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This week on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast, we welcome Bardstown Bourbon Company back to the show as Director of Distillation & Head Distiller Nick Smith joins us in Charlotte, NC to talk all things Bardstown. Nick walks us through his journey to the head distiller chair and shares how Bardstown Bourbon Company has built a reputation for exceptional whiskey through transparency, innovation, and a bold vision from day one. As one of the OG's of this brand, Nick offers firsthand insight into how the brand was built, the philosophy behind their process, and their mission to bring truly outstanding whiskey to whiskey lovers everywhere. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most forward-thinking distilleries in America — and a true whiskey masterclass you won’t want to miss.

This week on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast, we pop the top with the team behind the whiskey brand that has been voted the “Best in the World” — Never Say Die Bourbon. Brian Luftman from Lexington and his UK counterpart Martha Dalton sit down with us to do a deep dive on the incredible origin story behind this award-winning brand — a story that truly has everything. From horse racing and royalty to the Beatles and a transatlantic bourbon voyage. Never Say Die packs a lot of flavor into each pour and we dive right as we crack open both their Bourbon and Rye, discussing mash bills, barrels, and the journey this whiskey makes from grain to glass.  So grab a glass and get ready for another flavor-packed episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast.

This week on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast, Jesse sits down with whiskey maker Ari Sussman of Whiskey JYPSI to pop the top and pour through the new LEGACY Batch 003: The Declaration. Jesse and Ari dive into the brand’s history and explore how Ari and Eric Church have worked tirelessly since day one to craft a true bourbon symphony—creating a volumetric, 3D whiskey experience with every release. Legacy Batch 3 is a perfect showcase of that passion and precision. Along the way, Ari drops a few Easter eggs hidden within this release, some dating all the way back to Revolutionary times, as the two break down the mash bill, grains, barrels, and the meticulous blending that brings this whiskey to life. It’s a flavor-packed, behind-the-scenes conversation filled with great stories, Eric Church moments, and some seriously memorable pours. So pour yourself a big pour of Whiskey JYPSI and get ready for this week’s episode of The Bourbon Showdown Podcast.

This week on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast, Jesse Jones sits down with — 8th Generation Master Distiller of James B. Beam Distilling Co., Freddie Noe! Jesse and Freddie dive deep into the Beam legacy while sipping on the ultra-rare Knob Creek 21 Year. Freddie shares his journey to the Master Distiller chair, the philosophy behind Booker’s, Knob Creek, Little Book, and his experimental Infinity Series, and what it takes to carry forward one of bourbon’s most iconic family lineages. It’s a flavor packed, behind-the-scenes conversation filled with stories, insight, and some seriously great pours. So pour yourself a big pour of your favorite Beam and get ready for this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast.

This week on The Bourbon Showdown, we’re joined by Kaveh Zamanian, Founder of Rabbit Hole Distillery. We crack open the new Amrulé Rye, finished in Maple Brûlé casks, and dive into Kaveh’s journey from hospitality and psychology to building one of Kentucky’s most distinctive whiskey brands. We talk about the evolving whiskey landscape, what sets Rabbit Hole apart, and how thoughtful branding paired with exceptional liquid creates a truly standout experience. It’s a fun, insightful conversation as we follow Kaveh down the Rabbit Hole on this week’s Bourbon Showdown.

This week we welcome Majure Markow and Old Soul Bourbon back to The Bourbon Showdown for another deep dive into Mississippi whiskey, music, and the stories that shape both. The conversation ranges from Old Soul’s journey to the blues-inspired Tintype Series #3 release, featuring bluesman Kenny Brown, and the music infused whiskey making ideology behind the brand. Jesse and Majure taste through Tintype #3 and a few surprise bottles along the way, breaking down flavor, inspiration, and what makes Old Soul stand out on the shelf.

This week we welcome Master Distiller Becky Harris from Catoctin Creek to the show to talk all things Virginia whiskey! We go through not just the history of Catoctin Creek but Becky takes me through the history of whiskey in Virginia! It is a fantastic conversation filled with whiskey history, whiskey production and of course good people sharing pours! We dive into some delicious Catoctin Rye starting at the 80 proof and working our way up to the cask proof! We do a deep dive what makes this rye stand out and what separates it from other ryes on the shelf all while drinking through some goodness and having a damn good time! So get ready because it’s the first Bourbon Showdown of the New year and I can’t think of a better way to start the year than with a pour of amazing whiskey! So lets go to Virginia on this weeks Bourbon Showdown podcast! 

This week on the Bourbon Showdown Podcast, I’m joined by Murphy Quint , Master Blender & Director of Operations at Cedar Ridge Distillery to talk about the tastiest whiskey coming out of Iowa! Murphy’s been in the game since before “craft” was king, and he walks me through Cedar Ridge’s journey—from proving great whiskey could come from outside Kentucky and Tennessee to becoming the number one whiskey in their home state. We talk about staying true to the core expressions while still dropping banger after banger, and then we do what we always do on this show when we’re hanging with good people talking good whiskey… we drink it. We’re cracking into The QuintEssential Special Release No. 5 and their Amontillado Sherry Finished Bourbon—two absolutely beautiful pours—plus some stories and all-star moments from Murphy’s whiskey past. Damn good conversation, damn good whiskey on this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast!

This week on the Bourbon Showdown Podcast, I’m joined by Kevin Aslan, head distiller and head blender for Hirsch Whiskey, and we go full whiskey-geek. We dig into how Hirsch got its start, Kevin’s journey into the brand, and the mythology behind the name (no spoilers—you’ve gotta listen). This is one of those brands that lived before the craft boom and thrived after it, and Kevin brings that perspective straight to this whiskey conversation. We taste through what Hirsch has on the shelf right now—including their new Cognac-finished release, which I’ll spoil just a little by saying it’s damn tasty. Buckle up—it’s Hirsch Whiskey day on the Bourbon Showdown Podcast.

This week on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast, Jesse sits down with the one and only Adam Edwards of Heaven Hill for a pour-packed conversation recorded in the VIP suite at The Vintage Whiskey & Cigar Bar in Charlotte. Adam and Jesse dive into Heaven Hill history, the whiskey journey, and how the experience around the glass shapes the whiskey inside it—all while drinking through some phenomenal pours. They taste the newly crowned Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye—Whisky Advocate’s 2025 Whisky of the Year—followed by the full Heaven Hill Grain-to-Glass series, and yes… a secret 19-year-old surprise pour you don’t want to miss. Released in celebration of Heaven Hill’s 90th Anniversary, this episode is all heart, all history, and all damn good whiskey. Pour yourself some Heaven Hill and enjoy!

This week on the Bourbon Showdown Podcast, we welcome the one and only Dr. Patrick Heist of Wilderness Trail! This episode is a full-on master class for whiskey geeks—packed with fermentation talk, production deep dives, yeast strains, sweet mash, and the story of how Dr. Pat and his partner Shane Baker became known as the “Science Guys of Bourbon.” We walk through Wilderness Trail’s entire core lineup—the bourbon, the wheated bourbon, and the rye—before doing what we always do when we’re talking to good people about good whiskey… we DRINK IT. Dr. Pat breaks down how each expression is artfully crafted to showcase Wilderness Trail’s signature flavor definition and meticulous attention to detail all while walking me through the past, present and future of the brand on this weeks Bourbon Showdown Podcast!  So pour a glass and get ready for a whiskey deep dive with one of the best in the business. Dr. Pat takes us to school on this week’s Bourbon Showdown Podcast!

This week on the Bourbon Showdown Podcast, we welcome back Pete Barger and Southern Distilling Company to talk all things American Single Malt and North Carolina whiskey! Fresh off being named Distillery of the Year by the American Distilling Institute, Pete takes us through everything Southern Distilling has cooking right now—from their new American Single Malt to their Cask Strength, honey-barrel-finished bourbon. It’s a fantastic episode packed with North Carolina whiskey, big flavor, and great conversation on this week’s Bourbon Showdown Podcast!

This week we welcome Bruce Russell and Wild Turkey back to the show to talk all things Master’s Keep! It’s been a minute since I sat down with Bruce, but we figured the last Master’s Keep was a good reason to get together and talk some Turkey! Him and I discuss what went into this final Master’s Keep: Beacon, how it is truly a family affair and acts as the proper send off to a collection his father started so many years ago! We talk about how he has been on the Beacon world tour, he is just getting back from Australia and Europe where he’s been waving the Wild Turkey flag and spreading the good word that is the 2025 Master’s Keep. Then we pop the top on Beacon and I gotta tell you guys, this is a testament to everything people love about Turkey and the good work Bruce has been putting in on some of the best Wild Turkey offerings we have seen in recent years. It’s a helluva an episode on this week’s Bourbon Showdown so buckle up and get ready, its Wild Turkey day on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast! 

This week we welcome Penelope Bourbon and long time friend of the show Co-founder and master blender, Danny Polise back to the Bourbon Showdown! We go through the brands history, some of the mega whiskey hits they have had, how they are absolutely rocking the ready-to-drink category in 2025 and of course their current line-up of Estate Collection whiskey! We pop the top on their new Estate Collection Omega, an amazing 11 year whiskey that has been finished in French oak, and Danny lets me know what’s next for Penelope on this episode of the Bourbon ShowdownPodcast! 

This week we welcome 15 Stars Founders Rick and Ricky Johnson to The Bourbon Showdown to talk about the newest addition to the brand, First West Bourbon! They walk me through what led them to create these new whiskeys and the thought process that continues to drive innovation at 15 Stars, we talk mash bill, we talk age statements, we talk blending and barrel finishes and then we drink that whiskey! We drink through the small batch, the toasted oak and the extra aged, breaking each expression down and talking about the what and why that went into each bottle, while also looking at the future of the brand and what Rick and Ricky have in store for 15 Stars moving forward! It’s a full flavor episode this week on the bourbon showdown that I think everyone is going to enjoy!