392: How Chip Tate Blends Bourbon | Gambit No. 6 & Ampersand
About this episode
Chip Tate discusses the creative process behind blending bourbon and whiskey finishing techniques.
Chip Tate (Foley Family Wine & Spirits) joins Bourbon Lens to break down the creative process behind some of the most talked-about whiskey projects on the market today — including Gambit No. 6 and Ampersand. In this episode, Chip dives deep into Gambit No. 6 , a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished across wine, apple brandy, sherry, and Tokaji casks. He explains how the final blend is built like a Bordeaux — layered, structured, and balanced with fruit, tannin, texture, and complexity — and breaks down the role of retasted Chardonnay barrels, the impact of deep toasting on wood character, and why secondary maturation can add nuance without overwhelming the whiskey underneath. Jake and Chip also get into: How American whiskey drinkers are warming up to blending and finishing Why tasting notes are personal, not prescriptive How a whiskey can be both highly complex AND easy-drinking The idea of "session whiskey" — subtlety, approachability, and complexity in one glass What makes a whiskey feel like "home" The versatility of whiskey across cocktails, highballs, and neat pours The episode wraps with a look at Ampersand 51/49 , an experimental rye and Calvados-based release…
More episodes of Bourbon Lens
- 391: Redwood Empire's Master Blender Lauren Patz on Crafting Whiskey That Tells a Story
- Ep: 390 Angel’s Envy: Master Distiller Owen Martin on Secondary Maturation & More
- Special Episode: United States of Bourbon with Lost Lantern
- 389: Can WhistlePig Convert Bourbon Country to Rye? Inside "The Vault" Louisville
- Does Red Corn Make Woodford Reserve Better?
- 388: How Woodford Reserve Masters Tradition & Innovation with Elizabeth McCall
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Bourbon Lens podcast page.