Aussie Bourbon Lovers

Dave and H sit down, pop the top off their first bottle from the 2024 Kentucky Bourbon Festival, and debrief the best bits of the festival. From the pain of having to choose what bottles to bring back to Australia to the absolute pleasure of tasting the best bourbons in the world and meeting the people who make it, this episode is a wrap up and celebration of the three great days that was KYBF24.
 
Chapters
00:00 The Kentucky Bourbon Festival Experience
01:30 The Maker's Mark Barrel Select Bottle
03:30 Choosing what Bourbons to bring back to Australia
04:15 Meeting Corky Taylor at Kentucky Peerless
07:30 The Community and Stories Behind Bourbon
09:20 A Call to Bourbon Enthusiasts to KYBF'25

While you can't buy any bottles of the Lucky Seven expressions in Australia ... yet. The Aussie Bourbon Lovers have some stories about meeting they guys behind this great non-distiller producer (NDP) at Kentucky Bourbon Festival, who have a great backstory and some incredible bourbons. We're looking forward to seeing Lucky Seven bourbons Down Under soon, but for the moment, you might need to make a quick trip to the states to get your hands on one of these incredible bottles. 
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Toast to Lucky 7 Bourbon
00:44 Exploring the Aroma and Taste of Lucky 7 Bourbon
03:12 The Concept of Non-Distilling Producers
06:07 The Creative Storytelling and Bottle Design of Lucky 7
09:25 Meeting the Creators of Lucky 7 and Future Plans

Green River Wheated is a fun Bourbon, and not just because the bottle is also a game (if you have a coin)... It's got a rich history (that we need to learn more about) and we love the flavours. The best news is that it recently became available here in Aus and is a cost-effective option for bourbon lovers to try.
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Green River Wheated Bourbon
02:00 The 'Shoot The Shoe' Game
02:57 Exploring the Smoothness of Wheated Bourbons
06:09 Famous Wheated Bourbons
07:06 Availability of Green River in Australia
08:29 The 'Possible' Connection Between Green River and Chicago
09:28 A Discussion about Visiting the Green River Distillery

H and Dave share a special pour of Stagg Jr, one of their favourite bottles while they try to pass on some of the knowledge that Drew Mayville, the Master Blender of Sazerac (Buffalo Trace) shared with them at an intimate tasting night in Melbourne. There are a few nuggets of gold about how to nose and taste, and a few stories too.
 
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Stagg Jr Bourbon from Buffalo Trace
02:41 Nosing and Tasting Techniques
04:37 The Unique Characteristics of Stagg Jr
07:06 Savouring the Long Finish
08:34 Preference for Wheated Bourbon
10:01 Enjoying Bourbon Your Way

Dave and H take a moment to enjoy the final drops of this Distiller's Row Single Barrel from Peerless, while they fire up for Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2024. So many great brands and expressions from over 60 distilleries, along with a bunch of new things to learn and try.
 
Chapters
00:00 Excitement for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival
01:29 Discovering New Flavours and Comparing Bourbons
03:24 Talking to the People Behind the Bourbon
05:22 Fun Activities and Games at the Festival
08:14 Explore and Learn about Bourbon at the Festival

Dave and H enjoy sharing their version of the Blanton's single barrel story while they enjoy an expression made specially for the Australian market. Loads of interesting things about Warehouse H, the first single barrels that were bottled and those cool horsey stoppers on the beautiful bottles.
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Blanton's Green Label Bourbon
00:59 Understanding Blanton's as a Bourbon
02:25 The Unique Experience of Single Barrel Bourbon
03:10 The Influence of Barrel Location on Blanton's Flavour
04:37 Exploring Rare and Collectible Editions of Blanton's
 

In a liquor store in San Francisco, a wonderful person sold Dave this rather heavy bottle. While it's not easy to get in Australia, it is an amazing pour because of the unique way the bourbon is aged in a Solera. While Dave and H do a poor job of explaining what a solera system is, it's fair to say the outcome has a unique flavour and it's a special pour.
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon
01:24 Understanding Solera Aging
03:13 Personal Anecdotes and Whiskey Tasting Experiences
08:02 The Generosity of the Bourbon Community
09:01 Camaraderie and Support in the Bourbon Industry

It could be the rabbit on the bottle, or it could be the story of the name and the respect it pays to the history of Kentucky Bourbon, or it could be the Honey Malted Barley. But this is a bottle that has a few stories for us. Settle in for a pour of a great bourbon from Nulu in Louisville.
 
Chapters
00:00 The Name Difference: Rabbit Hole vs. Rabbit Tale
02:06 Kentucky Bourbon Festival - A Wonderland Experience
04:31 Tasting Notes: Spice, Honey, Orange, Mint, and Toasted Grain
05:26 Immersive Tour Experience at Rabbit Hole Distillery
08:50 No Master Distiller: Teamwork at Rabbit Hole
09:20 Visit Rabbit Hole Distillery and Try the Delightful Bourbon

Dave and H think this might be the world's most awarded bourbon, and it's hiding in a very boring bottle and it's super easy to get in Australia. They share some stories and thoughts about this banger and ask, is it cherry or orange ... or both?
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Bottle Shape
03:19 Flavour Profile and Smooth Finish
04:24 Suitable for Beginners and Experienced Bourbon Drinkers
06:36 Eagle Rare 10 Year: A Go-To Bottle
07:05 Higher-Aged Expressions: 17 Year and Double Eagle Very Rare
10:49 Wrap-up

It's not every day that one of the global icons of bourbon comes to Australia, so when Dave spent half an hour with Eddie Russell, Wild Turkey's Master Distiller, in the South Yarra IGA (a convenience store), it was a very special Tuesday afternoon. Join Dave and H as they enjoy some of Eddie's Wild Turkey 101 and share some stories too.
 
Chapters
00:00 The Story Behind the Signed Bottle of Wild Turkey 101
01:36 Exploring the Flavour Profile of Wild Turkey 101
03:36 The Popularity and Consistency of Wild Turkey 101
06:28 The Different Expressions of Wild Turkey
08:16 The Debate: Collecting vs. Drinking Bourbon