Bourbon Bytes Podcast

Knob Creek Cask Strength 128 Proof Review + 2025 Parker’s Heritage Whiskey and Bold Gaming Opinions

Clifton breaks down one of the boldest store picks he's tried in a while: a 128-proof Knob Creek Cask Strength Single Barrel from K&L Wine Merchants. Along the way, he dives into hot whiskey news, including the experimental 2025 Parker’s Heritage release, a Hungarian oak-aged "bourbon" from A. Smith Bowman, and legendary game developer Hideo Kojima’s critique of the modern video game industry. Plus, a listener call-in asks what releases Clifton’s most excited for in the second half of the year.

Maker’s Mark x Dodgers Review, Announcing Weller 18 & Old Forester 1910 Extra Exra Old

This week on the Bourbon Bytes Podcast, Clifton takes you behind the blue wax to review the Maker’s Mark Champion Selection, handpicked by the Los Angeles Dodgers to celebrate their 2024 World Series win. He dives into hot whiskey headlines—Buffalo Trace's bold Weller 18 release, heirloom corn making waves at craft distilleries, and Old Forester’s 1910 Extra Extra Old. Plus, find out which distillery just dominated the 2025 New Orleans Spirits Competition.

Rocky Mountain Sips: TINCUP 6-Year Review & Buffalo Trace's Green Future

This week on Bourbon Bytes, Clifton dives into some of the hottest headlines in the whiskey world—from Buffalo Trace’s surprising new 100-proof Sazerac Rye to their bold move into sustainable distilling. Plus, Hidden Barn adds a new Master Taster to their team. But the star of the show? Clifton’s first-ever sip of TINCUP 6-Year American Whiskey—a bold, oak-forward blend of bourbon and Colorado single malt that left a lasting impression.

Reviewing Louisiana Senator Bourbon: Denny Potter & Jane Bowie's Latest Collaboration

In this jam-packed episode, Clifton dives into the latest bourbon headlines — from Buffalo Trace’s mysterious E.H. Taylor Jr. Distiller's Council release to A. Smith Bowman’s award-winning rye and Starlight’s 10-Year debut. But the main event? A first sip of the brand-new Louisiana Senator Bourbon, a bold 8-year whiskey from the creators of Kentucky Senator, crafted in collaboration with Potter Jane Distillery.
Is this small batch release the next cult classic? Tune in for a Byte-Sized Review and find out what makes this one unforgettable.

Blanton’s Straight From the Barrel + Six-Year Surprises from New Riff, Castle & Key, & Garrison Brothers

This week on Bourbon Bytes, Clifton is diving deep into high-proof territory with a first-time review of Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel — the most elusive (and explosive) bottle in the Blanton’s lineup. How does it hold up to the hype, and is it worth chasing down?
Also on the table: three six-year bourbons you need to know — a Single Barrel Selection from New Riff, Castle & Key’s Small Batch Six-Year Bourbon, and Garrison Brother's 2025 Guadalupe Bourbon supporting Texas conservation. Whether you’re all about barrel strength or on the hunt for value, this episode’s got you covered.

Old Oak & New Heat: Kentucky Whiskey Updates + Old Soul Bourbon Review

In this episode of Bourbon Bytes, Clifton dives into the 2025 Old Soul Single Barrel Bourbon—a bold cask strength pick from Mississippi's oldest distillery… or is it? With transparency under the spotlight, Clifton uncovers what’s really inside the bottle, and why it might just be the sleeper hit of the summer.
Plus, he breaks down the latest in the bourbon world: the new Michter’s Legacy Series releases, a Pinhook Rye that’s winning big, and some exciting cask strength news from Knob Creek. And for bourbon lovers who love to travel—he spotlights Bardstown’s new luxury hotel, complete with a speakeasy and spa.

Maker’s Mark 2025 “The Keeper’s Release” Review + Bourbon Aged by Climate?

This week on the Bourbon Bytes Podcast, Clifton dives into one of the boldest Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series bottles to date — the 2025 Keeper’s Release, packed with ten toasted American oak staves. Is it a worthy successor to The Heart, or an over-oaked detour?
Also in the mix: a fascinating experiment in climate-aged bourbon from Milam & Greene, a tribute to military valor via Four Branches Bourbon, and a breakdown of the bold new Little Book Chapter 9 from Jim Beam. As always, expect strong pours, hot takes, and a splash of comfort in the middle of a chaotic world.

Russell’s Reserve 13 is Back + Old Fitzgerald 7-Year-Old BiB Review

In this week’s pour of Bourbon Bytes, Clifton dives into the hottest release yet from Wild Turkey: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Bourbon is back — and this time, it’s clocking in at a blistering 123.8 proof. Is it the best Wild Turkey yet, or just another hard-to-find unicorn?
We also explore the return of Stitzel-Weller with a jaw-dropping 24-year-old release priced at $1,600, and check in with Laphroaig’s 2025 Cairdeas — a cask strength version of their beloved Lore.
Then, in this week’s Byte-Sized Review, Clifton finally uncorks the new Old Fitzgerald 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond wheated bourbon. Can this $60 Heaven Hill release live up to its decanter-clad cousins?

Eagle Rare 12?! Plus Rock Hill Farms Bourbon Review

After a three-year hiatus, Bourbon Bytes is back with a brand-new season and a barrel full of whiskey news. Clifton breaks down the surprise announcement of Eagle Rare 12 — is it a smart move or an unnecessary twist? He also dives into the ultra-limited Remus Babe Ruth Reserve and some game-changing distribution news for Old Forester fans outside of Kentucky. Finally, he gives a sweet and spicy byte-sized review of Rock Hill Farms Bourbon — a rare pour that reminds him of home… and Krispy Kreme donuts. Short, sharp, and spirited — this relaunch is everything you’ve missed and more.

Episode 50: William Larue Weller Bourbon Review (Season Finale)

To celebrate the 50th episode of the Bourbon Bytes Podcast, I’m reviewing William Larue Weller bourbon, a part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (2021). This epic conclusion to Season 1 of the Bourbon Bytes Podcast is a tribute to the Patreon supporters and listeners of the podcast who have supported me over the past year.
 
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