Chill Filtered

Welcome back to Chill Filtered, the podcast where we drink whiskey so you don’t have to! Today, Cole and Bryan are revisiting Danville, Kentucky’s Wilderness Trail Distillery to pour and review their 8-Year Wheated Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon (Batch LF19A). Before diving into the glass, the guys shoot the breeze on surviving cheap Amazon toddler bike builds, automating Etsy shop workflows with AI, and dressing up for a Restaurant Week daddy-daughter date. For the history segment, Cole breaks down the microbiology of the 1830s sour mash standard created by Dr. James C. Crow—explaining how spent stillage (backset) works, and how Wilderness Trail co-founders Shane Baker and Dr. Pat Heist used their background at Ferm Solutions to pioneer a 100% sweet mash facility. In Whiskey World News, Bryan highlights Wilderness Trail’s 10-Year "Symphony of Destruction" Wheated Bourbon and 8-Year Rye releases from the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, plus a celebration of Shane and Pat’s induction into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. Finally, the guys wrap up with "What Whiskey Would You Choose?" to roast their worst whiskey mispronunciations (is it O-ban, O-bun, or Ah-bun?), share listener write-ins, and reveal their ultimate firepit whiskeys for the season. If you’re enjoying the show—or checking us out after watching our short-form NCFW (No Cuts, Focused on the Whiskey) videos—hit that Subscribe button to help us reach our monetization goal and bring even more bottles to the table! Featured Whiskey Specs: Bottle: Wilderness Trail 8-Year Wheated Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Batch: LF19A Distillery: Wilderness Trail Distillery (Danville, KY | DSP-KY-20038) Proof: 100 Proof (50% ABV) | 110 Barrel Entry Proof Age: 8 Years Mashbill: 64% Corn, 24% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley (100% Sweet Mash, Non-Chill Filtered) Entry Buzz Bottles: Bryan: Wilderness Trail 8-Year High Rye Bourbon Bottled in Bond (Batch 17F2220) Cole: Wilderness Trail 5-Year 5-Month Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon (112.1 Proof) Timestamps (Raw Audio - Adjust after editing breaks): 00:00 - Intro & The 4-Year Anniversary of the Campari Buyout 02:05 - Channel Business: Help Us Earn 43 Cents on YouTube! 03:45 - Entry Buzz: 8-Year High Rye BiB vs. 5-Year Single Barrel Wheated 06:00 - Shooting the Breeze: Cheap Amazon Bikes vs. Radio Flyer, AI Etsy Assistants & Daddy-Daughter Dates 13:45 - History & Science: Sour Mash Backset vs. Wilderness Trail’s 100% Sweet Mash Process 24:50 - Bottle Specs & Tasting: Wilderness Trail 8-Year Wheated BiB (Neat, Water & Ice) 35:10 - Final Ratings & Scores 38:05 - Deep Dive: Spent Stillage, Stripping Runs & The "Give Me Biberty or Give Me Death" Rant 44:25 - Whiskey World News: Wilderness Trail’s 10-Year Release & Hall of Fame Induction 48:55 - What Whiskey Would You Choose?: Worst Whiskey Mispronunciations & Listener Write-Ins 54:15 - Annual Firepit Whiskey Picks: Found North Snow Day vs. Ardbeg Corryvreckan 55:50 - Next Week’s Pour: Dingle Small Batch No. 4 Irish Whiskey Connect with Chill Filtered: Want to vote in our weekly "What Whiskey Would You Choose?" polls? Head over to our Instagram and check the link in story (or our profile links) to join the Discord, support us on Patreon, and hang out with the community! #ChillFiltered #WildernessTrail #BourbonReview #WheatedBourbon #BottledInBond #KentuckyBourbon #SweetMash #WhiskeyPodcast #WhiskeyTube

Welcome back to Chill Filtered, the podcast where we drink whiskey so you don't have to! 🥃 This week, Cole and Bryan go head-to-head with a rare side-by-side comparison of two limited Campbeltown releases from the J&A Mitchell family: the Hazelburn 8-Year Oloroso Cask Matured (2025 Release, 96.4 Proof) and the brand-new Hazelburn 7-Year Oloroso Cask Matured (2026 Release, 95.8 Proof). To kick off the entry buzz, Cole cracks an old bottling of Glen Grant 10-Year from Unicorn Auctions while Bryan revisits his Hazelburn 15-Year Oloroso from Episode 349. Before diving into the history and tasting, the guys catch up on viral farting horse videos, fighting off seasonal sinus colds, and Cole and Heather’s secret prep for a surprise family trip to Disney World—complete with a two-coin daily "sugar budget" for Beck and Grey. Plus, Cole and Bryan compare notes on tracking down exact birth-date Blanton's bottles for their daughters, Bryan recaps his downtown Chandler staycation with Sam and Emma’s thrill ride on the bucket-train at Vertuccio Farms, and Cole shares how he used AI to automate actuarial rate-filing memos at work. They also celebrate Salad and Go reopening its Higley & Williams Field spot in Gilbert and count down to the upcoming Phoenix meetup and Found North barrel pick with Nick Taylor! 🥃 History Deep Dive: The Ghost of Hazelburn & The Blueprint of Japanese Whisky Long before Springbank revived the Hazelburn name in 1997 as a completely unpeated, 100% floor-malted, triple-distilled single malt, Hazelburn was an independent Campbeltown titan. Founded in 1825 by Daniel and Duncan Greenlees along the Millknowe stream, it grew into the largest distillery in the "Whisky Capital of the World." In 1920, a young Japanese chemist named Masataka Taketsuru arrived at Hazelburn for a five-month apprenticeship under chief chemist and distillery manager Peter Margach Innes. Accompanied by his Scottish wife, Rita Cowan, Taketsuru filled two leather-bound notebooks with exact pot still dimensions, cut points, and fermentation metrics. Those "Taketsuru Notebooks" convinced Shinjiro Torii to hire him to build Yamazaki in 1923 and later guided Taketsuru in founding Nikka’s Yoichi Distillery in Hokkaido—preserving Hazelburn's technical legacy even after the original Scottish distillery closed in 1925. 🥃 The Tasting & Verdict Cole and Bryan break down how the 8-Year (matured in a mix of fresh and refill Oloroso casks) stacks up against the noticeably darker 7-Year (matured in 100% first-fill Oloroso sherry casks) neat, with water, and on the rocks. While the 8-Year highlights clean grain structure and buttery malt complexity, the 100% first-fill 7-Year brings a wave of rich vintage leather, stewed spiced plums, and juicy strawberry candy notes. Cole’s Score: B+ (8.9) Bryan’s Score: A- (for both the 7-Year and 8-Year, with the 15-Year holding strong at an A) 📰 Whiskey World News The guys celebrate the launch of their new short-form YouTube series, NCFW (No Cuts, Focused on the Whiskey)—which just crossed 2,000+ views—offering quick 10-to-15-minute reviews of hot releases alongside regular weekly podcast episodes. They also chat about the Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Squire Association, Cole’s successful Kentucky Colonel nominations for Colonel John F'n Hughes and Brandon Hunt of Bourbon Charity, and what it takes to earn a Kentucky Colonel commission. 🤔 What Whiskey Would You Choose? After a quick detour debating authentic Philly cheesesteak toppings (and whether Shawn C. can smuggle a cheesesteak out to Phoenix), the guys recap the "Trust Me, Just Buy It" poll where Found North Batch 009 defeated Redbreast Cask Strength (65% to 35%), featuring listener write-ins from MadTownMarketer (Del Bac Ode to Islay), Miles Ferguson (King's County Peated Rye), Off Topic Whiskey (Corbin Cash, Montgomery, and Oak & Grist), and Kody Clark (Found North Batch 008). Then, Bryan poses this week’s question: What is a whiskey name you mispronounced for way too long before learning the truth? Cole confesses his early days of saying "La-frog" (Laphroaig), "Brook-laddick" (Bruichladdich), "Kil-ko-man" (Kilchoman), "Fry Ranch" (Frey Ranch), and "Glen-gary-ick" (Glen Garioch / "Glen Geery"), while Bryan admits he spent years calling Ampersand Opimus "Optimus" like Optimus Prime! Drop your funniest whiskey mispronunciations in the comments below! Connect with Chill Filtered: 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChillFiltered 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Podbean 📸 Follow us on Instagram: @chillfilteredpodcast 🥃 Join Our Monthly Drink-Alongs & Community Perks: https://www.patreon.com/chillfiltered (Support the show for exclusive barrel picks, sample swaps, and live virtual tastings—like our Girl Dad Bourbon drink-along!)

Welcome back to Chill Filtered, the podcast where we drink whiskey so you don't have to (but you probably should)! This week, Cole and Bryan crack into one of the most anticipated craft releases of the year: the brand-new 13th Colony Double Oaked Bourbon (Batch 4 / 2026 Release), bottled at a blistering 131.5 proof! (Huge thank-you to Danielle Darby and 13th Colony for sending over the cutest sample bottle in show history!) Before diving into the pour, Cole recaps his trip to Colorado (playing Cribbage with Papa, Grey’s angel behavior on the flight, and scoring CYPB at retail), Bryan’s daughter Emma developing a 60-year-old smoker’s cough, the annual "Brosgiving" tradition with Jackie Chan, and comparing Batch 4 head-to-head against Stagg and George T. Stagg! 📜 History Deep Dive: Mash Bills, Barrel Science & The Graham Arthur Era Cole breaks down the cooperage and climate science behind 13th Colony’s black-label flagship: The High-Rye Foundation: Why 13th Colony relies on an assertive high-rye mash bill (70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley) to provide the structural tension needed to keep heavy secondary oak sugars from turning cloying or flabby. The Americus Climate Engine: How southwest Georgia’s brutal 90°F+ summer humidity acts as a physical pump, driving 8- to 10-year-old bourbon deep into the toasted "red layer" of a second new charred oak barrel to extract chocolate cake batter, dark molasses, and furfurals while concentrating proof to 131.5 proof uncut. Lottery & Distribution Details: Batch 4’s release parameters, including the 100-bottle distillery lottery, distribution across 21 states, and whether the new $199.99 retail price holds up against secondary market madness. 📰 Whiskey World News: 2026 Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Shane Baker & Dr. Pat Heist Inducted: The Wilderness Trail / Ferm Solutions co-founders enter the Hall of Fame! From playing in a 90s rock band called Fulcrum to consulting for 200+ distilleries worldwide and Shane’s family ties to Stitzel-Weller and Canada Dry/Old Fitzgerald. Fred Minnick Enters the Hall: Author, veteran, and bourbon champion Fred Minnick is officially inducted, celebrating his tireless advocacy for Kentucky bourbon and raising over $11 million for charitable causes. ❓ What Whiskey Would You Choose? Last Week’s Results (The Showcase Bottle): Found North Peregrine dominated Blanton's Straight from the Barrel (71% to 29%), with passionate listener write-ins on whether any bottle should ever be left unopened (shoutout to Ben Rhodes, Kilted518, Randall, MadTownMarketer, Mingo22, and Kody Clark!). This Week’s Scenario: What pour do you buy a 21-year-old at a bar to start them off on the right whiskey path? 📊 Episode Ratings & Final Verdict 13th Colony Double Oaked Bourbon (Batch 4 — 131.5 Proof) Cole's Score: 9.5 / A+ (One of Cole’s highest scores in show history! Massive cherry bomb, dark chocolate, and roasted pecans that trade punches with George T. Stagg and easily surpass Stagg Jr.) Bryan's Score: A+ (Legitimately exceptional. A stunning, viscous pour loaded with rich leather and ripe fruit; a certified brother-pour to GTS 2025 that makes the distillery lottery well worth entering) 🔮 Coming Up Next on Chill Filtered Tune in next week as the guys review a major, under-embargo release that we all know and love! Support the show, join our monthly Drink-Alongs, and get exclusive barrel pick access on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/chillfiltered

Welcome back to Chill Filtered, the podcast where we drink whiskey so you don't have to (but you probably should)! This week, Cole and Bryan celebrate America with one of the most ambitious blending experiments in spirits history: Lost Lantern "United States of Bourbon" Cask Strength (Edition No. 1), bottled at a stout 122.9 proof! (Big thank-you to Randall from Off Topic Whiskey and Josh for the recommendation!) Before diving into the pour, the guys talk work presentations, Bryan’s wild caffeine-withdrawal experiment (and breaking the streak with a PSL), "contrapositive" logic in girl-dad parenting, and favorite documentaries. 📜 History Deep Dive: The 50-State Craft Odyssey Cole breaks down the unprecedented five-year journey behind this bottle: The Independent Bottler Vision: How founders Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski set out to bring Scotland’s independent bottling model stateside with radical transparency—putting small-scale craft distilleries front and center instead of hiding behind fabricated backstories. Hunting Down Bourbon in Every State: The logistics of driving hundreds of thousands of miles to personally vet craft distilleries across all 50 states, from sub-arctic aging in Alaska to tropical maritime maturation in Hawaii. Blending 50 Terroirs: How Lost Lantern married straight bourbons ranging from 2 to 10 years old across wildly disparate climates, barrel char levels, and grain mash bills into a unified, 122.9-proof cask-strength release. 📰 Whiskey World News: Glenns Creek Distillery Fire Fire at Historic Old Crow Site: A large fire breaks out at the Glenns Creek complex in Woodford County, Kentucky, destroying several vacant buildings on the historic property. The guys react to the news, celebrating that no staff were injured and zero barrels or product were lost. Plus, a dive into Glenns Creek’s quirky expressions (including "Flipping the Bird" and the great Café Olé debate). ❓ What Whiskey Would You Choose? Last Week’s Results (No Whiskey Available): Cocktails crushed beer with 85% of the vote (shoutout to Shawn, Kody, Randall, Bourbon Bear, Robby, Whiskey with Maks, and MadTownMarketer for the write-ins!). This Week’s Recommendation Dilemma: What is a memorable whiskey you bought solely on a recommendation, without tasting it first? Bryan: Redbreast 12 Cask Strength (recommended by Cole early on, picked up before the price hikes, and still one of his all-time favorite pours). Cole: Found North Batch 007 (recommended by a listener who turned out to be co-host Bryan, who heard about it from Josh!). 📊 Episode Ratings & Final Verdict Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon Cask Strength (122.9 Proof) Bryan's Score: B+ (Deep confectionery powdered sugar, roasted corn, apricot, and rich oak; remarkably cohesive with zero off-notes despite 50 distinct components) Cole's Score: C- / 8.0 (Immensely impressed by the technical craftsmanship and 50-state concept, but lands just below average as a daily personal drinking pour) 🔮 Coming Up Next on Chill Filtered Tune in next week as the guys head down to Americus, Georgia, to review the brand-new 13th Colony Cask Strength Bourbon (Batch 4 / 2026 Release)! Support the show, join our monthly Drink-Alongs, and get exclusive barrel pick access on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/chillfiltered

Welcome back to Chill Filtered, the podcast where we drink whiskey so you don't have to (but you probably should)! This week, Cole and Bryan return to the Emerald Isle to pour an allocated gem: the Gold Spot 13-Year "Generations Edition" Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey (92 Proof)! (Huge shoutout to Rob A. for hooking up the pour, with assists from Lance and Bryan along the way!) Before diving into the glass, Bryan shares the heartfelt passing of his hilarious Uncle Eric (prompting a ceremonial "pants pour"), Cole reveals plans to head to Colorado with his daughter Grey to visit family and reunite with old buddies for "Brosgiving" at Buffalo Wild Wings (featuring a framed photo of Jackie Chan), and Bryan shares a hilarious mishap where Google Photos confused Gold Spot with cat barf. 📜 History Deep Dive: Single Pot Still, The British Malt Tax & The Midleton Miracle In this week's history segment, Cole breaks down the defining heritage of Irish Single Pot Still whiskey: The British Malt Tax of 1785: How an aggressive Crown tax on malted barley led frugal Irish distillers to blend raw, unmalted "green" barley into the mash to legally evade taxes—accidentally inventing Ireland's signature creamy mouthfeel and spicy "pot still prickle." The Midleton Sanctuary: How a catastrophic collapse took the Irish whiskey industry from over 100 distilleries down to just two, leaving County Cork's New Midleton Distillery as the sole guardian of Single Pot Still whiskey for decades. The Recioto Cask Finish: How Mitchell & Son collaborated with the Tedeschi family of Veneto, Italy, giving this 13-year pot still whiskey an unprecedented 16-month secondary maturation in sweet, dried-grape Recioto della Valpolicella wine casks. 📰 Whiskey World News: Old Forester 1930 Wheated Bourbon Revealed The 1930 Medicinal Homage: A surprise TTB label approval reveals Old Forester’s first-ever wheated bourbon! Bottled at 107 proof, the label pays homage to 1930 when Brown-Forman was granted a federal medicinal permit during Prohibition and contracted the historic A. Ph. Stitzel Distillery (helmed by Master Distiller Elmo Beam) to produce wheated stocks. The guys debate whether pricing will land at everyday retail or follow the premium allocated path of 1924. The Vintage Unicorn Market: Breaking down the skyrocketing collector market for vintage Parker’s Heritage releases, from signed Batch 1s to the 27-Year and Golden Anniversary. ❓ What Whiskey Would You Choose? Last Week’s Results ($2,000 Secondary Card): Eagle Rare 17 doubled up Parker’s Heritage Promise of Hope (68% to 32%), with great listener write-ins from Ben (Pappy 20 vs. Russell's 15), Mingo, Off Topic Whiskey, and Kody Clark. This Week’s Legacy Dilemma: What is a bottle you currently own that you plan to NEVER open yourself, specifically saving it for your kids to have one day? Cole: Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel (especially date-specific bottles). Bryan: Found North First Flight releases (specifically Peregrine, purchased on their New York babymoon before daughter Emma was born). 📊 Episode Ratings & Final Verdict Gold Spot 13-Year "Generations Edition" (92 Proof) Bryan's Score: A- (Dense red grape skins, rich butteriness, and a velvety viscosity that opens up into an exceptionally memorable pour with water or ice) Cole's Score: B / 8.81 (Starts with an unexpected malty punch before blossoming into bright tropical mango, pear, and pineapple; a stellar pour, especially over an ice cube) Support the show, join our monthly Drink-Alongs, and get exclusive barrel pick access on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/chillfiltered

Welcome back to Chill Filtered, the podcast where we drink whiskey so you don't have to (but you probably should)! This week, Cole and Bryan keep the Baltimore rye double-header rolling after yesterday’s Patreon Drink-Along by cracking into an absolute unicorn from Sagamore Spirit’s finishing lab: the Sagamore Spirit Kingston Cider Cask Finish! (Huge shoutout to JPEG for helping secure this bottle!) Before diving into the pour, the guys celebrate Bryan’s 3-year "YouTube-iversary" on the show, share funny stories from parenthood (from toddler library dates and Laurie Berkner bops to broken children's book rhyming meter), and get deeply real about family, health, and treasuring every moment with our fathers. 📜 History Deep Dive: Maryland Rye & The 4-Year Cider Maturation Cole breaks down the historical and technical backstory behind this unique pour: • Colonial Crossover: How 18th-century Maryland farmers balanced rye grain harvests with apple orchards, distilling rye whiskey and pressing hard cider side-by-side on colonial homesteads. • The Holy Grail Apple: Why the English heritage Kingston Black apple is considered the gold standard "bittersharp" cider apple, providing natural tannins and acidity that ordinary table apples lack. • True Double Maturation: Why this isn't a quick 3-to-6 month finish—Sagamore aged their signature Maryland-style straight rye for 5 years in new oak, followed by an unprecedented 4 full years in Kingston Black cider casks, bottling it at an elevated 98.6 proof. 📰 Whiskey World News: India's "Blue Gold" Agave Boom • Move over Tequila and Mezcal—India's Deccan Plateau is emerging as a global agave hotspot! The guys examine the explosive rise of Indian agave spirits (growing at ~31% annually) produced from wild Agave Americana by craft pioneers like DesmondNazareth and Maya Pistola Agavepura. Could Indian agave spirits take the American market by storm? ❓ What Whiskey Would You Choose? • Last Week’s Results ($2,000 Secondary Gift Card): Abraham Bowman 11-Year Rye took the crown with 47% of the vote, narrowly edging out Jack Daniel's Coy Hill (42%), while Buffalo Trace Single Oak Project Barrel 80 trailed at 11%. • This Week’s Question: When you're NOT drinking whiskey, what are you reaching for? Are you a beer fan, wine lover, or cocktail sipper? ◦ Cole: Leaning into cocktails—specifically margaritas and rum old fashioneds. ◦ Bryan: Cocktails, heavily favoring funky, high-ester Jamaican rums (talking dunder, muck pits, and hogo funk!). 📊 Episode Ratings & Final Verdict • Sagamore Spirit Kingston Cider Cask Finish (98.6 Proof / 9 Years Total Age) ◦ Cole's Score: A- (9.1 / 10) (A delicious, refreshing pour with baked orchard apple, honey, and cinnamon pastry that transitions beautifully into a bold, spicy Maryland rye finish) ◦ Bryan's Score: B+ (Rich viscosity and apple pie sweetness on the landing that keeps the herbal rye notes in check—an exemplary barrel finish done right) 🔮 Coming Up Next on Chill Filtered Tune in next week as the guys return to Ireland to review the highly anticipated Gold Spot 13-Year Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey! Support the show, join our monthly Drink-Alongs, and get exclusive barrel pick access on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/chillfiltered (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.patreon.com/chillfiltered&utm_source=gemini)

Welcome back to Chill Filtered, the podcast where we drink whiskey so you don't have to (but you probably should)! This week, Cole and Bryan crack into one of the most anticipated releases of 2026: Jack Daniel's 14-Year Tennessee Whiskey (Batch 2), bottled at an uncut 117.6 proof! (Huge thank-you to Brian Duncan for hooking up the bottle!) Before getting to the pour, Bryan sends his empty bottle of Batch 1 out in style with a literal blowtorch, the guys celebrate Bryan’s 3-year anniversary on the show, and Cole looks back at his origin story in the whiskey world—from starting a blog in 2015 hunting Eagle Rare 17 to bartending with 1,000 bottles on the wall. Plus: British import Skittles, Virginia ABC drop drama during date night batting cages, and Bryan sharing a wild personal update on his bionic eye lenses! 📜 History Deep Dive: The Charcoal Mellowing Longevity Test Does dripping new-make spirit through 10 feet of sugar maple charcoal help or hurt a whiskey once it spends nearly a decade and a half in oak? Cole breaks down: The Great Charcoal Debate: The longstanding industry critique that charcoal filtration strips out the essential long-chain fatty acids needed for prolonged aging. The Rickhouse Floor Shift: How Master Distiller Chris Fletcher and Master Blender Lexie Phillips beat the Tennessee heat by aging barrels on the blistering upper floors for 7–8 years, then physically relocating them to cooler, high-humidity lower floors to prevent the liquid from turning into bitter "oak tea." Batch 1 vs. Batch 2: How Batch 2 backs off the dry, astringent wood tannins of Batch 1 in favor of dense dark berries, pipe tobacco, and cocoa at 117.6 proof. 📰 Whiskey World News Pappy Van Winkle 2026 Price Increases: Buffalo Trace officially bumps MSRP across the Van Winkle lineup—Old Rip 10 hits $170, Lot B hits $200, the 13-Year Rye jumps to $300, and Pappy 15 climbs to $300. The guys react to how much retail pricing has shifted over the last decade. Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary Barrel Proof: Buffalo Trace announces the first-ever uncut, unfiltered expression of Elmer T. Lee! Cole and Bryan place their bets on where secondary market prices will settle ($600 vs. $1,200+). ❓ What Whiskey Would You Choose? Last Week’s Results: The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) routed the lifetime supply of standard Buffalo Trace with 95% of the vote (shoutout to Robbie Deadlow for repping the 5%!). This Week’s Dilemma: You just won a $2,000 gift card that can ONLY be spent on secondary market bourbon. What bottle from your wishlist are you buying? Cole's Pick: 2013 Eagle Rare 17. Bryan's Pick: Parker’s Heritage Collection "Promise of Hope." 📊 Episode Ratings & Final Verdict Jack Daniel’s 14-Year Tennessee Whiskey (Batch 2 — 117.6 Proof) Cole's Score: A / A- (9.38 / 10) (Exceptional balance, rich maple syrup viscosity, blackberry, and oak; a few drops of water unlock sweet vanilla and caramel without losing proof punch) Bryan's Score: A+ (Officially enters "Hubba-da-WHAT" territory! Massive fruit, rich pastry sweetness, and controlled oak that edges out Batch 1 and trades blows with 20+ year ultra-agers) 🔮 Coming Up Next on Chill Filtered Join us next week for a double-header of Sagamore Spirit! We’re tasting the Sagamore Amontillado Finish on our Sunday Patreon Drink-Along, followed immediately by Sagamore Cider Cask Finish on Episode 430! Support the show, join our monthly Drink-Alongs, and get exclusive barrel pick access on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/chillfiltered

Welcome back to Chill Filtered, the podcast where we drink whiskey so you don't have to (but you probably should)! This week, Cole and Bryan crack into one of the most talked-about allocated returns of the year: the brand-new Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Cured Oak Bourbon (2026 Release) (massive shoutout to Brian Duncan for sharing the bottle!). Before diving into the pour, the guys reflect on the original 2015 release from Episode 36, recap Bryan’s epic weekend bottle share (tasting Booker’s Apple Brandy/Cinnamon Rye, hazmat Barton, and King of Kentucky), talk Dungeon Crawler Carl, and nerd out on predator-prey mathematical models to explain the bourbon boom-and-bust cycle. Plus, huge updates for the Phoenix Meetup—including potentially hosting our Found North barrel pick inside a WWII airplane hangar! 📜 History Deep Dive: The Wood Chemistry of 13-Month Stave Curing In this week's history segment, Cole breaks down the cooperage science behind Cured Oak: 6 Months vs. 13 Months Outdoors: Why standard commercial staves only get 6 months of open-air seasoning, and how leaving white oak staves in the elements for 13 full months triggers rain leaching and fungal enzymatic digestion (laccases and peroxidases) to break down rigid wood lignins into sweet aromatic aldehydes like vanillin. The Age Statement Pivot: Comparing the 2015 original (17-year age statement) to the 2026 release (10-year age statement), and whether pulling the barrels at 10 years prevented the cured staves from over-extracting into dry wood tannins. 📰 Whiskey World News Pōkeno x Lord of the Rings 25th Anniversary Whisky: New Zealand distillery Pōkeno teams up with the Tolkien Estate to release an official 25th-anniversary single malt finished in first-fill bourbon, virgin oak, Muscat wine, and native Manuka honey casks. Parker’s Heritage Collection 20th Edition (2026): Heaven Hill unveils a 14-year Kentucky straight bourbon crafted using a "Rye Backset" (stillage from a previous rye run added to a bourbon mash to spike acidity and grain spice without altering mash bill ratios). Old Forester Birthday Bourbon & Alpha Industries Distiller's Jacket: The 11-year, 97-proof 2026 release drops alongside a $150+ waxed canvas distiller's jacket, sparking a debate on wearing branded whiskey merch in public. ❓ What Whiskey Would You Choose? Helldiver Lottery Recap: 56% of listeners sat out the lottery while 44% took the plunge (shoutout to Miles for scoring a bottle!). Meanwhile, Four Roses Honey blew out Booker’s Cinnamon Rye by more than 2 to 1 in the experimental finish showdown. This Week’s Bottle Share Scenario: You’re invited to a bourbon bottle share where you want to bring something unique and impressive from your own shelf without going totally over the top. What are you grabbing? Bryan: Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series High Angel’s Share (Coy Hill). Cole: Single Oak Project (Barrel 80 Redo) for a fun conversation starter, or an open bottle of A. Smith Bowman Straight Rye. 📊 Episode Ratings & Final Verdict Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Cured Oak Bourbon (2026 / 10-Year, 100 Proof) Cole's Score: B+ / 9.0 (Prominent oak and cedar notes neat; adding a splash of water transforms the pour, rounding off the bite and bringing forward sweet fruit and rich vanilla that edges out Eagle Rare 10) Bryan's Score: B- (Solid, wood-forward pour with nice spice on the finish, but missing the rich fruit complexity of top-tier Taylor releases) 🔮 Next Week on Chill Filtered Tune in next week for the Loser's Bracket Face-Off: Jack Daniel's 14-Year (Batch 2) vs. Star Hill Farm (2026)! Enjoying the show? Subscribe on YouTube, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and join our Patreon community for exclusive meetup access and barrel picks!

Welcome back to Chill Filtered, the podcast where we drink whiskey so you don't have to (but you probably should)! This week, Cole and Bryan dive into a bottle with one of the most unbelievable backstories in spirits history: the brand-new Bruichladdich 14-Year "Yellow Submarine [Reclassified]" (2026 Release)! Before getting to the glass, the guys talk Scotland vacation planning, Cole’s love of Paris, his recent trip to the home office in Ohio (featuring half-off whiskey night in Wadsworth), a top-secret family Disney trip in the works, and huge updates for the Phoenix Meetup—including hopefully hosting the Found North private barrel pick with Nick Taylor inside an authentic WWII airplane hangar! 📜 History Deep Dive: The Pentagon, The Spy Drone & The Yellow Submarine Cole breaks down the legendary folklore behind Bruichladdich’s Yellow Submarine series: Part 1 (2003): How the Pentagon’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency flagged Bruichladdich's stillhouse webcams for looking like a chemical weapons factory, prompting Jim McEwan to release WMD I: Whisky of Mass Distinction ("Big Brother is Watching You"). Part 2 (2005): Local Islay fishermen snagging a literal military autonomous yellow submarine drone in their fishing nets off the coast. Part 3: The British Royal Navy retrieving their lost spy sub in exchange for single malt, leading to the birth of the Yellow Submarine bottling. The 2026 Return: Adam Hannett resurrecting the bottle for Bruichladdich's 25th anniversary of reopening, bumping it to 108.4 proof with 25% Bordeaux wine cask maturation. Bonus debate: Cole and Bryan break down the mechanics of Scottish pot stills versus column stills (and whether tall, slender pot stills count as "tall and slender"). 📰 Whiskey World News Woodford Reserve "Super Seasoned Oak": Brown-Forman kicks off Bourbon Heritage Month with a new Master’s Collection release ($180–$200). The guys examine the "Super Seasoned" marketing and wonder if it can redeem last year’s polarizing Barrel Strength Rye. Michter's US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Rye (2026): Dan McKee and Andrea Wilson drop the latest 109.1-proof allocated toasted rye ($120 MSRP) finished in custom uncharred toasted barrels. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon & The Alpha Industries Distiller's Jacket: Old Forester announces its 11-year, 97-proof Birthday Bourbon ($200) alongside a $150+ waxed canvas distiller's jacket. Would you wear branded whiskey apparel out in public? ❓ What Whiskey Would You Choose? Fast Food Burger Results: Five Guys crushes Burger King with 80% of the vote despite costing 50% more! (Plus write-in love for Culver’s, In-N-Out, Runza, and Freddy’s). This Week’s Whiskey Lottery Dilemma: You won the grand prize! Which one are you taking home? Option A: All 6 bottles of the 2026 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC). Option B: A lifetime supply of standard Buffalo Trace Bourbon (free replacement bottle every time you finish one). Cole & Bryan's Verdict: Both choose the 6 bottles of BTAC without hesitation—quality and sharing over quantity every day of the week. 📊 Episode Ratings & Final Verdict Bruichladdich 14-Year "Yellow Submarine [Reclassified]" (108.4 Proof) Cole's Score: A-- / 9.0 (Unique notes of Welch's white grape juice, rich malt, and an unmistakable gunpowder/firework smoke finish; adding water completely rounds off the bite) Bryan's Score: A+ (Officially dubbed "The Bryan Scotch"—neat had big malt and grip, but adding a splash of water unlocks a stunning, buttery fruit and wine-cask masterpiece that outperforms bottles twice the price) 🔮 Next Week on Chill Filtered Tune in next week as the guys tackle the newly released E.H. Taylor Cured Oak (2026) Enjoying the show? Subscribe on YouTube, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and join our Patreon community for exclusive meetup access and barrel picks!

Welcome back to Chill Filtered, the podcast where we drink whiskey so you don't have to (but you probably should)! This week, Cole and Bryan head down to the Heart of Dixie to crack into our very first pour from Alabama: the Dettling 1867 6-Year Single Barrel Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey (116.7 Proof) (huge shoutout to Patrick for the bottle split!). Before diving into the glass, the guys celebrate Beck starting kindergarten, Bryan battling Phoenix haboobs and fried doorbell transformers, Cole winning back his white whale unicorn bottle (A. Smith Bowman Sweet 16), and breaking news that Nick Taylor of Found North is officially attending the Phoenix Meetup barrel pick this November! 📜 History Deep Dive: Dettling 1867 & Alabama's Modern Whiskey Frontier In this week's history segment, Cole covers the 160-year story behind the Dettling name. From Franz Xaver Dettling crafting award-winning Kirschwasser in 1867 Switzerland to Seth and Vicki Dettling building Big Escambia Spirits from scratch in Atmore, Alabama, we explore what it takes to run a 100% grain-to-glass pot still distillery under some of the country's strictest post-Prohibition liquor laws. 📰 Whiskey World News Booker's "The Reserves" 2026: Beam unveils a 6-year, 124-proof Kentucky straight rye finished in apple brandy barrels and infused with cinnamon sticks. Is it an homage to Booker Noe's "ABC Wassail," or a creative fix for runaway rye barrels? Four Roses Experimental Series #2: Four Roses announces an ultra-limited, 104-proof bourbon finished in casks previously used to age raw barrel-aged honey ($55 / 375ml), dropping September 18 at distillery visitor centers. ❓ What Whiskey Would You Choose? Last Week's Cheap Whiskey Battle: Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond takes down Old Forester 86 with a dominant 69% of listener votes! This Week's Wild Finish Dilemma: If you could grab one for free, which experimental finish are you taking home? Cole: Four Roses Honey Cask Finish 🍯 Bryan: Booker's Apple Brandy & Cinnamon Rye 🍏 📊 Episode Ratings & Final Verdict Dettling 1867 6-Year Single Barrel Cask Strength Rye (116.7 Proof) Cole's Score: B / 8.8 (Unapologetic tiramisu, espresso powder, and sweet chocolate notes neat; drinks best without water or ice) Bryan's Score: B (Stunning nose of menthol, fruit, and oak, backed by a unique palate of chalky chocolate, Tootsie Roll, and coffee) 🔮 Next Week on Chill Filtered Tune in next week for a two-pick Tuesday clash: E.H. Taylor Cured Oak (2026) vs. Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine! Enjoying the show? Subscribe on YouTube, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and join our Patreon community for exclusive meetup access and barrel picks!

Welcome back to Chill Filtered, the podcast where we drink whiskey so you don't have to (but you probably should)! This week, Cole and Bryan are thrilled to welcome back one of our all-time favorite guests—Nick Taylor, co-founder, master blender, and barrel seeker at Found North! We dive deep into the glass for the third and final installment of Found North’s acclaimed High Altitude series: Hell Diver 2026. Alongside a head-to-head retrospective comparing First Flight, the 2025 release, and the 2026 finale, Nick pulls back the curtain on how Found North operates, the philosophy behind hyper-aged Canadian blending, and why perfect whiskey is a lot like the blues. 🦅 Inside the Episode: The Hell Diver Trilogy Finale: How Hell Diver evolved from the raw, candied energy of First Flight to the refined structure of 2025, and finally into the dense, dark, nutty powerhouse of 2026. The Oloroso Gamble: Why Nick chose to swap out the soft "connective tissue" of Cognac casks for the fiery, unpredictable world of Oloroso Sherry—introducing dense raisin, worked leather, and struck-match complexity into the blend. Blending & "The Blues": Why making great whiskey isn't about scrubbing away imperfections to make an "autotuned" spirit, but rather leaning into angular notes and letting the flavors dance between the cracks. Behind the Scenes at Found North: Meet the unsung heroes of the operation—Phil’s rigorous quality control on 175+ lots, Daryl’s logistics and custom lot-tracking systems, and Lauren's back-end mastery. Wild Yeast & Whiskey Rules: Nick shares his fantasy whiskey regulations, from mandatory wild yeast harvesting to an annual Scotch vs. Bourbon showdown that decides the spelling of "whiskey." 📅 Release & Lottery Details Bottle: Found North Hell Diver 2026 (High Altitude Collection) MSRP: $169.99 (+$20 flat rate shipping) Lottery Launch: Opens August 25, 2026 (running for 48 hours) Loon Conservancy Drop: Merch and custom glassware proceeds going to support loon wildlife preservation in New Hampshire. 🌵 Phoenix Meetup Reminder Don't forget: The 2026 Chill Filtered Meetup is happening in Phoenix, AZ (November 13–15), featuring an exclusive private Found North barrel pick with Chris Riesbeck! Enjoying the show? Subscribe on YouTube, rate us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and join our Patreon community for exclusive barrel picks and meetup updates!

Welcome back to Chill Filtered, the podcast where we drink whiskey so you don't have to (but you probably should)! In this episode, Cole and Bryan pop the cork on one of the most celebrated modern Wild Turkey releases: the brand-new Russell's Reserve 13-Year Barrel Proof (45th Anniversary Edition)! Before getting into the glass, the guys talk batched freezer Old Fashioned recipes, sinking ice cubes, and officially announce the 2026 Chill Filtered Meetup in Phoenix, AZ (November 13–15) featuring an exclusive Found North barrel pick with Chris Riesbeck. 📜 History Deep Dive: Eddie Russell’s 45-Year Legacy To celebrate the 45th Anniversary release of RR13, Cole takes us through Eddie Russell’s four-and-a-half-decade career at Wild Turkey. From starting at the bottom in 1981 rolling 500-pound oak barrels and cleaning dump troughs to co-creating the Russell's Reserve line and cementing a father-son Master Distiller legacy alongside Jimmy Russell, we look at the vision behind this 114.8-proof powerhouse. 📰 Whiskey World News Knob Creek 12 Cask Strength Returns: The guys discuss the quiet reappearance of Knob Creek 12-Year at cask strength (121.2 proof) for 2026. Buffalo Trace Single Estate Bourbon: Breaking down Buffalo Trace's ambitious grain-to-glass estate project and the unique heritage corn varietals (including Neon Pink Popcorn and Japonica) grown right on distillery grounds. ❓ What Whiskey Would You Choose? Last Week's Results: The remote Pacific island scenario ends in a rare dead-heat 50/50 tie between Knob Creek 9 (120 proof) and Wilderness Trail Rye Cask Strength! This Week's Dilemma: What is your undisputed go-to fast food burger? (Five Guys vs. Burger King Double Whopper / Angry Whopper). 📊 Episode Ratings & Final Verdict Russell's Reserve 13-Year Barrel Proof (2026 / 45th Anniversary Batch) Cole's Score: 9.3 / A+ (Exceptional nose of bright blackberry syrup, brown sugar, and rich oak that rivals Russell's 15) Bryan's Score: Solid A (Damp forest floor and deep vintage oak notes with zero harsh ethanol burn; drinks remarkably below proof) 🔮 Next Week on Chill Filtered Join us next week for an exclusive interview with Nick Taylor of Found North as we review the third and final installment of their legendary series: Helldiver 2026! Enjoying the show? Make sure to subscribe on YouTube, leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and join our Patreon community for exclusive barrel picks and meetup access!

Welcome back to Chill Filtered, the podcast where we drink whiskey so you don't have to (but you probably should)! In this episode, Cole and Bryan crack open a special bottle sent over by 13th Colony Distilleries—their brand new Barrel Symphony: Composition No. 1! Before diving into the pour, the guys catch up on Bryan's recent raffle win (a 55-gallon barrel and distillery tour in Mesa), upcoming concerts, family Disney plans, and a chaotic trip to urgent care for "Nursemaid's Elbow." 📜 History Deep Dive: The Art & Chemistry of Bourye Blends For the history segment, Cole breaks down the origins of "Bourye" (Bourbon x Rye) blending. From High West pioneering the category in 2009 to the chemical clash between sweet corn oils and sharp rye staves, we explore how 13th Colony harmonized an 87% batch of 6-year straight bourbon with a 13% accent of 7-year straight rye at a cask-strength 116.2 proof. 📰 Whiskey World News In this week's news, the guys react to the sudden Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closure of all Salad and Go locations—the drive-thru salad chain beloved for healthy fast food—and discuss what the future holds as Dutch Bros backers acquire the assets. ❓ What Whiskey Would You Choose? This Week's Scenario: What is the cheapest 750ml bottle of whiskey you've ever bought, and was it actually any good? Bryan: Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond (~$18–$20) — Was it good? Absolutely not. Cole: Old Forester 86 Proof (~$18) — Was it good? Honestly, yes! 📊 Episode Ratings & Final Verdict 13th Colony Barrel Symphony: Composition No. 1 Cole's Score: B- / 8.5 out of 10 (Soft maple sweetness, great balance of grain spice when poured neat) Bryan's Score: Highly recommended with a splash of water (Super smooth, drinks way below its 116.2 proof with creamy vanilla and subtle fruit notes) Enjoying the show? Subscribe on YouTube, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and join our Patreon community for exclusive perks!

This week on Chill Filtered, Cole and Bryan dive into one of the most anticipated monster releases of the year: the Jack Daniel's Special Release (2026) Boiler Hill #1 Rye Whiskey. Clocking in at a towering 146.1 proof, this high-octane Tennessee rye officially charges straight into true hazmat territory. Before uncorking this heavyweight pour, the boys catch up on recent adventures and unexpected surprises. They share stories of recent special whiskey finds, Bryan breaks down his random bout of pneumonia, and they talk about battling wild dust storms out in Phoenix. On Whiskey World News, Bryan covers a packed slate of industry headlines, breaking down the announcements for two brand-new rare whiskey releases and the massive industry news surrounding the lifting of tariffs on Scotch whiskey. And for “What Whiskey Would You Choose?”, Bryan poses a stranded-in-paradise dilemma: Say you're headed to a remote Pacific Island for a 3-week trip—what bottle are you stopping by a standard, everyday liquor store to grab for the journey? A face-melting hazmat rye, wild travel stories, and big industry updates—crack open a bottle and join us! 🥃🌴💨

This week on Chill Filtered, Cole and Bryan pull out a massive, highly anticipated release: the Wild Turkey Austin Nichols Archives: Gold Foil Edition. As a modern 16-year-old, 120-proof tribute to the legendary 1980s "Cheesy Gold Foil," this initial entry in the Archives series is ready to bring serious presence to the table. Before pouring and reviewing this brand-new release, the boys start off with some casual banter, discussing Baxus’s wild slot-machine-style whiskey vending machine concept, chatting through plans for an upcoming listener meetup, and taking a deep dive into the heritage of vintage Wild Turkey—explaining what those original "Cheesy Gold Foil" bottles represented and why that profile inspired this modern homage. On Whiskey World News, Bryan reads about some exciting updates out of Islay as Kilchoman Distillery announces a batch of incredible new releases, proving why farm-to-glass Scotch continues to capture the whiskey world's attention. And for “What Whiskey Would You Choose?”, the boys pose an agonizing dilemma for George T. Stagg fans: Would you rather have an infinite lifetime supply of GTS, but it's watered down to 80 proof—or an infinite supply, but it's only been aged for 2 years? Reviewing a brand-new tribute to a classic, debating impossible whiskey tradeoffs, and catching up on news—crack open a bottle and join us! 🥃✨

This week on Chill Filtered, Cole and Bryan get their hands on a very rare and highly anticipated release: the Bulleit 20-Year Rye. As a massive age statement for the brand, the boys are eager to see how two decades in the wood treats Bulleit's signature high-rye profile. Before sampling the whiskey, they catch up on life and casual debates, talking through the chaos of kids' birthday parties, sharing their specific pencil preferences, and discussing the major historical impact of what Bulleit did to popularize rye whiskey for the modern market. On Whiskey World News, Bryan reads about an intriguing new distillery experience: Camp Buffalo Trace. They break down the details of the brand's newly announced adult summer camp sweepstakes, which features hands-on bourbon workshops and rare overnight glamping on the historic distillery grounds. And for “What Whiskey Would You Choose?”, the boys cross the Atlantic for a hypothetical dream scenario: If you were given the chance to do a custom barrel pick in Scotland, which distillery would you choose? An ultra-aged rye, some unique distillery tourism news, and a Scotch daydream—pour a glass and join us for this one! 🥃🏕️✏️

This week on Chill Filtered, the boys are changing things up for a special one-off episode! Cole and Bryan are joined in the studio by their good friend Randall from the Off Topic Whiskey podcast for an episode packed with pure banter, laughs, and plenty of open bottles. Instead of the usual routine, this one is all about hanging out and sharing some great whiskey. They kick things off by tasting a blind pour for each other, picking out specific drams for the group to try, and even throwing down in a little friendly whiskey trivia! It's a massive, free-flowing conversation covering a ton of different topics. This kind of format is a rare treat for the show, but hanging out with Randall was an absolute blast. Grab a pour of whatever you've been meaning to open, settle in, and join the session! 🥃🎙️✨

This week on Chill Filtered, the boys are celebrating Cole’s birthday the best way possible—by cracking open one of his top 10 pours of all time: the 2021 release of William Larue Weller (125.3 Proof). Before diving into this legendary wheated bourbon, they catch up on life, talking about surviving kids' birthday parties, recent camping trips, and Cole opens his birthday gifts from Bryan. From there, Cole takes the lead to share some fascinating history behind William Larue Weller the man and his massive impact on the bourbon world. On Whiskey World News, the guys discuss a major crossover in the beverage industry: Coors officially releasing an American blended malt whiskey under their historic namesake. They break down how the brewing giant is leaning into its 150-year malting heritage to stake a claim on the whiskey shelf. And for “What Whiskey Would You Choose?”, the boys look for some fresh recommendations: What is a brand that you’ve only recently heard about that has completely impressed you? A holy grail birthday pour, a lesson in bourbon history, and a look at big industry moves—pour something special and celebrate with us! 🥃🎂🎈

This week on Chill Filtered, Cole and Bryan are thrilled to welcome a very special guest to the show: Allisa Henley, Master Distiller of AJ Bond Distillery! Together, they dive into a glass of the newly released AJ Bond Tennessee Whiskey—Sazerac’s highly anticipated first entry into the Tennessee whiskey category. The conversation is a blast, covering a wide range of topics. The boys throw plenty of questions Allisa's way, hitting everything from deep, technical distilling science to fun, lighthearted Tennessee trivia. They also spend some time breaking down the famous Lincoln County Process and exploring what makes this unique pot and column still blend stand out on the shelf. We are skipping our usual Whiskey World News and “What Whiskey Would You Choose?” segments this week to give our full attention to Allisa, and it is absolutely worth the watch or listen. Grab a pour of your favorite Tennessee spirit and join us for an incredible interview! 🥃✨

This week on Chill Filtered, Cole and Bryan pour a rye whiskey that celebrates America: Rittenhouse 10-Year 250th Anniversary Edition. It's a special, allocated Bottled-in-Bond release celebrating the country's upcoming milestone while throwing back to the brand's historic roots. Before jumping into the glass, the boys catch up on life, talking about swimming and navigating life with kids. They also dive into a bit of whiskey history, exploring the fascinating shift of how classic ryes evolved from being physically distilled in Pennsylvania to honoring Pennsylvania heritage while being produced down in Kentucky. On Whiskey World News, Bryan reads an article about an incredibly ambitious project from independent bottler Lost Lantern: their "United States of Bourbon" release, which features a single blend composed of straight bourbon whiskies sourced from all 50 states. And for “What Whiskey Would You Choose?”, the boys talk barrel finishes:What is your absolute favorite finishing cask type for whiskey? A patriotic decade-aged rye, some cross-country blending news, and a deep dive into finishes—pour a dram and join us! 🥃🇺🇸