Liquor and Liqueur Connoisseur

Episode 122 features Amer Picon. Bottled in 1L at 21% ABV, or 42 proof and it retails for about 25 t0 30€. Enjoy this episode as you like. Amer Picon's official website: https://www.piconaperitif.com/ Brief Historical Timeline: 1830 - The brand’s namesake founder Gaétan Picon enlisted in the French military and was stationed in Algeria. 1837 - Picon founds a distillery in the Algerian city of Skik...

Episode 121 features Bénédictine. Bottled in 750ml at 40% ABV, or 80 proof and it retails for about $40. Enjoy this episode with a Béné & Hot, or just sip on it neat. Bénédictine's official website: https://www.benedictinedom.com/ Brief Historical Timeline: 1510 - Dom Bernado Vincelli, a monk at the Abbey in Fécamp, Normandy, France, creates an elixir intended to revie tired monks. 1789 - The...

This is a special guest episode featuring B&B - Bénédictine & Brandy, courtesy of My Tiny Bottles hosted by Tammy Coxen. Tammy and I are on similar paths, diving into the world of distilled spirits, though Tammy is doing this by exploring her grandmother’s legacy of miniature liquor bottles, one tiny bottle at a time. She has hundreds of bottles waiting to be discovered, and with each...

Episode 120 features Everclear Grain Alcohol. Bottled in 750ml at 95% ABV, or 190 proof and it retails for about $21. Enjoy this episode with something you've made with Everclear. Everclear's official website: https://diywitheverclear.com/ Brief Historical Timeline: 1922 - Everclear is mentioned in various issues of the Druggists Circular as a product of American Distilling Company. 1936 - Article...

Episode 119 features Kentucky Owl, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey - Maighstir Edition. Bottled in 750ml at 50% ABV, or 100 proof and it retails for about $134. Enjoy this episode with a pour of Kentucky Owl as you like it. Kentucky Owl's official website: https://kentuckyowlbourbon.com/ Brief Historical Timeline: 1879 - Kentucky Owl is founded by C.M. Dedman. 1916 - Production ends and aging st...

Episode 118 features St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram. Bottled in 750ml at 22.5% ABV, or 45 proof and it retails for about $30. Enjoy this episode with a tiki cocktail using "Pimento Dram" if you like. St. Elizabeth doesn't have standalone brand website, but here's the producer's website: https://alpenz.com/product-allspice.html Brief Historical Timeline: 1850s - Pimento Dram is thought to have been in...

Episode 117 features Four Roses. Bottled in 750ml at 40% ABV, or 80 proof and it retails for about $25. Enjoy this episode with a pour of Four Roses however you like. Four Roses official website: https://www.fourrosesbourbon.com/ Brief Historical Timeline: 1860s - Paul Jones Sr. and Paul Jones Jr. get into the whiskey business in Atlanta, Georgia 1883 - Paul Jones Jr. moves to Louisville, Kentucky...

Episode 116 features Herbsaint. Bottled in 750ml at 50% ABV, or 100 proof and it retails for about $31. Enjoy this episode with an Herbsaint Frappe, or any cocktail that calls for absinthe. Herbsaint doesn't have it's own website, so here's the Sazerac listing: https://www.sazerac.com/our-brands/sazerac-brands/herbsaint.html Brief Historical Timeline: 1914-18 - World War I and J. Marion Legendre '...

Episode 115 features Tito's Handmade Vodka. Bottled in 750ml at 40% ABV, or 80 proof and it retails for about $20. Enjoy this episode with some Tito's and soda with a lemon wedge. Tito's Handmade Vodka official website: https://www.titosvodka.com/ Brief Historical Timeline: 1992 - Tito Beveridge begins making vodka infusions for his friends 1995 - Tito applies for a distillery license 1997 - First...

Episode 114 features Jeppson's Malört. Bottled in 750ml at 35% ABV, or 70 proof and it retails for about $22. Enjoy this episode with a shot of Jeppson's Malört straight. Jeppson's Malört official website: https://www.jeppsonsmalort.com/ Brief Historical Timeline: 1880s - Carl Jeppson immigrates to Chicago, Illinois, USA from Sweden 1920s - Carl Jeppson begins making and selling door to door his o...

Episode 113 features John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum. Bottled in 750ml at 11% ABV, or 22 proof and it retails for about $22. Enjoy this episode with a pour of John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum mixed in a tiki cocktail if you like. John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum doesn't have a website I can find, so here's the US Importer's website: https://alpenz.com/product-falernum.html Brief Historical Timeli...

Episode 112 features Cacique Guaro. Bottled in 365ml at 30% ABV, or 60 proof and it retails for about $3. Enjoy this episode with a pour of Cacique Guaro if you can find it. Cacique Guaro's official website: https://fanal.co.cr/ Brief Historical Timeline: 1850 - Beverage alcohol production is nationalized in Costa Rica 1853 - Fábrica Nacional De Licores, aka FANAL, is established and begins produc...

Episode 111 features Tia Maria. Bottled in 750ml at 26.5% ABV, or 53 proof and it retails for about $31. Enjoy this episode with a pour of Tia Maria on ice or in an Espresso Martini. Tia Maria's official website: https://www.tiamaria.com/ Brief Historical Timeline: 1947 - Tia Maria is created with Dr. Kenneth Evans as the named founder 1980s - Hiram Walker acquires the brand 2005 - Pernod Ricard e...

Episode 110 features Glayva. Bottled in 750ml at 35% ABV, or 70 proof and it retails for about $36. Enjoy this episode with a pour of Glayva neat. Glayva's official website: https://www.glayva.com/ Brief Historical Timeline: 1947 - Ronald Morrison creates Glayva 1960s - Glayva begins to spread across the UK and around the globe 1993 - Whyte & Mackay Ltd. acquire the brand 2022 - Glayva wins ye...

Episode 109 features Gordon's London Dry Gin. Bottled in 750ml at 40% ABV, or 80 proof and it retails for $12. Enjoy this episode with the late Queen's favorite cocktail, the Dubonnet. Gordon's official website: https://www.gordonsgin.com/ Brief Historical Timeline: 1769 - Alexander Gordon found his distillery in London 1786 - The distillery moves to Clerkenwell in London 1823 - Alexander's son Ch...

Episode 108 features Biodynamic Luna 1.1 from Waterford Whisky. Bottled in 750ml at 50% ABV, or 100 proof. This retails for $119. Enjoy this episode with any of the Waterford Whisky offers you can get your hands on! The official website for Waterford Whisky: https://waterfordwhisky.com/ Brief Historical Timeline: 2004 - Diageo build the Waterford distillery site as a beer brewery 2015 - Mark Reyni...

Episode 107 features Vestal Vodka, Polish Potato Vodka. Bottled in 750ml at 40% ABV, or 80 proof. There are three options covered, the Unfiltered 2015 Vintage that retails for $28. Next is the standard or "white label" that retails for $20. Last is the Black Cherry that retails for $21. Enjoy this episode with any of the Vestal Vodkas you can get your hands on! The official website for Vestal Vodk...

Episode 106 features Myers's Rum - Original Dark from Jamaica. Bottled in 750ml at 40% ABV, or 80 proof. It retails for $20. Enjoy this episode with a Myers's Planter's Punch! The official website for Myers's Rum: https://www.myerssrum.com/ Brief Historical Timeline: 1879 - Fred L. Myers founds the Myers's Rum brand 1920s - The brand finds popularity as an inclusion in the Planter's Punch, adding...

Episode 105 features Broken Shed Vodka from New Zealand. Bottled in 750ml at 40% ABV, or 80 proof. It retails for $25. Enjoy this episode with some Broken Shed with a twist! The official website for Broken Shed: https://brokenshed.com/ Brief Historical Timeline: 2008 - Two Americans on sabbatical fall in love with the Wanaka region of New Zealand and move there permanently 2009 - Broken Shed Vodka...

Episode 104 features Maker's Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky. Bottled in 750ml at 45% ABV, or 90 proof. It retails for about $28. Enjoy this episode with a Maker's Mark Old Fashioned! The official website for Maker's Mark: https://www.makersmark.com/ Brief Historical Timeline: 1840 - T.W. Samuels erects the family's first commercial distillery in Kentucky 1943 - Bill Samuels gets out of his...

Episode 103 features Ron Flor de Caña 12. Boxed and bottled, it's 750ml at 35% ABV, or 70 proof and was intended for the domestic Nicaraguan market. In the United States, this is sold at 40% ABV, or 80 proof and it retails for about $40. Enjoy this episode with a neat pour of Flor de Caña 12! The official website for Ron Flor de Caña 12: https://flordecana.com/ Brief Historical Timeline: 1875 - Al...

Episode 102 features Patrón Silver Tequila. Boxed and bottled in a handmade glass bottle that's 750ml at 40% ABV, or 80 proof and it retails for $50. Enjoy this episode with a neat pour of Patrón Tequila! The official website for Patrón: https://www.patrontequila.com/ Brief Historical Timeline: 1989 - John Paul Dejoria and Martin Crowley wonder what the aristocrats in Mexico drink, Martin Crowley...

Episode 101 features Old Elk Distillery. Five different bottlings are noted, with a tasting from the Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey that is bottled in 750ml at 44% ABV, or 88 proof and it retails for $45. Enjoy this episode with a neat pour of any Old Elk product! The official website for Old Elk: https://www.oldelk.com/ Brief Historical Timeline: 1880 - Brand is originally created 1888 - Old El...

Episode 100 features Gran Centenario Añejo Tequila. Bottled in 750ml at 40% ABV, or 80 proof and it retails for $36. Enjoy this episode with a neat pour of Gran Centenario! The official website for Gran Centenario: https://grancentenario.com/ Brief Historical Timeline: 1857 - Tavern owner and tequila producer Lázaro Gallardo starts making what will become Gran Centenario 1895 - Gallardo names his...

Episode 99 features 99 Bananas. Bottled in 50ml at 49.5% ABV, or 99 proof and it retails for $0.99. Enjoy this episode with a shot of 99 Bananas! The official website for 99 Bananas: https://99brandparty.com/ Brief Historical Timeline: 1997 - Barton Brands introduces 99 Bananas 2009 - Sazerac Company acquires Barton Brands and 99 Bananas Today - The brand has expanded to more than two dozen flavor...