#031 - Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel & Good Beers

This week we try the 94 proof Toasted Barrel by Elijah Craig, Hop Rich by Riverlands Brewing and Sailor's Kush by Half Acre.

#030 - Dovetail Brewery & Pinhook Rye Whiskey

After a long COVID hiatus, we are back together again. In this episode we review some beers from the Dovetail Brewery and try the 114 proof rye cask strength whiskey from Pinhook.

#029 - Cody Road Bourbon

In this long awaited episode, we talk to Sam from the Mississippi River Distilling Company out of Le Claire, Iowa. Sam brought us their Cody Road Bourbon line up for us to sample. We tasted the Cody Road Single Barrel Bourbon, Cody Road Rye Whiskey and the Cody Road X Experimental Series. Which one was our favorite? Listen up to find out!

#028 - Phase Three Brewing

Today on the podcast we had the opportunity to meet (virtually) with 2 of the 3 owners of Phase Three Brewing out of Lake Zurich, Illinois. We discusses their startup story, the brewing industry and their stellar beers.

#027 - Half Acre Daisy Cutter & Makers Mark Private Select Barrel Pick

In this podcast we talk about Maize+Mash bottle sell off and making some cocktails at home. The beer we sipped on was Daisy Cutter from Half Acre Beer Company from Chicago, IL. The whiskey we featured in this podcast was the Bourbon Belly Hospitality Group barrel pick from Makers Mark.

#026 - Coronavirus & The Restaurant Industry

In this podcast we talk about how the Coronavirus has impacted our local restaurant businesses. Mike did his part and did a remote podcast from his home office. It was a fun night.

#025 - Bell’s Hopslam Ale & Bardstown Bourbon Company’s “The Prisoner”

In this podcast we got to try the illusive Bell's Hopslam Ale as well as Bardstown Bourbon Company's "The Prisoner". Bardstown partnered with The Prisoner Wine Company for a collaborative bourbon finished in red wine barrels.

#024 - Revision Brewing Hazy IPA & Angels Envy Finished Rye

In episode 24 we get to sip on Boogie Bus, a delicious Hazy IPA from Revision Brewing near Reno, Nevada. This weeks whiskey is Angels Envy Finished Rye, a tasty one finished 18 months in Caribbean rum barrels. Our customer of the week: tax season receipt collectors, get out of here. We also took a well deserved smoke break and talked about Ubers Eats, “I didn’t sign up for this”.

#023 - Makers Mark & Master Distiller Denny Potter

In this episode we had the unique opportunity to interview Denny Potter, the master distiller at Makers Mark and Greg Butera, their midwest brand ambassador. We chatted about their new RC6 product, the unique production line at Makers Mark and their commitment to operating as an environmentally sustainable company.

#022 - J. Henry & Sons Bourbon

In episode #022, we had the amazing opportunity to sit down with Joe Henry from J. Henry & Sons Bourbon Company. They exploded into the whisky world with their 5 year bourbon in 2015. Over the last 5 years they've won gold and double gold awards at the San Fransisco World Spirits Competition. They are a farm to bottle operation, growing 90% of what goes into the bottle on their family farm in Dane, WI.

#021 - Award Winning Beers & Makers Mark RC6 Wood Finishing Series

In this podcast we talk about Mike and Garrett's trip down to the Bourbon Trail in Louisville Kentucky. They visited the Michter's, Makers Mark and Buffalo Trace distilleries as well as some tasty restaurants in the area. We tasted some award winning beers from Old Irving Brewing & Crystal Lake Brewing. Also, Garrett and Mike brought the Makers Mark RC6 Wood Finishing Series back from their trip to Kentucky for us to review.

#020 - Bardstown Bourbon Company & Master Distiller Steve Nally

In this podcast we had the incredible opportunity to interview Master Distiller Steve Nally from Bardstown Bourbon Company. Steve was on a marketing tour to promote his new line of bourbons, Fusion & Discovery Series along with a Collaboration Series with Copper & Kings, to the Chicagoland area. Listen to a legend talk about the bourbon industry as well as the great new products he’s produced.

#019 - Bonus: FEW Spirits Wrap Up

In this episode, we take the time to reflect on our experience at FEW Spirits in Evanston, Illinois. It was our first remote podcast and we learned a lot from it. We hope you enjoy this quick recap!

#018 - FEW Spirits, Ownership & Whiskey

In this episode we focused on FEW ownership and their whiskey portfolio. The sipping social crew went on the the road for their very first remote podcast at the FEW rack house in Evanston, Illinois. The setting was in a massive, yet unassuming, red brick building built in the early 1900's for an ice distrubution company. We recorded with six thousand barrels of aging whiskey surrounding us and the sweet smell of whiskey nectar was in the air.

#017 - FEW Spirits, Operations & Gin

In this very special two part series, the sipping social crew went on the the road to do their very first remote podcast at the FEW rack house in Evanston, Illinois. The setting was in a massive, yet unassuming, red brick building built in the early 1900's for an ice distrubution company. We recorded with six thousand barrels of aging whiskey surrounding us and the sweet smell of whiskey nectar was in the air. In this episode we focused on operations and FEW Spirits gin portfolio.

#016 - Oktoberfest Beers & Old Rip Van Winkle

In this episode we review four different Oktoberfest beers, almost too much beer for one episode but we got through it. Garrett brings us another great whiskey, the Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year! He also tells us about his greatest customer experience that involves a professional Chicago sports team. We tried to keep this one short as well but ended up having too much fun. Our next episode will be a two part remote podcast at the FEW distillery in Evanston, IL

#015 - JP Vander Veen, Solemn Oath & Woodinville Bourbon

This week we have the privilege of sipping on some delicious beers with the Production Manager at Solemn Oath, JP Vander Veen. JP has been in the beer business for most of his adult life and we are excited talk shop with him. This week amongst other industry news, we say goodbye to our old stomping ground, Muldoons Irish Pub that lasted in Wheaton, IL. for 17 years. Sit back, listen in and grab something to sip on with us.

#014 - Half Acre Lunar Form & Mammoth Distilling

We are gearing up for more interviews! So, this episode we kept it short with a tasting of Lunar Form by Half Acre Brewing and delicious rye whiskey from Mammoth Distilling. Next week we interview JP Vander Veen. JP is the head brewer at Solemn Oath in Naperville, IL. We hope you enjoy this quick listen!

#013 - Grist House & Old Bardstown

This week we chat about another rickhouse that burned down, big news for the Coopers Hawk Winery & Restaurants and local YIEF happenings. We had the privilege to taste some sour beers from the Grist House Craft Brewery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the spirit was Old Bardstown Bourbon Whiskey. Our good and bad customer of the week: those who use the call ahead policy and those that like to order the impossible drink.

Important Links:

Grist House Craft Brewery
Old Bardstown Bourbon Whiskey

#012 - Miskatonic & Pappy Van Winkle

No interview for this episode, we are taking the next couple episodes to catch up on some things. This week we respond to listener questions, talk about another rickhouse that burned down and exciting news for Bourbon Belly Hospitality Group. We had the privilege to taste Miskatonic's Apricot Long Tongue Liar kettle sour beer and Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 15 yr old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey. Our customer of the week: channel changers.

Important Links:

Miskatonic Brewing Company
Pappy Van Winkle
Natural Light Naturdays