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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

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: [email protected] 📱 Social: @bourbonbytes   Timecodes: 00:00 Cold Open: Bardstown’s controversial rebrand + what’s ahead 00:31 Welcome (Week of Jan 29, 2026) 03:17 Bardstown Bourbon Company Bold Rebrand 12:20 Rapid-fire rebrand takes (Weller, OF 1920, WT101, etc.) 21:06 Byte-Sized Review: Bardstown Bourbon Company Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon

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 Review I 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 Review 00:30 Welcome + What’s in this episode 01:02 Knob Creek x Eli Manning Single Barrel 03:22 Woodford Double Double Oaked 2026 06:31 Tomatin Year of the Horse 14 Year (2011) 07:30 Gaming News: RuneScape turns 25 08:59 Gaming News: Life is Strange: Reunion 10:38 Gaming News: Ranger’s Path National Park Simulator 12:55 Byte-Sized Review: George Dickel x Leopold Bros Three Chamber Rye 21:52 Wrap-up + where to follow

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 Review 00:33 – Welcome Back from the Mid-Season Break 01:39 – Whiskey News #1: Old Fitzgerald Fall 2025 (11 Year BIB) 03:18 – Whiskey News #2: High West Cask Strength Bourbon Announced 05:21 – Whiskey News #3: Frey Ranch 100% Barley Whiskey 07:28 – Whiskey News #4: Wyoming Whiskey National Parks #5 – The Tetons 09:52 – Irish Whiskey Boom vs Teeling’s 91% Profit Drop 13:20 – Van Winkle Lot B Bourbon (Byte-Sized Review) 22:03 – Final Score: Van Winkle Lot B 22:55 – Outro: Thanks, How to Listen, and Share Bourbon Bytes

The final Bourbon Bytes Podcast episode of 2025 is here, and it’s a big one. In this episode, Clifton wraps up the year with honest reflections on the future of Bourbon Bytes, the bourbon industry heading into 2026, and a "Byte-Sized Review" of the brand-new Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year Cask Strength Bourbon. Willett is one of the most polarizing names in whiskey, and this new four-year-old, cask strength release has sparked plenty of debate. Is it a promising step forward for Willett’s own distillate, or does the price and presentation lean too hard on hype? Clifton breaks down the nose, palate, finish, value, and expectations while also sharing broader thoughts on availability, pricing, and what bourbon drinkers may see more of in the coming year. Whiskey news, honest reviews, and real talk to close out 2025. Cheers, and see you in 2026 🥃 00:00 – Welcome & Final Episode of 2025 02:30 – End-of-Year Reflections & 2026 Outlook 04:32 – Where Bourbon Bytes Is Headed Next 08:06 – Thoughts on the Bourbon Market in 2026 12:20 – Byte-Sized Review: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year Bourbon 23:05 – Listener Questions & Closing Thoughts

This week on the Bourbon Bytes Podcast, Clifton breaks down a massive wave of upcoming whiskey releases for 2026 — including the rumored return of Knob Creek 12-Year Cask Strength, a newly labeled 7-Year Old Grandad 114, Penelope’s new Madagascar Cognac Finish, Blood Oath Pact 12, Lou Gehrig Remus Reserve, a permanent Templeton Rye Double Oak, and a special 250th Anniversary Rittenhouse 10-Year Bottled-in-Bond. Then, it’s time for a Byte-Sized Review of one of the most unique American Single Malts of the year: Copperworks Kilt Lifter Whiskey — a collaboration decades in the making between Copperworks Distilling and Pike Brewing. A wild pine-forward nose gives way to a layered palate with floral brightness, cinnamon oatmeal, and a sweet Cinnabon-like finish. At $60 and 100 proof, Clifton calls it one of the most “recognizable and memorable” whiskeys he’s tried all year. Plus: Civilization VII gets a major free DLC update, and two new games hit the market this week — Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on Switch 2 and Microsoft Flight Simulator (PS5), complete with its new Stranger Things “Hawkins” expansion.   00:00 - Intro & Why 2026 Whiskey Releases Are Exploding 01:20 - Knob Creek 12 Cask Strength: The Return? 03:03 - Old Grandad 114 Single Barrel (7-Year!) 04:12 - Penelope Madagascar Cognac Release 04:43 - Blood Oath Pact 12 Red Wine Finish 05:49 - Remus “Lou Gehrig” Reserve Mashbill Breakdown 07:24 - Templeton Rye Double Oak Announcement 08:23 - Rittenhouse 10-Year Bottled-in-Bond for 250th Anniversary 09:57 - Whiskey of the Year: Elijah Craig Barrel-Proof Rye 11:58 - Gaming News: Civ VII Free DLC + Huge Updates 14:47 - Gaming News: Metroid Prime 4 & Microsoft Flight Simulator Stranger Things Pack 15:52 - Byte-Sized Review: Copperworks Kilt Lifter Whiskey 23:46 - Closing & Tease for Next Week’s Tequila Cask Review

This week, Clifton covers some of the final big whiskey drops of 2025, including new releases from Clyde May’s, Central Waters’ new Great Blue line, State Line Distillery’s debut 5-year rye, and the dramatic relaunch of Copper & Kings under new ownership. Then it’s time for one of the most surprising pours of the year: Bruichladdich Laddie Rye — a 100-proof, 7-year Islay-grown rye-and-barley hybrid that tastes like nothing else on the market. Plus: Palmer Luckey’s newest retro console — the ModRetro M64 — might be the most exciting gaming hardware of the year.

It’s Black Friday/Cyber Monday Week, and I’m sharing the best whiskey deals, distillery sales, merch discounts, and bottle drops worth your money this season. Whether you’re stocking your bar or shopping for bourbon lovers, I’ve got the highlights you need so you don’t have to scan every mailing list yourself. Then, I crack open the 2025 Town Branch Imperium Bourbon — a 105-proof, wheated bourbon blend with notes of dark chocolate–covered cherry, caramel, and cedar-driven oak tannin. Is it worth the $120 price tag? I share my honest verdict. Episode includes: 🥃 Dark Arts Cellar Sale details 🥃 Deanston 15 Year Tequila Cask Black Friday Drop 🥃 Buffalo Trace, Jim Beam & High West Merch Discounts 📘 Whiskey Advocate 2-Year Subscription Deal 🔥 Byte-Sized Review: Town Branch Imperium Bourbon (MMXXV)

This week, Clifton digs into one of the biggest questions in whiskey: Is the bourbon boom finally over? After years of price hikes, expansions, and dwindling enthusiasm from younger drinkers, the numbers might finally be catching up. In this episode, he breaks down why the boom may be slowing — and why that might actually be good for bourbon fans. Then stick around for a Byte-Sized Review of a bottle he’s never tried before: the Ben Holladay 6-Year Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon. This Missouri-made BIB surprised him with dusty vintage notes, toasted sweetness, and a mash bill that might be one of the most exciting non-Kentucky profiles in years. Plus: new whiskey releases from Buffalo Trace, Barrell Craft Spirits, Blade & Bow, and more.

This week, Clifton dives into the newest limited-edition release from the Lone Star State: the Garrison Brothers Sonora Bourbon, a seven-year, 108-proof expression finished in rye barrels. Crafted under the guidance of Samantha Olvera, Texas’s first female Latina distiller, Sonora is more than just a whiskey, it’s a celebration of women shaping the future of bourbon. Plus, he covers the biggest whiskey headlines of the week, including: 🥃 The return of Michter’s 20-Year-Old Bourbon 🥃 Little Book Infinite Edition II – a blend of Beam family legacy 🎮 Call of Duty Black Ops 7 launch week 🎮 Indie spotlight on Videoverse and PS5-exclusive Code Violet   00:00 - Intro & Welcome Back 01:06 - Whiskey News: 2025 Michter’s 20 Year Bourbon 03:26 - Whiskey News: Little Book Infinite Edition II 05:02 - New Whiskeys from Still Austin, Castle & Key, Old Potrero, Paul John 08:55 - Woodford Reserve x Markarian 2025 Holiday Bottle 10:08 - Video Game News: Call of Duty Black Ops 7, Videoverse, Code Violet 13:02 - Byte-Sized Review: Garrison Brothers Sonora Bourbon 22:18 - Closing & Upcoming Live Stream Guests

This week, Clifton dives into one of the most talked-about limited releases of the year — the 2025 Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Bourbon. Is the $200 price tag justified, or is nostalgia doing the heavy lifting? Plus, there’s a full flight of whiskey news, including: Jack Daniel’s massive new 3-liter bottle Glencairn Glass celebrating 25 years Big new Scotch and single malt releases from Arran, Cutty Sark, and East London Liquor Company Lost Lantern’s bold new American Single Malt collection And in this week’s Byte-Sized Review, Clifton gives his honest first-crack take on Russell’s 13 — from the oak-heavy nose to the vanilla-bean palate and long, spicy finish.

Clifton closes out Bourbon Boos 2025 with a bang — and a cloud of smoke! 💨 This week’s spooky pour is Smokehead Islay Single Malt Scotch, a bold, affordable peated whisky that just might be the surprise of the series. For under $40, does it hold its own against bigger Islay names? Plus, new whiskey announcements from around the world: 🥃 Heaven Hill’s Grain-to-Glass Specialty Barrel Series 🌴 The Glenlivet 12-Year Jamaica Edition Rum-Cask Finish 🪵 A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 13 and Old Overholt Cask Strength 12 Year Tune in for peat, price talk, and one last Halloween pour that proves not every spooky bottle is a trick. 🎃

It’s another Bourbon Boos review, and this week Clifton braves one of the strangest bottles yet — Buchanan’s Pineapple “Spirit Drink.” 🥃🍍 Technically not even whisky, this scotch-based pineapple blend surprised him more than expected. Is it a tropical treat or a tiki bar tragedy? Tune in to find out! Plus, this week’s whiskey news covers: 🔥 Elijah Craig Barrel-Proof Rye 💪 Russell’s Reserve’s Highest-Proof Bourbon Yet 🤖 The Rise of “Whiskey House” — A Fully Automated Distillery Grab your glass (and maybe some ice) — it’s time to get spooky, sweet, and slightly skeptical.

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.

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?