Barrel to Bottle, The Binny's Podcast

The haze craze isn't just a phase. At long last and by popular request, we are tackling Hazy IPAs. Also known as New England IPAs. Or Juicy IPAs. Producer Jim, long just a background laugh, hops (pun!) on the mic to blind taste the Barrel to Bottle Crew on six Hazy IPAs. Will the holdouts finally be convinced of the validity of this style? Download to find out.

The industry has fallen in love with Binny's Handpicked Casks, but how does the Whiskey Hotline pick spirits for the legendary program? This episode of Barrel to Bottle is your chance to be there for the handpicking process. The Whiskey Hotline is joined by Greg Metze, Master Distiller at Old Elk Distillery and formerly of Seagram's Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, one of the world's largest distilleries. Together they'll pick four new barrels of Binny's Handpicks. Listen for industry secrets from Old Elk and insider dirt on MGP. Plus a customer Q&A about whiskey on the rocks.

So it's come to this, another Barrel to Bottle Q&A episode. It's the holiday weekend and the Barrel to Bottle Crew felt like taking a break, luckily we've got a huge backlog of listener questions to tackle. Vacation, we had to get away

Did you know that Binny's can also help you plan the biggest moments of your life? Binny's event planner, Alex Tornai joins the Barrel to Bottle Crew as they throw out some common party-planning scenarios he might encounter. Alex also shares a few tips and secrets, then stick around for a customer Q&A question about an engagement whiskey bottle.

CAN. YOU. DIG. IT? Team Truly or Team White Claw? Since the last time the Barrel to Bottle crew covered this topic, cans have blown up. Binny's stores have stacks on stacks on stacks of hard seltzers, hard waters and canned cocktails, and there are new products every week. And don't forget about canned wines either! How did we get here? What are these things exactly? All of your questions will be answered, plus wind down your summer with some warm weather drink recs during the Customer Q&A. Here's what we sampled on this week's episode: Truly Wild Berry Smirnoff Cranberry Lime Spiked Sparking Seltzer White Claw Mango Bon & Viv Variety Pack Cupcake Rosè Capriccio Rosè High Noon Sun Sips Watermelon High Noon Sun Sips Grapefruit Two Brothers Artisan Spirits Pineapple Mango Vodka Soda Boulevard Fling Blood Orange Vodka Soda Two Brothers Artisan Spirits Moscow Mule The Copper Can Moscow Mule New Holland Spirits Holland Mule Cutwater Spirits Lime Margarita BuzzTallz Lime Rita Two Brothers Artisan Spirits Mojito Boulevard Fling Mai Tai New Holland Spirits Blueberry Gin Lemonade Boulevard Fling Cucumber Lime Gin and Tonic Boulevard Fling Margarita Two Brothers Bloody Mary

Portugal: it's not just fortified sweet wines and inexpensive vinho verde. Barb traveled to Portugal and it left such an impression, so she had to share it with the Barrel to Bottle crew. From Dão to Douro and all points in between, Barb sampled a wide and diverse variety of wines and ate a lot of salted cod. Plus, the challenges of making Portuguese appealing to U.S. drinkers. Stick around for the Q&A segment and learn why white wine usually doesn't age as long as red wine. Taste along at home with DAC Red Blend, São Miguel do Sul, Pratts & Symington Post Scriptum de Chyrseia plus Caso do Valle Vinho Verde.

Are you ready to get FLAVOR BLASTED?! If you like bolder flavors, if you only vacation in Flavor Country, if you like things turned up to 11, then this is the episode for you! The Barrel to Bottle crew blind tastes four flavor-blasted whiskies and then follows that up with six flavor-blasted beers. Plus, how do they fare on the vaunted Flavor-Blasted Scale? You'll have to listen to find out! Plus in the Customer Q&A, Top 3 Desert Island Beers from the Barrel to Bottle crew.

Sometimes at Barrel to Bottle there's just too much good stuff for one episode. When you get someone like Greg Hall into the podcast studio, it's hard to stop asking him questions.

How do you follow up Bourbon County Stout? For Greg Hall, son of Goose Island founder John Hall, it started nearly 20 years ago during a trip to England. Ciders became a passion, but they took a backseat to the barrel-aged beer phenomenon. After leaving Goose Island, Greg founded Virtue Cider and began producing some of our bestselling ciders from the heart of Michigan apple country. Join the Barrel to Bottle crew as they taste Virtue Michigan Brut and Virtue Rosè. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the Barrel to Bottle Team (and Greg Hall!) share their favorite beers ever.

In the sixty years since its founding, Rodney Strong Vineyards has grown to near ubiquity in the world of wine. Director of Winemaking Justin Seidenfeld joins Greg and Binny's Head of Wine Barbara Hermann to speak to the historic importance of the winery, including the founding for the Russian River Valley and Chalk Hill regions. He shares how he uses a modern, state of the art winery and vineyard management to produce classically styled, consistent wines in large enough quantities to be available everywhere. And he shares his experience tasting holy s*** wines. Wines tasted include Rodney Strong Charlotte's Home Sauvignon Blanc, Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon and Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. Stick around for the Q&A segment, where Justin answers your question about harvesting grapes.

It's finally here: the long-awaited RUM episode. Pat breathlessly shares his passion for this often misunderstood spirits category, and although it's a podcast and you can't see it, Roger dressed up like a pirate. You'll learn all about the rich Caribbean and global history of rum, and all about rum's complicated production including what a "muck pit" is. Actually, it's exactly what you're imagining. The team tastes El Dorado 3 Year, El Dorado 15 year, Plantation Fiji, the shockingly funky Two James Doctor Bird and Foursquare Premise. Stick around for listener Q&A, when the team explains charcoal filtering and the Lincoln County process, and other bourbon myths.

Barrel Sours are where it's at, right? Think again! Roger walks the team through the difference and highlights some excellent examples in an absurd lineup of American sours: beers tasted include Dogfish Head Sea Quench and Super Eight (which not only contains eight super foods, but can also be used to develop film), Logsdon Spontane Wilde (which Pat calls "one of the best American made sour beers" he's ever tasted) and The Convesion Series 2, Firestone Walker Paw2 Prints, Off Color The One Percent, and finally, The Rare Barrel Wise Guise. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team shines light on the mysterious golden stout style.

Even if you're not that into wine, you've probably heard of The Prisoner, which is just one of the many wines created by Dave Phinney. Dave shares his experience in wine making in California and beyond and shares tastes of Orin Swift wines Blank Stare, Mannequin, Slander and Abstract with the Barrel to Bottle team. Topics include the benefits of partnering with Gallo, the origin stories of some of his distinctive labels, balancing the dirty work of vineyard management and wine making with the inspiration of marketing, and making a 200 point wine that sells for a trillion dollars. Plus Pat shares the details of an upcoming release of exclusive Binny's Handpicked expressions from Phinney's distillery project Savage & Cooke.

What started as a cool little Chicago darling has grown to become a global distilling presence: Koval. President and cofounder Sonat Birnecker Hart started Koval with her husband Robert, opting to buy a still instead of a house. Sonat walks the team through what it takes to grow the little guy: a lot of effort, knowledge and care. The team tastes Koval Bourbon and rye, and Koval gin and cranberry gin. Sonat covers the range, from an insider's view into distilling whiskies the brandy way, to the magic behind Koval's award winning package designs. Oh, and what happened to the spelt whiskey. Plus, in this week's Q&A segment, what bourbon would Animal drink, if he were real (and not a muppet)?

Saison may be the easiest style of beer to brew - and the hardest to master. Roger walks the Barrel to Bottle team through this classic style, showcasing timeless examples including Saison Dupont, Brasserie Dupont Cuvee Dry Hop, Allagash Saison and Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale. Then the rest of the team mutines, opening some additional American craft examples, and hilarity ensues. Stick around for the Q&A segment for your chance to win a $20 if your question is answered on the podcast. This week's question pits "micro brew" vs. "craft brew."

This week on Barrel to Bottle, a man whose name is synonymous with Napa Valley, Michael Mondavi. Michael shares his unique perspective in a conversation that's lighthearted but touches on some vital issues in the wine world and beyond: from natural, organic and biodynamic viticulture; labor shortages in an age when a legal, documented migrant workforce is scarce: the impact climate change is having on grape vines today; the changing role of the wine critic; to the timeless, refreshing taste of rose over ice. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team answers your question about where to start with old world wine.

World class whisky from a sub tropical climate? Kavalan makes it look easy. In this special Whiskey Hotline episode of Barrel to Bottle, Pat, Brett and Joe taste their way through Kavalan's offerings with Master Blender Ian Chang. Taiwan's first distillery has been running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week since opening in 2006. Ian also teases Kavalan's upcoming triple pot distilled single malt gin, and helps the guys during the Q&A segment, featuring your question about barrel placement in rackhouses.

Gin: it's a canvas for expression to distillers, a clutch tool to elevate cocktails for mixologists, and an excitingly diverse spirit for the Barrel to Bottle team to taste. Binny's Skokie Assistant Manager Shannon leads the podcast team through a tour of some of her recent gin discoveries: Boone County Jail Gin, Old Elk Distillery Dry Town Gin, Copper & Kings American Dry Gin, Few Spirits Bourbon Barrel Aged Gin, Sipsmith London Sloe Gin and the limited Hendrick's Midsummer Solstice. Stick around for this week's Q&A segment: it's a stumper that tests the team's Scotch smarts.

Old Forester is making a huge comeback, propelled by great new releases and the contributions of fresh blood including Master Taster Jackie Zykan. Jackie joins the Barrel to Bottle team to taste through some excellent bottles from Old Forester, including two now nearly unobtainable Binny's handpicks (a few bottles are still out there, so if you see one, buy it!) plus Old Fo's 1897 Bottled in Bond and their new 100 Proof Rye. Topics include tasting to a brand's profile, what is the mullet of bourbon whiskey, not being an ageist or a floorist, tasting flaws and blind spots and why having more or fewer taste buds don't specifically make you a better or worse taster. And stick around for the Q&A segment - this week the team gives away three $20 gift cards and answers your questions. #tryrye #oldfonotjustforoldfolks

Spain is more than old school! Just back from his trip to Spain, Binny's Oak Brook Wine Manager Jon Adam joins the Barrel to Bottle team to highlight wines from two thriving Spanish winemaking regions: Rueda and Ribera del Duero. The team tastes whites from Rueda: Jose Pariente Sauvignon Blanc, Naia Rueda and Naia Naiades; and reds from Ribera del Duero: Torres Celeste Crianza Blue Label, Protos Reserva and Vega Sicilia Valbuena. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when your questions are answered for a $20 Binny's Gift Card. This week, the team explains why wine prices can vary so much from bottle to bottle.

Director of Winemaking at Hess, David Guffy, is back on the Barrel to Bottle podcast. Topics include his love of malbec and cabernet, earthquakes and fires and his daily commute, the impact of elevation, and of course, winery dogs. The team tastes through a flight of Hess cabernet, including Hess Select, Hess Collection Allomi Vineyard, Hess Collection Mount Veeder, and the iconic The Lion. Stick around for the Q&A portion of the podcast, when David and the Barrel to Bottle Team share their favorite wine coffee table books.

Another industry giant joins the Barrel to Bottle podcast. This week, it's Stone Brewing Executive Chairman and Co-founder Greg Koch. Greg and the team taste Stone IPA, Arrogant Consortia's Arrogant Bastard and Enter Night, plus Courage Russian Imperial Stout (made by Wells &Young, not by Stone) and Stone Imperial Russian Stout 2014 (from Roger's personal stash). This episode marks Greg's first Malort experience. Other topics include hanging with Metallica, helping to make "Russian Imperial Stout" a thing, staying fresh in a beer scene that's always chasing what's new, and how PET is destroying the planet. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when Greg tackles the perennial listener question "bottles or cans?"

How do you describe what you're tasting? How do you put into words the difference between a navel orange and a mandarin orange? This week's Barrel to Bottle podcast is all about the language we - tasters and critics both professional and amateur - use to describe wine, spirits and beer, from flavor to texture and beyond. And stick around to the end. Host Kristen has some big news.

Aging red wines is common - but what about aging white wines? Kristen is joined by Binny's Wine Buyer Bill Newton and legendary German wine importer Derek Vinnicombe, plus producers Paul Anheuser and Stefen Bollig. The team talks recent German vintages, differences across years and drinking these wines aged and unaged. To illustrate, the team tries young and old bottles from the same vineyard side by side: Bollig Lehnert Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Spatlese from 2018 and 2006. Also Paul Anheuser Keuznacher Krotenpfuhl Riesling Auslese 2001. And it's not all about white! Germany also makes great red wines, and the team tastes Heyden Pinot Noir 2016. These guys are fun!

Ian Millar has seen it all and has the stories and knowledge to prove it. Ian and Kirstin Grant of William Grant & Sons join the Barrel to Bottle Crew for a conversation about the past, present and future of Glenfiddich. It wouldn't be a Barrel to Bottle podcast without sampling some of their fine Scotch, including the Glenfiddich 12-year-old, Glenfiddich 14-year-old and Fire & Cane, a blend of peated and unpeated Scotch, aged in Rum barrels. Plus, Ian and the team revisit the legendary Annasach Reserve 25 Year blend.

In a beer scene dominated by all the hottest styles and latest releases, sometimes it's refreshing to take a look at the classics. On this week's episode of Barrel to Bottle, Master Brewer Gavin Scoreby shares all the ways Samuel Smith's Old Brewery keeps things traditional, from their centuries-old brewhouse to local delivery powered by horse. The team tastes Sam Smith's Nut Brown Ale, Organic Lager, Oatmeal Stout, Organic Chocolate Stout, and Apple and Perry Ciders. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team answers your question about gluten free and reduced beers.

In 1981, the Widmer family fell in love with Tuscany, purchasing the Brancaia estate in Castellina in Chianti. Since then, with oenologist Barbara Widmer at the winemaking helm, Brancaia has grown to include three estates across Tuscany and a portfolio of accessible and world-class wines. Barbara walks the Barrel to Bottle team through some of her favorites, including Brancaia Tre, Chianti Classico Riserva, Ilatraia and Il Blu. And stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team answers your question about Bordeaux futures.

Not only is Westland Distillery leading the charge for American single malt whiskey, but they're capturing the Pacific Northwest in every bottle of single malt whiskey they produce (yes, whiskey with an E, it's American). Westland cofounder and master distiller Matt Hofmann leads the Barrel to Bottle team through an in-depth tour of his whiskies, from their core range - American Oak, Peated, and Sherry Wood - plus multiple years from their limited Peat Week and Garryana releases. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team answers your question for a $20 Binny's gift card. This week, it's all about grain whiskey.

All those legendary, unobtainable bottles - are they worth the hype? The Barrel to Bottle crew tastes iconic, collectible whiskey, so you don't have to. Featuring top-notch bottlings from Old Forester, Eagle Rare, Wild Turkey, Angel's Envy and Pappy Van Winkle, this episode took some work. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team answers your question for a $20 Binny's Gift Card. In this week's question, the takes on "peak bourbon bubble."

Sour beers make up one of the most sought after styles around today. Sours are the ultimate beers for beer nerds, perfectly illustrating how beer is a combination of science and art. Roger walks the Barrel to Bottle team through a few favorite Lambic and Geuze examples, and he has a couple tricks up his sleeve, too. Beers tasted include Lindemans Framboise, Lindemans Cuvee Rene, Boon Geuze Mariage Parfait and Firestone Walker Paw Prints, a special collaboration with Binny's Beverage Depot. Plus a couple surprises tasted blind. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the Barrel to Bottle team list their favorite barleywines.

Fruit, earth, meaty and savory and floral characteristics: when you're talking about wine, syrah from the Northern Rhone includes some of the most intense and complex reds in the world. Kristen leads the Barrel to Bottle team through a guided tour of the region and a tasting of excellent examples including Domaine Jamet Cote Rotie 2014, Barruol Lynch Hermitage 2016, J.L. Chave Selection Crozes Hermitage Silene 2016 and Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas 2016. It's wine for wine nerds. Stick around for this week's Q&A segment, when the team takes on three questions with a focus on the evolution of food and wine in the same region.

Winter keeps holding on in Chciago, so we're talking about wine perfect for the weather: mulled wine and ice wine. Part one: Fire. Mulled wine is a style that includes glogg and gluhwein - spiced wine traditionally served warm. The Barrel to Bottle team tastes Glunz Glogg and St. Christopher Gluhwein as examples. Part two: IOce. Ice wine is a dessert style where grapes reach extreme ripeness by hanging late into the season. The team compares Jackson Estate Vidal Ice Wine to Huia Botrytis Riesling. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team answers your question about different kinds of glassware.

Tickets are available now for the 2019 WINE EXPO. In this special bonus episode, the Barrel to Bottle team is joined by Barb Steadman, Assistant Director of Wine Sales at Binny's, who covers highlights from the Wine Expo - stuff like guided tours, seminars, the rose garden, a special VIP room, and a bunch more. Plus, the B2B team calls up the newest wine critic to write for robertparker.com, Anthony Mueller. Anthony shares his take on last year's Expo, and previews the seminar he is hosting at this year's Expo. Plus, the Barrel to Bottle team answers questions recorded live at last year's event. This year's big event is happening on Saturday, April 6th at Arlington International Racecourse. Get more info at binnys.com.

Despite being constructed in the 1960's, the only way to get a taste of GlenAllachie over the last half-century was through rare independent bottlings or as a component in favorite blended Scotch. That's all changing with new ownership, and Binny's is excited to share the new OB GlenAllachie bottlings. Noted Distillery personality David Keir offers the Barrel to Bottle team an insider's view of the distillery and offers a taste of the new GlenAllachie lineup. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team answers your question about how tariffs affect the whiskey trade, both locally and internationally.

What does it take to persevere through the many trials and tribulations to reach the highest recognized level of education in the beer world? The Barrel to Bottle team is joined by the Golden Nose himself, Master Cicerone Jason Pratt, one of just eighteen in the world to reach Master Cicerone status. Jason shares his sensory perception techniques and encyclopedic knowledge, covering topics including the latest trends and classic styles, plus his favorite flaws in beer. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when Jason helps the team take on your question about the true shelf life of different IPA styles. This one is for the nerds.

It's easy to get caught up in local craft spirits, especially living in an area like Chicagoland that's home to an incredible collection of craft options. Just don't miss out on highlights from far away, including insanely remote places such as Hallock, Minnesota, home of Far North Spirits. This week, Johny Barbosa of Far North shares his incredible portfolio of criminally underappreciated craft spirits, from vodka to gin, rum to rye, plus a surprise or two. And of course, the team covers which spirits are best paired with hot dishes. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the Barrel to Bottle team takes on the question of best beverages for cooking.

Is that the red or the white? The Barrel to Bottle team takes a look at California's 'own grape' from the craze of the 1980s to today's high quality dry red versions. Zinfandel has a rather arcane history and no French connection, meaning this underdog had to grow into prominence all on it's own, of course with the help of a few dedicated grape growers and winemakers. You can't ignore how important it has been to the larger wine culture in the United States. The Barrel to Bottle crew samples Biale Black Chicken, Tommasi Heracles Primativo and the one that started it all, Sutter Home White Zinfandel. Plus, in this week's Q&A and in response to the more expensive versions displayed in the Holiday Cali Cab cast, the team shares their favorite value California Cabernets clocking in around $20.

Juicy, fruity, dank and hazy – these are all buzzwords to describe the direction of IPA today. But for every action, there's an opposite reaction. Enter brut IPA, the dry new IPA style that's crisp, clean and focused. Roger leads the Barrel to Bottle team through a tasting including examples from Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, Ommegang, Revolution, Hopewell and Miskatonic Brewing, plus a hoppy sparkling water from Lagunitas. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team shares their favorite Bourbons (and more) to make the perfect old fashioned.

We're back with Part II of Brett Pontoni's interview with Jim Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe. This distilling industry legend shares keeping the family tradition going as he brings his son into the fold and offers some insights into how the business has changed over the years after growth and merging with international partnerships. Plus, Fred tackles your questions in our Q&A segment, and powers through a lightning round Q&A.

Spirits industry history runs deep for Fred Noe. The Master Distiller of Jim Beam Distillery, Fred is the seventh in his family to hold the position over the last two hundred years. Brett Pontoni from the Whiskey Hotline chats with this industry veteran, covering topics from how to taste whiskey and favorite flavor descriptors, to the Fred keeping the tradition going with the next generation. Plus some dishing about other industry giants. Keep an eye out for Part II, coming next week.

Kansas Whiskey? Not only is it a thing, but Kansas City, Missouri's J. Rieger distillery was once the largest mail-order whiskey producer in the US. This week, the Barrel to Bottle team is joined by Brett and Joe from The Whiskey Hotline to interview Ryan Maybee, who in 2014 resurrected this historic brand along with some help from industry icons like Tom Nichols and Dave Pickerell. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team gets technical about charred barrels.

Seasons Greetings from Binny's and the Barrel to Bottle Crew! This week, we're talking about the best part of Christmas: winter beers, of course. From old world classics to the craft seasonals they inspired, the team covers the whole holiday beer range. Beers tasted include Weltenberger Asam Bock, Rochefort 10, Avery Old Jubilation, Sierra Nevada Celebration, Great Lakes Christmas and Lagunitas Brown Shugga'. And in this week's Q&A segment, the team gives their favorite holiday gift ideas. Happy Holidays!

If you take out all the glamorous wine categories… Binny's Wine Buyer Bill Newton is responsible for everything else. One of his favorite categories is Port, which is getting extra attention for the release of the 2016 vintage – the first declared Port vintage since 2011. What Port lacks in glamour, it more than makes up for in intensity and ageability. Bill shares a favorite vintage aged Port and talks about this great vintage. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team answers your question about red wine and cold weather.

Cabernet is king, especially during the holidays. The full Barrel to Bottle team is in the house, joined by Binny's Wine Buyer Bill Newton, to talk through everything California Cabernet Sauvignon, tasting samples from Sonoma to Napa. Wines featured include cabernet bottlings from Gundlach Bundschu, Rodney Strong Alexander's Crown, Ulysees and Robert Mondavi. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team tackles your question about Malbec.

Autumn brings the annual hop harvest, which means it's time for fresh-hopped beer! Roger leads the Barrel to Bottle team through a flight of everything hoppy, from single hop pale ales through fresh hopped IPA's. Beers featured include Bell's Two Hearted Ale, SweetWater Mosaic, Lagunitas Super Cluster, Founder's Harvest Ale, Deschutes Chasin Freshies and Half Acre Now & Then. Stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team gets to talk about themselves, and their favorite beer styles.

The Barrel to Bottle crew takes a walk on the sweet side this week. Tokaji is Hungary's sweet white, loved for complexity and class on par with the sweet wines of Bordeaux in France. Laszlo Meszaroz, Director of the Disznoko winery, joins the podcast team and shares the rich history of the region, plus examples of the region's sweet and dry white wines. Egeszsegere! Have a question for Binny's Beverage Depot? Hit us on Twitter and you might win a […]

When you think celebration, think Champagne! But it works well on any Tuesday night as well. The Barrel to Bottle team tastes through six sparklers from around the world, including Aubry Le Nombre d'Or, Louis Bouillot Cremant de Bourgogne, Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs, Segura Viudas Heredad Brut Reserva, and a pairing of Fossetta Prosecco and Bollinger Special Cuvee. Plus, stick around for the Q&A segment, when the team offers their favorite Friendsgiving wines.

All stouts are porters, but not all porters are stouts. As the weather cools off, it's time for Roger to lead the Barrel to Bottle crew through a tasting of darker beers. Featured beers include Samuel Smith's Taddy Porter, Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald, Guinness Draught, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, North Coast Old Rasputin, Stone Xocoveza and Central Waters Cassian Sunset. And stick around for the Q&A segment when the team tackles your question about grain whisky and Scotch for a $20 Binny's Gift Card.

Greek wine has experienced a resurgence in the last few decades, thanks in no small part to Ted Diamantis and his company, Diamond Importers. Ted joins the Barrel to Bottle crew to taste highlights from his collection and to discuss this historic and vibrant wine growing country. Wines tasted include Santo Assyrtiko, Douloufakis Dafnios Vidiano, Skouras Saint George and Alpha Estate Xinomavro.

Brace yourselves, Game of Thrones Scotch is coming. In the middle of recording the recent two-part "All the Islay" podcast, the Whiskey Hotline's Brett Pontoni wandered off. And when he wandered back into the room, he had news about the upcoming Game of Thrones single malt releases. Listen as the Barrel to Bottle crew reacts to the news and shares specifics about each bottling. Game of Thrones Scotches are coming, and you won't have to pay the iron price.