Part 2 of our Indiana Undercover series dives deep into the sourced bourbon universe. We taste OKI Reserve, Penelope Bartender’s Reserve, and Three Chord Cask Finished—all from MGP but with wildly different end results. This is a masterclass in blending, finishing, and flavor transformation.

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.

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! 🥃

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.

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.

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.

Same mash bill. Same distillery. Wildly different outcomes. In this episode, we put Heaven Hill’s Bernheim Barrel Proof up against the 19-Year Wheat Whiskey from their exclusive Heritage Collection. One is accessible and bold; the other is rare, refined, and ridiculously expensive. Is the extra age—and price—worth it? We taste, debate, and do the bourbon math so you don’t have to.

Horses, hats, and high-proof pours—join Tortured Bourbon as we celebrate the Kentucky Derby with a tasting showdown between Woodford Reserve and Pinhook 9-Year. History, humor, and bourbon reviews collide in this Derby Day special!