The Whiskey Ring Podcast

Ep. 30: BoozApp Founders Scott Manning and Rich Morrow

Welcome to Episode 30 of the Whiskey Ring Podcast. My guests today are Scott Manning and Rich Morrow, founders of BoozApp.
With the tagline #dontgetrobbed, BoozApp lays down its gauntlet front and center. BoozApp provides three key pieces of information for the spirits community: MSRPs, Shelf Price, and Fair Price, a community-driven data point that can be voted on by actual drinkers. Their aim is simple: make pricing more transparent and let consumers have a hand in that – with proper controls in place, of course. So if you think you can go in and downvote the price of Pappy all day, they’re several steps ahead of you.
Scott, Rich, and I chat for about an hour on how BoozApp came to be, turning passion projects into real projects, and some new ideas for the App that turn static numbers into dynamic, evergreen data.
If you haven’t joined the Patreon community, now is the time: you can now support the site and podcast for as little as $1 a month. There are also $5 and $25 tiers available, and you’ll want to get in on the ground floor today for big events coming up this year. Just go to patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring to sign up.
If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 
Finally, please subscribe to the Whiskey Ring Podcast on your favorite podcast platform today! Please leave a 5-star rating and review and share with your friends and fellow whiskey lovers.
Thank you for listening and for supporting, and please enjoy my chat with Scott and Rich from BoozApp.

Ep. 29: Still Austin and Brandon Joldersma

Welcome to Episode 29 of the Whiskey Ring Podcast. My guest today is Brandon Joldersma of Still Austin Distillery in Austin, Texas.
Texas whiskey is undoubtedly a growing category all its own, but inside that category is a massive spectrum, from great barrel proof bourbons and full-flavored winners to one-year-old whiskies that aren’t ready to clean floors. Count Still Austin’s core product, The Musician, among the former.
Brandon and I talk Still Austin, The Musician, Texas distilling, and everything that goes along with being in a city with such a strong character all its own.
If you haven’t joined the Patreon community, now is the time: you can now support the site and podcast for as little as $1 a month. There are also $5 and $25 tiers available, and you’ll want to get in on the ground floor today for big events coming up this year. Just go to patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring to sign up.
If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 
Finally, please subscribe to the Whiskey Ring Podcast on your favorite podcast platform today! Please leave a 5-star rating and review and share with your friends and fellow whiskey lovers.
Thank you for listening and for supporting, and please enjoy my chat with Brandon from Still Austin.
Still Austin Website
Still Austin Instagram
Still Austin Facebook
Still Austin Twitter

Ep. 28: MGP with David Whitmer, Master Blender

If you're into whiskey and haven't heard of MGP (Midwestern Grain Products), what have you been drinking?!?! 
Today's episode brings David Whitmer, Master Blender (among other titles) for this distilling behemoth. David may be a VP, but as I found out he spends more time on the floor than he does behind a desk.
If you do know about MGP, your first thought might be "sourcing", and you wouldn't be wrong. The major thing to consider - and something David and I talk about for some time - is that to have so many companies source from you is a compliment and a testament to MGP's consistency, business model, and plain old doing it right mentality. 
There's a lot more to MGP than just whiskey - heck, there's a lot more to it than just distilling, including a food division that, while smaller than its beverage arm, is by no means tiny. 
Of course, there were topics we couldn't discuss, but David was about as honest and forthcoming as possible, something I truly appreciate both as a host and as a fan. NDAs or no NDAs, one thing is clear: MGP is putting out some of the best distillate on the market, and with the acquisition of Luxco and promotion of its own brands under Ross & Squibb, the sky is the limit for this already-great giant. 
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If you haven’t joined the Patreon community, now is the time: you can now support the site and podcast for as little as $1 a month, plus new and improved benefits for the $5 a month tier including exclusive content, free glassware after 6 months, and more benefits as the group grows such as barrel picks, live events, and more.
If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 
Finally, please subscribe to the Whiskey Ring Podcast on your favorite podcast platform today! We're on Podbean, Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and most other major podcast platforms. Every subscription and listen helps us get sponsors, secure guests, and ultimately get more content to you.
Thank you for listening and for supporting, and please enjoy my chat with David Whitmer, Master Blender for MGP.

Ep. 27: Pam Heilmann, Master Distiller Emerita @ Michter’s

The Whiskey Ring Podcast returns Michter's Master Distiller Emerita Pam Heilmann. It was a thrill to talk with Pam and explore her history before whiskey, at Beam, and at Michter's, including overseeing the transition from contract distillaton to Michter's own equipment, managing the largest bourbon plant in the world for Beam, and what her favorite of all these jobs was - I promise, you'll want to listen through...the answer might surprise you. 
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If you haven’t joined the Patreon community, now is the time: you can now support the site and podcast for as little as $1 a month, plus new and improved benefits for the $5 a month tier including exclusive content, free glassware after 6 months, and more benefits as the group grows such as barrel picks, live events, and more.
If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 
Finally, please subscribe to the Whiskey Ring Podcast on your favorite podcast platform today! We're on Podbean, Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and most other major podcast platforms. Every subscription and listen helps us get sponsors, secure guests, and ultimately get more content to you.
Thank you for listening and for supporting, and please enjoy my chat with Pam Heilmann, Master Distiller Emerita at Michter's Distillery.

Ep. 26: Honkaku Spirits with Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

After 1300 tastings, it's so rare to come across something truly new and exciting at the same time. Enter Takamine 8-year-old whiskey, a koji-fermented and double distilled spirit from Fukuoka in southern Japan. 
Named after Jokichi Takamine, one of the most influential and under-known men in both Japanese and American history, this whiskey with an "e" is unlike anything I've had before and something I urge you to try. Christopher Pellegrini, founder, and Stephen Lyman, ambassador, for Honkaku Spirits join me to talk about Takamine, give me an introduction to shochu, awamori, and other koji-fermented products. 
Trust me - like it or not, this will be something you'll remember trying for a long time. 
Also, take a listen to Japan Distilled (linked below), Christopher and Stephen's podcast on all things Japanese alcohol related. It's informative, fun, and the episodes are short enough to binge. I enjoyed them thoroughly and will probably listen again before the new season comes out!
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If you haven’t joined the Patreon community, please do! You can now support the site and podcast for as little as $1 a month, plus new and improved benefits for the $5 a month tier including exclusive content, free glassware after 6 months, and more benefits as the group grows such as barrel picks, live events, and more.
If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 
Thank you for listening and for supporting, and please enjoy my chat with Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman of Honkaku Spirits. 
Honkaku Spirits Website
Honkaku Spirits Facebook
Honkaku Spirits Instagram
Honkaku Spirits Twitter
Japan Distilled Podcast

Ep. 25: M&H Distillery’s Oded Weiss

Welcome to Season 2! 
The Whiskey Ring Podcast returns with Oded Weiss of M&H Distillery in Tel Aviv, Israel. This distillery - another project of the late Dr. Jim Swan - is creating new and exciting single malts in the land of milk and honey (hence the M&H). Perhaps even more exciting than the malt itself are the finishings, including peated casks, Israeli wine, and pomegranate wine, plus unique agings (as this goes live, the Dead Sea APEX Series release is also being distributed). 
It was a thrill to talk with Oded and I can't wait to taste even more from M&H!
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If you haven’t joined the Patreon community, now is the time: you can now support the site and podcast for as little as $1 a month, plus new and improved benefits for the $5 a month tier including exclusive content, free glassware after 6 months, and more benefits as the group grows such as barrel picks, live events, and more.
If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 
Finally, please subscribe to the Whiskey Ring Podcast on your favorite podcast platform today! We're on Podbean, Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and most other major podcast platforms. Every subscription and listen helps us get sponsors, secure guests, and ultimately get more content to you.
Thank you for listening and for supporting, and please enjoy my chat with Oded Weiss and M&H Distillery.

Ep. 23.2: Travel Bar with Owner Mike Vacchrese, Part 2

Part 2 of our Season 1 and 2021 finale! Owner Mike Vacchrese and I continue our talk about his establishment, Travel Bar, in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. 
Mike generously gave over three hours to our interview, so I've broken it into two parts - make sure to listen to both! 
Travel Bar Brooklyn, 520 Court Street, Brooklyn, 11231
Travel Bar Instagram
Travel Bar Facebook
Travel Bar Twitter
If you haven’t joined the Patreon community, now is the time: you can now support the site and podcast for as little as $1 a month, plus new and improved benefits for the $2.50 and $5 a month tiers including exclusive content, free glassware after 6 months, and more benefits as the group grows such as barrel picks, live events, and more.
If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 
Finally, please subscribe to the Whiskey Ring Podcast on your favorite podcast platform today! We're on Podbean, Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and most other major podcast platforms. Every subscription and listen helps us get sponsors, secure guests, and ultimately get more content to you.
Thank you for listening and for supporting, and please enjoy my chat with Mike Vacchrese of Travel Bar Brooklyn. 

Ep. 23.1: Travel Bar with Owner Mike Vacchrese, Part 1

Season 1 and 2021 finale! Owner Mike Vacchrese and I talk about his establishment, Travel Bar, in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. 
Mike generously gave over three hours to our interview, so I've broken it into two parts - make sure to listen to both! 
Travel Bar Brooklyn, 520 Court Street, Brooklyn, 11231
Travel Bar Instagram
Travel Bar Facebook
Travel Bar Twitter
If you haven’t joined the Patreon community, now is the time: you can now support the site and podcast for as little as $1 a month, plus new and improved benefits for the $2.50 and $5 a month tiers including exclusive content, free glassware after 6 months, and more benefits as the group grows such as barrel picks, live events, and more.
If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 
Finally, please subscribe to the Whiskey Ring Podcast on your favorite podcast platform today! We're on Podbean, Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and most other major podcast platforms. Every subscription and listen helps us get sponsors, secure guests, and ultimately get more content to you.
Thank you for listening and for supporting, and please enjoy my chat with Mike Vacchrese of Travel Bar Brooklyn.