In this special Double Bitter Winter Warmer Special, Ryan and Kim head to Moncton, New Brunswick to sit down with four-time STILHL TIMBERSPORTS Canadian Champion Marcel Dupuis inside the Timber Lounge.

Marcel opens up about what it takes to stay at the top for nearly a decade, how consistency has defined his career, and the mindset required to compete at the highest level in Canada and on the world stage. From hot saw mastery and springboard training to the pressure of national championships and representing Team Canada, this is a deep dive into the sport, the preparation, and the person behind the axe.

The conversation also goes beyond competition. Marcel reflects on his Acadian roots, his work as a firefighter, the importance of hard work, and what it meant to share more of his personal life in the Beyond the Cut series. Add in a pair of winter-ready cocktails from Kim, and this one is the perfect bonus episode to warm up the gap between Seasons 1 and 2.

1st Recipe: Smokin' Old Fashioned:

• 1/4 oz Apple Bohemian Spirits Brandy
• 1 + 3/4 oz of American Rye
• 1 tsp honey
• 2 dashes toasted almond bitters
• Oak wood chips to smoke Cocktail smoker

Instructions: Add the honey and bitters to a low ball glass and add a large ice cube. Pour the rye and brandy over ice. Stir well to combine and chill. Fire up your cocktail smoker and smoke the wood chips. Let smoke linger for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Using a cocktail pick, garnish with an apple slice, dried orange slice and mulling spiced cocktail cherry (Whiskey Cherries from Soberish Mocktail Shoppe)

2nd Recipe: Paper Chopper (our rendition of a Paper Plane)

• 3/4 oz American Rye
• 3/4 oz Aperol
• 3/4 oz Amero Montenegro
• 3/4 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/2 tsp honey

Instructions: Squeeze 1 lemon into a small glass and set aside. Then add all ingredients (including 3/4 oz of lemon juice) to a shaker with ice. Shake for 15 seconds and pour into a chilled coupe glass. Add a lemon peel twist to the side of the glass after wiping the rim of the glass with it.

Enjoy responsibly!

It's the Double Bitter Season 1 Finale — and co-hosts Ryan and Kim are going out in style.

Broadcasting from Ironworks Distillery on the historic Lunenburg waterfront, the duo dives into a full whiskey-tasting experience with Brad from Ironworks, exploring the craft behind their signature Blacksmith Whiskey, the history of the 111-year-old blacksmith shop turned distillery, and the art of single-malt production in Nova Scotia.

But it wouldn't be Double Bitter without a little friendly chaos — Kim recaps her trip to Iceland, Ryan quizzes her on timber-sports trivia, and the two debate the eternal question: Would you rather use a dull axe or drink cheap whiskey forever?

From Bigfoot theories to whiskey science, this finale captures everything we've loved about Season 1 — storytelling, craftsmanship, laughter, and a healthy pour of Nova Scotian pride.

On today's episode, Ryan & Kim sit down with Stirling Hart — world-champion timber athlete, springboard chop world-record holder, and all-around legend from Squamish, BC — for one of the most entertaining, insightful, and downright hilarious episodes yet.

From dominating the STIHL Timber Sports Series to wild stories of competing on the world stage , Stirling opens up about his journey in lumberjack sports — the work ethic he inherited from his father, the mindset that made him a world champion, and why preparation and precision matter more than brute strength.

The recipe you've been waiting for:

"FOUR HIT POCKET"

2 ounces of Bohemian Spirits Whiskey

1/4 oz of simple syrup

4 dashes of Bohemian Spirits White Pine Bark Bitters

Dried orange

One maraschino cherry 🍒

Shaved Douglas fir for smoking

Over ice, Add all liquid ingredients into a lowball glass. Using a smoking kit, add your wood chips and torch them! Add cherry to a cocktail pick, eat one, replace one to the cocktail pick, place in glass. Let the smoke dissipate, rest and enjoy!

In this episode of Double Bitter, we sit down with none other than Ceola McGowan, two-time world champion and reigning Canadian champion in double bit axe throwing. Fresh off her victory at the Canadian Championships in Barrington, Ceola joins us with her trophy in hand to share the thrill of competition, the mental toughness it takes to perform under pressure, and the unique training routines that have made her one of the sport's most dominant throwers.

From battling the wind with her lighter axe to pushing her limits through unconventional training methods, Ceola gives us a rare look into what it takes to compete—and win—on the world stage. But there's more to her story than axes. We explore her passion for pole dancing and how it complements her athletic mindset, her musical roots and love for open mic nights.

All the way from Ireland, please welcome Ceola!

The recipe you've been waiting for:

LADY OF THE GLEN:

2 oz Glendaloch whiskey

3 dashes of Fee Brothers Turkish Tobacco Bitters

1/4 oz simple syrup

2 Maraschino cherries for garnish

Sitka Spruce wood shavings (for smoke)

Add all liquid ingredients into a lowball glass with ice. Using a smoking kit, add your wood chips and torch them! Add cherries to a cocktail pick. Let the smoke dissipate, and enjoy! Drop in the cherry pick and save the snack for later!

Get ready to meet Suzy Atwood, the powerhouse axe thrower, community leader, and president of the Nova Lumberjack Society. In this episode, Suzy shares her journey from picking up her first axe to winning multiple podiums at the World Championships and the Swiss Open.

She also dives into her passion for bringing the Canadian Axe Throwing Championships to Barrington, Nova Scotia, and how her initiatives like Wild Axe Women are empowering women and growing the sport.

Show notes:

00:00 - Introduction

3:00 - Please welcome Suzy

5:45 - Preparing for the world championships in Barrington, NS

7:55 - Today's whiskey of choice

12:10 - Suzy's journey as an axe thrower

21:20 - Suzy on Wild Axe Women

27:00 - Suzy on competing in axe throwing competitions

The recipe you've been waiting for:

THE HEART OF BARRINGTON:

2 oz Ironworks Heart Iron Whisky

3 dashes of spruce bitters Dried Orange Slice

1/4 oz of maraschino cherry syrup Maraschino cherry for garnish

Maple & Oak wood chips (for smoke)

Add all liquid ingredients into a lowball glass with ice. Drop in dried orange. Using a smoking kit, add your wood chips and torch them! Add cherries to a cocktail pick. Let the smoke dissipate, and enjoy!

This week on Double Bitter, Ryan and Kim sit down with Darren Hudson. Darren isn't just any guest—he's the owner of Timber Lounge Axe Throwing (Dartmouth & Moncton), the founder of Wild Axe Productions, and the visionary behind the Wild Axe Championships TV series on TSN.

But beyond that, he's a 7-time world champion log roller, a Nova Scotia legend, and someone whose family heritage is deeply rooted in the forestry and lumberjack tradition. In this episode, we go everywhere—from epic global adventures to log rolling on the set of Cheaper by the Dozen, whiskey tasting, and stories from Darren's unbelievable life.

Be sure to check out other episodes of Season 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLozfmcWylWNetuQdQZGfvJl1FvLOFx8On

What you'll hear in part 2:

Darren's incredible appearance on the David Letterman show which included meeting Will Ferrell!

Darren speaks on the Wild Axe Park, youth camps, and the Timber Lounge to keep the tradition alive

Darren stepping in last-minute to save the 2016 Nova Scotia Lumberjack Championships and where he sees the future of the sport going!

The recipe you've been waiting for:

"Log Driver's Waltz"

2 oz Glynnevan Triple Barrel Rye Whisky

2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

1/4 oz of simple syrup

1/8 tsp squeeze of fresh orange

2 maraschino cherry

Hickory wood chips (for smoke)

Add all liquid ingredients into a lowball glass with ice. Squeeze in fresh orange. Using a smoking kit, add your wood chips and torch them! Add 2 cherries to a cocktail pick. Let the smoke dissipate, and enjoy!

This week on Double Bitter, Ryan and Kim sit down with Darren Hudson. Darren isn't just any guest—he's the owner of Timber Lounge Axe Throwing (Dartmouth & Moncton), the founder of Wild Axe Productions, and the visionary behind the Wild Axe Championships TV series on TSN. But beyond that, he's a 7-time world champion log roller, a Nova Scotia legend, and someone whose family heritage is deeply rooted in the forestry and lumberjack tradition.

In this episode, we go everywhere—from epic global adventures to log rolling on the set of Cheaper by the Dozen, whiskey tasting, and stories from Darren's unbelievable life.

What You'll Hear in Part 1:

Roots of a Champion: Darren shares his family's lumberjack legacy—watching the last log drive in Nova Scotia at age 5, his mom's log rolling career, and his uncles Phil & Stanley, both legends in the sport.

Global logger sports stories: From training with icons like Jason Wynyard & David Bolstad in New Zealand to diving for sea urchins, fishing at dawn, and even log rolling in the Mediterranean on a patched-up boiler tank (yes, really).

The West Coast connection: How chance hitchhiking to a logger sports competition in BC led to nearly 20 years of friendship and countless adventures.

This episode is packed with stories, laughs, heritage, and the kind of serendipity that defines the Double Bitter vibe. Whether you're into whiskey, axe throwing, logger sports, or just great storytelling—you're in for a treat.

The recipe you've been waiting for:

"Log Driver's Waltz"

2 oz Glynnevan Triple Barrel Rye Whisky

2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

1/4 oz of simple syrup

1/8 tsp squeeze of fresh orange

2 maraschino cherry Hickory wood chips (for smoke)

Add all liquid ingredients into a lowball glass with ice. Squeeze in fresh orange. Using a smoking kit, add your wood chips and torch them! Add 2 cherries to a cocktail pick. Let the smoke dissipate, and enjoy!

This week on Double Bitter, Ryan and Kim sit down with Josh Clark from Stihl Timbersports Canada. Josh has helped shape competitions across North America — but today, he steps into the spotlight to talk shop.

From his roots in Ontario bush parties to a career producing concerts and festivals with artists like Ringo Starr, Colin Hay, and the Beach Boys, Josh brings a wealth of stories from the live entertainment world. He shares how those experiences prepared him for the fast-paced, high-energy environment of TimberSports — and why he thinks the sport is primed for growth.

The conversation covers everything from nosing whiskey and smoked old fashioneds to the thunder of hot saws, the thrill of world championships, and how athlete trading cards might just turn casual spectators into lifelong fans.

Along the way, Josh reflects on the artistry (and danger) of custom-built chainsaws, the challenges of growing a niche sport, and the importance of creating moments that stick with audiences.

Pour yourself a glass, pull up a chair, and enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at how Stihl TimberSports is building its future!

The recipe you've been waiting for:

THE MIC DROP:

2 oz Forty Creek Whiskey

2 dashes of Orange Angostura Bitters

1/4 oz of simple syrup

1 maraschino cherry Cherry wood chips (for smoke)

Start smoking your glass over the rocks. Then, add all liquid ingredients into a lowball glass. Using a smoking kit, add your wood chips and torch them again! Add your cherry. Let the smoke dissipate, and enjoy responsibly.