Bourbon Bytes Podcast

Clifton McDaniel | Bourbon Bytes
  • 4.4 (14)
  • Food
  • Updated Weekly

Bourbon and whiskey news, reviews, and tastings 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. 23h ago

    Redwood Empire The Hyperion Whiskey Review: Is the Inaugural Batch Worth $99?

    Redwood Empire 'The Hyperion' Whiskey Review: I’m getting an early taste of Batch 001, one of Redwood Empire’s most ambitious releases yet — but first, Pappy season is officially here and the whiskey news gets weird. The Van Winkle family has announced the 2026 Pappy lineup, with six expressions ranging from Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year all the way up to Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year and the 13 Year Family Reserve Rye. Retail prices continue to creep upward, but they’re still nowhere near what these bottles command on the secondary market. Then MGP steps out from behind the curtain with Chapter One: Out of the Shadows, its first whiskey ever released under the MGP name. It’s a 10-year, 111-proof bourbon aged in Lawrenceburg, Indiana — and at just $70, it might be one of the most interesting values of LE season. Neeley Family Distillery also debuts PaPaw’s Legacy Reserve, a 10-year cask-strength wheated bourbon with a unique Solera-style story and a much more intimidating $300 price tag. We’ve also got 2XO Rapper’s Delight, a collaboration between Dixon Dedman and The Sugarhill Gang, plus one of the strangest releases of the year: WhistlePig Boss Hog XIII: The Golden Pharaoh, finished with Egyptian black honey and tiger nuts. Yes, tiger nuts. Then it’s time for the main event: my review of Redwood Empire The Hyperion Batch 001. This new annual limited edition combines FOUR different categories of whiskey: 🥃 32% Bourbon Whiskey 🥃 30% Rye Whiskey 🥃 25% Wheat Whiskey 🥃 13% Single Malt Whiskey The blend pulls together more than 10 mash bills, whiskey aged from 7 to 14 years, and distillate from multiple states before being re-barreled in freshly toasted char #3 barrels. At 110 proof and $99 MSRP, it sounds incredibly ambitious. But does it actually work? Would you rather spend $100 on an experimental blend like Hyperion, or stick with a traditional limited-edition bourbon? YOUTUBE CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro – Pappy, MGP, WhistlePig & Hyperion 00:27 Welcome + LE Season 00:53 Pappy Van Winkle 2026 Lineup 02:42 MGP Chapter One: Out of the Shadows 04:11 Neeley PaPaw’s Legacy Reserve 06:09 2XO Rapper’s Delight 07:47 WhistlePig Boss Hog XIII: The Golden Pharaoh 09:48 Redwood Empire Hyperion Whiskey Review 17:43 Outro

    Redwood Empire The Hyperion Whiskey Review: Is the Inaugural Batch Worth $99?

  2. Sep 10

    Elijah Craig Ryder Cup Review + Ocarina of Time Remake?!

    Bourbon Heritage Month is officially heating up, and this week’s Bourbon Bytes is packed with limited-edition whiskey news, a huge Nintendo surprise, and a fall-ready Elijah Craig review. Heaven Hill kicks things off with the 20th Parker’s Heritage Collection: a 14-year Kentucky straight bourbon made using rye backset during fermentation. Bottled at 118 proof and limited to just 100 barrels, this is one of the releases I’m most excited to hunt this fall. Brown-Forman is also bringing Kentucky Boy Bourbon back from the dead for a special release honoring master distiller Chris Morris’ 50-year career, while Four Roses is blending a massive 23-year-old OESK component into its 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch. Then Woodinville finally reaches double-digit age with its first 10 Year Bourbon, and Ardbeg adds a new permanent 15-year-old expression, Trudernish, to its core lineup. On the gaming side, Nintendo dropped one of the biggest nostalgia bombs of the year: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is getting a full Nintendo Switch 2 remake. We’re talking modernized visuals, fully voiced cutscenes, expanded dialogue, orchestral music, and a November 5 release date. As someone who grew up with classic Nintendo, this one hit me right in the nostalgia. Then it’s time for a Byte-Sized Review of the 2025 Elijah Craig Ryder Cup Limited Edition. This 94-proof bourbon takes classic Elijah Craig and finishes it with toasted sugar maple and applewood staves as a nod to the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York. The result surprised me. Expect oak, brown sugar, caramel pie crust, cinnamon, baked apple, maple sweetness, and a rich dessert-like profile that immediately made me think of warm apple pie at Thanksgiving. Originally released around $70 and now showing up in some markets for considerably less, is this forgotten Ryder Cup bottle actually worth grabbing? 🥃 Topics covered: Parker’s Heritage 14 Year Bourbon Kentucky Boy Bourbon returns Four Roses 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch Woodinville 10 Year Bourbon Ardbeg Trudernish 15 Year The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake Nintendo Switch 2 Elijah Craig 2025 Ryder Cup Limited Edition review Is this the best Elijah Craig Ryder Cup release yet?   Chapter Markers: 00:00 Intro – Parker’s Heritage, Zelda & Elijah Craig 00:30 Welcome + Bourbon Heritage Month 01:35 Parker’s Heritage 14 Year Rye Backset Bourbon 03:10 Kentucky Boy Bourbon Returns 05:01 Four Roses 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch 06:44 Woodinville 10 Year Bourbon 08:27 Ardbeg Trudernish 15 Year 09:27 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake 11:32 Byte Club + Bourbon Bytes Update 12:29 Byte-Sized Review – Elijah Craig 2025 Ryder Cup 18:35 Outro

    Elijah Craig Ryder Cup Review + Ocarina of Time Remake?!

  3. Aug 27

    Stetson Made a Bourbon… Is It More Than a Pretty Bottle?

    Beautiful bottles and brilliant blends are the unofficial theme of this week’s 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 world’s oldest operating Mississippi River steamboat. The 96-proof Captain’s 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 Ridge’s 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, I’m 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 it’s 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 I’ve 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 proof. 🥃 Topics covered: Jim Beam Ten-Pin Decanter Brough Brothers x Belle of Louisville Redwood Empire The Hyperion Cedar Ridge 2026 Anniversary Edition Gamescom Opening Night Live highlights RollerCoaster Tycoon: Wonderworks Final Fantasy VII Revelation The Witcher 3 Remastered Stetson Bourbon review What matters more to you: a beautiful bottle, or what’s actually inside it?   Chapter Markers: 00:00 Intro – Jim Beam, Redwood Empire, Gamescom & Stetson 00:30 Welcome + Episode Setup 00:58 Jim Beam Ten-Pin Decanter Returns 01:53 Brough Brothers x Belle of Louisville 02:50 Redwood Empire The Hyperion 04:13 Cedar Ridge Five-Cask Anniversary Bourbon 05:20 Gamescom Opening Night Live Highlights 07:40 Byte-Sized Review – Stetson Bourbon 14:34 Outro

    Stetson Made a Bourbon… Is It More Than a Pretty Bottle?

  4. Aug 20

    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 I’m 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 Japan’s push for stronger geographic protection for Japanese whisky and what that could mean for consumers. Maker’s 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 you’ve 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 it’s time for a Byte-Sized Review of Onyx & Amber 8 Year Single Barrel Bourbon, selected by fellow Whiskeytuber Indpndnt Joe in collaboration with The Barrel Tap. The bottle lists an undisclosed Bardstown distillery, but in the episode I identify the distillate as Willett. It’s 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 Maker’s 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 – Maker’s 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 Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2026 05:55 Bardstown Bourbon Company Fall Releases 08:56 Nintendo Switch 2 Price Hike 09:50 Byte-Sized Review – Onyx & Amber 8 Year Willett Single Barrel 17:53 Heaven Hill Livestream + Outro

    A $95 8-Year Willett?! Onyx & Amber Review + Switch 2 Price Hike

  5. Aug 13

    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 I’ve 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 Blanton’s Straight From the Barrel. Jameson is also expanding its U.S. lineup with Distiller’s Batch, matured across five different oak types and arriving this September. And because Bourbon Bytes is whiskey news with a gaming twist, I’m 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 it’s 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 doesn’t 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 Distiller’s 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 it’s 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 01:09 Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon + Laguna Madre 03:39 Elmer T. Lee Cask Strength 05:14 Jameson Distiller’s Batch 06:23 Byte Club Shoutout 07:19 August Video Game Releases 07:24 Big Walk 08:39 Oblivion Remastered on Switch 2 09:05 Grounded 2 09:49 Wild Blue Skies 11:12 Byte-Sized Review – Weller Single Barrel 19:49 Outro

    Weller Single Barrel Review: Worth the Hunt? + Elmer T. Lee Goes Cask Strength

  6. Aug 6

    J.P. Wiser’s 23 Year Cask Strength Review: Still One of Canada’s Best?

    This week on the Bourbon Bytes podcast, we’re 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 I’ve 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, it’s time for a throwback Byte-Sized Review of J.P. Wiser’s 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 Canadian—approximately $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 Xbox’s rumored disc-to-digital game program J.P. Wiser’s 23 Year Cask Strength review How the whisky holds up seven years later Final score and whether anything comparable exists today What older bottle would you most like to revisit with your current palate?   Chapter Markers: 00:00 Intro – Hazmat Brandy, Old Overholt, Xbox & J.P. Wiser’s 00:34 Welcome + Episode Setup 00:56 Copper & Kings Hazmat Brandy Releases 02:48 Old Overholt 11 Year Cask Strength Rye 03:48 The Macallan’s Coconut-Inspired Whiskies 06:01 Xbox Disc-to-Digital Leak 08:39 Throwback Review – J.P. Wiser’s 23 Year Cask Strength 16:27 No Livestream This Week + Outro

    J.P. Wiser’s 23 Year Cask Strength Review: Still One of Canada’s Best?

  7. Jul 30

    Scotch Tariffs Are Dead, Whiskey AI Is Here & Locke + Co Reviewed

    This week on the Bourbon Bytes podcast, we’re 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 it’s 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 Dancing Goat 10 Year Bourbon + American Single Malt 10:02 Bulleit ’87 Bourbon + Rye Blend 11:22 Byte-Sized Review – Locke + Co Big Blaze Bourbon 16:55 Outro + First Responder Tribute Would you use AI to research whiskey, or would you rather trust reviewers and your own palate?

    Scotch Tariffs Are Dead, Whiskey AI Is Here & Locke + Co Reviewed

  8. Jul 23

    Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye Review: Does It Still Deserve the Hype?

    This week on the Bourbon Bytes podcast, we’re diving into a packed lineup of new whiskey releases before revisiting one of my favorite barrel-strength rye whiskeys of all time: Michter’s 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 it’s time for a Byte-Sized Review of Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye. This 2016 release is one of the earlier batches of Michter’s barrel-strength rye, likely around 113–114 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 Michter’s 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 Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye review How older Michter’s releases compare to modern bottles Final score and whether vintage bottles are worth hunting Would you rather try Bardstown’s pineapple-finished whiskey or hunt down an older Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye?   YouTube Chapter Markers: 00:00 Intro – New Riff, Bardstown, Heaven Hill & Michter’s 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 Double Mash Bottled-in-Bond 08:22 Byte-Sized Review – Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye 15:34 Re-Reviewing Old Favorites + Outro

    Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye Review: Does It Still Deserve the Hype?
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4.4
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About

Bourbon and whiskey news, reviews, and tastings 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
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Bourbon Bytes Podcast

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