The Bourbon Life

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief heads to one of the most cherished stops on his whiskey journey—Leiper’s Fork Distillery—a place where friendship has aged into family and the spirits are as bold as the stories behind them. He sits down with the powerhouse herself, Kendra Anderson, the head distiller whose path began behind the bar mixing cocktails and now leads the charge in the stillhouse. Her rise from mash cook to master of the barrel is a testament to grit, passion, and unshakable dedication. In the first half of the episode, Kendra and the big man pour a glass of Revenue’s Reserve—a heartfelt tribute to Samuel Claybrook Locke, a Federal Revenue Officer tragically killed in 1925 in Franklin, Tennessee. This 3-barrel blend of 7- and 8-year-old Tennessee Whiskey hits with a mash bill of 70% corn, 15% rye, and 15% malted barley. Clocking in at 100 proof, it drinks like a fire-tempered blade—bold, spicy, and unforgettable. But then comes the moment that stops time. Kendra breaks out a honey cask wheated bourbon—a Leiper’s Fork masterpiece with a mash bill of 70% corn, 15% wheat, and 15% malted barley. Layered with a honey bill that reads like Southern poetry—29% willow, 25% sweet clover, 14% blackberry, and 8% sumac—this bourbon sings with nostalgic notes of Honey Comb and Honey Smacks cereal, warming the soul with every sip. Leiper’s Fork isn’t just a distillery—it’s a beacon of Southern hospitality, craftsmanship, and character. So raise your glass and buckle in—because this ride with Big Chief is one soaked in spirit, soul, and the sweet burn of tradition. This is The Whiskey Trip. Cheers, y’all.

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief takes the backseat and lets the Bottled-in-Bond Professor himself, Bernie Lubbers, steer us through a masterclass in American whiskey history. Known for his relentless advocacy, storytelling talent, and undying love for the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, Bernie has been the face of bonded whiskey for decades—especially with iconic brands like Henry McKenna 10-Year and Evan Williams Bottled in Bond. As Bernie takes a step back as National Brand Ambassador for Heaven Hill Distillery, we raise a glass to a man who has poured his heart into preserving one of whiskey’s greatest legacies. In this episode, Bernie dives deep into:             •          The history and significance of the Bottled-in-Bond Act             •          How he earned the nickname “The Bottled-in-Bond Professor”             •          The evolution of Heaven Hill’s bonded lineup             •          His personal whiskey journey—from the stage to the rickhouse             •          Why Bottled-in-Bond still matters in today’s whiskey world And yes, we sip… Big Chief and Bernie share few special pours that helped shape Bernie’s career. Whether you’re a bonded whiskey nerd or just discovering what those four little words mean, this episode is a tribute to passion, tradition, and one unforgettable ambassador of American whiskey. Raise a glass. This one’s for Bernie. Cheers

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out in The Bourbon Life Studios with Juliet Schmalz, CEO & Founder, of Fortune’s Fool Whiskey. The guys talk with Juliet about her decision to leave her career as an anesthesiologist to pursue a career and launch a new brand in the whiskey industry, the creation of the brand and the challenges that she has faced since starting Fortune’s Fool, as well as what the future looks like for her and Fortune’s Fool Whiskey. They also taste a review Fortune’s Fool “The Prelude” Straight Rye Whiskey and the Fortune’s Fool “The Overture” Straight Rye Whiskey. This Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast is sponsored by Three Chord Bourbon and The Kitchen Table at James B. Beam Distilling Co. Check out all of our amazing sponsors online at:  www.threechordbourbon.com www.visitthekitchentable.com

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief takes us deep into the heart of Texas—the Hill Country—where dusty wind runs in the blood, and memories ride tall in the saddle. He’s joined by none other than his little brother, Mitch Grey—known to many as Little Feather. Together, they ride back through time, sharing stories of their rural upbringing, their military service, and the unbreakable bond only forged through hard years and harder lessons. As the wind whistles through mesquite and cedar, Little Feather sings songs that echo with soul, grit, and brotherhood. Their first pour is Kiepersol Distillery’s Jimmy’s Bourbon 10-Year, a Texas gem layered with rich notes of root beer, aged caramel, and old oak. It’s the perfect pairing for Craig Morgan’s Almost Home—a song written by a veteran, sung by one, and felt by all. The second half of the journey brings a whiskey as bold as the land itself: Charles Goodnight Bourbon. Named for the legendary cattleman, this 115-proof powerhouse roars like a Comanche wind through caliche dust and cedar breaks. Toasted caramel, roasted nuts, and a peppery finish—it’s the frontier in a bottle. As the sun sets over the hills, Mitch sings a haunting rendition of Jamey Johnson’s In Color, reminding us that true history isn’t in the pages—it’s in the scars, the sunsets, and the stories passed between brothers. This episode is more than a tasting. It’s a living tribute to blood, battle, and the stubborn beauty of the Texas Hill Country. Two brothers. Two whiskeys. Two songs. One bond—unshakable, undeniable, and deeply American. This is The Whiskey Trip. Cheers, y’all.  

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out with Matt Cunningham, Founder, of Old Glory Distilling Co. from Clarksville, Tennessee. This Episode originally aired as Episode 235 in August 2024. We talk with Matt about his background and how he transitioned from studying finance in college to becoming a firefighter in Clarksville to becoming the Founder of Old Glory, the decision to wait until Old Glory had its own mature distillate to release their first Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey, and what the future looks like for Old Glory. They also taste and review Old Glory Distilling Co.’s Bottled In Bond Tennessee Whiskey, their Bottled in Bond Bourbon, and an Old Glory Distilling Co. Single Barrel Bourbon. This Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast is sponsored by Three Chord Bourbon and The Kitchen Table at James B. Beam Distilling Co. Check out all of our amazing sponsors online at:  www.threechordbourbon.com www.visitthekitchentable.com

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief plants his boots firmly in Atlanta, Georgia — a city that has tasted fire, risen from ruin, and come back stronger every time. He sits down with Jerry McCall from ASW Distillery, a man whose passion for whiskey burns as hot as the city’s fighting spirit. Together, they dive deep into the raw, unvarnished story of Georgia distilling — a story born from hardship and rebellion. They honor the rugged moonshiners who were pushed into the wild foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, forced to carve out a life — and a living — from the unforgiving land. These were men and women who distilled not just whiskey, but freedom itself, refusing to let government agents, hard winters, or impossible odds break them. Fast-forward to today, and Atlanta stands tall once again, not just as a city of commerce and culture, but as a blazing new frontier for American whiskey. ASW Distillery is at the heart of this revival — a phoenix born from the ashes, a symbol of resilience that echoes through every barrel they fill. Jerry lays it out plain and powerful: ASW isn’t just making whiskey. They’re making history. Glass after glass, Big Chief and Jerry march through ASW’s lineup — starting with the Fiddler, a bold expression crafted with the heart and soul of their master distiller, where every note of grain and oak sings a song of craftsmanship. They charge forward into the Resurgence Rye, a whiskey built to honor Atlanta’s relentless spirit — a whiskey that doesn’t apologize, doesn’t bow, and doesn’t break. But this journey isn’t just about what’s in the glass. It’s about the soul of a region that refused to be forgotten. It’s about people who never gave up, and a city that keeps rewriting its destiny, one resurrection at a time. This episode is a battle cry, a love letter, and a triumphant toast to the unbreakable spirit of Georgia. This is The Whiskey Trip. Cheers, y’all.

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, The Bourbon Life Crew spends some time hanging out together in The Bourbon Life Studios sharing some great pours and even better conversation. They talk about the recent news regarding the closure of Garrard County Distilling Co. and whether that is an indicator of the current Bourbon market overall, the recent flooding in Kentucky and the impact that it had on Buffalo Trace Distillery, and whether we’re starting to see more allocated bottles are finally being available on a consistent basis. They also taste and review the new Kentucky Senator Bourbon John Edwards release, Jim Beam Rye, and the newly released Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye. This Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast is sponsored by Three Chord Bourbon and The Kitchen Table at James B. Beam Distilling Co. Check out all of our amazing sponsors online at:  www.threechordbourbon.com www.visitthekitchentable.com

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief rolls into the beating heart of the South—Atlanta, Georgia—where whiskey meets modern art in a way you’ve never seen before. He sits down with Matt Greif, the visionary Head Distiller at Distillery of Modern Art, a place where creativity flows as freely as the spirits. It’s not just a distillery—it’s an immersive experience. Picture this: a contemporary art gallery that champions local talent, wrapped in the aroma of oak barrels and filled with the hum of conversation and clinking glasses. Here, art and whiskey dance together in perfect harmony. Matt starts things off by pouring Big Chief a dram of their 100% corn whiskey—and what a first impression. On the nose, it’s a bouquet of baking spices, honey cake, and dried flowers. A sip reveals a delicious tapestry of fruit compote, peanut brittle, and the warm savoriness of roasted corn. It’s bold. It’s elegant. It’s a conversation in a glass. Then comes something truly rare—a corn whiskey finished in amburana barrels. Big Chief leans back, eyes wide. “Oh my,” he says, stunned by the complexity. It’s the first finished corn whiskey he’s ever tasted, and hands-down the best. With whispers of spice and soft sweetness, it’s a breakfast whiskey worthy of sunrise sips and Sunday mornings. But the journey doesn’t stop there. Matt brings out their bourbon, crafted from a mash bill of 67% white corn, 21% Abruzzi rye, and 12% malted barley. The flavor? A lush profile of dried and stewed orchard fruits, kissed with honey and a soft floral finish. It’s the kind of pour you reach for before a perfectly seared steak—a whiskey that sets the tone. To close the show, they dive into the rye whiskey, a masterpiece made with 70% Abruzzi rye, 15% white corn, and 15% malted barley. Notes of crisp apple open the door, followed by baked cinnamon apple pie and the smooth richness of vanilla ice cream. It finishes with spearmint and spiced tea—a finale worthy of a standing ovation. Each pour, each bottle, each sip—uniquely Atlanta. This isn’t just whiskey. It’s Georgia’s spirit, bottled with pride. This episode isn’t just about tasting whiskey. It’s about tasting culture, community, and craft. It’s a love letter to a city that’s rewriting the story of Southern spirits. This is The Whiskey Trip. Cheers, y’all.  

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out with Zach Johnston, Chief Brand Officer and Senior V.P. of International Sales, for Blackwood Distilling Co. in Versailles, Kentucky. This Episode originally aired on April 12, 2024 as Episode 218. The guys talk with Zach about his incredible background that saw him living in multiple countries over an extended period and working in the spirits industry in multiple roles, including an incredible stint most recently at Uproxx as their whiskey critic, that led him to Blackwood Distilling, the story and the people behind the creation of the Blackwood Distilling Co. brand, and an in-depth look at the future of the Bourbon industry with an emphasis on international markets and what that means for the future of Blackwood Distilling Co. They also taste and review the Blackwood Toasted Bourbon Batch 3 and Blackwood Toasted Rye Batch 2. This Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast is sponsored by Three Chord Bourbon and The Kitchen Table at James B. Beam Distilling Co. Check out all of our amazing sponsors online at:  www.threechordbourbon.com www.visitthekitchentable.com

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief rolls into Statesville, North Carolina—a city once hailed as the “liquor capital of the world”, where whiskey-making wasn’t just a trade, it was the lifeblood of the region. He heads to Southern Distilling Company, where that spirit of craftsmanship and community is alive and well. There, he sits down with founder and owner Pete Barger, a visionary reviving Statesville’s legacy sip by sip. With a rocks glass of their rich wheated bourbon in hand, Big Chief listens as Pete shares the deep roots of whiskey in Western Carolina—and how Southern Distilling is carrying that torch into a bold new era. From producing over 20,000 barrels a year to being the go-to source for contract distillation, Pete and his team are giving brands across the country a taste of real Carolina pride—rooted in heritage, aged with honor, and bottled with purpose. This episode is more than just a tasting. It’s a tribute to a region reborn, where history pours strong and tradition never fades. This is The Whiskey Trip. Cheers, y’all.