#21: Koval Distillery - The Start of A Craft Adventure

The Beast Masters sit down with Chelsea Lovett from the organic, “grain-to-bottle” Koval Distillery in Chicago. Yep, we’re digging into some crafty stuff.

Ben and Steve sit in on Dana “Mrs. Beast” Zeller’s interview which kicks off our exploration into the booming world of craft distilleries.

Being the first legal distillery in Chicago since prohibition comes with a lot of pressure to deliver. We explore Koval’s road to craft greatness, taste through their line-up of products and discuss what makes Koval’s whiskies special and unique: from atypical mashbills incorporating oats and millet, to their German Kothe still.  

Tune in and learn a bit about the booze soaked love story of an enterprising couple who turned their shared passions into a thriving, award winning craft distilling business.

#20: Eddie Russell Part 2 - Wild Turkey Rye & The Master's Stories

Part two of an amazing day with Wild Turkey Master Distiller, Eddie Russell. All of this awesome could not be fit in to just one podcast.

After picking the barrel of Wild Turkey bourbon that has come to be known as, “The Hot Pickle” (now sold out), the Beast Masters continued an amazing day of tasting and chatting with Eddie Russell in Warehouse A. Eddie treated the crew to an amazing single barrel Rye selected by his son, Bruce, the third generation of Russells at Wild Turkey. Then we settled in to listen to Eddie tell us about about the history and evolution of Wild Turkey and the bourbon industry in Kentucky.

Tune in for a truly unique perspective on where the American whiskey industry is now and how that came to be.
 

#19: SmokyBeast vs. The Whiskey Warrior Part II - Best Rye Under $100

Steve "SmokyBeast" Zeller takes on Jake "Whiskey Warrior" Cahill for a rematch, this time they bring the best ryes under $100

Ben and Steve welcome Mike Kantor of @thebourbonreview and Dana “Mrs. Beast” Zeller as guest judges for this brutal battle.

The Smoky Beast and The Whiskey Warrior are back in the ring again! And this time, the Beast is out for blood! They are battling for the title belt once again as they enter with their choices for BEST RYE UNDER $100. The Beast lost in his own lair last time when the Warrior strutted in for the battle of Best Bourbon under $75, so you know this one is personal. Bottles will be swung, swigged and smashed as the Beast claws the Warrior down in hopes of reigning supreme and recapturing his lost belt.

Regardless of the outcome of this epic battle, you are sure to find out the best ryes on the market for under 100 bucks. So pour yourself a glass and gather round the flame BeastMasters; as Steve and Jake battle it out for your entertainment.

SmokyBeast's Weapons:
Pikeseville Rye
6 years | 110 proof
Michter’s Barrel Proof Single Barrel Rye
NAS | 114 proof

The Whiskey Warrior's Weapons:
Wild Turkey 101 Rye
NAS | 101 proof
Redemption Barrel Proof Rye Batch 5
7 years | 123.2 proof

#18: Wild Turkey Barrel Pick with Eddie Russell

The Beast Masters were treated to an amazing barrel picking experience at Wild Turkey, hosted by none other than second generation Master Distiller, Eddie Russell.

We met Eddie at Wild Turkey's historic Warehouse A to knock open the barrels that he set aside for our selection. This oldest of Wild Turkey's rickhouses was built in the 1890's and we could not have asked for a more perfect setting or host as we settled in for an afternoon of sampling a few of what Eddie calls his, "best 100 barrels out of 700,000". Getting to crack into these barrels and taste as we listened to Eddie talk about his craft and its history made for a day we'll never forget.

In the end, our intrepid crew of Beast Masters came away with the barrel we have all come to know as, "The Hot Pickle," a super deep, flavorful, spicy nine year bourbon with a gorgeous long finish. We hope you all enjoy sipping some Hot Pickle as you listen and taste along with us.

***Update: The Hot Pickle is now sold out. If you got your hands on one we hope you're enjoying this awesome example of Wild Turkey at its finest.
We're very happy to be able to share it with you all.  

#17: Nate Woodruff of Whisky With A View

Nate Woodruff from Whisky With A View treated the Beast Masters to a stellar day of hiking and sipping great drams in New York's Hudson Valley.

Nate has developed one of the largest social media followings in the world of whisk(e)y by combining his two great loves, being in nature and drinking excellent whisky. His Whisky With a View channels feature beautiful photos of whiskies in awesome natural settings and surroundings. We had an amazing day with Nate and club members Jake, "The Whiskey Warrior" Cahill and Anthony Colasacco, proprietor of Pour, a great bar and eatery in Mt. Kisco, NY. Join us for good times, great friends and tasty drams in the great outdoors.