The Broken Cork

What can you get for $20? The answer to that question has become increasingly less in recent years, but are there still good values out there in the bourbon industry? In this episode, we combat the ideology that bourbon has to be expensive to be high quality. Special guest, Brian McDaniel, joins us as we sample six, easy to find bourbons, under $20. True or False: "You get what you pay for" when it comes to bourbon? It's Bottom Shelf 'Sip or Skip?' on this episode of the Broken Cork!

Situated in beautiful Owensboro, KY, just a stone's throw away from the Green River, lies Green River Distilling Company, a historic distillery once known for producing some of Kentucky’s finest whiskey. A true comeback story, Green River recently released the first bourbon bearing it's own name in over 100 years. Join us as we sit down with Master Distiller Jacob Call to talk history, present day, and the future of this historic brand. Sit back, and leave your regrets behind, because you're going to learn all about the "whiskey without regrets," right here on The Broken Cork!

From shamrocks to parades and even the occasional leprechaun or green beer, St. Patrick’s Day has meaning to everyone…The Broken Cork included. From still sites in the countryside to the large-scale distilleries of today, Ireland’s national spirit takes center stage in this episode as we welcome Justin Strumpfer into the studio! From history to a delightful tasting, he takes us through Irish whiskey in a masterclass you will not want to miss! What fun facts does he have in store for us and what exactly are we drinking? Grab your four leaf clover and pour yourself a dram because today we are all Irish on this episode of The Broken Cork!

Have you ever tried a whiskey and thought to yourself, "There is something here that just doesn't work."? During this episode, the guys welcome Matt Poselwait back into the studio to investigate just that. Join us as we dive deep into Matt's sensory kit, and discuss faults within a whiskey that could leave you wanting more. Whether you are a bourbon lover, rye connoisseur, or enjoy a dram of scotch, there is something here for you! Grab a pen and notebook; you are going to need it, on this episode of The Broken Cork!

Bourbon has some pretty strict rules, one of those being that a barrel can only be used one time to produce bourbon. After we dump a barrel, there is still a lot of life left in that oak. This episode begins a new series called "The Life of a Bourbon Barrel," where we discuss the various industries that are able to utilize a used barrel. Goose Island Brewing Company utilizes used bourbon barrels to produce a special annual release they call Goose Island Bourbon County Stouts. The stout is brewed and then aged for a specific amount of time in various used bourbon barrels. Join Aaron, Danny, Michael, and Jake as they talk about and try each of the 2021 Bourbon County Stouts. They discuss their favorites and the results may be surprising. This and a whole lot more on this episode of The Broken Cork.

After much deliberation, the Broken Cork is back and ready to put 2021 to rest! Before we do that, we are excited to share with you one last thought: what whiskeys did we consider our best in 2021? Did Aaron finally kick his Blanton’s habit? Can Dan find a bottle to love that doesn’t say Old Forester? What exactly can we expect from Jake and Michael? We lay it all down for you as we tell you our personal favorites as well as a top-five that you won’t want to miss! We told you about the worst, and I promise you will want to stick around to hear what we think is first. So, join us as we send 2021 out with a bang… all that and a whole lot more on this episode of The Broken Cork!

Ryemaggedon 2022- Four ryes go head-to-head in a blind-tasting battle. After many years in a dark rickhouse, our challengers have been bottled and now wait in the silence, hoping to claim the title. Who will prevail? Listen here to find out.

The Broken Cork is back after a holiday hiatus to rest and recharge! As we ring in 2022 and look forward to what the new year has in store, we can't help but think of a few whiskeys that were memorable for all the wrong reasons in 2021. From big name distillery releases to a few not so well known, join us as we discuss what could be considered our bottom 10 bourbons of 2021. All of that and a whole lot more on this episode of The Broken Cork!

In the beautiful countryside of Loretto Kentucky situated next to a beautiful limestone water reservoir sits the producer of one of the most recognizable and popular wheated bourbons in America: Maker's Mark. Join us as we sit down with Private Select Specialist Austin Hazelwood and discover the story behind this modest Kentucky hobby turned American Icon. From their everyday offerings to Private Select and Wood Finishing nothing is left behind in this one! So sit back and grab your favorite bottle of Maker's because we are live from Star Hill Farms on this episode of The Broken Cork!

The time of the year to come together is here and we at The Broken Cork are resurrecting a tradition from Dan's college days! Friendsgiving was always a time to set aside studies, work, and the hustle and bustle of life if even just for an evening and enjoy the company of those you hold near and dear. This episode is all about that and more as we integrate the Thanksgiving holiday into our bourbon podcast. So, we invite you to sit down and pour yourself a dram as we all come together to celebrate the holiday season and the friends we have met along this crazy journey. The Broken Cork family all hope you enjoy the first annual Friendsgiving episode, and hope that you all have a safe, happy, and healthy Thanksgiving holiday, Cheers! All music credit given to Kevin Macleod, be sure to check out his music at: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/ Track Title: Whiskey on the Mississippi. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/thebrokencork)

On this episode the guys explore Lexington's first registered distillery. Located in the old James E. Pepper rickhouse, this unassuming space is the continuation of the already rich history of W.M. Tarr. Join us as we sit down with Barry Brinegar and discuss the resurrection of this legendary brand, how they do it, and of course what it tastes like. Where will they go from here? You have to listen to find out, all that and more on this episode of The Broken Cork Podcast! All music credit given to Kevin Macleod, be sure to check out his music at: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/ Track Title: Whiskey on the Mississippi. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/thebrokencork)

The Broken Cork is celebrating Halloween in the only way we see fit! We all have heard about the bucket list, a list of things people wish to do or accomplish before they buy the farm... and we all know, we can't live forever. So with that in mind we each decided to put together a list of 10 Bourbons, Ryes, and American Whiskeys that we think are worthy of trying before you die. You may not want to listen to this one with your wallet in the room as it may be a little traumatic, but hey...we are talking about mortality here so live a little! What will be included on each of our lists, and what will happen Aaron, Danny, Jake, and Michael are in the studio together for the first time ever? You will just have to sit back, grab a drink, and enjoy the Broken Cork Podcast Halloween Special to find out! Cheers! All music credit given to Kevin Macleod, be sure to check out his music at: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/ Track Title: Whiskey on the Mississippi. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/thebrokencork)

The world of bourbon, rye, and whisk(e)y has many things, from stories told to mash bills disclosed there is no shortage of information about the spirit we all know and love. One thing is for sure, we all have our own way of describing it...and so does the manufacturer. From rare release to the term juice, these are just some examples of the buzz words that people read on bottles and hear from the mouths of enthusiasts like you and I. So we invite you to come along with us as we discuss a few of these buzz words and explain not only their effect on the market, their effect on us as the consumer, but also our stance on how these words are used in conversation. All this and a whole lot more right here on The Broken Cork Podcast! All music credit given to Kevin Macleod, be sure to check out his music at: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/ Track Title: Whiskey on the Mississippi. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/thebrokencork)

Our next stop brings us to the beautiful Casey Jones Distillery in Hopkinsville Kentucky! This place really has it all...space corn, aliens, and even an amazing owner who isn't afraid to dj your wedding reception! Come along with us as we sit down and talk with President and Owner of Casey Jones Distillery Peg Hays. From the story of Casey Jones the master stillmaker, to the distillery that stands in honor of his name and legacy, we talk about it all, so grab a drink and sit back because this one is out of this world. All this and more on this episode of The Broken Cork!

We are out and about again, this time we make the trip to M.B. Roland Distillery located in beautiful Pembroke, Ky. although they affectionately refer to the exact location as "downtown St. Elmo". The beautiful front porch of the distillery is our studio this time as we sit down with Michael Cox (aka Big Mike, aka Mudcat), and Distiller Elizabeth Chester (aka Liz, aka Queen Elizabeth) to talk about all things MB. So come along with us as we explore what craft distilling on the state line is like, and where MB is going in the future! All that and a whole lot more on this episode of The Broken Cork!