Beast Masters Club

This is an incredible story that gives us pride, joy, and - not gonna lie - a bit of jealousy!  Dan Hakker tasted the first Beast Masters Club Armaganc back in 2018, our 30 year 1988 Leberon, and fell in love. Like many who tasted that bottle, he was a bourbon fan who'd never tasted Armagnac before. But unlike many fans he took his affection for that juice to a whole 'nother level! For the 7 years...

James Saunders visits Beast Masters Club for a live barrel pick of the oldest bourbon we've ever found! This 20 year Tennessee bourbon was an incredible picking experience! The crowd got a bit lively as the sips progressed, but it was a fun ride!

Beast Masters Club gathers with a live audience at our podcast studio to talk with our special guest Joann Street - Wild Turkey American Whiskey Ambassador and granddaughter of bourbon legend Jimmy Russell.  We talk through the ins and outs of Wild Turkey's production methods, aging, what it's like to grow up in the Russell family, and finally we select Beast Masters latest private barrel, a 9-yea...

Pour a glass, settle into your favorite chair, and join us with our special guest, Joe Beatrice of Barrell Craft Spirits. 

Steve The Smoky Beast sits down with Jay Jadot of Armagnac.blog to talk about the meaning of life, obsession, and all things Armagnac. Jay is a writer after our own hearts who sees the beauty, irony, idiosyncrasy, and madness of becoming obsessed with a spirit and then trying to document your experience. He's also creating one of the best references out there for all many brands, bottlers, domaine...

It's been a long while since the Beasts were able to gather in full pack formation for a live barrel picking event, but we couldn't have been happier to sit down with our guests in the new Beast Lair in NYC to pick this barrel with Knob Creek Brand Ambassador, Allie Klug.   

The beasts sit down with Zhana Londoner from the Brooklyn-based spanish food market Mercado Central and Nic Palazzi from PM Spirits (exclusive importers of L'Encantada Armagnac ) to talk about pairing tapas with unique hand crafted French & Spanish spirits. Some spirits are not meant to be sipped in a vacuum. They're meant to be paired with rich, spicy, and delicious foods! We recreate the bar sce...

In one of the most random and amazing trips of our lives, the intrepid Beast Masters Club heads to the Gascony region of France and meets Jean-Phillippe from Domaine de Charron. In a sheer act of blind faith, four faithful Beast Masters follow your's truly The Smoky Beast on an adventure through Armagnac country. In this first of three half-hour podcasts, we deplane to discover tiny french automob...

The first Beast Masters Club Armagnac barrel was a 1988 Domaine de Léberon, which we released in 2018 at 30 years old. It was a game-changer for us and many other folks in the whiskey game, showing how Armagnac could compete in terms of flavor with our favorite bourbons and ryes. Right now in our shop ( www.beastmastersclub.com/shop ), you can pick up a 1994 Léberon single cask that mirrors much o...

Steve the SmokyBeast is joined in his dining room by friends new and old - L'Encantada Armagnac aficionados Vincent Cornu and Frédéric Chappe, and self-proclaimed spirit nerd Nicolas Palazzi of PM Spirits.   Calling all beastly francophiles - this episode is for you.  

Steve the Smoky Beast (and self-proclaimed CEO of Beast Masters Club) is joined at home by Eric Kaye and Maura Gedid, spirit experts at the hilt of Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum. They sample their way around the world with a vast array of easy sippers and beasts.   Clinking and slurping sounds abound - the sure sign of a good time, if you ask us.   Watch out for this drop on Friday, beasts and beaver...

Steve the SmokyBeast and Ben welcome Nick Taylor to the podcast, armagnac extraordinaire and founder of Taylor & Taylor Whiskey. He tells the Beasts (boys) lore about a little single estate producer of Bas Armagnac, Domaine de Charron, that produces the robust, crisp Baco grape. Fewer than a thousand bottles of this stuff are made available in the United States every year, and you Beasts in the au...

These are the definition of dark days. As SmokyBeast puts it, "it's dark at, like, 4:30, everyone in the world has the VID, and we're all hiding under our beds again." Not to fear. The Beast Masters have the antidote, and no more will they deny the world.   SmokyBeast is joined today by the inimitable Will Schragis of Barrell Bourbon whose storied whiskey career speaks for itself (and whose voice...

We know, we know. You don't drink sherry. You think you it's too niche, too sweet, cloying, too port-esque for a beast like you to sip on. But it doesn't have to be that way. Allow us to introduce the illustrious Mr. Nicolas Palazzi (whose voice you may have heard his voice on the pod before). From the man that brought Armagnac to the Beast Masters audience, comes this fortified wine that will blo...

Everyone loves an underdog, so you'll definitely love the Armagnac from Château Garreau.   Join Steve the SmokyBeast and his very special guests Gregoire and Carole for a warm discussion about the terroir and distillation process of this "farm-spirited" liquor, the centuries-long Garreau family legacy, and why Gregoire calls Armagnac the world's only "bespoke" spirit.  

The pod is BACK! Old friend, super-journalist and whiskey personality Aaron Goldfarb joins the SmokyBeast in his kitchen. They discuss his many books (Hacking Whiskey, Gather Around Cocktails, etc.), the joys of fatherhood, and beaver anus whiskey. Find Aaron's work in Esquire, PUNCH, VinePair, and the Whiskey Advocate.   They taste through our Ezra Brooks, Starlight and Starbright, Knob Creek and...

This week on the pod, the boys are joined by the one and only Tyler Mirt from Old Forester. While we're always excited for our guests, Tyler is extra special - he is one of a small few in the world who can call themselves a Sommelier, Cicerone and Executive Bourbon Steward.   Join Ben, Tyler and SmokyBeast in the "fruity warehouse" for this delicious conversation about our (your) barrel, the scien...

What can transcend cultural and language barriers, connect people across oceans, and is equally appreciated by Frenchman and American alike? Armagnac, of course.   This week on the pod, take a French immersion class with spirit masters Vincent Cornu of L'Encantada and Nicolas Palazzi of PM Spirits. Learn about the distilling process, the estates, the distinct beauty of each of France's famed regio...

This week on the pod, take a con-law class taught by Alex Laufer and John Carrabus out of America's Booze Capital (DC). Learn what One Eight owes to Smooth Ambler (what timing!), how the guys were inspired by the Constitution (hint…1.8), and about the joys of experimentation. Most importantly, get the scoop on future One Eight releases (!).  

This week, the boys are joined by three special guests - Alan and James from A.D. Laws Whiskey House, and the famed whiskey warrior (or Parisian Pirate?) Jake Cahill of Skurnik Wines.   They discuss the beautiful marriage of the right barrel with the right whiskey, the creativity in their recipes, two vs. three vs. four grain bourbon, muffin tops, and the team, the team, the TEAM.   They also shar...

This week on the pod, the boys (and you, you're welcome) are graced with sage wisdom from Mark Coffman of Town Branch. He talks about the secrets of St. Jame's Gate, pot stilled bourbon, the life-changing magic of leaping, and letting where you land be tomorrow's problem.   While you're listening, check out their Irish sisters over at  Pearse Lions Whiskey. 

How do you drink your whiskey? Rectally, in a lab setting? If it's gonna be that kinda party, I'll stick my d*ck in the mashed potatoes.   This week on the pod, the Beast-y Boys explore all things Starlight Distillery. These beautiful 4 year old barrels will have you fighting for your right to GET A BOTTLE ON FRIDAY.  

This week on the pod, listen to the boys taste the first of six Pinhook installments, and disclose a brand-new-very-exciting arrangement...