Black & Spirited Podcast

The Black & Spirited Crew builds the perfect whiskey flight for a beginner, particularly someone who doesn't drink brown OR someone who just mixes drinks--Crown, or Jack [& Coke].   This episode is also great for the enthusiast who's looking to introduce friends or clients to rabbit hole that is fine whiskey! @blackandspirited @bourboninblack @cedricsummerall @boss_ladyvs @so_dramgood @bourbon_gri...

The Crew is back again to dive deeper into the art of the barrel finish for whiskeys around the world.   We also lean specifically into whether finished bourbon is still "bourbon" and if you add staves or sacks of honey, is it still the same product.   Join in on the Spirited discussion, and share in some of our favorite finished pours. @blackandspirited @bourboninblack @cedricsummerall @boss_lady...

Prohibition almost killed the most sought-after whiskey in the world at the time, and it's taken a hundred years to get back solidly on top of the world stage.   The Black & Spirited Crew takes on the #2 malt whiskey in the world, and helps you step up your understanding of why it's so special.    Green beer is just fine for Paddy's Day, but you want to have a really good time?   Grab some Irish w...

They say a fine drink is like a fine man or woman--it's meant to be appreciated--looked at, caressed, and finally tasted…   The Black & Spirited Crew gets a little nasty talking about how to bring the MOST out of your tasting experience--be it beer, wine, spirits or cocktails.   We get hot and heavy in this episode quickly, while educating you on the appropriate glassware for whatever you're toast...

If you put new bourbon into a used wine or rum cask, is it still bourbon?   If you finish a bad whiskey in a honey barrel, can you turn it good?   The Black & Spirited Crew answers these questions and more, and debates the purpose of secondary barreling in the spirits industry--all while sharing some of our favorites!   Join the conversation!

The Black & Spirited Crew takes you to the land of blue Weber agave--the highlands and lowlands of Jalisco, Mexico!   Learn what got Cedric off bourbon for the last year, and why good tequila is getting more and more expensive these days.   You're in for a great journey on this one as we drink some of the hottest spirits from south of the border.   Prepare to be educated and avoid the hype!

The Black & Spirit Crew hit all the notes on arguably the world's most hated spirit--Islay Scotch!   If you want to know why whisky connoisseurs from all over love peaty, smoky malts, we'll be breaking it down for you in this episode.   Find out our favorite go-to products from Islay, as well as the ones we shy away from.   Most of all, you'll get all the details and lore begin these huge flavor b...

There's nothing like a large ice ball to cool down the perfect glass of whiskey.   Or is it…?   There's always people who try to tell you how to drink your bourbon, or your rum, or any other drink that you've paid your good money for.   Well, the Black & Spirited Crew has our opinions, too.   Tune in to this deep dive into chemistry, thermodynamics, and most of all, FUN on this episode of the podc...

It's the MOST wonderful time of the year!   The Black & Spirited Crew is here to share secrets to great holiday cocktails--whether you're hosting at home, or gifting to others--whether you're shooting for classic or bougie!   As always, we've got your back for Christmas and New Year's celebrations this season for building lovely cocktails for all comers.

Check your library card expiration date because on this episode, the Black & Spirited Crew dives into building a true spirits library at home for your drinking pleasure!   First, what IS a spirits library, and where do you to start?   Don't worry, we'll take care of you--whether you've already got a home bar, or maybe some collectable bottles already on the shelf--there's a difference.   Ready?  ...

September is Bourbon Heritage Month, and the Black & Spirited Crew is taking the 30-day Bourbon Challenge.   We're sharing the rules and our ideas for how YOU can survive drinking a different bourbon every day in the month!   We'll help you map out your neat pours and/or cocktails to keep you in the game the smart way.   But the Challenge is not only about spirits--but also wellness--and we've got...

How did we go from a Boilermaker--a shot in a glass of beer--to today's evolution of drinking craft beers with fine (and not so fine) whiskies?   All whiskey starts off as a beer, so this should be a natural pairing, right?   The Black & Spirited Crew talks through some excellent methods of choosing your brewed beverage with your distilled spirit.   And which one do you choose first?   Let's have...

We're sipping Tennessee bourbon with innovator and entrepreneur Mike Frazier of Reverence Bourbon.   This Memphis native gives the Black & Spirited Crew the insiders' look into his journey from startup to selling out of a premier bourbon brand all over the country.   So join us as we dive into what is truly a blender's delight and hear a great story from the man himself along the way.   And check...

Have you ever thought about what it would take for you to get in on the production side of your favorite spirit?   The Black & Spirited Crew shares current trends around what's going on in the spirits industry, and how you can jumpstart your career in the distilling, marketing, and administrative game.   What does a site like ABVJobs.com bring to the table?   Tune in to find out!

We went GLAMPING ya'll!!!   The Black & Spirited Crew lets you in on our little vacation deep in East Texas woods.   A bit of rain didn't hold us back to start off the trip, and it definitely didn't keep the grills from firing up or the pours from flowing!   We'll dive into the variety of spirits that we "imported" to the campgrounds and the cocktails we mixed up along the way.   Nature's calling!

Rye whiskey keeps coming up in the podcast and our "The Finish" tastings, and it's about time it got its own episode!   The Black & Spirited Crew gives you a little history of rye, how you can transition from bourbon and other spirits to rye, and some great rye cocktails for you to try.   We'll also share our great bottom shelf bottles you can start off with for your home bar, or if you're out and...

Are you "sober curious" or looking for some reason to go dry or low-proof with your spirits?   Then THIS is the episode for you.   The Black & Spirited Crew shares our "why's", talk about the   benefits & pitfalls of going the non-alcoholic route, and some reasonable alternatives to help you bridge the gap between the Spirited & UNspirited realms.   Buckle up, this is gonna be a good one, ya'll!

You might think the story of our guest starts with a 110-year old whiskey bottle found in the attic of his new Washington, D.C, Mount Pleasant neighborhood home that kicked off not only a rejuvenated whiskey brand, but also a tremendous book on the history of distilling in DC.   Troy Hughes talks about his research for "Whiskey Makers in Washington, D.C. - A Pre-Prohibition History" (available at...

We've been talking about it for months, and now it's time for the Black & Spirited Crew to recap the 2023 New Orleans Bourbon Festival!   We truly drank and ate our way through the French Quarter, Frenchman Street, the Warehouse District and beyond.   Get information on the educational classes you missed during the day, and the grand tasting sessions that kept the party going at night!   We also h...

Whether you're mixing it, or drinking it straight, rum is one of the most versatile spirits out there, and it's truly produced around the globe.   The Crew takes you on a journey from the overlooked bottom shelf bottles, through the overproof mid-levels, and all the way up to the best premium sipping rums.   If you're looking for economy in your pours, or elevation in your cocktails, this is the e...

The Black & Spirited Crew sit down with attorney, author and Executive Bourbon Steward, Brandi Lowery aka The Old Fashioned Barrister to talk cocktails and entrepreneurship!   You know it's going to be a Spirited conversation as they talk about her brand's beginnings and the explosion she's had on social and news media.   You can find her book "The Barrister's Book of Old Fashioneds & Other Cockta...

The Crew dives into their St. Patrick's Day shenanigans from years past, and share their favorite drams and pints with you for the holiday!  And Jeff & Monica talk about their time on the Emerald Isle and the love story that spawned from a Paddy's Day party.  Of course, you'll want to know what bottles get pulled for the tasting session, so you definitely won't want to miss the end of the show.  S...

Going to a whiskey festival soon?   The Black & Spirited Crew shares their favorite events around the world that they like to attend to drink & be merry!   You'll get your guide from your first steps into the door of the tasting hall, through all the educational sessions and sampling booths, and get you home safe at the end.   And join in on the preview of the upcoming New Orleans Bourbon Festival...

There's levels to this thang!   You've got the home wet bar, and there's the spirits "collection" where you've spilled over onto a dedicated cabinet.   But then there's the whiskey or spirits library--way more than you can possibly drink in a lifetime.   The Crew talks about the joys AND pitfalls of building a spirits library whether you're entertaining a lot, or just sipping solo. Trust us, there...

The Black & Spirited Crew dives deep into the fruit of the vine (or tree, or orchard) as we talk about the ABC's of fruit distilled spirits.   Many of us had some type of experience with brandies of some sort at a young age, but times have changed.   Ready to step your game up as we take you around the world for some of the oldest and finest spirits in the game???