Season 3 | Episode 1 - In the Spirit of Bourbon: Woodford Reserve w/ Elizabeth McCall
We’d love to hear from you!
Featured Guest: Elizabeth McCall
Close Your Eyes and Imagine: A Journey Into Kentucky’s Bourbon Culture!
Picture this: you’re sitting by a cozy fireplace, holding a glass of bourbon. The warm scent of vanilla mixes with smoky wood. That’s exactly how the third season of Lagralane Spirits feels.
This season, hosts Jason and Yvonne Lee journey to Kentucky to explore the rich culture of bourbon. With the entire production crew in tow, they visit six iconic distilleries: Woodford Reserve, Brough Brothers, Castle & Key, Fresh Bourbon, Bespoken Spirits, and Old Carter. Each stop offers something unique — a new flavor, a fresh perspective, and a deeper story. They also had an intimate “Cocktail Confession” chat with college friend Cyndi Gatterdam (Republic National Distributing Company) and her husband Chris Grecco.
The first episode introduces us to Woodford Reserve, where Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall leads a tasting that feels more like an art class than a lesson in bourbon. She explains how to taste bourbon properly, from how to catch the light vanilla and floral aromas to diving into richer notes of brown sugar, oak, and spice.
Elizabeth’s pride is the Double Oaked bourbon, a spirit aged twice in specially toasted barrels. This extra step gives it smooth caramel and vanilla flavors, making it a standout drink. She describes it as “the most friendly hello you'll get from a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey.”
But the episode isn’t just about bourbon’s flavors. It’s about its stories. Jason shares how he’s always felt connected to bourbon culture, even though its history hasn’t always included voices like his. Yvonne engages with Woodford history (as does our entire very vocal crew, whom you’ll also hear from throughout the episode). Meanwhile, Elizabeth explains how bourbon is more than a drink — it’s a way to explore identity and history. She’s passionate about inspiring young people, especially women, to find their place in the industry. Elizabeth’s advice? “Look for what’s missing and figure out how to fill that gap.”
Additional tidbits you’ll learn in this episode:
How bourbon pairs beautifully with foods like sesame sticks, dried apples, and cheese.
How distilleries balance tradition with innovation to create new flavors.
The history of bourbon-making and how it connects to identity and culture.
How Jason and Yvonne personally connect to bourbon, its story and the parallels to Lagralane’s mission.
Jason and Yvonne’s journey is just beginning. The road ahead promises not only exquisite bourbon but also a deeper understanding of the history, culture, and stories that shape us all. Pour yourself a glass and join the conversation!
For more spirited discussions, make sure to subscribe to the podcast.
And if you’ve enjoyed exploring bourbon and cocktailing along with us, we’d love for you to leave us a review.
Cheers … and Please Drink Responsibly!
Links:
Guest:
Elizabeth McCall
https://www.woodfordreserve.com/press-room/elizabeth-mccall/
https://www.woodfordreserve.com/
https://www.woodfordreserve.com/lifestyle/
Additional links + Special thanks to:
WEP - https://weeditpodcasts.com/
Liam E. Allen (original music) - @Liamea97
“And it was this moment of: Oh, I'm on TV and now my niece is watching me in this job that I do. And I am now representing that for her...I'm representing something to young women and they are seeing somebody that looks like them doing this job.”
-Elizabeth (minute 35:52)
Cocktail Recipe: Woodford Reserve Rye Old Fashioned
One sugar cube, muddled in glass with dashes of Angostura bitters.
2.5oz Woodford Rye.
Stirred.
Add large ice cube.
Orange peel & maraschino cherry garnish.
About our special guest
Elizabeth McCall
Master Distiller at Woodford Reserve
Elizabeth McCall is the Master Distiller for Woodford Reserve, overseeing new product development and innovations. A Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) , she is the second generation of her family to work in the spirits industry.
She began her career in 2009 as a sensory expert, working in the quality department at Brown-Forman, the parent company of Woodford Reserve. She has a Master’s Degree from the University of Louisville. She has been Master Taster, Assistant Master Distiller and in 2023 was named Master Distiller, succeeding the legendary Chris Morris.
When Elizabeth is not using her expertise at the distillery, she is passionate about her family, horses and being involved in her community. She and her husband Matt have two children – Winnie and Ferris – and a dog, Beasley. They live in Louisville, Kentucky.
Did you love this episode
(and the cocktail too)?
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