Every episode of The Liquor Connoisseur Podcast is on Spotify. All 127 episodes are listed below — click any link to listen. Follow the show so you never miss a new episode. 🆕 2025–2026: Latest Episodes EP127: The Industry Shakeout — https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-liquor-connoisseur/episodes/The-Industry-Shakeout-Brown-Forman--Pernod-Ricard-MERGER---The-Uncle-Nearest-Receivership-Saga-e3hepdm | EP126: Bhakta 1928 Review — https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/

✍️ About The Liquor Connoisseur Blog Welcome to The Liquor Connoisseur Blog — the written companion to our podcast and the home base for our ongoing spirits education mission. Whether you found us through an episode, a Google search, or a friend who wouldn't stop talking about a bottle we reviewed, we're glad you're here. Who We Are Crystal and Roger are OKC-based spirit enthusiasts, educators, and the hosts of The Liquor Connoisseur Podcast. Since launching in 2023, we've pu

🌿 SPIRIT 101: GIN Gin is the most botanically diverse spirit in the world. Whether you're a gin lover or gin-skeptic, understanding how it's made and the range of styles available will completely change how you approach the category. What Makes It Gin? Gin starts with a neutral grain spirit (usually wheat or rye) that is redistilled or infused with botanicals. The only legal requirement is that juniper berries must be the predominant flavor. Beyond that, distillers have near

🗺️ THE LC CONNOISSEUR JOURNEY: YOUR ROADMAP FROM BEGINNER TO ADVANCED The Liquor Connoisseur was built on one idea: you don't have to drink the most expensive bottles to be a connoisseur. A connoisseur is someone who drinks with intention — who knows what they're drinking, where it comes from, how it's made, and why it tastes the way it does. This guide is your roadmap. LEVEL 1: THE CURIOUS DRINKER You're here if: You drink what you know. You order by brand name. You've neve

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 SPIRIT 101: SCOTCH WHISKY Scotch has a reputation for being intimidating — complex, expensive, and hard to decode. But once you understand the basics, it becomes one of the most rewarding categories in all of spirits. This guide gives you everything you need to start or deepen your Scotch journey. What Makes It Scotch? Scotch must be: Made entirely in Scotland. Aged at least 3 years in oak casks. Bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV. It is made primarily from malted

💧 SPIRIT 101: VODKA Vodka gets a bad reputation as a flavorless, neutral filler spirit. But quality vodka has tremendous nuance — the base ingredient, distillation method, and water source all contribute to subtle but real differences in texture, mouthfeel, and finish. This guide will change how you look at the category. What is Vodka? Vodka is a neutral spirit distilled to a very high proof (typically 190 proof / 95% ABV) and then diluted back down to bottling strength (usu

📖 THE LC SPIRITS GLOSSARY Every time you hear a term on the podcast or read it on a label and wonder what it means — this is your reference. We'll keep adding to this as new episodes drop. A – C ABV (Alcohol by Volume): The percentage of alcohol in a spirit. Standard spirits are 40% ABV (80 proof). Cask strength can reach 60%+. Age Statement: The number on a bottle indicating the youngest spirit in the blend. A 12-year Scotch contains no whisky younger than 12 years. Angel's

🔥 SPIRIT 101: MEZCAL Mezcal is the parent category that tequila belongs to — and it is infinitely more complex. While tequila is made from one agave variety in a handful of states, mezcal can be made from over 30 varieties of agave across nine Mexican states. It is one of the most terroir-driven spirits in the world. Tequila vs. Mezcal — The Key Differences All tequila is mezcal — but not all mezcal is tequila. Tequila can only use Blue Weber Agave. Mezcal uses dozens of aga

⚓ SPIRIT 101: RUM Rum is one of the oldest, most diverse, and most misunderstood spirits in the world. It spans everything from the light white rums in your summer cocktail to ancient, complex aged expressions that rival the finest cognacs. This guide will change how you think about rum. What Makes It Rum? Rum is distilled from sugarcane byproducts — most commonly molasses, the dark syrup left after sugar is extracted from cane juice. Some rums, called rhum agricole or cane j

🌾 SPIRIT 101: RYE WHISKEY Rye whiskey is America's original spirit — predating bourbon by decades. It was the dominant American whiskey before Prohibition, nearly disappeared afterward, and has experienced a dramatic renaissance over the last 15 years. If you love bourbon but want more spice and complexity, rye is your next step. What Makes It Rye? American rye must be made from a mash bill of at least 51% rye grain. Like bourbon, it must be aged in new, charred oak containe

🍇 SPIRIT 101: COGNAC & ARMAGNAC Cognac is the most famous brandy in the world. Armagnac is France's oldest. Both are made from grapes in southwestern France — but they are produced in different ways, have different characters, and tell different stories. This guide covers both. What is Brandy? Brandy is simply distilled wine or fermented fruit juice. It can be made anywhere in the world from almost any fruit. But the most celebrated brandies in the world come from France — C

🌵 SPIRIT 101: TEQUILA Tequila is one of the most misunderstood spirits in the world. Most people's first experience with it was a bad one — cheap, harsh, the kind that burns and leaves regret. But quality tequila is something else entirely. This guide breaks it all down. What Makes It Tequila? True tequila must be made from 100% Blue Weber Agave in one of five designated Mexican states — primarily Jalisco. The agave plant takes 7-10 years to mature before it can be harvested

🥃 SPIRIT 101: BOURBON Bourbon is America's native spirit — and arguably the most misunderstood one. Whether you're just starting your journey or looking to sharpen what you already know, this guide covers everything you need to understand bourbon from the ground up. What Makes It Bourbon? Bourbon must meet five legal requirements: (1) Made in the United States. (2) The mash bill must be at least 51% corn. (3) Distilled to no more than 160 proof. (4) Aged in new, charred oak

LALO Tequila was one of the first bottles Crystal and Roger ever reviewed on The Liquor Connoisseur — and it's the one that set the standard. Named after the founder's grandfather Eduardo "Lalo" Gonzalez, LALO Blanco is a 100% Blue Weber Agave tequila with zero additives. It's made at one of Mexico's most storied distilleries (NOM 1146), home to the legendary El Tesoro brand. Bright agave, citrus, and white pepper on the palate with a clean, lingering finish. This is tequila

Remy Martin V is not your grandmother's brandy. On this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal and Roger review Remy Martin V — a clear, unaged eau-de-vie made from 100% fine Champagne Cognac grapes. Bottled at 40% ABV with no aging and no color, Remy V is light, fresh, and surprisingly refreshing — the perfect spirit for warm weather cocktails. Think floral notes, fresh grape, and a clean finish that plays beautifully in a spritz or mixed drink. If you've written off bra

Tequila Tromba is on a mission to make great tequila and heal the planet at the same time. On this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal and Roger sit down with Katy O'Donnell, VP of Brand Development at Tromba, to taste through an incredible lineup including the massive 3.75-liter "Big Tromba" Blanco, the exclusive 48% ABV "Beast Mode" Reposado created with Marshawn Lynch, the elegant Tromba Añejo, and Cafeto — a revolutionary cold-extracted Mexican coffee liqueur. Beyo

Blackland Distillery in Fort Worth, Texas is making grain-to-glass whiskey that belongs in any serious conversation about American bourbon. On this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal and Roger review Blackland Prairie Gold Bourbon and take you inside the distillery's craft process. Prairie Gold is made from locally sourced Texas grains, distilled on-site, and aged in the brutal Texas heat — which accelerates maturation and creates a uniquely bold, expressive bourbon.

What happens when you take a vodka and rest it in a barrel? You get Acre Golden Halo — a barrel-rested vodka that blurs the line between categories. On this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal and Roger review this unique expression from Acre Distilling in Fort Worth, Texas. Golden Halo takes a clean, grain-based vodka and gives it oak contact, resulting in a spirit with the smoothness of vodka and the warmth and color of a lightly aged whiskey. It's a clever product t

Anteel Tequila is a unique expression built for the modern spirit drinker who wants quality, transparency, and something a little different. On this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal and Roger review Anteel and break down how this tequila is made, what makes it stand out in a crowded category, and whether the price point justifies the purchase. From the production process to tasting notes, they walk through everything you need to know before you add Anteel to your ca

Pierre Ferrand has been crafting Cognac in the heart of the Grande Champagne region for generations, and this original expression is where the story begins. On this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal and Roger review Pierre Ferrand Cognac from The Liquor Library — a beautifully balanced expression with dried fruit, baking spice, and a long floral finish that speaks to the quality of Grande Champagne terroir. For those who have already seen our later review of the Pier