Bourbon Lens

405: Bardstown Bourbon Co. Tasting: Jura, Garryana Oak & Pineapple Whiskey

Bardstown Bourbon Company Master Blender Dan Callaway joins Jake and Scott of Bourbon Lens to taste and break down three of the year's most talked-about American whiskeys

404: Jake Norris on Colorado Whiskey, Cask Finishing & Anti-Snobbery

Jake Norris was the founding head distiller of Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey and later of Laws Whiskey House. He joins Jake Lewellen on The Bourbon Lens to talk about the

Proof & Precedent Review: 11-Year Illinois Rye at 121.6 Proof | Five Minute Fridays

Is rye whiskey having a moment? Jake Lewellen reviews Proof & Precedent, a brand-new 11-year-old straight rye whiskey from Illinois bottled at 121.6 proof (60.8% ABV). It

403:Bardstown Bourbon Tourism and Economic Impact with Sam Lacy of Bourbon Capital Alliance

How did Bardstown go from a quick distillery stop to a true bourbon destination? Bourbon Lens hosts Jake and Scott sit down with Sam Lacy, Executive Director of the Bourb

402: Limestone Branch's 101 and More w/ Steve Beam

Steve Beam of Limestone Branch joins Bourbon Lens to pour and break down the brand-new 2026 Yellowstone 101, a limited edition blend of 14 and 8 year old Kentucky straigh

Chevalier Casks on Falling Barrel Prices and the New Golden Age for Small Bourbon Brands

This week on Thursday Thoughts, Jake sits down with Coby and Ben Franzini, co-founders of Chevalier Casks, to unpack one of the least understood — but most critical — cor

401: Inside The Parlor Room: A Vertical Tasting of Barton, Tom Moore & 1792

This week, Bourbon Lens heads to Bardstown, Kentucky to sit down with Whitney Rye — founder and CEO of The Parlor Room, host of The Mash Bill podcast, and better known on

Is Birthday Bourbon Worth the Hype? A Bourbon Heritage Month Review | Five Minute Friday's

It's Bourbon Heritage Month, and on this episode of Five Minute Fridays, Jake goes straight to where it all started: Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, one of the most talked

Whiskey Thief Is Now Sourcing Whiskey! Big News from Kentucky Bourbon Festival | Thursday Thoughts

Special edition of Thursday Thoughts, recorded live at Kentucky Bourbon Festival! Bourbon Lens sits down with Walter of Whiskey Thief for breaking news straight from the

400: Stepping On Hallowed Ground A Sit Down At Stitzel-Weller

Episode SummaryTo celebrate their landmark 400th episode, The Bourbon Lens crew heads to one of the most hallowed sites in American whiskey — Stitzel-Weller Distillery in

399: Why New Riff’s American Single Malt Changes Everything

Explore the craft of American Single Malt whiskey with the team at New Riff Distillery. In this episode, we dive deep into New Riff's oldest whiskey release to date, expl

Chef Brian Landry on Food, Music & Bourbon: The Kitchen Table Story | Thursday Thoughts

Chef and restaurateur Brian Landry joins Bourbon Lens to share his journey from line cook to multi-concept hospitality owner — and the story behind his new book exploring

398: Penelope Bourbon 5 Years Later: Danny Polise on Growth, Blending & the Classic Series Launch

Danny Polise, Founder and Master Blender of Penelope Bourbon, joins Jake Lewellen and Scott Dilley for a long-overdue Bourbon Lens catch-up — five years after his last ap

Wyoming Whiskey Is Back in Wyoming Hands: David DeFazio on What's Next | Thursday Thoughts

Wyoming Whiskey just got its biggest reset in years — and David DeFazio explains why bringing the brand back into Wyoming ownership could change everything. Jake Lewellen

397: Wild Turkey's Bruce Russell on Russell's 13 & the Future of the Family Legacy

Bruce Russell (Wild Turkey) sits down with Jake Lewellen on The Bourbon Lens to break down one of the hottest bourbon summers in recent memory. Bruce opens up about blend

Water Tasting 101: Louisville Pure Tap vs. Dasani, Evian & Gerolsteiner | Five Minute Fridays

What if the difference between "just water" and an unforgettable tasting experience came down to total dissolved solids, source, and treatment? In this Five Minute Friday

Inside the Water Treatment Plant: From Ohio River to Your Faucet | Thursday Thoughts

Ever wonder what actually happens between the Ohio River and the glass of water on your kitchen counter? In this episode of Thursday Thoughts, Bourbon Lens Studio heads t

396: From Ohio River to Bourbon Barrel: The Untold Story of Louisville's Water

Most people never think twice about the water coming out of their tap — until they hear how Louisville turned it into a source of civic pride, a public health milestone,

Rabbit Hole Raceking Review: Chocolate Malt Bourbon Tastes Like Cold Brew | Five Minute Fridays

Five Minute Fridays is back, and this week Jake Lewellen pours Rabbit Hole Raceking — a Kentucky Straight Bourbon built around a five-grain, double chocolate malt recipe

Whiskey Lens Ep. 3: Independent Bottling, Single Casks & Impex Beverage with Sam Filmus

Why do independent bottlers matter, and how do they let you taste whiskey that never makes it into a distillery's core range? In Episode 3 of Whiskey Lens, Jake Lewellen