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We map how the American whiskey market cools from a frenzy to a focused, data-driven industry and why that’s a win for drinkers. More barrels, smarter releases, and price corrections point to a year of better access and stronger value.

• bourbon boom meeting reality in 2026
• production ramps, tech upgrades, and inventory management
• allocations easing and core labels returning to shelves
• drink less, drink better mindset shaping demand
• price fatigue, SRP resets, and secondary dynamics
• aging strategies, finishes, and blending creativity
• exports, tariffs, and domestic shelf competition
• what smart forecasting means for future releases
• why availability and value improve for drinkers

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Want to know if the bourbon boom is ending or just evolving? We dig into the 2026 American whiskey outlook with straight talk on supply, demand, and what really determines whether a bottle sits on the shelf or vanishes on drop day. After years of aggressive expansion, major distilleries are moving from growth-at-all-costs to smart inventory management, strategic pauses, and tech-driven consistency. That shift, paired with a more selective “drink less, drink better” audience, is reshaping pricing, releases, and how brands earn trust beyond the hype.

We break down the big forces at work: millions of barrels finally maturing into wider availability, the return of core labels to shelves, and why allocations feel different when production catches up. Expect more thoughtful age-stated expressions, creative finishes that add depth rather than noise, and fewer shortcuts as producers compete on substance. We also unpack tariffs and exports, the tug-of-war between on-premise and retail, and the real metrics distillers use—velocity, demographics, and inflation—to plan what you’ll be able to buy two, five, and ten years from now.

For drinkers, the news is encouraging. Less artificial scarcity, more stable pricing on everyday winners, and a richer lineup of older and better-crafted releases mean you can skip the frenzy and focus on flavor. Whether you chase unicorns or value sleepers, the next chapter favors curiosity, patience, and honest drinking. If you’re ready for a clear-eyed look at where bourbon goes next—and how to make the most of it—pour a glass and join us. If this breakdown helped, follow the show, leave a five-star review, and share it with a friend who still thinks the hunt is the only game in town.

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Five heavy hitters enter a blind tasting; a tie forces a live tiebreak and the crown goes to Old Man Winter With a prestige French oak finish. We trade hype for flavor, argue proof vs. balance, and learn how availability shapes a worthy Scotchy Bourbon Boys “Bourbon of the year.”

• sponsors thanked and distillery updates shared
• lineup set for the blind: five bourbons, one wild card on the side
• simple scoring rules agreed, color coding to prevent bias
• first-pass notes on cola, peanut, vanilla, and fruit-forward profiles
• proof chat and how it affects palate, not just heat
• debate on noses vs palates, dryness vs sweetness
• tally confusion resolved, two-way tie identified
• audience tiebreak selects Old Man Winter as winner
• value and availability weighed against rarity and price
• honorable mentions and how oxidation changes bottles over time

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What happens when you strip away labels, lock in a scoring system, and let the glass do the talking? We gathered the full crew, poured five of the year’s most talked-about bourbons completely blind, and chased the truth through cola notes, peanut vibes, dessert-like vanilla, and bright, fruit-forward finishes. The lineup was stacked: Knob Creek 21, Russell’s Reserve 13 (2025), A Midwinter Night’s Dram, Cathedral French Oak, and Old Man Winter from Preservation. Expectations were sky high for the heavy hitters—but the scoreboard had other plans.

We walk you through the tasting rules, the early favorites, and the turning point when pour number three changed the room’s mood. Proof chasers met balance seekers as a silky 90s-proof contender outperformed its label, while a 110-proof nose bomb turned out more polarizing on the palate than predicted. Cathedral French Oak cast a spell on the nose. Knob 21 delivered oak-driven structure. Russell’s 13 flashed that rich sweetness many love. Midwinter offered juicy fruit and charm. But the question we kept asking was simple: which glass makes you want another pour?

By the end, scores tied between two colors and we pulled in a live audience to break it. The winner? Old Man Winter—an underdog that paired layered fruit, spice control, and a welcoming finish with the practical upside of being findable at retail. We dig into why availability matters for a “Bourbon of the Year,” what blind tasting reveals about our biases, and how time in the bottle can flip your rankings weeks later. Stick around for honorable mentions, lessons learned from oxidation, and a reminder that great whiskey doesn’t always wear the most expensive label.

If you enjoyed this blind battle, follow the show, share it with a bourbon friend, and drop your own top pick of the year in a review. Your palate belongs in this conversation.

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We question why champagne owns midnight and chart a path for bourbon to claim 12:01 with a simple, shared ritual called the Midnight Pour. We also review Old Louisville’s Cathedral, a Bardstown blend finished in 300-year French oak, and share community updates and ways to support the show.

• why bubbles dominate the countdown and how ritual drives tradition
• how bourbon’s brand voice skews contemplative and misses the moment
• blueprint for a Midnight Pour and a simple signature New Year’s serve
• social-first ideas to make bourbon visible, repeatable and inclusive
• Old Louisville Cathedral bottle breakdown and scoring
• shoutouts to listeners, gear talk and mini barrel project
• reminders to drink responsibly and plan a safe ride
• where to find us online and how to support the podcast

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Midnight gets the fireworks, the kiss, and the champagne pop—but what if bourbon claimed the next minute? We take a hard look at how bubbles became the default celebration drink and map out a practical, repeatable ritual that lets whiskey own 12:01. The idea is simple and social: a one‑ounce Midnight Pour, raised together, followed by a signature afterpour that’s easy to build at any party. No lectures. No elitism. Just a clear, shared moment that anyone—new sipper or seasoned collector—can join.

We unpack the psychology of celebration, from effervescence and spectacle to the way rituals anchor holidays. Champagne mastered the countdown with visuals and tradition; bourbon leaned into firesides and heritage. That brand posture works all winter but misses the energy at midnight. So we reframe the lane: champagne is for the kiss, bourbon is for the promise—new goals, new risks, new chapters. To make it real, we outline a simple serve (think one ounce bourbon, a touch of maple or honey, big cube, orange peel) and a social playbook that shows friends clinking rocks glasses at 12:01. Make it visible. Make it repeatable. Let the ritual spread.

We also dive into a rare tasting: Old Louisville’s Cathedral, a Bardstown-crafted blend finished in French oak from timber selected for the Notre Dame restoration. Expect assertive oak, leather, char, and a long, tobacco‑tilted finish with a remarkably balanced body. If you love aged profiles over sweetness, this pour sings and underscores why bourbon excels at meaning and momentum after the countdown.

Join us as we sketch a new tradition that doesn’t replace champagne, but completes the night. If the Midnight Pour speaks to you, share it with a friend, tag us with your 12:01 toast, and help us build a ritual worth keeping. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us your signature afterpour recipe. Cheers to promises kept.

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https://www.scotchybourbonboys.com

The Scotchy bourbon Boys are #3 in Feedspots Top 60 whiskey podcasts in the world https://podcast.feedspot.com/whiskey_podcasts/