This week, Big Chief takes you on a ride that doesn't just sip whiskey… it digs it straight out of the dirt and pours history into your glass. The show kicks off with a bold pour of Old Kernel from Ironclad Distillery Co.—a whiskey that sets the tone for what's ahead. Rich, rooted, and unapologetically tied to place, it's the perfect way to open a conversation about grain, heritage, and identity. Big Chief sits down with Shelley Sackier, who brings more than knowledge—she brings purpose. Her journey through whiskey has led her beyond barrels and into the soil of Virginia, chasing something deeper than flavor… chasing origin. At the heart of this episode is the Virginia Heritage Grain Project, a movement focused on reviving the grains that built American whiskey as far back as 1620. This isn't about nostalgia—it's about rediscovery. About taking grains that were lost to time and putting them back where they belong… in the ground, in the mash, and in your glass. But this project isn't a solo act. Distillers across Virginia are stepping up to be part of something bigger: • Mary Allison at Reservoir Distillery, leading the charge by turning heritage grains into living, breathing whiskey • Owen King of Ironclad Distillery Co., pushing the idea that whiskey should reflect where it's grown, not just how it's made Together, they're building a new path—pairing farmers and distillers, one grain at a time, to create true grain-to-glass whiskey rooted in Virginia soil. Heritage corn Heritage rye Heritage wheat Heritage barley These aren't your high-yield, modern crops. These are grains selected for flavor, for character, for story. Pulled from seed banks, historic farms, and collections that predate modern agriculture, they bring something back to whiskey that's been missing… soul. Standout grains like Seashore Black Rye are already proving what's possible—delivering bold, earthy, spice-driven profiles that hit different than anything coming off today's commodity grain market. On the second half, Big Chief leans into the glass with a wheated whiskey from Reservoir Distillery—soft, layered, and full of depth—before stepping into bold territory with their Milk Stout Bourbon. A whiskey that pushes boundaries and shows exactly what happens when innovation meets tradition. This episode isn't just about whiskey. It's about where it comes from. Who grows it. Who fights to preserve it. Because before the barrel… Before the still… There was the grain. And Virginia is bringing it back. Take the Ride with Big Chief. Cheers
