Episode Details

An American distillery with Irish heritage in its veins, O'Shaughnessy Distilling Company has engaged a modern legendary distiller of Irish Whiskey to grow a product line which embraces the best of both whiskey worlds. Combining a classic American Rye with two Irish Whiskies, Master Distiller Brian Nation is looking to put Minnesota on the world whiskey map. The O'Shaughnessy Family convinced Brian to leave an established and world-renowned Irish distillery to perfect his own passion project. Brian explains why he made this massive leap in his career in this episode, but in the words of Brian's mother, "What's for you, won't go by you." We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did. We were honored to have Brian on the Bourbon Lens podcast. Download this episode on your favorite podcast player by clicking here.

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About Keeper's Heart - O'Shaughnessy Distilling

The Story

O'Shaughnessy Distilling Company was founded with a belief that the spirit of family and friends, and our shared experiences together, provide us with deep connection and meaning in our lives. Our whiskey was created to celebrate the spirit of family, support our community, and leave a meaningful legacy for generations to come. We believe that the spirit of family is the strongest positive force in the world, and we are committed to celebrating the moments worth keeping.

Several years ago, cousins Patrick and Michael O'Shaughnessy, along with Michael's father Gerry, were sharing a bottle of whiskey at the end of a long and joyous day at an O'Shaughnessy family reunion. They were reflecting on the importance of family; on how to make sure future generations stayed connected; and the legacy they wanted to leave.

As conversation went deeper into the night and more whiskey was poured, they had a realization: the answer was right there in the glass.

It was at that point they set out to create a whiskey that celebrated their Irish American heritage and the cousins set off to Ireland. They sent a chance email to whom they considered the finest Master Distiller in the world - Brian Nation – and much to their surprise, Brian responded and a meeting in Dublin was put on the books.

That 30-minute meeting turned into a 5-hour meal as Michael, Patrick, Brian, and his wife Una, created an immediate connection. A new family was forming, and a vision was emerging: to blend the best of Irish and American whiskey traditions to create something entirely new.

The Distillery

The team set out to make their vision a reality, and while they procured some of the finest stocks of aged whiskey, they knew they needed to make their own. They needed a place where Brian, the leg