Whiskey Chasers

Send us Fan Mail We pour Elijah Craig’s first Barrel Proof Rye and get stuck on one detail that changes everything: 12 years old, “uncut,” and somehow only 108 proof. We chase the science, argue about hype versus reality, and land on why this bottle feels like an outlier even if it is technically what the label says. • why Elijah Craig rye has a reputation as a “barely rye” pour • what makes A925 unusual as a 12-year “barrel proof” rye at 108 proof • how entry proof, warehouse pl...

Send us Fan Mail We pour Cedar Ridge Double Barrel Rye Batch 2 and get honest about what we love, what feels thin, and why a short finish can hold a bottle back even when the flavor is good. We also crack an aged bag of pipe tobacco and end up in a surprisingly deep debate about what “finished” should mean in American whiskey. • the origin of the “Quintessential” name and why smart naming works • American single malt whiskey trends, pricing, and why big launches cooled off •...

Send us Fan Mail We finally get Steve back behind the mic, then crack open Watershed Rye Batch Three, and it immediately resets our idea of what Ohio rye can be. Between a 143.1 proof gut-punch of flavor and a long-awaited tin of Esoterica Plum Cake, we end up talking about scarcity, lotteries, and why some bottles demand patience. • Steve’s return after tax season and what we’re pouring • Watershed Rye Batch Three first impressions and why it tastes “vastly different.” • T...

Send us Fan Mail We sit down with Mike Trott and Harold Underdown from Four Branches Bourbon to unpack how a loss in the field turned into a whiskey built for remembrance and real connection. We also get candid about quality, pricing, veteran mental health, and why their motto “sip to remember” is a line in the sand. • the origin story behind Four Branches and the friends they honour • why bourbon is a reflective spirit that triggers memory through the senses • partnering wi...

Send us Fan Mail We crack a Hugh Hamer cherry brandy barrel finished bourbon and end up with a shockingly sweet, creamy, cherry-forward pour that drinks lighter than its proof. The real surprise is how perfectly it pairs with Plum Pudding pipe tobacco and turns the whole night into a “Nirvana smoke” kind of memory. • Debating how to pronounce Hugh Hamer and why the name matters • First impressions on nose and palate, from vanilla cream to cherry soda vibes • Smoking Seattle...

Send us Fan Mail Interesting things about the distillery:First NEW distillery to open in Indiana after 2 years of fighting to change the laws. Bear Wallow has a history dating back to the prohibitionBootleggers used to hide from the law in Bear Wallow because of how many bears were present at that time, and people did not want to normally take the risk with the bears Out of Brown CountyAll grains are from local Indiana Farmersdistill the alcohol a second time in their custom-made (i...