In this Tortured Bourbon episode, Heather and B explore the Kentucky roots of Maker’s Mark with a deep dive into Star Hill Farm—the source of their new 2025 American Wheat Whiskey. This 100-proof wheat whiskey blends sustainability, terroir, and soft red winter wheat into a pour that’s as elegant as it is drinkable.

What does Seagram’s, Universal Studios, and Indiana rye have in common? In this episode of Tortured Bourbon, Heather and B dive into the wild rise, fall, and resurrection of one of the most influential distilleries in America: MGP. Learn how a Kansas company bought a legendary distillery for just $11 million—and ended up producing some of the best bourbon and rye whiskey on the shelf today. Featuring tastings of Rossville Union Bottled-in-Bond and George Remus Single Barrel, this episode pulls back the curtain on the whiskey you thought you knew.

Explore Maker’s Mark’s Wood Finishing Series with our bourbon tasting and review of FAE-02, BRT-01, and BEP. Discover how custom toasted staves transform Maker’s classic wheated bourbon into three unique pours. Perfect for bourbon lovers and Maker’s Mark fans alike!

On this Pour Decisions Wednesday, we’re diving into a bold locals pick: Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Carolina Beach Barrel 1764 at a fiery 114 proof. Is it a rich caramel Tennessee whiskey or pure ethanol regret? Join Heather and B as they taste, rank, and decide if Carolina Beach has bragging rights — or some explaining to do. Stay tortured, y’all!

This week on Tortured Bourbon, we plug in the electric guitar and crank up the chaos as we dive into New Riff—tasting their Bottled-in-Bond (100 proof) and Single Barrel (117.3 proof) bourbons. Both are high-rye Kentucky classics with serious spice, bold oak, and enough caramel to keep us coming back. We break down mash bills, nosing notes, palate surprises, and run them through our Tortured Bourbon scale. If you love bourbon with attitude—and a little guitar showboating—this one’s for you. Cheers y’all, and stay tortured! 🥃

We taste Maker’s Mark’s 2024 Heart Release and 2025 Keepers Release—two unique Wood Finishing bourbons that prove why Kentucky still rules the bourbon world.

Is the Penelope Peach Old Fashioned Bourbon a peachy summer delight or just a syrupy mess? We poured it neat and on ice to find out — and Katie shocked us all.

Eagle Rare vs Russell’s Reserve 10 — who wins the ultimate 10-year bourbon showdown? In this unscripted episode, we taste, compare, and argue over two Kentucky legends to see which bottle truly deserves your shelf space.

🇺🇸 Celebrating July 4th & 1 year of Tortured Bourbon with Evan Williams 1783 American Heroes Edition. Veteran-picked, budget-friendly, tasty.

Join Tortured Bourbon as we tackle Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A125, the first big bourbon release of 2025. Is it a banger or a bust? Full tasting, review, and laughs inside.

Is Penelope Bourbon more than just a pretty bottle? We put the Instagram-famous Rosé Cask Finish and Architect Series to the test in a tasting full of strawberry shortcake notes, French oak science, and our usual bourbon-fueled chaos. Spoiler: it’s not just about the looks.

Maker’s Mark Private Select turns bourbon into a custom flavor adventure. In this episode, Tortured Bourbon dives into four wild stave combos, from mocha bombs to crème brûlée pours. It’s a cask-strength ride through flavor science, chaos, and some seriously fun tasting notes.

Bourbon nerds say Floor 8 is where the magic happens—and in this Pour Decisions Wednesday episode, we find out if the hype is real. Heather and B pop a 100-proof Old Forester Single Barrel pick from the infamous Floor 8. Big flavors, big opinions, and big laughs. Does the floor really matter? Watch and find out.

Two barrels. Two char levels. One flavor war. In this episode of Tortured Bourbon, Heather and B pit Penelope Toasted Rye (char 1) against Penelope Toasted Bourbon (char 4) in a showdown of grain, fire, and finish. From marshmallow fluff to burnt toffee, this toasted battle proves that char level isn’t just a detail—it’s destiny.

What’s behind the red wax? In this deep dive bourbon review, we explore three Maker’s Mark expressions—Original, Maker’s 46, and Maker’s 101—to find out if the hype matches the pour. From sweet wheated mash bills to seared French oak staves, we’re breaking down the flavors, history, and branding behind one of Kentucky’s most iconic bourbons. Is it a smooth classic or just marketing magic? Let’s sip and see.

Bardstown Bourbon Company has built a reputation for bold blends and never missing a beat—but does Fusion Series #7 live up to the hype? In this episode of Pour Decisions Wednesday, we break down the mash bill, taste every note, and put it through the Tortured Bourbon ranking system. It’s part science, part chaos, and all about whether this bottle earns a permanent spot on your shelf.

Welcome to Tortured Bourbon! In this kickoff to our three‑part Penelope Bourbon series, hosts B and Heather take on the brand’s signature expressions—Four Grain and Wheated Bourbon. You’ll learn about Penelope’s rise since 2018, its unique multi-mash‑bill approach, and why its sleek bottles keep popping up on back bars. On the palate, the Four Grain offers a balanced mix of vanilla, citrus, and marshmallow with a mild spice kick, while the Wheated delivers a comforting, creamy honey-vanilla flavor reminiscent of baked goods. Whether you’re a bourbon beginner or a seasoned sipper, this showdown will help you decide which expression deserves room on your shelf.

In this Tortured Bourbon showdown, Heather and B tackle three Larceny Barrel Proof bottles—A124, C920, and C924—breaking down their confusing codes, tasting each batch live, and ranking them using their signature system. Are they bourbon… or robots?

On this week’s Pour Decisions Wednesday, we face Heaven Hill’s Grain to Glass Bourbon—an experimental release with full seed-to-bottle control, a proprietary corn strain, and serious craft whiskey ambition. After surviving the peppermint PTSD of their Grain to Glass Rye, Heather and B brace for either redemption or regret in this 107-proof high-rye bourbon showdown.

When longtime viewer and Patreon supporter Tyler sent us four mystery bourbon samples—each with a secret identity—we knew we were in for a ride. One bourbon he loves, one he hates, one we missed in a past episode, and one we can’t even get in our area. With Katie holding the answers until the end, we dove headfirst into one of the most unpredictable blind tastings we’ve ever done. No script. No prep. Just four pours, four guesses, and four people slowly realizing how wrong they might be. This episode was fun, chaotic, and full of surprises—and we’re already ready for the next one.