https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/v/shockingly-close-to-the-real-thing-guinness-zero-review Shockingly Close to the Real Thing? Guinness Zero Review! Can a non-alcoholic beer actually recreate the magic of a classic Irish stout? Im diving into Guinness Zero for a Byte-Sized Review. While it completely lacks the heavy alcohol bite and drinks a little lighter, the flavor imitation is incredibly accurate. It completely nails the roasty, malty character and even leaves you with a distinct, creamy finish. If you want a real beer flavor without the buzz, this might be the ultimate holiday weekend option. Winding down for the long weekend? Head over to the Bourbon Bytes website to grab some merch or join the Byte Club crew in Discord: http://www.BourbonBytes.com https://video-meta.open.video/poster/ZdeMczid2dJ4/8VWkrKT4Hd2_kQImMQ.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/ZdeMczid2dJ4/1788894490/index.m3u8 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/embed?contentId=8VWkrKT4Hd2 41 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/v/stetson-made-a-bourbon-is-it-more-than-a-pretty-bottle Stetson Made a Bourbon Is It More Than a Pretty Bottle? Beautiful bottles and brilliant blends are the unofficial theme of this weeks Bourbon Bytes Podcast. Jim Beam is bringing back one of its most collectible pieces of bourbon history with the Ten-Pin Decanter. Inspired by the bowling-pin bottles that date back to the 1950s, the new release holds 10-year-old, 100-proof Jim Beam bourbon and will be available in limited quantities at the American Outpost in Clermont. Brough Brothers is also celebrating Louisville history with two new bottles created in partnership with the Belle of Louisville, the worlds oldest operating Mississippi River steamboat. The 96-proof Captains Cut and 118-proof Cask Strength releases feature commemorative artwork, with proceeds helping support preservation of the historic ship. Then things get experimental. Redwood Empire The Hyperion Batch 001 combines four different styles of whiskey bourbon, rye, wheat whiskey, and single malt using more than 10 mash bills and whiskey ranging from 7 to 14 years old. And Cedar Ridges 2026 Anniversary Edition takes finishing to another level, combining bourbon finished in Madeira, Napa Cabernet, PX Sherry, Tawny Port, and Tokaji casks. On the gaming side, Im also breaking down some of my favorite announcements from Gamescom Opening Night Live, including RollerCoaster Tycoon: Wonderworks, Age Twisters, new Mega Man and Rayman games, Final Fantasy VII Revelation, and a free Witcher 3 remaster upgrade. Then its time for a Byte-Sized Review of Stetson Kentucky Straight Bourbon. This new collaboration between Stetson, Green River Distilling Co., and Bardstown Bourbon Company is a 100-proof high-rye bourbon blended by Dan Calloway after a three-year sourcing and tasting process. The whiskey carries a reported average age of seven years and comes in one of the most striking bottles Ive seen all year. But does the bourbon inside live up to the presentation? Expect milk chocolate, caramel, fudge, peanut butter, oak, dark red fruit, baking spice, and a sweet candy-shop profile that stays impressively balanced at 100 https://video-meta.open.video/poster/3WeMEpDlZpk5/9oqkq0nPGc2_KuWGRx.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/3WeMEpDlZpk5/1788894665/index.m3u8 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/embed?contentId=9oqkq0nPGc2 919 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/v/kentucky-bourbon-festival-exclusive-drops-larrikin-australia-series-flight Kentucky Bourbon Festival Exclusive Drops! (Larrikin Australia Series Flight) Welcome to Bourbon Bytes! Tonight, we are tracking down some of the most elusive bottles dropping at the 2026 Kentucky Bourbon Festival. Larrikin Bourbon Co. has teamed up with Australian-raised distiller Greg Keeley to release an exceptionally limited Australia Seriesand they are ONLY available on-site in Bardstown this weekend! We are tasting all three cask-strength expressions side-by-side. The base spirit is an incredible 11-year-old Old Elk high-rye bourbon, split into three wild, distinct Aussie cask finishes. We dive into a rich, mouth-coating Manuka Honey finish, an earthy Golden Wattle botanical gin cask, and a Sugar Cane Rum finish that drinks like a premium Barbados rum. Spoiler alert: The Manuka Honey takes the crown tonight, but the Rum is a massive flavor bomb you wont want to miss. Grab a pour, jump into the chat, and lets break down these exclusive drops! Tonights Epic Lineup: Larrikin Manuka Honey Barrel Finish (11-Year Cask Strength) Larrikin Golden Wattle Barrel Finish (11-Year Cask Strength) Larrikin Sugar Cane Rum Barrel Finish (11-Year Cask Strength) Timestamps for the Replay Squad: 0:00 - Intro & Welcome to the Cyber-Outback! 7:56 - Tasting Larrikin Manuka Honey Barrel Finish 19:22 - Tasting Larrikin Golden Wattle Barrel (Gin Cask!) 28:04 - Tasting Larrikin Sugar Cane Rum Barrel Finish 32:23 - Final Rankings: The Best Larrikin Aussie Finish 33:56 - Kentucky Bourbon Festival Details & Lineup 36:01 - Community Outro & Upcoming Streams JOIN THE BYTE CLUB Want access to our exclusive weekly After Party hangouts on Discord, monthly blind samples, early video access, and live stream perks? Join the Byte Club directly on our official website (and shop the latest merch while youre there!) Dont forget to subscribe for more Byte-Sized Reviews and highlights right here on the channel. Official Site & Byte Club: http://www.BourbonBytes.com Which of these festival-exclusive Australian finishes would you hunt down first? Let me know in the comments below! LarrikinBourbon KBF2026 KentuckyB https://video-meta.open.video/poster/Kvuwcr46Zx9B/0gqJzunyas2_RVXNYC.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/Kvuwcr46Zx9B/1788900326/index.m3u8 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/embed?contentId=0gqJzunyas2 2263 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/v/double-feature-tasting-castle-key-stillmans-sonder-10-year DOUBLE FEATURE Tasting! (Castle & Key + Stillmans Sonder 10-Year) Welcome to Bourbon Bytes! Tonight, we are unlocking the vault for an epic Double Feature live stream! We are tasting four distinct whiskeys from two incredibly interesting brands. First up, we are exploring the historic revival of Castle & Key, tasting through their signature Small Batch Bourbon and Restoration Rye. Then, we pivot to an incredible story of patience and blending: Stillmans Sonder from Dancing Goat Distillery. Were tasting their 10-Year Straight Bourbon (featuring unique Andean Oak maturation) and their 10-Year American Single Malt, both born from orphaned MGP test runs from over a decade ago! Grab a glass, jump into the live chat, and lets find out how these pours stack up! Tonights Epic Lineup: Castle & Key Small Batch Bourbon Castle & Key Restoration Rye Stillmans Sonder 10-Year Straight Bourbon Stillmans Sonder 10-Year American Single Malt Chapter Markers for the Replay Squad: 00:00 - Intro & Welcome 04:36 - Castle & Key Pricing & Specs 10:32 - Tasting Castle & Key 6-Year Small Batch Bourbon 19:39 - Tasting Castle & Key Restoration Rye 28:01 - The Story of Stillmans Sonder & Orphaned MGP Barrels 36:45 - Tasting Stillmans Sonder 10-Year Straight Bourbon 42:20 - Tasting Stillmans Sonder 10-Year American Single Malt 52:45 - Final Rankings & Standout Whiskeys! 54:27 - Tribute to Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and Peter Cullen M56:52 - Community Outro & Upcoming Streams JOIN THE BYTE CLUB Want access to our exclusive weekly After Party hangouts on Discord, monthly blind samples, early video access, and live stream perks? Join the Byte Club directly on our official website (and shop the latest merch while youre there!) Dont forget to subscribe for more Byte-Sized Reviews and highlights right here on the channel. Official Site & Byte Club: http://www.BourbonBytes.com Which of these bottles are you most excited to try? Let me know in the comments below! CastleAndKey StillmansSonder BourbonBytes WhiskeyReview AmericanSingleMalt DancingGoatDistillery MGP RyeWhisk https://video-meta.open.video/poster/NovMplHA6lCX/0xXty1nyHd2_tcxVuy.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/NovMplHA6lCX/1788902278/index.m3u8 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/embed?contentId=0xXty1nyHd2 3458 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/v/what-is-the-best-heaven-hill-bottled-in-bond-new-double-mash-vs-old-fitz What is the BEST Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond? (New Double Mash vs Old Fitz) Welcome to Bourbon Bytes! Tonight, we are stepping into the neon arena for the ultimate Bottled-in-Bond Triple Threat match. Heaven Hill is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the Bottled-in-Bond category, but which of their premium expressions actually takes the crown? We are putting the beloved Heaven Hill 7-Year Bottled in Bond head-to-head against the highly sought-after Old Fitzgerald 7-Year Bottled in Bond. But theres a new challenger in the ring: the newly released Heaven Hill 9-Year Double Mash Bottled in Bond! Does combining their traditional and wheated mash bills create the ultimate bourbon? Grab a glass, jump into the live chat, and lets find out! Tonights Epic Lineup: Heaven Hill 7-Year Bottled in Bond Old Fitzgerald 7-Year Bottled in Bond Heaven Hill 9-Year Double Mash Bottled in Bond Chapters for the Replay Squad: 0:00 - Intro & Welcome 5:00 - Tasting Heaven Hill 7-Year Bottled in Bond 12:48 - Tasting Old Fitzgerald 7-Year Bottled in Bond 26:28 - Tasting the NEW Heaven Hill 9-Year Double Mash 38:49 - Wild Card: Heaven Hill Single Barrel 48:29 - Final Rankings: What is the BEST in Bond? 52:14 - Community Outro & Upcoming Streams JOIN THE BYTE CLUB Want access to our exclusive weekly After Party hangouts on Discord, monthly blind samples, early video access, and live stream perks? Join the Byte Club directly on our official website (and shop the latest merch while youre there!) Dont forget to subscribe for more Byte-Sized Reviews and highlights right here on the channel. Official Site & Byte Club: http://www.BourbonBytes.com Which of these Heaven Hill heavyweights is your absolute favorite? Let me know in the comments below! HeavenHill BottledInBond OldFitzgerald BourbonBytes HeavenHillDoubleMash BourbonReview WhiskeyShowdown OldFitz WhiskeyTube LiveTasting https://video-meta.open.video/poster/ehi6FnzdEhD4/DErt50Sjas2_xGlFXa.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/ehi6FnzdEhD4/1788903927/index.m3u8 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/embed?contentId=DErt50Sjas2 3225 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/v/a-95-8-year-willett-onyx-amber-review-switch-2-price-hike A 95 8-Year Willett?! Onyx & Amber Review + Switch 2 Price Hike This week on the Bourbon Bytes Podcast, allocated whiskey season is heating up and Im reviewing an 8-year Willett-distilled single barrel that somehow sold for under 100. Sazerac kicks things off with Mr. Sam Tribute Whiskey Batch 4, a 131.08-proof blend of American and Canadian whiskey honoring Seagram legend Sam Bronfman. Then we look at Japans push for stronger geographic protection for Japanese whisky and what that could mean for consumers. Makers Mark also announced Cellar Aged 2026, blending 11-, 12-, and 14-year-old bourbons at 112.1 proof, while Bardstown Bourbon Company revealed two new fall releases: Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish and the latest Discovery Series, finished in Garryana oak. And on the gaming side: if youve been thinking about buying a Nintendo Switch 2, you may want to move quickly. The console is getting a 50 price increase to 499.99 on September 1. Then its time for a Byte-Sized Review of Onyx & Amber 8 Year Single Barrel Bourbon, selected by fellow Whiskeytuber @IndpndntJoe in collaboration with The Barrel Tap. The bottle lists an undisclosed Bardstown distillery, but in the episode I identify the distillate as Willett. Its 8 years old, 119.6 proof, aged in Colorado, and originally sold for just 95. Expect dark brown sugar, caramel, vanilla-bean ice cream, cinnamon, oak, tobacco, sweet cherry, muscadine grape, and a long, evolving finish. At that price, this one seriously impressed me. Topics covered: Mr. Sam Tribute Whiskey Batch 4 Japanese whisky GI protections Makers Mark Cellar Aged 2026 Bardstown Bourbon Company Lochs of Jura Bardstown Discovery 2026 + Garryana oak Nintendo Switch 2 price increase Onyx & Amber 8 Year Willett single barrel review Would you pay 95 for an 8-year cask-strength Willett single barrel? YouTube Chapter Markers: 00:00 Intro Makers Mark, Mr. Sam, Switch 2 & Willett 00:30 Welcome + Allocated Whiskey Season 00:54 Mr. Sam Tribute Whiskey Batch 4 02:51 Japanese Whisky GI Protection 04:31 Makers Mark Cellar Aged 2026 05:55 Bardstown Bourbon Company Fall https://video-meta.open.video/poster/vjj6hbu6AxD5/Co5tyKnzHJ2_OACvdB.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/vjj6hbu6AxD5/1788907662/index.m3u8 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/embed?contentId=Co5tyKnzHJ2 1122 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/v/weller-single-barrel-review-worth-the-hunt-elmer-t-lee-goes-cask-strength Weller Single Barrel Review: Worth the Hunt? + Elmer T. Lee Goes Cask Strength This week on the Bourbon Bytes podcast, Buffalo Trace has one of the most talked-about releases of the year on the way and I finally got my hands on a Weller bottle Ive somehow never reviewed. Garrison Brothers kicks things off with its 2026 Cowboy Bourbon, an 8+ year Texas bourbon bottled at a massive 141 proof, along with the first cask-strength single-barrel version of Laguna Madre. Then Buffalo Trace brings the heat with the Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary Cask Strength, an uncut and unfiltered 127.8-proof release using Mash Bill 2 putting it in very rare company alongside Blantons Straight From the Barrel. Jameson is also expanding its U.S. lineup with Distillers Batch, matured across five different oak types and arriving this September. And because Bourbon Bytes is whiskey news with a gaming twist, Im also running through some of the biggest August game releases, including Big Walk, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered on Switch 2, Grounded 2, and the very Star Fox-inspired Wild Blue Skies. Then its time for a Byte-Sized Review of Weller Single Barrel Bourbon the elusive orange-label Weller. I finally found one at retail for about 69. At 97 proof, this single-barrel wheated bourbon surprised me with considerably more oak than expected, plus honey-coated oatmeal, vanilla, dried fruit, caramel, brown sugar, and a profile that reminded me of an older, proofed-down Weller Antique 107. But rarity doesnt automatically make a whiskey worth chasing. Topics covered: Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2026 Garrison Brothers Laguna Madre Cask Strength Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary Cask Strength Jameson Distillers Batch Big Walk Oblivion Remastered on Switch 2 Grounded 2 Wild Blue Skies Weller Single Barrel Bourbon review Weller Single Barrel vs. Antique 107 Final score and whether its worth secondary prices Would you buy Weller Single Barrel at retail and how much is too much for the orange label? YouTube chapter markers: 00:00 Intro Garrison Brothers, Elmer T. Lee, Games & Weller 00:28 Welcome + Episode Setup 01 https://video-meta.open.video/poster/2onIEtKZ-t96/CUzZy1TzHZ2_EMHivA.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/2onIEtKZ-t96/1788907707/index.m3u8 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/embed?contentId=CUzZy1TzHZ2 1224 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/v/jp-wisers-23-year-cask-strength-review-still-one-of-canadas-best J.P. Wisers 23 Year Cask Strength Review: Still One of Canadas Best? This week on the Bourbon Bytes podcast, were turning up the proof with hazmat brandy, cask-strength rye, coconut-inspired Scotch, a potentially huge win for retro gamers, and a throwback review of one of the best Canadian whiskies Ive ever tasted. Copper & Kings is making several former distillery exclusives available online, including a 10-year rum-finished apple brandy at 147.6 proof, a 9-year apple brandy at 145.4 proof, and a 12-year American brandy at 119.2 proof. Old Overholt is also back with a new 11-year Cask Strength Rye. The 2026 release comes in at 125.6 proof, making it notably stronger than the previous 11-year edition. Then The Macallan closes out its Harmony Collection with two coconut-inspired releases: Inspired by Fresh Coconut and Inspired by Toasted Coconut. They are not flavored whiskies, but their tasting profiles promise coconut milk, lime, tropical fruit, crème caramel, white chocolate, charred pineapple, and frangipane. On the gaming side, a leaked Xbox plan could be a major win for physical media collectors. The rumored disc-to-digital program would let players register physical Xbox One games as digital copies, with Xbox 360 support potentially following later. Finally, its time for a throwback Byte-Sized Review of J.P. Wisers 23 Year Old Cask Strength Canadian Whisky. Originally released in 2019, this blend of 23-year-old corn and rye whiskies was bottled at a massive 128.6 proof and originally sold for around 149 Canadianapproximately 106 US at the time. Seven years later, it still delivers bright citrus, blueberry, caramel, vanilla, rye bread, syrupy honey texture, cinnamon-roll sweetness, subtle oak, vintage tobacco, and an exceptionally long finish. Is this still one of the best Canadian whiskies ever released? Topics covered: Copper & Kings hazmat apple brandies Old Overholt 11 Year Cask Strength Rye The Macallan Harmony Collection coconut releases Xboxs rumored disc-to-digital game program J.P. Wisers 23 Year Cask Strength review How the whisky holds up seven years later https://video-meta.open.video/poster/1ojwohb6Ed8t/C-zcyuS5HI2_tcjdVZ.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/1ojwohb6Ed8t/1788907745/index.m3u8 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/embed?contentId=C-zcyuS5HI2 1037 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/v/scotch-tariffs-are-dead-whiskey-ai-is-here-locke-co-reviewed Scotch Tariffs Are Dead, Whiskey AI Is Here & Locke + Co Reviewed This week on the Bourbon Bytes podcast, were wrapping up July with a shorter episode packed with whiskey news, AI controversy, celebrity whiskey moves, and a bourbon review with a meaningful story behind it. The 15-month U.S. tariff on Scotch is officially over, but will bottle prices actually come back down? Then we look at CASKD AI, a new whiskey-focused artificial intelligence tool built for Scotch enthusiasts, collectors, market valuations, and bottle research. Beyoncé is also making a major move in the whiskey world by taking full ownership of SirDavis American Whisky after originally launching the brand with Moët Hennessy. Does this mean more SirDavis releases are coming? We also cover new releases from Bib & Tucker, Dancing Goat Distillery, and Bulleit, including a bottled-in-bond bourbon, older MGP-sourced whiskey, American single malt, and the new Bulleit 87 bourbon-and-rye blend. Then its time for a Byte-Sized Review of Locke + Co Big Blaze Bourbon. This Colorado-finished Kentucky bourbon supports firefighters and first responders, with 10% of sales benefiting Grand County, Colorado. The whiskey is finished with charred Aspen discs sourced from the East Troublesome Fire area, creating a story-driven bottle with toasted oak, vanilla, muscadine grape, bitter chocolate, and sweet vanilla finish. Small correction: I accidentally refer to the brand as Locke + Key in the audio, but the correct name is Locke + Co. Topics covered: Scotch tariffs officially ending CASKD AI and whiskey research Beyoncé taking full ownership of SirDavis Whisky Bib & Tucker 8 Year Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon Dancing Goat 10 Year Bourbon and American Single Malt Bulleit 87 Bourbon + Rye Blend Locke + Co Big Blaze Bourbon review YouTube Chapter Markers: 00:00 Intro Scotch Tariffs, Whiskey AI, Beyoncé & Locke + Co 00:30 Welcome + Episode Setup 00:58 Scotch Tariffs Are Officially Over 03:05 CASKD AI for Whiskey Collectors 05:23 Beyoncé Takes Full Ownership of SirDavis 07:17 Bib & Tucker 8 Year Bottled-in-Bond 08:34 Dan https://video-meta.open.video/poster/2zn-cfGJEBCz/Co5tyfm4HY2_KOhftj.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/2zn-cfGJEBCz/1788907861/index.m3u8 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/embed?contentId=Co5tyfm4HY2 1050 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/v/michters-barrel-strength-rye-review-does-it-still-deserve-the-hype Michters Barrel Strength Rye Review: Does It Still Deserve the Hype? This week on the Bourbon Bytes podcast, were diving into a packed lineup of new whiskey releases before revisiting one of my favorite barrel-strength rye whiskeys of all time: Michters Barrel Strength Rye. New Riff is releasing its oldest Headliner blend yet, featuring 10+ year components including malted rye bourbon, rye, and Balboa rye. Bardstown Bourbon Company is getting tropical with Victoria Pineapple Finished Whiskey, a bourbon and rye blend finished in pineapple rum casks with fresh pineapple added to the barrel. Yellowstone is back with a limited edition finished in ruby and tawny port casks, and Heaven Hill is unveiling a first-of-its-kind Double Mash Bottled-in-Bond bourbon that blends its traditional bourbon mash bill with its wheated bourbon mash bill. Then its time for a Byte-Sized Review of Michters Barrel Strength Rye. This 2016 release is one of the earlier batches of Michters barrel-strength rye, likely around 113114 proof, and it gave me a very different experience than I remembered from later releases. Expect an herbaceous rye nose, mint, citrus, vintage copper notes, brown sugar, burnt sugar, oak, plum, cinnamon, clove, and a long holiday-spice finish. I used to think of Michters Barrel Strength Rye as one of my favorite rye whiskeys ever but does this older bottle still hold up in 2026? Topics covered: New Riff 2026 Headliner Blend Bardstown Bourbon Company Victoria Pineapple Finished Whiskey Yellowstone Limited Edition Bourbon Heaven Hill Double Mash Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon Michters Barrel Strength Rye review How older Michters releases compare to modern bottles Final score and whether vintage bottles are worth hunting Would you rather try Bardstowns pineapple-finished whiskey or hunt down an older Michters Barrel Strength Rye? YouTube Chapter Markers: 00:00 Intro New Riff, Bardstown, Heaven Hill & Michters Rye 00:28 Welcome + Episode Setup 01:23 New Riff 2026 Headliner Blend 03:54 Bardstown Victoria Pineapple Finished Whiskey 06:05 Yellowstone Limited Edition Bourbon 06:58 Heaven Hill https://video-meta.open.video/poster/sozsExfJEl14/CUzty0S4HY2_IDFqgU.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/sozsExfJEl14/1788907759/index.m3u8 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/embed?contentId=CUzty0S4HY2 1000 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/v/buffalo-trace-summer-camp-bourbon-lemonade-store-pick-review Buffalo Trace Summer Camp, Bourbon Lemonade, & Store Pick Review This week on the Bourbon Bytes podcast... Kavalan shocked the whiskey world at the 2026 International Whisky Competition, taking three of the top five spots with Taiwanese single malt releases including the Peatist Oloroso Sherry Cask, Solist Ex-Bourbon Single Cask Strength, and Solist Madeira Cask. Then Buffalo Trace announced Camp Buffalo Trace, a new 21+ summer camp-style experience featuring bourbon education, blind tastings, single barrel challenges, barrel stave workshops, and even overnight luxury camping at the distillery. Buffalo Trace also quietly revealed a new Bourbon Lemonade canned cocktail, made with Buffalo Trace bourbon and real lemon juice, available at the distillery this summer. Then its time for a Byte-Sized Review of a Buffalo Trace Single Barrel Store Pick from K&L Wine and Spirits. This 9 year, 2 month Buffalo Trace store pick was bottled in a 1.75L handle for around 65, making it one of the best values Ive found from Buffalo Trace in a while. It brings classic Buffalo Trace character with extra age, oak, brown sugar pastry, candied apple, cherry, caramel, chocolate, and a surprisingly solid finish for 90 proof. Is this the best way to drink Buffalo Trace? Topics covered: Kavalans massive International Whisky Competition sweep Camp Buffalo Trace luxury bourbon camping Buffalo Trace Bourbon Lemonade canned cocktail What makes Buffalo Trace store picks different K&L Wine and Spirits Buffalo Trace single barrel review Final score and whether store picks are worth hunting YouTube Chapter Markers: 00:00 Intro Kavalan, Camp Buffalo Trace & Store Pick Review 00:29 Welcome + Episode Setup 00:58 Kavalan Sweeps the International Whisky Competition 03:03 Camp Buffalo Trace 06:13 Buffalo Trace Bourbon Lemonade 08:01 Byte-Sized Review Buffalo Trace Single Barrel Store Pick 17:06 Byte Club + Outro Would you grab a Buffalo Trace store pick over the standard bottle? https://video-meta.open.video/poster/02q2ph8t2pnZ/D_zczLSjbZ2_hkXmxM.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/02q2ph8t2pnZ/1788907949/index.m3u8 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/embed?contentId=D_zczLSjbZ2 1091 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/v/sh%C4%81ng-baijiu-whiskey-review-a-wild-new-whiskey-category SHĀNG Baijiu Whiskey Review: A Wild New Whiskey Category? This week on the Bourbon Bytes podcast, were talking about major whiskey and gaming news before diving into a double Byte-Sized Review of SHĀNG whiskey a first-of-its-kind fusion of Chinese baijiu tradition and Kentucky whiskey aging. Barton 1792 just announced two major releases: its first-ever 1792 Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey and 1792 XV, a 15-year-old cask-strength, unfiltered bourbon that marks the oldest age-stated expression in the brands history. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail also added four new destinations, including Pursuit Spirits, giving a major milestone moment to a brand that started as a whiskey podcast. On the gaming side, Microsoft announced one of the biggest restructures in Xbox history, including thousands of job cuts and a major shift in strategy. Then its time for the main event: a double review of SHĀNGs new jiàngxiāng whiskey releases. First up is SHĀNG Dàn Yǎ, made from Chinese sauce-aroma baijiu that is redistilled and aged in charred American oak in Kentucky. Then I review SHĀNG East + West Kentucky Blend, which combines that baijiu-based whiskey with American red sorghum whiskey. These are unlike anything Ive reviewed before: sweet, earthy, savory, smoky, honeyed, mezcal-like, Islay-adjacent, and completely unique. Topics covered: 1792 Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey 1792 XV 15 Year Cask Strength Bourbon Kentucky Bourbon Trail adds Pursuit Spirits Microsoft and Xbox restructuring What is SHĀNG jiàngxiāng whiskey? SHĀNG Dàn Yǎ review SHĀNG East + West Kentucky Blend review Final scores and which bottle Id recommend first Would you try baijiu whiskey, or is this too far outside traditional American whiskey? YouTube Chapter Markers: 00:00 Intro Barton 1792, Bourbon Trail, Xbox & SHĀNG 00:32 Welcome + Episode Setup 01:07 Barton 1792 Rye + 1792 XV Bourbon 04:49 Kentucky Bourbon Trail Adds Pursuit Spirits 06:13 Microsoft Announces Major Xbox Restructure 08:58 Double Byte-Sized Review SHĀNG Whiskey 11:41 SHĀNG Dàn Yǎ Review 15:21 SHĀNG East + West Kentucky Blend Review https://video-meta.open.video/poster/xYq2wfjd2tgt/D_5ZzLmjaZ2_EHzyDu.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/xYq2wfjd2tgt/1788907949/index.m3u8 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/embed?contentId=D_5ZzLmjaZ2 1331 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/v/makers-mark-made-a-wheat-whiskey-but-is-star-hill-farm-2026-worth-the-price Makers Mark Made a Wheat Whiskey But Is Star Hill Farm 2026 Worth the Price? This week on the Bourbon Bytes podcast, were heading into July 4th weekend with a packed lineup of whiskey and gaming news before reviewing one of Makers Marks biggest experiments yet: Star Hill Farm 2026. Bulleit just announced its oldest rye ever: a 20-year-old, 137-proof release limited to 1,776 bottles for Americas 250th anniversary. Redwood Empire is also back with Colonel Armstrong Wheated Bourbon, a new 40 four-grain release blending Northern California grain-to-glass whiskey with Kentucky and Indiana high-wheat bourbon. We also talk about Dragon Con Bourbon, a nerdy collaboration with Atlantas Old Fourth Distillery, and Sweetens Cove Fathers Finish, a bourbon finished in cuvée wine barrels with a golf-themed cork design. On the gaming side, Nintendo finally brings Star Fox to the Switch 2 with a modern remake of Star Fox 64. Then its time for a Byte-Sized Review of Makers Mark Star Hill Farm 2026. This is not bourbon. Its an American wheat whiskey made with 27% wheat, 62% malted wheat, and 11% malted barley, designed to highlight estate-grown grain and regenerative agriculture at Makers Mark. At 116.4 proof and around 120, Star Hill Farm 2026 brings cola, vanilla cream, tart cherry, powdered sugar, brûléed sugar, and dessert-like sweetness. But does it deliver enough complexity to justify the price? Topics covered: Bulleit 20 Year Rye Redwood Empire Colonel Armstrong Wheated Bourbon Dragon Con Bourbon Sweetens Cove Fathers Finish Star Fox on Nintendo Switch 2 Makers Mark Star Hill Farm 2026 review Final score and whether its worth buying Would you pay 100-120 for Makers Marks new wheat whiskey experiment? YouTube Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro Bulleit, Dragon Con, Star Fox & Star Hill Farm 00:28 Welcome + July 4th Weekend Setup 01:14 Bulleit 20 Year Rye 03:07 Redwood Empire Colonel Armstrong Wheated Bourbon 03:59 Dragon Con Bourbon 05:23 Sweetens Cove Fathers Finish 06:24 Star Fox Comes to Nintendo Switch 2 07:53 Byte-Sized Review Makers Mark Star Hill Farm 2026 15:56 Outro + Community Question https://video-meta.open.video/poster/0YiIFxOAtte4/9Fzc4emObI2_qdztbO.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/0YiIFxOAtte4/1788907934/index.m3u8 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/embed?contentId=9Fzc4emObI2 1043 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/v/tasting-the-most-outrageous-merica-drinks-buzzballz-twisted-tea-more Tasting the MOST Outrageous Merica Drinks! (BuzzBallz, Twisted Tea & More) Happy 4th of July Weekend! Tonight on Bourbon Bytes, we are celebrating with the ULTIMATE Merica Tasting. I scoured the shelves for the most aggressively patriotic, outrageous, and red, white, and blue drinks on the market, and we are putting them to the test live! From rocket pop flavors to actual jugs of fruit punch and patriotic BuzzBallz, were tasting the wild side of Americana beverages. Grab a drink, jump into the live chat, and lets celebrate the holiday weekend with some pure, unadulterated Merica energy! Tonights Merica Lineup: Smirnoff Red, White & Berry Smirnoff Ice Berry Blast Twisted Tea Rocket Pop BuzzBallz Flags & Freedom Big Sipz Jugz Merica (Fruit Punch) Seagrams Apple Pie Whiskey SUPPORT THE CHANNEL & JOIN THE BYTE CLUB Want access to our exclusive weekly After Party hangouts on Discord, monthly blind samples, early video access, and live stream perks? Join the Byte Club directly on our official website (and shop the latest merch while youre there!) Dont forget to subscribe for more Byte-Sized Reviews and highlights right here on the channel. Official Site & Byte Club: http://www.BourbonBytes.com Which of these outrageous drinks do you think is going to take the crown tonight? Let me know in the comments below! 4thOfJuly Merica BourbonBytes DrinkReview TwistedTea BuzzBallz Smirnoff BigSipz July4th LiveTasting https://video-meta.open.video/poster/YoeEtl1kAhfz/v_qBzLS5as2_ivQjzw.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/YoeEtl1kAhfz/1788911005/index.m3u8 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/embed?contentId=v_qBzLS5as2 4326 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/v/blantons-bourbon-flight-single-barrel-vs-store-pick-vs-gold-vs-sftb Blantons Bourbon Flight: Single Barrel vs Store Pick vs Gold vs SFTB Welcome to a Special Saturday Night edition of Bourbon Bytes! Tonight, I am joined by my good friend Brandon for the ultimate Buffalo Trace battle. We are putting the most famous round bottles in bourbon to the test to see if the premium bottles are actually worth the secondary hype! Is the classic original all you need? Does a local Store Pick beat the standard? Will the elevated proof of Blantons Gold take the crown? Or will the powerhouse Straight From The Barrel destroy them all? Tonights Epic Lineup: Blantons Single Barrel Bourbon (93 Proof - 2018) Blantons Single Barrel - High Time Wine Cellars Store Pick (93 Proof - 2019) Blantons Gold Edition (103 Proof) Blantons Straight From The Barrel (123.8 Proof - 2024) Blantons Straight From The Barrel (128.5 Proof - 2019) Grab a pour of your favorite Buffalo Trace product, jump into the live chat, and lets find out which horse crosses the finish line first! Timestamps for the Replay Squad: 0:00 - Intro & Welcome Brandon! 2:26 - Pouring Blantons Single Barrel (Standard) 7:54 - Tasting Blantons Single Barrel Store Pick 16:04 - Diving into Blantons Gold (Import) 24:05 - Blantons Gold Comparison (Second Bottle) 30:37 - Moving up to Straight From The Barrel 42:43 - Blantons SFTB Comparison (2019 vs 2024) 51:04 - Final Rankings & Favorite Blantons 55:00 - Community Outro & Next Weeks Teaser SUPPORT THE CHANNEL & JOIN THE COMMUNITY Want access to our exclusive weekly After Party hangouts on Discord, monthly blind samples, and early video access? Support the channel on Patreon! Join us here: http://www.Patreon.com/BourbonBytes JOIN THE BYTE CLUB Hit the Join button on YouTube or visit our official site to become a member of the Byte Club for exclusive chat loyalty badges, custom emojis, and live stream perks. Official Site & Merch: http://www.BourbonBytes.com Which of these is your ultimate unicorn? Let me know in the comments below! Blantons BlantonsGold BlantonsSFTB BourbonBytes LiveBourbonTasting Whiskeytube BourbonReview BuffaloTrace StraightFromThe https://video-meta.open.video/poster/qtbMcjntsBS6/D_W75LTPaY2_RGhSoD.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/qtbMcjntsBS6/1788912312/index.m3u8 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/embed?contentId=D_W75LTPaY2 3487 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/v/the-craziest-scotch-whisky-names-ever-smws-tasting-giveaway The Craziest Scotch Whisky Names EVER?! (SMWS Tasting + GIVEAWAY!) Welcome to Bourbon Bytes! Tonight, we are taking a side quest across the pond to dive into the wonderful, eccentric world of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS). Known for their single cask, cask-strength releases and absolutely wild naming conventions, we are tasting through three very unique, very bold Highland and Islay pours. And the best part? We are giving away a GIFT MEMBERSHIP to the SMWS to one lucky Super Chatter during the stream! Grab a glass, jump into the live chat, and lets decode these crazy flavor profiles together. Tonights Epic SMWS Lineup: Cask 16.99: In the steam train drivers cab (Highland Southern, 12 Year) Cask 122.76: Grubby, Hairy-Chested Bonkers (Highland Southern, 9 Year) Cask 53.506: Rufty Tufty (Islay, 11 Year) Timestamps for the Replay Squad: 0:00 - Intro, Welcome & SMWS Giveaway Details! 4:11 - Tasting: Grubby, Hairy-Chested Bonkers 22:03 - Tasting: In the steam train drivers cab 36:18 - Tasting: Rufty Tufty 48:14 - Final Rankings 51:32 - SMWS Giveaway Winner Announcement! 55:42 - Community Outro & Upcoming Streams JOIN THE BYTE CLUB Want access to our exclusive weekly After Party hangouts on Discord, monthly blind samples, early video access, and live stream perks? Join the Byte Club directly on our official website (and shop the latest merch while youre there!) Dont forget to subscribe for more Byte-Sized Reviews and highlights right here on the channel. Official Site & Byte Club: http://www.BourbonBytes.com Which of these crazy SMWS names is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below! SMWS BourbonBytes ScotchReview ScotchMaltWhiskySociety WhiskyGiveaway RuftyTufty SingleCaskScotch WhiskyTube LiveTasting https://video-meta.open.video/poster/bfm2QtXr6nGA/1_4k4KTzbd2_JJWtnT.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/bfm2QtXr6nGA/1788914815/index.m3u8 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/embed?contentId=1_4k4KTzbd2 3405 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/v/elijah-craig-rye-whiskey-flight-toasted-rye-barrel-proof-a925-vs-b526 Elijah Craig Rye Whiskey Flight - Toasted Rye & Barrel Proof A925 vs B526 Welcome to Bourbon Bytes! Tonight, we are tackling a massive Rye Boss Rush. Were running through the entire Elijah Craig Rye lineup, leveling up from the standard release, through the Toasted barrel, all the way to a heavy-hitting Barrel Proof showdown! We are putting the inaugural Barrel Proof Rye A925 head-to-head against the brand new B526 release. Does higher proof mean a higher score? Grab a pour, jump into the live chat, and lets find out which bottle takes the crown tonight! Timestamps for the Replay Squad: 0:00 - Intro & Welcome to the Rye Boss Rush! 10:59 - Tasting Elijah Craig Straight Rye 16:13 - Tasting Elijah Craig Toasted Rye 28:18 - Tasting Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye A925 37:58 - Tasting the NEW Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye B526 46:06 - Final Rankings: The Best Elijah Craig Rye 48:15 - Community Outro & Upcoming Streams JOIN THE BYTE CLUB Want access to our exclusive weekly After Party hangouts on Discord, monthly blind samples, early video access, and live stream perks? Join the Byte Club directly on our official website (and shop the latest merch while youre there!) Official Site & Byte Club: http://www.BourbonBytes.com Which of these Elijah Craig Rye releases is your absolute favorite? Let me know in the comments below! ElijahCraig ECBP BourbonBytes RyeWhiskey ElijahCraigToasted ElijahCraigBarrelProof Whiskeytube RyeReview LiveTasting https://video-meta.open.video/poster/bTrs-xuHsnJs/DozByvTOGJ2_vpVPmP.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/bTrs-xuHsnJs/1788916270/index.m3u8 https://watch.bourbonbytes.com/embed?contentId=DozByvTOGJ2 2970