Bottles & Bites Without Borders

Send us Fan Mail America turns 250 this 4th of July, and we're celebrating with Evan Williams' brand new America250 commemorative lineup — the 1783 Small Batch and the seriously strong Single Barrel, bottled at 117.76 proof and dipped in blue wax to match the Statue of Liberty on the label. In this episode, we taste both bottles side by side, break down what makes each one worth (or not...

Send us Fan Mail For years, bourbon enthusiasts have chased higher proof bottles believing that more proof equals more flavor. But is that really true? In this episode of Bottles & Bites Without Borders, Rob Clark is joined by longtime friend Chris Chambers for a blind three-pour bourbon tasting and a deep dive into one of whiskey's most debated topics: proof. We explore why higher proof...

Send us Fan Mail Bourbon Basics: Three Young Guys Enter the Bourbon World — and Nothing Goes as Expected My son Ian and his two best friends Bryant and Evan are 25 years old. They've been drinking bourbon for about two years. And when I started asking them what they actually knew about it… well, let's just say we had some work to do. In this episode of Bottles & Bites Without Borders...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when three 25-year-old bourbon lovers sit down and taste rye whiskey for the very first time? We're about to find out. On this episode of Bottles & Bites Without Borders , host Rob is joined by his son Ian and Ian's friends Evan and Bryant — three young men who know their bourbon but have never crossed over into rye territory. We put a few bottles on the...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of Bottles & Bites Without Borders , Rob sits down with whisky expert David Allardice from Paradice Whisky Experiences for a fun, educational, and approachable introduction to the world of Scotch whisky. If you’ve ever been curious about Scotch but didn’t know where to start, this is your episode. David breaks down the basics of Scotch 101 — the different regio...

Send us Fan Mail What if you could only drink wine from ONE country for the rest of your life? In this episode of Bottles & Bites Without Borders , Rob Clark tackles one of the hardest wine questions imaginable and explains why Italy might just be the ultimate forever wine country. From the rolling hills of Tuscany to the volcanic soils of Sicily, Rob dives into the incredible diversity, value...

Send us Fan Mail  If bourbon is your first love, Scotch might just be your greatest adventure. In this episode, we break down exactly why bourbon drinkers are uniquely positioned to appreciate Scotch whisky — and why so many are missing out. We'll explore the surprising similarities between the two spirits, bust the biggest myths about Scotch (no, it's not all smoke and peat), and map ou...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a WSET-certified enthusiast from Katy, Texas sits down with one of just 400 Masters of Wine in the world? A relaxed, honest, and genuinely fun conversation about something every wine lover deals with — walking into Total Wine and figuring out what to buy. Rob sits down with Bob Paulinski, Master of Wine, for an organic wide-ranging chat that covers how to navigat...

Send us Fan Mail Two brand-new bottles hit the table—and we’re going in blind. On this episode, I crack open Penelope Rio and Green River Full Proof Wheated Bourbon for the very first time. No notes, no hype filters—just real reactions, honest takes, and a little bit of whiskey skepticism. But here’s where things get interesting… Green River calls this release “Full Proof.” …Is it though? We’re br...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Bottles & Bites Without Borders , Rob is joined by longtime friend Chris Chambers to do more than just taste whiskey — we take a trip back through 16 years of bourbon, friendship, and the evolution of our palates . What started as a couple of guys figuring out what bourbon even was has turned into a full-blown appreciation for great whiskey… and a few storie...

Send us Fan Mail The wine industry keeps saying they want to attract younger drinkers and make wine more approachable… but their actions say otherwise. Wine dinners are still $200–$300 per person.  Tastings focus on $100+ bottles.  Events are held in white tablecloth restaurants. Meanwhile, the wines that actually bring people into the category — the $20–$40 bottles that overdeliver — barely get a...

Send us Fan Mail If you love whiskey but ignore wine… you're missing half the experience. And if you love wine but never explore whiskey… the same is true. In this episode of Bottles & Bites Without Borders , Rob Clark breaks down the surprising parallels between wine and whiskey. Both are complex, expressive beverages shaped by agriculture, fermentation, aging, and regional identity. We’...

Send us Fan Mail Does allocated bourbon actually taste better… or are we just chasing labels? In this episode of Bottles & Bites Without Borders , I break down the best bourbons in every proof category — comparing readily available shelf bottles to their allocated, hard-to-find counterparts. We’re covering proof tiers from 90 proof all the way up to hazmat heat — and putting standard releases...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Bottles & Bites Without Borders , we sit down with Neal Williams , the creator behind the popular YouTube channels The Flattop King and Pellets & Pits . Neal is a Navy veteran who began his cooking journey in the military, where he learned discipline, consistency, and how to cook at scale. Today, he’s teaching backyard cooks how to level up their game—wh...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Bottles & Bites Without Borders , Rob, Carter and Matt take on the ultimate home bar challenge: build the best possible bourbon and rye collection with a $500 budget. No tequila. No Scotch. No wine safety net. Just America’s native spirit and its spicier sibling. Each guest reveals their strategy, selection criteria, and final lineup — from everyday sippers...

Send us Fan Mail When it comes to bourbon, higher proof often gets all the hype — but that doesn’t mean lower proof means lower flavor. In this episode of Bottles & Bites Without Borders , I’m sharing 7 bourbons under 100 proof that I regularly reach for as my “warm-up pour.” These are the bottles that help ease your palate into a tasting session, acclimate your body to the alcohol, and set th...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Bottles & Bites Without Borders , Rob sits down with wine YouTuber Matthew Horkey to talk about how real people actually buy, drink, and enjoy wine. From grocery store shelves to wine shop intimidation, from price myths to blind tasting surprises, this is a no-snob, no-pressure conversation designed for the average wine drinker . We dig into what really matt...

Send us Fan Mail Rye whiskey doesn’t get enough love—so we’re fixing that. In this episode, I’m breaking down my Top 6 Rye Whiskeys every home bar should have . These are bottles that actually get poured, not just admired on the shelf. Great flavor, solid availability, and strong value—whether you like your rye neat, on the rocks, or in a killer cocktail. We’ll talk mash bills, proof, spice levels...

Send us Fan Mail Every bourbon shelf doesn’t need unicorns, secondary prices, or bottles you’re afraid to open. What it does need are dependable, great-tasting bourbons that overdeliver for the price—bottles you can pour for friends, sip neat, or use in a killer cocktail without hesitation. In this episode, I’m breaking down the 12 bourbons that are always on my home bar . These are bottles with f...

Send us Fan Mail Bourbon has never been bigger—but is it on solid ground? In this episode of Bottles & Bites Without Borders , Rob is joined once again by friend of the show Matt Carter to take a hard look at the current state of bourbon . From explosive growth and shifting consumer tastes to pricing fatigue, limited releases, and changing hype cycles, we break down where bourbon is right now—...

Send us Fan Mail The egg is everywhere—and for good reason. In this episode, we make the case that the egg is the greatest food and ingredient ever created. From over-easy and sunny side up to omelets and scrambled eggs, the egg shines as the star of breakfast. But it doesn’t stop there. Eggs elevate burgers, crown fried rice, finish enchiladas, and form the soul of iconic dishes like Pasta Carbon...

Send us Fan Mail In this warm and thoughtful episode of Bottles & Bites Without Borders , Rob sits down with a very special guest—Jaime Deleon’s daughter, Ashley, a young wine enthusiast beginning her journey into the vast and fascinating world of wine. Together, they dive into the real questions that new wine drinkers often feel too intimidated to ask. She shares what excites her, what confus...

Send us Fan Mail 2025 was the Year of Italy for Bottles & Bites Without Borders . From Tuscany to Piedmont, Sicily to Friuli, Rob dives back into all five Italian regions explored this year and breaks down the wines, the culture, the surprises, and the discoveries that left a mark. In this episode, Rob uncorks the highlights of the Italian series—what he loved, what challenged him, which grape...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Bottles & Bites Without Borders , Rob sits down with wine expert and friend of the show, Jaime Deleon , to dive deep into the newly released Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2025 . We break down how many wines each country landed on the list—and whether we actually agree with the rankings. Rob and Jaime also share how they use the Top 100 list in their own wi...

Send us Fan Mail As wine drinkers lean increasingly toward whites for their freshness and lower alcohol, the shift into fall and winter brings back that familiar craving for red wine. But what if you want the comfort and complexity of a red—without the big alcohol punch? In this episode of Bottles & Bites Without Borders , Rob sits down with Advanced Sommelier Jaime Deleon to explore the world...