It’s Quick Shot Monday, and we’re diving into the Penelope Estate Collection Private Select Bourbon — a nine-year, 106.8 proof gem that delivers caramel, cinnamon, red fruits, and a sweet-spice finish for under $100. Is this the best Penelope release yet?

Whiskey JYPSI is shaking up the bourbon world. From Tribute’s Cherokee White Corn to Explorer’s dual-oak finishing and Legacy’s “Alchemist” blend, Eric Church’s Outsiders Spirits brand is rewriting the playbook. We dig into the story, the whiskey, and whether JYPSI is the next big name in bourbon.

Kick off your week with the very first Quick Shot Monday from Tortured Bourbon! In five minutes or less, Heather and B taste Larceny Barrel Proof A125 — Heaven Hill’s bold wheated bourbon release for January 2025. Is this barrel proof powerhouse worth the hype? Read our blog and watch the full video to find out.

On this unscripted episode of Tortured Bourbon, Heather and B take on three toasted barrel bourbons from three different distilleries to find out who does “toasted” best. One is a classic, one is elegant, and one is quietly surprising.

Same source, totally different bourbons? In Part 1 of our Indiana Undercover series, we blind taste three MGP-sourced whiskeys—Clyde May’s Single Barrel, Brother’s Bond Cask Strength, and Circle City Single Barrel—to see how mash bills, proof, and branding create wildly different pours from the same Indiana distillery.

We review all three of Heaven Hill’s Grain to Glass expressions—Wheated Bourbon, Straight Bourbon, and Rye—in a head-to-head tasting. From mash bill to corn varietal to rickhouse floors, this series showcases true seed-to-spirit transparency. But are they worth the hype (and the $99 price tag)? Let’s find out.

When MGP dropped $475 million to buy Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, Kentucky, it wasn’t just a business deal — it was a bourbon power play. In this episode, we explore how the king of Indiana-sourced whiskey officially took over Kentucky soil, what that means for beloved brands like Rebel and Ezra Brooks, and whether the bourbon in your glass still tastes like tradition… or corporate consolidation.

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!

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.

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.

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.

A blending mistake turned bourbon miracle? In this week’s Hoppy Wednesday, we review Gifted Horse Bourbon from Orphan Barrel—a chaotic mix of 17-year-old bourbon, 4-year-old bourbon, and corn whiskey that somehow works. Heather and B break down the flavors, the backstory, and why this “beautiful accident” might just earn a spot on your shelf.