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We chase the real origin story of Russell’s Reserve, comparing Wild Turkey’s official timeline with Greg Schneider’s account of how an inventory problem may have forced a new premium bourbon brand into existence. Then we pour Russell’s Reserve 13 (45th anniversary) at barrel proof, score it with our barrel breakdown, and talk about what age, proof, and non-chill filtration do to the experience.
• why the question of “who created Russell’s Reserve” still sparks debate
• how Wild Turkey’s late-1990s inventory shaped a premium brand strategy
• the official Russell’s Reserve timeline versus Greg Schneider’s version
• why romantic marketing stories often win over messy operations history
• Russell’s Reserve 13 “2.0” and why proof can vary by batch
• our barrel bottle breakdown method and the final 17.5/18 score
• tasting impressions including caramel-toffee sweetness, heavy viscosity, and a finish that fades faster than the palate
• non-chill filtration and the oily mouthfeel factor
• the 45-year connection from Jimmy’s tribute to Eddie’s anniversary release
• comparing Russell’s Reserve 13 with Russell’s Reserve 15 and how oak changes with age
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Somebody wrote down the “official” origin story of Russell’s Reserve, but we’re not convinced that’s the whole truth. Tiny goes solo and heads down a bourbon history rabbit hole to answer a question that matters to any Wild Turkey fan: who actually sparked the Russell’s Reserve line, and was it born from a heartfelt tribute, an inventory crisis, or both?

We lay out the brand’s published timeline, then stack it against Greg Schneider’s firsthand account from inside Wild Turkey management in 1998. Greg’s version centers on a very unglamorous problem: too much mature bourbon aging in the warehouses when the market wasn’t chasing 10+ year whiskey. From there we talk strategy, “premiumisation,” and why corporate storytelling often turns complicated business decisions into a cleaner, more romantic father-son narrative.

Then we get to the glass. We pour Russell’s Reserve 13 year (including the 45th anniversary release at 121.2 proof), discuss the shift away from the classic 114.8-proof expectation, and run our barrel bottle breakdown across nose, body, taste, and finish. We dig into non-chill filtration, that oily mouthfeel, the caramel-toffee sweetness, and where the finish lands, plus a quick comparison with Russell’s Reserve 15 to show how extra age can push oak forward.

If you love Wild Turkey bourbon, Russell’s Reserve releases, barrel proof whiskey, and the stories that shape what we buy, hit subscribe, share this with a bourbon friend, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.

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We taste and rate Brown-Forman’s Kentucky Boy, a resurrected historic label released to honor Chris Morris’s 50-year legacy, and we push past the hype to see if the pour earns the story. We also unpack what’s known and unknown about the blend, why the Kentucky Bourbon Festival was the perfect debut stage, and what bourbon fans should demand from “commemorative” bottles.
• Kentucky Boy release details, 100 proof, $99.99 MSRP, one-time limited release
• Why resurrecting a dormant label from Brown-Forman’s archives changes the story
• Chris Morris’s impact on Old Forester and Woodford Reserve innovations
• The mentorship angle with Elizabeth McCall and Caleb Trigo creating the whiskey
• What “unprecedented blend” means when components and ages are not published
• Tasting notes and Barrel Bottle Breakdown scoring, ending at 16.5/18
• Open it or collect it, and whether Brown-Forman should keep Kentucky Boy alive
• How the Kentucky Bourbon Festival has evolved and why that matters
• Second Stride charity tie-in and the thoroughbred theme connection
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A bourbon name that vanished for generations suddenly comes roaring back and it’s not just a label stunt. We’re tasting Kentucky Boy Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a one-time limited release from Brown-Forman that revives a historic brand the company acquired in 1923 and uses it to honor Chris Morris and his 50-year legacy in Kentucky whiskey. The bottle debuted at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, with Chris Morris signing bottles and the whole release feeling like a real moment in modern bourbon history, not just another shelf drop.

What makes Kentucky Boy more than a commemorative keepsake is who built it. Brown-Forman handed the project to two of Morris’s protégés: Elizabeth McCall of Woodford Reserve and Caleb Trigo of Old Forester. The official story calls it an unprecedented blend inspired by whiskeys Morris helped shape, often linked to Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, King of Kentucky, and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, but the company doesn’t publish component percentages or ages. We talk about what that transparency gap means for serious bourbon fans and why mentorship might be the most meaningful “ingredient” in the bottle.

Then we get to the only thing that ultimately matters: the pour. Our Barrel Bottle Breakdown pulls big banana pudding and banana cream pie on the nose, backed by baking spice, apple, and sweet oak. The body shows thick legs and a surprisingly rich mouthfeel for 100 proof, the palate stays flavorful without harsh heat, and the finish keeps that sweet banana note rolling. We score it 16.5/18 and debate the real questions: would you open it or collect it, does resurrecting Kentucky Boy improve the story, and should Brown-Forman keep the label alive for future milestones?

If you enjoy bourbon tasting notes, Brown-Forman history, Old Forester and Woodford Reserve deep cuts, and honest talk about festival culture and hype, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a bourbon friend, and leave us a five-star review so more listeners can find the show.

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We retrace our 11-day run through Kentucky leading up to the Kentucky Bourbon Festival and tell the real story behind the bottles, the bus tour, the volunteer work, and the people who make Bardstown feel like a second home. We share what went right, what surprised us, and why the best pours often happen outside the official tasting lines.
• kicking off Season 8 and setting the festival mission
• hunting a 1965 I W Harper Bottled In Bond through Revival Vintage Spirits
• using Bardstown as the perfect bourbon travel hub
• early distillery stops and gift shop strategy at Jim Beam and Heaven Hill
• hosting Dan McKee for dinner plus a night that goes sideways fast
• Louisville barrel thieving with Tegrity and a visit with Amin
• volunteering to load in distilleries and how the festival runs backstage
• tasting Dark Arts releases with Macaulay Minton in Lexington
• Scotchy Bourbon Boys bus tour stops at Whiskey Thief Four Roses and Buffalo Trace
• picking a Whiskey Thief barrel and how to find the Scotchy pick
• Bourbon In The Air highlights plus why some lines feel worth it
• Old Forester Kentucky Boy release and our take on value vs price
• Whiskey House events and the My Kentucky Home dinner train
• meeting Jim Gaffigan and gifting bacon bourbon balls
• wrapping the weekend with final bottle pickups and goodbyes
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Eleven days. Multiple towns. More bottles than we planned. Season 8 starts with our full Kentucky Bourbon Festival travel diary, from the first volunteer meeting in Bardstown to the last goodbye pour on the way home. We talk through the real mechanics of doing bourbon country the right way: where to base yourself, how to book meals and tastings, when to buy early, and how to avoid burning out your palate before the main events even begin.

We get into the moments that made this year different: tracking down a vintage 1965 I W Harper Bottled In Bond through Revival Vintage Spirits, stacking distillery stops like Jim Beam and Heaven Hill, and hosting Michter’s master distiller Dan McKee for a laid-back dinner that turns into a night none of us will forget. We also hit Louisville for barrel thieving at Tegrity and a visit with Amin, then head to Lexington to taste Dark Arts festival releases with blender and owner Macaulay Minton.

Once the Kentucky Bourbon Festival events kick off, we break down what worked: smoother Will Call, better line flow, strong food, and a media tent setup that makes live interviews and quick conversations easier. We share highlights from our Scotchy Bourbon Boys bus tour with stops at Whiskey Thief, Four Roses, and Buffalo Trace, including a Whiskey Thief barrel pick you can ask for by name. And yes, we also tell the story of meeting Jim Gaffigan and handing over bacon bourbon balls.

If you love bourbon, Bardstown, barrel picks, and the culture behind the glass, hit play, subscribe, and leave us a review so more bourbon fans can find the show.

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