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Miles Munroe is back on Whiskey Rocks, but this time he’s writing his own story. After years as a distiller at Westward Whiskey, Miles is embarking on a new adventure with Grimoire Whiskey, bringing his experience, creativity, and passion for whiskey into a venture of his own. We talk about the motivation behind the move, his vision for Grimoire, the freedom to experiment, and what it takes to build something from the ground up. Plus, we explore his former life as a musician, the connection between music and whiskey, and why sometimes the best things happen when you take a chance and trust your instincts. No spellbook required. Just a good story, a little creative magic, and a whole lot of whiskey. Whiskey Rocks, Sip Hard. Follow us @thewhiskeyrockspodcast on Instagram and TikTok

What exactly is going on inside Preservation Distillery? This week on Whiskey Rocks, we’re joined by Kyle Lloyd, Master of Maturation and VP of Operations at Preservation Distillery, for a deep dive into the whiskey behind one of Kentucky’s most fascinating portfolios. Kyle takes us inside Preservation’s approach to bourbon, vintage whiskey, sourced whiskey, house-distilled whiskey, blending and barrel maturation, including the stories behind expressions like Preservation Estate, Wattie Boone, Old Man Winter, Very Olde St. Nick and Rare Perfection. We talk about what it means to mature whiskey at the barrel level, how Kyle evaluates barrels, why sourced versus distilled shouldn’t be the entire conversation, and how blending multiple barrels can create something greater than the individual whiskeys. We’re also joined by Khemarith Kang, Whiskey Manager at Burlington Wine & Spirits, to talk about the other side of the barrel: selecting whiskey, working with distilleries, and the story behind some of the barrel picks we’ve done together, including our Preservation pick. No big tasting segment this time. Instead, we’re getting behind the bottle and talking about why these whiskeys exist in the first place. It’s a conversation about bourbon, vintage whiskey, barrel maturation, sourcing, blending, barrel picks and the people who make whiskey more interesting. Whiskey Rocks, Sip Hard. Follow us at @thewhiskeyrockspodcast on Instagram and TikTok

What happens when you combine seriously old whiskey, a little patience, a little stubbornness, and just enough swagger? We sit down with Ed Bley of Rising Tide Spirits to find out. Ed brings us into the world behind Rising Tide Spirits and the stories behind Old Swagger and Old Stubborn, including a 13-year Bottled in Bond bourbon, a 12-year rye, and a 12-year Old Swagger rye. We talk about what happens when you let whiskey age, why patience can be one of the hardest parts of the whiskey business, and how two whiskeys the same age can somehow develop completely different personalities. And because this is Whiskey Rocks, we don’t just talk about the whiskey. We drink it. We break down all three bottles, talk tasting notes, compare their personalities, and even figure out which bands these whiskeys would be if they showed up at the bar. Spoiler alert: Old Stubborn has some serious Social Distortion energy. Along the way, Ed shares the story of how he got into whiskey, the philosophy behind Rising Tide Spirits, and what happens when you decide you’re willing to wait for whiskey to become exactly what you want it to be. It’s old whiskey. It’s rye. It’s bourbon. It’s Rising Tide. And yeah… there’s a little swagger involved. Whiskey Rocks, Sip Hard. Follow us @thewhiskeyrockspodcast on TikTok and Instagram

For this episode of Whiskey Rocks, we’re taking the show on the road and heading straight into the heart of Ohio whiskey. We’re onsite at Middle West Spirits with Steven Frederick from Old Elk for a deep dive into what’s happening in Ohio’s whiskey scene, the story behind Old Elk, and what makes Middle West Spirits such an important part of it. And, of course, we’re drinking. We’re tasting our way through the Old Elk 10 Year lineup, including the 10 Year Bourbon, 10 Year Wheated Bourbon, and 10 Year Wheat Whiskey, breaking down what ten years of maturation actually does to a whiskey and how three very different expressions can come from the same age statement. We talk whiskey, Ohio, blending, aging, music, the whiskey industry, and why maybe everyone needs to stop acting like Kentucky is the only place making great whiskey at scale. Well, that’s simply not true. So grab a pour, turn up the music, and come hang with us at Middle West Spirits. Because everyone talks Kentucky. What about Ohio? Whiskey Rocks, Sip Hard.

What happens when an Army officer, a few whiskey nerds, and a serious obsession with bourbon get together and decide to start a whiskey company? You get H.K. Young. This week on Whiskey Rocks, Joel and Chris sit down with Cole Hanna of H.K. Young Bourbon Co. to talk about the journey from Fort Campbell to the bourbon business, the veteran community, sourcing great whiskey, and the question H.K. Young keeps asking: What’s next? Then we get into what they’re really known for: toasted bourbon. We taste an H.K. Young Single Barrel alongside one of their Toasted Wheated expressions and get nerdy about barrel finishing, toast profiles, oak, and what actually happens when you decide your bourbon needs a second date with a barrel. Plus, Cole faces the Whiskey Rocks Lightning Round, where things get considerably less sophisticated. It’s bourbon. It’s toasted. It’s got some Army stories, some questionable decisions, and probably more oak than strictly necessary. Pour yourself something good and join us. Follow us @thewhiskeyrockspodcast on TikTok or Instagram. Drop us a review on Spotify or Apple too, we’d love to hear from you! Whiskey Rocks. Sip hard.

What do you get when a nearly forgotten South Carolina heirloom corn meets a couple of obsessive entrepreneurs, a Charleston distillery, and a whole lot of whiskey? You get Jimmy Red. On this episode of Whiskey Rocks, we sit down with Scott Blackwell, co-founder of High Wire Distilling in Charleston, South Carolina, to hear the incredible story behind Jimmy Red corn and the bourbon that helped bring it back from the brink. Scott takes us from his unconventional path into distilling to the discovery of Jimmy Red, a nearly extinct heirloom corn that became the foundation for one of High Wire’s signature whiskeys. We dig into the importance of the grain, the farmers and people who helped preserve it, and what makes Jimmy Red Bourbon taste so different. Then we put three expressions to the Whiskey Rocks test: Jimmy Red, Jimmy Red Bottled-in-Bond, and Jimmy Red Double Oak. And because this is Whiskey Rocks, we finish with a lightning round covering rock & roll, whiskey, Southern food, concerts, questionable drinking decisions, and whatever else we can get Scott to answer before he escapes. It’s a story about whiskey, agriculture, Southern history, and the crazy things that can happen when somebody refuses to let a good thing disappear. Pour yourself something good and join us. Whiskey Rocks. Sip hard. Follow us @thewhiskeyrockspodcast on TikTok and Instagram for more

This week on Whiskey Rocks, we’re heading to Little Rock, Arkansas, to sit down with Phil Brandon, founder of Rock Town Distillery. Phil takes us behind the scenes of building Arkansas’ first legal distillery since Prohibition, what it took to put Arkansas whiskey on the map, the importance of grain-to-glass distilling, and the risks and experiments that helped shape Rock Town into what it is today. We also taste our way through four Rock Town releases: the Straight Bourbon finished in Oloroso Sherry casks, the four-year Arkansas Single Malt finished in Sauternes wine casks, the Arkansas Golden Promise Straight Bourbon, and the five-year “Let’s Have Another Bourbon, Y’all.” And because this is Whiskey Rocks, we don’t just talk tasting notes. We figure out what bands and albums these whiskeys sound like. Make sure you’re following along @thewhiskeyrockspodcast on TikTok and Instagram for more fun, more bottles and plenty of good music. Whiskey Rocks. Sip Hard.

Back for Another Pour: Thomas Thacker from Southern Grace Actually Came Back to Talk Whiskey with Us! Thomas Thacker is back…and we’re still trying to figure out why. When Thomas from Southern Grace Distilleries first joined Whiskey Rocks, we learned the story behind the distillery. This time, we skipped the origin story and went straight down the whiskey rabbit hole. We dive into barrel selection, fermentation, blending philosophy, whiskey myths that need to disappear, the experiments Thomas still wants to try, and the little details that separate a good whiskey from a great one. Along the way, we settle a few whiskey debates, talk rock music, and prove that once you get a few whiskey nerds around a table, there’s no telling where the conversation will go. If you’ve ever wanted to hear the conversations that happen after the microphones are supposed to be off, this episode is for you. To hear our original episode with Thomas tune it to: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2xkU5zJEC4MYLzaDaYpUbc Pour yourself something good, turn the music up, and join us for another round with one of our favorite returning guests. Whiskey Rocks…Sip Hard. Follow us on TikTok and Instagram @thewhiskeyrockspodcast for more behind the scenes, dad jokes and occasional amazing dance moves.

War Trail Spirits: They Risked Everything for Texas Whiskey What would make you walk away from a successful career, move to Texas, and build a whiskey distillery from the ground up? In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, Joel and Chris sit down with Laurie and Bernard Quandt, the founders of War Trail Spirits, to hear the incredible story behind one of Texas’s rising craft distilleries. They dive into the risks, sacrifices, and rewards of starting over, what it takes to build a grain-to-glass whiskey brand, and why the Texas Hill Country has become one of the most exciting regions in American whiskey. Along the way, the crew tastes Broken Halo Bourbon and Broken Halo Barrel Proof, explores what makes Texas bourbon unique, shares plenty of laughs, and uncovers the stories behind the bottles. From building a business as husband and wife to chasing a dream many people only talk about, this conversation is about much more than whiskey. Whether you’re a bourbon enthusiast, a fan of craft distilleries, or someone who’s ever wondered what it takes to bet on yourself, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Pour a glass, settle in, and join us for another episode of Whiskey Rocks. Follow along @thewhiskeyrockspodcast on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube for more videos, pours and a ton of fun. Pour it…don’t store it!

What happens when a distillery decides tradition is just a suggestion? Joel and Chris sit down with Whit from ASW Distillery in Atlanta to talk about building a whiskey brand outside of Kentucky, taking risks, embracing experimentation, and creating award-winning pours that challenge expectations. Along the way, they dive into Fiddler Wheated Bourbon, Toasted Rye, The Soloist, and the one everyone wants to hear about: the Big Green Egg Bourbon. Expect great stories, plenty of laughs, and a few questions that probably shouldn’t have been asked. Follow us @thewhiskeyrockspodcast on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to keep the whiskey flowing and the fun going. Whiskey Rocks, Sip Hard!

Before bourbon hunting, whiskey influencers, and seemingly endless craft distillery openings, there were a handful of people willing to take a chance on an industry that barely existed. Phil Prichard was one of them. In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, Joel and Chris sit down with Phil Prichard, founder of Prichard’s Distillery, to talk about building a craft whiskey brand long before craft whiskey was cool. From the early days of opening a distillery in Tennessee to navigating an industry that was still finding its footing, Phil shares stories, lessons, and the mindset that helped him turn a bold idea into one of the pioneering names in American craft spirits. Along the way, the conversation explores Tennessee whiskey, pot still distillation, the evolution of the whiskey industry, and what it’s like watching today’s boom through the eyes of someone who helped lay the foundation for it. Phil also reflects on the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of doing things your own way, and why some of the best decisions in life look a little crazy at first. Plus, Joel and Chris review Prichard’s Tennessee Whiskey (86 Proof), compare it to classic rock albums, and put Phil through the Whiskey Rocks Lightning Round covering music, whiskey myths, time machines, and the wild ride of building a distillery before anyone knew if the craft whiskey movement would survive. Pour a dram, turn up the music, and join us for a conversation with one of the true pioneers of modern American craft whiskey. Whiskey Rocks. Sip Hard. Follow us on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube for more @thewhiskeyrockspodcast Check out our Linktree for merch and other stuff: Linktree

Most whiskey companies start with a still. Root Shoot started with a farm. In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, Joel and Chris sit down with Heyward Gualandi and fifth-generation farmer Todd Olander to explore one of the most unique stories in American whiskey. Instead of building a distillery and sourcing grain, Root Shoot flipped the traditional model on its head…growing, harvesting, and malting their own grain before partnering with distilleries best suited to bring their vision to life. Along the way, they discuss the importance of grain, the rise of American Single Malt, regenerative farming, terroir in whiskey, and why owning the supply chain may matter more than owning the still. They also share the story behind Root Shoot’s award-winning whiskeys (including some fun bourbons on the way), the patience required to take grain from field to bottle, and the larger mission of helping distillers across the country make better spirits. Plus, Joel and Chris taste and review Root Shoot’s Bottled in Bond American Single Malt and Homestead High Proof Series, compare them to classic rock albums, and put their guests through the Whiskey Rocks Lightning Round. Pour a dram, turn up the music, and discover why at Root Shoot, the story begins long before the barrel. Whiskey Rocks. Sip Hard. To learn more about Root Shoot visit https://www.rootshootspirits.com Follow us @thewhiskeyrockspodcast on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

On this episode of Whiskey Rocks, we sit down with Clinton Duggan, co-founder and master blender of Shortbarrel Bourbon, to talk about the wild ride from weekend barrel picks to building one of the most talked-about brands in modern whiskey. We dive into the art of blending, the evolution of bourbon culture, the rise of Atlanta whiskey, and what really goes into creating bold, memorable pours that stand out in today’s crowded whiskey world. Along the way, we taste through Shortbarrel’s 101 Rye Small Batch, Four Grain Bourbon, and Toasted Small Batch Bourbon while talking music, flavor, bourbon hype, and the future of whiskey. It’s a laid-back, story-filled conversation packed with big laughs, great pours, and plenty of whiskey nerdery. Pour yourself something good and sip hard. Follow Whiskey Rocks: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube & Spotify — @TheWhiskeyRocksPodcast

In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, we sit down with Nicolas Lee of Glacier Distilling Company in Montana to talk about building a craft distillery near Glacier National Park and why American single malt whiskey is on the rise. We dive into their origin story, what makes Montana whiskey different, and break down their Logan Pass American Single Malt with music-inspired tasting notes. If you’ve ever wondered what American single malt is…or if a whiskey can actually taste like Montana…this one’s for you. 🥃 Topics include: * Glacier Distilling story * American single malt whiskey explained * Montana whiskey * Logan Pass review * Music + whiskey tasting notes Follow The Whiskey Rocks Podcast on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for more episodes. And if you enjoy this one, share it with someone who needs a better bottle.

What happens when you take traditional bourbon-making… and drop it into the Texas heat? In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, we sit down with Robert Likarish of Ironroot Republic Distilling to break down the science—and the fun—behind Texas whiskey aging. We get into how extreme temperature swings accelerate the aging process, why Texas whiskey often tastes older than it actually is, and how Ironroot is using techniques like “ensembling” and a deep focus on grain to create something completely unique. But this isn’t just about heat and barrels… We also talk about: * The reality of running a distillery (it’s not all romantic barrel rooms) * The balance between tradition and innovation in bourbon * Experiments that worked… and the ones that definitely didn’t * And whether the future of whiskey is headed toward a more terroir-driven approach….and whether or not anyone pronounces terroir correctly If you’ve ever wondered whether bourbon has to follow the old rules—or if there’s a new way forward—this conversation is for you. Because in Texas… whiskey doesn’t just age. It evolves. To learn more about Ironroot Republic visit:https://www.ironrootrepublic.com/ Follow us on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube @thewhiskeyrockspodcast Pour it, don’t store it! Whiskey rocks, sip hard.