Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac
Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac

Jim Gaffigan’s Father Time Bourbon Wins Big

August 4, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Jim Gaffigan’s Father Time Bourbon won Best New Bourbon at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The specific bottle that took the prize was the Kabuse Empty Nestor Strength, an uncut, cask-strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon that also earned a double gold medal and a 97-point score. Johnny Mac, who had previously made fun of the venture, ate crow on air: “I fall on my sword. I made fun of you. You are the man.”

Gaffigan himself said on the brand’s website, “I’m obviously not a bourbon expert, but I did do my research and I know what I like. I handpicked the bourbon and personally signed everything. No, this isn’t some big spirit company behind this adventure. It’s just me and a buddy from college.” The bourbon is sourced from an undisclosed distillery with a mash bill of 63% corn, 30% rye, and 7% malted barley. It sells at two proof points: the Precious Batch at 92.4 proof and the award-winning Empty Nestor Strength at a full 121 proof, with a suggested retail price of $200.

CBS Doubles Down on Byron Allen’s Comedy Library

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (02:05) **Jim Gaffigan's Father Time Bourbon Wins Best New Bourbon** - The whiskey brand Johnny Mac previously mocked wins top honors at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
  • 2 (03:24) **CBS to Air Two-Hour "Comics Unleashed" 20th Anniversary Special** - Byron Allen's long-running syndicated show gets a primetime celebration on CBS.
  • 3 (04:28) **"Funny You Should Ask" Returns to Production** - Byron Allen's other comedy game show is coming back for new episodes on CBS.
  • 4 (05:35) **Seth Meyers' "Day Drinking" Becomes a Peacock Series** - The long-running segment from Late Night is now available as a standalone collection on Peacock.
  • 5 (06:38) **Late Night Ratings: Fallon Trails Kimmel's Summer Guest Hosts** - Johnny Mac admits he was wrong as ratings data shows Jimmy Fallon losing ground to "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" without its host.
  • 6 (07:13) **James Corden's FIFA Show Sees Big Ratings Bump** - The post-soccer show "FIFA World Cup on Fox After Hours with James Corden" saw significant week-over-week growth.
  • 7 (07:30) **Comedy Central Announces "Stand-Up Selects" for YouTube** - A new series of short stand-up sets from 14 comics will launch exclusively on the Comedy Central Stand Up YouTube channel.

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Guests on this episode

Show Notes

Johnny Mac covers comedy news including Jim Gaffigan’s Father Time Bourbon winning Best New Bourbon at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition for The Caboose Empty Nester Strength (double gold, 97 points), with details on mash bill, proofs, and the $200 retail price. CBS will air a two-hour 20th anniversary primetime special of Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed on Tuesday, September 29, and Funny You Should Ask returns to production August 11 with new CBS late-night episodes starting September 21; the show nears its 500th episode. Seth Meyers’ Day Drinking becomes a Peacock series compilation. Ratings notes compare summer late-night numbers for Kimmel, Fallon, Meyers, and a James Corden after-hours show. Comedy Central announces Stand-Up Selects on YouTube. Mac also recounts a failed YouTube Live due to audio cutting out and reflects on friend Vinnie Pastore’s death, then mentions a trailer for season two of Netflix’s Leanne. 

00:12 Jim Gaffigan Bourbon Win
01:34 Comics Unleashed Anniversary
02:38 Funny You Should Ask Returns
03:46 Day Drinking Goes Peacock
04:48 Late Night Ratings Roundup
05:40 Comedy Central Stand-Up Selects
06:24 Kevin Hart Golf With LeBron
06:44 YouTube Live Audio Fail
08:21 Remembering Vinnie Pastore
13:29 Leanne Season Two Trailer
 

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Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.com

Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  

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Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac