In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out with Kyle Merklein, Master Distiller, from Holladay Distillery. This Episode originally aired on May 3, 2024 as Episode 221.

The guys talk with Kyle about his educational background and experience, as well as growing up on a farm in Kansas, and how that led him to the world of whiskey and his current role as Master Distiller, the incredible history behind Holladay Distillery and how they have resurrected the brand to become one of the hottest brands on the market currently, as well as what the future looks like for both Kyle and Holladay Distillery.

They also taste and review their Ben Holladay 6-Year Old Missouri Straight Bottled in Bond Bourbon, their Holladay Soft Red Wheat Missouri Straight Bottled in Bond Bourbon, and their Holladay Soft Red Wheat 6-Year Old Missouri Straight Bottled in Bond Rickhouse Proof 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 pulls no punches as he sits down with the straight-shooting Brandon Carlton—the man behind Brewtally Honest Bourbon. A voice unafraid to call it like he tastes it, Brandon brings his raw enthusiasm and no-nonsense style to a tasting session that dives deep into the powerhouse that is the 1792 lineup.

From the approachable sweetness of 1792 Small Batch, to the bold, unapologetic fire of Full Proof, and the structured depth of Bottled-in-Bond, these two bourbon-loving renegades tear into the flavors, the legacy, and the soul behind one of Barton’s finest creations.

But this episode’s more than tasting notes and mash bills. Brandon shares the roots of his brutally honest brand, the rise of a community built on trust and truth, and what it means to stay real in a world that’s too often watered down.

This is bourbon with backbone. This is storytelling with soul.

And if you think you’ve tasted 1792 before—think again.

Buckle up, pour heavy, and get ready for a wild ride through the heart of Kentucky flavor.

Follow @BrewtallyHonestBourbon and @TheWhiskeyTrip for giveaways, laughs, and a behind-the-scenes look at the whiskey world without the filters.

This isn’t just a podcast—it’s a damn Whiskey Trip.

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out in The Bourbon Life Studios with Damon Thayer & Andre Regard, Co-Founders, of Kentucky Senator Bourbon. Damon and Andre were previously guests on Episodes 128 and 182.

They talk with Damon and Andre about all of the exciting things that have been going on with Kentucky Senator Bourbon since their last appearance, including their most recent release, the 7.5 year old Senator John Edwards Bourbon, the numerous awards that they have received over the past couple of years, as well as the partnerships they have with several distilleries for the production of their own distillate, including the new Potter Jane Distillery.

They also taste and review the new Kentucky Senator John Edwards 7.5 Year Bourbon, the 9 Year Kentucky Senator John Brown Bourbon, a yet to be released 8 Year Louisiana Senator Huey Long Bourbon, and the Bourbon that started it all for them, the 15 Year Kentucky Senator Alben W. Barkley 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

Big Chief heads into the whiskey-rich hills of Somerset, Pennsylvania, where coal dust memories and rye whiskey pride still echo through the mountains. He sits down with Maximilian Merrill, owner of Ponfeigh Distillery, a man reviving the bold legacy of Monongahela Rye, one barrel at a time.

With roots tracing back to the Ponfeigh Smokeless Coal Company and a family hunting cabin where rye once flowed freely, Maximilian shares the story behind the name, the heritage, and the craft that fuels Pennsylvania’s largest working distillery. It’s more than whiskey—it’s a generational echo in a glass.

Big Chief and Maximilian open with Ponfeigh’s 90 proof Monongahela Rye with a mashbill of 95% rye strait from the river valley and 5% malted barley. It’s a balanced, spice-forward whiskey steeped in history and tradition. Notes of baking spice, dark fruit, and that unmistakable rye backbone set the tone.

On the second half they step into deeper waters with the cask strength Monongahela Rye, unfiltered, unapologetic, and absolutely unforgettable. This bold expression packs a punch and then wraps you in a warm hug of orange spice tea, hot honey, and dessert-like sweetness. It’s a perfect nightcap pour, a dessert whiskey for those who prefer their sweets with a kick.

Don’t miss this powerful episode filled with legacy, fire, and flavor. Because this isn’t just about sipping whiskey, it’s about honoring where it came from.

Here’s to Ponfeigh. Here’s to passion. And here’s to the road that always leads to the next great pour.

This is The Whiskey Trip. Let’s ride.

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, the Bourbon Life Crew (minus Chad) spend some time hanging out together in The Bourbon Life enjoying some great conversation and some great pours.

The Crew kicks things off with Bourbon Life Jeopardy, inspired by Philip’s idea to turn a love of trivia into a spirited game. From there, they dive into three big topics: the grand opening of the new RD1 Distillery and Visitor Experience in Lexington and what it means for the local bourbon scene, a preview of National Bourbon Week with a spotlight on the upcoming Beam Backyard Luau that’s set to be one of the summer’s biggest bourbon celebrations, and a heartfelt discussion about the recent devastating tornadoes that tore through Kentucky. They talk about how people can support those affected and share resources for getting involved with relief efforts.

They also enjoyed three incredible pours that each sparked their own unique conversation: a vintage 1975 Seagram’s Benchmark Bourbon, offering a nostalgic glimpse into bourbon’s past; the brand new Star Hill Farm Wheat Whisky from Maker’s Mark that showcased soft, sweet grain character; and a powerhouse Knob Creek Cask Strength Bluegrass Bartenders Fund Single Barrel Pick, selected to support a great cause while delivering bold, classic flavor. Each pour brought something different to the table and highlighted the diversity and richness of the whiskey world.

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 barrels into Northern Kentucky—a land where whiskey history runs thicker than molasses and the ghosts of rectifiers past still linger in the mash.

He sits down with Bill Whitlow of Wenzel Whiskey, housed in a restored 1873 brick beauty that’s equal parts heritage and hustle. Together, they toast to the long-overlooked rectifiers—those scrappy, bootleg-era blenders who kept the whiskey flowing when times were rough and barrels were rougher.

First up: Wenzel’s Sherry-Finished Bourbon. Aged four years, then wooed for three more in Oloroso casks, this 109-proof sipper hits with coffee liqueur, dark chocolate, and dried fruit that could charm a priest into sin.

Then comes their four-grain wheated bourbon—65% corn, oats, wheat, and barley—with a 112.4 proof kick. It smells like breakfast in heaven (toast, honey, butterscotch) and finishes like dessert with a twist of lemon and a slap of white pepper.

Finally, they light the fuse with the Rectifier’s Rye—three 7+ year barrels of 95/5 rye, bottled at 114.4 proof. It’s hot, sticky, and spiced like a love letter from the devil. Think hot honey, oak, molasses, and a finish of black licorice that hangs around longer than your in-laws.

This episode is a whiskey-fueled nod to history’s hidden heroes—and a damn good time.

Pour a glass. Buckle up. This is The Whiskey Trip.

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out with Robert Likarish, Founder, Jonathan Likarish, Master Distiller & Blender, and Marcia Likarish, the Mother of Texas Whiskey, of Ironroot Republic Distillery. This Episode origianlly aired on December 6, 2024 as Episode 252.

The guys talk with Robert, Jonathan, and Marcia about their respective backgrounds and how a collective family decision led them into the wonderful world of whiskey, all of the incredible people who worked with them along the way to help them reach where they are today as well as a really cool story about how they got their still, as well as what the future looks like for Ironroot Republic Distillery.

They also taste and review Ironroot Republic Sleight of Hand Bourbon, Saints Alley The Nobleman, Saints Alley The Harold, and Ironroot Republic Harbinger.

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 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.