Key In The Lake Whiskey Podcast

194. Bourbon Heritage Month

Wilson and Jake sit down to speak about what bourbon means to them as people and as employees of whiskey distilleries. They go deep on the purpose of life, and the balance between their professional and personal interaction with whiskey. Hosts: Jake Hukee & Wilson TorresVisit Castle & Key HereListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

193. Whiskey Acres

Whiskey Acres cofounder Nick Nagele explains their “Seed to Spirit” approach of farming high quality grains on the very farm the distillery sits on. Whiskey Acres foundation begins with, varietals of corn builds success, and the exploration of those varietals represents the terroir in each pour after they’ve been distilled and aged on their farm. Their whiskey speaks to and represents the place that it comes from. Whiskey Acres’ comes from the heartland, the Midwest, Illinois, and they showcase what whiskey can be when a distillery precisely handles every aspect of grain – from being placed in the soil to being emptied from the barrel and into the bottle. Guest: Nick NageleHosts: Jake Hukee & Ian StewartVisit Whiskey Acres HereListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com

192. Steven Dragun - Lustau National Brand Ambassador

Steven Dragun, Lustau National Brand Ambassador, joins the show. Steven shares how exploring his dream of becoming a musician through studying and playing music across the world led him to the spirits’ industry. Currently with Lustau in Chicago, Steven previously worked for whiskey distilleries like Angel’s Envy and New York Distilling Co. and behind the stick at various great bars in New York. His personal story of discovering creative satisfaction in the spirits world, as music takes a slight backseat, is an inspiring uncovering for personal fulfillment. Guest: Steven DragunHosts: Jake Hukee & Callum O’DonnellLearn more about Lustau hereListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com

191. ”Where You Want To Be” Series Premiere

I sit down solo on the mics to share my experience from the road as a whisky brand ambassador. The "Where You Want To Be" series focuses on my visits to various markets across the US, documenting the distinctive details of an ambassador’s life in each city. I’ll also weave-in the lessons I’ve learned from my previous travels, while examining stories, essays and documents from notorious travelers/writers/authors. Hosts: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com

190. Live From Tales of The Cocktail

Live from New Orleans at Tales of The Cocktail, a special guest, Mickey Pinstripe aka The Bourbon and Rye Club, joins the show. Sagamore Spirit’s Brett Bauer cohosts with me to chat with Mikey about his journey through whiskey, and his landing on his love for rye whiskey. We also discuss the events of Tales and the good times we experienced during the 20th anniversary of the coveted spirits event.Guest: Mickey PinstripeHosts: Jake Hukee & Brett BauerRead The Bourbon and Rye blob HEREListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

189. Solocast with Jake

Jake shares the details of his recent trip to Kentucky and The Bourbon Trail, which included a long anticipated visit to Castle & Key. He also shares his thoughts on the value the online space still holds in the whiskey industry.Hosts: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com

188. Kyle Smith - Camp Yoshi, Dabney & Bullock

Kyle Smith is a man that can’t rest. For the past eight years, Kyle has relentlessly ran around Chicago’s hospitality industry. He’s directed bar programs at Michelin awarded restaurants, worked for various whiskey distilleries, established multiple pop-up bars/events in every type of venue possible, and is currently working with Camp Yoshi. Camp Yoshi is Kyle’s respite from the city as he runs he spirits program for the outdoor company that combines adventure to reconnect with nature and a gourmet experience of food and beverage.Guest: Kyle SmithHosts: Jake Hukee & Callum O’DonnellVisit Dabney & Bullock HEREExplore Camp Yoshi HEREListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com

187. Eric Rosentreter - Woondinville Whiskey Co.

Eric Rosentreter of Woodinville Whiskey Co. and I sit down to discuss the rise and importance of single barrels and whiskey clubs. We run through the pros of selling single barrels across the country to grow a brand, and the potential downfall of attaching yourself to the wrong club—that can’t commit to the promises that they make. We run through it all.Guest: Eric RosentreterHost: Jake Hukee

186. Pinhook Single Barrel Pick

Chris Blatner joins me and provides three delicious single barrel samples from Pinhook. Chris and I sit down at Wolf Point Distilling to select the next Pinhook Bourbon single barrel for Leo’s Mayfair. Chris guides us through the history of Pinhook’s vertical single barrel program as we taste through and choose a 7-year-old bourbon for Leo’s.Hosts: Jake Hukee & Chris BlatnerListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

185. Jefferson’s - Trey Zoeller

Jefferson’s founder Trey Zoeller joins the show to share how he’s “Pushing the boundaries of what bourbon can be, and the defintions without bastardizing it.” We also share a dram of Jefferson’s newest release Ocean Rye. Trey explains the origins of the Ocean series, and how he’s honoring tradition, history and adventure to create a whiskey apart from the rest of American distilleries.Guests: Trey ZoellerHosts: Jake Hukee, Callum O’Donnell & Chris BlatnerListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake