Why I built BourbonProof.

It started with a Netflix documentary. In 2021, I watched the “Bourbon King” episodes of Heist, which told the story of the Pappy Van Winkle theft from Buffalo Trace in Frankfort, Kentucky. I was completely fascinated by the story, the people, and the culture around bourbon. That curiosity turned into a bottle, then a few dozen bottles, then five trips to Kentucky, 51 distillery visits across four states, and a personal collection north of 150 bottles.

My philosophy is simple: bourbon is best enjoyed with the people you love. I have zero interest in reselling bottles or chasing hype for profit. Bottles are meant to be opened. Some of my favorite memories are sharing a pour with my dad, enjoying something new with my wife, or passing a glass to a friend who’s never tried good bourbon before. That shared experience is the whole point.

The trips became their own thing too. Renting a car, driving through open country, visiting distilleries I’ve never been to, tasting something I can’t get back home. I still get the same excitement pulling into a new distillery that I did the first time. After 51 visits, that feeling hasn’t faded.

BourbonProof exists because most bourbon content online is either review-focused (tasting notes and scores) or hype-focused (allocated bottle chasing). Neither actually helps someone plan a bourbon trail trip, pick a gift for a friend, or figure out what to order at a bar. Every article here is built to help you do something specific, backed by firsthand experience.