An Interview with Chuck Cowdery: Made and Bottled in Kentucky

Some names in bourbon don’t need a last name. Chuck Cowdery is one of them.

Chuck has been covering bourbon and American whiskey for decades—long before hype cycles, limited drops, and people pretending they discovered bourbon during lockdown. He’s a reporter first, a historian by necessity, and one of the few voices who’s always been more interested in getting it right than getting clicks. His Made and Bottled in Kentucky documentary helped put real bourbon history on film at a time when most folks weren’t paying much attention.

That’s why this conversation matters.

The interview is hosted by Erin Petrey, who grew up in Kentucky and around bourbon culture. She also has a personal connection to Made and Bottled in Kentucky—her father narrated the documentary. That gives the conversation an easy, natural feel. No performative bourbon talk, no brand scripts, just real discussion rooted in history and respect for the people who helped build the industry.

Chuck covers a lot of ground here: why the documentary came together, how bourbon storytelling has changed over the years, and why accuracy still matters—especially now. He doesn’t romanticize the past, but he also doesn’t gloss over it. It’s classic Chuck: thoughtful, direct, and occasionally a little uncomfortable in all the right ways.

And honestly, this interview lands at a good time.

It’s been a challenging year for the bourbon industry. Slowing sales, overbuilt inventories, market corrections—call it whatever you want, but it’s had a lot of folks uneasy. What this conversation reminds you is that bourbon has been through tougher stretches than this and came out the other side just fine. The industry has always been cyclical, even if social media sometimes forgets that.

There’s no bottle flexing here. No rankings. No chasing trends.

Just one of bourbon’s most important voices, a meaningful connection to a landmark documentary, and a reminder that American whiskey has a long memory—and a lot of resilience.

Pour something good and give it a watch. It’s a solid way to close out a weird year and remember why this industry still matters. 🥃