Men Who Made American Bourbon by Dude Poole + JD Fritzges from The Bourbon Hunters Podcast; Ep. 97

Bourbon History, Barrel Picks, and the Stories Behind the BrandsDan and Bob welcome Dude Poole and JD Fritzges from The Bourbon Hunters Podcast for a conversation about bourbon history, book research, and the bottles that keep bourbon fans curious. Dude shares the inspiration behind Men Who Made American Bourbon and explains how he works through public records to separate documented history from marketing lore. The group also discusses future books on Prohibition, E. H. Taylor, and the J. W. Dant family. Between pours, they compare barrel picks from Old Forester, Jack Daniel’s, Maker’s Mark, Russell’s, Nulu, and Old Louisville—and talk about why smaller producers and thoughtful single-barrel selections can be more rewarding than chasing rare bottles. Dan also traces his interest in bourbon to his grandfather’s J. W. Dant highball and the search that led him to bourbon collecting and podcasting.#bourbon #history #bourbonpod #bourbonbrassandbeyond #thebourbonhunters #menwhomadeamericanbourbon #dudepoole #fritterpour #whiskey #prohibition #bourbontasting #Brownforman #ehtaylor #buffalotrace #interview #author #jwdant #elijahcraig #reading #book #bourbonbook #oldforester #oldlouisville #jackdaniels #tanyardhill In this episode:Why Dude wanted bourbon’s real stories told, including the facts that complicate familiar legendsHow Elijah Craig, James Crow, George Garvin Brown, Weller, and E. H. Taylor shaped bourbonDude’s research process, upcoming book ideas, and “mash bill genealogy”Tasting notes and favorite barrel-pick experiencesHow NDPs and bourbon clubs have shifted the focus from “unicorn” huntingThe history of J. W. Dant and the personal story behind JD’s search for the brandA lively detour into podcasting, collecting, and life not going to planChapters 00:40 — Dude’s book and the value of bourbon history 02:10 — Research, new discoveries, and the two-volume plan 04:06 — Future books on E. H. Taylor and J. W. Dant 08:10 — The Buffalo Trace visit that sparked JD’s research 11:57 — Bottling, consumer trust, and bourbon’s evolution 13:22 — Old Forester 100 tasting notes 16:38 — Mash bills, bourbon flavors, and the art and science of whiskey 27:57 — Dan’s grandfather and the J. W. Dant connection 34:16 — Old Louisville and how bourbon changes in the glass 36:09 — NDPs, blending, and the changing bottle hunt 45:06 — Jack Daniel’s single-barrel tasting 54:43 — Favorite barrel picks and the Maker’s Mark blending process 63:02 — Why the best barrel-pick experiences can be simple and hands-on 76:53 — George Garvin Brown and the legacy of Old Forester 81:31 — The people and innovations behind bourbon history 86:44 — Volume two and the J. W. Dant family story 91:52 — Where to find Dude’s book 95:22 — Plans for a December crossover episode“I like to hear the real stories.”To find Dude's book: Men Who Made American Bourbon find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or for a signed copy:Dude Poole - https://www.dudepoole.comThe Bourbon Hunters - https://www.thebourbonhunters.com Bourbon, Brass & Beyond - https://www.bourbonpod.com or https://www.bourbonbrassandbeyond.com