The Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series – North Carolina Edition is more than a limited bourbon release — it’s a tribute to the Old North State crafted by NC State alum Dr. Blake Layfield. In this episode, Tortured Bourbon dives into the story, tasting notes, and custom staves behind one of the most meaningful bottles we’ve ever opened.

Heather and B take flight with one of the most hunted bottles in bourbon — Eagle Rare. But is the standard 10-year Buffalo Trace classic still king, or do single barrel picks from NC ABC and Hoppy Endings soar even higher? We taste, argue, and rate all three in the ultimate Eagle Rare bourbon face-off.

This week on Tortured Bourbon, our friend Mike shows up with a Mystery Bourbon—and Heather and B have to figure out what it is without the label. Is it an allocated unicorn or a budget sleeper? Tune in to see how we fared in this blind tasting challenge.

Russell’s Reserve 13 Bourbon (2025) is here — and it’s coming in hot at 123.8 proof. We put it head-to-head against the dependable Russell’s 10 Bourbon to see which bottle deserves your glass.

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.