Inside the Great Bourbon Taste Test

A table laden with bourbon samples.

Julian Van Winkle III studies a bottle.

Brock pours bourbon into anonymously numbered flasks.

Testing a vintage W. L. Weller.

A couple of bottles of W. L. Weller Special Reserve stand ready for tasting.

Brock and his French bulldog, Ruby, in front of a portion of the chef’s bourbon collection.

Van Winkle takes a deep whiff.

The tasting team takes a break for lunch at Arnold’s country Kitchen.

Bourbon samples and a tasters’ sheet.

The tasting in progress at Brock’s Nashville loft.

More of Brock’s bourbon collection.

Brock takes a whiff of bourbon.

Van Winkle taking notes.

The taste testers gather around the kitchen to discuss their findings.

Sean Brock in rare form.

Ruby takes a snooze.