The Bourbon Life

On this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast presented by VisitLEX, Mark sits down with first-time guest Zane Brammell, founder of New Era Whiskey & Social Club, for a fun conversation about how a Lexington barrel club grew into a whiskey brand built around single barrels, storytelling, and community.
Zane shares his path from working in healthcare and through the COVID years to discovering bourbon through time spent with his stepfather. That interest quickly turned into a passion for barrel picks and eventually a local barrel club that grew from a few hundred members to nearly 3,000 before inspiring him to take the next step and create New Era.
They dig into the story behind the brand, including the newspaper-inspired labels, the headline concept, and Zane's love of physical media and creative storytelling. Zane also explains the principles behind New Era's whiskey program: sourcing whiskey at a minimum of eight years old, bottling at cask strength, and keeping every release single barrel. He also talks about the hands-on approach to selecting barrels and why making the barrel-pick experience fun and personal is such an important part of the brand.
The conversation also turns to the newly opened New Era Distillery and Social Club in Lexington. Zane talks about the community-first vision behind the space, the strong turnout for the grand opening, and how Social Club members receive specially selected monthly bottles while also having a place to gather, taste, and connect. He also shares how the Social Club gives New Era another way to use its labels to tell meaningful personal stories.
Mark and Zane also look ahead to continued growth for New Era, including plans to expand into additional states in 2027 while continuing to work with retailers, clubs, and groups on unique single-barrel selections.
And, of course, they taste and review three different New Era single-barrel picks, including:
·         New Era 1st & Market Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 8 Year
·         New Era Warriors Rise for Princess Nyla Rye – 14 Year
·         New Era Midnight Flight Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 19 Year
 
It's a wide-ranging conversation about finding community through bourbon, building a brand from the ground up, creating memorable single-barrel experiences, and giving every bottle a story worth telling.
This episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast is presented by VisitLEX and sponsored by Bluegrass Distillers, District 7 Social, The Kitchen Table at the James B. Beam Distilling Co., and Hotel Distil.

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief heads to Owensboro, Kentucky, for a conversation with Caryn Wells, National Brand Ambassador for Green River Distilling Company.
 
Green River has a story stretching back to 1885, and Caryn joins Big Chief to talk about the history, resilience and revival of this historic Kentucky whiskey brand. They explore the significance of DSP-KY-10, Green River's place in Owensboro whiskey history, and how the brand is building on that legacy today.
 
Of course, no Whiskey Trip is complete without taking a ride through the lineup.
 
First Half:
• Green River Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Green River Kentucky Straight Rye
• Green River Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon
 
Second Half:
• Green River Full Proof Wheated Bourbon
• Green River Distillery Select Toasted Double Oak
• Green River Honey Finished Bourbon
 
Along the way, Caryn and Big Chief talk mash bills, proof, flavor profiles, the historic distillery and what makes Green River whiskey stand out. Caryn also shares some of her own story, including her passion for beekeeping, which makes that final Honey Finished Bourbon pour even more fitting.
 
It's a conversation about Kentucky bourbon history, great whiskey and the people carrying the Green River name forward.
 
Six pours. Two halves. One historic Kentucky distillery.
 
Pour yourself something good and Take the Ride with The Whiskey Trip!

On this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast presented by VisitLEX, Damon Thayer and Andre Regard, co-founders of Kentucky Senator Bourbon, return to the show for another fun conversation about the continued growth of the brand, their newest releases, and what's ahead.
 
Damon and Andre catch Mark up on some big changes for Kentucky Senator Bourbon, including moving much of their storage and bottling operations to Bardstown Bourbon Company, launching an online store that can ship to 46 states, and continuing to expand their presence at bourbon festivals and events.
 
They also talk about their deliberate approach to growing the brand, an inventory that now includes more than 700 barrels aging at four Kentucky distilleries, and why they remain committed to producing traditional, age-stated Kentucky bourbon.
 
The guys also dive into the stories behind two of their recent releases. Damon shares the personal connection behind the 8.5-year-old Jim Bunning release, honoring his longtime political mentor and the former U.S. Senator who helped establish September as National Bourbon Heritage Month. Andre talks about taking Kentucky Senator Bourbon back to his Louisiana roots with the 8-year-old Huey P. Long Louisiana Senator release and their plans to follow it with Rose Long and Russell Long releases, creating a unique three-bottle family vertical.

They also look ahead at the new Thoroughbred Legacy Series, a single-barrel program inspired by Damon and Andre's longtime connections to Kentucky's horse industry, and reflect on just how far Kentucky Senator Bourbon has come since its first release in 2021.
 
To bring things full circle, they revisit that original 15-year-old Alben W. Barkley Bourbon and the unforgettable story of transporting the whiskey across Lexington during an ice storm so they could get their first bottles into commerce.
And, of course, they taste and review three different Kentucky Senator Bourbon expressions, including:
 
• Kentucky Senator Jim Bunning Bourbon – 8.5 Year
• Louisiana Senator Huey P. Long Bourbon – 8 Year
• Kentucky Senator Alben W. Barkley Bourbon – 15 Year
 
It's a wide-ranging conversation about bourbon, history, storytelling, thoughtful growth, Kentucky's horse industry, and building a whiskey brand one bottle and one relationship at a time.
 
This episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast is presented by VisitLEX and sponsored by Bluegrass Distillers, Pappy & Co., District 7 Social, The Kitchen Table at the James B. Beam Distilling Co., and Hotel Distil.

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief sits down with his good friend Nicholas Alphonso, founder of Guardian Coins.
 
They were friends long before Guardian Coins became a sponsor of the show, and this episode is about that friendship, Nicholas's story, the meaning behind Guardian Coins, and honoring those who serve.
 
Nicholas is also a newer whiskey drinker, so Big Chief takes him on a six-pour whiskey ride.
 
First Half: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond, Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon & Dancing Goat Swiss Misters
 
Second Half: Giant Texas Cask Strength Honey, Iron Wolf HotScotch & Blackland Texpresso Whiskey
 
There are plenty of stories, laughs, a Quick Fire Round, and a special Guardian Coins giveaway tied to the episode.
 
"The greatest things we carry through life aren't coins in our pockets or whiskey in our glasses. They're the friendships forged along the way and the stories we leave behind."
 
To service. To Guardian Coins. To The Whiskey Trip. But most importantly… to friendship.
 
Take the Ride.

On this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast presented by The 1933 Society, Denny Potter and Jane Bowie, co-founders of Potter Jane Distilling Company, return for another fun and candid conversation about building their distillery, changing course, and what comes next for Potter Jane.
Mark and Matt catch up with Denny and Jane about the launch of Big Vat Liar, the sourced Kentucky bourbon that playfully acknowledges their earlier declaration that Potter Jane would never source whiskey. They explain why they changed their minds, the story behind the tongue-in-cheek name and launch, and how Jane's vatting process uses custom large-format oak casks, oxidation, time, and blending to create additional depth and complexity.
The conversation also turns to Potter Jane's own whiskey, including a taste of 16-month-old wheated bourbon from some of their earliest production. Denny and Jane discuss what they're learning as the barrels mature, the importance of mouthfeel and flavor development, and their evolving plans for future Potter Jane releases as they work toward older, fully mature whiskey.
And, of course, they taste and review three different expressions, including:
·         Potter Jane Big Vat Liar (Batch 3)
·         Potter Jane 16-Month-Old Wheated Bourbon
·         1973 Old Stone Gate Kentucky Straight Bourbon
It's a wide-ranging conversation about sourcing, blending, patience, experimentation, and the realities of creating a distillery and whiskey portfolio with a long-term, generational vision.
This episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast is presented by The 1933 Society and sponsored by Pappy & Co., District 7 Social, The Kitchen Table at the James B. Beam Distilling Co., and Hotel Distil.