This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief takes a backroad ride to Lowey Crossing, Texas, where the hum of cicadas and the rustle of pecan leaves lead you straight to the heart of Texas whiskey—1845 Distilling.

Tucked beneath a sprawling pecan orchard, Big Chief sits down with owner Bob Pettit and distiller Miguel Perez, a father-in-law/son-in-law team turning Texas grain into liquid gold. With a German-built still, American oak barrels, and a bold vision, they’re blending heritage and innovation to craft whiskey that speaks with a Texas drawl and a world-class finish.

The episode starts strong with a 118-proof Rye Bourbon that hits like a Texas thunderclap. One sip in and Big Chief declares it might just be in the running for his Whiskey of the Year—an explosive opening pour that sets the tone.

Next, they pour their Wheated Bourbon, and the room goes silent. It’s rich, smooth, and downright seductive. Big Chief’s eyes light up, and there’s talk of a new title: #WheatedKingOfTexas. Is the crown shifting?

In the second half, things get downright artful with their Four Grain Bourbon. A perfect balance of corn, rye, wheat, and barley—this pour is a harmony of flavor. Big Chief calls it a “perfection pour,” where the sweet softness of wheat and the spice of rye meet in the middle to dance.

They close the show with a sneak peek of a future Bottled in Bond expression. Clocking in at 100 proof, it’s still in development—but already shows depth, structure, and an impressive viscosity that leaves Big Chief smiling. In fact, he’s so impressed, he says his friend Bernie Lubbers—the Bottled-in-Bond evangelist himself—would tip his hat to this one.

This episode is full of laughs, legacy, and some of the finest pours on the Texas whiskey trail. If you’re not sipping with us, you’re missing the story.

And as always, friends—it’s not just the whiskey, it’s the Ride. Saddle up and come along.

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out in The Bourbon Life Studios with two of their favorite guests, Denny Potter and Jane Bowie, Co-Founders of Potter Jane Distilling Co. Denny and Jane have been on the show numerous times but were on most recently guests on Episode 200.

The guys talk with Denny & Jane about the processes that they are implanting in their new distillery including their fermentation, distilling, and barrel entry proof processes; the challenges that they have faced in this current marketplace as a brand new distillery/brand; and also some of the different brands that they are contract distilling for, including our good friends at Kentucky Senator Bourbon.

They also taste and review some fresh off the still Wheated Bourbon Distillate distilled with a doubler and Rye Bourbon Distillate distilled with a thumper, some 3 month old Wheated Bourbon and Rye Bourbon, and a Old Stonegate 10-Year Old Bourbon from 1973.

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 a break from the highways and settles into the cozy charm of The Hemmingway Hideout in Bridge City, Texas. It’s the kind of spot where whiskey wisdom is shared over a well-loved bar top—and today, Big Chief is joined by none other than Kevin Hemmingway, a local aficionado with a deep love for finely crafted bourbon.

In the first half, they dive into a bottle of the Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Bottled-in-Bond from the iconic Heaven Hill Distillery. With a mash bill of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley, this 100-proof wheated bourbon is a nod to tradition and time. On the nose, it opens with a fragrant bouquet of orange zest, wild strawberries, and sweet honeysuckle, inviting and bright with a soft floral touch.

The palate delivers a decadent wave of chocolate-covered strawberries, accented by hints of cherry Twizzlers and rounded out with a beautiful cinnamon spice that adds warmth and structure. It all comes together in a long, sticky, mouth-coating finish—the kind of finish that hugs the tongue and reminds you why Bottled-in-Bond is still a badge of honor. This is a buy all day long.

In the second half, Big Chief and Kevin Hemmingway explore something more experimental—the Woodford Reserve Distillery Series Tawny Port Finish. This rare release is a blend of Woodford’s classic bourbon mash bill (72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley) and their rye mash bill (53% rye, 33% corn, 14% malted barley), all finished in rich tawny port casks and bottled at 90.4 proof. The nose is a wild ride of layered complexity: starting with a distinct kettle corn funk, then evolving into notes of grape zest, clove, nutmeg, licorice, and a bold wave of port-soaked fruit.

On the palate, the port influence shines through with dark fruit, toasted oak, and silky tannins, all balanced by a gentle nuttiness that adds earthy depth. The sip closes with a dry, medium-length finish, offering just enough restraint to keep you curious. This one’s a try-before-you-buy. The flavor’s there—but it would be an easy buy if it came in at a higher proof point.

Whether you crave bonded heritage or port-finished innovation, this episode serves up both with flavor and Texas flair.

Pour a glass, take a seat, and enjoy the ride on The Whiskey Trip.

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Mark and his special co-host, Stacey, spend some time hanging out on location at The Kitchen Table at The James B. Beam Distilling Co. with Jason Betts, Consumer Relations Manager, for The James B. Beam Distilling Co. This Episode originally aired on June 14, 2024 as Episode 227.

Mark & Stacey talk with Jason about his extensive background and how that experience led him to Beam 9 years ago as well as what his job as Consumer Relations Manager entails, the creation of their incredible on-site restaurant, The Kitchen Table at The James B. Beam Distilling Co., and the awesome events that they host there, and all of the different tours and experiences that guests can have at The James B. Beam Distilling Co.

They also taste and review the just released Golden Origins Corn Whiskey, which is part of the Hardin’s Creek Series, the soon-to-be-released Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye, and the recently released Little Book Ch. 8: Path Not Taken.

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 heads down to the legendary streets of New Orleans for a visit to the heart of one of the most iconic names in American whiskey, The Sazerac House.

In the first half of the episode, Big Chief sits down with Matt Ray and Gregg Trishe, two key players behind the scenes at Sazerac, and they open a bottle of something truly special: the new Eagle Rare 12-Year Expression. They dive into what makes this age-stated bourbon stand out, how it builds on the legacy of the original Eagle Rare 10, and the barrel magic that comes with a couple extra years of patience.

As the glasses empty and the stories flow, the conversation shifts to marketing, storytelling, and the power of place, how Sazerac weaves together heritage, history, and branding into a spirit that’s not just sipped, but experienced.

In the second half, the crew pops the cork on the highly anticipated 1792 Pinot Noir Finish, a bold new expression from Barton 1792 that blends rich fruit notes with classic bourbon character. It’s a deep, flavorful pour that sparks discussion about finishing barrels, innovation in the Sazerac family, and where the whiskey world is heading.

Big Chief and the team also discuss:

• The recent flood at Buffalo Trace and what it means for the warehouses and future stock.

• What new expressions are quietly aging in the rickhouses.

• How the Sazerac family continues to balance tradition and experimentation—from Kentucky to New Orleans and beyond.

This episode is a deep pour of insight, flavor, and Southern charm. Whether you’re a fan of historic brands or just love discovering what’s next in whiskey, this one’s for you.

🥃 Pour a glass, tune in, and ride along as Big Chief takes you straight into the belly of the whiskey beast, with laughs, stories, and a few damn fine drams.

And as always—thank you for taking the ride with us. Whether you’re listening from the back porch, the rickhouse, or the road, we’re glad to have you on this journey through America’s whiskey trail.

Cheers from The Whiskey Trip!

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Stacey, Philip, and Mark (3/5 of The Bourbon Life Crew) spend some time hanging out together in The Bourbon Life Studios enjoying some great pours and great conversation.

They talk about the different events that were held as part of the recent National Bourbon Week in Bardstown, several different new distillery openings here in Kentucky this month, and whether or not people are still hunting bottles like they used to.

They also taste and review Knob Creek 7-Year Year Rye, the brand new Michter’s 10-Year Rye, and a Total Wine Knob Creek 7-Year 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 ventures into the high-altitude heart of the Colorado Rockies to sit down with Lenny Eckstein, founder and head distiller at Deerhammer Distillery in Buena Vista. What starts as a tasting becomes a deep dive into the wild spirit of craft whiskey done the mountain way.

Lenny’s approach is anything but conventional. He’s built Deerhammer with an unapologetically bold attitude—where fermentation is open, barrels breathe mountain air, and flavor always comes first.

The whiskey journey begins with Deerhammer Straight Rye, a unique take on the category with a mash bill of: 70% Elbon Rye, 20% Oats, and 10% Caramel Malt. This isn’t your standard spicy rye. The oats lend a creamy, rounded mouthfeel, while the caramel malt brings in a sweet, roasted backbone that balances beautifully with the rye’s punch. It’s a sipper that surprises and satisfies.

Next up is Deerhammer’s American Single Malt, crafted from a robust malt-forward mash bill: 85% Pale Malt, 5% Chocolate Malt, 5% C120 Malt, and 5% C45 Malt. It’s rich and complex, bursting with notes of dark chocolate, roasted coffee, dried fruits, and charred oak. This is single malt whiskey with soul—and a distinctly American edge.

Finally, Big Chief and Lenny dig into Deerhammer’s Four Grain Bourbon, where the frontier spirit of Colorado comes alive. The mash bill is 65% Ute Mountain Corn, 15% Red Wheat, 15% Oats, and 5% Roasted Barley.

Smooth and creamy from the oats, softly spiced by the wheat, and given a bold twist with roasted barley, this is a bourbon that plays by its own rules—and wins.

Throughout the episode, Lenny shares the origin story of Deerhammer—from homebrewing days in Brooklyn to pioneering bold whiskey in the Rockies. It’s a tale of grit, grain, and chasing flavor through every season.

So pour yourself something bold, and ride along on The Whiskey Trip.

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, presented by Liquor Barn, Matt and Mark spend some time together hanging out with Chris Walters, Creator, of Nose Your Bourbon. This Episode originally aired on September 20, 2024 as Episode 241.

They talk with Chris about how his passion for Bourbon and his desire to create a system for himself to understand nosing and tasting notes better led to the creation of Nose Your Bourbon, the importance of learning how to properly nose and taste Bourbon as well as learning how to talk about those notes, and what the future looks like for the Nose Your Bourbon brand.

They also taste and review Woodford Reserve Toasted Bourbon, Old Forester 1924, and Bardstown Bourbon Company Amrut Collaboration Series.

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