Ultimate Blind Bourbon Tasting: July Whiskey of the Month! 

Welcome to the JULY BLIND WHISKEY OF THE MONTH SHOWDOWN! 🥃🔥

In this episode, we put five incredible Straight Bourbon Whiskeys to the ultimate blind taste test. From rare cask finishes and double-Italian wine cask experiments to heirloom blue corn mash bills and heavy-hitting barrel proofs, this lineup is packed with power and flavor!

Can an underdog craft bourbon take down legacy titans, or will a legendary barrel proof beast sweep the rankings? Watch to find out—no bias, no label influence, just pure palate evaluation!

OUR FIVE CONTENDERS (in alphabetical order): 

  • 🪵 Barrel Bourbon Cigar Blend – The Multi-Cask Powerhouse: A heavy-hitting blend boasting up to 18-year aged whiskey finished across four distinct casks, including Madeira, Armagnac, Rum, and Hungarian Oak.
  • 🍷 Blood Oath Pact 12 – The Italian Wine Experiment: A limited release blending 7, 9, and 12-year bourbons finished in both fruit-forward Montepulciano and savory Sangiovese wine casks.
  • 💥 Booker’s 2026-02 Milkshake Batch – The High-Proof Beam Beast: A high-octane Kentucky Straight Bourbon sitting at 124.4 proof, aged over 7.5 years and packed with iconic Beam character.
  • 🌽 Glenns Creek Patriotic Meri-COB – The Heirloom Triple-Corn Craft: A unique Kentucky bourbon crafted from a rare 100% heirloom corn mash bill featuring Bloody Butcher Red, Hickory King White, and Hoppi Blue.
  • ⛰️ Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof – The High-Altitude High-Proofer: A 132-proof Colorado-aged monster distilled with a proprietary 4-grain heirloom blue corn mash bill.

👇 Which whiskey do you think took 1st place? Drop your guess in the comments BEFORE the final reveal!

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📊 SEE THE LIVE LEADERBOARD: Want to see where this bottle ranks against the rest of the field? Check out our real-time leaderboard here: 👉 https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/02/27/the-live-leaderboard-road-to-the-sweet-sixteen/

🥃 OUR SCORING PROCESS: We’ve revamped our scoring to be more transparent than ever. No more “Redundancy”—just pure, data-driven blind competitions. Read the full breakdown of our new rubric and the “Sweet Sixteen” bracket process on our website: 👉 https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/02/27/decoding-the-pour-the-new-your-bourbon-journey-scoring-woty-process/ 


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🥃 The July Lineup Competitors (Alphabetical Order):

Barrell Bourbon Cigar Blend

  • Classification: Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Madeira, Armagnac, Rum & Hungarian Oak Casks
  • Distillery: Blended & Bottled by Barrell Craft Spirits (KY, IN, TN)
  • Age: 7.5 to 18 Years | Proof: 111.2 (55.6% ABV) | SRP: $84.99

Blood Oath Pact 12

  • Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Double Italian Wine Cask Finish: Montepulciano & Sangiovese)
  • Distillery: Lux Row Distillers (Master Distiller John Rempe)
  • Age: Blend of 7, 9, and 12-Year Bourbons | Proof: 98.6 (49.3% ABV) | SRP: $129.99

Booker’s 2026-02 “Milkshake Batch”

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: Jim Beam
  • Age: 7 Years, 6 Months, 12 Days | Proof: 124.4 (62.2% ABV) | SRP: $100.00

Glenns Creek “Patriotic ‘Meri-COB” (Heirloom Collection)

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: Glenns Creek Distillery
  • Mash Bill: Triple Heirloom Corn (Bloody Butcher Red, Hickory King White & Hoppi Blue)
  • Age: 47+ Months | Proof: 106 (53% ABV) | SRP: $75.00

Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof

  • Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: Distilled in IN; Barreled, Aged & Bottled by Smokeye Hill Spirits (Colorado Springs, CO)
  • Mash Bill: 4-Grain Heirloom Blue Corn Mash Bill
  • Age: 5 Years | Proof: 132 (66% ABV) | SRP: $89.99

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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.

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The Craziest Bourbon Journey Ever: Doc Holliday Lost Barrels

📦 Unboxing a SURPRISE HAZMAT BOURBON! Rebecca snuck this one past Wayne, and it might just be the best blind-buy of the year. Today we are cracking open the incredibly rare Doc Holliday 12 Year “The Last of the Lost Barrels” Straight Bourbon Whiskey. 

With a mind-blowing 140.2 proof, this Cask Strength monster is officially a “Hazmat” whiskey, but does it actually drink like fire? We dive into the unbelievable history of these forgotten barrels, talk about the 90% corn moonshine mash bill, and give you our completely honest tasting notes. 

🥃 THE WILD 12-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE LOST BARRELS:

Distilled in 2014 by legendary 5th-generation Georgia moonshiner Carlos Lovell at Ivy Mountain Distillery, these barrels were originally meant to age for just 6 months. After the distillery closed, the estate inventory sat completely forgotten in the Georgia woods for five years. A Texas investment group bought them and moved them to the brutal Texas heat for 4 years—causing the liquid to push deep into the wood and skyrocketing the proof to 140.2. Finally, the World Whiskey Society rescued them, bringing them back home to Georgia for a final stretch of aging and bottling. 

Only 102 bottles exist from Barrel No. 653, and we are pouring Bottle No. 36. Is this $300 ultra-rare release worth the hype? Find out now!

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Doc Holliday 12 Year “The Last of the Lost Barrels”

  • Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: World Whiskey Society (WWS)
  • Distillery: Distilled at Ivy Mountain Distillery (Georgia); aged across Georgia and Texas; bottled by World Whiskey Society in Pendergrass, GA.
  • Mash Bill: 80% Corn, 10% Malted Corn, 5% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
  • Age: 12 Years
  • Proof: 140.2 proof (Cask Strength / Hazmat)
  • SRP: $300.00 (Standard non-member retail)
  • Released: June 2026
  • Other: Non-chill filtered. Barrel No. 653 yielded a tiny run of just 102 bottles (this is bottle No. 36).
  • Purchased: 06/16/26 via Blind Barrels 

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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.

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Parker’s Heritage 16th Edition Review: An Absolute Flavor Bomb!

Happy Monday, bourbon family! Today, we are taking you back to the Caribbean for a special birthday trip story that ended in the ultimate unicorn bourbon find. While everyone else was hunting overpriced Buffalo Trace and Blanton’s “hand grenades,” we stumbled upon a massive bucket-list bottle hiding on a lower shelf in a St. Kitts liquor store: the Parker’s Heritage Collection 16th Edition (2022 Release) Double Barreled Blend.

In this video, we share the hilarious story of our strange birthday negotiation (featuring a surprise bottle of 2019 Baker’s 7!), unpack the incredible stats of this allocated masterpiece, and crack it open for an unfiltered, uncut first taste.

This 132.2 proof powerhouse is a meticulous blend of 13-year-old bourbon (double barreled in level 3 char American white oak for an extra 4 weeks) and 15-year-old bourbon using Heaven Hill’s traditional 78/10/12 mash bill. Even better, a portion of the proceeds from every single bottle helps support ALS research in honor of the legendary late Master Distiller Parker Beam.

We pour this deep, dark brown liquid into our official Heaven Hill lead crystal glasses to see if the palate lives up to the heavy, burnt-caramel nose. Does it drink like its secondary market value of $999, or did our $600 Caribbean gamble fall short? Grab a glass, hit that subscribe button, and join us on this library pour journey! 

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Parker’s Heritage Collection 16th Edition (2022 Release) – Double Barreled Blend

  • Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Heaven Hill Brands
  • Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery (Bardstown, KY / distilled at Bernheim)
  • Mash Bill: Traditional Heaven Hill Bourbon Mash Bill: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley Age: A blend of 13-year-old (67% of the expression) and 15-year-old (33% of the expression) bourbons
  • Proof: 132.2 proof
  • SRP: $174.99 (at original release) 
  • Released: December 2022
  • Other: Uncut and non-chill filtered.
  • The 13-year-old component was pulled from floors 5–7 of Rickhouse Q and re-barreled into new American white oak barrels with a level 3 char for an additional 4 weeks before being blended with the 15-year-old component (sourced from floors 2 and 5 of Rickhouse II).
  • A portion of the proceeds from every bottle sold is donated by Heaven Hill to support ALS research and patient care in honor of the late Master Distiller Parker Beam.
  • Purchased: 02/21/26 in the Caribbean (St. Kitts)

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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.

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Blood Oath Pact 12 Tasting: A Home Run Double Wine Finish! 

Today, Wayne and Rebecca are cracking open a highly anticipated bottle straight from Bardstown, Kentucky: the brand new Blood Oath Pact 12 Straight Bourbon Whiskey from Lux Row Distillers!

Released in April 2026, this year’s limited-edition blend by Master Distiller John Rempe features Blood Oath’s first-ever double Italian wine cask finish. We’re breaking down everything you need to know about this unique release—from its 98.6 standard “blood temperature” proof to how the 7-year ryed bourbon component reacts after resting in fruit-forward Montepulciano and savory Sangiovese casks.

Is this 2026 release a home run compared to last year’s tequila finish? Does the high-rye MGP mash bill bring the spice? And does it actually drink hotter than its 98.6 proof suggests? We dive into the incredible nose, the jammy mid-palate mouthfeel, and the lingering black pepper finish.

We picked our bottle up right at the distillery for $159.99—find out if you should make the trip to Bardstown to hunt down one of the 51,000 bottles available!

If you love whiskey reviews, flight breakdowns, and unboxing rare allocations, make sure to hit that SUBSCRIBE button and join us on the journey!

Always remember to drink responsibly. Today, drink your temperature: 98.6! Cheers! 🥃

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Blood Oath Pact 12

  • Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Luxco (MGP Ingredients)
  • Distillery: Lux Row Distillers (Bardstown, KY) — Blended and bottled by Master Distiller John Rempe using sourced, undisclosed bourbons.
  • Mash Bill: Undisclosed (Ryed Bourbon mash bills)
  • Age: A blend of 9-year and 12-year ryed bourbons, combined with a 7-year ryed bourbon.
  • Proof: 98.6 Proof (49.3% ABV)
  • SRP: $129.99
  • Released: April 25, 2026 (Distillery release); June 2026 (National retail rollout)
  • Other: This edition features the brand’s first double Italian wine cask finish. The 7-year component was rested first in fruit-forward Montepulciano casks and then refined in savory Sangiovese casks. Total production was limited to 51,000 bottles, with 1,400 bottles held back for a future Trilogy release.
  • Purchased: 05/29/26 for $159.99 at LuxRow Distillery, Bardstown KY

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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.

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Unboxing Rare Remus Reserve: Lux Row Distillery Event Haul 

We are officially hooked! In this episode of Your Bourbon Journey, we dive deep into the highly coveted Remus Reserve Collection from Ross & Squibb Distillery. After an exclusive, intimate tasting event with Master Distiller Ian Stirsman at Lux Row Distillers, we walked away as full converts to the MGP / Luxco flavor profile. Today, we are cracking open three incredible bottles to see how they stack up side-by-side.

First up is the spectacular Remus Gatsby Reserve 2025, a massive 15-year-old straight bourbon whiskey bottled at a cask strength of 102.8 proof. Released as a centennial celebration of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic 1925 novel.

Next, we step up to the plate with the brand-new, limited-edition Remus Lou Gehrig Reserve (Released May 2026). Honoring the Iron Horse’s legendary 109 RBI season in 1926 at 109 proof, this bottle masterfully blends four distinct mash bills to match his iconic #4 jersey.

Finally, we round out the lineup with the heavy-hitting Remus Babe Ruth Reserve (2025 Edition). Clocking in at the highest proof on the table at 111, this medley of three high-rye mash bills commemorates the Bambino’s career professional at-bats.

Which of these ultra-premium Ross & Squibb MGP expressions takes home the crown? Watch to find out our definitive ranking! Have you been lucky enough to find any of these Remus Reserve bottles in the wild? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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Remus Gatsby Reserve 2025

  • Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Luxco / MGP
  • Distillery: Ross & Squibb Distillery (Lawrenceburg, IN)
  • Mash Bill: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
  • Age: 15 Years
  • Proof: 102.8 Proof (51.4% ABV)
  • SRP: $199.99
  • Released: October 2025
  • Other: Cask strength. Released as a centennial celebration of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic 1925 novel.
  • Purchased: 05/29/26 for $219.99 at Lux Row Distillers, Bardstown KY

Remus Lou Gehrig Reserve

  • Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Luxco / MGP
  • Distillery: Ross & Squibb Distillery (Lawrenceburg, IN)
  • Mash Bill: Medley of 4 distinct mash bills (reflecting his #4 jersey):
    • 70% is 2017 distillation (49% Rye / 51% Corn / 10% Malted Rye)
    • 14% is 2016 distillation (44% Rye)
    • 8% is 2019 distillation (36% Rye)
    • 8% is 2019 distillation (99% Corn / 1% Malted Barley)
  • Age: NAS (Blend of 7 to 10-year-old bourbons)
  • Proof: 109 Proof (54.5% ABV) — Honors his 109 RBI season in 1926
  • SRP: $149.99
  • Released: May 2026
  • Other: Limited to exactly 9,665 numbered bottles, representing each of the Iron Horse’s career plate appearances.
  • Purchased: 05/29/26 for $155.99 at Lux Row Distillers, Bardstown KY

Remus Babe Ruth Reserve (2025 Edition)

  • Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Luxco / MGP
  • Distillery: Ross & Squibb Distillery (Lawrenceburg, IN)
  • Mash Bill: Medley of 3 distinct mash bills (reflecting his #3 jersey):
    • 73% is 2017 distillation (51% Corn, 39% Unmalted Rye, 10% Malted Rye)
    • 15% is 2016 distillation (52% Corn, 44% Rye, 4% Malted Barley)
    • 12% is 2017 distillation (60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley)
  • Age: NAS (Blend of 8 to 9-year-old bourbons)
  • Proof: 111 Proof (55.5% ABV)
  • SRP: $149.99
  • Released: June 2025
  • Other: Limited to 8,399 numbered bottles, marking his total career professional at-bats.
  • Purchased: 05/29/26 for $155.99 at Lux Row Distillers, Bardstown KY

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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.

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The Bourbon Trials: Testing the Liquid Behind the Labels

Happy Friday! Welcome back to Your Bourbon Journey with Wayne and Rebecca. Today, we are putting three politically themed, novelty whiskeys on trial to answer one ultimate question: Is it just a gimmick, or is the liquid behind the label actually high-quality?

We dive deep into a gifted bottle of Tears of the Left Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey ($99.99 MSRP), distilled and bottled in Bardstown, KY. We break down its premium dark display box packaging, continuous limited edition status, and give a completely honest tasting notes review of its 90.94 proof profile. Is the leather-bound “Book of Tears” cocktail recipe guide masking a subpar spirit, or does it hold its own neat?

Then, we transition to a special birthday gift set from an independent bottler: The Verdict “Not Guilty” and “Guilty” Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Marketed across conservative media networks like the Tatum Show, this sourced matching set acts as a fascinating control group. Both bottles sit at 90 proof and boast a solid 6-year age statement. We put them through a side-by-side comparison blind-style test to uncover a shocking “brown sugar bomb” flavor profile that left us craving pancakes.

Stick around until the final verdict to find out which novelty bourbon wins our stamp of approval and why you should always judge what’s inside the glass, not the presentation box!

If you love unfiltered whiskey reviews, don’t forget to hit that SUBSCRIBE button, drop a comment with your favorite pour, and share this video with a fellow enthusiast!

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Tears of the Left Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Tears of the Left (Novelty/Independent Bottler)
  • Distillery: Distilled and bottled in Bardstown, KY
  • Mash Bill: Undisclosed
  • Age: NAS
  • Proof: 90.94 Proof (45.47% ABV)
  • MSRP: $99.99
  • Released: Late 2025 / Continuous Limited Editions
  • Other: Numbered Bottle (#031246). This brand leans heavily into presentation, featuring a premium dark display box, custom inserts (including themed chilling stones or card sets depending on the specific edition), and an accompanying “Book of Tears” cocktail recipe guide.

Verdict: Guilty and Verdict: Not Guilty

  • Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Independent Bottler / Novelty Brand
  • Distillery: Sourced
  • Mash Bill: Undisclosed
  • Age: 6 Years Old
  • Proof: 90 Proof (45% ABV)
  • MSRP: Often retails around $60 per bottle (frequently sold as a matching set)
  • Released: Recent thematic small-batch release
  • Other: Designed as a matching set representing the scales of justice.

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NOTE: The spirits in this review were gifts from family members. 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.

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

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.

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✴️ 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.

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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.

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We Tasted 14 Whiskeys! Wayne’s 58th Birthday Bourbon Tour

A Birthday Detour to Remember: Old Louisville Whiskey Co.

February of 2024 – What started as a trip home from Mattingly’s turned into one of our favorite Bourbon Trail memories! In this episode of Bourbon Trail Tales and Tastes, we celebrate Wayne’s 58th birthday with a visit to Distillery No. 59: Old Louisville Whiskey Company.

Join us as we recount our incredible experience with Amine, a master of blending and aging who went above and beyond for our first visit. From barrel thieving in the back of their industrial Louisville home to tasting 14+ incredible pours, this visit proved why Amine is one of the best in the business. 

We also dive into a tasting of two unique bottles we brought home that day: a 10-year old “barely legal” bourbon with a massive 49% barley mashbill and a 7-year-old mysterious, sweet 119-proof bourbon.

Whether you’re a fan of MGP sources, unique finishes like Hungarian or Colombian oak, or just love a great distillery story, you won’t want to miss this one.

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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.

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Hidden Gem in Frankfort? J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery

Master the Art of Bourbon Blending: Our J. Mattingly Experience 🥃

Welcome back to Your Bourbon Journey! In Episode 55 of Bourbon Trail Tales and Tastes, we’re taking you inside the cellar at J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, for a deep dive into their legendary Master Blending Experience.

Join Wayne and Rebecca as we relive our visit to Distillery No. 58 on our journey. We go behind the scenes with our guide, Dakota, to thieve whiskey directly from the barrels and craft our own custom blends. From navigating mash bills and proofs to finding that perfect 116-proof sweet spot, we share the exact “50/30/20” formulas we used to create our anniversary bottles: “St. Patrick’s Day 2024” and “Luck of the Irish.”

In this episode, you’ll discover:

The Blending Process: How to use a whiskey thief and mix components for the perfect mouthfeel and viscosity.

Tasting Notes: A side-by-side comparison of our two-year-old “married” blends—one leaning floral and nutty, the other rich with dark cocoa and cinnamon.

Pro Tip: Why J. Mattingly is the perfect “double” to pair with your Buffalo Trace visit (it’s right across the street!).

The Personal Touch: A heartwarming story about the incredible hospitality and the “hat pins” that made this visit unforgettable.

Whether you’re a Certified Bourbon Steward or just starting your own bourbon journey, this blending experience is a must-do in Kentucky.

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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.

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Uncorking 41 Years: J.W. Dant Bourbon Tasting!

A 41-Year-Old Bourbon: Tasting a 1984 J.W. Dant Time Capsule!

Get ready for an unforgettable journey into whiskey history! We’re not just opening a bottle; we’re cracking open a time capsule: a 41-year-old J.W. Dant bourbon from 1984! Have you ever wondered what four decades do to a whiskey? We definitely did, and now you can find out with us!

We got our hands on this incredible vintage gem from the amazing Revival Vintage Spirits in Covington, KY. We’ve been counting down the days to share this special tasting experience with you, and trust us, it’s worth the wait!

In this video, you’ll witness history unfold as we:

  • Uncover the fascinating story behind J.W. Dant.
  • Explore every detail – from its mesmerizing appearance to its captivating aromas.
  • Take that long-awaited, first sip and share our raw, honest reactions!

Join us as we explore how this unique, vintage whiskey holds up after all these years. This is your chance to experience a genuine taste of whiskey history with us. Don’t miss out – hit play now!

#bourbon, #vintagebourbon, #JWDant

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

✴️ 1984 JW Dant Special Reserve

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: The Dant Distillery Company
  • Distillery: Schenley Distillery Louisville
  • Mash Bill: A common estimate for Bernheim’s Schenley-era mash bill was around 73-75% corn, 15-20% rye, and 8-12% malted barley.
  • Age: 4 Years
  • Proof: 90
  • Purchased: 01/31/25 at Revival Vintage Spirits https://revivalky.com/ 

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

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❓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.