546 - From Reddit to Reveries with Jay West

We’ve seen plenty of people try to make the jump from enthusiast to industry pro, but nobody has done it quite like Jay West. It’s been a few years since he was last on the show, and we’re thrilled to welcome back the mastermind behind the massive r/bourbon barrel program on Reddit and the Principal Whiskey Maker at Reveries. This is Jay's second time on the show and this time without the cload and veil. He went from a quiet contributor and guy behind the scenes on a subreddit to one of the most respected voices and blenders in the game. We dive into the staggering growth of the Reddit whiskey community—now 300,000 members strong—and why keeping that culture supportive and nontoxic is so important to the overall whiskey community. We also geek out on the barrel-picking process and how he’s managed to scale up to hundreds of barrels a year to meet the insane demand for unique bottles people are searching for. Of course, we also had to talk about Jay’s brand, Reveries, and his unique philosophy on acquiring great barrels, blending and storytelling.

Show Notes:

• Jay West’s evolution from anonymity to industry leader
• Current growth of the r/whiskey community
• Insights into the expanding barrel-picking process
• The role of moderation and community engagement
• Reveries brand philosophy and blending techniques
• Highlights of standout whiskey blends from Reveries
• The interplay of creativity, storytelling, and community feedback
• Ways to support Reveries and engage with r/bourbon on Reddit

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