A regular look at what Crystal and Roger are pouring, reviewing, and thinking about at The Liquor Connoisseur® — updated monthly to keep you current on where the podcast and blog are headed. 🔥 What We're Reviewing Right Now — May 2026 The team is currently working through several exciting new expressions for upcoming episodes — including new releases in the Black-owned spirits space, a deep dive into the American Single Malt category, and an upcoming Texas craft distillery v

Trust in a spirits review comes from knowing exactly how the review was conducted. Here is the complete methodology Crystal and Roger use for every spirit reviewed on The Liquor Connoisseur® — the same process used for Episode 1 and every episode since. The Foundation: Why Methodology Matters Most spirits reviews are subjective impressions with no disclosed process. Crystal and Roger believe that a review is only as useful as the consistency of the tasting approach behind it.

Google's quality guidelines require that review content comes from people with genuine expertise and experience. Here's exactly who Crystal and Roger are, what they've tasted, who they've interviewed, and why their reviews are worth trusting. Crystal — Co-Host and Lead Educator Crystal is the co-founder of The Liquor Connoisseur® and the primary spirits educator behind every episode. She approaches spirits with the same rigor a sommelier brings to wine — building knowledge sy

Perspection Spirits doesn't exist in isolation. It's part of a movement — one that Crystal and Roger have been covering and amplifying on The Liquor Connoisseur® since the first episode. Here's the full picture of what that movement looks like and why Perspection Spirits fits into it. The Brands That Built the Foundation Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey showed the industry that a Black-owned spirits brand could become the fastest-growing American whiskey brand in history when th

Black Business Month is August — and the Black-owned spirits category is one of the most dynamic and important spaces in the industry right now. Crystal and Roger have covered more Black-owned spirits brands than almost any other independent podcast. Here's the complete guide to brands worth knowing, supporting, and pouring. Why Black-Owned Spirits Brands Matter Right Now Black Americans represent a significant percentage of spirits consumers but have historically had almost

Hispanic Heritage Month runs September 15 to October 15 — and the agave spirits category is one of the most profound expressions of Mexican cultural heritage in the global spirits market. Crystal and Roger have dedicated more content to tequila, mezcal, and Bacanora than almost any other independent spirits podcast. This is the full guide. Why Agave Spirits Are a Cultural Heritage Story, Not Just a Spirits Category The agave plant has been at the center of Indigenous Mexican

Everything you want to know about booking a private spirits tasting with Crystal and Roger of The Liquor Connoisseur® — answered directly. What happens at a private spirits tasting with The Liquor Connoisseur®? Crystal and Roger guide your group through 4-5 curated spirits using the same methodology from the podcast — nosing technique, flavor identification, production context, and brand story. Every guest gets a tasting kit. Crystal and Roger bring everything. You just show

Crystal and Roger have reviewed 136+ spirits. They've built home bars. They've led private tastings for hundreds of people. Here is the definitive guide to building a home bar that's worth the shelf space — based on what they actually know, not what spirits marketing tells you to buy. The Foundation — 5 Bottles Every Home Bar Needs 1. Bourbon: Wild Turkey 101 (~$28) — the workhorse. Sips well, mixes perfectly, impresses guests at any price point. If you're ready to step up: U

Father's Day is June 15th. If your dad drinks — or if you know a spirits enthusiast who deserves better than a gift card — this is the list. Every bottle on here has been reviewed by Crystal and Roger on The Liquor Connoisseur®. No guessing, no marketing. Just the bottles that actually earned it. Under $40 — The Best Value Bottles That Punch Way Above Their Price Presidente Brandy (~$12) — The most underrated bottle in any liquor store. If he's never had Mexican brandy, this

Every post published on The Liquor Connoisseur® blog — organized by category. 110+ reviews, education guides, FAQ posts, and ranked lists. Use this page to find anything we've written. 📂 Bourbon Reviews (16 posts) → Oklahoma Craft Distilleries — The Complete Guide → Bourbon FAQ — The 15 Most-Asked Bourbon Questions Answered → Best Bourbons We've Reviewed — The Liquor Connoisseur's Ranked List → Bardstown Bourbon Small Batch Stave & Finish Review | Bourbon Baby → Bardstown Bo

Looking for a private spirits tasting experience in Oklahoma City? Crystal and Roger of The Liquor Connoisseur® lead the most educational, most enjoyable private bourbon, tequila, and spirits tastings in the OKC metro area — and virtually nationwide. What Is a Private Spirits Tasting With The Liquor Connoisseur? A private tasting with Crystal and Roger is the same expertise and energy from the podcast — live, in person, for your group. 4-5 curated pours of the spirit or spiri

Everything you want to know about Black-owned spirits brands — answered by Crystal and Roger of The Liquor Connoisseur®. What are the best Black-owned bourbon brands? Crystal and Roger's ranked picks: Uncle Nearest 1884 (the fastest-growing American whiskey brand in history, honoring Nathan 'Nearest' Green), Brough Brothers (first Black-owned distillery licensed to produce bourbon in Kentucky), Boogie Chillen Bourbon (John Lee Hooker's legacy), New Dawn Distilling (launched i

Every week Crystal and Roger of The Liquor Connoisseur® taste through a new spirit, interview a founder, or take you inside a distillery. Here's what we've been pouring lately — and what's coming next. 🔥 Most Recent Reviews → Frank August Small Batch Bourbon — 2025 World's Best Bourbon → New Dawn Distilling 10-Year Wheated Bourbon — A Decade of Intention → PonFEIGH Cask Strength Monongahela Rye — 120-Proof Pennsylvania Style → Rivalist American Single Malt — The Category Has

Every spirit Crystal and Roger have reviewed on The Liquor Connoisseur — organized by category, with links to the full review. Updated as new episodes publish. 100+ reviews and counting. No paid placements. No gifted bottles. Every review is our honest assessment. — BOURBON (16 reviews) — → Best Bourbons We've Reviewed — The Liquor Connoisseur's Ranked List → Bardstown Bourbon Small Batch Stave & Finish Review | Bourbon Baby → Bardstown Bourbon Company Rick House Tour | Behin

The best spirits don't require an occasion or a second mortgage. Crystal and Roger have reviewed hundreds of bottles and identified the ones that deliver far more than their price suggests. Every entry on this list has been tasted on-camera with full notes. These are the bottles we reach for every week. 🥇 #1 — Presidente Brandy (~$12) | The Most Underrated Bottle in Any Liquor Store Mexican brandy for $12 that has no business being this enjoyable. Our most-watched review for

The Liquor Connoisseur has reviewed more Black-owned spirits brands than almost any other podcast in the category. This list ranks every brand we've covered — by quality, story, and why they deserve a permanent place on your shelf. Every bottle reviewed on-camera by Crystal and Roger with full tasting notes. No paid placements. 🥇 #1 — Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey The brand that gave Nathan 'Nearest' Green his name back. The fastest-growing American whiskey brand in

The Kilinga Bacanora series reaches its most personal chapter. In Part 3, Crystal and Roger learn the multigenerational family story behind Kilinga — a Bacanora legacy rooted in Sonora, Mexico, and a deep belief that this spirit holds the power to heal, connect, and honor what came before. Episode Highlights Spirit featured: Kilinga Bacanora (Sonora, Mexico) Agave: Pacifica agave, wild-harvested Category: Bacanora — a protected designation of origin spirit Theme: Family legac

Part 2 of the Kilinga Bacanora series moves from origin story to liquid education. Crystal and Roger explore the three core expressions — Blanco, Silvestre, and Reposado — and break down what makes each one distinct, how the Pacifica agave expresses itself differently across these styles, and what tasting Bacanora teaches you about agave spirits as a category. Spirits Covered Kilinga Bacanora Blanco — unaged, pure agave expression Kilinga Bacanora Silvestre — made from wild-h

The Tyree Williams series concludes with its biggest question: how did American spirits come to dominate the global market, and where does the industry go from here? Crystal and Roger bring their sharpest questions to this final conversation, and Tyree delivers with a perspective shaped by years working inside the spirits industry. Episode Highlights Guest: Tyree Williams — spirits industry strategist and educator Topic: America's outsized influence on global spirits Focus: B

If Part 1 explained why spirits brands fail, Part 2 goes deep on the single biggest obstacle every producer faces after making a great product: getting it on a shelf. Crystal and Roger continue their conversation with Tyree Williams on the American three-tier distribution system and what it actually takes to move a bottle from distillery to consumer. Episode Highlights Guest: Tyree Williams — spirits industry educator and strategist Topic: The three-tier distribution system e