Shows
Bourbon: Legends from the TrailThe Irish Widow Who Became the Mother of Bourbon (Part 2)Send us a textThey thought she was finished.After building an empire in a man’s world, surviving death, fire, and prohibition itself, one woman’s legacy stood on the edge of collapse—not because of bad business or market forces, but because someone knocked at her door in the dead of night with a fist full of warrants and a thirst for destruction. What followed wasn’t just a legal trial—it was a full-scale reckoning. And at the center of it all: a woman whose name carried the weight of both scandal and defian...
2025-07-2129 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailThe Irish Widow Who Became the Mother of Bourbon (Part 1)Send us a textShe was born into a world that didn’t expect much from her—at least not outside the kitchen or the church pew. But behind a dry goods counter in a dusty Kentucky town, she learned the pulse of commerce, the weight of reputation, and the quiet power of watching everything. By fifteen, she’d been matched to a man twice her age—not for love, but for legacy. And together, they built more than a life—they built an empire.When tragedy struck, she didn’t crumble. She rose—armed with ledgers...
2025-06-0924 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailThe Promise: Lessons in Life and Bourbon with Freddie JohnsonSend us a textIf there is one episode I would want everyone to hear, it would be this episode. While I am proud of every episode, this one holds a special place. There is a message and meaning that everyone, whether you are a bourbon fan or not, should hear. I hope you enjoy it ! In this episode, the delicate art of promise-making is put under the microscope—a reminder that every word we utter carries a hidden weight. We delve into a world where promises are not mere utterances, but seeds that, when nurtur...
2025-05-2629 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailWhen Two Legends Collide...One Bottle is BornSend us a textIn the world of whiskey, some bottles are born of tradition, others of innovation—but once in a generation, one emerges from the quiet collision of greatness. This is the story of two icons from opposite sides of the world, each steeped in legacy, who dared to defy convention. One was a master of American bourbon, whose family had passed down the craft for over two centuries. The other, a quiet force behind some of the most elegant spirits ever blended, was shaped by precision, ritual, and the philosophy of balance. The...
2025-05-1227 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailNature's Reckoning: Hell Comes to BardstownSend us a textA warm November afternoon, an eerie shift in the wind, and then—chaos. In this episode, we step into the heart of one of the most catastrophic moments in bourbon history: the Heaven Hill fire of 1996. What started as a single spark, fueled by relentless winds, erupted into an unstoppable inferno. Flames engulfed rickhouses filled with aging bourbon, the heat so intense it sent barrels rocketing through the air and melted mailboxes in nearby neighborhoods. But the true horror came when the fire took on a life of its own—rivers of burning whis...
2025-04-2835 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailSpecial Episode: Buffalo Trace and the Flood of 2025Send us a textShe didn’t come all at once. That would’ve been too easy. No, this time, Mother Nature rose with a quiet vengeance—slow, steady, and unstoppable. First came the wind—tornadoes clawing across Kentucky’s heartland. Then came the rain, wave after wave, day after day, until the rivers could hold no more. The waters rose of Kentucky’s rivers rose—not with a roar, but with a creeping certainty. Towns flooded. Homes vanished. And in Frankfort, the unthinkable happened: the legendary Buffalo Trace Distillery… disappeared beneath the river’s muddy reach.This week, hi...
2025-04-1423 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailNature's Reckoning: When Mother Nature Lashes OutSend us a textFor as long as bourbon has rested in Kentucky’s rickhouses, Mother Nature has been the silent partner—nurturing the spirit with each season, yet always waiting to remind distillers who truly holds the reins. In this episode, we step into the heart of bourbon’s battle with the elements, uncovering the moments when nature turned from ally to adversary. From devastating tornadoes that left distilleries in ruins to fires that burned through thousands of barrels, we’ll relive the disasters that reshaped the industry and the legends they left behind. What happens when the...
2025-03-3131 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailThe Lost Bourbon: A Jurassic Tale of a Whiskey That Time ForgotSend us a textIn the shadow of Kentucky’s rolling hills, two brothers with roots stretching deep into bourbon history set out to revive a whiskey long thought extinct. Armed with nothing but their family’s legacy and an empty jug tied to a tale of ingenuity, they embarked on a journey that defied time itself. Their quest took them from forgotten archives to cutting-edge labs, where the secret to recreating a lost recipe—a flavor that once ruled the shelves—lay hidden in the microscopic remnants of an ancient yeast.What emerged was not just...
2025-03-1722 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailStolen Spirits: The Bourbon Heist That Became a LegendSend us a textThe cases were there—until they weren’t. One morning, a routine inventory check at a storied Kentucky distillery turned into the discovery of a heist that no one saw coming. The missing bourbon wasn’t just any whiskey; it was THE bourbon, the kind collectors whisper about and connoisseurs hunt for. How could so much of it vanish without a trace? Was it an inside job, a well-planned heist, or something even more sinister? As investigators dug deeper, they uncovered a tangled web of deception, underground deals, and a black-market bourbon trade that h...
2025-03-0332 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailBourbon: Legends From The Trail Season 2 TrailerSend us a text (Season 2 begins March 3, 2025)Last season… we took a journey to discover LEGENDSWe uncovered the legend of how bourbon came to Kentucky—why this state, why this water, and why it became the beating heart of America’s spirit. We met Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr., the legend who shaped modern bourbon. We hunted the White Whale of Bourbon—one of the rarest bottles ever made, lost to time and a legend sought after by the greatest hunters. We unmasked the King of Bootleggers, a infamous legend who ruled Prohibitio...
2025-02-1705 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailEchoes from the Holler: A Legend Rises from the AshesSend us a textIn the heart of Tennessee, tucked away in a remote holler, a secret lost for over 150 years waited to reshape the world of whiskey. When this story came to light nearly eight years ago, it sent shockwaves through the spirits industry, further explaining how the pivotal distinction between Kentucky Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey came to be, and still defines these spirits today. It began with a modest farmhouse, a determined preacher, and a mysterious shack billowing smoke and steam. What happened there would ignite a legacy, blending tradition, ingenuity, and the quiet strength...
2024-12-0928 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailShadows of the Still: The Legend of Big SixSend us a textIn this gripping installment of Bourbon: Legends from the Trail, we take you deep into the misty hills of Kentucky for a tale that’s equal parts thrilling and thought-provoking. While the moonshiners of yore have captured imaginations for generations, today’s story flips the perspective to the other side of the law. Meet the men tasked with shutting down the illegal stills that dotted the countryside—fearless agents who not only enforced Prohibition-era laws but became legends in their own right. At the heart of this story is one man whose name alone...
2024-12-0227 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailShadows of the Still: The Devil's DewSend us a textIn this captivating episode of Bourbon: Legends from the Trail, we step into the moonlit shadows of Appalachia to uncover the rebellious history of moonshine—bourbon’s untamed brother. From its roots as a clandestine craft born of necessity to its undeniable influence on American culture, moonshine has always walked a fine line between defiance and tradition. This episode delves into the mysteries surrounding its production, the fiery legacy of its makers, and the enduring spirit that still burns in Kentucky’s hills today.You’ll hear tales of legendary figures who navi...
2024-11-2524 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailCrown of Shadows: The Prohibition King's Rise and Fall (part 2)Send us a textIn this week's episode of Bourbon: Legends from the trail, we will hear part 2 of Crown of Shadows: The Prohibition King’s Rise and Fall.As George’s journey takes him to Cincinnati, he steps into a world where wealth and corruption go hand in hand. Surrounded by marble, gold, and opulence, he quickly rises to be the King of the Underworld. But his ambition and charm have their limits—and cracks begin to show, not only in his empire but in his marriage to the captivating yet dangerously impuls...
2024-11-1823 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailCrown of Shadows: The Prohibition King's Rise and Fall (part 1)Send us a textTransport yourself to the smoky speakeasies of 1920s Chicago, where one man seized the chaos of Prohibition to build an empire unlike any other. He wasn’t a household name, but his cunning rivaled the most infamous crime lords. From a humble start, he rose to wealth and power, manipulating the law with brazen genius and a twisted loyalty to himself alone. This two-part episode uncovers the legend behind a bourbon bottle you might have overlooked, a story pulsing with ambition, betrayal, and a ruthless thirst for dominance. Join us as we dive in...
2024-11-1122 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailBarrels of Valor: Where Bourbon and Heroes RiseSend us a textOn this episode of Bourbon: Legends from the Trail, we delve into a story as iconic and enduring as the bourbon itself, a tale that bridges past and present with astonishing intensity. It’s a legend forged in battle, bound by camaraderie, and carried through to the distillery. Most might recognize echoes of this saga from Hollywood or bestsellers, but few know how it intertwines with Kentucky’s bourbon trail and the indomitable spirit of those who walked it.We’ll take you back to a day that defined a generation and sh...
2024-11-0423 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailThe White Whale of BourbonSend us a textIn this episode, prepare to delve into a legend that transcends whiskey itself - an elusive treasure whispered about only among the most dedicated collectors. It's a tale of passion, pursuit, and the mysterious bottle that has captivated bourbon enthusiasts for decades. In the 1990's, the world was gripped by a frenzy, but little did most know that far from the public eye, an even greater obsession was slowly brewing inside barrels in a dark, long-ago forgotten rickhouse. A few rare individuals embarked on a journey to uncover one of the most coveted sp...
2024-10-2820 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailThe Wild West Leaves its Mark on BardstownSend us a textIn this episode, we journey to a town that most people do not even know exists, where rolling hills hide a secret that changed American history. Beneath the quiet facade lies the story of a young woman whose sons would wreak havoc on not only their town, but the future bourbon capital of the world. Their wild antics and lawless deeds left a lasting mark, but their connection to Kentucky's bourbon history runs deeper than most realize. We'll explore a historic tavern they frequented, where bullet holes still bear witness to their presence, and...
2024-10-2127 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailThe Birth of a LegendSend us a textIn this week's episode, we will uncover the untold story of bourbon's most influential figure - a mystery icon who revolutionized the industry and earned him the central spot on bourbon's Mt. Rushmore. His name is on bottles around the world, but the dramatic tale of rivalries, financial turmoil, and relentless innovation behind his rise is a story few truly know. We'll explore how this pioneer's vision and bold decisions forever changed whiskey making, and along the way, we'll visit some legendary distilleries still standing today - monuments to his legacy - as h...
2024-10-1427 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailThe Skeleton Key to Unlock Bourbon's Darkest SecretSend us a textImagine a heist so bold, so meticulously planned, that it left everyone stunned, not just by the crime but by the sheer audacity of it. A tale of greed deception, and betrayal that shook an entire industry to its core. The story you're about to hear dives deep into a legend you may have never heard of - a man whose actions sent shockwaves through a world steeped in tradition. What was stolen wasn't just a prized possession; it was a symbol of heritage, and its loss forever changed the landscape. Join me as w...
2024-10-0725 minBourbon: Legends from the TrailHow Bourbon Came to KentuckySend us a textImagine the misty hills of Kentucky, where towering rickhouses stand as silent sentinels, holding secrets that stretch back over two centuries. What if I told you that a series of unexpected events - triggered by some of the most influential figures in American history - led to the birth of something truly iconic? A rebellion, an escape, and a group of pioneers all set the stage for what would become the heart and soul of Kentucky: Bourbon. Can all these events be traced back to the ideas of one man? A founding father of...
2024-10-0115 min
Bourbon: Legends from the TrailBourbon: Legends from the Trail TrailerSend us a textGet ready to embark on a journey through the rich, intoxicating history of bourbon like never before! As a guide on the bourbon trail for five years, I've heard legends and stories from the heart of bourbon country, and now I'm sharing them with you. This podcast uncovers untold stories of bourbon's past and present, pulling back the curtain on legendary brands, revealing the myths and truths that swirl around them. We'll delve into the lives of iconic figures - both the celebrated and the infamous - whose passion and ingenuity shaped the in...
2024-09-2502 min