Bourbon, Brass & Beyond and The Bourbon Hunters at Bourbon and Beyond 2026
A lively crossover tasting at Bourbon and Beyond brings Dan and JD Fritzges, from The Bourbon Hunters, together to explore standout bourbons, rare bottles, barrel picks, and the stories behind them. From a creamy 11-year Old Louisville single barrel to historic dusty bottles, the conversation celebrates whiskey’s flavors—and the memories and friendships shared around it. A very special thank you to Wally Dant, Log Still Distillery, and Monk's Road Boiler House for welcoming us for our Bottle Share. It was an amazing experience. And a thank you to Teddy, General Manager at Monk's Road Boilerhouse for helping his through the afternoon. Chef Ciro was amazing as always.
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Key topics
* What makes a memorable barrel pick: rich texture, layered flavors, and a finish that lingers.
* JD’s Old Louisville 11-year MGP single barrel, compared with a previous 9-year pick.
* Why flavor matters more than proof, and how different producers work with sourced MGP whiskey.
* Favorite performances so far from Bourbon and Beyond, including Linda Perry, Live, Queens of the Stone Age, The Fray, and Lindsey Stirling.
* High West’s Prisoner Share and how its wine finish complements rather than overwhelms the bourbon.
* Rare and vintage bottles, including old Wild Turkey, Old Grand-Dad, and a special whiskey distilled in 1977 and bottled in 1982.
* The Dant family’s whiskey heritage, including family history, JW Dant, and stories preserved across generations.
* Dan’s reason for podcasting: creating a record of the bourbon stories his grandfather shared.
Timestamps
00:00 — Old Louisville 11-year MGP single barrel
01:20 — Stone fruit, brown sugar, and a creamy mouthfeel
03:24 — Flavor over proof
04:15 — MGP and how different producers handle it
04:55 — Bourbon and Beyond festival highlights
08:16 — Derek Trucks and the connection between music and bourbon
09:45 — Comparing the 9-year and 11-year picks
11:14 — Rye whiskey, tasting notes, and discovering new favorites
16:52 — Vintage bottles and estate-sale finds
20:45 — What makes Wild Turkey distinctive
25:09 — Finding rare bottles at estate sales
27:38 — The story behind a special unnamed bottle
29:03 — Visiting Wally Dant and Log Still Distillery
30:38 — A pour that recalls Dan’s grandfather
32:28 — The Dant family’s whiskey history
34:44 — High West Prisoner Share
51:10 — How the wine finish shapes the whiskey
56:18 — An 11-year Jim Beam pick that surprises the tasters
61:08 — Tasting opinions, hype, and judging a bottle on its own merits
69:34 — Dant family heritage and the unnamed whiskey
91:56 — Dan’s grandfather, JW Dant, and the roots of the podcast
102:18 — How JD got into bourbon
103:13 — Preserving family stories through podcasting
107:49 — Returning to the Old Louisville pick
Notable quotes
* “We’re looking for something that’s gonna be creamy.”
* “The experience is ninety percent of it. It’s where you get to have it, who you get to have it with.”
* “This is what I grew up with.”
Bourbon, Brass & Beyond- https://www.bourbonbrassandbeyond.com
The Bourbon Hunters - https://bourbonhunters.com
Log Still Distillery - https://www.logstilldistillery.com