Bryce Leatherwood is a 23-year-old singer/songwriter who aims to carry the torch of country music and continue the legacy of legends prior. Bryce was born and raised in Woodstock, GA, and his passion for music began at an early age. He competed on the NBC hit television show The Voice and was crowned the Season 22 winner in December of 2022. Bryce …

We’ve Got Questions for one of the Mixly Cocktail Co founders Stuart Yurczyk, who talks about how Mixly came to be, their approach to mixers, their flavors and more.Di Hops & Spirits

We've Got Questions for Whiskey Jypsi's Ari Sussman on their upcoming releases, creating those blends and more.Di Hops & Spirits

We chat with American folk legend Jim Kweskin about his latest album Never Too Late: Duets With My Friends, which features a collection of 18 recordings and storied collaborations with some of his favorite female musicians. The new album stands as a testament to the generation and genre-spanning brilliance that has defined Kweskin's illustrious car…

Nice Horse is a wild, fresh, and fierce pair that has established themselves as one of the most buzzed-about acts in the Canadian music industry. The duo, made up of Katie Rox (vocals/banjo/acoustic guitar) and Brandi Sidoryk (vocals/bass), has garnered significant accolades, including two Canadian Country Music Award (CCMA) wins, eight CCMA nomina…

We've Got Questions for Randy Prasse, president and COO of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. He talks about what the various ticket options at KBF, how you can get early access and more.Di Hops & Spirits

The new Whiskey JYPSI Explorer series will focus on finishing these spirits with combinations of distinctive woods from around the globe. The series will feature well-aged, mature whiskeys never younger than six years old and ranging between 100-107 proof. Explorer’s inaugural release is a blend of two six-year-old bourbons – a low rye distilled in…

Discover the captivating sound of Nashville recording artist Jake Bush, a true purveyor of traditional, rug-cutting country music. Tailor-made for the dedicated honky-tonk crowd, Jake Bush has emerged as an authentic craftsman of country music, with crowd-pleasing melodies seamlessly blending the nostalgic essence of ‘90s country with the vibrant s…

We've Got Questions for Randy Prasse, president and COO of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. He talks about what KBF is, what folks can expect, new things happening in 2024 and more.Di Hops & Spirits

We've Got Questions for Never Say Die Bourbon co-founder Brian Luftman. He talks about how Never Say Die Bourbon got started, where the name comes from, why they send a Kentucky bourbon to England to age, what's next and more!Di Hops & Spirits

Ross & Squibb Distillery's newest member of the Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey brand family: Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey. Aged six years and offered at 100 proof, Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey features a mash bill consisting of 51% rye and 49% barley malt. This release was distilled in March of …

Holladay Soft Red Wheat is crafted with the original Holladay recipe with one substitute: wheat for the rye. Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bourbon is one of the very few bottled-in-bond wheat bourbons on the market aged 6+ years. It features a mashbill of 73% corn, 15% wheat and 12% barley. It comes in at 100 proof and an MSRP of $60.…

Koe Wetzel might just be the last real rebel out there. The Platinum-selling East Texas-born singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer shakes up the status quo, shatters expectations and sticks to his guns with a sound steeped in country storytelling, yet spiked with grunge grit. He’s unapologetic, undeniable and unlike anyone else you’ve ever hea…

Southern-Rock influenced country may seem contradictory in the Great White North, but that's where Devin Cooper hangs his wide-brimmed hat. Kicking off 2024, Cooper was nominated for 5x Country Music Alberta Awards, released his country-rock love anthem “She’s My Religion”, with a highly anticipated album coming later in 2024.…

By the age of 16, Dalton Dover had picked up a guitar and started teaching himself to play, yet it was his grandfather who turned him on to country music and artists such as Keith Whitley, Rhett Akins, Joe Diffie and Steve Wariner. We chat with Dalton about his grandfather, growing up in small town Georgia, going on The Voice, getting to play the O…

Amy Sheppard, alongside her siblings George and Emma, is a founding and current member of the indie-pop sensation Sheppard. The band stands as one of Australia's most prominent musical exports of the past decade. Amy has launched the next chapter of her country music career with the release ‘Overthinking’ from her debut full-length album. In the fi…

Jonathan and Brandon sit down with Andy Cobb, Butchertown Brewing Founder and Head Brewer. We enjoy their Franklin Street Pilsner, Imperial Mango sour, rum barrel finished Kill the Pain, and Horus barrel-aged collab. Andy also talks about how the brewery got started, launching during COVID, their Mellwood location, bringing barrel-aged beers to lif…

Throughout his distinguished career, Donovan Woods has built a devoted following who cling to the acclaimed songwriter’s every word. Never one to mince words, Woods is one of music’s most vulnerable storytellers.Di Hops & Spirits

Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. released a tales of two maples this past fall with their limited release Town Branch Maple Barrel Stout Finished Bourbon (SRP $69.99 / 750ml) and Kentucky Maple Barrel Imperial Stout (SRP $19.99 / 4pk Cans). The Town Branch Maple Barrel Stout Finished Bourbon 2023 editions spent 2-years finishing time in barrel an…

Chicken Cock Red Stave Kentucky Straight Bourbon is finished in carefully selected J. Wilkes Petite Sirah barrels hailing from California. Bottled at 102.4 proof, the Petite Sirah wine barrel finish features a mash bill of 70% corn, 21% rye and 9% malted barley. MSRP is 200 dollars.Di Hops & Spirits

Born and raised in Toccoa, Georgia, Scoot Teasley has been immersed in the world of music since his earliest days. With a deep-rooted passion for rhythm and melody, he initially found his groove behind the drum kit and in the church pews fostering a lifelong love of music. Drawing inspiration from artists like Chris Stapleton and Tyler Childers, Sc…

Jonathan and Brandon sit down with Mark McLaughlin to try three expressions from Old Line Spirits. We enjoy their Flagship 95 American Single Malt, Navy Strength 114 American Single Malt, and Sherry Finish American Single Malt. Mark also talks about how he and his business partner Arch launched Old Line, how a trip to Seattle set things in motion, …

Released to celebrate F. Scott Fitzgerald’s legendary novel, “The Great Gatsby”, a century ago – from the events in 1922 that inspired the novel to its publication in 1925 – Remus Gatsby Reserve 2023 Edition is bottled at 98.1 proof and a MSRP of $199.99 per 750-ml bottle. This edition of the Remus Gatsby Reserve features two bourbon mash bills (75…

We've got a special review of Blanton's Gold (is it worth it?) and some info on how folks can help St. Jude's and potenitally win a Blanton's Gold Private Select Barrel experience #bourbonDi Hops & Spirits

Comprised of newcomers Leo Brooks and Andrew Millsaps, Neon Union is a duo preparing to take country music by storm. Brooks grew up in Miami and has collaborated with artists like Pitbull, Lauryn Hill, Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, Cee Lo Green and John Legend. Millsaps grew up in North Carolina and has been writing songs ever since the age of 13.…

Flat River Band consists of three brothers Andy, Chad and Dennijo Sitze, who grew up in a multi-generational family band. Performing alongside their parents and grandparents, they held residencies at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri and at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Throughout their tenure in music, the Missouri natives have chart…

Late nights (and early mornings) under the influence of a guitar and a bottle, thousand-mile moves for the sake of new love, and a once-in-a-lifetime friendship carried Jesse Denaro and Luke Healy to Lakeview. The Nashville-by-way-of-Pittsburgh duo distill country soul, rock scope, and pop ambition into a singular style rooted in old school storyte…

We've Got Questions for CaskX founder and CEO Jeremy Kasler. Jeremy talks about how CaskX works, what he saw happening in the industry that made him launch CaskX, starting the idea with Scotch before hitting the US bourbon market, and much more.Di Hops & Spirits

Singer-songwriter Annie Bosko pairs a sound anchored deep in the organic twang of ‘90s country with simple songs told from the heart, preaching equal parts healing and honky-tonk hope. We chat with her about her busy start to 2024, dropping her self-titled EP, how she got her first guitar, getting into music professionally at a young age, rediscove…

After introducing Dickel Bourbon – a permanent offering aged 8 years – to the market, Dickel is back with a limited, small-batch bourbon - Dickel Bourbon Aged 18 Years. This comes in at 90 proof with an MSRP of $510. Cheers.Di Hops & Spirits

A look back at Bourbon and Beyond Day 3. We talk about finally checking out the Bluegrass Stage, including checking out Della Mae, and another great day with standouts Old Crow Medicine Show and The Black Keys.Di Hops & Spirits

Buzzard’s Roost Cigar Rye is four-year-old Indiana rye that is finished in new American oak barrels that were cold-smoked with aged tobacco leaves grown in Kentucky. The mash bill for Buzzard’s Roost Cigar Rye remains the same at 95% rye and 5% malted barley, and the ABV is 52.5%. The SRP is $75.99.Di Hops & Spirits

The second blend in the Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series builds upon the legendary BCS 2018 Tale of Two Islands Rum: a Jamaican Rum matured in peated Islay single malt casks. For the 2023 Tale of Two Islands offering, BCS chose to feature a blend of straight bourbons from Indiana (5, 6, & 9-year) and Maryland (5 & 6-year). The team then used the …

Wesley and Aaron Smith, the brothers at the heart of Brother Smith, are shapeshifters of the highest order. Wes shreds guitar, plays beautiful piano, lays down a rock-solid rhythm guitar, and even occasionally breaks out a horn. Aaron switches back and forth between fiddle and drums. We chat with both about how they got into music, how their sound …

We've Got Questions for Brown-Forman’s Global Alcohol Responsibility Manager Leah Kelly. This is part 2 and Leah talks about the work on creating a safe drinking environment for all plus trends happening in the responsible drinking and the industry overall.Di Hops & Spirits

We've Got Questions for Brown-Forman’s Global Alcohol Responsibility Manager Leah Kelly. This is part 1 and Leah talks about why companies like Brown-Forman are getting behind Dry January/responsible drinking plus how a company balances selling alcohol and promoting responsibility.Di Hops & Spirits

After aging RD1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon for 4+ years, RD1 then inserted the Amburana staves into the barrel. Their partner cooperage uses a patented technique to honeycomb drill small holes into the Amburana staves, allowing more wood surface interaction with the bourbon.Di Hops & Spirits

Ethan Lipton and His Orchestra write music steeped in 20th-century American traditions—jazz, folk, country, blues, and rock—but tackle modern subjects with urgency, humor, and a well of deep feeling. The quartet has released four studio albums with their fifth album "Did You Do The Thing We Talked About?" dropping Feb. 16. We chat with Ethan about …

A look back at Bourbon and Beyond Day 2, including the bad and good. Mostly good, like performances by Bastille, The Killers, Hozier, Brittany Howard, Wayne Newton and so many more.Di Hops & Spirits

We take a look back at Day 1 of Bourbon & Beyond 2023. We talk about the setup, the food and, of course, the lineup. Some standouts include Buddy Guy, Midland, Train, Brandi Carlile, and Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors.Di Hops & Spirits

Copper & Kings Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is made from a blend of 5-, 10- and 15 year bourbons. This is a flavor forward remix of the Kentucky tradition and is finished in American Apple Brandy barrels for 12 months. It comes in at 111 proof (55.5 ABV) and an MSRP of $65.Di Hops & Spirits

Barrell Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series is a limited edition series launched in the fall and will introduce two blends each year. Up first, the Amburana is a blend of Indiana (5, 6, 7, & 10-year) and Kentucky (5-year) bourbon whiskeys, which were further matured in sustainable Amburana casks. The Barrell blending team created a bourbon blend of …

Remus Highest Rye Straight Bourbon is a new, year-round release coming in at $55 MSRP. Aged six years and offered at 109 proof, Remus Highest Rye Bourbon packs as much rye into a bourbon as possible, with a mash bill consisting of 51% corn, 39% rye and 10% malted rye. Cheers!Di Hops & Spirits

El Mayor Extra Añejo Bourbon Barrel Aged Tequila marks El Mayor’s 25th anniversary and is distilled from Blue Weber agave then aged for 39 months in American Oak bourbon barrels. It has an MSRP of $129.99 per 750-ml. bottle and is a limited release.Di Hops & Spirits

Formed in their teens, Boy Named Banjo includes Barton Davies (banjo), Ford Garrard (bass/standing bass), Sam McCullough (drums) Willard Logan (mandolin, acoustic/electric guitar) and William Reames (acoustic guitar/harmonica). We chat with the guys about their major label debut album Dusk, being able to capture all the band's personalities on it, …

A Nashvillian by way of Philadelphia, Vinnie Paolizzi has spent the better part of the last decade in the songwriting trenches, making a name for himself as a rising singer-songwriter to watch. Vinnie talks about his new album Vinnie Paolizzi LP, growing up in Pennsylvania, ending up in Nashville, writing music, working with talented artists, favor…

The tapestry of Southern music in America is rich, vivid and diverse. Adam Hood is an artist who exudes that substantial musical lineage each time he straps on his Telecaster for a show or picks up his pen to write a song. The roots of his Opelika, AL upbringing inform his musicality and guide his soul-stirring lyrics. Adam talks about re-recording…

Made up of Logan Moore (guitar, vocals), Alex Kerns (bass, vocals), Riley Kerns (drums, background vocals), James Montgomery (lead guitar), Justin Carver (pedal steel, banjo), and Rudy Bzdyk (fiddle, trumpet, keyboards), Low Water Bridge Band have made their career by furthering their sound; forged by firelight picking and ramped up into a romping,…

We've Got Questions for As Above So Below co-founder/master distiller Caley Shoemaker. Caley talks about how she got into the alcohol business, what made her launch/be part of As Above So Below, what's in the name, what folks can expect with their spirits, why they approach things differently in distilling, what's next and more.…

We try the fourth release from Kentucky Senator Bourbon named after US Senator John Sherman Cooper. This comes in at 107 proof with an MSRP of $135. Roughly 1,000 bottles of this was released.Di Hops & Spirits