Fawn Weaver's 'Love & Whiskey' tells the story of Uncle Nearest — the enslaved man who taught Jack Daniel how to make whiskey, and whose legacy was erased for over a century. Crystal and Roger review the book right after its release and share why it's required reading for anyone who takes American whiskey seriously. Book Highlights Title: Love & Whiskey by Fawn Weaver Author: Fawn Weaver — founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey Subject: Nathan 'Nearest' Green — the

The Hochatown Distilling story gets deeper in Part 2 — Crystal and Roger go further into what makes this southeastern Oklahoma distillery special, exploring more of the operation, tasting through more expressions, and understanding the long-term vision Tommy has for the brand. Episode Highlights Distillery: Hochatown Distilling Co., Broken Bow, Oklahoma Format: Distillery tour continuation — Part 2 of 2 Focus: Production depth, additional expressions, long-term brand vision L

Hochatown Distilling Company is hidden in the forests of southeastern Oklahoma, but what they're building isn't hidden at all — it's one of the most interesting craft distillery stories in the region. Crystal and Roger sit down with founder Tommy for the first of a two-part exploration of a distillery that's doing things right. Episode Highlights Distillery: Hochatown Distilling Co., Broken Bow, Oklahoma Founder: Tommy (owner and head distiller) Location: Broken Bow, McCurtai

The 3,000-bottle vault reaches its grand finale — the bottles that were held back for last, the pours that tested Crystal and Roger's descriptive vocabulary, and the closing verdict on one of the most memorable experiences in Liquor Connoisseur history. Episode Highlights Series: Holy Grail of Whiskey — 3,000-Bottle Vault | Part 4 of 4 Vault owner: Private collector (identity held by host) Bottles featured: Final, highest-tier expressions from the vault Theme: Completion of a

The 3,000-bottle vault goes deeper in Part 3 — and the bottles get more significant. Crystal and Roger push past the initial awe of the collection to ask harder questions about what these bottles represent, why someone builds something like this, and what the act of preservation means in the context of spirits that were made to be consumed. Episode Highlights Series: Holy Grail of Whiskey — 3,000-Bottle Vault | Part 3 of 4 Format: Continued vault exploration with higher-tier

In Part 2 of the sherry cask conversation, Crystal and Roger and their wine expert guest move from theory to application — tasting through specific sherry-cask-finished whiskies and discussing exactly what the sherry influence does to each expression. Episode Highlights Series: Sherry Cask Deep Dive — Part 2 of 2 Guest: Wine connoisseur with sherry expertise Focus: Tasting sherry-cask-finished whiskeys and analyzing the sherry influence Key expressions: Range of sherry-finish

Sherry casks are one of the most consequential variables in whisky aging — responsible for the dried fruit, Christmas spice, and rich sweetness in some of the world's most beloved expressions. Crystal and Roger bring in a wine connoisseur with genuine sherry expertise to understand this from both sides of the oak. Episode Highlights Series: Sherry Cask Deep Dive — Part 1 of 2 Guest: Wine connoisseur with Sherry expertise Focus: What sherry casks are, where they come from, how

The Vault Gets Even More Incredible Crystal and Roger's visit to Patrick Doris's legendary 3,000-bottle whiskey vault continues in Part 2. After an astonishing first episode, this installment goes deeper into the collection — uncovering more rare, vintage, and downright unbelievable bottles that most whiskey lovers will only ever see on a screen. Deeper Into the Collection In Part 2, the conversation gets more specific. Patrick walks Crystal and Roger through standout acquisi

Inside the Most Insane Whiskey Collection We've Ever Seen What does a 3,000-bottle whiskey vault look like? Crystal and Roger found out firsthand when they visited ultimate collector Patrick Doris for a four-part series that will make any whiskey lover's jaw drop. This is Part 1 of a deep dive into one of the most extraordinary private whiskey collections in America. About Patrick Doris & The Collection Patrick Doris has spent years curating a whiskey collection that is nothi

When Spirits Meet Street Food Crystal and Roger teamed up with the OKCFoodEater for a special cocktail session featuring Cinnamon Girl Whiskey — the Oklahoma-born spirit that's been turning the flavored whiskey game on its head. What happens when a food influencer meets a whiskey brand in a fly session? Pure entertainment. About Cinnamon Girl Whiskey Cinnamon Girl is a flavored whiskey crafted in Oklahoma that strikes the rare balance between approachable and genuinely delici

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