Barrel Hunters is a whiskey channel built for people who love the hunt — the search for bottles that are actually worth drinking, not just worth posting on Instagram. We review whiskey, run blind tastings, rank bottles in tier lists, visit distilleries, and travel the whiskey trails looking for the best pours we can find. But the real goal is simple: Help whiskey drinkers make better buying decisions.
There’s a lot of hype in the whiskey world. Limited releases, inflated secondary prices, impossible-to-find bottles. We started Barrel Hunters to cut through that noise and answer the question most drinkers are really asking: Is this bottle actually worth it?
Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes the $35 bottle beats the $150 one.
And we’re not afraid to say it.
There’s a lot of hype in the whiskey world. Limited releases, inflated secondary prices, impossible-to-find bottles. We started Barrel Hunters to cut through that noise and answer the question most drinkers are really asking: Is this bottle actually worth it?
Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes the $35 bottle beats the $150 one.
And we’re not afraid to say it.
Eddy is a Certified Bourbon Steward and a member of the Stave & Thief Society, credentials that reflect both his formal training and his deep respect for the craft behind every bottle. Through Barrel Hunters, he has helped review and analyze hundreds of whiskeys, translating complex aromas and flavors into language that everyday drinkers can understand and use. He is also the author of The Art of Tasting Whiskey, available in paperback and e-book.
Before co-founding Barrel Hunters, Eddy built a successful career in the film industry, earning multiple awards as a writer and producer. He later worked in real estate development in Austin, Texas, where he met Ryan. What started as conversations over great pours eventually grew into Barrel Hunters, a shared mission to explore whiskey honestly and help others discover bottles worth hunting.
Before co-founding Barrel Hunters, Eddy built a successful career in the film industry, earning multiple awards as a writer and producer. He later worked in real estate development in Austin, Texas, where he met Ryan. What started as conversations over great pours eventually grew into Barrel Hunters, a shared mission to explore whiskey honestly and help others discover bottles worth hunting.
Adriana is Eddy's wife and new co-host of Barrel Hunters. She brings the beginner’s perspective to videos with curiosity, humor, and a love for learning the stories behind every pour. As a wine lover stepping into the world of whiskey, she asks the questions many new drinkers are thinking but may be afraid to ask. Her approachable energy, honest reactions, and fun back-and-forth with Eddy help make whiskey feel less intimidating and a lot more entertaining.
Before co-founding Barrel Hunters, Ryan served as an active-duty officer in the United States Army. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he served alongside his wife, who was also a classmate there. His military career took him around the world, including assignments in South Korea, Colorado, and a deployment to Baghdad, Iraq.
Upon moving to Austin, TX, Ryan and his wife built a successful career in real estate investing. It was there, through the local real estate community, that he met Eddy in 2016. What started as casual conversations about business eventually turned into conversations about whiskey — and those conversations became the foundation for Barrel Hunters.
Originally from Massachusetts, Ryan remains a fiercely loyal Boston sports fan, a trait that occasionally surfaces in the form of Bruins jerseys, Red Sox references, and spirited debates during tastings. Ryan brings curiosity, humor, and a relentless passion for finding great bottles — especially the Irish ones — that make whiskey more approachable for everyone.
Upon moving to Austin, TX, Ryan and his wife built a successful career in real estate investing. It was there, through the local real estate community, that he met Eddy in 2016. What started as casual conversations about business eventually turned into conversations about whiskey — and those conversations became the foundation for Barrel Hunters.
Originally from Massachusetts, Ryan remains a fiercely loyal Boston sports fan, a trait that occasionally surfaces in the form of Bruins jerseys, Red Sox references, and spirited debates during tastings. Ryan brings curiosity, humor, and a relentless passion for finding great bottles — especially the Irish ones — that make whiskey more approachable for everyone.
Jim is the founder of Jim Drinks, a bourbon and spirits exploration YouTube channel built around blind tastings, buffoonery, and the belief that you don’t need a perfectly refined palate to appreciate a great pour. As a longtime drinker and more recent whiskey enthusiast, Jim explores the hobby with curiosity and honest reactions — chasing great bottles, calling out hype, and figuring it all out one glass at a time.
Blake is an Austin-born podcaster, entertainer, whiskey enthusiast, and lifelong fan of storytelling in all its forms — from classic cinema and murder mysteries to combat sports and barrel-aged bourbon.
With more than 11 years behind the mic, Blake first built his audience hosting the Loaded Joes MMA Podcast before branching out into dating and relationship pop culture with Unfiltered Bachelor. Today, he serves as the host of Nerds at Nite, a channel covering movies, television, and whiskey with a mix of humor, deep-dive analysis, and off-the-cuff personality that has helped him carve out a unique lane online.
Blake is best known for creating the “Every Clue Breakdown” series and Whiskey and a Mystery — a one-of-a-kind show blending whiskey culture with murder mystery films and detective storytelling. The series has featured multiple guests from across the whiskey world and helped connect Blake with fellow enthusiasts, including Eddy, eventually leading to their collaboration.
Outside the studio, Blake is a father, a longtime boxing and MMA fan, and has continued training in boxing since 2009. His favorite movie is Casablanca, his favorite food is Texas BBQ, and on rare occasions, he can reportedly be found frolicking through fields of wheat.
With more than 11 years behind the mic, Blake first built his audience hosting the Loaded Joes MMA Podcast before branching out into dating and relationship pop culture with Unfiltered Bachelor. Today, he serves as the host of Nerds at Nite, a channel covering movies, television, and whiskey with a mix of humor, deep-dive analysis, and off-the-cuff personality that has helped him carve out a unique lane online.
Blake is best known for creating the “Every Clue Breakdown” series and Whiskey and a Mystery — a one-of-a-kind show blending whiskey culture with murder mystery films and detective storytelling. The series has featured multiple guests from across the whiskey world and helped connect Blake with fellow enthusiasts, including Eddy, eventually leading to their collaboration.
Outside the studio, Blake is a father, a longtime boxing and MMA fan, and has continued training in boxing since 2009. His favorite movie is Casablanca, his favorite food is Texas BBQ, and on rare occasions, he can reportedly be found frolicking through fields of wheat.
