Send us a text

Tiny recounts the Scotchy Bourbon Boys' action-packed week at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, highlighting distillery tours, bottle releases, and unforgettable experiences. The team captured professional-quality content throughout the festival while collecting exceptional bourbon.

• Pre-festival activities included podcasting at Neely Family Distillery and hosting a fan meetup at Revival Vintage Spirits
• Acquired a 1946 Dowling Deluxe Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (distilled in 1938) from Revival
• Visited numerous distilleries including Town Branch, Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, and Old Carter
• Organized a bus tour featuring stops at Evan Williams, the Pendennis Club, and Old Louisville Whiskey Company
• Participated in a Maker's Mark Private Selection despite a power outage from a lightning strike
• CT heroically rescued a young woman from an overturned car during their travels
• Jim Beam "saved the festival" by ensuring enough special releases for general admission attendees
• Acquired bottles including Knob Creek 21, Booker's Reserve, Hardin's Creek expressions, and festival-exclusive picks

Join us next Tuesday when we'll announce our Christmas party, the Crystal Glencairn tasting, new membership packages, and the pre-sale of our Maker's Mark Private Select.
What happens when you combine Kentucky's biggest bourbon celebration with the Scotchy Bourbon Boys' passion for capturing authentic whiskey experiences? An unforgettable week filled with rare tastings, exclusive access, and unexpected adventures.

Our journey began days before the official Kentucky Bourbon Festival, with an ambitious itinerary that included podcasting with Rebecca Neely in their speakeasy, hosting fans at Revival Vintage Spirits, and acquiring a truly historic bourbon – a 1946 Dowling Deluxe distilled in 1938. Each day brought new discoveries as we visited Town Branch, Jim Beam, Whiskey Thief, and numerous other distilleries, capturing professional-quality content while immersing ourselves in Kentucky's bourbon culture.

The centerpiece of our pre-festival activities was our curated bus tour, taking whiskey enthusiasts to legendary Louisville destinations including the Evan Williams Experience, the historic Pendennis Club (birthplace of the Old Fashioned), Old Carter, and Old Louisville Whiskey Company. Walter Zausch's extraordinary hospitality at the Pendennis Club – featuring custom Old Fashioneds and a 25-year Derby bottle – exemplified the personal connections that make bourbon culture so special.

Among the most memorable experiences was participating in a Maker's Mark Private Selection despite the distillery suffering a power outage from a lightning strike. Selecting staves by natural light in the lakehouse created an atmosphere connecting us to bourbon's pre-industrial roots, resulting in a selection that perfectly accentuates the whiskey's creme brulee and caramel notes.

The festival itself revealed the growing intensity of bottle hunting, with some enthusiasts waiting hours without success. However, Jim Beam's generous allocation of special releases – including Knob Creek 21, Booker's Reserve 2025, and three Hardin's Creek expressions – ensured even general admission attendees could secure remarkable bottles.

Beyond the planned events, we experienced an unexpected moment of heroism when CT rescued a young woman from an overturned vehicle – a powerful remi

Add for SOFL

If You Have Gohsts

Support the show

https://www.scotchybourbonboys.com

The Scotchy bourbon Boys are #3 in Feedspots Top 60 whiskey podcasts in the world https://podcast.feedspot.com/whiskey_podcasts/

Send us a text

In our Last Podcast Of Season 6 The team visits Iron Fish Distillery in Thompsonville, Michigan, where they explore the nine-year-old farm-based operation producing grain-to-glass whiskey with locally grown ingredients including their signature hazelnut rye.

• Iron Fish grows over 80 acres of hazelnut rye, having recently harvested 100,000 pounds for their whiskey production
• Started by sourcing MGP whiskey with unique barrel finishing while waiting for their own distillate to mature
• Mad Angler series represents their premium line featuring 100% house-distilled whiskey aged six years
• Brand draws inspiration from local author Michael Delp and the fishing culture of Northern Michigan
• Tasting includes their 95% rye whiskey, four-grain bourbon, and experimental offerings like their Manifesto series
• Distillery balances traditional methods with innovation, creating unique flavor profiles in their limited releases
• Iron Fish's motto "returning spirit to its origin" parallels steelhead trout returning to the Betsy River with bringing whiskey back to its farm roots
• Their small-batch blending program showcases the importance of finding the perfect proof point for each expression

Find Iron Fish Distillery's products on shelves throughout Michigan or visit their tasting room to experience their full lineup including exclusive releases.

Down a dirt road in Thompsonville, Michigan, something special is happening at Iron Fish Distillery. This nine-year-old farm-based operation has emerged as a beacon of craft distilling excellence in the Great Lakes region, creating whiskeys that honor local agricultural traditions while pushing creative boundaries.

The distillery's story mirrors the lifecycle of the steelhead trout that swim in the nearby Betsy River—the namesake "iron fish" that return to their birthplace after journeying through Lake Michigan. Similarly, Iron Fish represents a return of spirits to their agricultural origins, where grain and water transform into something greater than the sum of their parts.

During our visit, we explored their impressive 80-acre operation where they've just harvested over 100,000 pounds of hazelnut rye destined for their whiskey. Their strategic approach to growth—sourcing quality MGP whiskey for creative barrel finishing while patiently waiting for their own distillate to mature—has positioned them for long-term success rather than rushing immature product to market.

The Mad Angler series stands as their premium offering, featuring 100% house-distilled spirits aged six years. Drawing inspiration from local author Michael Delp, these bottles literally emboss the connection between fishing culture and whiskey appreciation. The 95% rye whiskey delivers balanced spearmint and chocolate notes without overwhelming dill characteristics, while their four-grain bourbon offers exceptional complexity at 94 proof. Most impressive is their experimental Manifesto series, which grants blender Isaac complete creative freedom to work with any barrel on the property, resulting in truly distinctive expressions.

What makes Iron Fish exceptional isn't just the quality of their spirits but their holistic approach to the craft. From their barrel selection process—working with both local cooper Joe Smith and premium Napa Valley suppliers—to their careful consideration of proof points, every decision serves the spirit rather than

Add for SOFL

If You Have Gohsts

Support the show

https://www.scotchybourbonboys.com

The Scotchy bourbon Boys are #3 in Feedspots Top 60 whiskey podcasts in the world https://podcast.feedspot.com/whiskey_podcasts/

Send us a text

The Scotchy Bourbon Boys taste and rate Old Fitzgerald 7-Year, finding this Heaven Hill wheated bourbon delivers impressive butterscotch and toasted coconut notes at a reasonable price point.

• Old Fitzgerald 7-Year is part of Heaven Hill's wheated bourbon program including Larceny and other Old Fitzgerald expressions
• This bottled-in-bond 100 proof bourbon presents rich caramel and butterscotch on the nose
• The body has impressive viscosity with thick legs that coat the glass nicely
• Flavor profile includes distinctive toasted coconut butterscotch notes
• At $60, it represents good value compared to other premium bourbons
• Final rating: 15 out of 18 on the Old Louisville Whiskey Company Barrel Bottle Breakdown
• This bottling outperforms some older Old Fitzgerald expressions that become too oak-dominant
• Kentucky Bourbon Festival appearances include Revival Vintage Spirits (Saturday 7-9:30pm), Neely Distillery, and Whiskey Thief

Come see the Scotchy Bourbon Boys during Kentucky Bourbon Festival week at our special events and tastings. Remember good bourbon equals good times and good friends. Drink responsibly and live your life uncut and unfiltered.

Heaven Hill's Old Fitzgerald bottled-in-bond series has gained a devoted following among wheated bourbon enthusiasts, and the 7-year expression might just be the sweet spot in their lineup. This elegant decanter-style bottle with its distinguished wooden top houses a remarkable spirit that strikes the perfect balance between youthful vibrancy and mature complexity.

When I poured this bourbon into my Glencairn glass, the rich amber liquid immediately caught my attention with its impressive viscosity. At 100 proof, it coats the glass with medium-thick legs that slowly cascade down the sides – a promising indication of the full-bodied experience to come. The nose opens with waves of caramel complemented by subtle ethanol, followed by enticing hints of butterscotch and gentle toasted oak notes that become more pronounced as the whiskey breathes.

The tasting experience truly elevates this bourbon above many of its competitors. That first sip delivers a distinctive toasted coconut butterscotch flavor that sets it apart from other wheated bourbons on the market. The sweetness is perfectly balanced by oak tannins that provide structure without dominating the delicate wheat characteristics – a problem that sometimes affects the older expressions in this series. While the finish isn't extraordinarily long, it leaves a pleasant impression with lingering notes of butterscotch and subtle oak warmth.

At approximately $60, this expression represents excellent value in today's premium bourbon landscape. It earned an impressive 15 out of 18 points on our comprehensive barrel breakdown rating system, with particularly high marks for its exceptional taste profile. Whether you're a dedicated collector or simply looking for a delicious pour to share with friends, the Old Fitzgerald 7-Year delivers a refined experience that showcases Heaven Hill's mastery of wheated bourbon production. Try it alongside other offerings in their wheated portfolio like Larceny or Bernheim Wheat Whiskey for a fascinating comparative tasting experience!

Add for SOFL

If You Have Gohsts

Support the show

https://www.scotchybourbonboys.com

The Scotchy bourbon Boys are #3 in Feedspots Top 60 whiskey podcasts in the world https://podcast.feedspot.com/whiskey_podcasts/