34. Sagamore Spirit Returns - Chad Albertson & Brett Bauer
Sagamore Spirit is back on the show. Brett Bauer dropped by with Chad Albertson to talk about Ryeday The 13th and the growth of Maryland rye whiskey. Chad gives a full breakdown of the congruent growth of Sagamore Spirit based on their innovative methods of marketing, sales and experimentation at the distillery. Ryeday The 13th is Sagamore’s novel activation across their markets to celebrate the anniversary of the distillery and Maryland rye whiskey with a cheeky pun (that we love). Catch the next Ryeday The 13th in December.
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33. Solo-Cast with Jake
Jake sits down for a solo recording to reflect on National Bourbon Heritage Month and World Suicide Prevention Month. Both Bourbon and Suicide Prevention play dominate roles in Jake’s development as an adult, husband and whiskey enthusiast. He discusses the beloved positives of Bourbon (and whiskey) but also the negatives that can dominate, denigrate the mind and body—if not used properly.
It is National Suicide Prevention Day, so please reach out to anyone whom may be in need, and more imprtotantly, if you are in need, REACH OUT. As the unbelievable folks at Hope For The Day say, “It’s OK Not To Be OK.”
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32. Hosts Only - Jake Hukee, Wilson Torres & Matt Brown
Jake and Wilson are joined by their beloved co-host Matt Brown of Blaum Bros. Distilling. This week Matt gets sober; Andrew Luck’s retirement inspires a conversation, drawing the parallels between personal health in sports and the whiskey industry; Wilson paints the fine strokes of the job of a brand ambassador; and Jake gets Eternal Sunshine(d) of the Spotless Mind by Matt.
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31. Graeme Cruickshank - Aberlour Master Distiller
Earlier this summer, Wilson and Jake had the pleasure of sitting down with Graeme Cruickshank, Aberlour’s Master Distiller, for the arrival of A’ Bunadh Alba. Graeme is the definition of a master distiller, not because of his title, but due to his roots. Graeme chats with us about his 35 years in the industry–all the way from sleeping for just a couple hours in the distillery’s washroom while attending college, to becoming an engineer in order to advance with the progression of automation. Graeme demonstrates his boastful pride of Aberlour, Speyside and Scotland with his articulation for the beauty of his home. He dedicated our conversation to the entire Aberlour team–not to play politics–but because he truly loves his craft the people around him. This chat was sincerely an honor.
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30. Chris Blatner - Urban Bourbonist
Chris Blatner is new to the forum of whiskey influencer, whiskey blogger, whiskey-grammar or whatever term is in vogue today, but Chris isn’t short on knowledge. He has thoughtfully crafted opinions and has a desire to learn more about the whiskey industry. Chris is @UrbanBourbonist, which is a nuanced page dedicated to Bourbon. Chirs recently joined us at Begyle Brewing for a pint and a chat about his development of UrbanBourbonist and the overall role of social media in the whiskey industry.
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29. Whiskey Roundtable - Matt Brown. Wilson Torres & Jake Hukee
We pride ourselves on hosting a whiskey podcast full of tangents. And, well, this episode defines that self-ascribed identity. Matt Brown is back from suspension, and Wilson and Jake join Matt in a conversation over the fallout of the secondary whiskey market, the balance between work and life, Portuguese moonshine and damn, oh so much more.
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28. Sam Bergren - Mississippi River Distilling Company
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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27. Brett Bauer - Sagamore Spirit
Brett joins us at Begyle Brewing for a discussion on his journey from having a passion for working in baseball to selling American rye for a company he believes in as a person and a whiskey purveyor. We also debate if Lebron James is a good father.
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26. Ben Diedrich - The Scotch Malt Whisky Society & Single Malt Alliance
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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25. Jonny Boucher - Hope For The Day
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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24. Katherine Loftus - FEW Spirits
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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23. Harrison Pious - MGP (Midwest Grain Products)
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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22. Blaum Bros. Distilling Co.
Matt and Mike Blaum, along with their Chicago Sales Boy Matt Brown, join us at Begyle Brewing to chat about the beginning roots of their distillery. After five years of distilling, selling a highly sought after Bourbon and expanding across the Midwest, the brothers still stand true to their casual ethos of building their dream.
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21. Hosts Only - Jake Hukee and Wilson Torres
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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20. Megan Schneider - Bitter Pops' General Manager
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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19. Whiskey Roundtable - Jake Hukee, Wilson Torres and Matt Brown
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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18. Georgy Zaydenman - Redwood Brands
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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17. Tait Forman - Proprietor of Bibo Ergo Sum
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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16. Bob Zacharias - Fountainhead's Beverage Manager
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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15. Begyle Brewing - Brett and Chelsea
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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