, the distillery occupies a site where co-founder Tom Bard and three generations of his family attended school. This transformation of a nearly century-old community centerpiece into a modern craft distillery breathes new life into local history.

Further connecting the distillery to the heart of Kentucky’s bourbon industry, Tom Bard is the 4th great-grandson of William Bard, co-founder of Bardstown, the “Bourbon Capital of the World®.” The Bard family has continuously resided on their Muhlenberg County land for nearly 200 years, establishing a direct lineage to the state’s renowned distilling origins.

Beyond the distillery, the family’s diverse talents extend to the racing world, with Kim Bard, a former NASCAR driver, who now races monster trucks in Australia as the “Monster Truck Driver of MisMayhem.”

About this Series

In this series, Bourbon Trail Tales & Tastes, we navigate the rich tapestry of our memorable experiences on the Bourbon Trail, a journey that has undeniably enriched our appreciation for this iconic American spirit. We tackle intriguing questions such as: What stands out as the most profound memory of that bourbon trail experience, one that has etched itself firmly in our minds? What exceptional and bourbon or whiskey did we discover during this journey, perhaps one that surprised us with its intricate and delightful flavor profiles? What lasting impressions do we have of that bourbon or whiskey today, as we reflect on its complexities and how they resonate with our evolving palates and preferences? Through this exploration, we passionately recount our adventures and celebrate the stories and connections we’ve forged along the way, highlighting the essence of the Bourbon Trail.

#bourbonreview  #KentuckyBourbonTrail #TheBard 

The Bard Distillery

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

ABOUT THE BOTTLE REVIEWED

✴️ Cinder & Smoke Founder’s Select

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: Undisclosed
  • Blended & Bottled: The Bard Distillery
  • Mash Bill: Corn, Rye, Malted Barley (undisclosed percentages)
  • Age: NAS, at least 4 years
  • Proof: 100
  • MSRP: $100
  • Batch: IV 013/018; each batch is only 3 barrels
  • Purchased: 02/18/23 for $100 at The Bard Distillery

❌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 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.

Dusty Barn Distillery: An Indiana Bourbon Discovery!

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Bourbon Trail Tales & Tastes Episode 27: Dusty Barn Distillery

Get ready to journey back with us as we relive our unforgettable first visit to Dusty Barn Distillery! From the rustic charm of their grounds to the passion poured into every barrel, we’re taking you behind the scenes of what makes this hidden gem so special.

But that’s not all! The main event kicks off with a live, unscripted tasting of a truly unique bottle we snagged during our visit: Doc’s Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey. What rare and delightful notes will we uncover in this one-of-a-kind pour? Will it be a smoky whisper, a sweet serenade, or something entirely unexpected? 

Click play ▶️ now to find out!

Join the YBJ Family & Keep the Bourbon Journey Going!

Loved this episode and ready to dive deeper into the world of whiskey? Become part of the Your Bourbon Journey (YBJ) family and never miss a sip!

  • 👍 Like this video if you’re as excited as we are about uncovering new distilleries and unique bourbons!
  • 💬 Comment below with your thoughts on Dusty Barn Distillery or what you thought of our Doc’s Single Barrel tasting. We love hearing from you!
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What’s your favorite hidden gem on the Bourbon Trail? Let us know in the comments!

In this series, Bourbon Trail Tales & Tastes, we navigate the rich tapestry of our memorable experiences on the Bourbon Trail, a journey that has undeniably enriched our appreciation for this iconic American spirit. We tackle intriguing questions such as: What stands out as the most profound memory of that bourbon trail experience, one that has etched itself firmly in our minds? What exceptional and bourbon or whiskey did we discover during this journey, perhaps one that surprised us with its intricate and delightful flavor profiles? What lasting impressions do we have of that bourbon or whiskey today, as we reflect on its complexities and how they resonate with our evolving palates and preferences? Through this exploration, we passionately recount our adventures and celebrate the stories and connections we’ve forged along the way, highlighting the essence of the Bourbon Trail.

#bourbontrail #IndianaDistillery #DustyBarnDistillery 

Dusty Barn Distillery

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

ABOUT THE BOTTLE REVIEWED

✴️ Doc’s Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey

  • Classification: Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: Dusty Barn Distillery
  • Mash Bill: 70% Corn, Rye, Malted Barley
  • Age: 18 Months
  • Proof: 106.8
  • Other: Batch WSBI, Single Barrel, Cask Strength
  • Purchased: 12/31/22 for $110 at Dusty Barn Distillery

❌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 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.

Legent Yamazaki Cask Finish: The East-West Blend Explored

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After a 20-month journey, the seal is finally broken! We’re thrilled to present the extraordinarily rare, limited-edition Legent Yamazaki Cask Finish Blend (114 Proof). This isn’t just a bourbon tasting; it’s an exploration of liquid artistry. Witness the magic of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey elevated by a finish in Spanish Oak sherry casks, previously home to Suntory’s iconic Yamazaki Single Malt. Discover the “first-of-its-kind” complex flavors born from this revolutionary East-meets-West collaboration between Fred Noe and Shinji Fukuyo.

From Press Release: Partnering with Fred Noe, Seventh-Generation Master Distiller of James B. Beam Distilling Co, on Legent Bourbon was an honor and an exciting opportunity to create something special that represents East meets West,” said Fifth-Generation Chief Blender of Suntory Whisky Shinji Fukuyo. “Taking it one step further to create this limited-edition release that is finished by the climate of Yamazaki Distillery, creating its unique matured aroma, and reimagined with our blending techniques has been an exciting endeavor. The result is a first-of-its-kind whiskey with new layers of rounded and complex flavors.”

We’ve waited 20 months for this moment, and now the Legent Yamazaki Cask Finish Blend is finally under the microscope. We’re putting it to the ultimate test: Will its promised symphony of aroma truly explode on the palate? Will this unique East-meets-West creation deliver an unforgettable finish that lingers long after the last drop?

More importantly, the burning question remains: Is this the unicorn bottle your collection desperately needs? We’re diving deep to give you our unfiltered, definitive verdict. Don’t miss it – your next favorite pour might just be revealed!

Don’t miss out on this groundbreaking Legent Yamazaki Cask Finish Blend review! Click play ▶️ now for our completely unfiltered tasting notes.

Are you as passionate about whiskey as we are? Show us some love by giving this video a thumbs up 👍, hitting that subscribe button 🔔 so you’re always first to know about the most exciting whiskey releases, and sharing this with your fellow enthusiasts and tasting buddies! ➡️

#bourbon #JimBeam #Yamazaki 

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

✴️ Legent Yamazaki Cask Finish Blend

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Suntory
  • Distillery: James B Beam Distillery
  • Mash Bill: Undisclosed
  • Age: 8 Years
  • Proof: 114
  • MSRP: $199.99
  • Released: August 2023
  • Purchased: 09/17/23 for $210 at Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont, 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 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.