Episodes!
Old Forester President's Choice 2026 vs. E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof: A Presidential Bourbon Showdown
Two Kentucky bourbon heavyweights enter the presidential debate! B and Heather compare Old Forester President's Choice 2026 against Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Barrel Proof. Discover the history, production differences, and tasting experience behind these highly allocated Kentucky bourbons.
Russell’s Reserve Eddie’s Pick vs. North Raleigh Bourbon Club | Bourbon Review
Master Distiller Eddie Russell personally selected one barrel. The North Raleigh Bourbon Club selected another. We tasted both Russell’s Reserve Private Barrel bourbons side-by-side to answer one very important question: Can the club beat Eddie?
Hard Truth Mizunara Finished Wheated Bourbon Review: Is Japanese Oak Worth It?
Hard Truth finished a six-year-old, cask-strength wheated bourbon in rare Japanese Mizunara oak. Heather calls it “Japanese wood.” B attempts to justify buying it. We find out whether either description matters once the bourbon reaches the glass.
Oldies But Goodies?
We went back to three bourbons from our earliest Tortured Bourbon reviews—Widow Jane Baby Jane, Uncle Nearest 1884, and Larceny Barrel Proof A124—and tasted them completely blind. Two years later, did our palates change, did the rankings move, and were we wrong the first time?
High Test Bangers: Stagg vs Four Roses 2025 Limited Edition vs The Reveries 16-Year
Three barrel-strength titans. One blind tasting. Stagg, the Four Roses 2025 Limited Edition, and The Reveries 16-Year go head-to-head in an epic showdown where reputation means nothing and only the whiskey in the glass matters. Which bourbon earns the title of Cock of the Walk, and which one leaves bourbon lovers questioning the hype? Welcome to High Test Bangers—only on Tortured Bourbon.
Yellowstone’s 250th Anniversary Bourbon: Patriotism, History, and One Memorable Pour
Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary with Yellowstone’s limited-edition Hand Picked Single Barrel Collection. We dive into the history, the whiskey, and whether this patriotic bourbon is worth the hype—or just another collector’s bottle.
Blanton’s Bourbon Review (2026): Is Blanton’s Still Worth the Hype?
Blanton’s Bourbon helped create the modern single barrel bourbon craze — but does it still deserve the hype in 2026? In this episode of Tortured Bourbon, Heather and B break down the history of Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon, explore why it became one of the most collectible allocated bourbons in America, and put it through a blind tasting against easier-to-find competitors. From Buffalo Trace history to bourbon secondary prices, this episode asks the big question: is Blanton’s still worth chasing, or are bourbon drinkers paying for the horse topper and hype?
Parker’s Heritage Malt Whiskey (2015) Review — The Bottle Bourbon Drinkers Didn’t Understand
The 2015 Parker’s Heritage Malt Whiskey may be one of Heaven Hill’s most overlooked experimental releases. Long before American Single Malt became trendy, this 8-year-old 108 proof whiskey blended malted barley and corn into something bourbon drinkers didn’t fully understand — but whiskey nerds absolutely should revisit today.
Kirkland Bottled in Bond vs 1792 Bottled in Bond (Blind Tasting Review)
Two bourbons. Same distillery. Same Bottled in Bond label. Completely different expectations. We put Kirkland Bottled in Bond and 1792 Bottled in Bond head-to-head in a blind tasting to find out if price really matters.
Maker’s Mark Private Selection “Southern Charm” | Stave Finished Bourbon Breakdown
Maker’s Mark Private Selection “Southern Charm” takes classic wheated bourbon and pushes it into deeper wood territory with a bold stave finishing profile. We break down how each French and American oak stave impacts flavor — and whether this single barrel earns a second pour.
Smoke Wagon Bourbon Review: The Vegas Trifecta | Straight vs Small Batch vs Uncut the Younger
We review Smoke Wagon Straight Bourbon, Small Batch, and Uncut the Younger in a full side-by-side bourbon tasting. This detailed bourbon review breaks down proof, mash bill, flavor profile, and which Smoke Wagon bourbon wins the Vegas Trifecta. Honest bourbon tasting notes, rankings, and second-pour verdicts from Tortured Bourbon.
The Beatles and Bourbon: Listening to History One Pour at a Time
What happens when you listen to The Beatles the same way you drink bourbon? In this special episode of Tortured Bourbon, we pair each era of the band’s evolution with a whiskey that mirrors its mood, intention, and character — from the raw beginnings of Love Me Do to the restraint and resolution of Abbey Road. This isn’t a ranking or a tasting competition. It’s a shared listening experience, one pour at a time.
Double the Oak, Double the Trouble: A Four-Bottle Toasted Barrel Showdown (Feat. Mike!)
A deep-dive into the world of double-oaked bourbon as Heather, B, and special guest Mike break down four bottles that redefine sweetness, spice, and toasted-oak intensity — Woodford Double Double Oak, Angel’s Envy Triple Oak, Old Forester 117, and Whiskey War Double Oaked.
“Runnin’ Down a Dream” (The Reveries x T8KE) | 16-Year Single Barrel Bourbon Review
A deep-dive into one of the most sought-after indie bottler releases of the year: The Reveries 16-Year Single Barrel “Runnin’ Down a Dream” by T8KE. We break down the bottle, the bourbon lore, the BuffTurkey origins, the tasting notes, and whether this $325 cask-strength monster is worth chasing.
Puncher’s Chance Bourbon Review: The Underdog Whiskey with a Knockout Finish
Puncher’s Chance is the bourbon built for fighters — a 90-proof Kentucky straight bourbon blended from 5- and 6-year barrels with big vanilla, caramel, and rye-spice character. We tasted it with our guest Aaron to see if this underdog delivers a real uppercut. Here’s our full Tortured Bourbon breakdown.
🥃 Crittenden Cut Above – The Mississippi Bourbon That Went Legit
From the moonshine hills of Kiln, Mississippi, comes a family distillery doing bourbon the right way. Heather and B sip through Crittenden’s Cut Above lineup — Baby Doll, Double Oak, and Harvest Batch — proving small-batch craft bourbon can pack as much heat and heart as Kentucky’s best.
Oaklore Bloody Butcher Corn Bourbon – The Storyteller Series
Heather and B go completely unscripted as they crack open Oaklore Distilling’s Storyteller Series: Bloody Butcher Corn Bourbon. From heirloom red dent corn to North Carolina craft distilling, this pour blends Southern storytelling with serious bourbon flavor.
Rebel Bourbon Stave Showdown: Mocha Magic or Toasted Tragedy?
Two Rebel Bourbon single barrels. Two wildly different stave finishes. One delivers mocha magic. The other… not so much. But we’re not telling you which is which. Tune in to see which pour rises — and which one crashes and burns.
🥃 Tortured Bourbon Friday: Wheat Whiskey Face-Off
Wheat whiskey goes wild in this Friday episode of Tortured Bourbon. Star Hill Farm’s new release faces off against Bernheim Full Proof. One soft, one savage. Who wins?
Pour Decisions Wednesday – St. Elmo’s Cola Cocktail & Bourbon Review
This week on Pour Decisions Wednesday, Heather and B mix things up with a cocktail straight from Indianapolis’ legendary St. Elmo Steak House. From their iconic bourbon to the classic Elmo’s Cola recipe, we sip, taste, and chat about this Indy institution that’s been serving up bold flavors since 1902.