Bourbon Bytes Podcast

Clifton McDaniel | Bourbon Bytes
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Whiskey news & reviews with a gaming twist! Each week, Clifton McDaniel brings you the latest bourbon releases, industry stories, and ‘Byte-Sized’ tastings—alongside the hottest video game news and discussions. Cheers, and Game On!

  1. Green River Wheated Full Proof Bourbon Review — Does It Live Up to the Hype?

    22H AGO

    Green River Wheated Full Proof Bourbon Review — Does It Live Up to the Hype?

    This week on the Bourbon Bytes Podcast, I’m covering major whiskey headlines from around the world — including: 🥃 A new cask strength Ardbeg release 🥃 A wine-finished Redbreast from Ireland 🥃 An 18-year-old hazmat release from Barrell Craft Spirits And then… we get to the main event. Last year, Green River Full Proof Bourbon was my #1 whiskey of 2025. Now they’ve released a Wheated Full Proof Bourbon — and I’m giving my honest, independent take; breaking down the nose, palate, finish, value, and whether this one earns a spot on my shelf. Is it a worthy follow-up? Does swapping rye for wheat change the magic? And can it live up to the hype? Let’s find out. 🎧 Listen now and join the conversation in the Discord: bourbonbytes.com   Chapter markers: 00:00 – Welcome + Episode Overview 01:32 – Ardbeg 10 Cask Strength Committee Release 02:57 – Redbreast Muscatel Finished Irish Whiskey 04:17 – Barrell Craft Spirits 18-Year Hazmat Curacao Finished Whiskey 06:04 – Byte-Sized Review: Green River Full Proof Wheated Bourbon 15:37 – Listener Shoutout & Where to Follow

    17 min
  2. Copperworks Tequila Cask Finish Review and the Return of Whiskey Fan Favorites

    FEB 5

    Copperworks Tequila Cask Finish Review and the Return of Whiskey Fan Favorites

    This week on Bourbon Bytes, I’m digging into a tequila-finished American single malt from Copperworks Distilling and breaking down whether this experimental cask finish actually works. I also cover whiskey headlines, new releases, and industry chatter before delivering a full ‘Byte-Sized Review’ of the Copperworks American Single Malt finished in Arette tequila casks. From malt-forward sweetness to chocolate notes and surprising agave influence, I share exactly what stood out and where this bottle lands on my scale. If you love experimental finishes, American single malt, or just honest tasting notes beyond the hype, this one’s for you. Join the conversation in our Discord and tell me what you think: bourbonbytes.com   Timecodes: 00:00 Welcome to Bourbon Bytes   1:51 Whiskey News: Garisson Brothers 6yr Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon 3:56 Whiskey News: Return of New Riff Balboa Rye Whiskey 5:01 Whiskey News: Rebel Root Beer Whiskey Returns 5:51 Whiskey News: Buffalo Trace's 'Charred and Chilled Festival' 7:28 Video Game News: Ubisoft Cancels Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake 10:07 Video Game News: Microsoft's New 'Fable' Revealed 11:10 Byte Sized Review: Copperworks Arette Tequila Cask Finished American Single Malt Whiskey 20:32 Final Thoughts & Outro

    22 min
  3. Bardstown Bourbon Company's Bold Rebrand Sparks Debate + Bottled-in-Bond Review

    JAN 29

    Bardstown Bourbon Company's Bold Rebrand Sparks Debate + Bottled-in-Bond Review

    This week on the Bourbon Bytes Podcast, we’re getting into the Bardstown Bourbon Company rebrand that has the whiskey internet fully divided — and I’m using it as a jumping-off point to talk bottle redesigns across the industry. Then it’s time for a Byte-Sized Review of Bardstown Bourbon Company Bottled-in-Bond (6-year wheated bourbon, 100 proof) — and… yeah, it surprised me in the best way. 💬 Join the conversation (and see label comparisons): bourbonbytes.com → Discord 📩 Contact: contact@bourbonbytes.com 📱 Social: @bourbonbytes   Timecodes: 00:00 Cold Open: Bardstown’s controversial rebrand + what’s ahead 00:31 Welcome (Week of Jan 29, 2026) 03:17 Bardstown Bourbon Company Bold Rebrand 12:20 Rapid-fire rebrand takes (Weller, OF 1920, WT101, etc.) 21:06 Byte-Sized Review: Bardstown Bourbon Company Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon

    28 min
  4. George Dickel x Leopold Bros Rye Whiskey Review + RuneScape Turns 25!

    JAN 22

    George Dickel x Leopold Bros Rye Whiskey Review + RuneScape Turns 25!

    This week on Bourbon Bytes (a whiskey podcast with a gaming twist), I’m covering a couple big whiskey headlines, a Lunar New Year Scotch release, and some gaming news that has me genuinely hyped. 🥃 Whiskey News Knob Creek drops a new Eli Manning single barrel collab Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked (2026) expands beyond distillery-only (but that price…) Tomatin Year of the Horse 14 Year (PX sherry butt, cask strength) sounds dangerously good 🎮 Gaming News RuneScape turns 25 (year-long celebration) New Life is Strange: Reunion details + release date Ranger’s Path: National Park Simulator looks like my exact kind of cozy chaos ⭐ Byte-Sized Review I review the George Dickel x Leopold Bros Collaboration Blend Three Chamber Rye and break down the unique floral profile, value at MSRP, and why it became a killer Manhattan rye. Listen, rate, and drop your takes in the Discord: bourbonbytes.com   See timecodes below to navigate the episode: 00:00 Cold Open: Knob Creek, Woodford, RuneScape + the Rye Review 00:30 Welcome + What’s in this episode 01:02 Knob Creek x Eli Manning Single Barrel 03:22 Woodford Double Double Oaked 2026 06:31 Tomatin Year of the Horse 14 Year (2011) 07:30 Gaming News: RuneScape turns 25 08:59 Gaming News: Life is Strange: Reunion 10:38 Gaming News: Ranger’s Path National Park Simulator 12:55 Byte-Sized Review: George Dickel x Leopold Bros Three Chamber Rye 21:52 Wrap-up + where to follow

    23 min
  5. Van Winkle Special Reserve 'Lot B' Bourbon Review + First Whiskey News of 2026

    JAN 15

    Van Winkle Special Reserve 'Lot B' Bourbon Review + First Whiskey News of 2026

    I'm back from a short break and kicking off the new year with a packed episode of the Bourbon Bytes Podcast! This week we're catching up on the biggest whiskey stories you may have missed — including a brand new Old Fitzgerald from Heaven Hill, a cask strength release from High West, and a look at the highs and lows of Irish whiskey through the end of 2025. But the star of the show is a very special viewer-sent sample: Van Winkle Special Reserve Lot B. I finally sit down to give this legendary bourbon an honest review — no hype, no pressure, just my genuine thoughts on whether Lot B still earns its place in the modern bourbon world. Navigate the full episode below using the chapter markers!   00:00 – Episode Teaser: Bourbon News + Lot B Review 00:33 – Welcome Back from the Mid-Season Break 01:39 – Whiskey News #1: Old Fitzgerald Fall 2025 (11 Year BIB) 03:18 – Whiskey News #2: High West Cask Strength Bourbon Announced 05:21 – Whiskey News #3: Frey Ranch 100% Barley Whiskey 07:28 – Whiskey News #4: Wyoming Whiskey National Parks #5 – The Tetons 09:52 – Irish Whiskey Boom vs Teeling’s 91% Profit Drop 13:20 – Van Winkle Lot B Bourbon (Byte-Sized Review) 22:03 – Final Score: Van Winkle Lot B 22:55 – Outro: Thanks, How to Listen, and Share Bourbon Bytes

    24 min
  6. Willett Family Estate 4 Year Bourbon Review & Whiskey Dreams for 2026

    12/18/2025

    Willett Family Estate 4 Year Bourbon Review & Whiskey Dreams for 2026

    The final Bourbon Bytes Podcast episode of 2025 is here, and it’s a big one. In this episode, Clifton wraps up the year with honest reflections on the future of Bourbon Bytes, the bourbon industry heading into 2026, and a "Byte-Sized Review" of the brand-new Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year Cask Strength Bourbon. Willett is one of the most polarizing names in whiskey, and this new four-year-old, cask strength release has sparked plenty of debate. Is it a promising step forward for Willett’s own distillate, or does the price and presentation lean too hard on hype? Clifton breaks down the nose, palate, finish, value, and expectations while also sharing broader thoughts on availability, pricing, and what bourbon drinkers may see more of in the coming year. Whiskey news, honest reviews, and real talk to close out 2025. Cheers, and see you in 2026 🥃 00:00 – Welcome & Final Episode of 2025 02:30 – End-of-Year Reflections & 2026 Outlook 04:32 – Where Bourbon Bytes Is Headed Next 08:06 – Thoughts on the Bourbon Market in 2026 12:20 – Byte-Sized Review: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year Bourbon 23:05 – Listener Questions & Closing Thoughts

    24 min
  7. Copperworks Kilt Lifter Whiskey Review & Huge New Whiskey Releases Coming in 2026!

    12/11/2025

    Copperworks Kilt Lifter Whiskey Review & Huge New Whiskey Releases Coming in 2026!

    This week on the Bourbon Bytes Podcast, Clifton breaks down a massive wave of upcoming whiskey releases for 2026 — including the rumored return of Knob Creek 12-Year Cask Strength, a newly labeled 7-Year Old Grandad 114, Penelope’s new Madagascar Cognac Finish, Blood Oath Pact 12, Lou Gehrig Remus Reserve, a permanent Templeton Rye Double Oak, and a special 250th Anniversary Rittenhouse 10-Year Bottled-in-Bond. Then, it’s time for a Byte-Sized Review of one of the most unique American Single Malts of the year: Copperworks Kilt Lifter Whiskey — a collaboration decades in the making between Copperworks Distilling and Pike Brewing. A wild pine-forward nose gives way to a layered palate with floral brightness, cinnamon oatmeal, and a sweet Cinnabon-like finish. At $60 and 100 proof, Clifton calls it one of the most “recognizable and memorable” whiskeys he’s tried all year. Plus: Civilization VII gets a major free DLC update, and two new games hit the market this week — Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on Switch 2 and Microsoft Flight Simulator (PS5), complete with its new Stranger Things “Hawkins” expansion.   00:00 - Intro & Why 2026 Whiskey Releases Are Exploding 01:20 - Knob Creek 12 Cask Strength: The Return? 03:03 - Old Grandad 114 Single Barrel (7-Year!) 04:12 - Penelope Madagascar Cognac Release 04:43 - Blood Oath Pact 12 Red Wine Finish 05:49 - Remus “Lou Gehrig” Reserve Mashbill Breakdown 07:24 - Templeton Rye Double Oak Announcement 08:23 - Rittenhouse 10-Year Bottled-in-Bond for 250th Anniversary 09:57 - Whiskey of the Year: Elijah Craig Barrel-Proof Rye 11:58 - Gaming News: Civ VII Free DLC + Huge Updates 14:47 - Gaming News: Metroid Prime 4 & Microsoft Flight Simulator Stranger Things Pack 15:52 - Byte-Sized Review: Copperworks Kilt Lifter Whiskey 23:46 - Closing & Tease for Next Week’s Tequila Cask Review

    25 min
  8. An Islay Rye?! Bruichladdich Laddie Rye Review + Big Whiskey & Gaming News

    12/04/2025

    An Islay Rye?! Bruichladdich Laddie Rye Review + Big Whiskey & Gaming News

    This week, Clifton covers some of the final big whiskey drops of 2025, including new releases from Clyde May’s, Central Waters’ new Great Blue line, State Line Distillery’s debut 5-year rye, and the dramatic relaunch of Copper & Kings under new ownership. Then it’s time for one of the most surprising pours of the year: Bruichladdich Laddie Rye — a 100-proof, 7-year Islay-grown rye-and-barley hybrid that tastes like nothing else on the market. Plus: Palmer Luckey’s newest retro console — the ModRetro M64 — might be the most exciting gaming hardware of the year.

    26 min
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4.4
out of 5
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About

Whiskey news & reviews with a gaming twist! Each week, Clifton McDaniel brings you the latest bourbon releases, industry stories, and ‘Byte-Sized’ tastings—alongside the hottest video game news and discussions. Cheers, and Game On!

Information

  • Creator
    Clifton McDaniel | Bourbon Bytes
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    83
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Bourbon Bytes Podcast