Bitches & Bourbon

April Trepagnier

The idea for Bitches & Bourbon was born in a garage bar during the initial 2020 COVID quarantine. Two epicurean women discovered early in our friendship that we both prefer whiskey to any other adult beverage. Provoked by our husbands, we decided that for $12 we could own the domain bitchesandbourbon.com. We would figure out what to do with it later. During the pursuit of finding our next bottle, we learned more about the art of whiskey crafting, the intersections of other spirits, and the different ways in which these flavor profiles enhance enjoyment in our lives. We also encountered many other women who wanted to know more as well but didn’t feel comfortable in the space for a variety of reasons. Our husbands suggested a podcast. read less
LeisureLeisure

Episodes

Two Bitch Bourbon with Lauren Luby
Jan 5 2024
Two Bitch Bourbon with Lauren Luby
Originally recorded: 20230809 Length: 01:01:01 In a long overdue episode, Ape and Reba had the privilege of discussing Two Bitch Bourbon with founder and fellow dog lover Lauren Luby. We recorded this episode back in August, and Ape takes full responsibility for the delay in getting it out. However, we are pretty sure this brilliant conversation with Lauren is well worth the wait! Two Bitch Bourbon Purchase details:        Location: Two Bitch Bourbon website Date: 7/24/2023 Cost: $84.99 / $59.99 Type: -       Two Bitch Bourbon Small Batch with Bite: Bourbon -       Two Bitch Bourbon Eureka Gold: Bourbon Distillery: in Indiana Bottled in: Las Vegas, NV Proof: -       Small Batch: 50%, 100 proof -       Eureka: 46%, 92 proof Age: 1 year Links for this episode Two Bitch Bourbon 00:01:00 Ape has an unexpected visitor to the Bitch Barn 00:02:00 Introducing Lauren Luby, founder of Two Bitch Bourbon 00:05:00 We start with the Eureka Gold and an explanation about the age statements 00:13:00 We move to the Small Batch with Bite with a discussion on blends 00:16:00 Lauren’s whiskey journey, and bourbon puppies 00:24:30 You know Ape had to ask Lauren about her experience with the word “bitch” 00:26:20 Tasting reactions in the wild 00:29:25 Whiskey in Nevada and profanity 00:36:45 Where Two Bitch Bourbon is going next (and a great story about the neat glasses) 00:41:20 Lauren’s background (we were not expecting what we got) 00:49:50 The Two Bitch bottle design 00:51:00 Lauren’s industry discoveries, a parsonage house, and a one-armed carpenter 00:59:00 What to look for
Redwood Empire Head Distiller, Lauren Patz
Dec 20 2023
Redwood Empire Head Distiller, Lauren Patz
Originally recorded: 20230728 Length: 01:05:43 While Ape LOVES all her guests, this one has her really excited. We tried to keep it under and hour, but honestly, who couldn’t talk whiskey with Redwood Empire’s head distiller, Lauren Patz, all day? Redwood Empire Purchase details:          Pipe Dream Lost Monarch Emerald Giant Type Bourbon Whiskey Blend Rye Location Jeff’s Beverage Jeff’s Beverage Jeff’s Beverage Date 4/29/23 4/29/23 4/29/23 Cost $37.99 $37.99 $37.99 Distillery In California, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee Undisclosed In California, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee Bottled Redwood Empire Distilling, Graton, CA Redwood Empire Distilling, Graton, CA Redwood Empire Distilling, Graton, CA Proof 90 (45%) 90 (45%) 90 (45%) Composition 75% Corn, 21% Raw Rye, 4% Malt Barley 60% Rye Whiskey, -       95% Rye, 5% malted Barley) 40% Bourbon Whiskey -       75% Corn, 21% raw Rye, 4% malted Barley 95% Rye, 5% Malt Barley Age Blend of 4 – 12 year barrels A blend of 4 – 12 year Bourbon & 3 – 5 year Rye Whiskey Blend of 3 – 5 year barrels BoozApp says Avg MSRP Fair Price Shelf Price   $40.99 $49.17 $45.91   $41.99 $54.36 $52.89   $40.99 $50.32 $45.91   Links for this episode Redwood Empire 00:01:37 Introducing the Lauren Patz, head distiller of Redwood Distillery 00:05:35 Redwood Empire offerings 00:07:30 Starting with the Lost Monarch and working to champion the idea of the blend 00:12:20 Shout out to High West and Japanese Whisky 00:14:30 Back to the Lost Monarch and the proofing decisions 00:17:30 Shout out to gin (Hendrick’s in particular) 00:20:15 A bit about Lauren’s background and how we can live our best lives 00:30:05 Back to the Lost Monarch, and an overproof discussion 00:34:15 Expanding the palates, weird tastes, and guilty pleasures 00:45:40 The Bitch Barn is invaded, but he comes with gifts that send us on a pricing tangent 00:47:40 Getting back to palates, tastes, and pleasures 00:49:35 What would Lauren drink if she could only drink one thing? 00:53:45 Wrapping up and ranking the bottles 01:00:00 Why you never trash a barrel, and projects that have Lauren excited
All the Smoke - Iron Smoke Bourbon & Smokehead Scotch
Sep 3 2023
All the Smoke - Iron Smoke Bourbon & Smokehead Scotch
Originally recorded: 20230712 Length: 39:47 Yes, yes that is the “Eye of the Tiger” playing in the opening. Did we change our theme music? No. But we did have a huge technical malfunction that caused Ape to cuss more than even she would publish on air. It took the most iconic franchise of all time (I said what I said, fight me) to get my mind right…but, it worked. We give you “Take 2.” P.S. Yes. I am aware I missed the opportunity to do the whole “One Bourbon, one Scotch, one Beer” thing. I wish I could tell you that it was on purpose because that would be legitimate; it’s pretty low hanging fruit if we are all being honest. But alas, it was not on purpose and I would have plucked that pretty little mango right off it’s on the ground branch – I just didn’t think of it until I was in the editing process. You can’t win them all… Iron Smoke & Smokehead Purchase details: Iron Smoke Location: Gift Date: 7/1/2023 Cost: Type: Bourbon Distillery: Iron Smoke Distillery Bottled in: Fairport, NY Proof: (% ABV) 40 (Proof) 80 Composition: four grain with apple wood smoked wheat Age: 2 years   Purchase details: Smokehead Location: ??? Date: ??? Cost: ??? Type: Scotch Distillery: Ian Macleod Distillers Bottled in: Broxburn, Scotland Proof: (% ABV) 43 (Proof) 86 Composition: single malt Age: NAS BoozApp says: Avg MSRP - $50.09 Fair Price   - $54.11 Shelf Price - $56.11             Links for this episode Iron Smoke Smokehead   00:50 Yes, that’s Rocky 04:00 Alright, let’s get started with Ernest Hemingway and a vocabulary nugget 07:55 Reba eyes the Infinity Bottle as a better option than the “smoke sensitivity” experiment 11:25 I think this is one of my favorite ways to gift whiskey – Thanks Ray 12:50 Ape’s Dirty Banana 15:30 Iron Smoke and Smokehead and the smoke differences 18:50 Reba’s recapped thoughts 20:30 Iron Smoke on ice with Tommy Brunett & John Petrucci 23:25 American Whiskey profiles 25:40 The Bitches & Bourbon Infinity bottle 28:10 We do get back to the Iron Smoke 30:30 Our answer to “how do you taste whiskey better” 36:30 Iron Smoke in general and in the whiskey market
Penelope Straight Bourbon Whiskey and the Tokaji
Jul 10 2023
Penelope Straight Bourbon Whiskey and the Tokaji
Originally recorded: 20230621 Length: 01:10:45 We feel like we have done this episode before because Penelope comes up so often in conversation. Finally, this whiskey gets its very own episode (along with conversations that, as usual, go sideways just a bit) 20230621 Penelope Flag Ship  Purchase details:        Location: Jeff’s Beverage Date: 6/16/2023 Cost: $35.99 Type: Bourbon Distillery: In Lawrenceburg, IN Bottled in: Penelope Bourbon Bottling Company, Frankfort, KY Proof: (% ABV) 40 (Proof) 80 Composition: Four grain - corn, rye, wheat, malted barley, blended from 3 mashbills Age: 26 months BoozApp says: Avg MSRP - $34.99 Fair Price   - $52.63 Shelf Price - $38.91             Links for this episode Penelope Bourbon Pursuit Ironbound Cider   00:01:00 The weather makes us want to stay in bed 00:02:15 Introducing the Penelope Straight Bourbon Whiskey 00:05:00 There is some weird pricing going on, but not for us and we love the price point (and don’t mind my husband cutting grass) 00:10:00 We move to ice 00:11:00 Penelope sells to MGP 00:12:30 Love for Penelope’s transparency and their fun story 00:15:45 The story inspired April and reminded her how much she loves this podcast project 00:21:00 Penelope has a jalapeno bourbon?? 00:23:45 How do you pronounce “Tokaji,” and what do you think about the label? And my apologies for the days of my life that were taken off by the surprise thunder. 00:27:26 We decide to move on to the Tokaji as neither of us has tried this one yet 00:34:50 Ape tells of her recent trauma. God love Winnie the Pooh 00:40:30 How we curate the Infinity Bottle 00:41:30 Use of the words “juice” and “moist” 00:43:30 We actually do get to the bottle 00:49:50 Ape tries to explain why she loves the Architect bottle best 00:53:45 We have a disagreement on whether or not we have had the Rosé 00:55:30 Tokaji on ice 00:57:40 Some flavored whiskey drama that Jack Daniel did not ask to get invited to 01:01:50 But Jack Daniel did go to the Supreme Court – yes, that SCOTUS 00:01:08 Final thoughts
Rabbit Hole Hat Trick
Jun 20 2023
Rabbit Hole Hat Trick
Originally recorded: 20230613 Length: 00:38:49 Ape and Reba go for the Hat Trick – three bourbons, all from Rabbit Hole.  Rabbit Hole Hat Trick  Purchase details:        Location: Jeff’s Beverage Date: 5/1/2023 Cost: $65.99 / $59.99 / $79.99 Type: -       Cavehill: 4 Grain Triple Malt Bourbon -       Heigold: High Rye Double Malt Bourbon -       Dareringer: Sherry Finished Bourbon Distillery: Rabbit Hole Distillery, Louisville, KY Bottled in: Rabbit Hole Distillery, Louisville, KY Proof: -       Cavehill: 47.5%, 95 proof -       Heigold: 47.5%, 95 proof -       Dareringer: 46.5%, 93 proof Composition: -       Cavehill: 70% corn, 10% malted wheat, 10% malted barley, 10% honey malted barley -       Heigold: 70% corn, 25% malted rye, 5% malted barley -       Dareringer: 65% corn, 25% wheat, 10% malted barley Age: +3 years   Links for this episode Rabbit Hole Distillery Stuart Rau   01:00 Ape kicks it right off as there are three bottles to get to – first up, the Cavehill 05:40 The Bitches & Bourbon theme song shows up in the damnedest places 10:00 …and the placement inspires Ape in the weirdest way (and yes, I know we never get back to the Margaret Waterbury. Ape has put it on deck for another episode.) 17:30 Next up – the Heigold 20:25 Flavor profiles can be so different, so we digress into gin for a minute 22:20 Back to the Heigold 25:00 We have great gift ideas for these Rabbit Hole bottles 26:00 The Rabbit Hole story 27:00 Rabbit Hole does other things, like vodka, and that scares Ape just a little 29:50 We put the Heigold on ice, and Ape has to take a phone call 32:45 On to the Dareringer 36:40 Dareringer on ice 37:40 The Rabbit Hole wrap up
High West Bourbon & Double Rye Whiskey
Jun 8 2023
High West Bourbon & Double Rye Whiskey
Originally recorded: 20230602 Length: 00:59:09 On deck today are two offerings from one of our favorite distilleries, High West. It is true that Ape and Reba are a tiny bit excited to be back together – we might get a little derailed and overly excited. But it’s High West (and honestly, even if it wasn’t, what do you really expect from us anyway?) High West Bourbon and Double Rye  Purchase details:        Location: Jeff’s Beverage Date: 5/1/2023 Cost: $40.99 & 39.99 Type: Bourbon and Rye Whiskey Distillery: High West Distillery and sourced Bottled in: High West Distillery, Park City, UT Proof: 92/46% Composition: -       Bourbon: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% barley malt from MGP;  84% corn, 8% rye, 8% malted barley;  Other whiskey components are undisclosed due to contractual reasons -       Double Rye: Straight Rye whiskeys: 95% rye, 5% barley malt from MGP; 80% Rye, 20% Malted Rye from High West Distillery Age: +2 years BoozApp says: Avg MSRP - $36.82 / $36.82 Fair Price   - $53.96 / $48.23 Shelf Price - $40.80 / $40.80        Links for this episode High West Distillery Moodright’s Jeff’s Beverage The Federal Code The Golden Elixir of the West: Whiskey and the Shaping of America by Sherry Monahan & Jane Perkins 00:54 We are so excited to be back, and we explain where we have been 03:40 Introducing our choice for the episode – High West Bourbon AND the Double Rye 05:30 Moodright’s Bar 09:30 The story of David and Jane Perkins, founders of High West Distillery 11:44 Yes, I know I never got back to Jane’s Book – you can find it here 12:00 We discover a ski-in gastro-distillery 14:20 What Ape loves about the High West Distillery website and what it would take Ape to get there in person 17:30 Thank you, Busia! 19:30 A recap of Bourbon characteristics 24:00 What makes a Rye Whiskey a Rye Whiskey 25:00 High West Mash bill transparency 27:00 We have questions about the bubbles in the glass bottle 28:55 Ape wants to play a game with the empty bottles, because we have to do something with them… 30:40 …because Ape is not crafty 32:25 Ape learns about recycled glass resources 33:10 Reba tries to derail the bottle cleanout 36:20 We try to get to the game…but first, Ape learns a lesson about paying more attention 40:50 We finally get to the game. Here are the bottles covered -       Blue Run Kentucky Straight Golden Rye Whiskey -       Blue Note Juke Joint Uncut Straight Bourbon Whiskey -       Johnnie Walker Gold Reserve -       Blackened -       The Senator Straight Rye Whiskey -       George Dickel Bottled in Bond -       Stranahan's Blue Peak Single Malt Whiskey -       Bourbon 30 Small Batch -       J. Mattingly Venus in Furs -       J. Mattingly Sunday Morning -       J. Mattingly After Hours 49:40 We move to the High West Double Rye with and without ice 54:10 Ape goes through the crazy High West cocktails 56:55 Ape found her new favorite boat drink – spoiler, it’s not whiskey 58:35 We finally wrap it up
Good Morning, Ladies! Tea, Coffee, and Cocktails
Apr 17 2023
Good Morning, Ladies! Tea, Coffee, and Cocktails
Originally recorded: 2023010 Length: 00:48:04 Good morning, Ladies! Kay joins Ape & Reba on a colder-than-expected morning. Ape may have run out of Irish Coffee, but hot toddies and bourbon cream rescue the day! Good Morning Ladies Purchase details:        Location: Jeff's Beverage Date: ??? Type: Flavored Whiskey Proof: (% ABV) 40 (Proof) 80 BoozApp says: Avg MSRP - $16.95 Fair Price   - $20.34 Shelf Price - $18.77      Links for this episode Bird Dog Whiskey, Peach The Spice & Tea Exchange of Savannah The Whiskey Wash – Bird Dog Small Batch Bourbon Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream Rumple Minze Peppermint Schnapps Doctors and Distillers: The Remarkable Medicinal History of Beer, Wine, Spirits, and Cocktails   01:30 We are time appropriate - because we say so 02:20 Introducing Kay to the studio 03:00 Hot Toddies pinch-hitting for Irish Coffee 05:40 Ape is overly excited about her new house shoes 07:00 Ape’s hot toddy history and what’s in ours 09:44 Kay pins her whole liquor journey on her daughter 11:00 Tea, whiskey, sweetener – modify at will 11:45 Bird Dog Peach Whiskey – best Hot Toddy whiskey ever 14:30 The Spice & Tea Exchange of Savannah 17:15 The Bird Dog Whiskey page is scarce, but we do learn that they keep it liquor forward 22:15 Ape offers Reba an opportunity, Reba doesn’t see it that way 25:30 Whiskey Wash Review of the Bird Dog regular whiskey 31:00 We do still get an American Coffee with Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream 37:45 Hot chocolate and Rumple Minze Peppermint Schnapps 40:00 Medicinal Whiskey 44:30 Kay wants to discuss Shakespeare, and we are here for it
BBB - Three Dashes Bitters by Jack Simmons
Feb 8 2023
BBB - Three Dashes Bitters by Jack Simmons
Season 4, Episode 36   Originally recorded: 12/12/2022 Length: 01:07:03   Three Dashes Bitters by Jack Simmons We are missing Reba today, but welcome Ape’s daughter Rue, and Georgia Southern University Philosophy professor, playwright, and novelist, Dr. Jack Simmons. Jack joins the podcast to discuss cocktails. great Scotch, and his New Orleans set book Three Dashes Bitters.  Links for this episode Jack Simmons Three Dashes Bitters by Jack Simmons BBB Goodreads Pimm’s Glenlivet XXV Highland Park 18 Johnnie Walker Blue   00:01:40 Ape welcomes Rue and Dr. Jack Simmons to the show!   00:04:25 The conversation is Jack’s book, Three Dashes Bitters, and he brought Pimm’s 00:07:14 Insight into Jack’s thoughts about the writing process, the leisure class, and grad school 00:10:10 We love great character origin stories  00:13:50 Trying to guess the novel’s time period 00:15:40 As per usual, Ape has to slow down – she totally skipped the story overview. You aren’t surprised. 00:18:50 We discuss a difference of opinion about Tim (the main character), when to not give characters names, and the characterization of women and grad students.  00:27:40 How many stories can be in one book?  00:32:25 Jack gives the goods on the infamous double date storyline 00:39:30 Who is Roberto? 00:41:45 Putting the scenes into time perspectives  00:45:50 Getting comfortable with vulnerability 00:51:40 When it comes time to tell the truth about yourself 00:55:00 Who is Jane? 00:56:20 Why place and the contrast of places is important 01:01:00 Wrapping it up with Jack’s other projects and the boozy role call   Three Dashes Bitters  Author: Jack Simmons Genre: Fiction Published: 2019 Pages: 306 Description (from Goodreads) When Tim Schmidt returns to New Orleans to attend his sister’s debutante ball, he finds that nothing has changed during his three-year hiatus in the orderly sanctuary of Boston. He is still in love with Jane, a hard-drinking iconoclast, too well-bred to join the ranks of the Generation X slackers, yet unable to accept the standards of her high society upbringing. Happily, it seems Jane might still harbor feelings for him. But over drinks at The Columns Hotel, things get messy, and Tim’s grand return to the city of his birth soon unravels—the very sort of thing that inspired Tim to leave NOLA in the first place.  With only twenty-four hours to figure out what to do (which has never been Tim’s forte), this former philosophy student finds unsolicited advice from members of a new leisure class. There is Milton, Tim’s college roommate turned Marxist revolutionary, a Falstaffian gent bent on overthrowing the government. Two young Arizona “brothers from another mother.” A disillusioned German exchange student who has abandoned the study of physics for the French Quarter social scene. And an Italian fellow who is a self-proclaimed master in the art of amore. Picking up where Walker Percy (The Moviegoer) and John Kennedy Toole (A Confederacy of Dunces) left off, this wild romp presents New Orleans as an eternal city, whose characters exceed the vicissitudes of fortune, functioning instead as a universal canvas upon which individuals must struggle to carve out their existence. This is not the NOLA of Hurricane Katrina, political corruption, crime, tourism, or the home of jazz. Rather, Simmons adds to the literary œuvre of this Southern city, and Three Dashes Bitters captures a New Orleans defined only in the individuals we encounter—not the easy stereotypes that make individuality impossible.
Rowan’s Creek Small Batch Bourbon
Jan 14 2023
Rowan’s Creek Small Batch Bourbon
Originally recorded: 20221229 Length: 01:03:03 What makes a small batch? Do they all taste the same? Does it matter if different people are tasting them? And what does all this have to do with Catcher in the Rye and Sideways? All this and more on this episode of Bitches & Bourbon! Rowan’s Creek Small Batch Bourbon   Purchase details:        Location: Jeff’s Beverage Date: 06/18/2022 Cost: 39.99 Type: Bourbon Distillery: Willet (also known as Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD) Bottled in: Bardstown, KY Proof: (% ABV) 50.05 (Proof) 100.1 Composition: …. Age: …. BoozApp says: Avg MSRP - $48.81 Fair Price   - $59.66 Shelf Price - n/a      Links for this episode Rowan’s Creek BoozAp Jeff’s Beverage    Schumann’s Whisk(e)y Lexicon The Willett Episode The Daily Stoic Cask Chasers Gary Vee The Hidden Brain Radio Lab Ted Radio Hour https://www.gentlemenranters.com/whiskey/review/rowans-creek-bourbon/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowan%27s_Creek Catcher in the Rye Sideways 00:01:00 We are so glad to be back together and are super excited about 2023! 00:05:40 We are getting to the Rowan’s Creek Small Batch 00:07:10 How research sometimes affects the tasting 00:09:37 Storytime about the name “Rowan’s Creek” 00:10:50 Willett Distillery, mashbills, and age statements 00:15:59 Looking back at older episodes, and unfinished business 00:19:18 Adding ice to the Rowan’s Creek 00:20:35 What does small batch mean? 00:26:00 Taste consistency across different offerings of the same bottle 00:30:00 Podcast format thoughts 00:32:58 Tasting notes from Rowan’s Creek website…and we have no idea what this guy was drinking 00:35:15 So, Ape goes to a clean glass and tries to find what the reviewer found 00:43:00 Ape decides 2023 is the year to trust her own intelligence 00:46:00 The moxie it takes to embark on podcasting 00:48:20 The difference between “agree to disagree” and “differing perspectives” and Catcher in the Rye 00:52:45 The importance of broadening horizons 00:56:15 Sideways comes into the conversation – also, if you haven’t seen it, you should
Bitches & Bourbon Infinity Bottle #3 – 1st Anniversary NYE Episode (Part 2)
Jan 3 2023
Bitches & Bourbon Infinity Bottle #3 – 1st Anniversary NYE Episode (Part 2)
Originally recorded: 20221230 Length: 00:38:40   I know we say we do this just for fun, and our number of listeners isn’t really the main factor – but that’s not entirely true. I mean, who wouldn’t want to have a huge fan base? However, this really is one of those episodes that statistics aren’t even a consideration. If no one on the planet ever listened to it, that would be okay. To have a permanent recording of these laughs with these women is a gift and one of the best things I am taking out of 2022. Xoxo, Ape Bitches & Bourbon Infinity Bottle #3 – 1st Anniversary NYE Episode (Part 2) Bottles included:             Everything from Infinity Bottle #1             Everything from Infinity Bottle #2 Jack Daniels Gold Tennessee Whiskey George Dickel, Bottled in Bond, Tennessee Whisky Pinhook Bourbon Heist (high proof) Rowan’s Creek (upcoming episode)   Links for this episode Bitches & Bourbon Infinity Bottle #3 – 1st Anniversary NYE Episode (Part 1) Community Coffee Butterfly Cannon Silver Cristalino Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream   00:01:00 Quick little recap from Part 1 (the Melissas are still with us) 00:01:30 Champagne…really cheap champagne 00:03:40 Why we love being together 00:06:30 Silva’s 2023 00:09:00 The beautiful thing about $6 champagne and the gifts of soundbites 00:12:25 We love Jessie 00:13:05 Our approachability 00:17:00 Grandbabies and inspiring love stories 00:24:50 Coffee and champagne…proof we will experiment with anything 00:30:00 Butterfly Cannon Tequila 00:33:35 Palomas!! 00:34:00 Kobi’s Christmas shopping win! 00:36:05 Coffee, tequila, and bourbon cream…cheers!!! 00:37:45 Happy New Year, Happy New Year, love to all!