Hops & Spirits Bar Conversations

It's another Flight Night as we enjoy four different pours from New Holland Brewing/Dragon's Milk — Dragon's Milk White, Dragon's Milk Original, Dragon's Milk 2021 Reserve #3 and Beer Barrel Bourbon — with Dominique Bergquist, Brand Manager for Dragon's Milk. The crew for flight night includes: Arielle, or influensky on Instagram; Chris, or @Jefftherabb1t on Instagram; and Seth. In addition to the...

Outlaw Country musician Creed Fisher talks about his latest album, how he got into music, how life pushed him to this career, why he took the less typical route, what's in store for 2022 and more. Plus, Kevin Patterson joins us for Tasting Notes to talk about holiday and winter beers.

Best selling author and bourbon taster and curator Fred Minnick talks about how he become the bourbon man he is today, his love of history and writing, his favorite interviews over the years, creating and putting on events, his favorite bourbons, the Repeal Day Expo 2021 and more. Plus, Chad Watson joins us for Tasting Notes to talk about the dos and don'ts for buying bourbon/whiskey as gifts.

Hall of Fame boxer and certified badass Christy Salters-Martin talks about how she got into boxing, her career, making the cover of Sports Illustrated, working with Don King, surviving a near-death domestic violence assault, sharing her story on Netflix's Untold: Deal with the Devil, becoming a boxing promoter and more. Plus, Jake Sulek joins us for Tasting Notes to talk about food and drink pairi...

It's a bourbon Flight Night as we enjoy a four different pours from Bespoken Spirits — Special Batch, American Light Whiskey, Straight Bourbon and Rye — with co-founders Stu Aaron and Martin Janousek. The crew for flight night includes: Arielle, or influensky on Instagram; and Chris, or @Jefftherabb1t on Instagram. In addition to the pours, we talk how Bespoken works to age in hours/days what othe...

Bridgette Taylor, founder of Harridan Vodka, joins us to talk about creating a unique vodka, going the higher proof route, getting creative with bottle/label designs, their paranormal reserve limited edition release, Halloween cocktails and more.

As we inch closer to Halloween, author Kierra Sondereker talks about her new book "Mixology and Murder" which features cocktails inspired by true crime stories. Kierra talks about the book, what it was like researching both the stories and cocktails, what she learned during her research, her favorite cocktails, coming up with new spins on some classic cocktails, how the book has changed her and mo...

It's time for the Craft Beer Roundtable as GoodBeerHunting.com's Bryan Roth and BeerCrunchers.com founder Doug Veliky join us. We hit on a variety of topics, including how craft breweries are diversifying and should small/local craft brewers do the same, brand extensions and refreshers, unique partnerships happening more often and how breweries can better engage through social media.

Whiskey Weeks 2021 closes out with Laura Hagan, co-owner/founder of KY Bourbon Boys Tours, and long-time drivers Anthony and Roger. We talk about bourbon, how customizable tours are, tips for the tours, dos & don'ts on the tours, memorable groups, how much they've had to learn about Kentucky and bourbon to give the tours and more.

Whiskey Weeks 2021 continues with Guy Rehorst, founder of Great Lakes Distillery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Guy joins us to talk about bourbon, sustainability, creating a bottled-in-bond gin, importance of sourcing locally/regionally, creating cocktails and how they've changed over the years, what's next for him, what's next for the distillery and more.

It's a bourbon Flight Night as we enjoy a three different pours — Stellum Bourbon, Stellum Rye and Barrell Seagrass — with Will Schragis. The crew for flight night includes: Arielle, or influensky on Instagram; and Chris, or @Jefftherabb1t on Instagram. In addition to the pours, we talk the launch of Stellum, the goal with Stellum, consistently blending these unique expressions and more.

Whiskey Weeks 2021 continues with award-winning chef and entrepreneur Chef Ouita Michel who talks about bourbon, food, barrel picks and her new cookbook "Just a Few Miles South." Ouita talks about how she became a chef, sharing her love of food with others, working on the cookbook, the role beer/bourbon/wine play at a restaurant, bourbon clubs, barrel picks, what's next and more.

We kick off Whiskey Weeks 2021 with Dan Kidd, a.k.a. Heavy Bourbon, on how the two o'clock chuggz got started, creating fun bourbon videos, releasing a bourbon, how he stays active with all the chuggz, the coolest thing he's experienced so far and more.

While the temps may be summer like, the beers on the shelves and cocktails at the bar are beginning to change. Kevin Patterson, a Cicerone and National Beer Judge, talks about fall beers, different trends with Oktoberfests, a Kentucky legend in Scott Hand and more. Plus, Jake Sulek, beverage director at West Main Crafting Co in Lexington, Ky., joins us to talk about crafting cocktails for the fall...

From Puncher's Chance Bourbon to Blood x Sweat x Tears Vodka, Wolf Spirit founder/proprietor Umberto Luchini is building an independent spirits company and all during a pandemic. Umberto talks about starting his own company, the challenges he's faced, how he's adapted, how the company designs its bottles and logos, launching more brands and what's next.

A living legend joins us to hockey and tequila. Chris Chelios, co-founder El Bandido Yankee Tequila and Hockey Hall of Famer, talks about the launch of El Bandido, how he came to love tequila, the differences between hockey and business, his favorite memories from his Stanley Cup (x3) career, what's next for him, what's next for El Bandido and so much more.

We are Under the Influence of Craft Beer this roundtable as GoodBeerHunting.com's Bryan Roth, Master Cicerone Neil Witte, BeerCrunchers.com founder Doug Veliky and Cicerone/Beertender Lindsay Hayes all join us. We hit on a variety of topics, including NFTs and their future in the craft beer world, will seltzerys ever be a thing, will big companies ever go on a buying spree again and craft brewerie...

It's a bourbon Flight Night as we enjoy a three experimental finishes of Traverse City Whiskey and talk with co-founder Chris Fredrickson. The crew for flight night includes: D. or the @vabourbonhunter on Instagram; and Chris, or @Jefftherabb1t on Instagram. We enjoy their Cab Franc, Sherry Cask and Port finishes.

Everyone has heard of Ole Smoky Moonshine from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, but did you know they have a bourbon? Robert Hall, CEO for Ole Smoky Distillery, joins us to talk about the launch of James Ownby Reserve Tennessee Bourbon, Ole Smoky's flavored whiskey and moonshines, how they keep up with demand, launching new products, how their 4 million visitors impact their releases, expansion and what's n...

Jarrett Dieterle, alcohol policy expert with R Street, joins to talk about changes in alcohol laws and his book "Give Me Liberty and Give Me A Drink!". We discuss how a dispute over airlines has impacted imports/exports with Europe, states adding to-go cocktails, internet sales of alcohol and other interesting law changes.

Connor Query, artist/graphic designer, and Carrie Johnson, trash crafter extraordinaire, join us to talk about being creative in the alcohol world as we close out Summer School 2021. They share how they got their starts, their creations, favorite things to make, bad dad jokes and more.

Jeff Evans, CEO/co-founder of Mean Mule Distilling Co from Kansas City, joins us to talk about making agave spirits in America, how it differs from tequila, how they got their start, sharing where the name comes from, building the path for others to produce agave spirits in the US, what's next and so much more.

Ryan Lang, co-founder/head distiller of Middle West Spirits in Columbus, Ohio, joins us to talk about the impact grain selection has on whiskey. Ryan talks about what grain to glass means, how they selected their grains, how the weather impacts the grain, adding grains to the mash, using grains for other spirits and more.

We learn about both hops and spirits this week with cocktails and beers. Jake Sulek, beverage director at West Main Crafting Co in Lexington, Ky., talks about crafting cocktails for the summer, bars opening up again, cocktail recipes for all of us to try at home and more. Plus, Kevin Patterson, a Cicerone and National Beer Judge, joins us to talk about summer beers, how hop varieties have changed...

Have you ever wondered how to start a whiskey/bourbon collection? Chad Watson, better known as MyDailyBourbon on Instagram, gives you the best practices to do just that. Learn what are good bottles to start with, what to avoid, why you should enjoy your bottles and more.