Small batch whiskey

Augusta’s Historic Distillery: A Visit to Becker & Bird

/ bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

Becker & Bird: The Historic Kentucky Bourbon Time Capsule

Think you’ve seen everything on the Bourbon Trail? Think again. Join us for Bourbon Trail Tales and Taste, Episode 60, as we travel to Augusta, Kentucky, to visit the historic Becker & Bird Distillery.

This isn’t your average commercial distillery tour. Set on a property that’s on the National Register of Historic Places, Becker & Bird honors the legacy of Johannes Becker, a Revolutionary War veteran who began distilling on this land in 1798. You’ll learn the fascinating (and sometimes frustrating) story of why they had to shift their name from “Baker” to “Becker” to avoid a corporate legal battle, and why this site is a true bourbon time capsule.

The real showstopper? The cellar. We’re taking you inside one of the largest wine and spirit cellars in the U.S.—a hand-built stone masterpiece that survived the Battle of Augusta in 1862. Its consistent, cool, humid environment acts as a natural rickhouse, unlike anything you see in modern metal-clad warehouses.

In this episode: 

🥃 The Bourbon: We’re tasting the Historic Becker & Bird Straight Bourbon (100 proof, 2-year age statement, MGP-sourced). We break down the profile, the “grain-forward” notes, and why we think it’s important to support these up-and-coming craft distillers. 

🍷 The Winery: We discover their amazing bourbon-barrel-aged wine, a must-try if you visit the tasting room!

If you love exploring the history behind the bottle and want to support the preservation of our Kentucky spirits heritage, this is a stop you need to add to your list.

Connect With Us & Support The Journey! 

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

✴️ Historic Becker & Bird Straight Bourbon

  • Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Baker-Bird Winery & Distillery (Owned by Dinah Bird)
  • Distillery: MGP (Lawrenceburg, IN)
  • Mash Bill: Most likely MGP’s 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
  • Age: 2 Years
  • Proof: 100
  • MSRP: $78.99 (Price may vary; some winery-direct bottles are priced at a premium due to the historic site maintenance)
  • Released: 2018 (Brand launch)
  • Purchased: $90 03/15/25 at Becker & Bird Distillery
  • Other: Bottled by Kentucky Artisan Distillery (Crestwood, KY). The label pays homage to Johannes Becker (John Baker), a Revolutionary War veteran who moved to Augusta in 1797.

🚨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.

#BourbonTrail #BeckerAndBird #KentuckyBourbon #DistilleryTour #WhiskeyTasting #BourbonHistory #AugustaKY #BourbonReview #SmallBatchWhiskey #WhiskeyHistory #YourBourbonJourney #BourbonLife #StraightBourbon #CraftDistillery #BourbonLove

Your Bourbon Journey Crowns Patriotic Meri-COB from Glenns Creek Distilling as 2025 Whiskey of the Year

/ bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

Newburgh, IN – January 10, 2026 – Following a rigorous year-long evaluation of over 100 whiskeys, Your Bourbon Journey, the digital spirits platform hosted by Wayne and Rebecca McBrayer, is proud to announce Patriotic Meri-COB from Glenns Creek Distilling as the winner of its inaugural 2025 Whiskey of the Year award.

The selection process was governed by a strict, multi-stage blind tournament designed to eliminate brand bias and focus solely on spirit quality. The field of 16 contenders – comprised of 12 “Whiskey of the Month” winners and four high-scoring “Wildcard” entries – competed in a bracket-style playoff.

“Our goal was to find the best whiskey on the shelf, regardless of price point or prestige,” said Rebecca, co-founder of Your Bourbon Journey. “By the time we reached the Final Four, we were tasting the elite of the elite. To see a #2 seed like Patriotic Meri-COB run the gauntlet against three #1 seeds was the ultimate proof of our blind process at work.”

The Road to the Championship

The tournament followed a “Sweet Sixteen” format, where bottles were seeded based on their performance in quarterly qualifying rounds. Patriotic Meri-COB’s path to the title was a true “Giant Slayer” narrative, requiring head-to-head victories over Neeley Bottled in Bond Four Grain, Wild Turkey 101 8-Year, Old Louisville Cognac Finish, and ultimately, Bardstown Discovery Series 13.

“The consistency was what ultimately set the winner apart,” noted Wayne. “In four separate rounds of blind tasting, the Patriotic Meri-COB never dipped below a 94-point score. It was a model of excellence from the first pour to the final championship glass.”

Award Presentation

In recognition of this achievement, Your Bourbon Journey will travel to the historic Glenns Creek Distilling in February 2026 to officially present the 2025 Whiskey of the Year Championship Trophy to the distilling team.

About Your Bourbon Journey

Your Bourbon Journey is a whiskey-focused digital platform dedicated to honest, tasting reviews, distillery tour highlights, home cocktail creation, and consumer education. Through their “Whiskey of the Year” program, Wayne and Rebecca aim to highlight exceptional craftsmanship in the spirits industry.

Media Contact

Dr. Rebecca Herman, Your Bourbon Journey, YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com, www.YourBourbonJourney.com

#Bourbon #Whiskey #WhiskeyReview #BourbonLife #KentuckyBourbon #WhiskeyGram #Cheers #WhiskeyOfTheYear #WOTY2025 #YourBourbonJourney #GlennsCreekDistilling #PatrioticMeriCOB #BlindTasting #BourbonAwards #BourbonSociety #WhiskeyTasting #CraftSpirits #SingleBarrel #DistilleryLife #WhiskeyLover #BourbonFinds #PressRelease