#174: WhistlePig, Boss Hog, and more with Meghan Ireland and Mitch Mahar

Join the Whiskey Noobs Crew for more: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs Green River Wheated Bourbon we recently crowned the best bourbon in the world by the New York World Spirits Competition. In this episode, Chris breaks down the competition, how it works, and how you should look at the different "medals" you see advertised on whiskey bottles. Finally, the episode finishes with an honest review of Green River Wheated Bourbon and a couple of Q&As from the Whiskey Noobs Crew (Patreon).    Winner Announcement on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradjaphe/2025/10/19/the-worlds-best-bourbon-according-to-the-2025-new-york-world-spirits-competition/   Homebar Article: https://homebar.io/whats-up-with-the-san-francisco-world-spirits-competition/#:~:text=They%20also%20state%20that%20%E2%80%9Cwhile%20tasting%2C%20judges,a%20panel%20earn%20a%20Double%20Gold%20award.%E2%80%9D   The Tasting Alliance: https://thetastingalliance.com/

Support the show and access more content: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs Can you make high end whiskey at home? A lot of whiskey lovers have never even heard of home blending, but it is a really fun way to come up with some great whiskeys. In this episode, Chris walks through the philosophy of home blending, some misconceptions, and tips on how to get started.  

Support the show and access more content: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs In this special episode recorded at the WhistlePig distillery in Vermont, Chris talks with WhistlePig's Chief Blender, Meghan Ireland, and Research and Development Distiller, Mitch Mahar, about the WhistlePig core lineup, where they get their ideas from, projects gone awry, and of course, the latest release of their ultra-premium "Boss Hog" line - Boss Hog XII - Feather & Flame.  Learn more about WhistlePig: https://www.whistlepigwhiskey.com/

Support the show and access more content: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs Once upon a time, bourbon was aged on the Mississippi River, more or less by accident. The river was a convenient means of shipping, so barrels would spend their time floating down to Louisiana, and incidentally, the whiskey would gain some age on it's journey.  In 2015, Hank Ingram of the Ingram Distillery set out on a mission to bring that form of aging back into the world of whiskey and see what affect it had on the flavor. Today, they produce multiple different whiskeys with different mashbills and price points.  In this episode, Chris sits down with Hank to learn about their aging method, lineup, and upcoming ventures. Learn more about Ingram Whiskey: https://ingramwhiskey.com/our-story/  

Support the show and access more content: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs   It's hard to believe that there isn't an episode on the Solo Blind yet, but here we are - if you haven't heard of it, the Solo Blind is a device that can be used to do tastings of 2, 3, or 4 whiskeys without the help of any else (patent pending). In this episode, Chris goes back to the very beginning to explain where the idea of the Solo Blind came from, how it was developed, and even where it is headed. Learn more at justneat.shop

Support the show and access more content: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs   We've all been there - you start a hobby, you can't get enough of it, and then one day... you've had enough. You're burnt out on your hobby. You want whiskey to have that same excitement that it used to have, but it doesn't. In this episode, Chris breaks down some of the BEST hacks to reignite your passion for whiskey and get back to feeling like its the best hobby out there. 

Support the show and access more content: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs   Ask a room full of 100 whiskey lovers what the best part of whiskey is, and I'd be willing to bet that more than 50 of them say "the people". If you want to enjoy "the people," there is just about no better way than a bottle share! In this episode, Chris breaks down what a bottle share is, how it works, what you should bring, and some added tips for setting up your own bottle share!

Support the show and access more content: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs   Craig Beam has a long history in the world of bourbon, and now he is on to a new project with the Jackson Purchase Distillery. In this episode, Chris and Craig dig into Craig's history at Heaven Hill, his upbringing in the bourbon world, and the success of his latest project as Master Distiller at the Jackson Purchase Distillery.    Learn more about Jackson Purchase: https://www.jacksonpurchasedistillery.com/

Support the show and access more content: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs   Fall is nearly upon us, and as the temperature changes, so do most people's drink preferences. In this episode, Chris breaks down some of the best options for fall whiskeys, followed by a crash course on peated scotch, finally culminating in a blind tasting of three peated scotches from different price ranges. You'll want to tstay for the reveal on this one... it was certainly a rollercoaster. Reviewed in this episode: - Johnnie Walker Double Black Blended Scotch - Ardbeg 10 year old Single Malt Scotch - Lagavulin 16yrSingle Malt Scotch

If you enjoy this show, please take a moment to check out the Patreon page, which has bonus episodes, meet-ups, and even more: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs It's one of the most common questions in whiskey: How can I find *insert allocated bottle here*? What a lot of people don't realize is that there's an alternative way to get bottles that you feel are a good deal - barrel picks. At least... that was once the case. Now there are a TON of barrel picks on the market, so how can you find one that is worth it? In this episode, Chris breaks down what a barrel pick is, how it works, and how YOU can find one that is worth your money.