A 20-year-old Tennessee whiskey at cask strength sounds incredible—until you realize most barrels don’t survive that long without becoming over-oaked. We break down Ass Pocket Whiskey and find out if this rare release is legendary… or just a gamble that went too far.

Could Sazerac acquire Brown-Forman? We break down the bourbon industry rumors — then put Stagg Jr and Old Forester Barrel Strength head-to-head in a blind bourbon tasting.

What happens when you blend Wild Turkey 101 and Benchmark bourbon together to create a custom 95-proof bourbon? In this episode of Tortured Bourbon, we attempt a ridiculous but fascinating bourbon experiment we’re calling Turkey Trace — a budget bourbon blend inspired by Buffalo Trace style flavor.

To celebrate Mexico’s Revolution Day, Tortured Bourbon dives into three Corazón Reposado tequilas finished in legendary Sazerac bourbon barrels—EH Taylor, Eagle Rare, and Weller CYPB. Katie returns to break down the agave, Heather covers the history, and B tries to keep the chaos controlled as we taste, compare, and rank these bourbon-influenced tequilas.

We pit New Riff’s 8-Year Bourbon against their classic Bottled in Bond in a side-by-side bourbon tasting showdown. Is more oak and age worth the price — or is the original still the king of Kentucky high-rye firepower?

Penelope Marshmallow Toasted Bourbon Review & Barrel Strength Comparison with Special Guest Mike brings a sweet twist to Pour Decisions Wednesday. This week on Tortured Bourbon, Heather and B are joined by Mike — a fan-turned-guest who brought not one, but two bottles of Penelope Bourbon to the table.

First up: Penelope Marshmallow Toasted Bourbon, a barrel strength straight bourbon finished in heavy toast, Char 5 barrels. Packed with flavor notes of marshmallow, butterscotch, caramel, and spice, this toasted bourbon is designed for bourbon drinkers who crave sweetness with depth.

Then, Mike surprises us with Penelope Barrel Strength Four Grain Bourbon — a nutty, rich, and bold whiskey with layers of caramel, toffee, pecan, and pepper. Side by side, these pours highlight just how much mash bills and barrel finishes can shape a bourbon’s character.

If you’re searching for a bourbon review, bourbon tasting, or want to know how toasted bourbon compares to barrel strength classics, this episode has it all. Watch, sip, and decide which Penelope pour wins your shelf.

Bourbon with a purpose. Penelope’s Answer to Cancer isn’t just another limited release — it’s a bottle designed to raise awareness, funding, and hope in the fight against cancer. For us at Tortured Bourbon, it’s personal. B is riding 300 miles to raise money for the American Cancer Society, and every pour of this release connects to that mission. Together, bottle and bike remind us that bourbon can do more than taste good — it can bring a community together to make a difference.

👉 Donate to the ride here: https://gofund.me/06efe610

In this Pour Decisions Wednesday, Heather and B explore Penelope Project X Bourbon—a sherry cask finished experiment that pushes Penelope beyond Instagram-aesthetic vibes into bold, premium bourbon territory. With rich dark fruit, burnt sugar, and tobacco notes, does Project X stand above Architect, Toasted, and Rosé? Watch the blind review unfold.

Weller Bourbon and Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon share the same Buffalo Trace wheated bourbon mash bill, but are they really the same? Explore the truth behind allocated Kentucky bourbon, the “poor man’s Pappy” myth, and why these bottles remain the most hunted in the bourbon world.

Three wheated bourbons, one Indiana distillery, and a whole lot of transparency talk. In this Tortured Bourbon episode, we review and rank Rare Saint, Old Louisville, and Fiddler Chin Music—all sourced from MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Proof, finishing, and honesty collide in this deep-dive tasting.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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?

In the finale of Old Forester Fridays, we put the legendary fan-made 1915 blend to the test. Can a DIY mix of 1910 and 1920 really beat the originals? Join Heather, B, and Aaron as they sip, rank, and settle the score in this high-proof showdown filled with flavor, fandom, and a fake label.

Is Missouri hiding one of the best barrel strength bourbons out there? In this Pour Decisions Wednesday, we explore Ben Holladay Rickhouse Proof—a bold, historic, grain-to-glass powerhouse from the oldest distillery west of the Mississippi. High proof, deep flavor, and zero hype. This one’s a sleeper hit.