Get an inside look at Jefferson's Bourbon on this episode of Neat & Mixed Flight Night as we sit down with Master Blender Ale Ochoa to explore creativity, innovation, and the art of blending bourbon. We try Jefferson’s Very Small Batch, Jefferson’s Ocean Voyage 34, and Jefferson’s Reserve Cask Strength while discussing Ale’s journey into whiskey, the influence of mentor Rob Arnold, and what led her from Texas to Kentucky to join one of bourbon’s most innovative brands.

We also dive into the unique aging process behind the Ocean Voyage series, how ocean voyages influence flavor development, and the challenge of balancing traditional bourbon-making with boundary-pushing experimentation. Ale shares insights into blending, maturation, and the creative process behind developing new expressions, including surprises along the way and what’s next for Jefferson’s Bourbon.

Get an inside look at Hard Truth Distilling Co. on this episode of Neat & Mixed Flight Night as we sit down with Bryan Smith to explore the distillery’s growth, whiskey-making philosophy, and the evolution of Indiana craft bourbon and rye. We sample Hard Truth’s 7-Year Bourbon, 7-Year Wheated Bourbon, and 7-Year Sweet Mash Rye while discussing Bryan’s path from beer and wine into distilling, the rise of Indiana’s craft whiskey scene, and what reaching the seven-year milestone means for the distillery.

We also dive into Hard Truth’s signature sweet mash process, how extended aging impacts flavor development, and the inspiration behind the Mizunara Wheated French Oak Finished Bourbon, the first Barrel Finish Reserve release of 2026. Bryan shares insight into barrel finishing, whiskey maturation, future releases, and the continued expansion of Hard Truth beyond Nashville.

Get an inside look at Olde Raleigh Distillery on this episode of Neat & Mixed Questions as we sit down with founder & master blender Brandon McCraney to discuss the journey from idea to award-winning distillery. Brandon shares how his military background helped shape his approach to building a whiskey brand from scratch, overcoming setbacks during the launch process, and creating a distillery focused on innovation, experimentation, and education.

We also dive into Olde Raleigh’s unique blending philosophy and their process, the goal of creating 1,000 distinct whiskey blends from around the world, and what it meant to earn Best Micro Distillery in the U.S. in 2023. Brandon discusses barrel selection, small-batch whiskey production, whiskey education workshops, and the importance of community support in Zebulon as the distillery continues to grow.