EmbellishPod

<p><strong>From Combat Veteran to Ukrainian Vodka Importer: A Mission-Driven Story</strong></p><p>We're breaking from our usual bourbon and whiskey focus for an episode you absolutely need to hear. Sam Lerman, co-founder of Spyrt Worldwide, shares one of the most compelling origin stories in the spirits industry - from Air Force security forces veteran to defense industry professional to volunteering in Ukraine during the 2022 invasion, and ultimately becoming an importer of Ukrainian vodka with a mission that extends far beyond the bottle.</p><p>Sam's journey includes smuggling suitcases of vodka across European borders, discovering that Ukrainian horilka (vodka) is an art form with 700 years of history, and building a brand where 10% of proceeds fund landmine removal efforts in Ukraine through partnerships with organizations like The Invictus Global Response.</p><p>We explore the cultural significance of Ukrainian spirits, the difference between horilka and Russian vodka, what it was like to volunteer in a war zone, and how a chance encounter with a bottle of Hetman vodka changed everything. This conversation goes deep into entrepreneurship, mission-driven business, and supporting Ukraine through commerce and awareness.</p><p><strong>Featured Brand:</strong> Spyrt Worldwide <strong>Products Discussed:</strong> Hetman Vodka, various Ukrainian wines and spirits <strong>Availability:</strong> DC, Maryland, Virginia ABC, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, California, and online</p><p><strong>Links:</strong></p><p>Spyrt Worldwide: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.spyrtworldwide.com">www.spyrtworldwide.com</a></p><p>Institute for the Study of War: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.understandingwar.org">www.understandingwar.org</a></p><p>Invictus Global Response</p><p><strong>Ukrainian Toast:</strong> Budmo! (B-U-D-M-O)</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://www.embellishpod.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">www.embellishpod.com</a>

<p></p><p>What happens when a Detroit bartender who helped open America’s first fragrance bar joins one of bourbon’s most innovative distilleries? You get Jaz’min Weaver, Bardstown Bourbon Company’s traveling educator with a perspective unlike anyone else in the industry.</p><p>In this conversation, Jaz’min shares her journey from running bar programs with ever-changing five-course tasting menus to spreading the gospel of Bardstown bourbon across the nation. We dive deep into what makes Bardstown different—their organic collaboration approach, their unique barrel-finishing technique using argon gas preservation, and releases that push boundaries.</p><p><strong>Key Discussion Points:</strong></p><p>* The story behind Bardstown’s Cathedral Finish featuring 300-year-old French oak hand-selected for Notre Dame’s restoration</p><p>* Why Amrut was a historic moment (first American whiskey finished in Indian single malt casks)</p><p>* How Bardstown’s collaborations work: handshake deals, no money exchanged, just people excited about flavor</p><p>* The argon gas preservation method that keeps barrels wet for maximum flavor transfer</p><p>* Pairing whiskey to experiences, not just food</p><p>* Why the on-premise distillery experience will continue growing despite market contractions</p><p><strong>Guest Bio:</strong> Jaz’min Weaver is a traveling educator for Bardstown Bourbon Company. Her background includes bartending in Metro Detroit, running bar programs at Frame (known for rotating five-course tasting menus), and helping launch the nation’s first fragrance bar. She specializes in pairing flavor to fragrance and food to beverage.</p><p><strong>Connect with Jaz’min:</strong> Instagram: @jaz.distilled</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://www.embellishpod.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">www.embellishpod.com</a>

<p></p><p><strong>Ingram Distillery is bringing bourbon back to its river roots—literally.</strong></p><p>Join us for a fascinating conversation with Hank from Ingram Distillery in Columbus, Kentucky, who’s doing something no other bourbon producer is doing: aging 100% of their whiskey on floating barges. What started as an MBA class project ten years ago has become a fully operational distillery that opens for tours in April 2026.</p><p><strong>In this episode, we explore:</strong></p><p>* The historical connection between bourbon and river transportation</p><p>* Why aging bourbon on water creates unique flavor profiles</p><p>* The challenges of managing 1,000+ barrels across multiple barges</p><p>* Ingram’s new bartender-friendly release: Uncharted Bourbon</p><p>* The family’s 165-year history in river shipping</p><p><strong>Spirits Discussed:</strong></p><p>* OH Ingram Flagship Bourbon</p><p>* OH Ingram Rye</p><p>* Uncharted Bourbon (92 proof, $40)</p><p><strong>Guest:</strong> Hank, Founder & President, Ingram Distillery<strong>Location:</strong> Columbus, Kentucky (Far Western Kentucky)<strong>Opening:</strong> April 2026 (tickets on sale December 2025)</p><p><strong>Connect with Ingram:</strong></p><p>* Website: ingramwhiskey.com</p><p>* Social: @ingramwhiskey</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://www.embellishpod.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">www.embellishpod.com</a>

<p>John Hughes hosts a virtual blind tasting with friends Patrick, Don, Bill, and David Levine—testing three eight-year bourbons at 100-101 proof. What starts as a friendly competition to identify three mystery whiskeys becomes a lesson in how blind tastings force us to challenge our assumptions. Don nails the Wilderness Trail 8-year pick, while the group debates Buffalo Trace characteristics and discovers surprising preferences when brand bias is removed.</p><p><strong>Key Topics with Timestamps:</strong></p><p>03:04 - The tasting begins: Three mystery bourbons, all eight years, all ~100 proof</p><p>05:35 - Sample #1: Initial guesses range from Buffalo Trace to Barton</p><p>11:20 - Sample #2: Debate over whether it's MGP or something more controversial</p><p>18:45 - Sample #3 : The group tries to pin down the distinctive profile</p><p>26:15 - Rankings and favorites: Group consensus emerges on quality hierarchy</p><p>35:15 - Why blind tastings are both humbling and valuable for experienced drinkers</p><p>Subscribe to Embellish Pod on your preferred podcast platform. Find video versions on YouTube. Connect on Instagram or TikTok @embellishpod. Visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.embellishpod.com">www.embellishpod.com</a> for links, episode details, and more. Now also available on Substack for written content and podcast hosting. Want to participate in a future blind tasting? Email <a target="_blank" href="http://www.embellishpod.com">[email protected]</a>.</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://www.embellishpod.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">www.embellishpod.com</a>

So hopefully by now you’ve watched the most recent episode where I talked a little bit about Kentucky Bourbon Festival. One of the things I mentioned in there specifically was about Craig Beam and what Craig Beam is doing at Jackson Purchase Distillery.I’m a little biased towards Jackson Purchase, mainly because it’s on the western end of the state. They’ve been producing whiskey for quite some time, and they sneakily — somewhat sneakily — released a bottle around festival time. I’ve subsequently been able to find that bottle, and I’m super excited to talk about it.The BottleJackson Purchase Batch 1, Full Proof, Four Year Whiskey at 117.8 proof.When you’ve got a name like Beam, you’ve got to make some good whiskey, obviously. And it’s at a reasonable price point, I think, for a first launch of a brand. But let’s talk about it, right?The ProcessWe drank this three different times, three different days on three different sets of glassware with an intent to try to remove any bias that I might have based off of what happened throughout the course of that day.Tasting NotesFirst Pass:Nose: A lot of caramel and barrel spice.Palate: Like cranberry juice, but not the cranberry cocktail — just regular cranberry juice — and a little bit of nut.Finish: Some orange zest and some black pepper.Second Pass:Nose: Gummy caramel and a little bit of cola.Palate: More sarsaparilla and tart cherry.Finish: Real zesty and spicy kind of again.Third Pass:Nose: My immediate thought was, is this a Christmas bourbon? Maybe.Palate: Cranberry and sour cherry again.Finish: Grapefruit zest and barrel spice.The VerdictI think for a first entry into the market, for a four year old whiskey, for what these guys are doing — phenomenal pour.Go figure out what these guys have going on. They’re doing some contract distillation for some other folks, but they’re also making their own stuff. And this is a very phenomenal pour at the price point that it is and for what they’re doing.If you haven’t checked out Jackson Purchase yet, now’s the time.Details:Proof: 117.8Age: 4 YearsType: Full Proof, Batch 1Worth it? Absolutely. Great price point for what you’re getting.