Bourbon Lens

Bourbon Lens is the podcast for every whiskey drinker. During this project, we look to explore the whiskey and bourbon industry, learn more about our favorite spirit, and interview industry insiders, makers, entrepreneurs, and business people. We welcome you on this journey with us. Bourbon Lens was founded by Jake and Scott from Louisville, Kentucky. We have grown our appreciation for Kentucky's native spirit and look to learn all that we can about every type of whiskey. We welcome you to pour a glass of whiskey and join us. We are always looking for show topics, discussion starters, and new whiskies to try. Contact us on social media or send us an email to: Info@BourbonLens.com with ideas, comments, or questions.

Bourbon Lens is a leisure podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 440 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Bourbon Lens, a leisure show with 440 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Bourbon Lens

  396: From Ohio River to Bourbon Barrel: The Untold Story of Louisville's Water

  Aug 16, 202622 min

  Most people never think twice about the water coming out of their tap — until they hear how Louisville turned it into a source of civic pride, a public health milestone, and a hidden ingredient in the bourbon industry. At the historic Louisville Water Tower, host Jake sits down with Kelly Deering Smith, VP of Communications and Marketing at Louisville Water, to explore why this landmark matters far beyond its riverside views. Kelly traces Louisville Water's origin story back to 1860, when the utility served just 512 customers pulling untreated water straight from the Ohio River. From there, she walks through the filtration breakthroughs that helped shape modern drinking water treatment nationwide, how Louisville Water grew into Kentucky's largest drinking water provider, and why "Louisville Pure Tap" became the only trademarked tap water in North America. In this episode, you'll learn: How a devastating downtown fire — not thirst — is what actually convinced Louisville residents to pay for water Why the Ohio River and regional limestone give Louisville water its signature quality for both drinking and distilling How 20+ local distilleries rely on Louisville Water today, and the surprising 1860s connection between water rates and whiskey barrels What happens during "Sip with the Scientist," where distillers and water scientists compare notes on flavor and chemistry Why water reliability is something most people take for granted — and why that complacency can be costly for communities How Louisville Water collaborates with major utilities like Denver, Chicago, and New York on treatment innovation and research Kelly also opens up about the Louisville Water Tower's role today as a National Historic Landmark, working pumping station, and home to the Waterworks Museum — a hands-on education hub open for public tours, school field trips, and bourbon lovers alike. Whether you're into Kentucky history, bourbon culture, or just want a new appreciation for your next glass of tap water, this episode will change the way you think about what comes out of your faucet. Learn more at LouisvilleWater.com or plan a visit to the Louisville Water Tower and Waterworks Museum. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Water Filtration 07:45 Louisville Water and Its History 13:09 Evolution of Louisville Water 19:38 Bourbon and Water Connection 25:46 Water Utilities and Collaboration 27:33 Louisville Water Tower and Education Subscribe for more weekly discussions, tastings, and bourbon insights from the Bourbon Lens community. Follow on Instagram: @bourbonlens Visit: www.bourbonlens.com Merch: https://bourbon-lens-shop.printify.me/products Discord: https://discord.gg/pd6ys5nRSU

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  Bourbon Lens

  Rabbit Hole Raceking Review: Chocolate Malt Bourbon Tastes Like Cold Brew | Five Minute Fridays

  Aug 13, 20265 min

  Five Minute Fridays is back, and this week Jake Lewellen pours Rabbit Hole Raceking — a Kentucky Straight Bourbon built around a five-grain, double chocolate malt recipe unlike anything else on the shelf. Jake breaks down what "chocolate malt" actually means (hint: it's about roast, not flavoring), then walks through the nose, palate, and finish to show how this bourbon balances roasty coffee character with fruit and sweetness in a way he didn't expect. Raceking comes in at 95 proof with a six-year age statement, never chill filtered, and built from 70% corn, 13% rye, 10% malted rye, 4% chocolate malted wheat, and 3% chocolate malted barley. On the nose it leans surprisingly sweet — peach, apricot, vanilla, honey — before the palate shifts into stout-like coffee and toffee notes that Jake compares to cold brew or a latte, finishing with chocolate, tobacco, and a lingering roastiness. If you're into bourbon tasting notes that go beyond the basics, this one's worth five minutes. Jake also breaks down where Raceking fits best — from a neat pour to darker cocktails like an espresso martini, a Boulevardier, or a Black Manhattan. Notable quotes: "It does kind of taste like cold brew coffee, honestly." "I do think that this bottle is versatile as well." "If you're a coffee fan, let us know what you think." Timestamps: 00:00 – Five Minute Fridays returns with Rabbit Hole Raceking 00:29 – Breaking down the five-grain chocolate malt recipe and 95 proof age statement 00:59 – What chocolate malt actually means in bourbon 01:46 – First impression on the nose: sweetness instead of roast 02:27 – Palate shifts into coffee, toffee, and stout-like notes 02:52 – Balanced sweetness and roasty character in the middle palate 03:20 – Chocolate, tobacco, and coffee notes on the finish 03:47 – Where this bourbon fits best: neat or in cocktails 04:28 – Final verdict: approachable, but not an everyday pour Subscribe Subscribe for more weekly discussions, tastings, and bourbon insights from the Bourbon Lens community. Follow on Instagram: @bourbonlens Visit: www.bourbonlens.com Merch: https://bourbon-lens-shop.printify.me/products Discord: https://discord.gg/pd6ys5nRSU Hashtags #BourbonLens #RabbitHoleBourbon #Raceking #FiveMinuteFridays #ChocolateMaltBourbon #KentuckyStraightBourbon #BourbonReview #WhiskeyReview #BourbonTastingNotes #CraftBourbon #EspressoMartini #Boulevardier #BlackManhattan #BourbonPodcast #WhiskeyPodcast

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  Bourbon Lens

  Whiskey Lens Ep. 3: Independent Bottling, Single Casks & Impex Beverage with Sam Filmus

  Aug 12, 202630 min

  Why do independent bottlers matter, and how do they let you taste whiskey that never makes it into a distillery's core range? In Episode 3 of Whiskey Lens, Jake Lewellen sits down with Sam Filmus, founder of Impex Beverage, to unpack the world of single casks and curated collections — and how Scotch whiskey makes its way onto American shelves. Sam walks through his path into the business, starting with an ethnic import company in California before pivoting into mainstream whiskey, and explains why independent bottling was such a hard sell in the early 2000s, when buyers expected a Macallan label to look like, well, a Macallan label. He and Jake dig into how the category has exploded since then — with Impex, Lost Lantern, and Single Cask Nation all building loyal followings — and how Impex curates each annual edition around its own theme, from single malts across Scotland's regions to grain whisky and blended malt. The conversation gets hands-on with two Impex selections: an 11-year Teaninich, a clean, Speyside-leaning Highland malt with a surprising backstory involving a distillery founder known as the "Blind Captain," and a 14-year cask-strength Ardmore, which becomes the jumping-off point for a real conversation about peat — Highland peat versus the more medicinal, maritime style associated with Islay. Sam also shares the story behind his favorite Impex bottling to date: a 25-year-old Springbank finished in a sherry cask under the guidance of Exclusive Malts' David Stirk. If you've ever wondered what "single cask" really means, why independent bottlers are reshaping how whiskey drinkers discover new distilleries, or how peated Scotch can be far more approachable than its reputation suggests, this episode is for you. Chapters: 00:00 – Why Independent Bottlers Matter 01:36 – Sam Filmus's Journey Into Whiskey 03:23 – The Rise of Independent Bottling in the U.S. 06:31 – Curating Impex: The Springbank 25 and Building Each Edition 16:22 – Tasting Teaninich: Clean Distillate and the "Blind Captain" Story 23:24 – Tasting Ardmore: Cask Strength and Highland Peat 32:24 – Scotch's Wide Spectrum, and How to Buy Impex Bottlings Subscribe Subscribe for more weekly discussions, tastings, and bourbon insights from the Bourbon Lens community. Follow on Instagram: @bourbonlens Visit: www.bourbonlens.com Merch: https://bourbon-lens-shop.printify.me/products Discord: https://discord.gg/pd6ys5nRSU

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  Bourbon Lens

  395: Mugen Spirit: A Love Letter from Kentucky to Japan With Kojin Tashiro Founder of Mugen Spirit

  Aug 9, 202630 min

  What happens when Kentucky bourbon meets Japanese storytelling? In this episode of Bourbon Lens, Jake sits down bar-side with Kojin Tashiro of Mugen Spirit for a tasting and wide-ranging conversation about building a whiskey brand as a cultural bridge between Kentucky and Japan. Kojin breaks down his recent trip to Japan and how it tied directly into launching Oni, Mugen's first small batch blend — built from roughly 20 barrels, bottled around 117 proof, and wrapped in artwork by Japanese artist Yuko Shimizu rooted in folklore. He walks through the rest of the Mugen lineup, including Tengu, the wheated kuko release, and Nobunaga from the shogun series, and explains why Mugen treats Japanese culture as a lens rather than forcing every release into a "Japanese whiskey" mold. Jake and Kojin also dig into how Japanese whiskey culture evolved out of American whiskey's popularity in the 1980s, the generational shift in how young drinkers in Japan and the U.S. discover whiskey, and how Mugen balances premium positioning with genuine accessibility and community. It's a conversation about intentionality — in blending, in branding, and in building something that bridges two cultures without diluting either one. Key topics: Kojin's Japan trip and the launch path for Oni Why Mugen Spirit calls itself "a love letter from Kentucky to Japan" How Japanese whiskey culture grew out of American whiskey's 1980s popularity Educating Japanese consumers on the American whiskey story before talking tasting notes The generational shift in whiskey culture and mentorship in Japan and the U.S. Oni's barrel makeup, proof, and the folklore-inspired label artwork The rest of the Mugen lineup: Tengu, Cuckoo, and Nobunaga Nobunaga's East-meets-West profile and Chichibu cask finishing Why "blended" shouldn't be a dirty word in whiskey Mugen's future: more intentional releases, deeper presence in Japan and the U.S., and direct-to-consumer drops Notable quotes: "We're a love letter from Kentucky to Japan." "I'm gonna make this a weapon in a good way." "The right way to drink it is however you want to drink it." Chapters: 00:00 – The Introduction to Mugen Spirit 06:00 – Bridging American and Japanese Whiskey Culture 11:00 – The Art of Blending and Creating Oni 16:30 – Nobunaga: A Blend of East and West 22:31 – The Future Aspirations of Mugen Spirit Subscribe Subscribe for more weekly discussions, tastings, and bourbon insights from the Bourbon Lens community. Follow on Instagram: @bourbonlens Visit: www.bourbonlens.com Merch: https://bourbon-lens-shop.printify.me/products Discord: https://discord.gg/pd6ys5nRSU

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  Bourbon Lens

  394: Whiskey Thief x Louisville Bats: Bourbon Meets Baseball at Louisville Slugger Field

  Aug 2, 202632 min

  What happens when bourbon culture collides with America's pastime? In this episode of Bourbon Lens, we sit down with Walter of Whiskey Thief to unpack the brand's partnership with the Louisville Bats at Louisville Slugger Field — a collaboration redefining what experiential bourbon looks like. We dig into the "Backstop" branded experience zone bringing whiskey tastings into the ballpark, how Whiskey Thief makes bourbon approachable for first-timers, and the local storytelling behind touches like the Mashers jerseys. Walter also breaks down the shift in stadium concessions from beer-only to story-rich spirits experiences, scaling barrel thieving events, and navigating distillation innovation and compliance amid headwinds like the bourbon surplus. Whether you're a bourbon obsessive, a baseball fan, or just curious how craft spirits brands are finding new platforms to connect with consumers, this conversation is packed with insight on branding, direct-to-consumer growth, and the future of experiential bourbon. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to Whiskey Thief's innovative stadium partnership 02:06 – The significance of the Louisville Bats collaboration for brand exposure 07:30 – Using the "Backstop" as a branded experience zone for whiskey tastings 10:20 – Bringing whiskey cuisine and vibe to sports fans unfamiliar with whiskey 12:43 – Bourbon history and homage through local branding like the Mashers jerseys 13:50 – The cultural shift in baseball from beer to diverse experiential offerings 16:50 – Expanding Whiskey Thief's presence in Louisville and its strategic growth 19:14 – Unique barrel thieving experiences and storytelling for consumers 22:34 – Maintaining growth while staying true to the brand's roots amid industry headwinds 24:54 – Logistics and innovation around the distillation process and compliance 28:16 – Addressing bourbon surplus and the value of experiential consumption 30:12 – Personal stories of barrel tasting and the appeal of accessible, story-rich products 32:01 – Recommendations for travelers: Whiskey Thief as a must-visit spot for bourbon fans 34:25 – The future of distillery tours, automated systems, and unique product releases 37:49 – The importance of innovation, compliance, and community engagement in the industry 39:47 – Upcoming opportunities at baseball games and bourbon festivals to experience Whiskey Thief Resources & Links: Louisville Bats: https://www.milb.com/louisville-bats Whiskey Thief official website: https://whiskeythief.com/ Bourbon & Spirits Innovation: https://www.spiritsbusiness.com/ Subscribe Subscribe for more weekly discussions, tastings, and bourbon insights from the Bourbon Lens community. Follow on Instagram: @bourbonlens Visit: www.bourbonlens.com Merch: https://bourbon-lens-shop.printify.me/products Discord: https://discord.gg/pd6ys5nRSU

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