Author name: Bourbon Lens Team

Jake Lewellen is the co-host and co-founder of Bourbon Lens, one of America's leading bourbon and whiskey podcasts. Born and raised in Kentucky, Jake has spent over seven years exploring the world of American whiskey — from the legendary distilleries of Bardstown and Frankfort to the craft producers nobody's heard of yet. With more than 380 episodes under his belt, Jake brings an encyclopedic knowledge of bourbon history, distillery craft, and the people shaping America's native spirit. When he's not recording, he's hunting allocated bottles, attending industry events, and convincing Scott to try one more dram. Jake is a finalist for the Bardstown Bourbon Company Worlds Top Whiskey Taster which pitted bourbon lovers from around the world in a unique sensory tasting experience.

Gold Foil 16 Year Podcast Cover Art
Bourbon Lens Whiskey Reviews

Wild Turkey Gold Foil 16 Year Review: A Nostalgic Throwback With a Bold Finish — Is It Worth $400?

Wild Turkey Gold Foil 16 Year Review: A Nostalgic Throwback With a Bold Finish — Is It Worth $400? Read Post »

Wild Turkey’s Austin Nichols Archives series is back in the spotlight, and this time it’s the Gold Foil 16 Year, a limited-edition, 120-proof release that pulls straight from the brand’s 1980s and ’90s heritage. On the latest episode of Five Minute Fridays, host Jake Lewellen breaks down the whiskey’s nose, palate, and finish — and […]

James MacKay Podcast cover
Bourbon Lens Podcast

Whiskey Lens Goes Inside the World of Private Cask Ownership with Artisan Cask’s James Mackay

Whiskey Lens Goes Inside the World of Private Cask Ownership with Artisan Cask’s James Mackay Read Post »

New Episode Explores Rare Scotch, Bespoke Single Malts, and What It Actually Takes to Own a Cask Whiskey Lens episode featuring James Mackay of Artisan Cask, the bespoke cask ownership arm of Artisanal Spirits Company, offering listeners a rare look inside the world of private Scotch whisky ownership and ultra-premium single malts. The conversation traces

Four Roses 750 and Liter on back bar.
Bourbon and Whiskey News

Four Roses Launches 100 Proof Bourbon, Built in Direct Response to Bartender Feedback

Four Roses Launches 100 Proof Bourbon, Built in Direct Response to Bartender Feedback Read Post »

New On-Premise Exclusive Delivers Higher Intensity While Preserving the Balance and Approachability Four Roses Is Known For Four Roses is expanding its lineup with the launch of Four Roses Bourbon 100 Proof, a new higher-proof expression developed directly in response to feedback from bartenders behind the bar. The release delivers increased structure and intensity while

Barrell Craft Spirits Decades 2 in rick house.
Bourbon and Whiskey News

Barrell Craft Spirits Launches Barrell Decade 2

Barrell Craft Spirits Launches Barrell Decade 2 Read Post »

Aged 20 Years, the Carefully Crafted Blend of Whiskeys Distilled Each Year from 1995 to 2005 Showcases Secondary Maturation in Spanish Brandy and Hungarian Oak Casks Louisville, KY — July 22, 2026 — Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS), the original independent blender of unique aged, cask strength whiskey since 2013, today introduced Barrell Decade 2, a

Deanstone Orange 17 Year on the table
Bourbon and Whiskey News

Deanston Distillery Launches Rare Orange Wine Cask-Finished 17-Year-Old Single Malt in the U.S.

Deanston Distillery Launches Rare Orange Wine Cask-Finished 17-Year-Old Single Malt in the U.S. Read Post »

Limited-Edition Highland Whisky Finished in Vino de Naranja Casks Delivers Bright Citrus, Honeyed Depth, and Spanish-Inspired Character Deanston, Scotland — July 21, 2026 — Deanston Distillery is bringing a new expression of flavor exploration to the United States with the launch of Deanston Orange Wine Cask Finish 17 Year Old, a limited-edition Highland single malt

Victoria Pineapple Bardstown Bourbon Company at the pool
Bourbon and Whiskey News, Uncategorized

Bardstown Bourbon Chases Tropical Character With Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish

Bardstown Bourbon Chases Tropical Character With Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Read Post »

Bardstown, KY — July 21, 2026 — Bardstown Bourbon Company has released Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey, a Kentucky-exclusive expression inspired by one of rum’s most distinctive maturation traditions. The whiskey marries mature bourbon and rye, pushing beyond traditional finishing techniques to explore genuine tropical fruit character — one of the most elusive flavor compounds

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