The Bourbon Lens Podcast features friends Jake Lewellen and Scott Dilley sharing drams, stories, and insights that shape the bourbon and whiskey industry
354: Whiskey with a Sense of Place – New Single Warehouse Releases Read Post »
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott explore how new whiskey releases capture a true sense of place — from the rickhouses of Kentucky to the hills of Tennessee. They start with the latest installment of the Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Collection from Wild Turkey Distillery, featuring barrels aged in the legendary Camp […]
353: Heaven Hill Grain to Glass: Exploring Chinquapin Oak Whiskey Read Post »
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott dive deep into Heaven Hill’s newest innovation — the Grain to Glass® Specialty Barrel Series. The Grain to Glass® Specialty Barrel Series launches with three unique whiskeys, each aged entirely in Chinquapin Oak barrels, showcasing Heaven Hill’s continued commitment to experimentation and craftsmanship. The trio includes:
352: Craft Distilleries to Watch in 2025 and Beyond Read Post »
Jake and Scott turn the spotlight on the craft and independent distilleries making waves across the Bourbon and American Whiskey landscape. From Kentucky to Nevada, Colorado to New York, they highlight more than dozen distilleries to watch in 2025 and beyond — brands that are redefining what it means to craft whiskey in America today.
351: Minden Mill Distilling with Master Distiller Joe O’Sullivan Read Post »
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott sit down with Joe O’Sullivan, Master Distiller at Minden Mill Distilling, to discuss his journey in American Whiskey and what makes Minden Mill one of Nevada’s most exciting distilleries. Joe shares his early experiences learning from one of the greats in American Whiskey, Steve McCarthy, founder
350: Why Great Bourbon Doesn’t Have to Be High Proof: Sub-100 Proof Picks Read Post »
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott tackle a hot topic in the bourbon world: does great bourbon have to be high proof? While barrel-strength and cask-strength whiskeys continue to dominate the conversation, the guys make the case for exploring the sub-100 proof range (80–99 proof) as well. They share standout examples of
349: Best Sub-$50 Kentucky Bourbons & Kentucky Bourbon Festival Recap Read Post »
In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake and Scott recap their time at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, sharing highlights from the annual celebration of Bourbon in Bardstown, Kentucky. From new releases to conversations with fellow enthusiasts, the festival once again showcased why Bourbon continues to thrive as Kentucky’s signature industry. The conversation then turns to
