The Liquor Connoisseur

Is Gen Z really quitting alcohol or are they just drinking differently? We sat down with Rohan K. Duggal, a 20-year NYC spirits industry veteran who's run liquor stores, launched brands, and now consults on marketing strategy for alcohol companies. He's got receipts and he's not holding back. In this episode, Rohan breaks down:✅ Why Gen Z IS drinking (just not what legacy brands want...

$70 single barrel selected by Jimmy and Eddie Russell. From the Camp Nelson warehouse. Chosen specifically for the Bourbon Connoisseur. And Crystal hasn't missed a pick in a long time. 🥃Crystal and Roger crack open Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit — barrel 4012, warehouse CND (Camp Nelson), rick number 12, bottled November 7th, 2025. 101 proof. 8.5 to 9.5 years aged. Limestone filtered. And at $69...

This is sipping so much like RTD world. Like — this is like a cocktail basically." 🍹🥃Crystal and Roger crack open the highly sought after Penelope Rio from the Cooper Series — a double cask finish of American Honey and new Amburana barrels from Brazil. 98 proof. $129.99. Batch 26-901. Non-chill filtered. And it immediately stopped them both mid-sip. Cinnamon that explodes like apple pie. Ho...

Roger broke the top off trying to open it. Crystal almost jinxed him. And what was inside made it all worth it. 😂🥃Crystal and Roger crack open Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #9 — a masterclass in blending that combines four rare whiskeys into one bottle: an 8-year Georgia bourbon, a 12-year Kentucky bourbon, a 17-year Tennessee whiskey, and a 12-year Ontario whiskey. Coming in at 112...

Did they just make the Cork Pop of the Year on camera? Crystal and Roger crack open the George Dickel x Leopold Brothers Collaboration Blend — a marriage of George Dickel's Comb Steel Rye and Leopold Brothers' Three Chamber Rye, coming in at 100 proof and $109. And they found it on sale. 👀This one surprised them both. Green apple on the nose. Smokiness on the palate. A chocolate and Earl...

Is this the wheated whiskey you've been searching for? Crystal & Roger crack open the Thresh & Minnow 12-Year Wheated Whiskey from Koval Distillery — a limited, single cask, 100% wheat, USDA Certified Organic, 100 proof stunner that's already been discontinued. If you can find it, you NEED to watch this first. We're talking vanilla cream, buttery toffee, golden caramel, and zer...

Tequila Tromba is one of the most recognized tequila brands in the on-premise market — and Katy O'Donnell, VP of Brand Development, joins Crystal and Roger to walk through the Blanco, Beast Mode Reposado, Cafeto, and more in a full lineup review. This is the most comprehensive Tequila Tromba episode ever recorded on The Liquor Connoisseur. Drink to remember, not to forget. Tequila Tromba's...

Olde Raleigh Distillery's Brandon McCraney is a Master Blender and award-winning distillery owner who approaches spirits the way an alchemist approaches chemistry — with obsessive precision and creative vision. We sit down with Brandon to explore the story behind Olde Raleigh Distillery and what it takes to be one of the most awarded small distilleries in the Southeast. Drink to remember, not...

Preservation Estate Pot Still Bourbon is a wheated Kentucky bourbon made using a traditional pot still — a production method that creates a distinctly richer, more expressive spirit than column distillation. Roger nearly loses a thumb battling the wax seal, but the bourbon inside might be the ultimate wheated expression they've reviewed. Drink to remember, not to forget. Is this the ultimate w...

Drink to remember, not to forget. Please enjoy the craft of fine spirits responsibly. This video is intended for audiences of legal drinking age (21+ in the US). The "Bourbon Renaissance" is officially over, and the "Historic Shakeout" has begun. In this special report, Crystal and Roger dive deep into the state of the whiskey industry in 2026. From the shocking merger talks be...

Drink to remember, not to forget. Please enjoy the craft of fine spirits responsibly. This video is intended for audiences of legal drinking age (21+ in the US). In this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Roger and Crystal finally unseal a masterpiece: a custom-engraved bottle of Bhakta 1928. Is this the ultimate "gateway spirit" for bridging the gap between Brandy/Cognac lovers and Rye...

Drink to remember, not to forget. Please enjoy the craft of fine spirits responsibly. This video is intended for audiences of legal drinking age (21+ in the US). Is this the smoothest 120-proof whiskey on the market? 🥃Today on The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal and Roger are diving into a special find from their East Coast journey: Ponfeigh West Pennsylvania Cask Strength Single Barrel Rye. Hailing...

Drink to remember, not to forget. Please enjoy the craft of fine spirits responsibly. This video is intended for audiences of legal drinking age (21+ in the US). Raising Spirits in the Delta! 🌿🍸In this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal and Roger dive into a bottle that has been a long time coming: Tall Cotton Gin from Delta Dirt Distillery. Located in the Arkansas Delta, Delta Dirt is a...

Drink to remember, not to forget. Please enjoy the craft of fine spirits responsibly. This video is intended for audiences of legal drinking age (21+ in the US). Four Roses fans, what's your favorite recipe? In this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal and Roger review the Four Roses 2025 Single Barrel releases (100 proof, aged 7–9 years), featuring recipes OESO, OESK, and OBSF. These an...

Did you know Blanco Tequila can be rested up to 2 months? In this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal and Roger review Santaleza Blanco Tequila (NOM 1604) made in the highlands with 8-year Blue Weber agave, mountain spring water, and natural fermentation. It’s aged in American bourbon barrels for a minimum of 16 months, yet stays bright, smooth, and incredibly approachable. We break down:•...

Is a store pick really that different, or is it just hype? In this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal and Roger put Penelope Straight Bourbon Toasted head-to-head with a Penelope Single Barrel Pick from The Well OKC. Same brand. Same DNA. Very different experience. From toasted marshmallow sweetness to rich brownie-like depth, we break down proof, aging, toasting vs charring, and who each...

This is a $125 bottle. So the real question is: is it worth it? We break down why WhistlePig 12-Year World Rye commands its price, from aging to wine barrel finishing to legendary distilling lineage. This is a luxury rye built for collectors, not casual drinkers. You ever taste a whiskey so complex you try everything to unlock it? In this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal and Roger break...

Is this really the World’s Best Bourbon of 2025… and can you actually see the flavor in the glass? In this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal and Roger review Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon, the IWSC Whiskey of the Year, and things get beautifully nerdy. From visible “whiskey glitter” caused by non-chill filtration, to a bold high-rye spice, honeyed fruit, and a smooth...

In this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, we sit down with James and Alina Mahoney, the husband-and-wife duo behind Madam Mocktail—a bold, ready-to-drink mocktail brand changing how people socialize without alcohol. What started as an Instagram page has grown into a shelf-stable, bar-quality product now featured in 100+ locations across Pennsylvania—including 7-Eleven—with nationwide shipping and...

We made it to the end of the year, and instead of chasing hype bottles or unicorn myths, we’re breaking down the spirits that actually earned a permanent place on our shelf. In this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal and Roger share their Best Spirits of the Year across whiskey, tequila, rum, cognac, vodka, gin, absinthe, and even agave’s lesser‑known cousins. These are bottles we didn’t j...

Most people think being a liquor connoisseur means chasing rare, locked-up bottles — standing in line, paying secondary prices, and hoping you’re “chosen” to buy something. We stopped doing that. In this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal and Roger break down their real connoisseur journey — from early curiosity bottles to educated, flavor-forward choices you can actually buy off the shelf...

This isn’t just another bourbon review. This is Angry Mac’s personal private barrel pick of Wilderness Trail’s Family Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon — a cask strength beauty aged 5 years and 10 months and bottled at a bold 112.9 proof. This rare gem was hand-picked by one of our favorite whiskey influencers and comes in at only 210 bottles total, making it an incredibly exclusive experience few wil...

Welcome back to Part Two of our deep dive at Woodworks Distilling Company! In this episode, The Liquor Connoisseur sits down with Abby, the creative force behind the distillery's cocktail program. From crafting literary-themed cocktails to serving up absinthe that just won a Gold Medal at the John Barleycorn Awards, Abby shares how the tasting room brings Woodworks’ storytelling ethos to life....

Step inside Woodworks Distilling Company in Oklahoma City with The Liquor Connoisseur! In this immersive episode, we sit down with David Wood and David Alexander to explore their distillation philosophy, innovative experimental series called “Rough Draft,” and how they’re crafting spirits with storytelling, transparency, and taste in mind. From their gold medal-winning absinthe to their chaptered...

“A better morning starts tonight.” In this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal sits down with, Teddy and Sampson, the founders of Last Call, a science-backed supplement made with DHM — a natural compound used in Korean and Japanese traditional medicine to help metabolize alcohol and support recovery. We break down:🧬 What DHM is and how it works in your body🍷 Why “drink smarter” is the fut...