S01E04 Bourbon Blind Tastings—Putting Your Palate to the Test

Hosted and published by John Schuster II · Editor and contributor: Shauna Hann

https://youtu.be/ZuilTvjUHL4

Listen on Spotify • Watch on YouTube:

In Episode 4 of Chasing the Unicorn: Your Quest for the Perfect Pour, we're asking the question every bourbon lover needs to consider: Are you truly experiencing the spirit in your glass, or are you being swayed by labels, brands, and preconceived notions? This week, we're diving headfirst into the fascinating and incredibly valuable world of blind bourbon tastings! Join host John Schuster II as we demystify the process of blind tasting and reveal why it's the ultimate tool for refining your palate and discovering your true bourbon preferences. We'll show you how to strip away the biases, focus solely on your senses, and unlock a deeper level of appreciation for bourbon's complexities. In this episode, you'll discover: • The surprising power of blind tasting to challenge your assumptions about bourbon. • Practical techniques for setting up your own blind tastings at home. • Tips to improve your sensory focus and identify key flavor elements. • Why Four Roses Small Batch is the perfect bourbon to hone your blind tasting skills. • How blind tasting can transform your bourbon journey from casual enjoyment to connoisseurship. Ready to put your palate to the test and experience bourbon in a whole new way? Click play and join the blind tasting showdown!

About John Schuster II

John Schuster II is the host of Chasing the Unicorn Podcast and the editor and publisher of the American Whiskey Industry Brief. A retired U.S. Army Major who spent twenty-six years across the Navy and Army — and an Executive Bourbon Steward — he built a career on systems and on teaching, and now points both at American whiskey. The Cut is his daily take on what moved in bourbon and why it matters, made the way he makes everything: for someone, not everyone. More at momentfirst.com.

About Shauna Hann

Shauna Hann is the editor and a contributor across Chasing the Unicorn Podcast and the American Whiskey Industry Brief, and co-host of Beyond the Cut. A teacher of more than twenty years — including at West Point and across the U.S. Army — she brings historical depth and structural rigor to the work, and a gift for making complex things simple. More of her work is at shaunaonthego.com.