Whiskey Provisioner

In this episode of Whiskey Provisioner, Richard and So-Han welcome back a favorite guest, Amanda Beckwith from Virginia Distillery Company , along with special guest Erin Lee. Fresh off her travels, Amanda brings a rare treat from the "Courage Club" to face off against one of the most ancestral teas in So-Han’s arsenal. The Pour: Amanda unveils a 9-Year-Old American Single Malt aged in W...

Welcome back to Whiskey Provisioner! Hosts Richard and So-Han (West China Tea) are joined by guests Amanda Beckwith (Virginia Distillery) and Erin (Few Spirits) for a deep dive into the intersection of tea and whiskey. Erin brings an incredibly unique bottle: a Few Spirits bourbon collaboration with The Smashing Pumpkins . This whiskey wasn't proofed down with water; it was brought from cask s...

Dive into the ultimate pairing experience as Richard and So-Han of West China Tea welcome CJ from Still Austin Whiskey Co. back for a deep dive into the world of cigar blend whiskey . In this segment, CJ introduces the highly anticipated Tanager Cigar Blend —a complex whiskey specifically designed to stand up to the intensity of a cigar. They discuss: The Tanager Blend: A rich mix of red, blue, an...

Welcome back to Whiskey Provisioner! In this episode, hosts Richard and So-Han (West China Tea) are joined once again by guest CJ to venture beyond whiskey and into the world of French brandy. CJ shares a bottle of Len Cantata XO Armagnac , sparking a deep dive into the "other world spirits" that inspire many modern whiskey makers. If you've ever stood in a liquor store and wondered...

Welcome back to Whiskey Provisioner! Hosts Richard and So-Han (West China Tea) are joined by special guest CJ for an episode dedicated to the art of finished rye whiskeys. CJ kicks things off by sharing a personal project and his "baby": a future Distillery Reserve Series (DRS) release from Still Austin. It's a 100% Brutto Rye finished in rare White Port barrels. So-Han pairs this 11...

Join the crew from West China Tea and special guest CJ from Still Austin Whiskey Co. for an episode filled with spirited conversation. In this episode, they're pouring out new releases and old favorites, including Still Austin's Bottled-in-Bond bourbon . They'll also touch on: The 8-year journey of Still Austin and the "grain-to-glass" movement The unique challenges of aging...

Davin Topel is back! In this episode of Whiskey Provisioner, Davin returns from his adventures in Scotland to share two bottles of unique scotch, while hosts Richard and So-Han offer up a bold red tea for pairing. Scottish Spirits & Unique FinishesDavin brings a rare Glen Moray Rioja Cask that spent its entire life maturing in a Spanish red wine barrel, followed by a GlenAllachie single cask f...

Whiskey and gin meet fine aged tea in this episode of Whiskey Provisioner! Join hosts Richard and So-Han as they welcome back their very first guest, Davin Topel, for a lively discussion and tasting at the new West China Tea house. From Scotland's Highlands to Texas Hill Country Davin, fresh off a trip to Scotland, shares a rare gin from the Gordon Castle Walled Garden. He dives into the histo...

In this episode, Richard and So-Han dive into the world of whiskey and tea with special guest, Irene Tan. Irene shares her experiences and insights into blending and pairing whiskeys with teas. The conversation spans topics such as aged tea, distillery collaborations, and the nuances of blending techniques. Discover the intricacies of whiskey production, from barrel picks to the challenges of the...

Richard and So-Han welcome special guest Irene Tan to the West China Tea House and Whiskey Provisioner. Irene, a distinguished figure in the whiskey world from Connecticut, shares her journey from being a software engineer to becoming a Level 4 whiskey sommelier. We dive into her experiences in blending whiskey, her move from wine to whiskey, and her connections with notable distilleries like Whis...

Ever wondered what makes a truly Texan gin? Or how ancient wild teas connect with modern craft spirits? Get ready for a fascinating journey into the heart of Texas botanicals and rare tea traditions! In this episode of the Whiskey Provisioner, hosts Richard and So-Han are joined by the remarkable Molly Cummings, biology professor and the entrepreneurial spirit behind WildGins Co. Dive deep into th...

Richard and So-Han host Amanda Beckwith from Virginia Distillery on this episode of Whiskey Provisioner. They dive into the intriguing intersections of whiskey production and tea blending, sharing stories about their first experiences with various spirits and the innovation behind Fireball and Four Loko. So-Han introduces a unique purple tea from Ngunnaw Mountain, detailing its rare pigmentation a...

Richard and So-Han from Whiskey Provisioner welcome Amanda Beckwith from Virginia Distillery to discuss the intersection of whiskey and tea. Filmed at Still Austin, this episode delves into the art of blending whiskey, the impact of terroir, and the growing American Single Malt category. Amanda shares her background, blending techniques, and the newly ratified standards for American Single Malts....

Whiskey Provisioner: Catching Up Over Tennessee Whiskeys at Wizard Academy In this episode of Whiskey Provisioner, Richard welcomes guest Madison for a day at the Wizard Academy. They explore Tennessee whiskeys, including Davidson's Reserve and S.E. Callahan's Bourbon, sharing tasting notes and personal stories about the whiskey community. They discuss their experiences with the Whiskey sommelier...

Richard hosts another episode of Whiskey Provisioner with Jason Sowder and Theresa Smith, featuring a side-by-side tasting of two distinctive rye whiskeys. They explore Stauning Danish Rye, a unique double-oaked expression from the Drammers Club single barrel program, alongside Wilson Valley Mercantile's Texas-made "seed to sip" rye whiskey. The trio dives deep into the complexities of rye whiskey...

Richard hosts another episode of Whiskey Provisioner featuring two Whiskey Sommelier Level 4 instructors at the Wizard Academy - Jason Sowder from Detroit, founder of the Proof LLC, and Theresa Smith, known as the Canadian Whiskey Smith from Alberta. In this episode, they explore and taste Pocono New Zealand Single Malt from their Winter Malt experimental series, featuring unique ingredients like...

Join host Richard at the Wizard Academy as he sits down with Jason Sowder, a Level 4 Sommelier and educator, to explore Norton Aquavit, a unique Detroit-made spirit crafted in the Scandinavian tradition. Jason shares his fascinating journey into the world of spirits, starting with a whiskey club experience in Boston that sparked his passion for exploration. In this episode, they dive deep into the...

Richard and So-Han continue their conversation with Mike Groener of Creador Spirits and Bar Singular in part two of their exploration of mezcal and traditional tea. They dive deeper into the challenges facing small-scale producers, sustainability issues, and the importance of preserving traditional production methods in both industries. Mike shares his experiences operating a distillery in Austin...

Richard and So-Han welcome special guest Mike Groener of Creador Spirits and Bar Singular at West China Tea for an enlightening discussion about mezcal, traditional tea, and the fascinating parallels between these two artisanal beverages. In this episode, we explore the complexities of clay-distilled mezcal from San Bernardo Mixtepec, paired with a smoky 2019 wild Tianjian fermented tea from Hunan...

We welcome Brian Killavey of Killco Mental Musings to West China Tea for a different kind of episode. Recently stepping back from whiskey due to health concerns, Brian shares his journey of transitioning his content focus while maintaining his passion for spirits through nosing and tasting. Together, we explore a unique whiskey barrel-aged Sheng Pu'er tea, discussing its complex flavors and the fa...

We welcome whiskey expert Cliff Smith, a respected instructor and mentor in the whiskey community, for a special tasting at West China Tea. Today we're exploring the pairing of Malac Phoenix, a luxurious "cashmere of red teas," with Highland Park 12, discussing how this approachable peated scotch serves as a perfect gateway into smoky whiskies. Cliff shares engaging stories from his experiences te...

We welcome back our first repeat guest, Stephen Caronna from Compass Box Whiskymaker, for a special tasting at West China Tea. Today we're exploring the perfect pairing of a rare aged Phoenix Mountain green tea with two exciting new releases from Compass Box's revamped core lineup: Nectarosity and Crimson Cask. Our conversation weaves between whisky and tea expertise, with Stephen sharing fascinat...

Ever wondered how sotol is made? Dive into the world of Desert Door Distilling with Brent Looby as he shares insights into their unique distillation techniques, innovative aging process, and the aromatic profiles of their distinctive spirits. Plus, learn about the challenges of building a craft spirits brand and the importance of environmental stewardship. ⸺ credits ⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺ Richard Amiro - host h...

Whiskey Provisioner Meets Texas Whiskey Geek at West China Tea Join us for a unique tasting experience as we blend the worlds of whiskey and tea! In this episode, we're at the West China Tea in Austin, TX, where tea expert So-Han guides us through a special "Witch's Butter" Pu-erh tea. Our guest, Caleb Rhoades from Texas Whiskey Geek, brings a rare High West Distillery Midwinter...

Ever heard of Sotol? It's a unique Mexican spirit distilled from a desert plant, and it's got a fascinating story. Join Richard and So-Han as they chat with Brent Looby of Desert Door Distilling, who's passionate about sharing this hidden gem with the world. He'll explain how sotol is made, what makes it different from tequila and mezcal, and why it pairs so well with...Chinese tea? That's right,...