The God & Whiskey Podcast

In this episode, special guest Father Joe Mitchell joins us to talk about the wrestling personality Jim Cornette and his recent comments on televangelists. Joe is an Episcopal priest, a wrestling fan, and a theology nerd. We also talk about Joe's transplant journey, and he gives us a recommendation on his favorite non-alcoholic beer. From this episdoe: Drew's Barrel Proof Larceny here. (He was reviewing Batch A123.) Joe's Partake non-alcoholic line here. Jim Cornette's conversation on televangelists here.

At long last, the band is back together! Drew, Will, and Evan are together for the first time in over a year. The topic is the life and witness of Tim Keller, a high-profile Presbyterian pastor who died recently after a fight with cancer. He was a rare combination of intellectual, church planter, and cultural commentator whose work left a mark on the lives of these three (very Methodist/Arminian) pastors. They also review three different whiskies: one Kentucky bourbon and two from that great Presbyterian homeland, Scotland. From the show: Drew's Jura 10 here. Will's Pinhook bourbon here. Evan's Port Charlotte 10 here. Tim Keller's sermons available here. Keller on suffering, from the Veritas forum, here. Books by Tim Keller referenced include Preaching Center Church Prodigal God Prayer The Reason for God

In this long-overdue episode, Drew reviews the hard-to-find Buffalo Trace Kosher Wheat Recipe, and talks about J.R.R. Tolkien's role in the converstion of C.S. Lewis. Thanks for joining us! From the episode: Buffalo Trace Kosher Wheat Recipe here. More on Tolkien's role in Lewis' conversion to Christianity here.

Drew is solo on this New Year's themed episode, reviewing a delcious new offering from Lagavulin and discussing covenant. Covenant tends to be a more common category in Reformed traditions, but even Arminians (and other) can value this biblical and theological category. Drew discusses why it matters that we worship a God who operates by covenant and not contract, and discusses the Covenant Renewal Service in the Wesleyan tradition. He does so while sipping the latest in the 11 year old Offerman Edition single malt from the Islay peatmongers at Lagavulin. From this episode: Charred Oak Offerman Edition The Wesley Covenant Renewal Service (UMC) Covenant Renewal Service (Seedbed) Epic of Eden by Sandra Richter

In this unique (daytime-recorded) whiskey-free episode, Drew interviews theology professor and author D. Glenn Butner about his new book Trinitarian Dogmatics. We touch on his previous work on the eternal subordination debate, and discuss how Glenn's book is not at all trendy, and why this is a compliment. Dr. Butner. has advanced degrees from Duke Divinity School and Marquette University, and you can find his new book from Baker Academic here. (We appreciate Baker providing a copy of this book for the purposes of conducting this interview.) You can find Glenn on twitter at @glennbutner, or via his faculty page at Sterling University here. From this episode: You can read Drew's full review of Trinitarian Dogmatics in Firebrand Magazine here.

What does it mean to be a father? On a special Father's Day episode, Drew reflects on Henri Nouwen's The Return of the Prodigal Son while finishing off his Guinness Cask Finish Offerman Edition Lagavulin (see episode 26 for more).

In this special St. Patrick's Day episode, Drew is flying solo and reviewing a unique sherry-finishd Irish whiskey. He also chats about the historic St. Patrick, and shares the famous prayer attributed to the evangelist and saint. From this episode: Drew's Redbreast Lustau St. Patrick's Breastplate prayer St. Patrick's Bad Analogies by Lutheran Satire

In this episode, Drew, Evan, and Will all enjoy some smokey Islay scotches and talk about the Rise and Fall of the Mars Hill Podcast: the good, the bad, the ugly, and the ecclesiologically questionable. Sorry for the long hiatus! From this episode: The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast here. Evan's Caol Ila here. Drew and Will's Offerman Edition (Guiness) Lagavulin here. Whisky Advocate article about the Offerman Guinness here.      

2020 was a wild year, and we need a powerhouse of a whiskey just to revisit it, so Episode 25 is a special one! This episode is a little less theology and a little more bourbonology. It's also unique because all three of us are tasting the same VERY hard to find bourbon: Weller Full Proof. We reviewed two other Weller offerings in episodes 12 and 13, but this is a special one. In this episode, Will tells us how he came to possess a "unicorn" (a hard to find bourbon), and we discuss our changing tastes in whiskey and our feelings about the whiskey market. We also look back on the gifts of 2020, and Drew tells us why he hates Dickens. Speaking of 2020, Weller Full Proof won these awards last year: 2020 Gold Medal - San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020 Bronze Medal - World Whiskies Awards A year full of low points deserves a high point of a bourbon! From this episode: Weller Full Proof here. Overdrive app mentioned by Drew here. The Coddling of the American Mind mentioned by Drew here.

Happy New Year! Advent begins the new church year, and to kick off the new year we have two special guests back: Amanda (Evan's better half) and Will (our doctoral program friend).  This jam-packed episode features four pastors taking some time out of the busiest season of the year to talk about Advent and Christmas, favorite holiday movies, and of course whiskey! From this episode: Evan's Black Grouse here. Amanda's Jameson Black Barrel here. Amanda's blog here. Will's Maker's Mark Wood Series here. Drew's whiskey [redacted]. Advent video w/ Prof. Michael Pasquarello here. Bright Evening Star by L'Engle here. Advent by Fleming Rutledge here. Cloth for the Cradle from the Iona Community here. Doctors Diagnose Home Alone injuries here.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Jason Myers, a New Testament scholar, about his new book Voices and Views on Paul, co-authored with Ben Witherington of Asbury Theological Seminary. We discuss Paul's reception in the contemporary church, the concerns of the New Perspective, and the relationship between the church and the academy. We also review one whiskey and - in a bold move - one bourbon-barrel aged wine. From this episode: Buy Jason's book here. Evan's Lagavulin 16 here. Drew and Jason's Stave & Steel cabernet here. Krister Stendahl's famous essay on Paul and the introspective conscience here.

In this episode, Evan and Drew are joined once more by their friend and fellow pastor, Will. They discuss what it means to be the church in a time of pandemic. What does ministry look like? How do we think about worship? What is "enough?" We discuss all this and more as we review three very different whiskies. From this episode: Evan's George Dickel number 12 - NOT 12 years old (our bad!) here. Drew's 1792 Full Proof here. Will's Wild Turkey Rare Breed here. OBS broadcast software - free! - mentioned by Drew here.

In this long-awaited episode Drew and Evan are joined by Evan's much-better half, Amanda. They continue the previous conversation about the Bible with a detailed discussion about Bible translations, choosing a Bible, and physical versus electronic Bibles. Evan and Amanda unbox his new NIV Legacy Bible by Zondervan, and tell us about it. We also review a trio of distinct whiskies: a bourbon, a single malt Scotch, and an Irish pot still whiskey. From this episode: Evan's Highland Park 12 here. Amanda's Irishman here. Drew's Woodford Wheated here. Amanda's Oxford Annotated NRSV here. Drew's Cambridge Clarion KJV here. Evan's NIV Heritage Bible from the Premier Collection by Zondervan here.

In this episode of the podcast Evan and Drew talk about the central text of Christianity: the Bible. How do we read the Bible? What is the Bible about? How can we better understand the purpose of Scripture? We discuss all this and more while Drew pours an Eagle Rare bourbon from Buffalo Trace Distillery and Evan enjoys a 13 year old Speyside Single Malt that we can't pronounce - Cragalacky? Gregleechy? (Craigellachie!) Also, don't miss perhaps the most intriguing line of all twenty episodes: "If the Skull and Bones Society were a carbonated beverage, it would be..." From this episode: Evan's Craigellachie here. Drew's Eagle Rare here. Blue Christmas service here. Covenant Renewal Service here. Kenton Sparks' Sacred Word, Broken Word here. John Stott Basic Christianity here. Sandra Richter's Epic of Eden here.

In this special extra-quick episode, we talk about a concept that is as central to Christianity as it is contested: holiness. What does it mean to be holy? How do we become holy? And, a big one...can we drink whiskey and still be holy?? We hope the answer is yes, because we also review two great whiskies, one from Islay (Scotland) and the other from Kentucky. Both are strong in proof and flavor. From this episode: Drew's Knob Creek 100 here. Evan's Laphroiag here. Excerpt from C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity here. Wesley's sermon "The Scripture Way of Salvation" here. Wesley on "The Character of a Methodist" here. Wesley's "A Plain Account of Christian Perfection" here. The Gospel of Grace by Kenneth Kinghorn here. Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer here. The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges here. Simply Christian by N.T. Wright here. Philokalia, Volume I, here. Sayings of the Desert Fathers here.  

In this episode, Evan and Drew talk about the content, method, and meaning of preaching. They also enjoy two very different whiskies: an Irish whiskey-based liquoer, and a special edition Macallan Scotch. They talk about why worship is more than preaching, and also the gift that it is to preach God's Word.   From this episode: Evan's The Knot Drew's Macallan Classic Cut 2018 YouTube channel for Evan's sermons here. Podcast for Drew's sermons here. The Four Pages of the Sermon, referenced by Evan, here. Communicating for Change, referenced by Drew, here. The Preaching Life, recommended by Evan, here. The Witness of Preaching, recommended by Drew, here. What Then Shall We Say, by the same author, recommended by Evan, here. Preaching, recommended by Evan, here. The Mystery of God's Word, recommended by Drew here.

In episode 17 of the God & Whiskey Podcast, Drew and Evan are joined by Evan's better half Amanda once again to talk about the women of Lent in the gospel narratives, in honor of International Women's Day. We talk about the women of Easter who were not believed, the centrality of women to the resurrection narratives, and how this resonates with women's stories today. We are, and continue to be, thankful that women "get it." We also follow up on the quail jalapeno poppers from episode 16 and Drew snuggles with his cat. From this episode: Amanda & Evan's Redbreast 12 Irish Whiskey here. Drew's Elijah Craig 12 Small Batch here. Amanda's blog here. Jacob's Well in Nablus on TripAdvisor here.

In this very special episode of God & Whiskey, Evan and Drew are joined by Evan's (very) better half, Amanda. The married revs enjoy a nice single malt Scotch and Drew samples a brand new local rye. They have a wide-ranging talk about the importance of Lent, the season before Easter modeled on Jesus' 40 days of fasting and temptation after his baptism. They talk about different kinds of Lenten fasts, and Drew goes on a rant about the Ash Wednesday practice known as "Ashes to Go." Show notes: Evan & Amanda's Muirhead's Silver Seal 12 y.o. Single Malt here. Drew's Fisher's Straight Rye from Fainting Goat here. Link to the Revised Common Lectionary here. Busted Halo has a great, brief, video introducing Lent from a Catholic perspective here. Glencairn whiskey glasses here. Bonhoeffer on "cheap grace," which Drew references, here. The Coverdale Psalter, that Evan mentions, is here.

In episode 15 of the God & Whiskey Podcast we have a nautical theme to our whiskey and a heavy theological theme to explore. We get a personal update from Evan that connects to our topic: how do people of faith understand the presence of suffering and evil if God is all-powerful and loving? We talk about both academic and pastoral responses to this question, which is one that touches everyone at some point.  From this episode: Evan's Jefferson's Ocean (Aged at Sea) here. Drew's Shackleton Blended Malt Scotch Whisky here. Lament for a Son by Wolterstorff here. Raging with Compassion by Swinton here. Endurance (about Shackleton's voyage) here. In the Aftermath by Hart here. Sermon from William Sloane Coffin here. The Problem of Pain by Lewis here. A Grief Observed by Lewis here. Conversation with Bishop Robert Barron, Rabbi David Wolpe, and Dave Rubin here. Blog post on theodicy from Drew here. P.S. If you're enjoying the podcast, please give us a review on iTunes and share us with your friends!

In this episode, Evan and Drew are joined by fellow podcasting pastor Todd Lattig. They review several solid whiskies, talk about their favorite Christmas movies, and discuss the importance of the Advent season. Why does Advent matter? Why shouldn't we rush right to Christmas at the same time the retail world does? For that matter, how is the liturgical calendar helpful for Christian faith and formation? We discuss all this and more with our friend Todd! From this episode: Todd's Black Dirt Single Barrel Bourbon here. Evan's Tullamore Dew 12 here. Drew's Ghost Coast Honey Whiskey here. New Zealand Prayer book is online here. Fleming Rutledge's new book on advent is here. Todd's sermon podcast, Life Giving Water, here and the Party On JohnCast here. P.S. If you're enjoying the podcast, please give us a review on iTunes and share us with your friends!

In this episode of the God & Whiskey Podcast, our friend Will is back with us to review some whiskies and talk about the Old Testament. Andy Stanley, the son of Charles Stanley and a renowned church leader, has recently gotten into hot water for some comments about the how the Old Testament and the New relate to one another. Why are many Christians so uncomfortable with the Old Testament? How do they relate? What is the best way to understand their connection? Evan, Will, and Drew talk about all this and more in episode 13! From this episode: Drew and Will's Weller Antique 107 here. Evan's Jameson IPA Caskmates Edition here. Andy in his own words via Christianity Today here. Article on the Andy Stanley controversy here. Brueggemann on the Psalms here. P.S. If you're enjoying the show, help us get the word out by giving this episode a share on your favorite social media platform and a review on iTunes!

In episode 12 of the God & Whiskey Podcast, Evan, Drew, and special guest Will discuss the juncture of faith and pop culture. Will tells us about his love of records, especially Bob Dylan, and we collectively judge Evan for his lack of Harry Potter and Star Wars knowledge.  We also enjoy some fine American whiskies from Kentucky and New York. From this episode: Will & Drew's Weller Special Reserve here. Evan's Black Dirt Rye here.  United Theological Seminary Doctor of Ministry here. Augustine on plundering the Egyptians here (On Christian Teaching 2.40.60). An interesting article on Bob Dylan's conversion here. P.S. We accidentally called this episode 11 at the top, but this is 12! Time flies when you are having fun.  P.P.S. If you are having fun, please give us a review on iTunes and a share on your social media platform of choice!

In episode 11 of the God & Whiskey Podcast, Evan and Drew talk about the church and share a couple of scotches. Drew gives Evan endless grief for his choice, and Evan attempts to defend while they talk about the church. Why does the church matter? What is the church about? To what extend should the culture shape the methods and content of the church? Does the space in which worship happens make a difference? We discuss - and perhaps rant about - all this and more in this episode, a natural follow-up from the last two episodes about baptism and communion. The good news is: the church is of God and will be preserved until the end of time. As discussed in this episode: Drew's excellent Highland Park Magnus here. Evan's possibly questionable McClelland's here. Methodist Article of Religion XIII, "Of the Church," here. EUB Confession of Faith Article V here. Quote from St. Teresa of Avila (Drew mistakenly said Mother Teresa) here. Fat Tire by New Belgium here. Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman here. James K.A. Smith on the liturgy of the mall here. Duke Chapel here. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception here. Deconsecration service for a UMC church here.  

In episode 10 of the God & Whiskey podcast, Evan & Drew continue the conversation about sacraments than began in episode 9, this time focusing on the eucharist. They talk theology of the eucharist as well as best practices, and also enjoy a solid blended whisky, The Famous Grouse. Additionally, Drew mocks Evan for drinking Rolling Rock. As discussed in this episode: More on the Famous Grouse here. We tried the regular Grouse in this episode, but will review the Black Grouse in a future episode. Bishop Barron discusses the eucharist as "source and summit" of the Christian life here. This Holy Mystery, the United Methodist official document on Holy Communion, here. Methodism and the Miraculous, a book Evan mentions, is here. Drew's nerdy paper about 'online communion' here. Other resources from the debate here. Schmemann's For the Life of the World, referenced again, here. James White's The Sacraments in Protestant Practice & Faith here, and Introduction to Christian worship here. P.S. There is background noise aplenty in this episode...but such is life. With enough good whisky, you won't even notice it.

In this episode of the God & Whiskey Podcast, Evan and Drew drink a couple of American whiskies and talk baptism. Why does baptism matter? Why do we baptize babies? And does mango have any place in whiskey?? There is a small glitch about 20:00 in where we lost connection, so we appreciate your patience with that. P.S. If you have any connections to La Croix water, we think we are due for a sponsorship by this point. As discussed in this episode: Link to Evan's Woodford Double Oaked here. Link to Drew's Ole Smokey Mango Habanero here. Pick up Alexander Schmemann's wonderful book For the Life of the World here. Read "By Water and the Spirit," the UMC's official baptism document here. A Seedbed "Seven Minute Seminary" video on baptism here.

In this episode, Evan & Drew discuss the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus followers. They talk about Pentecost as both an event in the history of the church and as a yearly celebration, and the critical connection between the work of the Spirit and women's ordination. We are also blessed with a second review of Sexton Irish Whiskey, because Evan has a terrible memory. Drew's Four Roses Small Batch here. Evan's Sexton here. Link to Jon Ruthven's What's Wrong With Protestant Theology? here.  

EpisIn this episode, Evan and Drew try two different Jameson Irish whiskies and talk about recent happenings in the Southern Baptist Convention. The conversation ranges from Sun Chips, to women in ministry in the church and in the Bible, to discipline in the Body of Christ, and the relationship between theology and ethical/moral failings. We also wonder why Toy Adams has bought up all the La Croix in America. Drew's Jameson Black Barrel here. Evan's Jameson Caskmates Stout here. (Technically, it's his wife's "Mother's Day present," but you get the idea.) Christianity Today's coverage of recent SBC issues here. Karen Swallow Prior's piece on her accident and recent SBC happenings can be found here. Richard Muow's article on the Tim Keller controversy at Princeton Seminary here.

In episode 6 of the God & Whiskey podcast, Evan and Drew enjoy a couple of fine beverages and talk about the crucial place of the resurrection in Christian life and faith. Notes for this episode: Evan's Buffalo Trace here; Drew's Ardbeg Dark Cove here. John Stott Basic Christianity Orthodox icon of the Resurrection Robert Barron on the meaning of the resurrection

In this episode of God & Whiskey, Evan and Drew review two nice, mid-range whiskies, look back over the life and example of Billy Graham, and talk about evangelism. Relevant links: Drew's whiskey here; Evan's whiskey here. Billy Graham & Woody Allen here. Bishop Barron's book referenced by Evan here. P.S. Drew calls this episode 4 at the beginning, but it's really episode 5.  Drew is terrible at math, please don't hold it against him. P.P.S. The original upload for this episode cut off about five minutes early.  We fixed it! We are still going on to perfection.

In this episode Evan & Drew enjoy Woodford Reserve and discuss one of the deepest mysteries of Christian faith: the Holy Trinity.  Along the way they also enjoy some bourbon balls, explain why Left Wing Fundamentalists are just as wrong as Right Wing Fundamentalists, and Drew and Evan admit that the bestseller The Shack has merit. Resources mentioned in this podcast: Lutheran Satire Video Robert Barron on the meaning of the Trinity William Placher's The Triune God William Paul Young's The Shack  

In the 3rd episode of the God & Whiskey podcast Drew & Evan go back to Ireland and try the new Bushmills Red Bush.  While the Bushmills flows, we talk about Evan beginning a new degree program and chat about worship. What makes worship Christian? Is everything that claims to be worship actually honoring to God? Why does Evan want to cover random commuters in ashes?? Join us for a great beverage and an exciting topic. Cheers!

In Episode 2 of the God & Whiskey Podcast, Evan and Drew talk about eschatology - also known as the "last things." We tackle questions like the importance of the resurrection, the meaning of the Kingdom of God, and why the rapture is a terrible idea. Additionally, Evan teaches us new words, and Drew talks about the recent controversy at Duke Divinity School, his alma mater. In the course of this chat we review two excellent Single Malts: the Macallan 12 and the Highland Park 12. 

In this first episode, Evan and Drew share a fine Redbreast 12 from Ireland and discuss the beginnings of theology. Does our understanding of God begin with nature? What is the relationship of prayer to theology? All this and more on the inaugural episode of the God & Whiskey Podcast!