Bourbon Bytes Podcast

Dragon's Milk Origin Blue Dragon 2026 Review: Is a $165 Dungeons & Dragons bourbon actually worth buying, or are you paying for the collectible bottle? It's game night on the Bourbon Bytes Podcast! This week, whiskey brands are going all-in on tabletop gaming collaborations, and I'm reviewing the brand-new Dragon's Milk x Dungeons & Dragons Origin Mead Cask: Blue Dragon Edition from New Holland. But first, we've got some big whiskey news. Old Forester just unveiled its new Tribute Series Decanter, a 12-year-old, 115-proof bourbon in a gorgeous collectible bottle for $300. Booker's is also back with Southern Thunder, a 127.3-proof release honoring Booker Noe's legendary voice. And in one of the biggest industry announcements of the week, MGP Ingredients is changing its name to Sempreon, with a new NASDAQ ticker symbol: CASK. Old Elk also announced a special blended American whiskey supporting Folds of Honor scholarships for military and first responder families. Then it's time for GAME NIGHT. 🎲 Old Fitzgerald x Jonathan Adler has a $425 luxury backgammon set, while Bib & Tucker x Monopoly is bringing collectible bourbon-themed game pieces to a classic board game for just $30. Finally, it's time for this week's Byte-Sized Review of Dragon's Milk Origin Mead Cask: Blue Dragon Edition (2026). This limited-edition Dungeons & Dragons collaboration features New Holland's high-malt, pot-distilled bourbon finished in barrels previously used for house-made mead (fermented honey wine). 🥃 The specs: 100 proof (50% ABV) High-malt bourbon, pot-distilled Finished in mead casks No disclosed age statement $164.99 collectible gift set, including a Blue Dragon pour spout Online release scheduled for October 23, 2026 The tasting was genuinely different from what I expected. Sweet apricot, caramel, molasses, white wine, honeycomb, and an earthy finish that reminded me more of fermented honey wine than a typical honey-finished bourbon. It's unusual without being overly sweet, and the mead finish definitely takes center stage. Final score: 8/10. But that score considers the entire experience, including the D&D presentation and the collectible pour spout. Would I feel the same way about spending $165 if I weren't such a nerd? That's what we're getting into this week. Also in this episode: Old Forester Tribute Series, Booker's Southern Thunder, MGP becoming Sempreon, Old Elk Folds of Honor, Old Fitzgerald backgammon, and Bib & Tucker Monopoly. Which would you bring to game night: the Old Fitzgerald backgammon set, Bib & Tucker Monopoly, or Dragon's Milk Blue Dragon Bourbon?   Chapter Markers: 00:00 Intro – D&D Bourbon, Backgammon & Whiskey Game Night 00:29 Welcome + This Week's Gaming Theme 00:57 Old Forester 12 Year Tribute Series Decanter 02:47 Booker's Southern Thunder Bourbon 04:21 MGP Changes Its Name to Sempreon 05:57 Old Elk Folds of Honor Whiskey 06:59 Old Fitzgerald x Jonathan Adler Backgammon 08:52 Bib & Tucker x Monopoly 10:29 Byte-Sized Review – Dragon's Milk Blue Dragon 2026 20:34 Byte Club, Upcoming Schedule + Outro Thanks to New Holland for providing the bottle for review. Find more Bourbon Bytes livestreams, podcast episodes, Discord, and Byte Club membership at BourbonBytes.com. Cheers and game on!

Is the 2026 Russell’s Reserve 13 worth $200? This week, I’m tasting the release celebrating Eddie Russell’s 45 years at Wild Turkey and looking back at what I loved about the original and 2025 bottles. Brown sugar Pop-Tarts on the nose and cherry cola on the palate? That’s where this pour takes me, but there are a couple of things I miss from earlier releases. I share my first impressions, final score, and what I’d actually pay for a bottle. Also this week: • Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson D arrives at $300. • Old Bardstown and Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond win major awards. • Bruichladdich brings back The Laddie Rye. • Frey Ranch introduces triticale in its Third Harvest whiskey. • Holladay makes bourbon-inspired dog treats. Yes, really. Which Russell’s 13 release is your favorite? And what’s your limit on a bottle? Thanks to my friend Brandon for sharing the review sample. Find more reviews, livestreams, and Byte Club membership at https://bourbonbytes.com. Chapter Markers for the Replay Squad:  00:00 This Week on Bourbon Bytes 01:07 Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson D 03:05 Budget Bourbons Win Big: Old Bardstown & Evan Williams 05:15 Bruichladdich’s Laddie Rye Returns 06:17 Frey Ranch Third Harvest & Triticale 08:11 Holladay’s Bourbon-Inspired Dog Treats 09:18 Russell’s Reserve 13 (2026): Eddie’s 45th Anniversary 12:03 Nose: Brown Sugar Pop-Tarts 13:42 Palate & Finish: Cherry Cola and Baking Spice 14:53 How It Compares With Earlier Russell’s 13 Releases 15:39 Value, Final Score & What I’d Pay 17:26 Livestreams & Upcoming Schedule

Penelope Cigar Sessions Chapter 2 Review: Is this $80 whiskey worth buying if you don't smoke cigars? This week I'm finding out by tasting Penelope's latest collaboration with Alec Bradley Cigars both on its own and paired with an Alec Bradley Black Market cigar. But first, we're talking about something I don't get to say very often in whiskey news: older, higher-proof whiskey is actually getting more affordable. Copper & Cask just announced X Bourbon, a permanent 10-year barrel-proof release made from 10–12-year-old Indiana whiskey for just $70. Starlight Distillery is also releasing a 7-year, 110.8-proof estate-grown bourbon for $60, while newcomer Whisky Craft is offering a 21-year Highland single malt Scotch matured in first-fill bourbon barrels for just £85. We also have an important update on the devastating fire at Glenns Creek Distillery, which destroyed several historic structures at the former Old Crow site. Thankfully, nobody was injured, no bourbon was lost, and the distillery has reopened to visitors. Then The Dalmore is getting into the cigar-pairing conversation with its new 18-year Cigar Malt Signature Reserve, a premium Scotch designed to complement a good cigar. Which brings us to this week's Byte-Sized Review. Penelope Cigar Sessions: Chapter 2 was developed in collaboration with Alec Bradley Cigars, specifically to complement medium-to-full-bodied cigars. 🥃 The specs: 6 years old 117.4 proof 69% corn, 19% rye, 12% malted barley $79.99 MSRP Paired with an Alec Bradley Black Market cigar I spent an evening out on my patio trying the combination before coming back to review the whiskey on its own. And the difference genuinely surprised me. On its own, Penelope Cigar Sessions Chapter 2 delivers cinnamon, cardamom, brown sugar, vanilla cream, strawberry, chocolate, and a sweet dessert-like profile. But paired with the cigar, the brighter fruit notes really come alive against the darker tobacco flavors. It's enjoyable on its own, but at $80, I think the pairing is where this release really proves itself. Also in this episode: Copper & Cask X Bourbon, Starlight's new estate bourbon, Whisky Craft First Light 21 Year Scotch, the Glenns Creek Distillery fire update, and The Dalmore 18 Year Cigar Malt. Would you pay $80 for a whiskey specifically designed to go with a cigar? And what's your favorite whiskey and cigar pairing? Whiskey and cigar samples were provided by Penelope and Alec Bradley for review. Find more Bourbon Bytes, join the Byte Club, and hang out in Discord at BourbonBytes.com.   Chapter Markers: 00:00 Intro – Affordable Aged Whiskey + Penelope Cigar Sessions 00:27 Welcome + This Week's Theme 01:38 Copper & Cask X 10 Year Barrel Proof Bourbon 03:12 Starlight 7 Year Estate Bourbon 05:29 Whisky Craft First Light 21 Year Scotch 07:29 Glenns Creek Distillery Fire Update 08:41 The Dalmore 18 Year Cigar Malt 10:11 Byte-Sized Review – Penelope Cigar Sessions Chapter 2 + Alec Bradley Pairing 20:29 Final Thoughts + Outro

Bulleit ’87 Review: Bulleit just added a $30 bourbon-and-rye blend to its permanent lineup — and I did not expect to like it this much. Before we get to the review, this week’s Bourbon Bytes is packed with seriously interesting whiskey news. Dark Arts Whiskey House is releasing a massive 19-year-old Kentucky bourbon finished for seven years in Japanese Mizunara oak. The six-barrel Chief Alchemist Reserve comes in at 115 proof and a staggering $500. Jim Beam is also bringing back Baker’s 13 Year Single Barrel for 2026. It’s bottled at 107 proof and priced at $150, giving Beam fans another well-aged option alongside Knob Creek and Booker’s. Then Willett takes one of its most recognizable — and most divisive — bottles and gives it a serious upgrade. Willett Pot Still Reserve Cask Strength is coming nationwide for around $67, which might finally convince some skeptics to give the famous bottle another chance. And this might be the most Bourbon Bytes story of the week: A new Lord of the Rings whiskey is coming from New Zealand. Pōkeno Ringbearer celebrates the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings with whiskey matured across first-fill bourbon, virgin oak, Muscat, and Manuka honey casks. At around $109, it might be one of the coolest nerd-culture whiskey releases of the year. Copperworks also celebrates Craft Malt Month with a high-proof American single malt supporting the Craft Maltsters Guild, while Pursuit Spirits and Shortbarrel team up for a spooky-season bourbon-and-rye blend called Found Footage. Then it’s time for this week’s Byte-Sized Review: Bulleit ’87. This new core release blends Kentucky bourbon and Indiana rye whiskey, with both components aged at least four years before being finished with toasted American and French oak staves. It’s bottled at 90 proof and costs just $30. Expect sweet corn, marshmallow fluff, vanilla, orange citrus, baking spice, toasted oak, and enough rye spice to keep everything from becoming overly sweet. For the money, this might be one of the strongest new everyday American whiskey releases I’ve tried this year. 🥃 Topics covered: Dark Arts 19 Year Mizunara Bourbon Baker’s 13 Year Single Barrel 2026 Willett Pot Still Reserve Cask Strength Pōkeno Ringbearer Lord of the Rings Whiskey Copperworks Craft Malt Month release Pursuit x Shortbarrel Found Footage Bulleit ’87 bourbon-and-rye blend Would you give Bulleit ’87 a shot at $30? YOUTUBE CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro – $500 Bourbon, Willett & Lord of the Rings Whiskey 00:29 Welcome + Episode Setup 01:07 Dark Arts 19 Year Mizunara Bourbon 03:22 Baker’s 13 Year Single Barrel 04:33 Willett Pot Still Reserve Cask Strength 06:06 Pōkeno Ringbearer Lord of the Rings Whiskey 07:52 Copperworks Craft Malt Month Release 09:29 Pursuit x Shortbarrel Found Footage 11:17 Byte-Sized Review – Bulleit ’87 19:01 Outro

Blue Note Cherry Wood Cask Review: This week I’m tasting the brand-new Blue Note Cherry Wood Cask Volume 1, a cask-strength bourbon finished in wild cherry wood from France — but first, the whiskey world somehow gets even weirder. Beam has two major releases on the way. The second-ever Booker’s rye takes things in a completely unexpected direction with apple brandy cask finishing and cinnamon infusion, while Little Book The Infinite Edition III continues Freddie Noe’s infinity experiment with whiskey including a 23-year-old Knob Creek component originally distilled under Booker Noe. Chicken Cock is also celebrating its 170th anniversary with an 8-year, 115-proof bourbon and a seriously cool vintage-inspired ceramic rooster decanter. Then we get to one of the strangest whiskey stories I’ve covered all year: Tamworth Distilling’s Deerslayer Whiskey, a venison-flavored whiskey made with red deer meat. Yes. Actual venison. On the other end of the spectrum, the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired partnered with Northside Distilling on a limited Braille Bourbon featuring a tactile Braille label and raising money to support people adapting to vision loss. Blue Note also announced wider distribution for its Honey Bourbon Cask and Honey Rye Cask releases, which leads perfectly into this week’s Byte-Sized Review. Blue Note Cherry Wood Cask Volume 1 is a 119.4-proof, unfiltered bourbon finished for four months in wild cherry wood casks sourced from the Jura region of eastern France. And an important distinction: these barrels didn’t contain cherries. The flavor is coming from the cherry wood itself. The result genuinely surprised me. Expect bright red fruit, cherry and red apple skin, fresh oak, vanilla, caramel, sweetness, spice, and a finish strong enough that it almost gives me Manhattan vibes without actually tasting artificially flavored. At about $65, this ended up being one of my favorite finished bourbons I’ve had in quite a while.   On the gaming side, I also break down Microsoft’s latest Xbox restructuring, Activision taking a larger role with Halo, and Hideo Kojima’s PHYSINT moving from PlayStation publishing to Xbox. 🥃 Topics covered: Booker’s 2026 rye release Little Book The Infinite Edition III Chicken Cock 170th Anniversary Tamworth Deerslayer Venison Whiskey Braille Bourbon Blue Note Honey Bourbon and Honey Rye Xbox restructuring and Halo Hideo Kojima’s PHYSINT Blue Note Cherry Wood Cask Volume 1 review Would you try cherry wood-finished bourbon — and would you EVER drink whiskey made with venison? YouTube Chapter Markers: 00:00 Intro – Venison Whiskey, Little Book & Blue Note 00:30 Welcome + Whiskey Gets Weird 01:02 Booker’s Rye + Little Book Infinite Edition III 03:37 Chicken Cock 170th Anniversary Decanter 05:45 Deerslayer Venison Whiskey?! 08:26 Braille Bourbon 10:45 Blue Note Honey Bourbon + Honey Rye 12:09 Xbox Restructuring + Halo Moves to Activision 13:44 Hideo Kojima’s PHYSINT Moves to Xbox 15:15 Byte-Sized Review – Blue Note Cherry Wood Cask Volume 1 23:03 Byte Club + Outro