Support us at https://buymeacoffee.com/whiskeytangent We haven’t featured any Japanese whiskies on the podcast in over three years, so when Suntory came out with a smoky version of their classic fruit-and-spice Toki mainstay, we were intrigued to say the least. And we had lots of questions: How different was this from the original? How would it compare? And what cocktails could we make with it? Well, Suntory obliged with recipes and flavor to spare. But would we (along with Gabe) actually like anything at all? Press play and find out! Music Credits: Freedom courtesy of Choc Mic McNeil at https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Vb55i9ubwPnxUnY6OG3nH • Night in Venice and Living Voyage by Kevin MacLeod at https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

Support us at https://buymeacoffee.com/whiskeytangent New News: Jim Beam Halts Production in 2026 • Brown-Forman Profits Down Nearly $60 Million • Irish Whiskey Needs to Evolve • WhistlePig Opens Whiskey Row Experience • Whisky Advocate’s Top 20 Whiskeys of 2025 • The Mint That Fights Binge Drinking • Country Star Hospitalized After Wild Trip to L.A. • Drunk Ne'er-do-well Wreaks Havoc in VA Liquor Store New Whiskeys: Barrell Dovetail Toasted • Castle & Key Cask Strength Wheated Bourbon • Castle & Key Extra Old Haitian Rhum Cask Rye • Jack Daniel’s Tanyard Hill Rye • Lost Lantern Scotch Lover’s Collection • Penelope F**k Cancer • Sazerac Rye Full Proof  • Wilderness Trail High-Rye Bourbon • Wilderness Trail Wheated Bourbon • Wilderness Trail Rye New Music Credits: Retro News at Nine (Stinger 1) by Steve Oxen and Just Breaking (Softer) by David Fesliyan from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com • News Sting and Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.filmmusic.io

Support us at https://buymeacoffee.com/whiskeytangent Shavonne and Sue are back again to help us taste a new whiskey that "Tastes like Christmas" (whatever the f**k that means) from a distillery we've barely covered in about seven years. So, is it the most Christmas-y whiskey ever? Or does it taste like Krampusbrechen? Tune in and find out! Oh, and Merry Christmas everyone! Music Credits: Greensleeves to a Ground by Paul Arden-Taylor and Carol Holt (Public Domain) • Five Card Shuffle by Kevin MacLeod at https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

Support us at https://buymeacoffee.com/whiskeytangent At long last! We’re finally getting to taste possibly the most elusive spirit we’ve ever sought out on an episode that's been a full three years in the making. And while we do that, we also end up tasting two other similar expressions to see how similar they actually are. But the real question is: Can the JD ASM live up to years of fevered anticipation and outsized expectations? Click play to find out! Music Credits: Freedom by Choc Mic McNeil at https://soundcloud.com/chocmic/freedom • Fireflies by Kevin MacLeod at https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

Support us at https://buymeacoffee.com/whiskeytangent Whiskeys (mostly): Zwack’s Unicum • Uuahouua Pinot Noir Austrian Single Malt Whisky • Nestville Hit & Run Slovakian Blended Whisky • Carpathian Romanian Wine Cask Collection Single Malt Whisky • The Stranger Polish Rye Whisky Tangents: Brian the Whiskey Explorer joins us once again for some whiskey, some history, and some whiskey history! • Ed regales us with the dual monarchy of Austro-Hungarian Empire • F**k the Astros • Stop trying to make Czechia a thing, Gretchen • Unicum ruined Ed’s nose (but might be good in cocktails) • #liquidpotpourri • The Austrian whisky smells like a flower shop (and the color is Heather) • Apparently “Licking the top of a pile of Skittles” is a tasting note now • Brian gives a shout-out to an injured friend • Does anyone live in Europe? • The Slovakian whiskey comes in a baseball bat • Chat, is Ed the serious one? • Scott’s meth dealer lives in Delaware • Ed gets trolled by a Transylvanian • Zwack’s Hoagie Shack Smack of the Game! • 36 million Polish people are now mad at us • Is the Polish whisky really a Polish whisky? • #phillyjokes • Is Bulleit Rye a Polish-American whisky? • Scott has enough material to put Ed in prison • HR shut off Ed’s mic • Scott has a different definition of “The Stanger” • Brian’s wife might not let him come back Music Credits: Whiskey on the Mississippi, Tenebrous Brothers Carnival Act Two, and Waltz of Treachery by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html • Eine kleine Nachtmusik by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at https://commons.wikimedia.org

Support us at https://buymeacoffee.com/whiskeytangent Whiskeys: 1792 12 Years Aged Bourbon • 1792 Full Proof Bourbon (Benash Store Pick) • Oppidan Bottled-in-Bond Four Grain Bourbon (South Jersey Bourbon Drinkers Pick) • Bardstown Bourbon Co. Château de Laubade Aramagnac Finished Bourbon • Bardstown Bourbon Co. Foursquare Rum Finished Whiskey • Lagavulin Distiller’s Edition Single Malt Scotch • Bomberger’s Declaration Bourbon • Old Carter Bourbon Batch 11 • Blue Run High Rye Bourbon • Nashtucky Special Release 8-Year Single Barrel Whiskey • Doug’s Infinity Bottle • Nulu Single Barrel Select Wheated Bourbon (New Jersey Bourbon Barrel Club Pick) • Elijah Craig Private Toasted Single Barrel Bourbon (Benash Store Pick) • Frey Ranch Barrel Strength Single Barrel Bourbon (New Jersey Bourbon Barrel Club Pick) • King’s County Single Barrel Bourbon • Obtanium Canadian Light Whiskey • Glenlivet 12 Year Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Tangents: We've locked ourselves in Doug’s vault again for another night of high-proof hijinx! • The lowest proof is 96.6 • Ed’s last girlfriend was like the Barton’s 12 Year • We're already breaking the rules with the first whiskey • Doug has minions • Ed curses first • The Vietnamese hoagies will clear our palates • Wait, is this a department store whiskey? • Doug’s wine-drinking wife, Sue, joins us! • Clean up, aisle Ed • Somehow Doug always wins the lottery for expensive bottles • You have to divide all prices by six in front of Sue • Apparently, “Kentucky Fried Chicken” is a tasting note now • Doug did an Infinity Bottle (that Sue wants to sell on eBay) • Doug punishes Scott (and Scott likes it) • Three minutes of giving Benash their flowers • Maybe Doug can convince Freddie Noe to send us the whiskeys he owes us • The Frey Ranch smells like weed • Apparently “Carving a pumpkin and pouring vodka in it” is a tasting note now • Here, feel that cork • Doug trolls us on a blind tasting • The hoagies were a lifeline • Most people have friends, Ed Music Credits: Sleek Panther by Fesliyan Studios at https://www.fesliyanstudios.com

Welp, we're back again tasting the latest update to Pinhook's Vertical Series Bourbon, our 6th tasting across the years. And each time we keep waiting (fearing?) for the fairly excellent expressions to fall off a cliff of overoakedness. (Shut up, that's totally a word.) So, will this be the year it finally does? Tune in and find out! Music Credits: Freedom courtesy of Choc Mic McNeil at  https://soundcloud.com/chocmic/freedom • Fireflies by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

Support us at https://buymeacoffee.com/whiskeytangent Whiskeys: The Dead Rabbit Blended Irish Whiskey • Natterjack Batch 1 Single Grain Irish Whiskey • Bushmills 12 Year Single Malt Irish Whiskey • Knappogue Castle 12 Year Single Malt Irish Whiskey • Clonakilty Private Barrel Select Rivesaltes Cask Finished Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Tangents: Marty and Rachel join us on our first trip back to Ireland in over 3 years! • The 4 types of Irish Whiskey • Our rain- and Mezcal-soaked trip to The Dead Rabbit in NYC • Apparently “wax and pesticide” is a tasting note now • Don’t pith me off! • New from 7-11, the Irish Whiskey Big Gulp • WTF is a Natterjack? • Apparently, “bottom of the pecan pie” is a tasting note now • #minteresting • The frog is so metal, bro • The history of Bushmills (finally!) • Apparently, “sad mushy grape” is a tasting note now • Our non-Mezcal-soaked trip to Molly’s Shebeen in NYC • Go 'Nilla! • WTF is treacle? • Her name is Dickensheets! • WTF is Lemon Piff? • Gas v. soda prices • Marty’s a terrible driver in Ireland • Irish people do a lot of hurling • The Gentile Cut • WTF is Rivesaltes? • The grape must do what • Ed likes to expose his “barrel” to the salt air Music Credits: Whiskey on the Mississippi, Teller of the Tales, Fiddles McGinty, Folk Round, Midnight Tale, Heroes of a Thousand Battles, and The Pyre by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

Support us: https://buymeacoffee.com/whiskeytangent New News: Diageo Halts Production at Two Iconic American Distilleries • Willett Distillery Patriarch Evan Kulsveen Has Died • Global Whiskey Challenge Names Top Winners! • Rabbit Hole Named Best Distillery Tour • How Much Alcohol Is Too Much? • Is 50-Year-Old Bourbon Possible? • $1M in Whiskey Stolen from Seattle Distillery • College Football Fan Arrested with an Astonishing Blood Alcohol Level New Whiskeys: 2025 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection • 1792 Cognac Cask Finish Bourbon • Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye A925 • Hirsch Cask Strength Hine Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon • Garrison Brothers Sonora Straight Bourbon • Old Overholt Extra Aged Cask Strength 12 Year Rye • Penelope Apple Cinnamon Old Fashioned Cocktail • Sagamore Reserve Series 10 Year Rye • Stranahan’s Diamond Peak Local Brewer’s Cask • Toki Black Japanese Blend • Westland Garryana 10-Year American Single Malt New Music Credits: Retro News at Nine (Stinger 1) by Steve Oxen and Just Breaking (Softer) by David Fesliyan from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com • News Sting and Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.filmmusic.io

Whiskeys: Sazerac Rye • Sazerac Rye 18 Year • Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye [Please consider supporting us at https://buymeacoffee.com/whiskeytangent] Tangents: Join us as we taste our way through all three of Buffalo Trace’s Sazerac branded expressions and make one VERY expensive cocktail! • Sazerac QuickStory • Sazerac is also a coffee house and a company • Remember when Baby Saz won The Ocho? • The clove Necco wafer returns! • You can’t predict what water will do • Apparently “cherry bubblegum” is a tasting note now • Baby Saz doot doot doot doot doot • We got a bunch of 5 year olds! • Scott gets a little weird • Stick that whiskey up your a$$! • Ed’s spittin’ facts • Scott threatens Ed with Malört • Best. Sazerac. Ever. • Some people be bougie • #cheapbastards • Scott’s like Van Gogh • Ed used to be invited to the shore (sad trombone) • Which Sazerac is best? Music Credits: Whiskey on the Mississippi, Parisian, French Cafe, Feelin’ Good, Five Card Shuffle, and Onion Capers by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

Although most people probably think whiskey is our favorite beverage, it’s actually coffee, which is why we were intrigued with this new Bourbon infused with coffee beans when we featured it on a news episode a few months ago. But is it too coffee forward? Not enough? Or does sit perfectly at the junction between our two favorite liquids? And what the hell is a Bib & Tucker? Well, you know what to do to find out! [Also, please consider supporting us at https://buymeacoffee.com/whiskeytangent] Music Credits: Freedom courtesy of Choc Mic McNeil at https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Vb55i9ubwPnxUnY6OG3nH • Fig Leaf Rag and Five Card Shuffle by Kevin MacLeod at https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

Say sayonara to Season 13! But wait, we have one last thing to talk about. Ok, several last things. So, join us for a review of the past six months and a preview of Season 14. Last Things – Shout-outs: All our guest co-hosts • Interviewees Bobby DeMars, John Wadell, Christopher Davies, and Freddie Noe! • Listener Stats: Is Canada a state yet? (kidding!) • Cali beats Jersey • #norracist • 3 new countries! • Did Brian redeploy? • China has a billion and four people • Season 13 Recap: 17 podcasts • 23 whiskeys • Almost 400 total whiskeys tasted on air • Is foreskinning a thing? • Boomer jokes from Gen X • The podcast does not condone drinking while driving (no matter what Ed says!) • Blind tasting is difficult (but kinda fun?) • Terrible puns are what we do • Random belligerence too! • Ed states his new pronouns • Philly soft pretzels might be a little urine-y • Quince v. Quint • Gabe v. Pete • #Peepsus • Ed pesters Freddie Noe’s assistant to death • It’s like butter • Fred is to Freddie as Ed is to Eddie • My mom went to Florida and all she brought back was this lousy whiskey • Alleah v. Ed and Quiskey and Pusser’s and Scott • Jason does a legendary Anders impression • Ed shades his ancestors • We’re old, our wood creaks • Buttcheek pancakes! • Send that to a WNBA game • Ed was not locked in • Scott does the worst prairie dog impression ever • #Peepsrights • Ed and Jeanine v. Scott and Sandy • Season 14 Preview: 20 Podcasts? • 5 Episodes: All the Sazerac Ryes, Empire whiskeys, Irish whiskeys, D&D whiskeys, and Cocktails • 6 Shorts: Sazerac 18, Jack Daniels Single Malt, 15 Stars Triple Cask, Bib & Tucker Gold Roast, Pinhook 10 Year • Other stuff: Xmas Bonus, News, Madness, and more! Thanks so much listening everybody! Music Credits: Octoblues by Kevin MacLeod | Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4152-octoblues | License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license • Whiskey on the Mississippi by Kevin MacLeod | Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4624-whiskey-on-the-mississippi

New News: Diageo shuts down bottling plant, Canadians make threats • Heaven Hill officially opens new Bardstown distillery • Judge orders Uncle Nearest into receivership • Distiller revives rye grain from a shipwreck • Win Elmer T. Lee barrel in Sazerac sweepstakes • Eight suspects charged in brazen Crown Royal heist • Woman arrested after crime spree, including theft of a thousand-dollar whiskey New Whiskeys: 15 Stars First West Small Batch • 15 Stars First West Toasted Oak • 15 Stars First West Extra Aged • Booker’s Tequila Finished Bourbon • High West Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon • Jack Daniel's Heritage Barrel Single Barrel • Kings County Empire Rye • Macallan Harmony Collection V: Phoenix Honey Orchid Tea Highland Single Malt • Macallan Harmony Collection V: Organic Cherrywood Lapsang Tea Highland Single Malt • New Riff Red Turkey Wheat Bourbon • Penelope Black Walnut Old Fashioned Bottled Cocktail • Weller 18 Year • Weller Millennium No. 2 New Music Credits: Retro News at Nine (Stinger 1) by Steve Oxen from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com • Just Breaking (Softer) by David Fesliyan from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com • News Sting and Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.filmmusic.io

Over the years we've been very lucky to taste on air two expressions from the highly sought after (and often highly priced) lineup known as the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. We tasted the 2020 Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye and the 2023 William Larue Weller Bourbon. And now we’re getting to taste another, while also comparing it to its lower-proofed (and lower-priced) brand mate. So, will it wow us with its whiskey wonders? Or will it wilt under the pressure of our outsized expectations? Press play to find out! Music Credits: Freedom courtesy of Choc Mic McNeil at https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Vb55i9ubwPnxUnY6OG3nH • Porch Blues by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

Whiskeys: Stranahan’s Blue Peak Solera Cask Finished American Single Malt • Stranahan’s Diamond Peak 2024 Rum Cask Finished American Single Malt • Stranahan’s Snowflake 2024 Redcloud Peak Wine & Whiskey Finished American Single Malt Tangents: Gabe, Andy, and Drew join us on this ascent into American Single Malts from the Colorado Rockies! • The surprising history of Stranahan’s • Ed gets mad at his Prohibition-era relatives • #sadsapling • Define “pants” • Butt cheek pancakes! • Blue Peak is the infinity barrel of American Single Malts • Scott overexplains a banana tasting note • Gabe goes a-grazin’ • Diamond Peak is a problem waiting to happen • Sun’s out, rum’s out • Sling Blade love dem taters mmm-hmm • Send that to a WNBA Game • Narrator voice: Ed was, in fact, not locked in • Top 10 Fun Facts about Colorado! • Are there Gators in them thar mountains? • Prairie dogs file complaints about green dildos • #peepsrights • Miners (minors?) kept Colorado slave free • Andy curb your Drew! • Goobers is a candy AND an insult • Apparently, “Ed Sneezing” is a tasting note now • Ed and Scott got roofied at a mezcal bar • Andy got fouled by Ed (but still made the layup) • American Single Malts are great for any time of day Music Credits: Whiskey on the Mississippi, Southern Gothic, Cantina Blues, Fireflies and Stardust, and Boogie Party by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

New News: Uncle Nearest Hit by $100 Million Lawsuit • Garrison Brothers Secures National Distribution • New Jersey Cracks Down on Out-of-State Alcohol Shipments • Buffalo Trace Turns Whiskey Waste into Eco-Friendly Goods • Stitzel-Weller Is for Sale… But Not Really • U.S. Outflanked by UK-India Whiskey Trade Deal • MGP's Sales Plummet Amidst Bourbon Decline New Whiskeys: Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Infused Bourbon • Booker’s Bourbon “By the Pond” Batch • Col. E.H. Taylor Distiller's Council BiB Bourbon • Jack Daniel's Blackberry • Jim Beam Sunshine Blend • Kentucky Peerless Toasted Rye • Little Book Chapter 9: “None For Granted” • Old Grand-Dad 7-Year BiB Bourbon • Sazerac Rye 100 Proof New Music Credits: Retro News at Nine (Stinger 1) by Steve Oxen from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com • Just Breaking (Softer) by David Fesliyan from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com • News Sting and Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.filmmusic.io

Five years ago, we released Episode #29 to coincide not only with Baker’s Small Batch Bourbon becoming Baker’s Single Barrel Bourbon, but also with Bourbon-Hall-of-Famer Baker Beam's 84th birthday. And now that Baker just turned 89, we figured we’d revisit the brand by highlighting its first line extension, a high-rye expression that was released just a few months ago. (And we also make a cocktail with it.) So, does it live up to the Baker name? Or does it disappoint at its price point? Tune in and find out! Music Credits: Freedom courtesy of Choc Mic McNeil at https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Vb55i9ubwPnxUnY6OG3nH • Porch Blues by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

About a year ago, we impulse-bought a Cedar Ridge QuintEssential release, and it turned out to be one of the best whiskeys we’ve evaluated on the podcast. So, this year, when the new version came out, we jumped at the chance to, once again, taste something truly spectacular. So, will we (along with Superfan Jason from Maryland) love the new expression as much as the previous one? Or will it suffer under the weight of our unreasonable expectations? Press play to find out! Music Credits: Freedom courtesy of Choc Mic McNeil at https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Vb55i9ubwPnxUnY6OG3nH • Pulse by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html • Enough courtesy of Jason Mitchell at https://open.spotify.com/artist/5u8d0dWVi4HyOnsNQXKFYo

Round 1 – Halekulani: High-proof Bourbon • Lemon juice • Lime juice • Pineapple juice • Demerara syrup • Grenadine • Angostura bitters Round 2 – Mai Tai v. “Rye Tai”: Rum v. Rye • Orange liqueur v. Pineapple juice • Lime juice v. Lemon juice • Simple syrup v. Angostura bitters • Orgeat Round 3 – Painkiller v. “Grainkiller”: High-proof Rum v. Four-Grain Bourbon • Pineapple juice • Orange juice • Cream of Coconut Final Round – Zombie v. “Zombey”: Rum, Aged Rum, and High-proof Rum v. Rye, Four-grain Bourbon, and High-proof Bourbon • Falernum • Grenadine • Pernod • Lime Juice • Don’s Mix • Angostura bitters Tangents: Alleah and Anders join us for a trip to the South Pacific! (Or maybe the Caribbean! Or both!) • Scott and Ed are Timon and Pumbaa • Tiki History! • Anders has a dragon tattoo around his “dragon” • Lady Gaga’s back! • What the f**k is grenadine? • Tiki Quiskey! • Only Alleah knows Gilligan’s first name • What the f**k is orgeat? • Anders really know how to set a scene • Radio, pop-pop? • Scott’s the manager, Karen • Trademarked cocktails • #bananafunk • Ed’s a mood killer • The Painkiller is Rob Halford’s favorite Tiki • Paula is the adult in the room (and an angel) • Anders tells the world to stop drinking shitty rum • The Wrestling Tangent Podcast • What the f**k is falernum? • The Zombie, the Zombey, and the Zombee are completely different drinks • How they figured out how to make old Tiki drinks • Scott’s gonna punch Ed in the throat • Ed and Alleah were in 2nd grade in the 1800s • Anders’s newest gig: @doho.restaurant! Music Credits: Whiskey on the Mississippi, Secret of Tiki Island, Island Meet and Greet, Bassa Island Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

New News: WhistlePig Names New CEO • Bourbon Hall of Fame Announces First Female Inductee • Green River Opens Whiskey Row Tasting Room • MLB Names First Official Whiskey • Japanese Whisky Ramps Up Rules Compliance • Belle Meade Brothers Take Their Whiskey Back • Whiskey Takes Aim at U.S. Shipping Laws New Whiskeys: Blue Note Single Barrel Rye • Cedar Ridge The QuintEssential Special Release: Number Five American Single Malt • Eagle Rare 12 Year • Jefferson’s Straight Rye Blend • Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Bottled-in-Bond Rye • Old Forester President’s Choice Single Barrel Bourbon and Rye • Penelope Cigar Sessions Chapter 1 American Whiskey • Redemption 18 Year • Stitzel Reserve 24 Year • WhistlePig GraveStock Wheat Whiskey • Widow Jane Borough Blend New Music Credits: Retro News at Nine (Stinger 1) by Steve Oxen from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com • Just Breaking (Softer) by David Fesliyan from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com • News Sting and Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.filmmusic.io