Bourbon Bytes Podcast

Bourbon Boos: $16 Tennessee Whiskey Terror & BTAC 2025 Bombshells

This week’s Bourbon Boos review might be the scariest pour yet… Clifton cracks open a $16 bottle of King’s Creek Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey, a bottom-shelf mystery brand with no known distillery and a whole lot of red flags. Does it surprise him, or haunt his palate forever?
But before the horrors begin, we’ve got MAJOR whiskey news:
✈️ Flaviar’s $270 “FlaviAIR” Advent Calendar takes flight🔥 Kilchoman drops an 11-Year Sherry Cask Scotch🥃 New American whiskey releases from Copperworks, Sagamore, Milam & Greene, and Pinhook🦬 AND the full Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2025 lineup, featuring the first-ever E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond addition
Then it’s time for a truly frightening pour in this week’s Bourbon Boos Byte-Sized Review.

👻 Bourbon Boos: Dough Ball Cookie Dough Flavored Whiskey Review 🍪

Spooky season has arrived, and Clifton’s diving into bottles he’s been too scared to try… starting with Dough Ball Cookie Dough Flavored Whiskey. 🥶
In this week’s episode of the Bourbon Bytes Podcast, we’re tasting a whiskey that’s more dessert than dram — plus, we’ve got big whiskey news:🥃 Knob Creek 21-Year Bourbon is here🍯 Forward Slash Incantation Vol. 2 is a mead-finished bourbon with serious Halloween vibes❄️ A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 13 returns🎸 And… fans call the Rock Band 4 delisting “a crime against gaming!”
Clifton shares his honest take on Dough Ball’s melted chocolate and toasted cookie flavors. Does it actually deliver, or belong in a candy shop instead of your whiskey shelf?

The $1 Million Whiskey Heist & A Single Cask Nation Westland Review

Whiskey heists, billion-dollar gaming buyouts, and a rare single malt review? This week’s episode of the Bourbon Bytes Podcast covers it all. Clifton dives into the jaw-dropping $1 million Westland Distillery heist, breaks down the shocking $55B buyout of Electronic Arts, and closes things out with a Byte-Sized Review of Single Cask Nation’s Westland American Single Malt. It’s whiskey news, gaming drama, and one of the fruitiest American single malts I’ve ever tasted. Cheers, and Game On! 🥃🎮

Frank August Small Batch Review — World’s Best Bourbon of 2025?

This week on Bourbon Bytes, Clifton reviews the Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon — recently crowned World’s Best Bourbon at the 2025 IWSC. At 100 proof and $70 retail, does this sleek decanter hold a whiskey worthy of the title, or is transparency (or lack thereof) its biggest flaw? Tune in for a full breakdown, tasting notes, and final score.
Also in whiskey & gaming news:🏎 Jim Beam teams up with Cadillac’s F1 Team for 2026🍁 Canada drops retaliatory tariffs on Kentucky bourbon🎮 Civilization 7 dev Firaxis hit by layoffs after launch🎵 Daft Punk enters Fortnite with a 31-song experience

Weller Full Proof Review + 2025 Pappy Collection & Nintendo Direct Surprises

This week on Bourbon Bytes, Clifton reviews the 2025 Weller Full Proof Bourbon — a rich, wheated Buffalo Trace release bursting with fall bakery notes, buttery pie crust, and toasted vanilla. Does it live up to its hype (and price tag) compared to Weller 107 and other wheated bourbons? Tune in for the full breakdown and rating.
Also in whiskey & gaming news:🥃 Buffalo Trace unveils the 2025 Pappy Van Winkle Collection (including a one-of-a-kind 25-year-old bottle)🔥 Elijah Craig drops its youngest barrel proof batch ever at just 9 years old🎮 The September Nintendo Direct delivers huge announcements: Super Mario Galaxy movie & bundle, a new Yoshi game, and Pokémon Pokopia — the cozy Pokémon life sim we never knew we needed!

Throwback Review: 2015 Parker's Heritage 8yr Malt Whiskey + Booker’s Tequila Finish & Heaven Hill’s Grain-to-Glass

This week on Bourbon Bytes, I take a deep dive into the 2015 Parker’s Heritage 8-Year Malt Whiskey - a rare and experimental Heaven Hill release that was way ahead of its time. How does it hold up nearly a decade later, and why didn’t Heaven Hill continue down the malt path?
Also in whiskey news:🥃 Booker’s The Reserves 2025 gets a bold tequila barrel finish🌳 Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection “Sweet Oak” rolls out in rare chinquapin oak barrels🌾 Heaven Hill Grain-to-Glass Wheated Bourbon with a unique mash bill🏭 Angel’s Envy drops two distillery-only exclusives🎟️ Buffalo Trace Elmer T. Lee Charity Sweepstakes offers an incredible behind-the-scenes prize

Compass Box Transatlanticism Review + Woodford’s First American Single Malt & Michter’s Big Win!

This week on Bourbon Bytes, I dive into the world of Scotch with a review of Compass Box’s Transatlanticism (2024 release) — a limited-edition blend crafted with help from whiskey reviewer T8ke and industry veteran Will Schragis. How does this $199 bottle stack up against Compass Box favorites like Orchard House and Glasgow Blend?
Plus:🥃 Woodford Reserve surprises with its first-ever 12-Year American Single Malt🏆 Michter’s named “Most Admired Whiskey in the World” (again)🐉 Catoctin Creek goes full fantasy with DracoMalt, a dragon-inspired American single malt collab🎮 And in gaming: Hollow Knight: Silksong finally launches + a stacked September of new releases!

High West Bourye 2025 Review + Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged & Penelope Big LE Drops!

This week on Bourbon Bytes, I review the brand-new 2025 High West Bourye, the annual limited release blending straight bourbon and rye whiskey. How does this year’s edition stack up against past favorites, and is it worth the hunt? Plus, big whiskey headlines: Maker’s Mark brings back its Cellar Aged Bourbon, High West launches its first Bottled-in-Bond release aged at 4,000 ft, and Penelope Bourbon reveals a premium 2025 Estate Collection.

Elijah Craig’s PGA Championship Bourbon + Old Forester & Four Roses Drop 2025 Limited Editions!

Clifton dives into some of the hottest whiskey news of the year: Old Forester shakes things up with a sweet mash Birthday Bourbon, Four Roses unveils its 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch, and Elijah Craig tees off with the PGA Quail Hollow Championship Edition. How does this commemorative release stack up against past special collaborations? Plus, we celebrate the end of the SAG-AFTRA video game strike and what it means for the future of gaming.

Shenk’s vs. Bomberger’s - 2025 Michter’s Legacy Series Whiskey Showdown!

It’s a head-to-head battle of Michter’s 2025 Legacy Series releases — the sweet and delicate Shenk’s Homestead (91.2 proof) vs. the bold and oaky Bomberger’s Declaration (108 proof). I break down their unique cask choices, share full nose/palate impressions, and crown my pick for the better buy. Plus, two distilleries step up big to support flood relief in Kentucky and Texas — proof that good bourbon can do good in the world.