You Can SEE the Flavor in This Bourbon 👀 | 2025 World’s Best Bourbon Tasting (Frank August)

Behind the Pour

The whiskey glitter caught their eye before the pour began. Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon is not chill-filtered, which means the natural oils and fatty compounds from the distillate stay in the bottle — and in the right light, you can actually see them floating in the glass. It is a subtle effect that Crystal and Roger use as an entry point into a 32-minute exploration of a bourbon that won the 2025 IWSC Whiskey of the Year. Their question is whether the award holds up in the glass.

What You'll Discover

• Non-chill filtration and visible flavor compounds: Chill filtration removes natural oils by cooling the spirit to near-freezing before bottling. Those oils affect mouthfeel and carry flavor compounds. Non-chill filtered bourbon retains them, which is why you can see the 'whiskey glitter' effect when the glass catches the light.
• 2025 IWSC Whiskey of the Year: The International Wine and Spirits Competition is one of the most established competitions in the spirits industry. The Whiskey of the Year designation typically influences pricing and availability — Crystal and Roger note the price may not stay at $70 for long.
• High-rye Kentucky Straight Bourbon at 100 proof: The mashbill is heavily rye-influenced for a Kentucky bourbon — spice-forward with honeyed fruit on the nose. Crystal and Roger note zero ethanol burn at 100 proof, which speaks to distillation and maturation quality.
• Who this is for — and who it isn't: Crystal is direct: this is not a beginner bourbon. The high-rye spice and complexity require a palate that has been developing. As a gift, it delivers on bottle design and provenance. As a daily pour, the $70 price point requires commitment.
• The Frank August mystery: Crystal and Roger note that the blending process for Frank August is not fully disclosed — the brand is selective about sourcing information. That intentional mystique is part of the premium positioning.

A Moment of Pourspective

An award from one of the most rigorous competitions in the world means enough people with well-trained palates agreed. The glass still decides for you. But there is something to be said for starting from a bottle that earned the consensus.

Explore the Conversation

The Frank August episode is one of the more technically detailed TLC reviews from early 2026. The non-chill filtration explanation, the IWSC context, the mash bill discussion, the 'Kentucky hug' vs. rye experience — Crystal and Roger cover a lot of ground in 32 minutes, and most of it is genuinely educational rather than just descriptive. The visual moment — Roger seeing the glitter, Crystal explaining what causes it — is one of those TLC moments where the education happens organically because something in the glass demands explanation. Non-chill filtration is a technical detail that matters to experienced drinkers, but the visual hook makes it accessible to anyone watching. Frank August's trajectory is worth watching. A brand that wins IWSC Whiskey of the Year in its first major recognition cycle is positioned for rapid retail growth. The $70 price point Crystal and Roger review is likely not where it will be by the time most viewers find the bottle.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the IWSC? The International Wine and Spirits Competition is one of the oldest and most respected spirits competitions globally, judged by a panel of industry professionals. Whiskey of the Year is the competition's highest individual category award.
• What is non-chill filtration? Standard bourbon filtration uses cold temperatures to precipitate and remove natural oils and fatty acids before bottling. Non-chill filtration skips this step, preserving those compounds — which contribute to mouthfeel, flavor complexity, and the visible cloudiness/oils in the glass.
• Why is this bourbon at 100 proof? 100 proof (50% ABV) is a common premium bourbon bottling strength — above the legal minimum (80 proof) and below barrel strength. It preserves more flavor than a proofed-down product without the heat of full cask strength.
• What does 'Kentucky Straight Bourbon' mean? A bourbon is 'Kentucky Straight' when it is: distilled in Kentucky, aged in new charred oak containers, aged at least two years, and bottled at 40% ABV or more with no additives except water. 'Straight' also means no coloring or flavoring.

Episode at a Glance

• Spirit reviewed: Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Hosts: Crystal and Roger
• Runtime: Approx 32 minutes
• Category: Bourbon
• Details: 2025 IWSC Whiskey of the Year, non-chill filtered, $70, 100 proof, high-rye