392: How Chip Tate Blends Bourbon | Gambit No. 6 & Ampersand

Chip Tate (Foley Family Wine & Spirits) joins Bourbon Lens to break down the creative process behind some of the most talked-about whiskey projects on the market today — including Gambit No. 6 and Ampersand.In this episode, Chip dives deep into Gambit No. 6, a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished across wine, apple brandy, sherry, and Tokaji casks. He explains how the final blend is built like a Bordeaux — layered, structured, and balanced with fruit, tannin, texture, and complexity — and breaks down the role of retasted Chardonnay barrels, the impact of deep toasting on wood character, and why secondary maturation can add nuance without overwhelming the whiskey underneath.Jake and Chip also get into:How American whiskey drinkers are warming up to blending and finishingWhy tasting notes are personal, not prescriptiveHow a whiskey can be both highly complex AND easy-drinkingThe idea of "session whiskey" — subtlety, approachability, and complexity in one glassWhat makes a whiskey feel like "home"The versatility of whiskey across cocktails, highballs, and neat poursThe episode wraps with a look at Ampersand 51/49, an experimental rye and Calvados-based release, plus a preview of Gambit 2.0 — a hundred-proof expression built for a different kind of drinking experience.Whether you're a bourbon collector, a whiskey finishing nerd, or just curious how a master distiller thinks about blending, this conversation is packed with insight straight from one of the industry's most respected voices.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to Foley Family Wine and Spirits01:03 Ampersand and Opimus Release01:21 Diverse Projects and Collaborations02:29 Role and Responsibility at Foley Family04:01 Game of It Number Six: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey08:41 Secondary Maturation and Extended Age Cask Maturation12:56 Toasting and Impact on Chardonnay Barrel23:29 Tasting Notes and Personal Experience25:00 The Art of Session Whiskey26:00 Complexity and Approachability27:18 The Essence of Home28:00 American Influence in Whiskey29:13 The Versatility of Whiskey30:44 Ampersand: A Unique Blend32:03 Exploring New Boundaries33:54 The Appeal of Ampersand35:11 The Highball Experience37:06 Gambit 2.0: A Hundred Proof Experience42:10 Blending and Ideal Audience🔔 Subscribe for more weekly discussions, tastings, and bourbon insights from the Bourbon Lens community.📸 Follow on Instagram: @bourbonlens🌐 Visit: www.bourbonlens.com🛍️ Merch: https://bourbon-lens-shop.printify.me/products💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/pd6ys5nRSU