Barrel To Bottle, The Binny's Podcast

Travel out to Whiskey Acres in DeKalb for a Whiskey Hotline/Barrel to Bottle field trip. Pat, Brett and Alicia have the tough job of tasting barrel samples and selecting upcoming releases for the Binny's Handpicked program. Plus, get an inside look at the past, present and future of Whiskey Acres from Nick and Rob. 

Sixteen rounds, 16 categories, 4 teams. It's the Barrel to Bottle Home Bar Draft. Home bars have become more relevant than ever lately, and people have been stepping up their game. Who will have the best draft day, as judged by Pat Kiper Jr, and who will be Cleveland?

Join the Barrel to Bottle crew as we celebrate Malbec World Day and take a closer look at the wines of Argentina. Though Argentine wines have gained momentum on the export markets in the last 20 years, they are certainly not new to winemaking. In fact, #MalbecArgentino arrived in Argentina in 1853 in the hands of Michel Aimé Pouget (1821-1875), a French agronomist.   Malbec has become Argentina's flagship grape, and while it's grown throughout the country, we focused our attention on the prized Uco Valley region within Mendoza. With a greater emphasis on terroir than ever before, Argentina is producing a range of styles and expressions that Alicia and Chris unpack in this episode. Plus a look at Torrontes and Cabernet Sauvignon, which Chris claims is Argentina's secret weapon.   Drink along at home with the following wines: Colomé Torrontes 2019 Catena Zapata White Stones Chardonnay 2018 Susana Balboa Malbec 2018 Familia Zuccardi Concreto Malbec 2017 Cuvelier Los Andes Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Roger and Chris' day has finally come, and not just because Pat is on vacation. Bocks, the original G.O.A.T. beer, are back! Local breweries are producing both traditional and modern American takes on the style. Take a journey around the world with bocks of all kinds.  Drink along at home with the following beers: Weihenstephaner Vitus Off Color Beer for Burgers Shiner Bock Seipp's Columbia Bock Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock Schlenkerla Urbock  

The 1980s were a time of excess, and that included the cocktails. The drinks were overly sweet and overly proofed. The Barrel to Bottle Crew is here to elevate some of the classic cocktails from the Me First Decade, or maybe just to drink them in their original, gaudy form. Plus, a bonus segment on the Shooters of the 80s. 

Merlot deserves a second chance, and the Barrel to Bottle crew is here to give it one. This wine was huge in the 90s, but was already trending in the wrong direction by the time Sideways turned it into a punchline. Alicia and Lincoln Park wine manager Ben are here to open your eyes to the world of Merlot that you've been missing out for these past 17 years. Plus a listener Q&A about laying down wine for a newborn's 21st birthday.  Drink along at home with the following wines: Bogle Merlot 2018 L'ecole No. 41 Merlot Columbia Valley 2016 Duckhorn Merlot Napa 2017 Nickel & Nickel Merlot Bear Flat Oak Knoll 2017 Mondot Saint Emilion 2016  

Pat is a lazy mixologist, so Roger thought he'd do him a favor with a Beer Cocktails episode. There's nothing easier to make than beer cocktails. Plus, all the hip kids are doing it. From the modern Spaghet to the classic Radler, the Barrel to Bottle crew has some tasty and easy-to-make beer cocktails for you to try out. Find all the recipes on our blog. 

We were lucky enough to spend a lot of time a few weeks ago with Bo Barrett. So much that we were able to get a bonus episode out of it. We're jumping into your feed with a deeper dive into the AVA, as well as the past, present and future of Chateau Montelena. 

In the early 70s, when Bo Barrett and his father James started at Chateau Montelena, wine hadn't been made there since before Prohibition. A few years later, their Chardonnay would beat out French Chardonnays at the Judgment of Paris. It's the kind of scrappy, underdog story that Hollywood loves. Alicia, Greg and Chris taste through four wines with Bo and talk about the history of his game-changing winery.  Drink along at home with the following wines: Chateau Montelena Riesling 2019 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2018 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2017 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2018  

It's March, which means the Barrel to Bottle Crew is contractually obligated to talk about Irish spirits. Last year, we tackled some of Pat's favorite Irish whiskies. This time around, Pat has some new and notable Irish whiskies-along with the always popular Irish cream liqueurs-for Greg and Roger to blind taste. Plus, a preview of some upcoming Binny's Handpicked Irish Whiskies.  Drink along at home with the following: Bailey's Irish Cream McCleary Irish Cream Liqueur Five Farms Single Batch Irish Cream Liqueur Declan's Irish Cream Liqueur West Cork Distillers Bourbon Cask Irish Whiskey Busker Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Writer's Tears Copper Pot Irish Whiskey Kilbeggan Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

Every February, for the last few years, the Beer Buzz has celebrated some of the classic beers that helped establish the American craft beer scene. In celebration of Flagship February, Roger has selected six beers that defined their styles in American craft.  Drink along at home with the following beers: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA Bell's Amber Ale  Big Sky Moose Drool Founders Dirty Bastard Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter

Binny’s received 50 cases of 2018 Bordeaux samples, which were shared across the chain so wine staff from all stores could better understand the vintage. Whether you’d like to drink now or cellar for later, there are some outstanding 2018 Bordeaux wines to discover.  Listen to our wine team, including our Director of Wine (and buyer of Bordeaux), Barbara Hermann, as we talk En Primeur, how to barrel taste, Barb’s aggressive Bordeaux tasting schedule, the original garagistes and, of course, the 2018 vintage. 

The Q&A segment used to be a regular segment on Barrel to Bottle, but our hosts and guests are so interesting that episodes started running long and we ran out of time. So we put out the call and assembled the best questions for a somewhat rapid fire question and answer episode. We're giving away so much of the boss' money this week. If you have a question for a future episode, reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. 

The Barrel to Bottle crew digs deep this week with Russell From of Herman Story. Herman Story does things a little differently, but their goal is to make the best wine while having a great time. Russell discusses the process of making Herman Story wines, from the concept to the unique methods to the eye-catching labels.  Drink along at home with the following wines: Herman Story Late Bloomer Grenache 2016 Herman Story Casual Encounters 2018 Herman Story First Time Caller Petite Sirah 2018 Herman Story Bolt Cutter 2018

This week, the Barrel to Bottle crew is answering a question we regularly get in our stores, "If I like this wine, what else should I try?" We'll use some of our best selling wines as a jumping off point to explore other wines of the same or similar style.  If You Like Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, try: Leeuwin Estate Art Series Riesling 2019 Nora Albarino 2019 If You Like Mark West Pinot Noir, try: Nadler Zweigelt 2016 Palacios Petalos 2018 If You Like Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon, try Tinta Azul Red Blend 2019 Vina Perez Cruz Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2017 

It's been about a year since the Barrel to Bottle Crew tackled non-alcoholic beverages. We decided to revisit the topic though, because the category has blown up since then. This week, we'll taste through some products that prove you don't have to sacrifice flavor and quality if you're looking for non-alcoholic options.  Drink along at home with the following: Gruvi Dry Secco Non Alcohol Wine Gruvi Bubbly Rosé Non Alcohol Wine Giesen Sauvignon Blanc Zero NA Heineken 0.0 Boulevard Flying Start NA IPA Collaboration with Athletic Brewing  Athletic Brewing Run Wild Non-Alcoholic IPA Lagunitas IPNA Non-Alcoholic Dry Hopped IPA Seedlip Garden 108 Non-Alcoholic Spirit Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative Lyre's Italian Orange (coming soon) Lyre's Aperitif Rosso (coming soon) Lyre's Aperitif Dry (coming soon) Dhōs Bittersweet Aperitif (coming soon) Dhōs Triple Sec (coming soon)

Think of Armagnac as Cognac's country cousin. It's an older, more rustic style that predates Cognac. Pat, Greg and Alicia are joined by Armagnac enthusiast-and Mousquetaire d'Armagnac-Brett Pontoni. Who better to guide you through this somewhat mysterious category.  Drink along at home with the following armagnacs: Marie Duffau Hors d'Age Armagnac  Delord XO 15 Year Old Armagnac Artez 100% Baco Armagnac Artez 100% Folle Blanche Armagnac Artez 100% Ugni Blanche Armagnac Dartigalongue 40 year old Vintage Armagnac

The Barrel to Bottle Crew heads to Piedmont for a deep dive beyond the traditional Nebbiolo variety. Piedmont isn't obscure, but it might be a little unfamiliar to wine novices and we're here to help. Piedmont produces some of the finest wines in the world, but also wines that are great with pizza and takeout pasta.  Drink along at home with the following wines: Vietti Roero Arneis 2019 Franco Molino Barbera d’Alba 2017 Paolo Scavino Dolcetto d’Alba 2017  Produttori del Barbaresco 2016   Paolo Scavino Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata Riserva 2013 

Just like with our Binny's Buyer's Picks episodes, the Barrel to Bottle Crew couldn't be contained in just one episode. We here at Barrel to Bottle loved a lot of stuff this year and we want to make sure you know all about our favorites of 2020.  Roger's Picks Founders KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge Greg's Picks Teremana Reposado Tequila Greg's Infinity Bottle Pat's Picks Pat's Beloved Hamm's Plantation Isle of Fiji Rum Alicia's Picks See part 1 Chris' Picks Chateau Thivin Brouilly Reverdon 2019 Max Ferdinand Richter 2017s    

You've heard the buyer's picks the last two weeks, but now it's time for the true authority, your beloved friends from the Barrel to Bottle Crew. We've assembled some wacky 2020 picks for you to check out as the year comes to a close. This is in no particular order of rank, or how they stack up to Hamm's.   Roger's Picks Metropolitan Stromhaus Helles Lager Cappelletti Aperitivo Greg's Picks Viator Red Blend 2017 Continuum Estate Red 2017 Half Acre Alive in its Jaws Pat's Picks Aberfeldy 20 year old Sauternes Cask, Finish Exceptional Cask Series Alicia's Picks Chanin Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict 2018 Chanin Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict 2017 Chris' Picks Check back next week for part 2