Bourbon Lens The Bourbon Lens

We’re joined by Pete Barger, co-founder of Southern Distilling Company in Statesville, North Carolina. Pete discusses what led him to founding his distillery. We also explore the growth they’ve experienced, from sourcing whiskey to producing their own spirits, and even becoming one of the largest contract distillers you may have not heard of yet. This is a wide-ranging episode and capped off by some excellent whiskey and great company. If you’re looking for your next grain-to-glass bottle of whiskey, check out Southern Distilling and their Southern Star and Hunting Creek lines of whiskey.
Stream this episode on your favorite podcast app and be sure to drop us a review while you’re there. 
We are thankful for your support over the last 5 years. We must give the biggest shoutout to our growing Patreon Community of supporters! As always, we'd appreciate it if you would take a few minutes time to give us feedback on Bourbon Lens podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 Star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a written review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.
Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X.  Also, consider supporting Bourbon Lens on Patreon for some of the behind the scenes, to earn Bourbon Lens swag, join the Bourbon Lens Tasting Club, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, please email us at Info@BourbonLens.com.
Check out BourbonLens.com to read our blog posts, whiskey news, podcast archive, and whiskey reviews.
Cheers,
Scott and Jake
Bourbon Lens
About Southern Distilling Company:
Family-owned and operated by Pete and Vienna Barger, Southern Distilling Company is proudly reigniting North Carolina’s distilling tradition while embracing the innovative future of America’s craft spirits industry. Headquartered in storied Statesville, N.C. - once labeled the “liquor capital of the world” in the 1800s - Southern Distilling Company has grown to become one of the country’s largest privately owned distilleries since being founded in 2013. Today, it offers an innovative range of new-fill barrel production, aged-barrel sales, barrel-warehouse aging and co-packaging for more than 130 brands globally. Rooted in North Carolina’s agricultural community, Southern Distilling Company supports a stringent grain-to-glass sustainability process that sources quality grains from farms within 20 miles of its facility.
Southern Distilling Company also produces its own line of award-winning artisan spirits, including Southern Star Paragon Wheated Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Southern Star Standard High-Rye Bourbon Whiskey, Southern Star Double Rye Whiskey, Southern Star Double Shot Bourbon Cream Liqueur and Hunting Creek Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey. Southern Star products are available in more than 18 markets across the U.S. with expanding national distribution. The distillery is open for tours, tastings and craft cocktails, plus hosts public and private events throughout the year. For more information, visit SouthernDistillingCompany.com

We sit down with our friend, Zach Johnston, of Blackwood Distilling Co. Zach is currently the Chief Business Officer of International Sales for Blackwood. We discuss Zach’s background in the spirits world, including his time writing for UPROXX and judging spirits competitions. Zach is tasked with growing Blackwood to the next level as they grow their portfolio from ultra-limited edition releases to gain a broader audience in the international market.  We taste through their limited release Toasted Bourbon and Toasted Rye Whiskey, discuss their plans for future releases, and tease some future news for the brand as well. For more details on Blackwood Distilling Co., head over to their website:  https://blackwooddistillingco.com/ 
Stream this episode on your favorite podcast app and be sure to drop us a review while you’re there. 
We are thankful for your support over the last 5 years. We must give the biggest shoutout to our growing Patreon Community of supporters! As always, we'd appreciate it if you would take a few minutes time to give us feedback on Bourbon Lens podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 Star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a written review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.
Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X.  Also, consider supporting Bourbon Lens on Patreon for some of the behind the scenes, to earn Bourbon Lens swag, join the Bourbon Lens Tasting Club, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, please email us at Info@BourbonLens.com.
Check out BourbonLens.com to read our blog posts, whiskey news, podcast archive, and whiskey reviews.
Cheers,
Scott and Jake
Bourbon Lens

Jake travels to Lebanon KY to visit Limestone Branch and see the new Stephen B. Beam Tasting Lodge.  He’s joined by Master Distiller, Stephen Beam, and Stephen Fante, Brand Ambassador for Limestone Branch.  They discuss the new facility, the single barrel program, and growing the Yellowstone Whiskey brand.  Don’t miss this episode.
Stream this episode on your favorite podcast app and be sure to drop us a review while you’re there. 
We are thankful for your support over the last 5 years. We must give the biggest shoutout to our growing Patreon Community of supporters! As always, we'd appreciate it if you would take a few minutes time to give us feedback on Bourbon Lens podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 Star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a written review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.
Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X.  Also, consider supporting Bourbon Lens on Patreon for some of the behind the scenes, to earn Bourbon Lens swag, join the Bourbon Lens Tasting Club, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, please email us at Info@BourbonLens.com.
Check out BourbonLens.com to read our blog posts, whiskey news, podcast archive, and whiskey reviews.
Cheers,
Scott and Jake
Bourbon Lens
 

About Yellowstone Bourbon:
Founded by pioneer distiller Joseph Bernard Dant, Yellowstone Bourbon was named for our country’s very first national park in 1872. In 2011, seventh-generation Master Distiller Steve Beam – a descendant of both the Dant and Beam distilling families – founded Lebanon, Kentucky-based Limestone Branch Distillery and resurrected the Yellowstone brand with the creation of Yellowstone Select Bourbon. Since then, Yellowstone has been one of the fastest-growing American Whiskey brands in the industry. Today, the Yellowstone family of brands includes Yellowstone Select, Yellowstone Limited Edition and Yellowstone American Single Malt Whiskey.
About Limestone Branch Distillery:
Stephen Beam opened Limestone Branch Distillery in 2011, with the goal of crafting the finest spirits in small batches. Stephen is a seventh-generation distiller with a history of distilling on both sides of his family – Beam and Dant. In 2015, he brought the Yellowstone brand back to the family. The distillery is now home to Yellowstone Select, Yellowstone American Single Malt Whiskey, Yellowstone Limited Edition, Minor Case Rye Whiskey and Bowling & Burch Gin. For more information on Limestone Branch Distillery and Yellowstone, visit LimestoneBranch.com, YellowstoneBourbon.com or visit them on Instagram.

Our guest today is Shane Fitzharris for Templeton Distillery in Iowa.  Shane is the Senior VP for Commercial for Infinium Spirits, owner of the Templeton Distillery and brands.  We discuss the next chapter in Templeton’s history as they recently released their first spirit distilled in-house;  Fortitude Straight Iowa Bourbon.  We discuss the history of the brand, their revival of the brand, and how they sourced a very popular Rye Whiskey to grow their brand to be in a position to distill and release their own distilled spirits.
Stream this episode on your favorite podcast app and be sure to drop us a review while you’re there. 
We are thankful for your support over the last 5 years. We must give the biggest shoutout to our growing Patreon Community of supporters! As always, we'd appreciate it if you would take a few minutes time to give us feedback on Bourbon Lens podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 Star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a written review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.
Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X.  Also, consider supporting Bourbon Lens on Patreon for some of the behind the scenes, to earn Bourbon Lens swag, join the Bourbon Lens Tasting Club, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, please email us at Info@BourbonLens.com.
Check out BourbonLens.com to read our blog posts, whiskey news, podcast archive, and whiskey reviews.
Cheers,
Scott and Jake
Bourbon Lens
 

About Templeton:
Templeton Rye Whiskey tracks back to the early 1920s when residents of the small town of Templeton, Iowa distilled a much sought-after rye whiskey. That bootlegging enterprise, forced underground during the Prohibition era, nonetheless flourished during that period and the famous “Templeton Rye” becoming legendary. When prohibition ended, Templeton was a legend lost to history until it was re-introduced in 2006 as an independent bottler brand. The Templeton Rye whiskey portfolio which contains a 4 year old, 6 year old, 10 Year Single Barrel, and limited Cask Finish releases remains inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of the original bootleggers.
On August 7, 2018, Templeton Rye Spirits, LLC marked the beginning of a new chapter, highlighting a rich history with the community they call home with the opening of a 34,500 square-foot distillery, visitor center and museum in Templeton, Iowa. A $35 million project and a significant investment in the community of Templeton. A milestone date that would allow the Templeton brand to control its own destiny in relation to distillation, fermentation, and maturation.
About Templeton Fortitude Straight Bourbon
Style: Iowa Straight Bourbon Whiskey Proof: 92 (46% ABV) Mash Bill: 55% Corn, 40% Rye, 5% Malted Barley Locally Sourced Iowa Corn: Within 15 Miles of Templeton Distillery Age: Non-Aged Stated (4+ Years Old) Aged in American Oak Virgin Barrels / Char Level 4 Natural Color and Non-Chill Filtered Distilled at Templeton Distillery, Templeton, Iowa Column and Copper Stills from Forsyths Fermentation time : 3-4 Days Yeast Strain: Fermentis Safspirit Availability: Launching in the USA market and select international markets in May 2024. Templeton FORTITUDE Bourbon introduced in 2024 marked the first distillate release out of the Templeton Distillery as the brand continues to evolve from an independent bottler to a distiller. Over the coming years, Templeton will continue to play in both the independent bottler and the distilling world which will allow the brand to push the boundaries of innovation by releasing exciting additions from both our extensive sourced barrel stocks and owned distillate out of Templeton Distillery.
Templeton whiskey portfolio is now exported to 75 international markets outside of North America.
Distillery Snapshot:
2 x 55,000 square-foot barrel aging warehouse that can store up to 54,000 barrels Located on 20-acres of land

Our guest today is Andy Battjes, Brown-Forman’s Director of Global Environmental Sustainability.  With responsibility over the company’s diverse, global spirits portfolio, Andy is a company leader who drives their sustainability initiatives around the globe. Through his work over the last 18+ years, Battjes has guided Brown-Forman in targeting areas within the supply chain and beyond where they can implement green initiatives.  Brown-Forman (home to iconic brands such as Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Old Forester, Tequila Herradura, and Woodford Reserve) is working on making the world a little greener, one bottle at a time.
Some of the largest initiatives of Brown-Forman include:
White Oak Initiative: Brown-Forman has helped to spearhead the White Oak Initiative with the American Forest Foundation. While waiting for bourbon to mature can seem long, it takes 60 - 80 years for a white oak to mature to the point that it's good for a whiskey barrel. This creates a long term sustainability concern. The White Oak Initiative is a diverse coalition of partners committed to the long-term sustainability of America’s white oak forests as well as the economic, social, and environmental benefits they provide. Sustainability from Farm to Bottle: Brown-Forman is committed to zero waste and transforming the way business is conducted using circularity principles, designing out waste, and keeping products and materials in use. From more sustainable packaging to watershed stewardship to creating a resilient, agile agricultural supply chain with regenerative farming practices, Brown-Forman is committed year-round to sustainability. Wind Powered Whiskey: Brown-Forman was the first US wine or spirits company to enter into a purchase power agreement and has since met their goal to offset more than 90% of electricity usage at U.S facilities through their investment into wind power from the Solomon Forks Wind Project.  Stream this episode on your favorite podcast app and be sure to drop us a review while you’re there. 
We are thankful for your support over the last 5 years. We must give the biggest shoutout to our growing Patreon Community of supporters! As always, we'd appreciate it if you would take a few minutes time to give us feedback on Bourbon Lens podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 Star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a written review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.
Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X.  Also, consider supporting Bourbon Lens on Patreon for some of the behind the scenes, to earn Bourbon Lens swag, join the Bourbon Lens Tasting Club, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, please email us at Info@BourbonLens.com.
Check out BourbonLens.com to read our blog posts, whiskey news, podcast archive, and whiskey reviews.
Cheers,
Scott and Jake
Bourbon Lens
 
More About Brown-Forman and Sustainability:
Caring for natural resources and the climate isn’t simply a business concern for us. From the fields that grow our grains, agave, and grapes, to the water we transform into our spirits, to the oak for our barrels, we depend on the earth’s bounty. It’s about committing to the environment that sustains us, caring for the resources we share with our community, and nurturing what we have for those that come after us.
Climate Action - We are committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across our owned operations and supply chain. Our goal is to halve our emissions by 2030 and become net-zero GHG emissions by 2045. Water Stewardship  - We are committed to protecting the health of key watersheds in our communities. Our goal is to ensure that 100% of our high-risk and business critical watersheds achieve water balance by 2030. Circularity - We are committed to zero waste and transforming the way we conduct business using circularity principles, designing out waste, and keeping products

Jake is joined by Brian Nation to talk about Keeper’s Heart Whiskey and catch up since his first appearance back in Bourbon Lens Episode 153. Keeper’s Heart is a unique blend of Irish Whiskeys and American Whiskeys.  Bringing together two unique distilling traditions, O’Shaughnessy Distilling Co. and Keeper’s Heart are led by industry legend, Master Distiller Brian Nation, previously of Jameson, Redbreast, and Midleton.
Stream this episode on your favorite podcast app and be sure to drop us a review while you’re there. 
We are thankful for your support over the last 5 years. We must give the biggest shoutout to our growing Patreon Community of supporters! As always, we'd appreciate it if you would take a few minutes time to give us feedback on Bourbon Lens podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 Star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a written review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show.
Follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X.  Also, consider supporting Bourbon Lens on Patreon for some of the behind the scenes, to earn Bourbon Lens swag, join the Bourbon Lens Tasting Club, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, please email us at Info@BourbonLens.com.
Check out BourbonLens.com to read our blog posts, whiskey news, podcast archive, and whiskey reviews.
Cheers,
Scott and Jake
Bourbon Lens
 

About Keeper’s Heart:
Cousins Patrick and Michael O’Shaughnessy founded Keeper’s Heart with the mission to create world-class whiskeys for the occasions in life that connect us and bring people together.
Keeper’s Heart currently produces and matures triple pot distilled whiskeys in the traditional Irish style that will be released over the coming years. These new expressions will allow Keeper’s Heart to showcase how they continue to reimagine whiskey’s traditions.
Based in Minneapolis, Keeper’s Heart is created at The O’Shaughnessy Distilling Company, a state-of-the-art facility that they’re delighted to share with the public. Keeper’s Heart offers distillery tours and events, as well as a world-class bar and restaurant. They also offer a Cask Society program that gives members access to one-of-a-kind releases and special offers.
For More Information: 
keepersheartwhiskey.com
Image Credit: O'Shaughnessy and Keeper's Heart