Helpful Hints to Begin Your Bourbon Journey

Hunting Season

So you live in a controlled state and work a typical 40-hour week. You clock in around 8 a.m., try not to stay past 5, and today—glorious, stressful, unpredictable today—is truck day at your local ABC store.

You rush out of work, politely hold the door for Susan (who really is an amazing receptionist), and wish her a great evening. The fall wind kicks up, sending crisp brown leaves swirling as you fumble with your keys, jump in the car, and fire up the engine. You’ve got one goal:

See what’s left on the allocated shelf.

You already know the Staggs are gone… but maybe, just maybe, there’s an Eagle Rare waiting for you?

If you live in a controlled state, this scenario probably feels way too real. I’m not trying to trigger anyone’s bourbon-hunting PTSD, but let’s be honest: hunting in a controlled state is hard.

So how do you get a Stagg?

How do you backfill your favorite daily drinker?

How do you build a bourbon collection without sleeping in your car?

Fear not, fellow bourbon lovers—I’ve got some ideas.

1. Join the Community (It’s the Secret Ingredient)

My favorite part of the bourbon world isn’t the bottles—it’s the people. Rarely do you find a hobby full of folks who avoid drama, support each other, and happily set politics aside. This community genuinely wants you to succeed.

Start by using the tools already in your pocket:

Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter).

Search “[your city] + bourbon.”

Find local groups—public or private.

Groups like Bourbon & Banter have chapters in many metro areas. Search “bourbon charity” and you may find local auctions or fundraiser tastings. Networking opens doors, teaches the lingo, and puts you in the path of good people.

2. Attend Local Whiskey Events

If your community hosts bourbon or whiskey festivals—go.

In my area, we have huge outdoor events where a general admission ticket lets you try a ton of new expressions. You’ll meet enthusiasts, reps, local stores, and other hunters who can help you navigate the game.

3. Find Your “Underground”

If you’re wondering what I mean… go back to tip #1.

Once you build genuine connections, you’ll eventually get invited into private group chats, Discord servers, or text threads.

I’m part of a local chat with nearly 500 bourbon enthusiasts who talk daily and keep each other informed. These folks changed everything for me.

4. Make a Friend—One Real Friend

Friendship in the bourbon community is powerful.

I met one of my closest friends because Facebook was acting up and I reached out to help a stranger troubleshoot something in our group. That conversation turned into a bottle share, which turned into a bi-weekly gathering, which turned into a lifelong friendship.

You never know which simple interaction will build your bourbon family.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Reach Out to Creators

I’m writing this article because I listened to Heather in a Tortured Bourbon episode asking viewers to send feedback via Instagram DM.

I reached out. She and B replied.

And now here I am—contributing to the team.

In fact, I found TB from a local Facebook group, thanks to an active member who posted one of their videos (thanks again, Steve!). One message can change everything.

6. Be Patient—Don’t Overpay Out of Impulse

You can overpay online anytime you want.

But if you network, ask questions, stay respectful, and include others in your journey, opportunities will appear.

Prices drop. Friends share. Someone brings a sample. Bottle shares pop up.

You won’t need to camp outside your store unless you just like the adventure.

7. Share and Be Shared With

Through connections alone, I’ve been able to try:

• George T. Stagg

• Thomas H. Handy

• Multiple Staggs

• Dusty Wild Turkey

• Ultra-craft bourbons

• Single barrel picks that would make your mouth water

And that’s because of one thing:

A group of friends who share what they have and are excited for others to experience something new.

A Community Worth Celebrating

The best part of this journey is the people who’ve become my chosen family:

Derek, JT, Alex, Nick, Brian, Jack, Heather, B, Katie, Dylan, Ian, David, Chris—and honestly dozens more. The list could go on until the Internet ran out of space. I owe this joy and connection to them.

What Did I Miss?

Have an idea I didn’t cover?

Want to argue about my syntax?

Have a question you’d like me to tackle in my next article?

Email me anytime at pourbourbondecisions@gmail.com

—or—

Join our Discord server and jump into the conversation.

I’d love to help you begin your journey into the wonderful, weird, welcoming world of bourbon.

Cheers, y’all!

Meet Mike: How Bourbon Found Me (And Why I’m Here)

One Man’s Journey in Bourbon

Hello! You may be wondering how I ended up here, writing for Tortured Bourbon. Allow me to wax poetic for a moment.

I’m an older guy — a solid Gen X’er — and someone who only recently discovered this wide, wonderful world of whiskey. Growing up, alcohol wasn’t really a presence in my life. My mom might have had an occasional drink with friends, but my dad was firmly anti-alcohol. Like most young men, I eventually found my way to beer at parties, but it never clicked. Later in life, my ex-wife’s father was a functional drinker, which pushed her into the no alcohol camp — so again, booze wasn’t really around.

Fast-forward to 2018. I separated from my then-wife and started dating again. I met someone who enjoyed wine, but I discovered I preferred stouts over IPAs. She did introduce me to Bulleit and Buffalo Trace, though — two bottles I liked for totally different reasons — but I didn’t dig deeper yet. I was still on my beer path.

Jump to 2022. I picked a bourbon-forward bar for a first date… and suddenly bourbon created a “moment.” Something stuck. But life, as it does, threw a curveball. In early 2024, a personal bombshell left me with more silence than I could handle. I hit a rough patch — a mental health crisis, truthfully — and I struggled. Hard.

Thankfully, I had built a small but supportive circle, and with their help, I made it through the dark and into something better.

So what does bourbon have to do with all this?

Everything.

Bourbon offered something I desperately needed: community. A place to belong. People who welcomed me without judgment. When my old passions — music and sports — stopped filling the void, bourbon stepped up and took the weight. It gave me new friends, new experiences, and new hope.

Yes, I said hope.

I’ve been on the record saying bourbon saved my life — and I mean that. And I’ll always be grateful for places like Bourbon Real Talk, That Bourbon Dude, and now — most importantly — Tortured Bourbon.

Those first two channels had Facebook communities with zero tolerance for negativity. Safe places for someone new to the whiskey world. I joined some local groups too, and one day an active member dropped a link to Tortured Bourbon asking NC bourbon folks to check them out (thank you Steve!).

I clicked.

I watched.

I laughed.

And then I reached out on Instagram with a show idea. They replied — which shocked me. A couple weeks later, my name was mentioned on their channel. I felt like a six-year-old running downstairs on Christmas morning. Me — a high school dropout (stay in school, kids!), a bourbon newbie — they wanted to use my idea? I was floored.

From then on, I was hooked.

One random Saturday, I got word that some Still Austin bottles had dropped at an ABC outside my county (shoutout to controlled states and their confusing rules). I DM’d Heather asking if she and B wanted one since I’d be driving 40 minutes to grab it. I’d never met them in person, but she said yes. I scored two bottles — story for another day — and delivered one to them at their local ABC.

They were exactly like the people I had been watching for months — real, warm, and barrel-free in person. They invited me to their first anniversary celebration, and from that point forward I was all-in on helping Tortured Bourbon grow.

I’m not special. I’m just an average guy trying to learn what I like, why I like it, and how to describe bourbon without sounding like I’m making up flavors no human has ever tasted. I’ll get things wrong, and I’m okay with that.

In my day job, I’ve been managing people for over 30 years — it’s what I do. But in my bourbon life, I’m still early in the journey, and I want to bring you along with me. In upcoming articles and shows, we’ll explore topics like:

• how to train your palate

• whether glass shape actually matters

• and other bourbon questions I’ve asked (and Googled) myself

You can find me on social media as PourBourbonDecisions, and I look forward to your feedback. Heather, B, Katie, and Bandit have all encouraged me to join the Tortured Bourbon family — and I’m excited to rise to the occasion.

As we always say around here…

Cheers, y’all.