Barrel To Bottle, The Binny's Podcast

Despite being constructed in the 1960’s, the only way to get a taste of GlenAllachie over the last half-century was through rare independent bottlings or as a component in favorite blended Scotch. That’s all changing with new ownership, and Binny’s is excited to share the new OB GlenAllachie bottlings. Noted Distillery personality David Keir offers the Barrel to Bottle team an insider’s view of the distillery and offers a taste of the new GlenAllachie lineup. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team answers your question about how tariffs affect the whiskey trade, both locally and internationally.

What does it take to persevere through the many trials and tribulations to reach the highest recognized level of education in the beer world? The Barrel to Bottle team is joined by the Golden Nose himself, Master Cicerone Jason Pratt, one of just eighteen in the world to reach Master Cicerone status. Jason shares his sensory perception techniques and encyclopedic knowledge, covering topics including the latest trends and classic styles, plus his favorite flaws in beer. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when Jason helps the team take on your question about the true shelf life of different IPA styles. This one is for the nerds.

It’s easy to get caught up in local craft spirits, especially living in an area like Chicagoland that’s home to an incredible collection of craft options. Just don’t miss out on highlights from far away, including insanely remote places such as Hallock, Minnesota, home of Far North Spirits. This week, Johny Barbosa of Far North shares his incredible portfolio of criminally underappreciated craft spirits, from vodka to gin, rum to rye, plus a surprise or two. And of course, the team covers which spirits are best paired with hot dishes. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the Barrel to Bottle team takes on the question of best beverages for cooking.

Is that the red or the white? The Barrel to Bottle team takes a look at California’s ‘own grape’ from the craze of the 1980s to today’s high quality dry red versions. Zinfandel has a rather arcane history and no French connection, meaning this underdog had to grow into prominence all on it’s own, of course with the help of a few dedicated grape growers and winemakers. You can’t ignore how important it has been to the larger wine culture in the United States. The Barrel to Bottle crew samples Biale Black Chicken, Tommasi Heracles Primativo and the one that started it all, Sutter Home White Zinfandel. Plus, in this week’s Q&A and in response to the more expensive versions displayed in the Holiday Cali Cab cast, the team shares their favorite value California Cabernets clocking in around $20.

Juicy, fruity, dank and hazy – these are all buzzwords to describe the direction of IPA today. But for every action, there’s an opposite reaction. Enter brut IPA, the dry new IPA style that’s crisp, clean and focused. Roger leads the Barrel to Bottle team through a tasting including examples from Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, Ommegang, Revolution, Hopewell and Miskatonic Brewing, plus a hoppy sparkling water from Lagunitas. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team shares their favorite Bourbons (and more) to make the perfect old fashioned.

We’re back with Part II of Brett Pontoni’s interview with Jim Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe. This distilling industry legend shares keeping the family tradition going as he brings his son into the fold and offers some insights into how the business has changed over the years after growth and merging with international partnerships. Plus, Fred tackles your questions in our Q&A segment, and powers through a lightning round Q&A.

Spirits industry history runs deep for Fred Noe. The Master Distiller of Jim Beam Distillery, Fred is the seventh in his family to hold the position over the last two hundred years. Brett Pontoni from the Whiskey Hotline chats with this industry veteran, covering topics from how to taste whiskey and favorite flavor descriptors, to the Fred keeping the tradition going with the next generation. Plus some dishing about other industry giants. Keep an eye out for Part II, coming next week.

Kansas Whiskey? Not only is it a thing, but Kansas City, Missouri’s J. Rieger distillery was once the largest mail-order whiskey producer in the US. This week, the Barrel to Bottle team is joined by Brett and Joe from The Whiskey Hotline to interview Ryan Maybee, who in 2014 resurrected this historic brand along with some help from industry icons like Tom Nichols and Dave Pickerell. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team gets technical about charred barrels.

Seasons Greetings from Binny’s and the Barrel to Bottle Crew! This week, we’re talking about the best part of Christmas: winter beers, of course. From old world classics to the craft seasonals they inspired, the team covers the whole holiday beer range. Beers tasted include Weltenberger Asam Bock, Rochefort 10, Avery Old Jubilation, Sierra Nevada Celebration, Great Lakes Christmas and Lagunitas Brown Shugga’. And in this week’s Q&A segment, the team gives their favorite holiday gift ideas. Happy Holidays!

If you take out all the glamorous wine categories… Binny’s Wine Buyer Bill Newton is responsible for everything else. One of his favorite categories is Port, which is getting extra attention for the release of the 2016 vintage – the first declared Port vintage since 2011. What Port lacks in glamour, it more than makes up for in intensity and ageability. Bill shares a favorite vintage aged Port and talks about this great vintage. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team answers your question about red wine and cold weather.

Cabernet is king, especially during the holidays. The full Barrel to Bottle team is in the house, joined by Binny’s Wine Buyer Bill Newton, to talk through everything California Cabernet Sauvignon, tasting samples from Sonoma to Napa. Wines featured include cabernet bottlings from Gundlach Bundschu, Rodney Strong Alexander’s Crown, Ulysees and Robert Mondavi. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team tackles your question about Malbec.

Autumn brings the annual hop harvest, which means it’s time for fresh-hopped beer! Roger leads the Barrel to Bottle team through a flight of everything hoppy, from single hop pale ales through fresh hopped IPA’s. Beers featured include Bell’s Two Hearted Ale, SweetWater Mosaic, Lagunitas Super Cluster, Founder’s Harvest Ale, Deschutes Chasin Freshies and Half Acre Now & Then. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team gets to talk about themselves, and their favorite beer styles.

The Barrel to Bottle crew takes a walk on the sweet side this week. Tokaji is Hungary’s sweet white, loved for complexity and class on par with the sweet wines of Bordeaux in France. Laszlo Meszaroz, Director of the Disznoko winery, joins the podcast team and shares the rich history of the region, plus examples of the region’s sweet and dry white wines. Egeszsegere! Have a question for Binny’s Beverage Depot? Hit us on Twitter and you might win a […]

When you think celebration, think Champagne! But it works well on any Tuesday night as well. The Barrel to Bottle team tastes through six sparklers from around the world, including Aubry Le Nombre d’Or, Louis Bouillot Cremant de Bourgogne, Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs, Segura Viudas Heredad Brut Reserva,  and a pairing of Fossetta Prosecco and Bollinger Special Cuvee. Plus, stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team offers their favorite Friendsgiving wines.

All stouts are porters, but not all porters are stouts. As the weather cools off, it’s time for Roger to lead the Barrel to Bottle crew through a tasting of darker beers. Featured beers include Samuel Smith’s Taddy Porter, Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald, Guinness Draught, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, North Coast Old Rasputin, Stone Xocoveza and Central Waters Cassian Sunset. And stick around for the Q&A segment when the team tackles your question about grain whisky and Scotch for a $20 Binny’s Gift Card.

Greek wine has experienced a resurgence in the last few decades, thanks in no small part to Ted Diamantis and his company, Diamond Importers. Ted joins the Barrel to Bottle crew to taste highlights from his collection and to discuss this historic and vibrant wine growing country. Wines tasted include Santo Assyrtiko, Douloufakis Dafnios Vidiano, Skouras Saint George and Alpha Estate Xinomavro.

Brace yourselves, Game of Thrones Scotch is coming. In the middle of recording the recent two-part “All the Islay” podcast, the Whiskey Hotline’s Brett Pontoni wandered off. And when he wandered back into the room, he had news about the upcoming Game of Thrones single malt releases. Listen as the Barrel to Bottle crew reacts to the news and shares specifics about each bottling. Game of Thrones Scotches are coming, and you won’t have to pay the iron price.

Picking up from last week, the Barrel to Bottle crew is joined by the Whiskey Hotline to taste through all eight active distilleries in Scotland’s Islay region. Part II covers the more peaty distilleries: Lagavulin, Caol Ila, Laphroaig and Ardbeg. Also silly hats. And stick around for our customer Q&A segment, when the Whiskey Hotline discuss what it takes for a distillery to get into the Binny’s Handpicked Casks program.

Scotland’s Islay makes some of the most distinctive and immediately recognizable whiskey in the world, from graceful and honeyed to richly peated, smoky and briny. The Barrel to Bottle crew teams up with the Whiskey Hotline in a guided tasting of all eight active distilleries on the Island, with lots of fun facts and Islay info along the way. Part I covers the less peaty distilleries: Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Bowmore and Kilchoman. Keep an eye out for Part II coming next week!

Black Friday in Chicago means heading to Binny’s Lincoln Park for the annual release of one of the most collectible and desirable beers out there: Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout. This year’s release includes eight unique versions: Original, Wheatwine, Reserve, Midnight Orange, Coffee Barleywine, Proprietor’s, Vanilla and Bramble Rye. The Binny’s crew got a sneak preview of the full lineup, and they run through their tasting notes, insider info and more in this week’s Barrel to Bottle breaking news episode. […]