This episode is all about Iowa, the Midwest and representing your home with pride. Sam brings the conversation about the inception of this great Iowa distillery and its role in the craft whiskey explosion. Sam also discusses his journey from going to art school in Chicago to finding a home at Mississippi River based from his passion of whiskey as a regional sales manager. Plus, many, many tangents… Jake breaks the hearts of all Iowans by exposing the truth behind the barn distilled-style of “Templeton Rye”

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Ben joins us at Begyle Brewing to discuss his love for Scotch and single malt whisky. We chat about the history of SMWS and its vast relationships with distilleries across Scotland. Along with Ben’s journey through Scotch, beginning with Johnnie Walker Red Label to now sharing the rich tradition of the world’s greatest pleasure as an employee of the world’s largest whisky society.

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We sit down with Jonny to discuss the darker side of the industry, including conversations about stress, depression and suicide. Jonny’s charity Hope For The Day preaches the message: “It’s ok not to be ok.” Jonny and HFTD work internationally with folks to find the balance in all walks of life, and they want everyone to understand that asking for help is the first step to overcoming the struggles of life. 

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Katherine joins the show to chat with Jake about the passion of whiskey and impact it can have on culture, history and community. Katherine has as much craft whiskey experience as any other person. She walks us through her beginning days at KOVAL to her current position and love for FEW Spirits. 

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Harrison returns to the show. Live from my apartment on the 4th of July, we celebrate our Independence and Harrison’s eight-year anniversary of being in the whiskey industry. We also chat about the fire at Jim Beam’s barrel warehouses, the importance of finding your own identity in this industry, whiskey innovation, mental health and much more.

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Jake Hukee and Wilson Torres sit down to discuss the growing popularity of Highballs, opening their dream bar in Chicago and the cultural diversity of drinking in US cities.

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Megan and her four-legged companion Morley jump on the pod to talk about the inspiration of opening Bitter Pops, and the standards and responsibilities the bottle shop bestows upon itself as a neighborhood community center. We also chat about hospitality, craft beer/spirits and we breakdown “Golden Girls” to close the show.

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Jake, Wilson and Matt sit down discuss the rise and soon-to-be immediate collapse of Liverpool Football, before entering into an intriguing discussion on the cultural diversity of all things drinking between Melbourne and US cities. The trio also poses the question if the pioneers of this current whisk(e)y/cocktail renaissance are transforming into gatekeepers of the industry. And, consequently, prohibiting the expansion of new and current spirits explorers.

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Georgy joins the pod to chat about his professional upbringing through the New York whiskey/cocktail renaissance, and how working at establishments such as The Flatiron Room shaped his passion for whiskey. Georgy also shares how this formative industry years prepared him for his current position representing international brands in the City.

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Tait Forman sits down with Jake Hukee to share how his knowledge of history, his embedded passion for hospitality and his fervency for storytelling encompasses the elegant details of his bar Bibo Ergo Sum in Los Angeles. Tait also discusses the importance of a shared community; having an impactful identity on sustainability in the local community and the further network of this industry. 

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Bob Zacharias joins the show to chat about running a neighborhood bar that just happens to house nearly a 1,000 bottles of whiskeys. Fountainhead has become an industry standard for whiskey bars in Chicago, and Bob is one of the catalysts creating a friendly environment for all to enjoy the diverse world of whiskey. We also talk barrel picks, whiskey trips across the world and Bob’s passion for being an ambassador of whiskey.

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The jig is up. Begyle Brewing officially found out that Jake and Wilson record a podcast above their brewery. Brett Knickerbocker and Chelsea Matsumonji join the show to collect rent for the last few months. They also discuss their beginnings with Begyle and their personal investment into the craft brewery. Brett and Chelsea help manage the brewery/taproom and are prime components to Begyle’s rise as one of the Chicago’s top breweries.

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Alan Clark joins the show to chat about growing up with a father in the Scotch Whisky industry, and how his journey began in Speyside with Pernod Ricard before moving to India to represent their brands. Alan is now a brand ambassador for Aberlour in Chicago.

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Jake Hukee, Wilson Torres and Matt Brown sit down at Begyle Brewing to chat about Spring/Summer cocktails and whiskeys to explore. The trio also open up to discuss the failures they’ve experienced in the industry, and how they transformed those experiences into positives. Then they explore the advantages that independent bottle shops have over large retails stores. And of course, they chew over what bottle they’re drinking.

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Jake Hukee, Wilson Torres and Matt Brown sit down to chat and catch up on the whiskeys all three are currently enjoying. The trio also discuss the progress of the Illinois craft distiller licensing bill currently in the state House.

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