Van Winkle Special Reserve 'Lot B' Bourbon Review + First Whiskey News of 2026

I'm back from a short break and kicking off the new year with a packed episode of the Bourbon Bytes Podcast! This week we're catching up on the biggest whiskey stories you may have missed — including a brand new Old Fitzgerald from Heaven Hill, a cask strength release from High West, and a look at the highs and lows of Irish whiskey through the end of 2025. But the star of the show is a very special viewer-sent sample: Van Winkle Special Reserve Lot B. I finally sit down to give this legendary bourbon an honest review — no hype, no pressure, just my genuine thoughts on whether Lot B still earns its place in the modern bourbon world. Navigate the full episode below using the chapter markers! 00:00 – Episode Teaser: Bourbon News + Lot B Review 00:33 – Welcome Back from the Mid-Season Break 01:39 – Whiskey News #1: Old Fitzgerald Fall 2025 (11 Year BIB) 03:18 – Whiskey News #2: High West Cask Strength Bourbon Announced 05:21 – Whiskey News #3: Frey Ranch 100% Barley Whiskey 07:28 – Whiskey News #4: Wyoming Whiskey National Parks #5 – The Tetons 09:52 – Irish Whiskey Boom vs Teeling’s 91% Profit Drop 13:20 – Van Winkle Lot B Bourbon (Byte-Sized Review) 22:03 – Final Score: Van Winkle Lot B 22:55 – Outro: Thanks, How to Listen, and Share Bourbon Bytes