Barrel To Bottle, The Binny's Podcast

Happy Independence Day! The Barrel to Bottle Crew celebrates the 4th with a special episode. What did people drink in revolutionary times? From rum to rye… from cider to sherry, you might be surprised at the variety of drinks the founding fathers enjoyed. Plus, Roger brings you revolutionary cocktail secrets.

Brewer, author, music geek and raconteur – Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione is one of the leading voices in the craft beer industry. This champion of independent craft joins us to discuss his refreshingly unique SeaQuench Ale, the leading pick in Chicago Tribune beer writer Josh Noel’s 2018 Beers of Summer. We taste some of Josh’s other picks, discussing beer styles, tastes and trends along the way. Plus, Sam answers your questions in a lightning round Q&A on this episode of Barrel to Bottle.

The difference between history and legend is sometimes murky. Whiskey insiders were shaken to learn that the long held story of Jack Daniel’s wasn’t exactly true. The legendary distiller actually learned his craft from a slave – Nathan “Uncle Nearest” Green. Author and historian Fawn Weaver joins the Barrel to Bottle crew to share Green’s story, his impact on distilling, and about the research and experiences that led her to launch Uncle Nearest 1856, a new award-winning Tennessee whiskey.

Claire Villars-Lurton is the embodiment of centuries of Bordeaux winemaking know how. She joins host Kristen to discuss the culture of French winemaking, managing a multi-generation family business across continents, and bringing that old-world experience into her new-world Sonoma winery. Plus, in this episode’s Q&A segment, Kristen and Greg square up against the red wine headache.

What’s fizzy and refreshing, delicious and mixable, always fun and an absolute value? Prosecco! In this week’s Barrel to Bottle, Kristen leads the team through one of her favorite categories: Italian sparkling wine. Topics range from affordable Prosecco to world class Franciacorta to sparkling wine cocktails. Stick around for the Q&A segment, as the team tackles the mystery of the punt.

The only way to be completely objective when rating wine, spirits and beers is to taste blind. Kristen, Pat and Greg put their palates – and several popular vodkas – to the test. Even this famously neutral spirit shows variety and character when tasted blind. Learn a thing or two about vodka and discover the Barrel to Bottle team’s favorite in this week’s podcast.

Kristen sits down with Alberto Bianchi, Winemaker at Napa Valley’s Newton Vineyard. Alberto traces his winemaking journey from Italy to New Zealand to Napa Valley, highlighting vineyard management in Napa and around the world. Plus, the Barrel to Bottle team tackles your listener Q&A about neutral oak barrels and their use in wine, spirits and beer production.

Craft whiskey is hot, but there’s still a lot of confusion surrounding rye. From rye whiskey to high-rye bourbon, The Barrel to Bottle Podcast team covers the basics of this hot category. Kristen, Pat and Roger taste several examples from Whiskey Acres, High West and Rittenhouse (plus Pat’s favorite everyday high-rye bourbon from Old Forester) plus two different versions of the classic Old Fashioned cocktail side by side.

It takes something extra to make it in Chicago’s craft beer scene, but Forbidden Root makes it look easy. In this episode, the Barrel to Bottle team chats with Forbidden Root Head Brewer Nick Williams and craft brewing guru Randy Mosher. They explain what sets their beer apart, their cutting edge use of bark, stems, flowers, herbs and spices, all based on the foundation of brewing tradition.

What’s the connection between this classic Spanish wine region and some of the most respected whiskies in the world? In this week’s episode of Barrel to Bottle: The Binny’s Podcast, Kristen, Pat and Roger talk through Sherry 101 and taste several examples of Oloroso Sherry cask aged whiskies, including examples ranging from local craft distilleries to global single malts from India and Scotland.

This week on Barrel To Bottle with Binny’s Beverage Depot- Kristen Ellis & Jeff Carlin, along with Binny’s Beer Buzz expert Roger Adamson & the Whiskey Hotline‘s Pat Brophy, welcome Marty Scott from Revolution Brewing Company to the podcast to talk about one of the most iconic independent breweries in the country. As Quality and Innovation Lead for Revolution Brewing Company, Marty has his hands in almost every aspect of brewing of Revolution’s dynamic line of offerings but his passion is […]

This week on Barrel To Bottle with Binny’s Beverage Depot, Kristen Ellis and Jeff Carlin present the third installment of their Whiskey Week series, this time on the road at World of Whiskies 2018, to bring you incredible conversations with some of the greatest minds at the forefront of distilling, Kristen and Jeff offer a sampling of some of the 200+ offerings at one of the largest whiskey tasting in America. First up, Johny Barbosa from Far North Spirits highlights a […]

This week on Barrel To Bottle with Binny’s Beverage Depot Kristen Ellis and Jeff Carlin take the podcast on the road to Bourbon Women Night 2018 to talk with movers and shakers in the world of Bourbon Women. Kristen talks with legendary distiller Al Young about celebrating his 50th anniversary at Four Roses and his love of bourbon history. Branch Ambassador for Bourbon Women Gina Caruso talks about her love of bourbon and the growth of the Bourbon Women Association. […]

This week on Barrel To Bottle with Binny’s Beverage Depot, Kristen Ellis, Jeff Carlin, Pat Brophy and Roger Adamson present a unique conversation with Jimmy and Eddie Russell from Wild Turkey Distilling Co. These two icons of American whiskey talk about their combined 90+ years making whiskey in Kentucky, how the process has changed over the years, the innovation behind Wild Turkey American Honey, and handing down the distilling tradition to another generation of Russells. Plus, a lucky listener wins […]

This week on Barrel To Bottle with Binny’s Beverage Depot, Kristen Ellis and Jeff Carlin present a look at the historical business of fraudulent wine, some incredibly audacious wine scams, and how modern technology is working to combat this expensive problem. Plus, Kristen and Jeff answer one lucky listener wins a wins a $20 gift card by asking a question about up-and-coming wine regions. Have a question for Binny’s Beverage Depot? Hit us on Twitter and you might win a […]

This week on Barrel To Bottle with Binny’s Beverage Depot, Kristen Ellis and Jeff Carlin present an intimate conversation with Director of Winemaking for The Hess Collection, David Guffy. Dave talks about his passion for making fruit-forward wines, the success of the Lion & the Lion Tamer wines, why California wines are best when they forgo trying to mimic old-world styles in favor of highlighting the region’s unique terroir, and of course, the importance of winery dogs. Plus, Kristen and […]

This week on Barrel To Bottle with Binny’s Beverage Depot, Kristen Ellis and Jeff Carlin sit down with a co-founder of Scofflaw and gin aficionado Danny Shapiro to talk about the often misunderstood world of gin as he offers a guide to tasting the complexities of quality gin. Working his way through three distinct categories of gin, Danny tastes through three unique examples: Sipsmith, Nikka Coffey, Scofflaw Old Tom.  Also on the docket, recipes for three great gin cocktails that will […]

This week on Barrel To Bottle with Binny’s Beverage Depot, Kristen Ellis and Jeff Carlin present a conversation with winemaker Delphine Laborde of Maison Veuve Clicquot. Born in the heart of France’s Champagne region, Laborde shares stories about her life amongst the vines, celebrating the 200th anniversary of Madame Clicquot’s Veuve Clicquot Rosé, and the difference between French and American winery dogs. Plus, one lucky listener wins a $20 Binny’s gift card for asking a great question about champagnes that […]

This week on Barrel To Bottle with Binny’s Beverage Depot, hosts Kristen Ellis and Jeff Carlin along with Roger Adamson(Beer Buzz) get a unique tasting tour of Goose Island Beer Company’s 2017 Bourbon County label releases with Goose Island’s head of research and development, Mike Siegel.  2017 marks one of the most extensive lineups of  Goose Island’s Bourbon County offerings including the Bourbon County Brand Stout, the Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout, Bourbon County Brand Barleywine, Bourbon County Brand Northwoods Stout […]

This week on Barrel To Bottle with Binny’s Beverage Depot, hosts Kristin Ellis and Jeff Carlin share Kristin’s one-on-one conversation with acclaimed winemaker Paul Hobbs. Paul shares stories about his work on Opus One, globetrotting around the world learning about wine, his time in Argentina and Chile helping to bring the South American wine industry into the modern era, and why he prefers Sonoma County’s laidback culture over Napa’s commercial scene. Plus, one lucky listener ‘keeps on trocken’ their way to […]