DJ Maverick of the Maverick Podcast brings a musician's ear to the conversation about tequila — and Crystal and Roger discover that the connections between music and spirits run deeper than they expected when you're talking to someone who makes both their life's work. Episode Highlights Guest: DJ Maverick — host of the Maverick Podcast Focus: Music, tequila, and the unexpected intersections between creative disciplines Spirit featured: Tequila (multiple expressions discussed)

Maker's 46 is the innovation play from one of bourbon's most conservative brands. Crystal and Roger revisit this classic to understand what French oak staves inside an already-finished barrel actually accomplish — and whether the result is worth the premium. Bottle Specs Spirit: Maker's Mark 46 Bourbon Whiskey Distillery: Maker's Mark Distillery, Loretto, Kentucky Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon — secondary wood finishing Process: Fully matured Maker's Mark + 10 seared Fr

George Dickel Bottled in Bond has been one of the best-kept secrets in Tennessee whiskey for years. Crystal and Roger make the case that if you're drinking Evan Williams Bottled in Bond, you should know about Dickel — and their verdict is direct. Bottle Specs Spirit: George Dickel Bottled in Bond Tennessee Whisky Distillery: George Dickel & Co., Tullahoma, Tennessee Category: Tennessee Whisky — Bottled in Bond Requirements: Single distillery, single season, aged 4+ years, 100

If you think rum is just for mai tais and mojitos, Flor de Caña is about to change your mind. On this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal and Roger review this legendary Nicaraguan rum aged at the base of a volcano — yes, really. Flor de Caña is a 5th-generation, family-owned company with centuries of distilling tradition. The rum is made from naturally fermented virgin sugar cane and aged without added sugar or artificial flavors. If Scotch whisky can age for decades

Tullamore D.E.W. 12 Year Special Reserve is a bottle with a visual identity problem — the 12-year age statement on this Irish blended whiskey doesn't come with a standard bottle. Crystal and Roger investigate what happens to the flavor when Tullamore decides to do things differently. Bottle Specs Spirit: Tullamore D.E.W. 12 Year Special Reserve Irish Whiskey Distillery: Tullamore Distillery, County Offaly, Ireland (William Grant & Sons) Category: Blended Irish Whiskey — 12-ye

Don't judge a spirit by its label — or its color. On this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal and Roger review LaGritona Reposado Tequila, an all-women tequila brand making a statement in a male-dominated industry. LaGritona is a lightly colored reposado aged for 8 months, which gives it a delicate golden hue and a flavor profile that bridges the brightness of a blanco with the subtle complexity of a longer-aged expression. From the agave forward notes to the soft oak

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

The best pours of 2023 — Crystal and Roger look back at a full year of Swirl, Sniff, Sip, and Savor to identify the bottles that left the deepest impressions. This year-end recap is a master class in how thoughtful drinking accumulates into genuine expertise. Year in Review Format: Year-end best-of recap — Crystal & Roger's top pours of 2023 Criteria: Bottles that stood out for quality, value, surprise, or significance Categories: Bourbon, Irish, Scotch, Tequila, Rum, Brandy,

Brough Brothers Bourbon is the first Black-owned bourbon distillery in Kentucky history. Crystal and Roger open this bottle knowing that history and evaluate the liquid with the same standards they apply to every pour — and the bourbon delivers on both counts. Bottle Specs Spirit: Brough Brothers Bourbon Whiskey Distillery: Brough Brothers Distillery, Louisville, Kentucky Founders: Victor, Christian, and Phillip Yarbrough — brothers Historic distinction: First Black-owned bou

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

Ursula Dunn joins Crystal and Roger to explain the Sista Supply Chain Network — a community and resource network for women in the spirits supply chain. This isn't a spirits review; it's an episode about the infrastructure that makes diverse ownership in spirits possible. Episode Highlights Guest: Ursula Dunn — founder/organizer, Sista Supply Chain Network Organization: Sista Supply Chain Network — women in spirits supply chain Focus: Community, resource-sharing, and professio

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

Wilderness Trail Wheated Bourbon Bottled in Bond has become a cornerstone of The Liquor Connoisseur's recommendations — the wheated bourbon that Crystal and Roger return to again and again. Here's why it earned that place. Bottle Specs Spirit: Wilderness Trail Wheated Bourbon Bottled in Bond Distillery: Wilderness Trail Distillery, Danville, Kentucky Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon — Bottled in Bond (4+ years, 100 proof) Mashbill: Wheated bourbon — wheat replaces rye ABV:

Maggie's Farm 50/50 Dark Rum is a blend — half pot still rum, half column still rum — and Crystal and Roger use this bottle to make the case that rum blends deserve as much respect as any other blended spirits tradition. Bottle Specs Spirit: Maggie's Farm 50/50 Dark Rum Distillery: Maggie's Farm Rum, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Category: American Craft Rum — blended (pot still and column still) Blend: 50% pot still rum, 50% column still rum Aging: Blend aged in American oak barr

Crystal and Roger open Armagnac de Montal with one of the most memorable comparisons in Liquor Connoisseur history: Beyoncé is to Cognac what Solange is to Armagnac. The analogy captures exactly why Armagnac deserves more credit than it gets. Bottle Specs Spirit: Armagnac de Montal Region: Armagnac, Gascony, France — specifically Bas-Armagnac sub-region Category: Armagnac — France's oldest eau-de-vie tradition Production: Single continuous distillation in Armagnac alembic ABV