We continue our Bourbon Trail Series with a stop in Loretto, Kentucky—home of red wax, rolling hills, and some of the smoothest bourbon magic you’ll ever sip.

In this episode, the guys dive into Maker’s Mark’s 2024 Wood Finishing Series: The Heart Release, a silky, high-proof wheated bourbon designed as a tribute to the unsung heroes behind every barrel.

Join us as The Bourbon Playbook breaks down its visit to the Maker’s campus (yes, the black-fence roads and cold rickhouses were as dreamy as you imagine), swap blind tasting notes from the 2024 and 2025 Wood Finishing Series, and share why the Maker's Mark Distillery tour is a must for any bourbon enthusiast who's hitting the trail.

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Fresh off their trip to Bourbon Country, the guys break down their visit to the iconic Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, sharing stories from the tour, the pours, and everything in between!

In this week's episode:

• Top takeaways from the Trail, from Whiskey Row to Lexington
• How navigate Buffalo Trace's daily allocated bottle drops
• What bourbons (and other spirits) to expect in Buffalo Trace's tasting room
• History, tasting notes and E5 ratings for the Bourbon of the Week: Eagle Rare 10 Year

Subscribe, share the pod with a friend, and be sure to check back next week for Part II of our Bourbon Trail Playbook series!

On this week's minisode, the guys put their palates to the test with a blind tasting that brings bold flavors, wild guesses — and just a bit of humble pie.

The lineup:

1. Ben Holladay 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond
2. E.H. Taylor Single Barrel Bottled in Bond
3. Bardstown Bottled in Bond Origin Series

Which unbiased bottle rises to the top? Join the show and share your own blind tasting notes and experiences at tbplaybook.com.

Alright folks, pour one and buckle in — because this episode is all about bourbon bucket lists.

We’re talkin’ about the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Not from the perspective of seasoned veterans…. but from two guys who’ve never done it and are finally making the trip.

Yep — it’s happening. We’re headed to bourbon country. And we’re coming in hot with a game plan, a cooler, and just enough hearsay to sound like we know what we’re doing.

Are we doing it right? Drop us a dram at tbplaybook.com, and we'll share your Bourbon Trail experiences on a future episode of the pod!

This week on The Bourbon Playbook, we suit up for a sip that brings refinement without the roar—Basil Hayden 10 Year. It’s the bottle that shows up to the tailgate in a blazer, and we’re diving deep into whether that 80-proof polish hides enough oak and spice to win over even the proof chasers.

Plus:

• 🥃 Whiskey history: Featuring Meredith Basil Hayden Sr.—bourbon’s original rye rebel.
• 📝 Tasting notes: Our honest verdict on whether Basil Hayden 10 Year is a daily dram or just Derby-day decor.
• 📈 Bourbon Reviews: Is BH10 hype or hogwash?

🎧 For more on the show, check out tbplaybook.com.

On Episode 26 of The Bourbon Playbook, we crack open the Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Batch Proof (2023) and give it the full Playbook treatment. It’s bold, it’s rare—and it might just slap harder than your uncle at a family cookout.

In this episode of the pod, we unpack:

• What makes Batch Proof different from your average small batch label
• NBA MVP race, media blind spots, and whether voters are even paying attention
• Is it worth $150? Real reviews tells if this batch is hype (or hogwash).

• Bourbon story time: How master distiller Chris Morris and rising star Elizabeth McCall put this fiery brown juice on the map

MORE: Visit tbplaybook.com to learn more about the show, support the cause and connect with the hosts.

In Episode 25 of The Bourbon Playbook, we’re sipping something bold: Chestnut Farms Single Barrel at a fiery 125 proof. It’s barrel strength, hard to find, and wrapped in mystery—no farm, no age statement, just big Barton 1792 flavor and Total Wine exclusivity.

We also pour this week's drams out to the 151st Kentucky Derby, where every horse was a descendant of the GOAT—Secretariat. Does bourbon and the Derby go hand and hand? Join us for fun facts, banter and takes on this year's Derby winner who won't be chasing the Triple Crown.

Subscribe, leave us a review and drop us a note by visiting tbplaybook.com.

This week, we're pouring Blend No. 40—aka Traveller Whiskey—a smooth, award-winning collab from Buffalo Trace and Grammy-winner Chris Stapleton. But is it just a celebrity cash-in or a legit daily dram? We break it down with tasting notes, awards cred, and whether this 90-proof blend hits the right notes,

Before the pour, we riff on Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Draft slide, Mel Kiper's meltdown, and more! Join the conversation by visiting tbplaybook.com.