93. Sagamore Spirit - Brett Bauer and Jessica Deans

The prodigal sons returned home to Begyle Brewing. We recorded our first podcast from Begyle since February, and our jolly friends from Sagamore Spirit joined us. Brett Bauer returned for his fifth appearance and Jessica Deans, Chicago Key Account Manager, made her first appearance. Jessica shares her insights to the industry—with more than 15 years from both sides of the bar—along with her relationship with Sagamore, and her approach to the market during these unique times. We also preview their limited release whiskey: Sagamore Spirit Manhattan Finish.

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92. Mike Moreno - Moreno's Liquors & Osito's Tap

The best part of having Mike back on the podcast is hearing his stories of intersection between family and business. Moreno’s began as a grocery store, selling just one 15 cent pack of gum on its first day, to, now, earning a worldwide reputation. The Moreno’s have cultivated a following, a base and a community by persevering through decades of challenges, but also remaining humble during their vast achievements. It’s no accident that Moreno’s Liquors was just named to the top 100 liquor stores in the nation by Beverage Dynamics; their passion for spirits and their devotion to family are the crowning characteristics that have brought them to the top.

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91. Fountainhead Series with Matthew Brown of Blaum Bros. Distilling Co.

Matthew Brown, Blaum Bros. IL Market Manager, triumphantly returns. Bob Zacharias, Fountainhead Beverage Manager, co-hosts with Jake to guide a conversation on how Blaum Bros. is getting back to regular distilling schedule and is still gaining support from their community. The guys also chat about misogyny and lack of diversity in the industry, and why the largest whiskey distilleries won’t make a statement in support of wearing masks as bars/restaurants reopen across America.

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90. Fountainhead Series with Ambrosia Borowski of The Northman

Ambrosia Borowski of the northman joins to the show to educate us on all things cider. We take a small step back from whiskey, and turn our focus to the History of cider, through Ambrosia’s passion and knowledge of the great american heritage. Samu Rahn also appears out of thin air once Bob pours a glass of Steigl, and he also provides insight into the Progression of the american cider industry.

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89. Fountainhead Series with Urban Bourbonist - Chris Blatner

We continue our Fountainhead series with Chris Blatner - @UrbanBourbonist. Chris is a dedicated member of the online whiskey community, and with the assistance of Fountainhead Beverage Director Bob Zacharias, we discuss how brands are fading from the online conversation/marketing over the last two months. Bob also shares the impact that social media can create as he’s developing his backbar and shelf space at the Fountainhead Market. And, Samu Rahn makes a guest appearance during the last half-hour, as we discuss the social issues of today and their affects on the spirits’ industry.

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88. Fountainhead Series with Samu Rahn and Bob Zacharias

We returned to Fountainhead’s roof garden with bar manager Bob Zacharias and Samu Rahn, key account manager for Glunz Beer. We discuss the reopening of Chicago bars and restaurants and the impact it’s having on the city and the entire industry. Samu shares his infatuation with beer, beginning with his history with the frothy beverage and history of craft beer in America. We also tell positive stories of the quarantine.

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87. King of Cups - Owner Taylor Kravitt and Bartender Danny Jahnke

Jake and Callum pay a visit to the wonderful King of Cups in Lincoln Park to record a late night episode for with owner Taylor Kravitt and lead bartender Danny Jahnke. Taylor shares his firsthand experiences about running his establishments during the quarantine, and the process of working with mayor’s office by adhering to all rules and regulations. Danny explains the atmosphere of the bar since reopening just over a week ago, and the pleasant experiences he’s had since customers have returned to the bar.

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86. Hosts Only with Callum O'Donnell

Callum joins Jake and Wilson for a spirited conversation about the adaptability of Chicago bar/restaurant industry as the city enters phase four. They also discuss the evolution of their brand ambassador positions with their various distilleries, and how the future of industry could change from the positive, short-term consequences of the pandemic.

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85. Bob Zacharias - Fountainhead Chicago

Bob Zacharias is back on from Fountainhead. Fountainhead is one of the premiere whiskey bars in Chicago. We chat with Bob about running the bar right up to the pandemic; what it looked like for Fountainhead pivoting through the quarantine; and, now, being back open with limited availability on their rooftop. Please support Fountainhead and all of you local spots by making reservations online, and visiting their outdoor/limited spaces.

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84. National Bourbon Day with Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. and J. Henry & Sons

Sunday was National Bourbon Day and our friends helped us celebrate. Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. cofounder Matt Blaum and his Chicago sales rep Matthew Brown, along with Joe Z. Henry of J. Henry & Sons join us for a discussion on how our individual states and counties are reopening. Distilleries, bars and restaurants are slowly reopening which means businesses are beginning to execute their scheduled 2020 plans. Blaum Bros. is entering distribution in Kentucky and releasing a new line of spirits, including rum and an agave spirit. While J. Henry welcomes back visitors—at 25% capacity—and just finished planting their crop for this summer , they’re also re-establishing partnerships in the on and off-premise.

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83. Jamie Duffy and Callum O'Donnell on Black Lives Matter Movement in Chicago

Jamie and Callum join Jake to chat about the power of the Black Lives Matter movement is positively affecting Chicago by bringing folks together from all walks of life to advocate for police reform and justice for the black community. The three white commentators discuss how people that look like them can support Black Lives Matter, not just in the whiskey industry, but inside of their communities.

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82. Hosts Only

We recorded this podcast on Friday May 29 before the protests took shape in Chicago. Wilson and I talk about how our morale low was due to the pandemic and closure of bars/restaurants, but we were seeing a light at the end of tunnel because of the planned partial reopening of Chicago on June 3. We recognize how much has shifted in our community over the weekend, and we're not disregarding the protests and unrest in Chicago that's taken place over the last three days before we recorded this conversation.

We love you Chicago.

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81. Danny Jahnke - King of Cups & Reddi Beverage

Live from King of Cups in Lincoln Park, Chicago, Danny Jahnke joins Callum and Jake to chat about being a professional bartender during the pandemic. Danny also shares how growing up in dives bar with his parents shaped his career path as a bartender and spirits entrepreneur. Danny is a creative barkeep whom is always searching for holes in the industry to be filled with inventive methods; along with bartending for more than a decade, Danny has founded Reddi Beverage and Flora Hemp Spirits.

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80. Chris Blatner - Urban Bourbonist

The Urban Bourbonist is back for a quarantine chat. Chris joins Jake, Wilson and Callum for discussion on Chicago bars and restaurants potentially reopening in early June; and how street and sidewalk closures could benefit bars and restaurants to create open spaces for individual communities. The guys also highlight the proliferation of social media activity as brands have pivoted to the online platform for advertising their spirits, and call into question the authenticity of brands’ relevancy online. Lastly, they discuss how/why brands should stay online once the world readjusts to pre-pandemic times.

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79. Brett Bauer - Sagamore Spirit

Brett Bauer of Sagamore Spirit returns to chat about how whiskey brands must remain positive through the pandemic, and how smaller distillery’s should adjust marketing plans, day-by-day, through this ever-changing environment. The digital space is one arena to engage with consumers, but the pandemic-produced-at-home-bar will eventually shift back to the on-premise., and craft brands have to be there with their story, juice to greet them back to the barstool.

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78. Quarantine Chat with Callum O'Donnell

The guys shoot-the-shit for the first 25 minutes, before picking up where they left off during last week’s Quarantine Chat. The remaining hour is filled with discussions of the American Distilling Institute’s report that 43% of distilleries have either laid off or furloughed employees, the possible disparaging future of American craft distilling and how everyone should experience the wonder that is a Chicago summer (if we’re allowed to go outside this summer).

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77. Sam Green - Beginner's Guide to Whiskey

Los Angeles’ own Sam Green jumps on to talk about his first published book “Beginner's Guide to Whiskey: Traditions, Types, and Tastes of the Ultimate Spirit.” Sam describes his process of writing his personal guide to whiskey, and his feelings and personal relationship with the spirt that captivates the world.

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76. Quarantine Chat with Jamie Duffy and Callum O'Donnell

Jamie Duffy and Callum O'Donnell sit back with Jake and Wilson to examine and evaluate the current condition of craft distilleries. They discuss how the public should recognize that craft distilleries are small business and need community support to stay afloat during the pandemic. They also highlight the necessity of using pivoting to social media, and the responsibility brands have to developing an honest perception of themselves online. Jamie and Wilson delve deep into the numbers of how craft distilleries are losing profits from the obvious points–of bars and restaurants closed–and off-trade suspending tastings, along with the longterm effects of distilleries transitioning into hand sanitizer operations.

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75. Adam Spiegel - Sonoma Distilling Co.

Founder of Sonoma Distilling Co. Adam Spiegel reflects on the past 10 years of distilling craft whiskey. Adam shares how distilling has humbled him in every aspect of life and, simultaneously, heightened his adventurous resonance of living a good life for himself and his family.

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74. David Powell - Hudson Whiskey

David sits down with us to explore the positive effects of living through a quarantine. David and Jake traverse through the complexity of finding importance and humanity during the COVID-19 epoch–by supporting the spirits industry with alternative projects that focus on the individual inside of the person that is behind the bar. David also shares the personal responsibility he and Hudson Whiskey have to take safety precautions and provide support for New York.

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