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The Scotchy Bourbon Boys conduct a comprehensive blind tasting of the entire Weller bourbon lineup to determine which expression truly reigns supreme based solely on taste.

• Full Weller lineup includes Special Reserve, Antique 107, 12 Year, Full Proof, CYPB, and William LaRue Weller
• Tasting conducted completely blind with color-coded samples to eliminate bias
• William LaRue Weller unanimously wins first place with its exceptional rich caramel profile
• CYPB (Craft Your Perfect Bourbon) surprisingly takes second place overall
• Weller Full Proof secures third with its distinctive candy apple and cinnamon notes
• Weller Antique 107 lands in fourth place despite its popularity among bourbon enthusiasts
• The highly sought-after Weller 12 Year unexpectedly places fifth in the lineup
• Weller Special Reserve finishes last but is still acknowledged as a quality bourbon
• Price and availability don't necessarily correlate with quality when tasting blind
• The hosts experience palate fatigue and use water and other spirits to reset
• Even the lowest-ranked Weller expressions are considered excellent bourbons

Check out our website at www.scotchiebourbonboys.com for merchandise, glassware, and more information about our sponsors Whiskey Thief Distilling Company, Middle West Spirits, Rosewood Bourbon, and Alan Bishop's podcast "If You Have Ghosts, You Have Everything."

A heated debate erupts as Super Nash and Tiny embark on a comprehensive blind tasting of the entire Weller bourbon lineup, revealing surprising favorites and challenging preconceptions about these coveted wheated bourbons.

The duo meticulously samples six expressions—Weller Special Reserve, Weller 12 Year, Weller Antique 107, Weller Full Proof, Weller CYPB, and the prestigious William LaRue Weller—with no knowledge of which is which. What follows is a genuine, unfiltered evaluation based purely on taste preferences rather than reputation or price tag.

"Brown sugar, cinnamon bun, and caramel" notes dominate the conversation as they work through uniquely color-coded samples, discovering significant flavor differences despite all expressions sharing the same wheated bourbon DNA. The hosts' palates pick up distinctive profiles ranging from "pure caramel" to "candy apple with cinnamon," highlighting how aging conditions and proof points transform Buffalo Trace's beloved distillate.

When the bottles are finally revealed, William LaRue Weller unanimously claims first place, confirming its reputation as an exceptional limited release. However, several rankings prove genuinely surprising, particularly the performance of Weller CYPB and Full Proof compared to the highly allocated Weller 12 Year. These results challenge conventional wisdom about which Weller expressions truly deliver the best drinking experience.

Between passionate disagreements about rankings and hilarious confusion during the reveal, the tasting demonstrates why blind evaluation remains the ultimate test of quality. For bourbon enthusiasts chasing allocated Weller bottles, this episode provides valuable insight into which expressions might actually deserve the hunt—and which might be sitting overlooked on shelves.

Whether you're a seasoned Weller collector or bourbon curious, join us for this entertaining and informative journey through Buffalo Trace's most celebrated wheated bourbon family

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Ed Bley, founder of Rising Tide Spirits, shares his journey from managing barrel selections to creating his own bourbon brand with meticulous attention to both liquid quality and distinctive packaging design.

• Ed previously ran Cork & Bottle, selecting over 250 private barrels which helped define his palate and bourbon philosophy
• Old Swagger is a new 12-year bottled-in-bond low-rye bourbon designed to be soft, elegant and approachable
• Old Stubborn single barrels offer a contrasting experience with high-rye pot still bourbon at barrel strengths up to 142 proof
• The distinctive teardrop bottles feature 3D Rising Tide logos embedded in the glass base, requiring 14 minutes to hand-blow each bottle
• Ed prioritizes mouthfeel and viscosity in his whiskeys, wanting flavors to "hang around" long after tasting
• Rising Tide sources barrels well in advance, working on releases 2-3 years ahead to maintain quality control
• Packaging challenges, including custom tubes and label specifications, can significantly impact release timelines
• Ed plans to release each product line twice yearly, with the next release potentially arriving this winter

Find Rising Tide Spirits online at risingtidespirits.com and on social media platforms. Sign up for their newsletter to be notified about upcoming releases.

What happens when a seasoned barrel picker with over 250 selections under his belt decides to create his own bourbon brand? Ed Bley of Rising Tide Spirits joins the Scotchy Bourbon Boys to reveal the journey that led to his distinctive Old Swagger and Old Stubborn bourbons.

With roots deeply planted in bourbon enthusiasm before entering the industry, Blabe brings a connoisseur's perspective to every aspect of his craft. His experience climbing rickhouses with legends like Eddie Russell has shaped his discerning palate and unique approach to whiskey creation. During the podcast, he offers listeners a rare glimpse into the meticulous process of selecting and blending barrels, emphasizing how the marriage of whiskeys evolves over time.

The conversation dives deep into Rising Tide's striking packaging design, featuring hand-blown teardrop bottles with three-dimensional logos embedded in the glass base. "I wanted something unique, different than what you normally see," Bley explains, comparing bourbon to a complete pie where every element must work together—from the liquid to the story to the vessel containing it.

Most fascinating is how Bley deliberately created contrasting expressions to reach different palates. His Old Swagger 12-year bottled-in-bond offers an elegant, balanced drinking experience, while Old Stubborn single barrels deliver intense flavors with remarkably long finishes. "When you go to tastings, what's amazing is they're both excellent but completely different ends of the spectrum," he notes, emphasizing that quality whiskey can exist across diverse flavor profiles.

The discussion reveals the extensive behind-the-scenes work of building a bourbon brand, from navigating supply chains to planning releases years in advance. For whiskey enthusiasts curious about craft bourbon's future, this conversation provides invaluable insights from someone who's dedicated to creating exceptional drinking experiences.

Sign up at risingtidespirits.com to receive notifications about upcoming releases, as these limited offerings tend to

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Tiny explores Rabbit Hole's High Gold bourbon while discussing the brand's artistic approach to bottle design and distillery architecture. We take a deep dive into the complex nature of bourbon blending, aging conditions, and how whiskey changes over time.

• Rabbit Hole Distillery founded by Kaveh Zamanian creates bourbon that captures the essence of what you smell in actual rickhouses
• Kentucky exclusive High Gold features special label designs by Mark Gagnon celebrating Ohio's aviation history
• The Louisville distillery offers a modern architectural experience culminating in a sixth-floor bar with city views
• Rabbit Hole's lineup includes Cave Hill (standard bourbon), High Gold (high rye), Dareinger (sherry finished), and Boxergrail (rye)
• Discussion of how bourbon consistency was the industry standard until about 10 years ago when batch variation became desirable
• Experiment mixing Cave Hill and High Gold together created a distinct gingerbread cookie flavor not present in either bourbon alone
• Environmental factors affecting bourbon from production through transportation and shelf storage significantly impact flavor
• Upcoming podcast featuring Greg Schneider and his new Four Branches Distillery's 9-year Kentucky straight bourbon

Please support our sponsors: Middle West Spirits (check out their new purchase of Old Elk), Whiskey Thief Distillery, Spirit of French Lick, Rosewood Bourbons and Ryes, and Alan Bishop's One Piece at a Time Distilling Institute.

Bourbon enthusiasts know that every bottle tells a story, but Rabbit Hole takes this concept to artistic heights with their intricately designed single barrel releases. Tiny explores their High Gold expression – a bourbon featuring German rye that captures the authentic essence of what you smell walking through a Kentucky rickhouse rather than the caramel-sweet profiles dominating today's market.

The episode peels back the layers on Rabbit Hole's Louisville distillery, a modern architectural marvel where visitors spiral alongside the still, culminating at a sixth-floor bar overlooking the city. Unlike traditional Kentucky distilleries that lean heavily on heritage, founder Kaveh Zamanian has created a contemporary bourbon experience that honors tradition through flavor rather than façade.

What truly captivates is Tiny's deep dive into bourbon's evolution over the past decade. Where consistency once reigned supreme, today's market celebrates batch variation – a marketing revolution pioneered by legends like Elmer T. Lee, Jimmy Russell, and Booker Noe who transformed "inconsistency" into exclusivity. Similarly, finished whiskeys once derided by purists are now embraced as innovative expressions of the distiller's craft.

The most fascinating segment comes when Tiny experiments with mixing bourbons, discovering how Cave Hill and High Gold together create a distinct gingerbread cookie note absent in either bourbon independently. This sparks a broader discussion about how bourbon's chemical composition continuously evolves through production, transportation, storage conditions, and even how it settles on your shelf at home.

Whether you're a bourbon novice or connoisseur, this episode offers valuable insights into how environmental factors shape what's in your glass, why modern distilleries are embracing batch variation, and why the seemingly simple act of mixing whiskeys r

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