I recently chatted with Heidi Durst, better known in the whiskey world as The Bourbon Nymph. What started as a casual conversation turned into an exchange that reminded me why the bourbon community is so special.
I’ve been following Heidi’s Instagram account @bourbonnymph for a while now, watching her thoughtful reviews and enjoying her friendly approach to bourbon.
But getting to talk with her face-to-face (well, screen-to-screen) was something different. She came to bourbon through beer, fell head over heels for the spirit, and has built a following by being herself and sharing what she loves.
From Beer to Bourbon Friendships
Heidi’s bourbon story began eight years ago in an unexpected way. She was working part-time at Adventure Brewing in Virginia, tasked with writing descriptions for their various beers. Among them was a stout called The Wicked Nymph, which initially didn’t appeal to her. But her perspective changed when the brewery started aging The Wicked Nymph in bourbon barrels, specifically Bowman Bourbon barrels from Fredericksburg, Virginia.
“When I was tasting the Wicked Nymph and the barrel-aged stouts, I was like, that’s it. I was hooked once I really got the taste for the bourbon,” Heidi told me, her enthusiasm still evident years later.
That first taste led her to Whistlepig Rye, which became her road into the broader world of whiskey. It’s fascinating how these journeys begin—sometimes it’s not a straight path from casual drinker to enthusiast, but rather a winding road that leads through unexpected territory.
What struck me about Heidi’s story is how organic her entry into bourbon reviewing became. She didn’t make a calculated business decision for internet fame. Her neighbor, who happened to be one of the brewery owners, noticed how much she talked about bourbon and suggested she start a review page.
A Community of Friends
This brings me to one of my favorite aspects of Heidi’s approach to bourbon – her focus on community.
During our conversation, she lit up when talking about the people she’s met through bourbon. “The bourbon community, it’s just meeting people when you’re out and about. Like if you’re at some random bar and I’m trying bourbon, someone will say, ‘What are you drinking?’ And then you get into this whole story.”
What I like about Heidi’s approach is her dedication to introducing newcomers to bourbon. She now hosts bourbon bottle shares at her house, where her growing group of friends dispenses bottles and stories. She understands that many people think bourbon will be harsh and burning, so she focuses on finding milder expressions that can serve as gentle introductions to the category.
Tonight’s Pours
During our chat, Heidi was sipping on Ragged Branch from Charlottesville, Virginia. It was her first time trying it. Her assessment: she was getting notes of raisin, plum, and black licorice, and since she’s not a fan of black licorice, she was still deciding whether she liked it.
Meanwhile, I had opened a new bottle of Heaven Hill Grain to Glass, which surprised me with its mellowness despite being 35% rye.
It’s these moments of discovery, when a whiskey doesn’t behave the way you expect, that keep this hobby exciting. Heidi immediately understood what I was experiencing. She noted how important it is to let a bourbon open up and never trust that first sip.
Five Questions with The Bourbon Nymph
Randy: What has surprised you in your bourbon story?
Heidi: Probably just the bourbon community. Meeting people when you’re out and about, getting into conversations about what you’re drinking, what they like, and what you like. My bourbon parties keep getting bigger because you meet a lot of friends along the way. And introducing people who think they don’t like bourbon to something milder, that’s been really cool.
Randy: Have you tried any that you thought were fantastic?
Heidi: My absolute favorites, which I go back and forth on, are E.H. Taylor Single Barrel and Antique Weller. That one is amazing. But recently, a bartender gave us Blanton’s Gold, and I had never had the Gold before. I’ve always been on the fence with regular Blanton’s for the price, but the Gold really surprised me. It might actually be worth it.
Randy: What’s your prized possession in your collection?
Heidi: Probably my Van Winkle 12-year. In Virginia, they do a lottery system, and I won the Van Winkle 12-year Lot B. I screamed like I won a million dollars! I’ve cracked it open and shared it with friends who I knew would appreciate it. I’m not someone who keeps bottles sealed; I buy bourbon to drink it and enjoy it with friends.
Randy: What’s your take on bourbon pricing?
Heidi: I had a conversation with somebody about this recently, and we concluded that between $35 and $90 is the sweet spot for good bourbon. After that, I get disappointed easily if it’s super expensive and just okay. If it’s a hundred bucks, it better be great because your expectations are way up there.
Randy: If you could have a drink with anybody tonight, who would you pick and what would you pour?
Heidi: Tyler Childers, absolutely. He’s my favorite musician right now, and he enjoys drinking, so I think he’d be really fun to drink with. I’d probably pour Knob Creek 18-year. I’ve never tried it, but I’ve heard amazing things about it. That’s like the unicorn I’m trying to find.
Balancing Passion and Life
One thing that came up during our conversation was the challenge of balancing a bourbon hobby with real life.
Bourbon is not Heidi’s full-time gig. She works in business development with a tech company, and she was dealing with a tough commute to the Washington, DC area that was cutting into her time for bourbon reviews. It’s a reminder that behind every social media account is a real person with real responsibilities and challenges. Heidi’s decision to prioritize quality of life over posting frequency is admirable and something more content creators should consider. “I want to take the time to enjoy life and not always be working,” she said.
The Last Call with the Bourbon Nymph
Heidi wasn’t born into the whiskey world or started with unlimited access to rare bottles. She discovered bourbon through beer, fell in love with it gradually, and built her knowledge through curiosity and community.
She’s not afraid to say when something doesn’t work for her, and she provides context that helps people make informed decisions.
Instead, Heidi uses whiskey as a catalyst for connection and enjoyment. She also drinks what she buys. “Everyone’s always expecting that I have this massive collection. I don’t, because I drink them,” she laughs. This philosophy resonates with me. What’s the point of having great bourbon if you’re not going to enjoy it?
See whiskeyshenanigans.com for our full podcast with Heidi the Bourbon Nymph.
Follow @bourbonnymph on Instagram for honest reviews, community insights, and refreshing take on a bourbon that focuses on friends and experiences. In a hobby that can sometimes take itself too seriously, Heidi reminds us that the best bourbon is the one you’re sharing with people you care about.
And for more conversations with fascinating people in the whiskey world, check our Instagram @whiskeyshaniganspodcast