The Distiller Who Shaped Bourbon’s Future
Tasting 125: An Elite Full Proof Bourbon Experience
Less is More: The Art of Small Batch Perfection
The Wildly Perfect Pour for Your Holiday Weekend
In this week's episode of the Bourbon Playbook, Ryan O'Leary and Mike Zika cover a special pour from the E.H. Taylor Jr. collection. The Colonel is a pivotal figure in the bourbon industry that every enthusiast should know, and the guys discuss his story while sharing laughs and sipping on some sweet notes. In this episode: 2:00 — Personal Pours of the Week 12:00 — Bourbon of the Week 20:00 — History 26:00 — Tasting notes 32:00 — E5 Scale Rating 40:00 — Small cube vs. large cube in bourbon glass
In this week's episode of The Bourbon Playbook, Ryan O'Leary and Mike Zika introduce the Essential 5 Scale, a fun way to categorize your favorite bourbons and ensure you have the right bottles for every occasion. Zika then attempts to put lightweight Ryan in a bodybag with a bold, full proof Bourbon of the Week that packs a serious a punch. In this episode: 01;32 — Personal Pours of the Week 12:20 — Bourbon of the Week 15:00 — Introducing the E5 Scale 22:20 — History 23:53 — Popping the bottle 27:20 — Tasting notes 31:25 — What makes this full proof bourbon unique Support the pod: Spread the word, leave a 5-star review and subscribe on your favorite platform! Connect with the guys by emailing thebasementbuzz@gmail.com. We'll feature your bourbon questions on a future episode!
In this week's episode of The Bourbon Playbook, Ryan O'Leary and Mike Zika discuss why small batch bourbons are worth the hype! The guys sip on a Bourbon of the Week that could quickly become a favorite for those seeking a refined sip with some rich history. In this episode: 1:28 — What typically goes down at a bourbon meet up 7:45 — Bourbon pours of the week 17:48 — The Art of Small Batch Bourbon 20:40 — Bourbon of the Week History 26:02 — Tasting notes 31:09 — Zika's hat gets O'Leary all hot and bothered
On this week's episode, Mike and Ryan crack open and enjoy the perfect bottle for a long Thanksgiving weekend with family and friends. Join the guys for some sips and banter, and support the pod by spreading the word, leaving a review and hitting that subscribe button on your favorite platform! In this week's episode: 2:30 — What made the guys need a bourbon this week 10:30 — Bourbon of the Week 19:00 — History 21:00 — Tasting notes 25:15 — How to "open up" an new bottle of bourbon Support the pod by spreading the word, leaving a 5-star review and hitting that subscribe button on your favorite platform! Submit feedback and connect with the hosts by emailing thebasementbuzz@gmail.com.
Welcome to the premiere episode of The Bourbon Playbook! Ryan O'Leary and Mike Zika swap stories on life, sports and of course, the sweet brown juice. Join the guys as they crack open a heavenly bottle of 100 proof gold to kick-off the show, while covering the bourbon's history, tasting notes and more! In this week's episode: 0:00 — Prologue: Whiskey vs. Bourbon explained 4:40 — Welcome to the show 11:30 — Bourbon of the Week 12:30 — What is this miniature looking glass? 17:00 — History 20:00 — The Kentucky Chew 24:00 — Tasting notes 31:00 — That one time Ryan asked a question to Bill Belichick on TV