Barrel to Bottle, The Binny's Podcast

Spirits buyer Jeff only appears on the podcast twice a year and since it's not winter, it means it's time for Canapalooza. Every year, we sample hundreds of canned beverages from new brands and new innovations from existing brands. This week on Barrel to Bottle we're trying some of the highlights from Canapalooza that you can look forward to this spring and summer. Mom Water Iced Tea Surfside Lemo...

Binny's is in the list business! Our yearly 50 Under $50 and 30 Under $30 lists are always popular with both Binny's staff and customers. This week on Barrel to Bottle we're tasting highlights from this spring's 30 Under $30 list with wine managers Gabe and Jon. Anselmi San Vincenzo 2024 Breaking Bread Marmalade Orange 2024 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2024 Ponzi Pinot Noir Tavola 2023 Stol...

It's no secret that we love cocktails on Barrel to Bottle. We also love fruits, and fruit juices. With warm-weather approaching it's the perfect time for fresh, zippy cocktails that go perfect with outdoor brunch, or a lazy Sunday on the patio. Check out all the recipes on our  blog .  If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email us at comments@binnys.com , or reach out to us on  Fa...

There are always new trends in beer, and surprisingly the latest trend are breweries making "premium American lagers" or low-calorie beers. Thing macro lagers like Miller Lite or Bud Light. Roger gathered twelve beers that are craft, craft-adjacent or macro, for a blind taste test. Miller Lite Short's Local's Light Montucky Cold Snacks Coors Light Old Style Light Miller High Life Light Shiner Ligh...

March is Bottled in Bond Month, but if you're anything like the Barrel to Bottle crew you live every month like it's Bottled in Bond Month. If you don't know what it is, we're going to tell you, and sample thirteen Bottled in Bond spirits. High Wire Distilling Jimmy Red Bourbon Bottled in Bond Clark & Sheffield Bottled in Bond Bourbon Wilderness Trail Distillery Black Label Small Batch High Rye Bo...

This week, we're schooling you on the wines of L'Ecole No 41. David Rosenthal is the new Director of Wine Making for the longtime Washington winery. They were pivotal in establishing the Walla Walla AVA, literally putting Washington wines on the map. L'Ecole No. 41 Semillon 2023 L'Ecole No. 41 Frenchtown Red 2023 L'Ecole No. 41 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley 2022 L'Ecole No. 41 Merlot Colum...

Take the rocky road to Dublin with the Whiskey Hotline as we explore the latest innovations in Irish whiskey, as well as revisit some classics. From blended to single grain to single pot still, the Emerald Isle has a lot to offer spirits drinkers. Whack-follol-le-dah! Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey Jameson Blended Irish Whiskey Teeling Whiskey Small Batch Irish Whiskey Two Stacks Double Barrel S...

Minden Mill Distillery does not take the easy way out. This estate distillery grows all their grains in the mountains of Nevada, which has a 90-day growing season. Master Distiller Joe O'Sullivan lays out the challenges of distilling in the high desert, making vodka with rye and being part of the nascent American Single Malt movement. Minden Mill Distillery 4-Year-Old Nevada Straight Bourbon Minde...

Every February the Beer Buzz celebrates the great flagship beers from some of our favorite, long-running breweries. These are the beers that keep the lights on, that are reliable, that win awards. This year we're celebrating flagships from Chicago, the suburbs and just over the border. Two Brothers Domaine Dupage Three Floyds Gumballhead Goose Island 312 Wheat Ale Half Acre Daisy Cutter Revolution...

The games of 2026 are taking place right now in the Alpine regions of Italy. Specifically, Lombardy, Veneto and neighboring areas. You may have noticed watching the games that the area looks very German, and the wines often reflect that influence. So, sit on your couch, watch some stupendous athletic feats and enjoy these gold medal wines (and one aperitif) at bronze medal prices. Campari Aperitif...

So long, Dry January. Hello Dry February! If your time exploring NA drinks has come to an end, kick things off by dialing back the sweetness. We're trying dry wines, cocktails, ciders and beers. Laherte Freres Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Zind Humbrecht Muscat Turckheim 2023 Valdespino Inocente Fino Right Bee Dry Art History Bauhaus Check out the cocktail recipes on our blog . If you have a questio...

Every January the French come to town. Specifically, the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux. UGC is your chance to try the newest Bordeaux vintage, and to buy these wines before they hit our stores shelves. This year, the 2023 vintage is featured, and we have wine managers Gabe and Jon to walk us through the event and some highlights from the vintage. Chateau Carbonnieux Pessac Leognan Blanc 2023 C...

So you bought a bottle of absinthe? Maybe you wanted to make Sazeracs for Mardi Gras. Maybe you were watching Moulin Rouge and got curious. But you used your rinse of absinthe, and you still have most of the bottle left? Now what? We've got cocktail ideas for you beyond the Sazerac, from the basic to the complex. Check out our blog for cocktail recipes If you have a question for the Barrel to Bott...

It's been a few years since Barrel to Bottle strolled down the NA beer aisle. The options have never been better for Dry January, and beyond. There are more styles than ever, from breweries of all sizes. Samuel Adams Just the Haze Non-Alcoholic IPA Go Brewing Disarm Non-Alocholic Hazy IPA Blue Moon Non-Alcoholic RationAle Non-Alcoholic Japanese Style Dry Sapporo Premium Non-Alcoholic Years Non-Alc...

Every year, we're seeing more bottles from Whisky Advocate's Top 20 hit our shelves. Throughout the year these bottles come and go, and this year is no different. The Whiskey Hotline grabbed five from the list to sample, and they'll countdown the entire list. Lochlea Fallow Edition Lowland Single Malt Lux Row Small Batch Bourbon PX Sherry Finish Glendronach Ode to the Ember Peated Highland Single...

We're back with part two of Binny's Buyers' Picks for 2025. Jeff M. – Spirits Buyer Cutwater Spirits Margarita Variety (seasonal) Old Fitzgerald 7-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Kyle F – Beer Buyer Yuengling Traditional Lager Mark S – Wine Buyer Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta 2021 Barb H – Wine Buyer Chateau Doisy Daene Barsac 2022 If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle C...

The end of the year means a chance to welcome Binny's expert team of wine, spirits and beer buyers. They try thousands of things every year, but what is their pick of the year? Bill N. – Wine Buyer Uccelliera Rosso di Montalcino 2023 Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino 2020 Jack S. – Cigar Buyer Cohiba Rubicon Four Star Society The Architekt Tübr Gordo and Stash Can Brett P. – Spirits Buyer  New Sco...

Stephanie Macleod is the Master Blender of Scotch Whiskey for Bacardi, and this week we're talking to her about her history with Bacardi and the innovations at Dewar's and Aberfeldy. Dewar's 12-Year-Old Double Aged Scotch Dewar's Double Double 21-Year-Old Ruby Marsala Cask Finished Binny's Handpicked Aberfeldy 15-Year-Old Single Malt Finished in Bolgheri Red Wine Casks If you have a question for t...

Ross Cornelissen is the Master Distiller at Barton 1792. From a background in cereal engineering, he became obsessed with fermentation. That eventually led him to Barton 1792, where Binny's partnered with them for our line of Clark & Sheffield bourbons . 1792 Small Batch Bottled in Bond 1792 Small Batch 1792 Cognac Finished Limited Release Bourbon Small Batch 1792 Sweet Wheat Limited Release Bourb...

Remember Espresso Martinis? They're back! It's never been easier to get great coffee, which means it's never been easier to make delicious espresso martinis, or buy some of our favorite ready-to-drink espresso martinis. Tip Top Espresso Martini Moth Drinks Espresso Martini Straightaway Cocktails Nitro Espresso Martini Check out the cocktail recipes on our blog . If you have a question for the Barr...

Everyone has different Thanksgiving traditions, but one thing remains the same: great food and great drinks. We can't help you with ingredients, but we can help you with easy pairings for your starters, mains and deserts. This week we're recommending beers, wines and cocktails to pair with your holiday feast: Beer Unibroue La Fin du Monde Alaskan Sentinel Strong Ale Central Waters Bourbon Barrel S...

Chartreuse can be hard to find, but there are many great alternatives. And maybe there's a replacement from the same Carthusian monks who have been making Chartreuse for centures. 

It's Stout Season, which means we once again had the chance to sit down with the team at Goose Island to try the newest Bourbon County Brand Stout releases. There's a lot of interesting innovation this year, from bottle size to barrel to finishes and as always, unique adjuncts. Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout Original Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout Reserve (Parker's Heritage) Goos...

For the third year in a row, Binny's has asked staff from all 46 stores to conduct blind tastings of their favorite wines, under $50. The massive list is pared down to 50 wines that you can grab for under $50. This week, we're trying seven highlights from the list. Pertois Moriset L'Assemblage Brut Domaine Kuentz Bas Alsace 2024 Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay 2023 Tua Rita Rosso dei Notri 2023 Vass...

It's the most wonderful time for a beer, wet hopped beers to be specific. Bines are harvested and then hops are quickly raced to a nearby (ish) brewery, where they are thrown right into the boil kettle. There aren't as many wet hopped beers as there used to be, but there are still some great ones from local favorite breweries. Off Color Wet Hopped Beer for Pizza Hopewell Harvest Pale Ale Three Flo...