Barrel To Bottle, The Binny's Podcast

Whenever Pat brings bottles in for an episode, you can safely assume he's going to bring way more than we can ever get to. After tasting through the Whisky Advocate Top 20 of 2022, Pat pulled out two mystery bottles; something he would have added to the list, and something he's not quite sure what it is but it has a memorable taste. 

Once again, we're running down the list of Whisky Advocate's top 20 whiskies of the year and sampling the ones we have available. What was once a list of unobatnium bottles has now expanded with more readily available products and better price points.  #20 – Craigellachie 13-Year-Old Armagnac Finish  #19 – Teeling Single Pot Still Virgin Chinkapin Oak Wonders of Wood #18 – Hardin’s Creek Colonel James B. Beam 2 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Limited Release #17 – Indri Trini The Three Wood #11 – Sweetens Cove Kennessee Kentucky & Tennessee Bourbon Finished with Toasted Sugar Maple Wood #10 – Nelson Brothers Bourbon Reserve #8 – Limavady Single Malt Irish Whiskey #5 – Westward Cask Strength American Single Malt Whiskey #4 – Dewars 12 Year Double Aged Scotch #3 – Barrell Bourbon Vantage Finished in Mizunara, French, and Virgin Oak Barrels #1 – Jack Daniel’s Bonded   If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email us at comments@binnys.com, or reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram

This is probably our most ambitious episode ever. We’ll be eating well-known New Orleans dishes, along with Abita beer, and then making New Orleans cocktails and pairing them with paczkis. We apologize in advance for all the mouth noises. Abita is the classic New Orleans beer and a lot of their offerings pair great with local cuisine. Mardi Gras Bock is a more of a Maibock than a doppelbock, which makes it a clean, easy-drinking beer. It pairs perfectly with the shrimp étoufée, red beans & rice and jambalaya. Check out the full recipes on our blog: Vieux Carré w/Custard Paczki topped with Chocolate Fudge Pimm’s Cup w/Rose Petal Jelly Paczki or Strawberry & Whipped Cream Paczki Hurricane w/Passionfruit Jelly Paczki Sazerac w/Plum Butter Paczki Ramos Gin Fizz w/Apricot Preserves Paczki In addition to all that, Pat brought Cheramie Rum. Made in New Orleans from fresh-pressed cane juice. It’s a bit like an Agricole rum but not as funky. If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email us at c

As the premiere producer in the Rhone, you would assume Guigal has been around for centuries. Guigal is in their third generation, which is relatively young for the Rhone and France overall. Joining us today is Patrick Will, brand development director at Vintus, importer of Guigal. He has worked with the Guigal family for 26 years. featuring these wines: Guigal Cotes du Rhone White 2021 Guigal Cotes du Rhone Red 2018   Guigal Condrieu 2019  Guigal Crozes Hermitage 2019 Guigal Saint Joseph  Guigal Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge 2017  Guigal Cote Rotie Brune et Blonde 2018  If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email us at comments@binnys.com, or reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. If we answer your question during a podcast, you’ll get a $20 Binny’s Gift Card! If you like our podcast, subscribe wherever you download podcasts. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.

This week we welcome Rob Dietrich, master distiller of Blackened Whiskey. If you’re not familiar, Blackened started as a collaboration between Metallica and distilling legend Dave Pickerell. Drink along at home with the following whiskies: Blackened Straight Whiskey Finished in Black Brandy Casks  Blackened x Wes Henderson Bourbon Finished in White Port Casks Blackened Rye the Lightning  If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email us at comments@binnys.com, or reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. If we answer your question during a podcast, you’ll get a $20 Binny’s Gift Card! If you like our podcast, subscribe wherever you download podcasts. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.  

We're back with part 2 of our Barrel to Bottle Q&A episode. Check out part 1 on our blog or wherever you download podcasts.  If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email us at comments@binnys.com, or reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. If we answer your question during a podcast, you’ll get a $20 Binny’s Gift Card! If you like our podcast, subscribe wherever you download podcasts. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.

We used to tackle listener questions on a regular basis, but over the years the episodes kept getting longer and longer. We miss the listener interaction, and we miss giving away $20 Binny’s gift cards, so periodically we do these all Q&A episodes. It’s time for us to A your Qs. If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email us at comments@binnys.com, or reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. If we answer your question during a podcast, you’ll get a $20 Binny’s Gift Card! If you like our podcast, subscribe wherever you download podcasts. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.

We haven’t done a Non-Alc episode in two years, and a lot has changed in that time. The entire category has exploded; not only are there more options than ever, but the options are better than they’ve ever been. This week, Roger, Alicia, and Pat have brought the newest and best options for Dry January and beyond in beer, wine, and spirits. Roger’s NA Beer/Seltzer Options: Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher Variety  Noon Whistle Hop Water  Big Drop Paradiso Non-Alocholic IPA  Big Drop Galactic Extra Dark Non-Alcoholic  AleSmith NA IPA  Alicia’s NA Wine Options: Freixenet 0.0 NA Sparkling Wine  Giesen Brothers Zero Rose Non-Alcohol Wine  Giesen Brothers Zero Riesling Non-Alcohol Wine  Fre Cabernet Sauvignon  Pat’s NA Spirits: Lyre’s Dry London Spirit Martini & Rossi Vibrante Aperitivo  Spiritless Kentucky 74 Bourbon Distilled Non-Alcoholic Spirit for Bourbon Cocktails  Spiritless Whiskey Sour & Spiritless Old Fashioned  If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email u

Coffee: the original beer adjunct before that became a dirty word. We only just did a coffee episode in late 2022 but there are so many coffee stouts being released, especially in the winter months, that it makes sense to do another one. This time in addition to drinking coffee beer, and the coffee these beers are made with, Roger has baked several cookies that pair great with the beer and the coffee. Half Acre Big Hugs  Lagunitas Willettized Coffee Stout  Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout  Dogfish Head Wake Up World Wide Stout  If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email us at comments@binnys.com, or reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. If we answer your question during a podcast, you’ll get a $20 Binny’s Gift Card! If you like our podcast, subscribe wherever you download podcasts. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.  

And now for the epic conclusion of Barrel to Bottle’s Picks of the Year 2022. Alicia’s PickChateau Beychevelle Saint Julien 2018 Pat’s One and Only PickPinhook Vertical Series Bourbon War 7-Year-Old Bourbon 2022 Jim’s Second Pick Destihl Wild Sour Series Elima Hua  Greg’s Second Pick Field Recordings Aqua Pazza Organic Pink Sparkling Jenna’s Third Pick André Cluet Brut Grand Reserve Pat’s One and Only PickBordiga St. Hubertis Amaro Reserva Honorable Mentions AleSmith Barrel Aged Vietnamese Speedway Stout Art History Bella Strada Classic Breweries (especially European ones) finally canning their beers Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Two-Year Barleywine Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout Biscotti Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir Cuvee Laurene 2018 Hofgut Falkenstein Kabinett Krettnacher Euchariusberg Riesling Kabinett Keeper’s Heart St. Agrestis Amari

It’s time for the Barrel to Bottle Pick(s) of the Year. For the first time ever, we have seven people on mics, so it should be obvious why we had to split this into two episodes. Pat’s One and Only PickPenrose Fantasy West collaboration with More Brewing   Jenna’s First PickMichter's US 1 Single Barrel Straight Rye  Jim’s First PickOff Color Beer for Lounging  Pat’s One and Only PickBenromach 9-Year-Old First Fill Sherry Hogshead #719 Binny’s Handpicked/Benromach 11-Year-Old First Fill Bourbon Barrel #595 Binny’s Handpicked Greg’s First PickSurly Abrasive  Chris’ First PickTrimbach Riesling Cuvee Frederic Emile 2011 Roger’s First PickBoulevard Barrel Aged Wheat Wine collaboration with Firestone Walker  Pat’s One and Only PickSignatory Glenlivet 15-Year-Old First Fill Sherry Butt #900788 Binny’s Handpicked  Jenna’s Second PickGoose Island Neon Beer Hug  If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email us at comments@binnys.com, or reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. If we answer you

It's time to check back in on Chris and Pat's respective aged eggnogs. We last checked in on these over a year ago, but how are they now? Will the Barrel to Bottle Crew survive or is this the last episode? 

We’re back with part two of our yearly Binny’s Buyer’s Picks episode. Bill, Wine Buyer:Alion, 2018  Clark & Sheffield 10 Year Old Tawny Port ­ Mike Baba, Wine BuyerCliff Lede Claret 2019     Mark Senal, Wine BuyerInspiration 1818 Brut by Billecart  Kyle, Beer Buyer Goldfinger Brewery If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email us at comments@binnys.com, or reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. If we answer your question during a podcast, you’ll get a $20 Binny’s Gift Card! If you like our podcast, subscribe wherever you download podcasts. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.

It’s December, which means we’re once again talking with Binny’s category buyers about what they were most impressed with this year. These people taste everything, so this is the best of the best for 2022. Jeff, Spirits Buyer:Bardstown Bourbon Company Collaborative Series Goose Island BCBS Barrel Finished Bourbon  Douglas, Beer Buyer: Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout 2022  Barbara, Wine Director: La Croix Ducru Beaucaillou Saint Julien 2019  Jack, Cigar Buyer:Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary  Brett, Specialty Spirits Buyer: Porchjam Distilling Cheramie Rum  If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email us at comments@binnys.com, or reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. If we answer your question during a podcast, you’ll get a $20 Binny’s Gift Card! If you like our podcast, subscribe wherever you download podcasts. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.

There are a lot of guidelines and rules around drinking wine that may or may not apply anymore and Lincoln Park wine manager Ben is here to smash them. Or confirm them. Shatter some myths with the following wines: Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs 2019  Stadt Krems Gruner Veltliner Kremstal 2021 Vietti Barbera d’Asti Tre Vigne 2020   Chateau Peyrabon Haut Medoc 2009 Laurent-Perrier Harmony If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email us at comments@binnys.com, or reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. If we answer your question during a podcast, you’ll get a $20 Binny’s Gift Card! If you like our podcast, subscribe wherever you download podcasts. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.

Brian Nation (formerly of Midleton) and David Perkins (formerly of High West) are two heavy hitters in the spirits industry. So, Pat was quite shocked when he heard that an upstart distillery in Minnesota had hired both of them, he had to check them out. That lead him to Keeper’s Heart, where they’re making Irishized American Whiskey and Americanized Irish Whiskey. Right now, Keeper’s Heart is sourcing bourbon and rye from MGP in Indiana. Since last year they’ve also been laying down their own distillate. The first thing they’ve produced is an American Single Pot Still.  Drink along at home with the following whiskies: Keeper’s Heart Irish + American Blended Whiskey Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon Blended Whiskey  Keeper’s Heart Irish + American 110 Proof  Keeper’s Heart 10 Year Single Malt  If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email us at comments@binnys.com, or reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. If we answer your question during a podcast, you’ll get a $20 Binny’s Gift Card

What are you drinking for Thanksgiving? We’ve got recommendations for spirits before, during and after dinner, beers that pair with a wide range of dishes and wines to pair with specific types of guests at your dinner table. Check out Pat's Thanksgiving Picks: Huber’s Starlight Distillery Bourbon Finished in Armagnac Barrel #21-2315 Binny’s Handpicked  Huber’s Starlight Distillery Bourbon Finished in PX Sherry Barrique #22-2060 Binny’s Handpicked  Riaz Oaxaca Cuishe Mezcal  Koval Cranberry Gin Liqueur  Amaro Montenegro  Cappelletti Amaro Alta Verde  Check out Roger's Thanksgiving Picks: Allagash Tripel   Allagash Curieux  Schilling Excelsior Imperial Apple  North Coast Old Stock Ale  Check out Chris and Alicia's Thanksgiving Picks: Caruso e Minini Inzolia 2021  Anthill Farms Pinot Noir North Coast  Ridge Geyersville 2020  Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir Cuvee Laurene 2019  Dr H Thansich Bernkasteler Graben Riesling Spatlese 2019 If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email us at c

Coffee. It’s probably one of the most popular adjuncts in craft beer. Most of the coffee Roger drinks is through beer because he’s a tea guy. But he assembled some coffee guys for today’s episode. Then he picked some great coffee beers and also sourced the coffee used in the beers so we could try it all side-by-side. Drink along at home with the following beers: AleSmith Speedway Stout AleSmith Barrel Aged Vietnamese Speedway Stout  Founders KBS  Founders Maple Mackinac Fudge KBS  Revolution Brewing Café Deth This week’s listener question comes from Bill, who loves the show. This is more of a comment than a question, but he wants to know why Abita changed the Turbodog label from the adorable puppy to the generic-looking black and yellow label. If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email us at comments@binnys.com, or reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. If we answer your question during a podcast, you’ll get a $20 Binny’s Gift Card! If you like our podcast, subscribe wherever

Marsha Milam is one of the founders of Milam & Greene, a Texas distillery that makes their own juice, but also blends and ages sourced liquid. Marsha started the distillery after having an epiphany while on the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky. She recruited world-renowned spirits expert Heather Greene to be her partner and blender. Then she brought in Marlene Holmes, formerly of Jim Beam, to be her Master Distiller. Drink along at home with the following bourbons: Milam & Greene Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey Milam & Greene Triple Cask Bourbon Milam & Greene Port Casks Finished Rye Milam & Greene Distillery Edition Straight Bourbon 2022 Milam & Greene Unabridged Bourbon Volume 1 If you have a question for the Barrel to Bottle Crew, email us at comments@binnys.com, or reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. If we answer your question during a podcast, you’ll get a $20 Binny’s Gift Card! If you like our podcast, subscribe wherever you download podcasts. Rate and revie

Pat loves Scotch. Scotchy Scotch Scotch. We haven’t done an episode on Handpicked Scotches in a while, so to recap the process: Brett, and sometimes Pat and Joe, travel to Scotland once or twice a year and visit as many distilleries as possible every day. If it’s at an independent bottler, the entire day is spent crawling around in barrel warehouses picking casks they want to try.   Binny’s has carefully cultivated relationships with independent bottles going back nearly twenty years. What they taste in Scotland gets narrowed down to around 30 candidates. They sample those 30 samples again back home and then choose which casks they want to buy. Because of these relationships, Binny’s gets access to some special stuff. Drink along at home with the following Handpicked Scotches: Signatory Mannochmore 11 year old Dechar/Rechar Hogshead # 7611 Binny's Handpicked 2010  Signatory Mortlach 14 year old Hogshead # 709084 Binny's Handpicked 2007  Signatory Pulteney 13 year old First Fill Bourbon Bourbon Barrel # 80