Whiskey Chasers

Send us Fan Mail We crack open a limited J. Rieger Private Stock 10 Year and chase why it tastes like a classic old-school bourbon even at 110 proof. Along the way we pair it with a decade-aged Cajun Cake pipe tobacco and discover how age, tannins, sweetness and Perique pepper play together. • first impressions of the label, bottle design and “old whiskey” vibe • tasting notes on sweetness, dryness, proof, body and a tight lingering finish • what makes Kansas City whiskey di...

Send us Fan Mail We pour Southern Star Paragon Bottled in Bond and discover a high-wheat North Carolina bourbon that stays light, sweet, and surprisingly nuanced at 100 proof. Along the way, we dig into Carolina spirits history, why distribution can hide great brands, and how a softer tobacco pairing can let a delicate wheater shine. • Southern Star Paragon overview and why it gets recommended • Statesville backstory and North Carolina’s early prohibition history • Farm to g...

Send us Fan Mail We taste and review 30A bourbon and quickly realise the biggest story is not the beach branding but the sourcing chain, the young age, and the price-to-quality mismatch. We also zoom out into what makes a whiskey brand worth rooting for, and why some vacation markets are built for cocktails while bourbon needs a stronger reason to exist. • lighting up Cross-Eyed Cricket pipe tobacco and setting the table for a relaxed tasting • breaking down what 30A is, including...

Send us Fan Mail We sit down with Nathan Kaiser of 2BAR Spirits to unpack how a Seattle distillery builds real bourbon from scratch while staying honest about process, pricing, and what it takes to last. We dig into a six-grain mash bill, bottled-in-bond flavour, and finishing choices that pull new drinkers into whiskey without turning the bottle into sugar. • the 2BAR name and South Texas ranch heritage • leaving tech behind and learning distilling and distribution fast • bootstrapping ve...

Send us Fan Mail We pour Iron Vault Distiller Select Batch 1 and can’t stop talking about how a one-year, 120-proof whiskey lands with huge flavor and a finish that just keeps going. We also light up Cornell and Diehl Mississippi Mud and dial in why the pairing works while debating what the bottle should say and how the distillery should signal how special this release is. • the back-label copy problem and why it reads generic • Iron Vault’s Distiller Select concept and why Batch ...

Send us Fan Mail We taste Iron Vault’s Stowel Evergreen white corn whiskey and try to decide if a tiny, hyper-local process can justify a young, limited release price. Along the way, we open a decade-old Savinelli tobacco tin, chase an online Sun Bear drop, and argue about mouthfeel, finish, and what “ready” really means for craft bourbon. • setting up our progressive bottle series with returning guest Ryan • scrambling to get a limited Sun Bear pipe tobacco release • cracki...