Acquired Tastings

In their ramp up to Dad leaving for Italy, they mix up some cocktail. Josh stirs up the Venetian special Bellini. Josh made the peach nectar to go with the Italian Procecco. This cocktail was made famous by Harry's bar in Venice.  Dad, being true to form, pours the scotch based cocktail called The Godfather.  Marion Brando as Vito Carleone  enjoyed the Godfather cocktail.  They both have a good ti...

As John prepares for his trip to Italy, Josh and John try some liquors which come from Italy. John brings the bright and fresh Villa Massa Limoncello. He makes parmesan crisps, gruyere crisps, and has an Italian cream cake. Josh pours the after dinner Amaro Montenegro. His after dinner pairings were homemade lemon, strawberry biscotti, bittersweet chocolate, and apple blossoms. They have a great t...

Prost to hefeweizen! Josh and John drink some great German hefeweizens. Josh opens the Hofbrauhaus and shares some delicious snacks. His plate included Zapps Voodoo chips, burrata with speck, bacon and cheese brats, and tuxedo cake. John pours the Konig Lugwig weissbier and shares some brats with carmalized onions, pad Thai, and a soft pretzel. They enjoy the history and deliciousness of the beers...

Josh and John pour up some wine from Washington. Josh climbs the Red Mountain to pour the Canvasback Cabernet Sauvignon. His plate includes red wine sous vide short ribs, blueberry goat cheese, and an ice cream sandwich. John cracks open the Boom Boom Syrah from Charles Smith. He shares smoked gouda, a 3 meat pizza, and burnt ends. They enjoy exploring these wonderful reds and the pairings they of...

Josh has been waiting for this one! The men at Acquired Tastings open up Rye Whiskies. Josh pours his favorite, Michter's Single Barrel Rye Whiskey. With this whiskey he shares English cheddar, sous vide pork belly, and Italian salami. John pours up the Angel's Envy Finished Rye. On his snack plate is jerk chicken, sausage biscuits, and a super brownie dessert. This one offers some interesting pai...

On the opening weekend of the English Premier Soccer League Josh gets together with his friends, David, Steven, and Kevin. They get together to play beer pong to choose Josh's team for the year. This year they also all get behind a mic for a special episode. They all pick a beverage that reminds them of their team. David, who is an Arsenal fan, chooses a Negroni. Kevin, another Arsenal fan, cracks...

It sure is getting hot out there! Josh and John cool off by cracking open some rose' wines. Josh opens the Vin Gris de Cigare from Bonny Soon Vineyard. He pairs a summer picnic basket of cherries, semi-firm gruyere cheese, salami, ham and butter sandwich, and blueberry macarons. John cools off with the Rose' of Pinot Noir from King Estate Vineyards. He pairs some avocado toast with bacon, a chicke...

All cocktail episodes are special, but in this one Josh and John welcome family friend and long time listener Becky Tate and her son Nate, creative director of Sunboy, to the show. They all ended up bring cocktails which focus on rum and come from Cuba! Nate also a long time listener, shares one of his companies coconut sparling water spiked cocktails. Josh stirs up the El Presidente, Becky makes...

John and John jump back into the fires of Smoky whiskeys. John pours the Ron Swanson favorite, Laugavulin 16, a single malt scotch from Islay. He pairs Gjetost (Norwegian cooked goat cheese), peanut butter, KC style barbecue ribs, and a chocolate brownie cake. Josh stays closer to home with a locally produced whiskey, the Hickory Smoked Whiskey from Rock Town Distillery. The plate this week is a s...

For this beer podcast John and Josh have beers focused on fruit. Josh pours the Abita Strawberry lager. He pairs lamb gyros, duck ham, and strawberry shortcake ice cream bar. John pops open the Lindeman's Framboise lambic beer, and pairs breakfast with it. He has a mixed fruit cup, eggs Benedict, and crepes filled with goat cheese and raspberries.

Josh and John cool off as they sip on some white wines. Josh opens a bottle of Gruner Veltliner from Schlosskellerei Gobelsburg and shares General Tao's chicken, duck ham, bersola, and mozzarella with balsamic vinegar. John pours the Ecco Domani pinot Grigio from Italy. His pairings are bruschetta, garlic and cheese pasta, and lemon cake. 

John and John celebrate one year of the podcast! They pop open some bottles of champagne and snack on a board of food. John opens the Moet & Chandon Nectar Imperial Rose. Josh opens the H. Goutorbe Special Club 2006. During the episode they reminisce over the last year of episodes, and talk about what's to come. 

It’s getting hot outside so Josh and John open up their favorite summertime liquors. Josh opened up the Lillet Rose from France. Josh has a trio of light snacks: Summer fruit salad with mint, puff pastry with goat cheese and caramelized onions, and his version of a caprese salad. John pours the Hazelnut Kahlúa liqueur, and snacks on ricotta fritters, Kahlúa grilled chicken, and apple coffee cake,...

As the temperature turns up Josh and John try some seltzers to cool off. Josh pops open the local Punchy black cherry Seltzer from Lost 40 Brewing. He has vegetarian plate this week with blueberry goat cheese, grilled nectarines, and grilled corn with chili lime butter. John picks the Mighty Swell peach seltzer. He shares waffles, grilled pork and peach swirl cheesecake. They have a great time tal...

Josh and John get sciencey and geeky with local wine director Susie Long as they discuss carbonic maceration. Josh brings a classic, Jean-Paul Thevenet 2016 Morgon. He paired it with 18 month aged Comte, goat brie, and cheddar brats. John pours the Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir, and has goat cheese, and Genoa salami. Susie shares an interesting carbonic Tempranillo, Los Cone...

We take a break and mix up some cocktails. John mixes up his Ancient Mariner cocktail, which is a rum based tiki style cocktail. Josh smashes his cocktail by making a peach, blueberry, basil and bourbon smash. They have a good time talking cocktails and sipping on them too.  They agree some tweaking will be required to perfect these drinks.  Oh Darn!  They must continue to taste and iterate these...

Josh and John try the world of Japanese Whisky. Josh gets one of the original whisky's from the House of Suntory, Hibiki Japanese Harmony. He pairs ponzu ribs, roasted pistachios, and orange vanilla creme brûlée. John pours the Tenjaku and pairs a spicy tuna roll, baked Camembert, and grilled steak. They both enjoy getting to experience these new whiskies and hear about their histories. Kanpai.

Josh and John are joined be fellow podcaster Captain Porter Brown Stout from the Beervengers podcast to talk about Imperial stouts. Josh cracks open the Oskar Blues Ten Fidy Imperial stout. He pairs dark chocolate and aged English cheddar cheese. John pours the North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial stout. As his pairings he has "HIS" KC style barbecue ribs and grilled s'mores. The Captain has...

Josh and John pop open some delicious Zinfandels. Josh pours an Italian, 2016 Antico Sigillo Primativo Di Manduria and shares Memphis style ribs, a cheeseburger with onion straws on top, and a wood-fired pizza. John open the 2017 Ridge Pagani Ranch Zinfandel. His pairings are gjetost (a Norwegian goats cheese), spaghetti with sausage red sauce, and carrot cake. They enjoy a good time seeing the di...

In this episode Josh and John dive into their at home bars and talk about their go to orange liqueurs. Josh pours the Solerno Bloof Orange Liqueur. He pairs it with Gus' World Famous Fried Chicken, chocolate crème brulèe, and uses local espresso to make a cafe correcto. John pours Grand Marnier and has chicken and apple pate, French onion soup, and cranberry, walnut and orange muffins as his pairi...

After John returns from using his passport he decides to do beers which would need a passport to come to the US. Josh brings the Samuel Smith's Organic Strawberry Fruit Ale. To pair he brings sharp white cheddar, pork pot stickers, and palmiers. John pours the Icelandic Einstok Toasted Porter. He pairs Dots pretzels, walnuts, oyster rarebit, and flourless chocolate cake with fresh strawberries. Th...

While John is out on the beach, Josh invites his friend and local wine writer Seth Barlow on the podcast. They chat about wines they love for late spring and early summer. Josh pours the Conquilla Brut Cava and shares goat cheese, garlic and cheese polenta, and sous vide brisket. Seth shares a nice Muscat from the Tuetonic Wine Company from Oregon. His pairings are guacamole, crab rangoon, Burgund...

On this cocktail episode Josh is joined by his friend Jordan to sip on some cocktail. This time we focus less on the cocktails themselves and more on the tools you use to make them. We make a glass built, a shaken, and a stirred cocktail. For the glass built we make the tequila based Paloma highball. Next we make a Hemingway Daiquiri with the Diplomatico rum and a Boston shaker. Finally, they stir...

We welcome back Marie to the podcast and once again she brings gifts. This time it is whiskey from Saint Liberty distillery. Each one of these whiskeys pays homage to the women whiskey distillers of the Prohibition. Each whiskey pays homage to not only the women, but also the location where they distilled. First up Marie talks about the Bertie's Bear Gulch Straight Bourbon. Next, Josh talks about...

Well, its time for IPA. John excitedly brings the local Two Term Presidential IPA from Diamond Bear Brewing in Little Rock. As his pairings he shares brats cooked in the Two Term IPA beer, pork belly sandwich, and smoked chicken wings. Josh brings the Lagunitas IPA and fried brussel sprouts with crispy bacon and blood orange, grilled New York strip, and Meyer lemon rosemary creme brulee. They have...