Best John Blanton Podcasts (2026)

In this episode, I sit down with Nick Colombo, Operations Manager at Switchgrass Spirits in St. Louis, for a no-fluff, behind-the-scenes conversation about what it takes to run a worker-owned, award-winning distillery. We dig into the origins, the challenges, the mistakes, and why local whiskey done right is making waves. Check out the full episode…

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Mary Chapin Carpenter is the Woman in the Truck, ep. 334 47:52

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13m ago47:52

47:52

Mary Chapin Carpenter's latest album, 'Personal History,' is as lush in production and color as the beautiful farmland she calls home in Virginia. Carpenter will often wake up early for sunrise walks with her dog, Angus, and one of several daily cups of coffee (of course) to start the day. In our Basic Folk conversation, she reflects on how living …

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Campus Vision Sunday | John 6:1-15 | Brandon Abbott 40:13

1d ago40:13

40:13

By Brentwood Baptist Church

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Blanton’s Gold vs Straight From the Barrel - Does MORE Blanton’s Actually Make Blanton’s Better? 42:16

8d ago42:16

42:16

In this not-so-short Splash 'n Dash edition of the Blind Tasting Podcast, I put two of the most hyped Blanton’s bottles head to head with no labels and no bias. Blanton’s Gold versus Blanton’s Straight From the Barrel. Same warehouse. Same mash bill. Very different proofs and price tags. I break down the fascinating history behind Blanton’s Straigh…

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The King Is with You Always | Matthew 28:20b | Chris Blanton 33:02

9d ago33:02

33:02

By Brentwood Baptist Church

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Everyone Is Wrong About Jim Beam And We Have the Receipts 29:27

9d ago29:27

29:27

Social media had opinions when Jim Beam announced it was pausing distillation at its Clermont Kentucky facility and most of them were loud, political, and wildly wrong. In this bonus episode of the Blind Tasting Podcast I dive headfirst into the comment section chaos and bring backup. Joined by our resident economics guru we break down the biggest …

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The Exiled King | Matthew 2:13-22 | Brandon Abbott 40:28

23d ago40:28

40:28

By Brentwood Baptist Church

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Breaking Bourbon News: Jim Beam Shuts Down Main Distillery Production for 2026 6:56

16d ago6:56

6:56

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, j…

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2025 Wrap-Up: Gals Chat, A Corn Cob, Alaska, and One Man, ep. 333 1:12:57

20d ago1:12:57

1:12:57

To send 2025 off into the great abyss, we have a sensational year-end Basic Folk roundtable featuring Lizzie's group chat: Kaïa Kater, Olivia Ellen Lloyd, and Isa Burke. It can feel so challenging to know which media you can trust and whose takes you can really take to the bank. There is no one we trust more to wrap-up this wild and wacky year than…

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Wisemen Visit the King | Matthew 2:1-12 | Brandon Abbott 40:24

29d ago40:24

40:24

By Brentwood Baptist Church

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Beavis & Butt-Head, Bradshaw, Magnus Cigar Blend, Plus the Rock n Roll HOF Pissed Me Off 36:21

1M ago36:21

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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…

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A King Sent to Rescue Us | Matthew 1:18-25 | Brandon Abbott 31:53

1M ago31:53

31:53

By Brentwood Baptist Church

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Heaven Hill & Wild Turkey "New Releases", Best 3 Bourbons to Gift, and Dented Brick Rye Whiskey Review 35:48

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35:48

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 …

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Madison Cunningham is Embarrassed All the Time. ep. 332 59:12

1M ago59:12

59:12

Our episode with Madison Cunningham was one of those all-time Basic Folk moments where a guest gets really deep really quickly. I'm so grateful to have had the chance to speak with this brilliant young torchbearer of the folk tradition to celebrate the release of her new album, 'Ace.' Cunningham grew up in the church, an environment which shaped he…

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Whiskey Wisdom & Bourbon B.S.: Barrel Strength Legends, Lies, and Untold Tales (for Christmas!!) 4:39

1M ago4:39

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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…

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A Promised King | Matthew 1:1-17 | Brandon Abbott 39:59

1M ago39:59

39:59

By Brentwood Baptist Church

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Evan Williams Black vs Old Forester 86: Budget Bourbon Battle Plus New Releases From Willett, Castle & Key and Blade & Bow 31:07

2M ago31:07

31:07

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 i…

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Jesus Invites (Missional Living: Invited by Jesus) | Matthew 22:1-14 | Brandon Abbott 38:36

2M ago38:36

38:36

By Brentwood Baptist Church

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Big Buffalo Trace & Michter’s News, Booker’s Should Be Retired & Review of Booker’s 2025-03 Jerry’s Batch 49:06

2M ago49:06

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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 T…

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Jesus Pursues (Missional Living: Relentless Pursuit) | Matthew 18:10-14 | Brandon Abbott 34:48

2M ago34:48

34:48

By Brentwood Baptist Church

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Big Ass Jack, Peyton Manning, Bud Heavy, MGP Mess, Yellowstone Select Bourbon Whiskey Review 30:50

2M ago30:50

30:50

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 wha…

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Frazey Ford Revisits the Subtle Grooves of 'Indian Ocean', ep. 331 51:19

2M ago51:19

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Frazey Ford has always loved soul music. She fell in love with Otis Redding at age 11 and discovered people like Ann Peebles along the way, but it was Al Green that really knocked her out. She loved the layers, the expression, and especially his voice. She completely dove in and even started an Al Green cover band. Although she had been perfecting …

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FAM Sunday | Guest Preacher: JT Olson 31:02

2M ago31:02

31:02

By Brentwood Baptist Church

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I Found WhistlePig by Accident, Whiskey News, Plus Puff Daddy & Keanu Reeves Cameos 40:01

2M ago40:01

40:01

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 so…

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Missional Living: Seeking the Lost | Matthew 9:19-26 | Brandon Abbott 43:44

2M ago43:44

43:44

By Brentwood Baptist Church

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Preservation Distillery’s Cock of the Walk Bourbon: Is it Pappy’s Bold Wheated Cousin? Plus Whiskey News & More 39:54

2M ago39:54

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In this episode I review Cock of the Walk Bourbon Whiskey from Preservation Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. I talk about my candid conversation with Kyle Lloyd, Preservation’s VP of Operations, and break down what makes their micro-batch, wheated bourbon so unique. Could it be Pappy’s long, lost cousin? Listen and find out! You’ll also get updat…

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The Barr Brothers Rally Around Mysticism, ep. 330 1:01:25

2M ago1:01:25

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In the eight years since The Barr Brothers last released an album, Andrew has been drumming with people like Feist, Mumford & Sons, and Broken Social Scene while Brad released a solo record and underwent incredible personal change. Brad made the huge decision to get sober, which he talks about candidly in our Basic Folk interview. Anything you read…

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Matthew 7:1-27 | Kingdom Living: Living in Response to the Gospel | Brandon Abbott 36:33

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By Brentwood Baptist Church

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BREAKING NEWS: Four Roses is Up for Sale, Is a Massive Bourbon Shake-up Coming? 7:50

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Something big’s brewing in the bourbon world, and it involves one of Kentucky’s most iconic names: Four Roses. 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 He…

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St. Louis Bourbon Festival Highlights, Whiskey News, and a Bulleit Bourbon Review 59:05

3M ago59:05

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Whiskey Freaks! This week I bring you a full recap from the 5th Annual St. Louis Bourbon Festival, where I tasted copious amounts of bourbon and whiskey, met distillers from Missouri and beyond, and explored some of the standout releases. I also cover the latest whiskey news, including new high-rye and barrel-strength releases from Calumet Farm and…

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Matthew 6:19-34 | Kingdom Living: Serving Christ Wholeheartedly | Brandon Abbott 40:18

3M ago40:18

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By Brentwood Baptist Church

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David Wilcox Can Heal Your Heart in Two Minutes, ep. 329 1:11:03

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Asheville-based songwriter David Wilcox has been through some s-h-i-t. A difficult childhood in Northeast Ohio sent him seeking answers – mostly on his bicycle – in an attempt to get away. He has spent his lifetime leaning into his problems and digging into their roots at the source: his own heart. He decided to see what lessons his heart had been …

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World’s Best Bourbon 2025, Uncle Nearest Drama, Buffalo Trace Milestone & Remus Repeal Reserve IX Tasting 37:38

3M ago37:38

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Whiskey Freaks, forget the glitter and halftime shows, this episode is all about bourbon chaos. We dive into Uncle Nearest’s rocky road to recovery, Woodford Reserve’s experimental Sweet Oak Bourbon, Elijah Craig’s first-ever Barrel Proof Rye, and the return of Ezra Brooks in giant 1.75L form. I also break down Rebel Butter Pecan Bourbon Cream with…

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Kingdom Living: Grace and Obedience | Matthew 5:17-6:4 | Chris Blanton 37:27

3M ago37:27

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By Brentwood Baptist Church

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STOP! Don’t Visit Buffalo Trace Distillery Until You Hear This – Special Alert 7:32

3M ago7:32

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Just a quick bourbon morsel for you, Whiskey Freaks. I finally got a straight answer from Buffalo Trace about what’s really going on with their gift shop allocated bottles. So let’s clear up some of that confusion together! Grab my new book Whiskey Wisdom & Bourbon B.S.: Barrel Strength Legends, Lies, and Untold Tales here on Amazon: https://www.am…

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Barely Legal Bourbon Battle: Elijah Craig 18 vs Knob Creek 18, Which Whiskey Wins? 40:42

3M ago40:42

40:42

By John Starck

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Kingdom Living: Embracing the Upside-Down Kingdom | Matthew 5:1-14 | Mike Harland 43:24

3M ago43:24

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By Brentwood Baptist Church

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Kathleen Edwards: Making up for 30 Years of No Tears, ep. 328 1:07:00

3M ago1:07:00

1:07:00

Kathleen Edwards claims that she's now a pretty frequent crier after not crying for the first 30 years of her life. One reason for this change is the connectedness she has been feeling since leaving music and starting her coffee shop, Quitters. In our Basic Folk conversation, Edwards tears up talking about the cover of her new album 'Billionaire,' …

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Pappy Van Winkle 2025 Drops, New Riff High Balls, Pro Tips on Buffalo Trace, and Revisiting Ben Holladay Rickhouse Proof Smoked Bourbon Whiskey 39:03

4M ago39:03

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Hey whiskey freaks, on this new episode, forget life’s big questions. No upside-down pineapples, no soul-searching. It’s all bourbon, all the way. We’re diving into the 2025 Pappy drop (good luck getting any), revisiting a rare smoked Ben Holladay bourbon to see if it still hits like it did months ago, and talking stocks: because apparently, I own …

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Matthew 4:18-22 | Immediate Obedience | Brandon Abbott 31:35

4M ago31:35

31:35

By Brentwood Baptist Church

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Should Booker’s Be Put Out to Pasture? Heaven Hill News, Buffalo Trace Travels, Ireland Gets Invaded, Review of Booker’s 2025-02 By the Pond 37:09

4M ago37:09

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In this episode I dive into a wild mix of bourbon news, Ireland is getting invaded, Heaven Hill’s grain-to-glass wheater, Buffalo Trace hitting the road (literally), and some bad news out of Lebanon, Kentucky. But the main event? My review of Booker’s 2025-02 By the Pond. Spoiler alert: I think it might be time to send Booker’s out to pasture. Yeah…

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Matthew 4:1-11 | Lessons from the Wilderness | Brandon Abbott 34:37

4M ago34:37

34:37

By Brentwood Baptist Church

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Peter Rowan: The Bluegrass Buddha's Tex-Mex Roots, ep. 327 1:08:54

4M ago1:08:54

1:08:54

Legendary Massachusetts-born, California-based musician Peter Rowan is best known for his bluegrass roots. A practicing Buddhist, he did time in Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys as well as in the short-lived and epically important Old & In the Way with Jerry Garcia and David Grisman. However, his latest album 'Tales of the Free Mexican Airforce' celeb…

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Sorghum Bourbon, Gaming Gear, Four Roses News, Review of Cask House Triple Cask Bourbon Aged in Rye Barrels, Say what? 47:04

4M ago47:04

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Welcome back whiskey freaks. This episode kicks off with some “bad news” you won’t want to miss, then we roll straight into the madness of bourbon heritage season. There’s plenty of whiskey news to sort through, and of course, a review that caught me off guard. I’m tasting Cask House Triple Cask, finished in rye barrels at 116.58 proof. Say what? Y…

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Making Way for the King | Matthew 3:1-17 | Brandon Abbott 36:27

4M ago36:27

36:27

By Brentwood Baptist Church

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Buffalo Trace vs. Clyde May’s Blind Tasting Bourbon Battle – Too Close to Call? 40:19

4M ago40:19

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Welcome in, Whiskey Freaks! This week on the Blind Tasting Podcast, we’re throwing down in a blind bourbon showdown. In one corner: the heavyweight champ of entry-level Kentucky bourbon, Buffalo Trace 90 proof. In the other: a scrappy Alabama upstart with outlaw moonshiner roots, Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon 92 proof. I’ll walk you through the wild…

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Blackberry Jack, Bourbon & Beyond is for Millionaires, Kentucky Owl in Distress, 1st Whiskey Confessions 35:57

4M ago35:57

35:57

I kick things off with a bourbon BOLO featuring Beyke’s Blue Corn Bourbon and Yellowstone’s new ready-to-drink cocktails. After that, I run through the Bourbon & Beyond festival lineup (spoiler: it now includes roller coasters), and then dive into a Kentucky Owl story that plays out like a full-on bourbon soap opera. Next up, I asked you all: what …

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Vision Sunday | Philippians 1:1-11 | Jay Strother 43:08

4M ago43:08

43:08

By Brentwood Baptist Church

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Rissi Palmer & Miko Marks: "Buckle Bunny," No Cringe, and My Black Country, ep. 326 1:07:02

4M ago1:07:02

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This time on Basic Folk, we are checking in with country singer-songwriter and Color Me Country radio host Rissi Palmer and Americana country artist Miko Marks. The two close friends both came up as Black women in country music in the early part of the 21st century where they experienced gatekeepers and discrimination in the industry, but undeniabl…