The Liquor Store Podcast

In this episode, Matt talks to Jeff Arnett. Jeff Arnett was named master distiller of the Jack Daniel Distillery in 2008. His supervision of the entire whiskey-making process of milling, yeasting, fermentation, distillation, charcoal mellowing and maturation ensures the world's top-selling whiskey label is both in constant supply and true to Jack's guiding belief that "Every day we make it, we'll...

In this episode, Matt talks to Tara Lindley, Sensory QA & New Product Development Manager for High West Distillery. High West Distillery was founded in 2006 by David Perkins and his wife, Jane. David, a former biochemist, was inspired to open his own distillery after seeing the parallels between the fermentation and distilling process and his own work in biochemistry during a trip to the Maker's M...

In this episode, Matt talks to Christina Perozzi, Director of Beer Education from Goose Island. Goose Island Beer Company is a brewery in Chicago, Illinois, that began as a single brewpub opened in 1988 in Lincoln Park, Chicago, and named after a nearby island. The larger production brewery opened in 1995, and a second brewpub, in Wrigleyville, in 1999. Their beers are distributed across the Unite...

In this episode, Matt talks to Spike Buckowski, Head brewer at Terrapin Beer Company. Terrapin Beer Co. began as a daydream between founders John Cochran and Spike Buckowski, who met while working for a microbrewery in Atlanta. The two recognized that they had something to contribute to the brewing industry in the Southeast, and began crafting recipes. In April of 2002, Rye Pale Ale made its first...

In this episode, Matt's talking about Scotch with Sean Lothridge, Jason Cousins, and Maureen Murphy from Bruichladdich. Bruichladdich is living proof that the traditional whisky regions of Scotland make no sense. Please don't think that labelling a whisky "Islay" has anything to do with taste because the truth is far more complicated and interesting. Built in 1881 when puffer-supplied coal was ava...

In this episode, Matt talks to John and Kelsey from Lux Row Distillers and Steven from Limestone Branch.  If you want to try any of the Spirits Matt tasted on the show you can ORDER ONLINE or from the BIG RED LIQUORS APP for Curbside Pickup Service. It's as easy as 1,2,3! Start Your Order -  bigredliquors.com Simply select your store, browse and search for Luxrow or Limestone branch products and s...

In this episode, Matt talks to Susannah Hubler, from Buffalo Trace. Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery's rich tradition dates back to 1786 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distille...

In this episode, Matt talks to Dean Serneels, the cocktail master from American Beverage Marketers. American Beverage Marketers is committed to long-term world-wide leadership in the development, marketing and sale of premium cocktail mixes and ingredients from source to sip. If you want to try any of the mixes that Matt discussed on the show you can ORDER ONLINE or from the BIG RED LIQUORS APP fo...

In this episode, Matt talks to Bernie Lubbers , known by many as  The Whiskey Professor . Bernie is the Whiskey Ambassador for Heaven Hill Brands , a family-owned, Kentucky-based spirits company with many bourbons and American whiskeys in its portfolio.   If you want to try any of the Spirits Matt tasted on the show you can ORDER ONLINE or from the BIG RED LIQUORS APP for Curbside Pickup Service....

In this episode, Matt hosts a live tasting with Luke Nelson and Head Brewer, Sam Harding, from Fountain Square Brewery. We talk about their first hazy beer as well as their raspberry Berliner Weisse.  If you want to try any of the beers Matt tasted on the show you can ORDER ONLINE or from the BIG RED LIQUORS APP for Curbside Pickup Service. It's as easy as 1,2,3! Start Your Order -  bigredliquors....

In this episode, Matt hosts a live beer tasting with Jason Foust, Anthony, and Xavier from Terre Haute Brewing Company.  THBC is bringing the historic significance – along with quality, locally-sourced beer – back to one of its original facilities.  As one of the original nine commercial breweries in the U.S., and the second oldest operating brewing, current brewmasters incorporate many local ingr...

In this episode, Jill hosts a live wine tasting with General Manager Tommaso Vinturi and Cline Sister's VP of National Sales Keith Morris Cline Family Cellars is a family-owned and operated winery in Sonoma, California, built on a passion for winemaking and rooted in respect for the land. Fred Cline started Cline Family Cellars in 1982 in Oakley, California, making his first vintages from original...

In this episode, Jill hosts a live wine tasting with Division Manager,  Matt Hancharik, and Winemaker & Proprietor, Daniel Daou, from DAOU Family Estates. Daniel combines the training of an engineer with the touch of an artist. These gifts have enabled him to master the art and the science necessary to make transcendent wines. He has set out to make true California First Growth Cabernet Sauvignons...

In this episode, Matt talks to Bill Welter, Founder and Owner of Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, Michigan. Journeyman offers handcrafted artisan spirits that have a true sense of place or "terroir".  They utilize all locally sourced Midwest organic grains and use unfiltered/untreated water from an underground aquifer in Three Oaks, MI.  While whiskey is what they originally fell in love with,...

In this episode, Matt talks to Brewmaster John Legnard and Senior Marketing Manager Michell Ahbe, from Blue Moon Brewing Company. Blue Moon's story begins in the Sandlot Brewery at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, at the beginning of the 1995 baseball season. After earning his Ph. D. in brewing from the University of Brussels, their founder and head brewmaster Keith Villa returned stateside with t...

In this episode, Matt talks to Marker's Mark Managing Director, Rob Samuels. Since the ripe, old age of nine, the grandson of Bill, Sr., and Margie has worked at virtually every position in the distillery. Today, Rob is in charge of not "screwing up the whisky" – as his grandfather so elegantly put it. This means honoring that patiently handmade, high-quality ethos of his forbearers while figuring...

In this episode, Jill talks to Chrissy Wittmann from The Prisoner Wine Company. Chrissy Wittmann came to winemaking in an unconventional way. After earning a B.S. in Ecology and Systematic Biology at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, the future winemaker found her love for wine while analyzing soil and waste water samples in a lab. After serving time as a laboratory enolo...

In this episode, Matt talks to Old Elk Master Distiller, Greg Metze. Greg became Old Elk Distillery's Master Distiller following a 38-year career at Seagram's Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, one of the world's largest distilleries. During this time, he specialized in developing bourbon whiskeys, rye whiskeys, exotic whiskeys, batch light whiskeys, gin, and vodka. Greg sits down with Matt to t...

In this episode, Matt talks to Toby Blake from Indiana Small Batch and Jason Fruits from Old 55 Distillery in Newtown, IN.   Old 55 is one of the few true field to bottle distilleries in the world that completely accountable for every single part of the process. Whether it's harvesting, storing, milling, mashing, distilling, or bottling, they refuse to make a product that isn't 100% handcrafted in...

In this episode, Matt talks to Robin Carnes, Market Manager for George Remus, Rossville Union, and all things MGP. Tune in to find out more about their upcoming Rye and Cask Strength single barrels.  If you want to try any of the spirits Matt tasted on the show you can ORDER ONLINE or from the BIG RED LIQUORS APP for Curbside Pickup Service. It's as easy as 1,2,3! Start Your Order -  bigredliquors...

In this episode, Jill talks to Farrah Felten-Joley, sixth-generation grape grower and VP of Marketing & Sales and Elizabeth Barnard, National Sales Director for Klinker Brick Winery in Lodi, CA.  The Felten Family own and manage fifteen individual vineyard blocks of "Old Vine" Zinfandel that range in age from 40 to 120 years old. Each vineyard is planted in sandy loam soils in the Mokelumne River...

In this episode, Matt and Jill talk to 5th and 6th generation  Leinenkugel family members, Dick and Katie Leinenkugel. In May 1867, the Leinenkugel family brewery was founded in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin by Jacob Leinenkugel. He was a family man driven by an iron work ethic, and he knew that his German family heritage would play an integral part of his brewery's success. Today, the sixth generatio...

In this episode, Jill talks to winemaker Blake Trobaugh from Daniel's Vineyard. Daniel's Vineyard is a full production winery that offers a private wine club and event venue for any occasion in McCordsville. Together alongside their five kids, the idea to plant a vineyard was sown in the Tuscan foothills over a bottle of wine by husband and wife, Daniel and Kimberly.  Upon arrival back to the stat...

In this very special episode, Matt talks to Bryn Jones, the Vice President of marketing and retail at Huse Culinary. Huse Culinary is an upscale restaurant and retail food group based in Indianapolis. They currently own and operate 5 restaurants and 4 restaurant brands, including infamous and historical St. Elmo Steak House, 1933 Lounge, Harry & Izzy's, and Burger Study. Tune in to hear the story...

In this very special episode, Matt talks to Co-Founder and CEO at Cardinal Spirits, Adam Quirk. Cardinal Spirits started in Feb of 2015 because of a shared passion for craft spirits and American manufacturing. The founders also wanted to create meaningful employment for themselves and others - a place that values entrepreneurial thinking and encourages creativity at every level. They distill premi...