Whiskey got wild this week.
Eagle Rare just announced a 30-year-old bourbon priced at $12,500, Elijah Craig is back with another PGA Championship bottle, and Booker's Bourbon returns with its first batch of 2026.
I also break down:
<ul>
<li>Buffalo Trace Distillery opening the new John G. Carlisle Cafe</li>
<li>New TTB label filings from Old Forester and Heaven Hill</li>
<li>Whether Booker’s is still worth buying at today’s prices</li>
</ul>
Then I give my full Byte-Sized Review of Knob Creek Blender’s Edition to see if Beam has a real hit on its hands.
🥃 Is it better than standard Knob Creek? 
🥃 Is it worth $45? 
🥃 Great neat pour… or cocktail king?
Let me know what you think in the comments.
 
Timecodes:
00:00 Intro – Welcome to Bourbon Bytes
00:52 Eagle Rare 30 Costs $12,500
04:42 Buffalo Trace Distillery Opens New Cafe
06:36 Elijah Craig PGA Championship Bourbon
07:59 Booker's Bourbon Big Easy Batch 2026-01
09:54 New TTB Labels: Old Forester + Heaven Hill
12:22 Byte-Sized Review – Knob Creek Blender’s Edition
21:04 Outro + Byte Club Shoutouts

<description>&lt;p&gt;Whiskey got wild this week.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Eagle Rare just announced a 30-year-old bourbon priced at $12,500, Elijah Craig is back with another PGA Championship bottle, and Booker's Bourbon returns with its first batch of 2026.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I also break down:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buffalo Trace Distillery opening the new John G. Carlisle Cafe&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;New TTB label filings from Old Forester and Heaven Hill&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Whether Booker’s is still worth buying at today’s prices&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Then I give my full Byte-Sized Review of Knob Creek Blender’s Edition to see if Beam has a real hit on its hands.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;🥃 Is it better than standard Knob Creek?
🥃 Is it worth $45?
🥃 Great neat pour… or cocktail king?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Let me know what you think in the comments.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Timecodes:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;00:00 Intro – Welcome to Bourbon Bytes&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;00:52 Eagle Rare 30 Costs $12,500&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;04:42 Buffalo Trace Distillery Opens New Cafe&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;06:36 Elijah Craig PGA Championship Bourbon&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;07:59 Booker's Bourbon Big Easy Batch 2026-01&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;09:54 New TTB Labels: Old Forester + Heaven Hill&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;12:22 Byte-Sized Review – Knob Creek Blender’s Edition&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;21:04 Outro + Byte Club Shoutouts&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

This week’s Bourbon Bytes covers the new $12,500 Eagle Rare 30, Elijah Craig’s latest PGA bottle, Booker’s first 2026 batch, fresh TTB filings, and Buffalo Trace’s new cafe. Then I review Knob Creek Blender’s Edition and decide whether it’s one of the best value releases on shelves right now.

$12,500 Eagle Rare, New Booker’s Batch, But Is Knob Creek Blender’s Edition the Best Buy?

Whiskey might be changing in a big way.
A recent appeals court ruling could potentially make home distilling legal in the United States - a move that could reshape the entire whiskey landscape. But that’s not the only shift happening right now.
This week on Bourbon Bytes, I break down:
<ul>
<li>The home distilling ruling and what it actually means</li>
<li>MGP slowing production and what that signals for bourbon supply</li>
<li>A potential deal between Sazerac and Brown-Forman</li>
<li>Sazerac’s newly named Tennessee distillery and future plans</li>
</ul>
And of course, I’m reviewing Kentucky Senator Bourbon "Jim Bunning" Release #7 to see if it lives up to the hype.
🥃 Is the whiskey boom changing direction? 
🥃 And more importantly… is this bottle worth your money?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Timecodes: 
00:00 Intro – Whiskey Industry Shakeups 
00:56 Home Distilling Ruling Explained 
03:29 MGP Pauses Production at Lux Row &amp; Limestone Branch 
06:11 Sazerac Eyes Jack Daniel’s + Announces AJ Bond Distillery 
09:13 Kentucky Senator Charity Single Barrel News 
11:47 Byte-Sized Review – Kentucky Senator Release #7

<description>&lt;p&gt;Whiskey might be changing in a big way.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A recent appeals court ruling could potentially make home distilling legal in the United States - a move that could reshape the entire whiskey landscape. But that’s not the only shift happening right now.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This week on Bourbon Bytes, I break down:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;The home distilling ruling and what it actually means&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;MGP slowing production and what that signals for bourbon supply&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;A potential deal between Sazerac and Brown-Forman&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Sazerac’s newly named Tennessee distillery and future plans&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;And of course, I’m reviewing Kentucky Senator Bourbon "Jim Bunning" Release #7 to see if it lives up to the hype.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;🥃 Is the whiskey boom changing direction?
🥃 And more importantly… is this bottle worth your money?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Let me know your thoughts in the comments.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Timecodes:
00:00 Intro – Whiskey Industry Shakeups
00:56 Home Distilling Ruling Explained
03:29 MGP Pauses Production at Lux Row &amp;amp; Limestone Branch
06:11 Sazerac Eyes Jack Daniel’s + Announces AJ Bond Distillery
09:13 Kentucky Senator Charity Single Barrel News
11:47 Byte-Sized Review – Kentucky Senator Release #7&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

A major court ruling could change the legality of home distilling in the U.S., signaling a potential shift in the whiskey industry. This episode explores that development alongside production slowdowns, corporate moves, and new distillery plans—before diving into a full review of Kentucky Senator Release #7.

Home Distilling Could Become Legal… Plus Kentucky Senator Bourbon Release #7 Review

Bourbon is getting strange… and expensive.
This week on Bourbon Bytes, I'm breaking down some of the wildest whiskey news stories of the moment: from Costco’s viral “hot dog bourbon” to Knob Creek’s new Blender’s Edition, Buffalo Trace’s latest experiments, and Angel’s Envy pushing further into ultra-premium territory.
But after all the hype, the real question is… do we actually need all this innovation?
To find out, I review the new Ardbeg 10 Cask Strength—a surprisingly simple release that might prove great whiskey doesn’t need gimmicks.
Is bourbon innovation going too far? And can a classic Scotch still outperform it all?
🥃 Topics:
<ul>
<li>Costco “Hot Dog” Rare Character Bourbon goes viral</li>
<li>Knob Creek Blender’s Edition explained</li>
<li>Buffalo Trace experimental releases</li>
<li>Angel’s Envy’s most expensive releases yet</li>
<li>Ardbeg 10 Cask Strength review</li>
</ul>
👇 Let me know: 
Do you prefer experimental whiskey… or classic, straightforward pours?
 
Timecodes:
00:00 Intro – Bourbon Is Getting Weird 
00:30 Welcome to the Bourbon Bytes Podcast 
01:07 Costco “Hot Dog” Bourbon Goes Viral 
03:01 Knob Creek Blender’s Edition Explained 
04:55 Buffalo Trace Experimental Releases 
07:24 Angel’s Envy 10 Year Rye + Cask Strength Bourbon 
11:02 Ardbeg 10 Cask Strength Byte-Sized Review 
17:01 Outro + Where to Listen

<description>&lt;p&gt;Bourbon is getting strange… and expensive.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This week on Bourbon Bytes, I'm breaking down some of the wildest whiskey news stories of the moment: from Costco’s viral “hot dog bourbon” to Knob Creek’s new Blender’s Edition, Buffalo Trace’s latest experiments, and Angel’s Envy pushing further into ultra-premium territory.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;But after all the hype, the real question is… do we actually need all this innovation?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;To find out, I review the new Ardbeg 10 Cask Strength—a surprisingly simple release that might prove great whiskey doesn’t need gimmicks.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Is bourbon innovation going too far? And can a classic Scotch still outperform it all?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;🥃 Topics:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Costco “Hot Dog” Rare Character Bourbon goes viral&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Knob Creek Blender’s Edition explained&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buffalo Trace experimental releases&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Angel’s Envy’s most expensive releases yet&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Ardbeg 10 Cask Strength review&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;👇 Let me know:
Do you prefer experimental whiskey… or classic, straightforward pours?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Timecodes:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;00:00 Intro – Bourbon Is Getting Weird
00:30 Welcome to the Bourbon Bytes Podcast
01:07 Costco “Hot Dog” Bourbon Goes Viral
03:01 Knob Creek Blender’s Edition Explained
04:55 Buffalo Trace Experimental Releases
07:24 Angel’s Envy 10 Year Rye + Cask Strength Bourbon
11:02 Ardbeg 10 Cask Strength Byte-Sized Review
17:01 Outro + Where to Listen&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Bourbon is getting more experimental, expensive, and sometimes downright weird. From viral Costco releases to premium Angel’s Envy bottles, the industry is pushing boundaries—but is it worth it? This episode breaks down the latest whiskey news before reviewing Ardbeg 10 Cask Strength, a bold, no-frills Scotch that proves simplicity might still win.

Hot Dog Bourbon Is Breaking the Internet… But Ardbeg 10 Cask Strength Wins

This week on the Bourbon Bytes Podcast, I'm breaking down some of the biggest whiskey news stories of the moment—plus a first impression review of a brand new Bardstown Bourbon Company release.
🔥 Topics include:
<ul>
<li>A $549 Daniel Weller experimental release… is this getting out of hand?</li>
<li>Jack Daniel’s 10, 12, and 14 Year lottery system</li>
<li>A new Peerless 10-Year Bourbon</li>
<li>Evan Williams’ Collegiate Single Barrel Series</li>
<li>New TTB labels from Barrell, Lux Row, and Four Roses</li>
</ul>
🎮 Plus, a major shakeup in the gaming industry with layoffs at Epic Games.
🥃 Then we dive into a Byte-Sized Review of the Bardstown Bourbon Company Cascadia Garryana Oak Finish — a rare oak, toasted finish bourbon with a smoky, tobacco-forward profile and surprising sweetness.
Is it worth the price… and the trip to the distillery?
 
00:00 – Intro &amp; Episode Preview 
01:06 – Peerless 10-Year Bourbon Announcement 
02:19 – $549 Daniel Weller “Spelt Wheat” Reaction 
04:04 – Evan Williams Collegiate Bottles 
06:10 – Jack Daniel’s 10, 12, 14 Lottery Explained 
07:46 – Speed Run: New TTB Labels (Barrell, Blood Oath, Four Roses) 
10:41 – Gaming News: Epic Games Layoffs 
12:22 – Byte-Sized Review: Bardstown Cascadia Overview 
19:08 – Outro &amp; Support the Show

<description>&lt;p&gt;This week on the Bourbon Bytes Podcast, I'm breaking down some of the biggest whiskey news stories of the moment—plus a first impression review of a brand new Bardstown Bourbon Company release.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;🔥 Topics include:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;A $549 Daniel Weller experimental release… is this getting out of hand?&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Jack Daniel’s 10, 12, and 14 Year lottery system&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;A new Peerless 10-Year Bourbon&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Evan Williams’ Collegiate Single Barrel Series&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;New TTB labels from Barrell, Lux Row, and Four Roses&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;🎮 Plus, a major shakeup in the gaming industry with layoffs at Epic Games.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;🥃 Then we dive into a Byte-Sized Review of the Bardstown Bourbon Company Cascadia Garryana Oak Finish — a rare oak, toasted finish bourbon with a smoky, tobacco-forward profile and surprising sweetness.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Is it worth the price… and the trip to the distillery?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;00:00 – Intro &amp;amp; Episode Preview
01:06 – Peerless 10-Year Bourbon Announcement
02:19 – $549 Daniel Weller “Spelt Wheat” Reaction
04:04 – Evan Williams Collegiate Bottles
06:10 – Jack Daniel’s 10, 12, 14 Lottery Explained
07:46 – Speed Run: New TTB Labels (Barrell, Blood Oath, Four Roses)
10:41 – Gaming News: Epic Games Layoffs
12:22 – Byte-Sized Review: Bardstown Cascadia Overview
19:08 – Outro &amp;amp; Support the Show&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

This week’s episode covers major whiskey releases and industry news, including a controversial $549 Weller, Jack Daniel’s new lottery system, and several upcoming experimental releases. The episode wraps with a detailed Byte-Sized Review of Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Cascadia Garryana Oak Finish, exploring its smoky, tobacco-rich profile and whether its limited release price is justified.

$550 Weller?! + Jack Daniel’s Lottery & Bardstown Cascadia Review (Garryana Oak 🔥)

This week on Bourbon Bytes, I’m breaking down one of the biggest trending topics in bourbon right now — recent news and rumors surrounding Green River’s master distiller.
What’s actually confirmed? What’s speculation? And what could it mean for the future of the brand?
Then, I dive into a full review of the brand-new Sazerac Full Proof Rye Whiskey from Sazerac.
Buffalo Trace fans have been waiting for a higher-proof version of this classic rye — but does it actually deliver?
I cover:
<ul>
<li>
The latest Green River updates and what we know so far
</li>
<li>
Nose, palate, and finish of Sazerac Full Proof Rye
</li>
<li>
How it compares to standard Sazerac Rye
</li>
<li>
Whether it’s worth buying at MSRP
</li>
</ul>
Note: Any discussion of Green River is based on publicly available information and industry speculation at the time of recording.

<description>&lt;p&gt;This week on Bourbon Bytes, I’m breaking down one of the biggest trending topics in bourbon right now — recent news and rumors surrounding Green River’s master distiller.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;What’s actually confirmed? What’s speculation? And what could it mean for the future of the brand?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Then, I dive into a full review of the brand-new Sazerac Full Proof Rye Whiskey from Sazerac.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Buffalo Trace fans have been waiting for a higher-proof version of this classic rye — but does it actually deliver?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I cover:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The latest Green River updates and what we know so far&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Nose, palate, and finish of Sazerac Full Proof Rye&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;
&lt;p&gt;How it compares to standard Sazerac Rye&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Whether it’s worth buying at MSRP&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Note: Any discussion of Green River is based on publicly available information and industry speculation at the time of recording.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Clifton reviews the highly anticipated Sazerac Full Proof Rye Whiskey, exploring how the increased proof changes the classic profile. After breaking down the tasting notes and comparing it to the standard release, he delivers a final verdict on whether this new expression lives up to expectations.

What’s Going On at Green River? + Sazerac Full Proof Rye Review

Whiskey news &amp; reviews 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!

Bourbon Bytes Podcast

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