Barrel to Bottle, The Binny's Podcast

Freddie Johnson is the third generation in his family to work for Buffalo Trace. While his career didn't start there, he ended up there as a tour guide and eventually Global Ambassador for the brand. Freddie is full of stories and insights into the bourbon industry, so much so that we had to make this a two-parter. E.H. Taylor Small Batch Buffalo Trace Bourbon If you have a question for the Barrel...

We're following up last week's Fortified Wine podcast episode with an episode on Fortified Wine Cocktails. You don't just have to drink fortified wine from a fancy glass at the holidays; they also make great cocktail ingredients. Find 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  Facebook ,  Twitter  or...

If Chris is here with six or so bottles, usually it's a casual episode. But someone let Chris team up with Dan and suddenly we have more than double the number of bottles. That's because we're trying fortified wines along with the spirits that they are traditionally barrel-finished in. It's arguably the best way to understand how a cask influences a spirit. Gonzalez Byass Tio Pepe Palomino Fino Gl...

We were just minding our own business when Chris showed up with five different vintages of Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes. He was also joined by friend of the pod and Montgomery Binny's wine manager Emily. These are the most lauded sweet wine on the planet, so getting to try five different vintages is quite a treat. Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes 2022 Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes 2017 Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes...

Chris has six bottles of wine, and they're very special. We've done spring, we've done holiday, now it's fall. Staff from all 46 Binny's locations nominated wines that were then narrowed down to 30 wines, under $30. We're sampling six of them today. Raventos i Blanc Conca del Riu Anoia Blanc de Blancs 2023 Georg Albrecht Schneider Niersteiner Hipping Riesling Spatlese 2022 Torre dei Beati Cerasuol...

Chris is here, with a bunch of wines. Specifically, from Louis Jadot, the legendary Burgundian winemaker. Jadot both grows their own grapes, and buys grapes from other growers. In the US, they are known for entry-level wines like Beaujolais Villages and Macon Villages, but in France they are known for their Premier and Grand Cru wines. And we happen to sell them at great prices. Domaine Ferret Pou...

While it may be difficult to get in the US, it's pretty easy to find Chartreuse in France. Especially if you happen to be traveling there. Lexi recently visited the official Chartreuse store in Paris and brought back a variety pack of six different Chartreuse bottles, plus some Chartreuse hard candy. If you can't find Chartreuse don't worry, we have some alternatives to try also. Elixir Vegetal de...

Tasting blind is the only unbiased way to determine the best items on our shelves. This past spring, the Whiskey Hotline undertook a companywide blind bourbon tasting tournament to determine the best bourbon on our shelves without bias. Expert spirits staff from each of our 46 stores were brought together for a multiple round blind tasting that included 64 unique bourbons. We narrowed it down to 1...

The Whiskey Hotline isn't just whiskey; it's specialty spirits from around the globe. And also, whiskey/whisky of course. This week, Dan stops by with new releases from Scotland, Kentucky, Vermont, Kentucky, Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Kentucky, Scotland and France CRN 57 Vision Speyside Blended Malt CRN 57 12-Year-Old Speyside Blended Malt CRN 57 18-Year-Old Speyside Blended Malt CRN 57 25-Year-...

As the days get hotter and hotter, we're firing up the slushi machine once again to cool you off.  We've got cocktails from the complicated to the RTS (ready to slush).  Check out 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  Facebook ,  Twitter  or  Instagram . If we answer your question during a podcast,...

Maggie Kruse is only the second winemaker in the history of Jordan Winery. Jordan makes textbook California wine. You might even say it's category-defining. But it's also approachable luxury. Jordan Chardonnay 2022 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon Library Selection 2012 If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email us at  comments@binnys.com , or reach out to...

What's new in beer? In a word: everything. New beers from classic breweries, classic beers making a return, the latest trends and a style we've never tried before on Barrel to Bottle. Hopewell Pocha Korean Lager Dogfish Head Grateful Dead Citrus Daydream Lager Stunt Double Strong Lager Lagunitas Trooper collaboration with Iron Maiden Bell's Citrus Hopslam Revolution Brunch Hero Sierra Nevada Porte...

AI is everywhere these days; it's even made its way into the aisles of Binny's. Gabe and Jon, members of our crack wine team, compiled a list of questions they regularly receive. We'll ask AI for its answer and then ask Gabe and Jon to clean those answers up. Jean-Max Roger Menetou-Salon Morogues Le Petit Clos 2022 Day Wines 100 Years a Lady Pinot Meunier 2022 Alois Lageder Misto Mare Vigneti dell...

Dan loves Scotch. While he will drink it all year, not everyone is the same. This week he brought a sample box brimming with Summer Scotches. Perfect for hot days and ice-cold Highballs. Or maybe for cool summer nights around the fire. Auchentoshan 12-Year-Old Lowland Single Malt Fettercairn 12-Year-Old Highland Single Malt Glen Scotia 10-Year-Old Campbeltown Scotch Glenmorangie Single Malt Harris...

Kölsch, the beer of Cologne, Germany and a favorite among Chicago-area drinkers for several decades now. This week we're trying authentic German Kölsch, local favorites, and the beer that made Chicago fall in love with Kölsch. Plus an NA version for good measure. Früh Kölsch Gaffel Kölsch Reissdorf Kölsch Goose Island Summertime Three Floyds Calumet Queen Pollyanna Dawgma Kölsch Dovetail Kölsch Ol...

Will it slush? This is the age-old question we will finally answer on Barrel to Bottle. Somehow, we got a slushie machine and every time we think of something that might be better as a semi-frozen drink, we fire up the machine and the record and answer the question, will it slush? See the cocktail recipes that worked, on our blog.  If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email us at ...

All Things Agave is Binny's yearly celebration of tequila, mezcal and other agave spirits. As we did for World of Whiskies, Barrel to Bottle set up our podcast equipment to grab interviews with industry folks who are passionate about all things agave. Lizzy Lopez, Tequila 1349 Founder and CEO Tequila 1349 Blanco Tequila 1349 Reposado Lucia Narez, La Catrina Imports Co-Founder Lucy Pistolas Mezcal...

The icons of Belgian beer are the perfect gateway for new beer drinkers. They're also great for veteran beer drinkers who have grown tired of the current offerings. The also pair great with all manner of foods. Hoegaarden Witbier Allagash White Saison Dupont Boulevard Tank 7 Leffe Abbey Blond Ale Duvel Duchesse De Bourgogne Chimay Cinq Cents Unibroue La Fin du Monde Westmalle Trappist Dubbel Trapp...

At Barrel to Bottle, we have always preached the importance of quality in cocktail ingredients. High quality spirits, fresh-squeezed juices and of courses. Mixers make up a huge percentage of cocktails, which is why we upgrade to a brand like Q. This week BreakThru's Beverage Development Manager Lisa Selman joins us to make five cocktails with Q mixers and refreshers. Check out all the recipes on...

It's been a while since someone from the Whiskey Hotline rolled into the podcast studio, arms full of new and interesting things to try. This week we're trying the latest tequilas, bourbons, whiskies, scotches and RTDs. Dos Hombres Tequila Blanco Mijenta Añejo Tequila Symphony Series No. 3 El Mexicano Añejo Tequila Cambridge Distillery Three Seasons Gin Cambridge Distillery Truffle Gin Ben Lomond...

Rosés are a perfect summer wine; crisp, refreshing, light, pairs well with the kind of foods you want in warm weather. This week Lexi and Jim did the shopping while Chris walks us through some frizzy, fizzy, off-the-beaten path wines. Anne Amie Cuvée Rosé of Pinot Noir 2025 Domaine Le Galantin Bandol Rosé 2025 Txomin Etxaníz Txakoli Rosé 2025 Broadbent Vinho Verde Rosé Lingot Martin Rosé of Gamay...

Farm distilleries are becoming a frequent topic on Barrel to Bottle. This week we're welcoming Russell Wedlake, master distiller at Frey Ranch, another Nevada farm distillery. Frey Ranch Estate Distilled Straight Bourbon Frey Ranch Estate Distilled 5-Year-Old Rye Bottled in Bond Frey Ranch Estate Distilled Farm Strength Uncut Straight Bourbon Frey Ranch Estate Distilled Farm Strength Uncut Straigh...

This week on Barrel to Bottle, we're showing Central Illinois some love. We asked our Central Illinois stores (Peoria, Springfield, Champaign and Bloomington) to bring their favorite local beers to Dan, who muled them back to Chicago. Analytical Brewing Kolngeist Triptych Chip It on the Green Triptych Dank Meme White Oak Rippin' Lips Riggs Hefeweizen Riggs Black IPL Hand of Fate Double Bean Dream...

We had too much content for one episode of World of Whiskies Speed Dating, so we're back for part two this week. Rob Wallace, Whiskey Acres Joe Henry, J. Henry & Sons Meghan Fritz and Erik Ogershok, Three Floyds Distilling Christian Huber, Huber's Starlight Distillery If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email us at comments@binnys.com , or reach out to us on  Facebook ,  Twitter...

Binny's has been hosting World of Whiskies, the Midwest's largest whiskey tasting, for over twenty years. For the first time, Barrel to Bottle set up our podcast equipment nearby to grab interviews with some of the distillers and founders in town for the event. Whitney Spence, Coal Pick Distilling Alex Chasko, Teeling Whiskey Owen Martin, Angel's Envy James Jefferson Brother Justus If you have a q...