Blind Tasting Podcast

John Starck
  • 4.3 (7)
  • HOBBIES

You're gonna get honest (and sometimes irreverent) reviews, news, and opinions on whiskey and the industry. Will I dwell on the minutia? Sure, sometimes. Will I use sarcasm to get my point across? Yep. Either way you can bet you'll learn something and have something to say about it and that is exactly what Blind Tasting Podcast is all about. Bourbon, Whiskey, and Attitude! Enjoy!

  1. 3D AGO · BONUS

    Breaking Bourbon News: Jim Beam Shuts Down Main Distillery Production for 2026

    Something big just dropped in the bourbon world, and it’s not the kind of news you casually scroll past. In this emergency segment, I break down a major announcement from Jim Beam that has ripple effects far beyond one distillery. What’s pausing, what’s still moving, and why this matters right now for whiskey freaks everywhere. No panic, no hype, just straight talk on a situation that deserves your attention. Grab the new book Whiskey Wisdom & Bourbon B.S.: Barrel Strength Legends, Lies, and Untold Tales here on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLNGXJL3 Like what I'm doing? Support the pod here: https://buymeacoffee.com/blindtastingpodcast  Help support the podcast by shopping for whiskey, prohibition, and gangster-related photos and art at: https://famousdocs.etsy.com  Get 20% off for a limited time when you purchase 4 or more items! Swing by, follow, and comment at Blind Tasting Podcast on Facebook and Instagram at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560596922297 https://www.instagram.com/blindtastingpodcast/

    7 min

  2. DEC 11

    Beavis & Butt-Head, Bradshaw, Magnus Cigar Blend, Plus the Rock n Roll HOF Pissed Me Off

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, whiskey freaks. In this episode I bounce all over the place like a bourbon-fueled pinball machine. We’ve got some bourbon news, a bizarre new release you’re not gonna believe, a quick detour into Beavis & Butt-Head territory, a rock and roll rant that I definitely needed the “Relax!” sound clip for, and finally a bold pour of Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Batch 228. It’s a little whiskey, a little nostalgia, and a big rant. Grab a pour and let’s get into it. Grab my new book Whiskey Wisdom & Bourbon B.S.: Barrel Strength Legends, Lies, and Untold Tales here on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLNGXJL3 Like what I'm doing? Support the pod here: https://buymeacoffee.com/blindtastingpodcast  Help support the podcast by shopping for whiskey, prohibition, and gangster-related photos and art at: https://famousdocs.etsy.com  Get 20% off for a limited time when you purchase 4 or more items! Swing by, follow, and comment at Blind Tasting Podcast on Facebook and Instagram at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560596922297 https://www.instagram.com/blindtastingpodcast/

    36 min

  3. DEC 5

    Heaven Hill & Wild Turkey "New Releases", Best 3 Bourbons to Gift, and Dented Brick Rye Whiskey Review

    In this episode I almost take you on a deep dive into pumpkin spice lattes and teenage TikTok meltdown culture, but luckily for everyone involved, I pull the plug before we all lose IQ points. Instead we get into the good stuff. I cover the “new releases” from Heaven Hill and Wild Turkey and then I give you the update on the Ezra Brooks 99 Traeger Smoker Sweepstakes where I somehow won a grill without losing my identity or my dignity.  I share three bourbons that will make you look like a holiday gifting hero without refinancing your house. Then I wrap things up with a review and recommendation of Dented Brick Straight Rye Whiskey. Yes, it is actually from Utah. Yes, it is actually good. No, I cannot explain it. I sip on some old Jim Beam Distillers Cut while I ramble and I give a shoutout to the Metro East Bourbon Society and to everyone who survived Thanksgiving travel. If you like bourbon news, weird whiskey finds, holiday chaos, and a little attitude, this one is for you. Grab the new book Whiskey Wisdom & Bourbon B.S.: Barrel Strength Legends, Lies, and Untold Tales here on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLNGXJL3 Like what I'm doing? Support the pod here: https://buymeacoffee.com/blindtastingpodcast  Help support the podcast by shopping for whiskey, prohibition, and gangster-related photos and art at: https://famousdocs.etsy.com  Get 20% off for a limited time when you purchase 4 or more items! Swing by, follow, and comment at Blind Tasting Podcast on Facebook and Instagram at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560596922297 https://www.instagram.com/blindtastingpodcast/

    36 min

  4. DEC 3 · BONUS

    Whiskey Wisdom & Bourbon B.S.: Barrel Strength Legends, Lies, and Untold Tales (for Christmas!!)

    Need a last minute gift for that someone special who loves bourbon, or whiskey, or history? Here ya go! My new book -- Whiskey Wisdom & Bourbon B.S.: Barrel Strength Legends, Lies, and Untold Tales From the host of the Blind Tasting Podcast comes a barrel-proof mashup of fact, folklore, and flat-out fiction. Right Here on Amazon Kindle Books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLNGXJL3 Did bourbon really age in a sunken ship? Did moonshiners use possums as lookouts? Was a World Series fixed over a bottle of rye? Some of it happened. Some of it almost happened. And some of it… well, let’s just say it might’ve been distilled in a politician’s basement. Perfect for seasoned whiskey lovers, curious sippers, and fans of a wild story. But especially, whiskey freaks! (Pretentious drinkers need not inquire.) Right Here on Amazon Kindle Books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLNGXJL3 Like what I'm doing? Support the pod here: https://buymeacoffee.com/blindtastingpodcast  Help support the podcast by shopping for whiskey, prohibition, and gangster-related photos and art at: https://famousdocs.etsy.com  Get 20% off for a limited time when you purchase 4 or more items! Swing by, follow, and comment at Blind Tasting Podcast on Facebook and Instagram at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560596922297 https://www.instagram.com/blindtastingpodcast/

    5 min

  5. NOV 26

    Evan Williams Black vs Old Forester 86: Budget Bourbon Battle Plus New Releases From Willett, Castle & Key and Blade & Bow

    Today’s episode is packed with news, flavor notes, and a budget bourbon showdown you didn’t know you needed. First, we dive into the latest releases from Blade & Bow, Willett, and Castle & Key, including a 30-year Blade & Bow monster, Willett’s new Family Estate Small Batch Bourbon, and Castle & Key’s wheated and rum-finished experiments. Some of it sounds incredible, some of it sounds…like the marketing team lost a bet, but it’s all worth talking about. Then it’s time for the main event: a head-to-head tasting of Evan Williams Black Label and Old Forester 86 Proof. Same proof, similar specs, totally different personalities. Which one brings more flavor, more value, and more reasons to keep it on your shelf? I break down color, nose, palate, finish, and which pour punches above its price. Grab the new book Whiskey Wisdom & Bourbon B.S.: Barrel Strength Legends, Lies, and Untold Tales here on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLNGXJL3 Like what I'm doing? Support the pod here: https://buymeacoffee.com/blindtastingpodcast  Help support the podcast by shopping for whiskey, prohibition, and gangster-related photos and art at: https://famousdocs.etsy.com  Get 20% off for a limited time when you purchase 4 or more items! Swing by, follow, and comment at Blind Tasting Podcast on Facebook and Instagram at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560596922297 https://www.instagram.com/blindtastingpodcast/

    31 min

  6. NOV 18

    Big Buffalo Trace & Michter’s News, Booker’s Should Be Retired & Review of Booker’s 2025-03 Jerry’s Batch

    In this episode, I dive headfirst into one of the most heated debates in the whiskey world: is it time to retire Booker’s bourbon? Yeah, I said it. And judging from the comments y’all sent in, some of you were ready to fight me in a Kroger parking lot over it. Before we get into the madness, I break down the latest whiskey news, including Buffalo Trace dropping a 125 proof Sazerac Rye and Michter’s launching a 20 year bourbon whiskey that’ll cost you your marriage and at least one kidney. Then I read your wild reactions to my Booker’s question, from “retire it” to “revamp it” to folks ready to defend it like it was their firstborn child. And to prove I’m not just talkin’ trash, I crack open and review the newest Booker’s release, Jerry’s Batch 2025-03. You’ll hear the full tasting notes, the verdict, and why I think the brand might be running on repeat even though I still love Beam. It’s hot takes, high proof, and a whole lot of Whiskey Freak energy. Tune in and let’s keep it honest. Grab the new book Whiskey Wisdom & Bourbon B.S.: Barrel Strength Legends, Lies, and Untold Tales here on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLNGXJL3 Like what I'm doing? Support the pod here: https://buymeacoffee.com/blindtastingpodcast  Help support the podcast by shopping for whiskey, prohibition, and gangster-related photos and art at: https://famousdocs.etsy.com  Get 20% off for a limited time when you purchase 4 or more items! Swing by, follow, and comment at Blind Tasting Podcast on Facebook and Instagram at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560596922297 https://www.instagram.com/blindtastingpodcast/

    49 min

  7. NOV 13

    Big Ass Jack, Peyton Manning, Bud Heavy, MGP Mess, Yellowstone Select Bourbon Whiskey Review

    Today we’ve got a full plate of bourbon news and pours you won’t want to miss. From Jack Daniels’ historic new bottle size to Sweetens Cove’s latest Tennessee releases, plus a deep dive into the ups and downs at MGP, it’s all coming at you full-speed. I also crack open Yellowstone Select 93 Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey and give you my take on what’s worth your time, your money, and your glass. Bourbon. Whiskey. Attitude. Let’s Go! Grab my new book Whiskey Wisdom & Bourbon B.S.: Barrel Strength Legends, Lies, and Untold Tales here on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLNGXJL3 Like what I'm doing? Support the pod here: https://buymeacoffee.com/blindtastingpodcast  Help support the podcast by shopping for whiskey, prohibition, and gangster-related photos and art at: https://famousdocs.etsy.com  Get 20% off for a limited time when you purchase 4 or more items! Swing by, follow, and comment at Blind Tasting Podcast on Facebook and Instagram at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560596922297 https://www.instagram.com/blindtastingpodcast/

    31 min

  8. NOV 5

    I Found WhistlePig by Accident, Whiskey News, Plus Puff Daddy & Keanu Reeves Cameos

    Welcome in, Whiskey Freaks. This episode dives into my unexpected visit to the WhistlePig tasting room in Quechee, Vermont, where I sat down with their Distillers Craft Flight and tried three premium ryes you almost never see on the shelves. I walk you through each pour and give them the full Keep It, Collect It, or Cull It treatment, along with some honest thoughts on flavors, finishes, and those eye-watering WhistlePig price tags. We’ve also got a couple big whiskey stories on deck, including Heaven Hill’s new 90th Anniversary 9-Year release and the latest addition to World Whiskey Society’s Western Collection, the Henry Deringer American Single Malt. And to round things out, I drop a quick movie review of Good Fortune, starring Keanu Reeves, who proves once again he can pretty much do anything on screen. A fun mix of news, pours, and one very serendipitous stop in Vermont. Let’s Go! Grab my new book Whiskey Wisdom & Bourbon B.S.: Barrel Strength Legends, Lies, and Untold Tales here on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLNGXJL3 Like what I'm doing? Support the pod here: https://buymeacoffee.com/blindtastingpodcast  Help support the podcast by shopping for whiskey, prohibition, and gangster-related photos and art at: https://famousdocs.etsy.com  Get 20% off for a limited time when you purchase 4 or more items! Swing by, follow, and comment at Blind Tasting Podcast on Facebook and Instagram at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560596922297 https://www.instagram.com/blindtastingpodcast/

    40 min
See All (73)

4.3
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

You're gonna get honest (and sometimes irreverent) reviews, news, and opinions on whiskey and the industry. Will I dwell on the minutia? Sure, sometimes. Will I use sarcasm to get my point across? Yep. Either way you can bet you'll learn something and have something to say about it and that is exactly what Blind Tasting Podcast is all about. Bourbon, Whiskey, and Attitude! Enjoy!

Information

  • Creator
    John Starck
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    73
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Blind Tasting Podcast
  • Show Website
    Blind Tasting Podcast

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