In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out with Matt Cunningham, Founder, of Old Glory Distilling Co. from Clarksville, Tennessee. This Episode originally aired as Episode 235 in August 2024. We talk with Matt about his background and how he transitioned from studying finance in college to becoming …

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief plants his boots firmly in Atlanta, Georgia — a city that has tasted fire, risen from ruin, and come back stronger every time. He sits down with Jerry McCall from ASW Distillery, a man whose passion for whiskey burns as hot as the city’s fighting spirit. Together, they dive deep into the raw, unvarnished sto…

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, The Bourbon Life Crew spends some time hanging out together in The Bourbon Life Studios sharing some great pours and even better conversation. They talk about the recent news regarding the closure of Garrard County Distilling Co. and whether that is an indicator of the current Bourbon market overall, the…

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief rolls into the beating heart of the South—Atlanta, Georgia—where whiskey meets modern art in a way you’ve never seen before. He sits down with Matt Greif, the visionary Head Distiller at Distillery of Modern Art, a place where creativity flows as freely as the spirits. It’s not just a distillery—it’s an imme…

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out with Zach Johnston, Chief Brand Officer and Senior V.P. of International Sales, for Blackwood Distilling Co. in Versailles, Kentucky. This Episode originally aired on April 12, 2024 as Episode 218. The guys talk with Zach about his incredible background tha…

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief rolls into Statesville, North Carolina—a city once hailed as the “liquor capital of the world”, where whiskey-making wasn’t just a trade, it was the lifeblood of the region. He heads to Southern Distilling Company, where that spirit of craftsmanship and community is alive and well. There, he sits down with f…

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, presented by Liquor Barn, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out in The Bourbon Life Studios with Owen Martin, Master Distiller, from Angel’s Envy. This Episode originally aired as Episode 233 on July 26, 2024. The guys talk with Owen about his impressive background and education, which included…

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief proudly introduces Four Branches Bourbon—a powerful expression of patriotism, forged by warriors and rooted in sacrifice. He’s joined by three of the four founders—Rick Franco, Mike Trott, and Harold Underdown—veterans who’ve worn the uniform and now honor their brothers and sisters through bourbon. The stor…

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out with Wes Henderson, CEO & Founder, of True Story. Wes was previously a guest on Episode 55 and this Episode originally aired as Episode 243 in October 2024. The guys talk with Wes about the legacy that he and his father, Lincoln, created with Angel’s Envy an…

Laissez les bons temps rou This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief is taking you on a wild ride to New Orleans—home of soul, spice, and some of the best whiskey around. He sits down with Kieran Walsh, the co-founder and owner of Big Easy Whiskey, to dive deep into what makes this drink an absolute game-changer. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill, rea…

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, presented by Liquor Barn, Mark and Special Co-Host, Stacey, spend some time hanging out with Cordell Lawrence, CEO & Co-Founder, and Caleb Kilburn, Master Distiller & Co-Founder, of Eastern Light Distilling in Morehead, Kentucky. Mark and Stacey talk with Cordell and Caleb about their impressive backgrou…

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief takes you deep into the winter wonderland of Minnesota for a conversation with Jace Marti of Black Frost Distilling—a man whose passion for whiskey is as bold as the spirits he crafts. Jace shares the incredible story of his family’s brewing legacy and how it sparked the dream of a distillery, one that champ…

In this lively Bourbon Life Crew episode, Mark, Matt, Stacey, and Chad gather for a live recording, diving into new bourbon tastings, discussing industry trends, and sharing their thoughts on market developments. The conversation covers everything from contract distilling shifts to celebrity whiskey brands and the realities of the evolving bourbon …

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief takes you deep into the heart of Missouri whiskey country—to Weston, Missouri, where history and bourbon collide at the legendary Holladay Distillery. There, he sits down with Master Distiller Kyle Merklein to uncover a story of grit, determination, and damn good whiskey. Kyle paints a vivid picture of 1856 …

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast presented by Liquor Barn, Matt and Mark are on location at Augusta Distillery in Augusta, Kentucky for the release of their 17-Year Old Buckner’s Bourbon and they also spend some time hanging out with 4x guest, and Augusta Distillery’s brand new Master Distiller and Director of Distillery Operations…

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief keeps a solemn promise, riding north through the towering piney woods of East Texas to Tyler, where he shines a spotlight on Kiepersol Distillery and the legacy behind Jimmy’s Bourbon. At the heart of this whiskey is Jimmy Hines, a World War II pilot who carried a bottle of whiskey with him through the war—o…

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, presented by Liquor Barn, Mark is flying solo and hanging out in Bardstown, Kentucky at the original home of Jim Beam with James B. Beam Distilling Co. 8th generation Master Distiller, Freddie Noe, talking about all things country ham. Mark and Freddie talk about the history of curing meats like country …

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief takes his larger-than-life presence to the mountains to uncover the magic of Woody Creek Distillers. And he’s not alone—he’s joined by none other than William “Bill” H. Macy—Hollywood legend turned whiskey man—alongside the brilliant Mixologist, Sean Kenyon. Bill dives deep, telling the Big Man how he stumbl…

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out with Mike Sherman, Vice President, of Vendome Copper & Brass Works in Louisville, Kentucky. This Episode originally aired as Episode 208 on February 2, 2024. The guys talk with Mike about his background and his decision at a fairly young age to join the fam…

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief raises a glass and his voice in honor of a fellow veteran, Preston “Papa Whiskey” Wall from Frontline Heroes Outdoors (FHO)—an organization that’s changing lives one adventure at a time. Papa Whiskey shares the incredible mission of FHO: bringing healing, camaraderie, and a renewed sense of purpose to milita…

In this Episode of the Bourbon Life Podcast, Mark and his special Co-Host, Chad, spend some time hanging out in The Bourbon Life Studios with Brian Luftman, Co-Founder, of Never Say Die. The guys talk with Brian about his background as a trader in Chicago and how the connections that he made in that world eventually led him to the wonderful world o…

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief visits Frankfort, Kentucky, to sit down with Jeff and Cam Mattingly of J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery and Bourbon 30—where tradition is honored, craftsmanship is respected, and every bottle carries a legacy. For nearly two centuries, the Mattingly family has played a vital role in shaping the bourbon industry,…

In this Episode of the Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt & Mark spend some time hanging out in The Bourbon Life Studios with their good friend and fellow Bourbon Life Crew Member, Chad. They were going to name the Episode “Three Guys and a Bottle” but after much deliberation realized that it might not be the best idea to do so. The guys talk about the rat…

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief heads to northern Ohio to visit his good friend and the undisputed king of all things maple—Kevin Holy, founder of Seldom Seen Farm and now the visionary behind Seldom Seen Whiskey Company. Kevin shares the story of his family’s bold new adventure into the world of distilling with Seldom Seen Whiskey Company…

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt & Mark spend some time hanging out with Tim Piersant, CEO & Founder, of Chattanooga Whiskey. This Episode originally aired on June 7, 2024 as Episode 226. The guys talk with Tim about his background and previous career working for his dad’s business and how he eventually ended up in the whiske…

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief takes listeners to the bourbon capital of the world—Bardstown, Kentucky—for an unforgettable conversation with his good friend Bernie Lubbers, the National Brand Ambassador for Heaven Hill Distillery and the man known far and wide as The Whiskey Professor. Bernie’s journey into whiskey is as fascinating as t…

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out in The Bourbon Life Studio with Julian Jones, Co-Founder and Master Distiller, of West Fork Whiskey Co. located in Westfield, Indiana. The guys talk with Julian about the decision that he, his brother, Blake, and their childhood friend, David McIntyre made to lea…

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief heads deep into the heart of Houston, Texas, to shine a spotlight on a remarkable group reshaping the whiskey world: The Women’s Whiskey Society. He sits down with Founder Summer Sanford and member Stephanie Burleigh to uncover their inspiring mission to empower, educate, and celebrate women in the dynamic a…

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, The Bourbon Life Crew reassembles in The Bourbon Life Studios for their 1st Episode of 2025. The Crew members each make their bold predictions for the Bourbon industry for 2025, discuss some recent negative news about the state of the Bourbon industry as a whole, and dive into the recent Surgeon General …

This week on The Whiskey Trip podcast, Big Chief marks an incredible milestone—his 400th episode—by celebrating with friends Matt King from The Blending House and Emiliano Guajardo from Still Austin Whiskey Company. Together, the trio takes listeners on an emotional journey through the world of craft whiskey and podcasting, sharing stories, laughte…

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out with Eric LeGrand and Biran Axelrod, Co-Founders of Eric LeGrand Bourbon. The guys talk with Eric and Brian about their respective backgrounds, including Eric’s life-altering spinal cord injury that he sustained during a football game while a member of the Rutger…

This week on The Whiskey Trip Podcast, Big Chief takes listeners back to New Orleans, Louisiana, for a chat with Tracy and Barbara Napolitano, Founders of the New Orleans Bourbon Festival. Tracy and Barbara walk Big Chief through the incredible lineup of events planned for this year’s festival. From expert-led seminars and bourbon dinners across Th…

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, presented by Liquor Barn, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out with Graham McTavish, Founder & President, of McTavish Spirits. This Episode orginally aired on July 19, 2024. The guys talk with Graham about his remarkable career as an actor and how his secret love for Bourbon that began over 20…

This week, Big Chief takes listeners to Fort Worth, Texas, to visit Blackland Distillery. He sits down with Master Distiller Ezra Cox to dive into their innovative approach to distilling, including the use of the modern iStill technology from the Netherlands. Ezra shares how he combines advanced technology with brewing techniques, including the use…

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast presented by Liquor Barn, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out with Dr. Pat Heist, Chief Scientific Officer, Co-Founder, & Co-Owner, of Wilderness Trail Distillery, in Danville, Kentucky. This Episode originally aired on March 28, 2024. The guys talk with Pat about his impressive background tha…

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief wraps up 2024 in grand fashion by announcing his Distillery of the Year and Whiskey of the Year. Joining him for this special episode are his old friend Steve Johnson, Jim Hough from Liberty Pole Spirits, and Mark McLaughlin from Old Line Spirits. In the first half, Big Chief and Steve savor a Wheated Bourbo…

In this Final Episode of Season 5 of The Bourbon Life Podcast presented by Liquor Barn, Matt is in Michigan for Christmas spending time with his family so Mark is flying solo and hanging out with 4-time Bourbon Life Podcast guest, Jackie Zykan, Master Blender, from Hidden Barn. Mark talks with Jackie about all that has been going on with her since …

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief takes listeners on a journey to southern Alabama to visit Seth Dettling, the founder and distiller of Dettling Bourbon. Together, they explore the story behind this rising Southern brand that has whiskey enthusiasts lining up for every drop coming off the stills. The episode kicks off with a tasting of Dettl…

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast presented by Liquor Barn, the Bourbon Life Crew (minus Stacey) spends some time hanging out together in The Bourbon Life Studios for their 12 Blinds of Christmas Spectacular, where the guys each drink a different blind pour during each of the three rounds and then try to guess what they’re drinking. They …

This Week on The Whiskey Trip Big Chief visits the newest stop on the Texas Whiskey Trail—Whiskey Castle, home of the Whiskey Crusaders. He sits down with Owner, Founder, and Whiskey Expert, Matt Zitrick, to explore the world of whiskey education. Matt shares his passion for the “water of life,” recounts his journey, and gives insight into his rema…

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out in The Bourbon Life Studios with Heather Wibbels, aka Cocktail Contessa, Mixologist/Author and Managing Director of Bourbon Women. The guys talk with Heather about how her passion for Bourbon led her to become a world-famous mixologist and author, her role as Man…

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief steps off the whiskey trail to sit down with singer-songwriter Colin Boutwell at Wilson Valley Mercantile Distillery. Together, they dive into whiskey, love, and music, making for a soulful and spirited conversation. Colin, a longtime whiskey enthusiast whose journey began with Old Grand-Dad, shares stories …

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out with Robert Likarish, Founder, Jonathan Likarish, Master Distiller & Blender, and Marcia Likarish, the Mother of Texas Whiskey, of Ironroot Republic Distillery. The guys talk with Robert, Jonathan, and Marcia about their respective backgrounds and how a collectiv…

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief takes listeners on a spirited journey along The Tennessee Whiskey Trail with Executive Director Charity Toombs. Charity offers insider tips on exploring the trail and its remarkable distilleries. She also highlights its vibrant festivals and events, including this year’s holiday pop-up, Carols & Barrels. Whi…

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, the Bourbon Life Crew (minus Chad) spend some time hanging out together live in The Bourbon Life Studios, sharing some great pours and even better conversation. They talk about the amazing job, and all of the hard work, that Matt did on his 22-month old country ham that he cured back in January 2023 and …

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief hits The Texas Whiskey Trail and travels to Central Texas, visiting John Evans—Owner, Founder, and Distiller at Wilson Valley Mercantile, a true farm-to-glass distillery. Established in 1867, the Evans Ranch embraces a “seed-to-sip” philosophy, growing all its grains on-site. In 2022, John decided to transfo…

In this REMIX Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time hanging out live in The Bourbon Life Studios with Brad Williams, Senior Category Manager for Spirits at Liquor Barn/BevMo/GoPuff. Brad was previously a guest on Episodes 90 & 127. This Episode originally aired on December 15, 2023 as Episode 201. The guys talk with Bra…

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief takes us to the Pacific Northwest to meet Kenny Miller, the Founder and Owner of The Distillarium, a craft distillery nestled in picturesque Yakima, Washington. Known for its rich agricultural heritage, the Yakima Valley provides the perfect backdrop for crafting exceptional spirits with top-tier ingredients…

In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast presented by Liquor Barn, Matt and Mark spend some hanging out with Ashley Barnes, Master Blender, for EJ Curley. Ashley was previously a guest on Episode 144. The guys talk with Ashley about her incredible experience in the Bourbon industry including stints at Buffalo Trace and Four Roses, the history an…

This week on The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief steps away from the distillery scene to welcome Southeast Texas country music artist Chloe Overstreet and her guitar, Angel, to Bayou Sunset Farm. Over pours of sweeter whiskeys, Chloe opens up about her music and the journey of breaking into the country scene. At just 21, Chloe has been singing her heart ou…