Bourbon Bytes Podcast

$550 Weller?! + Jack Daniel’s Lottery & Bardstown Cascadia Review (Garryana Oak 🔥)

This week on the Bourbon Bytes Podcast, I'm breaking down some of the biggest whiskey news stories of the moment—plus a first impression review of a brand new Bardstown Bourbon Company release.
🔥 Topics include:
A $549 Daniel Weller experimental release… is this getting out of hand?
Jack Daniel’s 10, 12, and 14 Year lottery system
A new Peerless 10-Year Bourbon
Evan Williams’ Collegiate Single Barrel Series
New TTB labels from Barrell, Lux Row, and Four Roses
🎮 Plus, a major shakeup in the gaming industry with layoffs at Epic Games.
🥃 Then we dive into a Byte-Sized Review of the Bardstown Bourbon Company Cascadia Garryana Oak Finish — a rare oak, toasted finish bourbon with a smoky, tobacco-forward profile and surprising sweetness.
Is it worth the price… and the trip to the distillery?
 
00:00 – Intro & Episode Preview01:06 – Peerless 10-Year Bourbon Announcement02:19 – $549 Daniel Weller “Spelt Wheat” Reaction04:04 – Evan Williams Collegiate Bottles06:10 – Jack Daniel’s 10, 12, 14 Lottery Explained07:46 – Speed Run: New TTB Labels (Barrell, Blood Oath, Four Roses)10:41 – Gaming News: Epic Games Layoffs12:22 – Byte-Sized Review: Bardstown Cascadia Overview19:08 – Outro & Support the Show

What’s Going On at Green River? + Sazerac Full Proof Rye Review

This week on Bourbon Bytes, I’m breaking down one of the biggest trending topics in bourbon right now — recent news and rumors surrounding Green River’s master distiller.
What’s actually confirmed? What’s speculation? And what could it mean for the future of the brand?
Then, I dive into a full review of the brand-new Sazerac Full Proof Rye Whiskey from Sazerac.
Buffalo Trace fans have been waiting for a higher-proof version of this classic rye — but does it actually deliver?
I cover:
The latest Green River updates and what we know so far
Nose, palate, and finish of Sazerac Full Proof Rye
How it compares to standard Sazerac Rye
Whether it’s worth buying at MSRP
Note: Any discussion of Green River is based on publicly available information and industry speculation at the time of recording.

Is Evan Williams 12 Year Red Label a Hidden Heaven Hill Gem?

On this week’s Bourbon Bytes Podcast, we’re covering some of the biggest whiskey news stories of the week before diving into a cult-favorite bourbon review.
Topics include:
🥃 Remus Experimental Series Wheat Whiskey🥃 Maker’s Mark 2026 Wood Finishing Series🥃 Heaven Hill’s Deatsville campus release
Then for this week’s Byte-Sized Review, I’m tasting Evan Williams 12 Year Red Label Bourbon, a Heaven Hill export that’s become a favorite among bourbon fans.
Often only available in Japan, this bottle has developed a reputation for delivering well-aged bourbon at a surprisingly reasonable price.
Does it live up to the hype?
Let’s find out.
 
Chapters:
00:00 Intro – Whiskey News + Today’s Review01:14 Remus Experimental Series Wheat Whiskey03:13 Maker’s Mark "The Steward's Release" 2026 Wood Finishing Series06:31 Heaven Hill Deatsville Bourbon Release09:22 Byte-Sized Review – Evan Williams 12 Year Red Label17:58 Final Thoughts & Wrap Up

Can Kentucky Make Good Tequila? | Nulu Extra Añejo Blue Agave Spirit Review

On this week’s episode of the Bourbon Bytes Podcast, I’m catching up on the latest whiskey and gaming news before diving into a unique bottle that raises an interesting question…
Can Kentucky make good tequila?
Today’s Byte-Sized Review features the Nulu Extra Añejo Blue Agave Spirit from Prohibition Craft Spirits — distilled in Tequila, Mexico but aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels. It’s a fascinating crossover between the worlds of bourbon and agave spirits, and I’m breaking down whether this experiment actually works.
Along the way we’ll also talk about:
🥃 The return of High West Bourye 2026🥃 New Heaven Hill Heritage Collection releases🥃 A new Build Your Own Bourbon Trail experience in Kentucky🎮 The announcement of Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves.
Then we’ll taste the Nulu Blue Agave Spirit and see if Kentucky aging gives this agave spirit a bourbon lover’s twist.
Is it a gimmick… or something truly unique?
Explore Chapters using the timecodes below:
00:00 Can Kentucky Make Good Tequila? Intro + Whiskey News01:20 High West Bourye 2026 Returns02:56 New Heaven Hill Heritage Collection Release04:33 Bernheim 20th Anniversary 10 Year Small Batch Wheat Whiskey6:10 The Return of Sagamore 10 Rye Whiskey07:24 Build Your Own Bourbon Trail Experience09:17 Lux Row Opens Invitations to "The Front Row" VIP Experience10:24 Nintendo Announces Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves for Switch 212:08 Byte-Sized Review – Nulu Extra Añejo Blue Agave Spirit19:18 Final Thoughts & Wrap Up

Redbreast Moscatel Wine Cask Edition Review & World Whiskies Awards Winners

This week on the Bourbon Bytes Podcast, I’m diving into the brand-new Redbreast Moscatel Wine Cask Edition — the latest release in the Iberian Series — to see if this sweet Spanish cask finish lives up to the hype.
Does Moscatel bring bold citrus and floral complexity… or is it too dessert-like for a classic single pot still Irish whiskey?
I break down the nose, palate, finish, value, and where this release ranks among other Iberian Series bottles — plus whether it’s worth grabbing at retail.
Timecodes below to jump straight to the review 👇
00:00 – Welcome + What’s in This Episode
01:13 – Whiskey News: World Whiskies Awards 2026 Winners
07:53 – Whiskey News: 2026 Michter's Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey Announced
09:54 – Whiskey News: Penelope 7 Year Old Barrel Strength Bourbon
11:25 – Whiskey News: Pinhook Vertical Series 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey
13:00 – Byte-Sized Review: Redbreast Moscatel Wine Cask Edition Irish Whiskey
21:30 – Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up

Green River Wheated Full Proof Bourbon Review — Does It Live Up to the Hype?

This week on the Bourbon Bytes Podcast, I’m covering major whiskey headlines from around the world — including:
🥃 A new cask strength Ardbeg release🥃 A wine-finished Redbreast from Ireland🥃 An 18-year-old hazmat release from Barrell Craft Spirits
And then… we get to the main event.
Last year, Green River Full Proof Bourbon was my #1 whiskey of 2025. Now they’ve released a Wheated Full Proof Bourbon — and I’m giving my honest, independent take; breaking down the nose, palate, finish, value, and whether this one earns a spot on my shelf.
Is it a worthy follow-up? Does swapping rye for wheat change the magic? And can it live up to the hype?
Let’s find out.
🎧 Listen now and join the conversation in the Discord: bourbonbytes.com
 
Chapter markers:
00:00 – Welcome + Episode Overview
01:32 – Ardbeg 10 Cask Strength Committee Release
02:57 – Redbreast Muscatel Finished Irish Whiskey
04:17 – Barrell Craft Spirits 18-Year Hazmat Curacao Finished Whiskey
06:04 – Byte-Sized Review: Green River Full Proof Wheated Bourbon
15:37 – Listener Shoutout & Where to Follow

Copperworks Tequila Cask Finish Review and the Return of Whiskey Fan Favorites

This week on Bourbon Bytes, I’m digging into a tequila-finished American single malt from Copperworks Distilling and breaking down whether this experimental cask finish actually works.
I also cover whiskey headlines, new releases, and industry chatter before delivering a full ‘Byte-Sized Review’ of the Copperworks American Single Malt finished in Arette tequila casks. From malt-forward sweetness to chocolate notes and surprising agave influence, I share exactly what stood out and where this bottle lands on my scale.
If you love experimental finishes, American single malt, or just honest tasting notes beyond the hype, this one’s for you.
Join the conversation in our Discord and tell me what you think: bourbonbytes.com
 
Timecodes:
00:00 Welcome to Bourbon Bytes  
1:51 Whiskey News: Garisson Brothers 6yr Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon
3:56 Whiskey News: Return of New Riff Balboa Rye Whiskey
5:01 Whiskey News: Rebel Root Beer Whiskey Returns
5:51 Whiskey News: Buffalo Trace's 'Charred and Chilled Festival'
7:28 Video Game News: Ubisoft Cancels Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake
10:07 Video Game News: Microsoft's New 'Fable' Revealed
11:10 Byte Sized Review: Copperworks Arette Tequila Cask Finished American Single Malt Whiskey
20:32 Final Thoughts & Outro

Bardstown Bourbon Company's Bold Rebrand Sparks Debate + Bottled-in-Bond Review

This week on the Bourbon Bytes Podcast, we’re getting into the Bardstown Bourbon Company rebrand that has the whiskey internet fully divided — and I’m using it as a jumping-off point to talk bottle redesigns across the industry.
Then it’s time for a Byte-Sized Review of Bardstown Bourbon Company Bottled-in-Bond (6-year wheated bourbon, 100 proof) — and… yeah, it surprised me in the best way.
💬 Join the conversation (and see label comparisons): bourbonbytes.com → Discord📩 Contact: contact@bourbonbytes.com📱 Social: @bourbonbytes
 
Timecodes:
00:00 Cold Open: Bardstown’s controversial rebrand + what’s ahead00:31 Welcome (Week of Jan 29, 2026)03:17 Bardstown Bourbon Company Bold Rebrand12:20 Rapid-fire rebrand takes (Weller, OF 1920, WT101, etc.)21:06 Byte-Sized Review: Bardstown Bourbon Company Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon

George Dickel x Leopold Bros Rye Whiskey Review + RuneScape Turns 25!

This week on Bourbon Bytes (a whiskey podcast with a gaming twist), I’m covering a couple big whiskey headlines, a Lunar New Year Scotch release, and some gaming news that has me genuinely hyped.
🥃 Whiskey News
Knob Creek drops a new Eli Manning single barrel collab
Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked (2026) expands beyond distillery-only (but that price…)
Tomatin Year of the Horse 14 Year (PX sherry butt, cask strength) sounds dangerously good
🎮 Gaming News
RuneScape turns 25 (year-long celebration)
New Life is Strange: Reunion details + release date
Ranger’s Path: National Park Simulator looks like my exact kind of cozy chaos
⭐ Byte-Sized ReviewI review the George Dickel x Leopold Bros Collaboration Blend Three Chamber Rye and break down the unique floral profile, value at MSRP, and why it became a killer Manhattan rye.
Listen, rate, and drop your takes in the Discord: bourbonbytes.com
 
See timecodes below to navigate the episode:
00:00 Cold Open: Knob Creek, Woodford, RuneScape + the Rye Review00:30 Welcome + What’s in this episode01:02 Knob Creek x Eli Manning Single Barrel03:22 Woodford Double Double Oaked 202606:31 Tomatin Year of the Horse 14 Year (2011)07:30 Gaming News: RuneScape turns 2508:59 Gaming News: Life is Strange: Reunion10:38 Gaming News: Ranger’s Path National Park Simulator12:55 Byte-Sized Review: George Dickel x Leopold Bros Three Chamber Rye21:52 Wrap-up + where to follow

Van Winkle Special Reserve 'Lot B' Bourbon Review + First Whiskey News of 2026

I'm back from a short break and kicking off the new year with a packed episode of the Bourbon Bytes Podcast! This week we're catching up on the biggest whiskey stories you may have missed — including a brand new Old Fitzgerald from Heaven Hill, a cask strength release from High West, and a look at the highs and lows of Irish whiskey through the end of 2025.
But the star of the show is a very special viewer-sent sample: Van Winkle Special Reserve Lot B. I finally sit down to give this legendary bourbon an honest review — no hype, no pressure, just my genuine thoughts on whether Lot B still earns its place in the modern bourbon world.
Navigate the full episode below using the chapter markers!
 
00:00 – Episode Teaser: Bourbon News + Lot B Review00:33 – Welcome Back from the Mid-Season Break01:39 – Whiskey News #1: Old Fitzgerald Fall 2025 (11 Year BIB)03:18 – Whiskey News #2: High West Cask Strength Bourbon Announced05:21 – Whiskey News #3: Frey Ranch 100% Barley Whiskey07:28 – Whiskey News #4: Wyoming Whiskey National Parks #5 – The Tetons09:52 – Irish Whiskey Boom vs Teeling’s 91% Profit Drop13:20 – Van Winkle Lot B Bourbon (Byte-Sized Review)22:03 – Final Score: Van Winkle Lot B22:55 – Outro: Thanks, How to Listen, and Share Bourbon Bytes