We’re back at the Bardstown Bourbon Company with Jake Sulek, the experience and education manager, recording in the Heritage Library surrounded by dusty bottles and stories from Kentucky’s whiskey past. We’re tasting the Origin Series Rye, a minimum six year rye that’s produced, aged and bottled at Bardstown Bourbon Company and available in Australia. While the mash bill looks familiar at 95 percent rye and 5 percent malted barley, the flavour comes from a finishing barrel designed for innovation.

To close out the year we pour a Larrikin single barrel Delta 5 from Kentucky, signed by Greg, and use it as the starting point for a chat about our bourbon highlights from 2025. The idea was simple. Each of us had to choose a bourbon of the year and then pick a single bourbon memory that fits inside 120 seconds. In practice it was a lot harder, because 2025 has been full of ridiculous opportunities, generous hospitality and moments we never imagined we would have. If you have enjoyed following along with our trips, tastings and distillery visits this year, this episode is an easy, end of year reflection with two special pours and a look ahead to 2026.

We visit the Blending House in Kentucky and sit down with Ashleigh Barnes, the master blender behind Lucky Seven and Curley. Ashleigh brings us the New Yorker, an Amburana finished bourbon that tastes like hummingbird cake, oatmeal cream pies and dessert in a glass. She explains how she manages such a powerful finishing wood by tasting at day five, pulling liquid at the exact moment it peaks, and reusing the same barrels to create deeper and more controlled layers. Ashleigh also walks us through the new blending and bottling facility, the innovative rick houses and the approach to scaling without losing craft. She tells stories about the teams she works with, the people she blends for, and the festival moments that make the bourbon world feel like family. We talk through her background at Buffalo Trace and Four Roses, the skills she learned from legendary mentors, and the moment she helped blend the commemorative Elmer T. Lee release. It is a conversation filled with flavour, memory and joy, and the perfect look at what it means to shape a bourbon from idea to bottle.

We’re back at Star Hill Farm in Kentucky, sitting in the Heritage Room at Maker’s Mark, joined by Dr. Blake Layfield, the master distiller and head of innovation and blending. It’s the perfect day for bourbon, and Blake takes us through one of the most fascinating tastings we’ve ever done on the show. In front of us are three glasses that tell the whole story of Maker’s Mark: the classic cask strength expression that represents the founders’ original taste vision, an eleven and a half year over-aged barrel that shows what happens when oak and tannin push a whiskey outside those guardrails, and finally the new Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged release, a blend of eleven, thirteen and fourteen year old whiskey that is rich, dark and complex without drifting into bitterness. Blake explains how Maker’s Mark has kept the same mash bill, yeast and process since 1953 and why they focus on intensity, velocity, complexity and finish instead of simply naming tasting notes. He talks about what makes wheat spice feel so different to rye spice, why age is not a measure of quality in American whiskey, and what “age to taste” really means inside the distillery. We hear the story of the limestone cellar, why dynamiting a hill changed what was possible for Maker’s Mark, and how the Cellar Aged project shows a new dimension of the classic house style. Blake also lifts the curtain on their blending process, where weeks of blind tasting eventually shape each year’s release. If you’ve ever wondered how far Maker’s Mark can push maturity, what really happens in their warehouses, or why Cellar Aged tastes the way it does, this episode is a brilliant deep dive right from the source.

In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers we crack open Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Revival a barrel finished bourbon that sparks one big question should you drink it or collect it? We are joined by Denver Cramer from Denver & Liely who tells the story of being paid by Wild Turkey’s owners, Campari not in cash but in bottles, two of every Master’s Keep release.

In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we taste O.H. Ingram River Aged Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — a bourbon that ages on a floating barge on the Mississippi River. We talk about how the movement of the water, temperature fluctuations, and humidity create a completely different aging environment — producing a rich, smooth, and surprisingly “juicy” bourbon that feels far older than its four years. From the story of O.H. Ingram to the science behind river aging and our own tasting notes, this episode explores how a simple idea — putting bourbon on a barge — has turned into one of the most fascinating aging experiments in Kentucky.

Recorded at Michter’s Shively Distillery in Kentucky, this episode features a sit-down with Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson — two icons of modern bourbon. We dive into the origins of Michter’s Toasted Sour Mash Whiskey, the innovation that helped spark the toasted barrel movement, and taste it alongside the classic US*1 Sour Mash. Dan and Andrea share insights on Michter’s meticulous small-batch process, why they age “to taste” instead of by age statement, and how they keep consistency at the core of everything they bottle. Plus — a lighthearted conversation about toasted marshmallows, Bourbon Heritage Month, and what makes Michter’s one of Kentucky’s most beloved distilleries. If you love bourbon history, innovation, and authenticity, this one’s for you.

In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we open a bottle of Wiseman Bourbon — a modern Kentucky classic from the makers of Kentucky Owl. We dig into how Wiseman came to life, what sets it apart, and why it could be a go-to for bourbon fans who want rich flavour without the premium price tag. If you enjoy smooth, balanced Kentucky bourbons with curious pyramid-related backstory, this one’s for you.

We dive into the details behind Buzzard’s Roost’s unique toasting and finishing methods, share our tasting notes (think butterscotch, vanilla and warm baking spices), and talk about what makes this brand one of the most exciting in modern bourbon.

Recorded at Larrikin Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, this episode features Greg Keeley, the Australian distiller crafting exceptional bourbon in the heart of Kentucky.

In this episode, we sit down with Jake Sulek, Bardstown’s Head of Education and VIP Experience, to discuss the company’s first release in their origin series, their wheated Bottled-in-Bond bourbon, and why it represents the most significant milestone in their history.

In this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we open a fresh bottle of Nulu Maple Brûlée Single Barrel, a Kentucky Bourbon Festival pick that delivers rich, dessert-like flavour in every sip.

Recorded in the Heritage Room at Maker’s Mark in Kentucky, this episode marks a truly historic moment in American whiskey. We sit down with Dr. Blake Layfield, Master Distiller and Head of Innovation at Maker’s Mark, to discuss the launch of Star Hill Farm Wheat Whiskey. This is the first new mash bill from Maker’s Mark since 1953, and it represents a turning point in American whiskey history.

This might be the most unique bourbon story we’ve ever shared. Recorded at Larrikin Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, we sit down with Australian founder Greg Killeen to taste and discuss Larrikin Rosewater Bourbon.

Recorded live at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, this episode of Aussie Bourbon Lovers is all about Chicken Cock Bourbon — one of the most historic names in American whiskey. We explore the legacy of Chicken Cock, from its rise in the 1800s to its role in Prohibition-era speakeasies, and its revival for today’s bourbon fans. Along the way, we share our tasting notes, talk about the energy of the festival, and reflect on why heritage brands like Chicken Cock are finding new life in the modern bourbon scene.

We’re getting ready for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival and what better way to prep than with a bottle of Old Forester 100 Proof? In this pre-trip pour, Dave and Helen share their thoughts on the bottle, the quirky screw-top, and what it feels like to sip a bourbon that’s harder to find back home in Australia. They also share updates on what they’re excited about for the trip, how they’re preparing their palates, and the little joys of bourbon banter before a big adventure. If you’ve ever pre-gamed a holiday with your favourite bottle, this episode will hit just right.

This pour started with a cork pop and turned into a conversation that blurred the lines between rye and bourbon. In this episode, we try Minor Case Sherry Cask Finished Rye — a rye whiskey that brings the sweetness of sherry with the warmth of Kentucky-style grains. Helen and Dave dive into mash bills, argue about what counts as a bourbon, and compare the grassy, peppery ryes to this softer, sweeter alternative. It’s not a bourbon… but it’s close. We explain why. You’ll hear why Dave’s not a fan of heavy rye spice, what Helen loves about sherry-finished drams, and where Minor Case fits in the bourbon-to-rye spectrum. Oh, and there’s a cork pop moment we’ve waited ages for.

We’re pouring something a little extra special today — Blanton’s Gold. And to match the pour, we’re joined by someone extra special too: Denver Cramer from legendary Aussie glassware company Denver & Liely. This one’s part bourbon tasting, part banter, and part deep appreciation for what makes bourbon and glassware such a great pairing.

Tonight’s pour is Rock Hill Farms – a 100-proof single barrel bourbon from Buffalo Trace that once earned the title “world’s finest” from Washingtonian Magazine. This one’s got mystery, nostalgia, and a dentist with bourbon in every cupboard.

This week on Aussie Bourbon Lovers, we go off-book – literally – and dive into something local, legendary, and a little bit special: Sullivans Cove from Tasmania. Why? It’s Tassie Whisky Week, and what better way to celebrate than with a 14-year-old single cask from the distillery that put Australian whisky on the global map? H pours us the very last drops of bottle TD0275 – a second-fill American oak cask filled in 2008 and bottled in 2022. As we sip, we talk through what makes Tassie whisky unique, why Sullivans Cove has such a cult following, and how this pour compares to a typical bourbon. From re-coopered barrels and pot stills to honey-sweet tasting notes and nostalgic Tassie trips, this episode is full of love for our southernmost state.