Blackland Distillery's Prairie Gold Bourbon is a Texas grain-to-glass statement: every step of production happens in Fort Worth, from the local grain to the barrel to the bottle. Crystal and Roger evaluate whether Texas terroir makes a better bourbon or just a more expensive one. Bottle Specs Spirit: Blackland Prairie Gold Straight Bourbon Whiskey Distillery: Blackland Distillery, Fort Worth, Texas Production: Grain-to-glass — locally sourced Texas grain Grain: Texas-grown co

Acre Golden Halo is a barrel-rested vodka that approaches its category with whiskey maker sensibility. Crystal and Roger evaluate whether a vodka that thinks like whiskey is actually a vodka worth drinking — or something else entirely. Bottle Specs Spirit: Acre Distilling Golden Halo Barrel-Rested Vodka Distillery: Acre Distilling Co., Fort Worth, Texas Category: Barrel-Rested Vodka Base: Grain vodka — column distilled Aging: American oak barrel rest ABV: ~40% Price: ~$35–40

Barrel-aged gin is one of the most interesting cross-category experiments in spirits, and Crystal and Roger run a direct comparison: Blackland vs. Rabbit Hole, two very different approaches to the same concept. Which philosophy wins? Bottle Specs Spirit 1: Blackland Distillery Barrel-Rested Gin — Fort Worth, Texas Spirit 2: Rabbit Hole Distillery Barrel-Aged Gin — Louisville, Kentucky Category: Barrel-Rested / Barrel-Aged Gin Key comparison: Texas craft vs. Kentucky craft, di

Same Old Moses from Wanderfolk Spirits in Guthrie, Oklahoma is already a fan favorite — but now the distillery has released two bold new specialty expressions: a Sauternes Double Barrel Rye and an Amarone Double Barrel Rye. On this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal and Roger dig into both to see if these wine cask finishes have the Rye(t) stuff. The Sauternes finish brings a honeyed sweetness and stone fruit complexity, while the Amarone delivers deep, wine-soaked ri

Valentine's Day demands a better whiskey than Fireball. Crystal and Roger make the case for Cinnamon Girl Whiskey — a premium cinnamon expression that takes everything the mainstream brand does and does it properly. Bottle Specs Spirit: Cinnamon Girl Whiskey Category: Premium Cinnamon Flavored Whiskey Base: American whiskey with natural cinnamon flavoring ABV: Higher than Fireball (~33%) — check specific bottling Price: ~$25–35 Valentine's Day positioning: Gift-ready presenta

Woodworks Distilling is doing something ambitious: making a four-grain vodka at a time when most craft vodkas claim simplicity as a virtue. Crystal and Roger evaluate whether four grains produce a better vodka or just a more complicated one. Bottle Specs Spirit: Woodworks Distilling 4 Grain Vodka Distillery: Woodworks Distilling, Oklahoma Category: American Craft Vodka — multi-grain Grains: Four-grain mashbill (corn, wheat, rye, and malted barley) ABV: 40% Price: ~$30–35 Okla