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

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

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

The most-asked rye whiskey questions — answered by Crystal and Roger of The Liquor Connoisseur®. What is the legal definition of rye whiskey? American rye whiskey must be made from a mash of at least 51% rye grain, distilled to no more than 160 proof, aged in new charred oak containers, and entered into the barrel at no more than 125 proof. There's no minimum age requirement for straight rye — though Straight Rye must be aged at least 2 years. What does rye whiskey taste like

The most-asked mezcal questions — answered by Crystal and Roger of The Liquor Connoisseur®. What is the difference between mezcal and tequila? Tequila is made exclusively from Blue Weber agave in Jalisco (primarily). Mezcal can be made from 40+ agave species across multiple Mexican states, primarily Oaxaca. Mezcal is traditionally roasted in underground earthen pits, creating a smoky character tequila doesn't have. All tequila is technically mezcal, but not all mezcal is tequ

The most-asked Scotch whisky questions — answered by Crystal and Roger of The Liquor Connoisseur®. What is the difference between single malt and blended Scotch? Single malt Scotch is made from 100% malted barley at a single distillery. Blended Scotch combines malt whisky from multiple distilleries with grain whisky. Single malts showcase one distillery's character; blends are crafted for consistency and approachability. Monkey Shoulder (reviewed by TLC) is a blended malt — a

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

The most-asked rum questions — answered by Crystal and Roger of The Liquor Connoisseur®. What is the difference between white rum, dark rum, and aged rum? White (or silver) rum is typically unaged or lightly filtered after aging — clean, light, and ideal for cocktails. Dark rum is heavily aged and often colored with caramel, producing rich molasses and dried fruit notes. Aged rum is simply rum that has spent significant time in oak barrels, developing complexity regardless of

The most-asked cognac and brandy questions — answered by Crystal and Roger of The Liquor Connoisseur®. What is cognac and how is it made? Cognac is a double-distilled grape brandy from the Cognac region of France, aged in French oak barrels. It must be made from specific grape varieties (primarily Ugni Blanc), distilled in copper pot stills, and aged at least 2 years. The Charente region's chalky soil creates a unique terroir that defines the spirit's character. What is the d

The most-asked tequila questions — answered by Crystal and Roger of The Liquor Connoisseur®. What is the difference between blanco, reposado, and añejo tequila? Blanco (silver) is unaged or aged less than 2 months — the purest expression of the agave. Reposado is aged 2-12 months in oak, adding a golden color and mellowing the agave's bite. Añejo is aged 1-3 years, becoming richer and more complex. Extra Añejo is aged over 3 years — closest to whiskey in character. What does

The most-asked bourbon questions — answered by Crystal and Roger of The Liquor Connoisseur®. What is the difference between bourbon and whiskey? All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. Bourbon is an American whiskey that must be made from at least 51% corn, aged in new charred oak containers, distilled to no more than 160 proof, and produced in the United States. There's no requirement that it be made in Kentucky — though most is. Does bourbon have to be made

The Liquor Connoisseur® was built on a single belief: knowing what's in your glass changes everything about how you drink. Perspection Spirits is the natural extension of that belief — a spirits brand created by Crystal and Roger that asks you to see spirits differently and sip with intention. What Is Perspection Spirits? Perspection Spirits is a Black-owned spirits brand founded by Crystal and Roger — the hosts of The Liquor Connoisseur® podcast. The name comes from a simple

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

Crystal and Roger have reviewed tequila more than any other category — from entry-level blancos to ultra-premium aged expressions. This ranked list covers the bottles that actually delivered. Every expression reviewed on-camera with full tasting notes. Additive-free status noted where confirmed. 🥇 #1 — LALO Tequila Blanco | The Additive-Free Standard The bottle that launched the podcast. Additive-free, NOM 1466, Highlands Jalisco. Clean, honest agave flavor that proves you d