504. Black Corn, Witch's Brew, and the First West Lineup from 15 Stars
About this episode
Todd welcomes back Rick and Ricky Johnson of 15 Stars Bourbon to discuss their new First West lineup and the philosophy behind their whiskey production.
Todd flies solo this week on The Bourbon Road, welcoming back Rick and Ricky Johnson of 15 Stars Bourbon for their third appearance on the show. The father-and-son team behind one of Kentucky's most decorated independent blending operations returns to walk through the newly revamped First West lineup — four expressions that mark a landmark moment for the brand: the first releases to feature whiskey distilled entirely by the 15 Stars team, including juice made from their proprietary heirloom corns. Rick and Ricky share the full origin story of why they got into the business, how a single black popcorn corn variety sparked the whole journey, and why patient, fully mature whiskey and obsessive flavor-proofing sit at the core of everything they do. The conversation covers the philosophy behind blending for the best possible flavor rather than chasing a predetermined profile, the surprisingly visual experience of fermenting black corn (picture a literal witch's brew), the distinct flavor contributions of red, white, blue, and black heirloom corns, and why filtration matters just as much as proof when it comes to mouthfeel. Rick teases a very limited, very old upcoming release and an…
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