The Manhattan is rye whiskey's cocktail — built specifically to showcase the spice and complexity that rye brings to a stirred drink. Crystal and Roger use Michter's Single Barrel Straight Rye as their house Manhattan whiskey. Why Michter's Single Barrel Rye Is the Manhattan Rye Michter's Single Barrel Straight Rye is the World's Most Admired Whiskey (Drinks International, two years running). In a Manhattan, the rye's spice plays against sweet vermouth's fruit and bitterness

The Old Fashioned is the oldest cocktail in the American whiskey canon. It's also the most frequently made wrong. Crystal and Roger break down exactly how to make one — and which bourbon to use. Why Wild Turkey 101 Is the Right Bourbon for an Old Fashioned An Old Fashioned requires a bourbon with enough backbone to stand up to sugar and bitters without being overwhelmed. Wild Turkey 101 at 101 proof has that backbone. The high-rye mashbill adds spice that complements Angostur

Hochatown Distilling Co. is the most complete craft distillery operation Crystal and Roger have visited. Located in Broken Bow, Oklahoma — two hours southeast of Oklahoma City in the Ouachita Mountains — it's worth the drive. Here's the complete guide to visiting. Getting There Hochatown Distilling Co. is located near Broken Bow, Oklahoma in the heart of the Hochatown tourism corridor — the same area known for cabin rentals, Beavers Bend State Park, and the Ouachita National

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.

Most conversations about Black-owned spirits start in Kentucky, New York, or California. Crystal and Roger are building Perspection Spirits in Oklahoma City — and there's a reason for that. Oklahoma's Spirits History Is Underwritten Oklahoma didn't have legal distilleries for most of its history — Prohibition-era laws lingered in the state code long after national repeal. The craft spirits movement here is young, which means the story of what Oklahoma spirits can be is still

Most people pick up a bottle, look at the price, and put it back. Crystal and Roger pick up a bottle and read it like a document. Here's every term on a spirits label explained — what it actually means and what it tells you about what's inside. ABV / Proof — The Most Misunderstood Number ABV (Alcohol By Volume) is the percentage of the liquid that is alcohol. Proof is ABV multiplied by 2 — American convention. So 50% ABV = 100 proof. Higher proof generally means more intense

Spirits pairing is one of the most underexplored areas of food education. Crystal and Roger have covered chocolate and spirits with Bissinger's, cocktail mixers with Fresh Victor, and glassware experiments with Planteray. Here's the full guide to pairing spirits with food — what works, what doesn't, and why. Bourbon + Chocolate Crystal and Roger explored this pairing with Dan Abel Jr. of Bissinger's — one of America's oldest craft chocolate makers. The combination works becau

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

Oklahoma has one of the most underrated craft distillery scenes in the country. Crystal and Roger have visited and reviewed multiple Oklahoma distilleries on The Liquor Connoisseur® — here's the complete guide to what's worth knowing, visiting, and buying. Hochatown Distilling Co. — Broken Bow, Oklahoma Located in the Ouachita Mountains of southeast Oklahoma near Broken Bow, Hochatown Distilling is one of the most complete craft distillery operations in the state. Crystal and

American Single Malt whiskey officially became its own recognized category in 2024 — and The Liquor Connoisseur® has been covering its rise. Here's everything you need to know about the category that's changing how the world thinks about American whiskey. What Is American Single Malt Whiskey? American Single Malt (ASM) whiskey is made from 100% malted barley at a single distillery in the United States. The TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) officially recognized i

Most spirits enthusiasts have heard of tequila and mezcal. Almost none have heard of Bacanora. That's exactly why we spent three full episodes on it — and why this is the most comprehensive Bacanora guide in English-language spirits media. What Is Bacanora? Bacanora is a distilled agave spirit produced exclusively in the state of Sonora, Mexico. It's made from a single agave species — Agave angustifolia, known as the Pacifica or Yaquiana agave. It received its Denomination of

Cask finishing has become one of the most talked-about techniques in premium spirits. Crystal and Roger have reviewed dozens of finished expressions — from bourbon finished in French rosé casks to rye finished in rum barrels. Here's what it actually means and how to evaluate whether it's worth the price. What Is Cask Finishing? Cask finishing is a secondary maturation process where a fully aged spirit is moved from its primary aging barrel into a different type of cask for an

Nosing is the single most underused skill in spirits education. Most people pour and sip. The ones who learn to nose properly get dramatically more out of every glass — and Crystal and Roger teach this skill at every tasting they lead. Here's the full method. Why Nosing Matters More Than Tasting Roughly 80% of what we perceive as flavor is actually smell. Your tongue can only detect sweet, sour, salt, bitter, and umami. Everything else — the vanilla, the dried fruit, the toba

Crystal and Roger take an unexpected turn and get hands-on with spirit production — specifically, the process of converting corn whiskey into what it needs to become bourbon. This deep dive into production education is one of the most instructive episodes in The Liquor Connoisseur's catalog. Episode Highlights Topic: Corn whiskey to bourbon — the production requirements Legal standard: Bourbon must be made from 51%+ corn in new charred oak The gap: What separates corn whiskey

In the world of spirits, from the fiery depths of whiskey to the refined elegance of wine, a crucial element in crafting their complex...