WTF - Whiskey Tequila Fridays Podcast

Happy Friday, y'all!  Today the Boys mix up a few of their favorite cocktails using their favorite ingredients. Matt gets it started with a Bloody Mary made with Koval White Rye, an unaged, unoaked rye. Drew follows with two he makes with the El Tequileno Blanco Mixto (yes, a mixto!): a Margarita and a Paloma, both with fresh ingredients. Matt shares his spin on a traditional Old Fashioned using his own Infinity Bottle of Bottled In Bond bourbons! Drew finishes the tequila side with his version of a Tequila Sunrise using Tapatio 110 blanco for a little extra proof punch. Not to be outdone, Matt makes a Sazerac using the Neeley Family Distillery Liqueur Absinthe Verte and 139 proof Jack Daniels Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye! And to top it off, Joby performs a cover from the Cocktail soundtrack! These cocktails can be endlessly tweaked to your taste, most of these bottles are available on the shelf, so scoop 'em up, don't forget a bag of ice, invite your friends, mix a cocktail, listen and sip along, and Make It A Happy Friday™! 

Happy Friday, Y'all!  Today, Matt moves to the other side of the show as a guest while Drew takes over the interviewing.  The Boys are delighted to welcome Jeff Huber of the Wheaton Whisky Club for their first live recording with a special guest. Hear how Jeff and Matt took over the WWC and have worked to revitalize it, a quick movie tangent, their outlook on Whisky Clubs in general, and the demand for Single Barrels. And speaking of Single Barrels, Matt and Jeff delivered for this episode.  Jeff shares an Eagle Rare 10 Single Barrel that was NOT found in any stores and a Wheaton Whisky Club - Malloy's collaboration, a Yellowstone Bourbon Single Barrel.  Matt cracks open a beautiful Bladnoch 11 year Single Malt Scotch, and Drew brings a dusty- a Centinela Tequila Reposado from 2011! The QuickSips™ are fantastic, and Jeff discovers the allure of the hype horn! These might be tough to find on the shelves, but don't let that stop you... Scoop up a few of your favorites, invite your friends, share, listen, and sip along, and Make It A Happy Friday™!  

On this episode of Whiskey Tequila Fridays, the Boys bring two bottles whose lengthy titles are only surpassed by the flavors they hold.  Two bottles that are truly Rum Barrel Baddies! Matt brings the Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Drew brings the Yeyo Tequila Reposado Great Lakes Tequila Club Tropical Edition Private Barrel Pick.  I don't know about you all, but just saying all that makes me thirsty! This Glenlivet is everywhere, so scoop one up.  And while a Great Lakes Tequila Club pick may only be in the Chicago area, there is surely a Yeyo Tropical Reserve series reposado available near you. This is the perfect Friday to grab these two bottles, invite your friends, sip and listen along as the Boys discover one of the best QuickSips™ to date.  And, as always, Make It A Happy Friday™!!!

Happy fRYEday, y'all.  Today the Boys bring 8 bottles of rye, get 4 chosen at random, and do a blind tasting to see what they prefer when marketing bias is removed. Listen along as they discover new flavors and a few surprises.  Pick up these 8 bottles, invite your friends, do your own blind, listen and sip along, and Make It A Happy Friday™! PS - the Boys send their apologies to Dudley Moore. They know your name...

Happy Friday, y'all!  Today the Boys fill up the zoom room with a special guest, a man who wears many hats with Altamar Brands: Director of Education, The Chief Sniffer & Taster, The Troll Under The Bridge, Brandon Cummins. Brandon supplies the Boys with bottles of High N' Wicked Bourbon and Rye and Lagrimas Del Valle 2024 La Loma Plata and Reposado.  Even though he was traveling while recording and forgot to pack his own, his knowledge and passion shine through as he guides the Boys through the tasting!  And, as usual when a guest stops by, there is some special news dropped you haven't heard anywhere else! Altamar Brands operates under an informal motto of "What The Fuckiness" which is a perfect match for WTF - Whiskey Tequila Fridays and its contribution to the world of spirits.  The Boys choose the Rye and Repo for the QuickSips™ and one direction in particular is a clear winner.  These bottles are fantastic on their own, and even better together.     So grab these four bottles, invite your friends, crack the seal, listen and sip along, and Make It A Happy Friday!™

The Boys want to wish you and yours a Happy St Patrick's Day!  And today we celebrate with a marathon of Irish Whisky, starting with a Beginner Buy line-up of Jameson, Bushmills, and Tullamore Dew.  They Boys blind these 3 spirits with interesting results.  Then, on to the good stuff, with Sexton Single Malt, Teeling Single Grain, and Powers John's Lane Irish Whisky to round out a full episode of Irish Whisky suitable for any St Paddy's Day get-together! Everybody's Irish on St Patrick's Day!  So, grab your friends, buy these bottles, give a grand Irish toast, listen and sip along, and Make It A Happy Friday™!

Happy Friday, friends!  Today the Boys are joined by John Des Rosiers, Founder of Cambio Tequila. Cambio is what is created when a world-class Chef turned tequila maker Questions Everything, experiments, and does everything he was told could not be done.  The results are incredible. Cambio is a rare gem in tequila: It is rich, complex, additive-free, available, and affordable.  It's a newer brand now, but will soon be on everyone's Top Tequila list. So pick up each expression (the Anejo was recently released), invite your friends, crack the bottle, and listen and sip along as Chef John lets us behind the curtain to reveal what it takes to create a top-shelf spirit. And, as always, Make It A Happy Friday™!

It's Valentine's Day, so the Boys bring two bottles worthy of a romantic, expensive holiday! Matt brings The Macallan Harmony Collection Amber Meadow, a highland single malt.  It's a bottle that breaks the budget and it's so good, it breaks your heart!  Drew brings the Tequila Fortaleza 2024 Winter Blend Reposado, a highly coveted bottle he managed to pick up at suggested retail price.  That price will still have your wallet wilting like carnations on February 21st! The Boys wax philosophical on "The Macallan Effect" and dispel the myth that Fortaleza is the "Pappy of Tequila."  They discover two QuickSips™ that are some of the best to date, with one clear winner. These bottles are damn near impossible to find, but that's not a problem.  Invite your friends, open what you have, listen and sip along, and Make It A Happy Friday!™ 

Today the Boys bring a few bottles that just work.  Together, they are sweet, spicy, and smoky! Matt brings the Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye, a Malloy's Single Barrel pick.  Drew brings the Amatitena Tequila Anejo he and Matt picked up during a special tasting with the Master Distiller, Alberto Partida. Each sip of each spirit evolves into something new, and the QuickSips™ bring out even more flavor! While this exact single barrel is a Chicagoland pick, both the high-proof rye and the tequila are available everywhere. So pick up these bottles, listen as Drew and Matt reveal some interesting music choices, sip along, QuickSip™, and Make It A Happy Friday™! 

Happy New Year! Today, the Boys celebrate the start of 2025 with another installment of the Beginner Buys series. Matt brings the easy drinking 90-proof Green River Wheated Bourbon and Drew brings the 100% agave, traditionally made El Tequilieno Platinum Blanco. Each bottle has a special kind of *nuance* and the QuickSips™ are fantastic in both directions! The Boys also take this opportunity to review 2024 and look ahead to what's next in 2025. These bottles are available everywhere, so scoop 'em up, invite your friends, listen and sip along, and Make It A Happy Friday™!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!  The Boys welcome you to another Holiday Edition of the 'cast, an attempt to repeat last year's "12 Minutes of Christmas" that fails by the clock, but excels with the bottles. Matt brings a single barrel he found in, of all places, the local grocery store!  The Jefferson's Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon is a smash hit! Drew brings the Suerte Tequila Great Lakes Tequila Club Single Barrel Reposado.  This one has been on the show before, but not with a suitable whiskey for the QuickSip™. You may not be able to find these exact bottles near you, but these are two brands with a long line of single barrels so an approximate replacement is not far away! The Holidays are best enjoyed with kith and kin, so invite your friends and family to sip these bottles, listen along, enjoy two fantastic QuickSips™, and Make It A Happy Friday™!

Today the Boys welcome a special guest, Ryan Thompson, Founder and President of the 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirits Co. in Vail, CO. 10th Mountain is on the shelves in 20 states, and available nationally via their online shop.  So pick up a bottle or three, sip and listen along.  While you're at it, pick up a Tequila Ocho Anejo and play along with some delicious QuickSips™. Follow the 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirits Co. in their production of top-shelf and support of our Military by finding them using the @10thmtnwhiskey handle on all the socials, in-person at their tasting room in Vail Village, and online at https://10thwhiskey.com/  Be sure to check out their new Affiliate Program at: https://10thwhiskey.com/pages/become-a-10th-mountain-whiskey-affiliate This episode is good time so crack these bottles, invite your friends, listen and sip along, and Make It A Happy Friday™.

Welcome, and Happy Friday!  Today the boys bring two beautiful bottles that pair perfectly, perhaps unexpectedly. Matt brings the Murray McDavid Single Malt Scotch Madeira Finish, an affordable scotch that will appeal to everyone, even to those who are not yet fans.   Drew brings the Tequila G4 Blanco Madera which has a few production differences than the regular G4 Blanco, namely fermentation in a wood cask. So why would a wood cask fermented tequila match so well with a barrel finished Scotch?  Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, that's just Matt's palate genius! Both of these bottles are around, although the tequila may be a bit harder to find.  Go on the hunt, scoop 'em up, invite your friends, listen and sip along, and Make It A Happy Friday™! 

Today the Boys are honored to be joined by Doug Price of The Agave Social Club Podcast!  Doug quickly established his podcast as the go-to source for the stories and people behind our favorite tequila brands.  In this episode, Doug shares his story, as well as his behind-the-scenes knowledge of the tequila industry.  He and the Boys sip two beautiful spirits: Doug's own Single Barrel pick, the Volans Reposado Agave Social Club Single Barrel, which was aged in a used Basil Hayden barrel, and of course a Basil Hayden Toast Bourbon to complete the pairing. The conversation is lively and insightful, and the QuickSips™ are truly a perfect match.  While Doug's Volans Single Barrel sold out in just a few hours, you may find a pour at your local watering hole, or another Volans Reposado on your liquor store shelf. So listen and sip along, invite your friends, share a pour, and Make It A Happy Friday™. Find Doug and The Agave Social Club at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1KHKNgeXcp/?mibextid=K35XfP https://www.instagram.com/agavesocialclub?igsh=dXY1N3J3ZHN0eGFn https://www.theagavesocialclub.com    

Today an old friend of the show stops by for his 2nd visit! The Boys welcome again Mike Barad, Founder of the Great Lakes Tequila Club, to talk all things tequila and share the GLTC Single Barrel Picks to date: Reposados from Suerte Tequila, Codigo 1530, Yeyo, and El Gran Legado de Vida. Listen along as Mike reveals his dedication,  thoughtfulness, and intention in building an inclusive community and curating a line of single barrels with something for everyone. These bottles are on shelves only in the Chicagoland area, but luckily these brands likely have other single barrel picks in your area.  So scoop 'em up, invite your friends, share a dram, listen along, and Make It A Happy Friday™.

Today the Boys teach you how to get active on the Tequila Matchmaker App by walking you through the nose and palate notes and scoring process. Featured are samples of Siete Leguas Blanco, Nueveuno Tequila Anejo, and El Tesoro Extra Anejo from an earlier tasting and training event hosted by Scarlet and Grover Sanschagrin. If these bottles are available near you, then scoop 'em up, listen, sip, and score along.  If they are not available, then pick up another bottle and follow the steps to score your choice! And as always, the Boys hope you'll Make It A Happy Friday™!   Download the TequilaMatchMaker app available on Apple and Android. Find more at: https://www.tequilamatchmaker.com https://tastetequila.com https://additivefreealliance.com   PS - there are updates in the Additive Free vs CRT saga that occurred shortly after recording this episode.  Stay tuned for the latest news and gossip!  

Today the Boys are joined by a giant in the bourbon world, Col. Steve Akley, aka The Bourbon Sasquatch, owner and founder of the ABV Network and the ABV Barrel Shop. Matt has been lucky enough to stop by the ABV Barrel Shop to pick up a few of Steve's Single Barrel picks that they Boys and their guest enjoy on the show: Deerhammer American Single Malt Hidden Barn Bourbon Neeley Family Distillery Sweet Thumped Rye MB Roland Bourbon "Mystery Machine" All are bottles personally chosen by Steve Akley, and exclusively available at his ABV Barrel Shop. Not near the shop?  No worries - these brands have bottles on a shelf near you.  So scoop 'em up, invite your friends for a pour, sip along and listen to a true expert in the industry share his insights to the past, present, and future of bourbon.  A sip with friends and this podcast are sure to Make It A Happy Friday™! Find Steve and his endless passion projects online: http://abvnetwork.com/ http://abvbarrelshop.com/ http://steveakley.com/

Today the Boys celebrate Terroir with two bottles that have plenty of, bring it in, nuance to spare. Matt brings the Laws Whiskey House San Luis Valley Straight Rye, highlighting the grain in a high-altitude valley in Colorado.  Drew brings the Lagrimas Del Valle Plata 2022 Palo Verde, a single-field agave release. The QuickSips™ have a clear winner in one direction, and even a surprising realization. Listen and sip along as the Boys share their tasting notes and random wanderings.  Invite your friends and Make It A Happy Friday™!

Happy Friday, folks!  The boys sure are glad you're here as they revisit an old pairing that just never got released to the public. Today, Matt brings the Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel Bottled in Bond Bourbon, another from one of his favorites, Heaven Hill.  And Drew brings the Lalo Tequila Blanco from a family that is not too short on pedigree themselves! The boys have had this re-do on the list for a long time, and with good reason.  This is one of the best pairings ever! The QuickSips™ are sublime, with one direction vying for the title of All-Time Favorite.  Will it make it? These are two bottles that were once hard to find, but becoming more present on the shelves.  So scoop 'em up, share them with friends, listen and sip along, and Make It A Happy Friday™!

The 3rd Year of Whiskey Tequila Fridays Podcast starts off with a bang!  Today the boys bring two spirits that spent some extra time in the barrel, and then was put on the shelf with some extra proof in the bottle. Matt brings the Elijah Craig 10 year Single Barrel, a Private Barrel pick from Malloy's, and Drew brings the Gran Dovejo Cask Strength Single Barrel Anejo. Okay, the boys know you won't find these two exact bottles on your store shelves, but you can find one similar from each producer. Even though these are both high proof, you will need to equate for proof during the QuickSips™.  If you do, your efforts will be rewarded! So listen and sip along, grab these (or similar) bottles, share with your friends, and Make It A Happy Friday™!

Episode 50 marks Two Years of QuickSips™!  The Boys are thankful for all the listeners who make it fun to release a show on two Fridays per month. In this episode, the Boys revisit 5 pairings from the prior year, including: 1. Four Roses Small Batch Select with Calle 23 Criollo, 2. Kentucky Peerless Single Barrel with Tapatio 110, 3. Calumet Farm 16 year with G4 Extra Anejo, 4. George Dickel and Leopold Brothers Collaboration Rye with G4 Lot 12 Reposado, 5. James E Pepper Decanter Barrel Proof with Aguasol Listen and sip along as the boys recall guests who were kind enough to stop by, Beginner Buys, Unicorn Bottles, and industry events.  They even tease a few upcoming episodes. The Boys sure do appreciate all the love and support, and are honored to be with you and your friends as you Make It A Happy Friday™!

Today the Boys bring some bottles that were once hard to find retail, but now are available everywhere.  Matt brings the James E Pepper Decanter Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Drew brings the Aguasol Tequila Blanco and Reposado. When these were not easy to find retail, they were popular on "The Secondary Market" aka "The Black Market" aka via illegal private sales between unlicensed individuals.  Today, the Boys rant just a bit on their frustrations with this market, and encourage you to have a little patience. And with these two bottles, your patience will be rewarded. Listen along as the Boys give a little background on these brands and bottles, and enjoy on of the best QuickSips™ to date! These bottles are on the shelves and no longer marked up on an illegal market, so scoop 'em up, share with your friends, and Make It A Happy Friday™!

Welcome to Whiskey Tequila Fridays!  Today it's Drew's turn to balance the scales with an all-tequila show.  He brings 3 different lots of Tequila G4 Reposado, each with a slightly different production method. Listen along as the Boys taste these beautiful bottles, revisit their discussion on guitarists, and share another Joby Holland cover. It will be difficult to find these exact bottles on the shelves, but the Boys hear that G4 is releasing two new lots of their Reposado: Lot 16, a return to the traditional (and similar to this episode's Lot 11), and Lot 17, which will include a blend of wine barrels (maybe similar to the Lot 12?). So, if you see G4 Reposado on the shelves, then scoop it up!  Share with your friends, A/B test, QuickSip™ as you see fit, and Make It A Happy Friday™! Find the PKGD Group here: https://pkgd.group/ See the video Matt referenced here: https://youtu.be/WHkb0KVJizw?si=3xuhq4J49SjNR-iB Listen to our Guitarist Geek-Out on Episode 45: Blending Barrels: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtf-whiskey-tequila-fridays-podcast/id1633551375?i=1000655134825  

If Dickens were to write this intro, ‘ol Chuck might pen, “There is no doubt Drew does not like Scotch. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the podcast you about to hear.” Welcome to The Scotchification of Drew. Today, Matt brings 9, count ‘em, 9, bottles of Scotch, and leads Drew down a journey from mild to wild, easy to peaty, and in the process makes Drew a fan of Scotch! If you dare, pick up these bottles: Dewar's 12 Chivas Regal 12 Glenfarclas 12 Signatory Speyside Mortlach 10 Signatory Speyside Auchroisk 10 Talisker 10 Bowmore 15 Ardbeg 10 Lagavulin 16 Listen and Sip along as the Boys tiptoe into the deep-end of Scotch, talk about St. Paddy's Day movies, tangent to Scottish Actors, and luckily avoid what could have been another Tom Hanks geek-out! Invite your friends, hide their car keys, crack these bottles, and Make It A Happy Friday™!

O-H? I-O? Whiskey in... Ohio? Yes, and it's fantastic! Today the Boys welcome two guests: Tony Scott and Jess Nielsen of A.M. Scott Distillery in Troy, Ohio. Tony and Jess share A.M. Scott's Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey and their 7-Year Barrel Proof Rye, give us a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a spirits brand from the ground up, and share everything that is going on at A.M. Scott- and there's a lot going on! The Boys QuickSip™ with an old favorite, while Tony lets it slip that A.M. Scott is working on a tequila!  The results are glorious. (More news on that tequila soon!) A.M. Scott is available in nearly 40 states and over 70 military bases, so find a bottle, invite your friends, sip and listen along, and Make It A Happy Friday™! Visit the A.M. Scott Distillery website: https://www.scottdistillery.com/ and be sure to scroll to the bottom of any page to sign up for the newsletter. Find out more about the new Ohio Distillery Trail: https://www.ohiodistillersguild.org/ohio-distillery-trail Share Troy, OH with 250,000 of your closest friends during the Troy Strawberry Festival: https://www.troystrawberryfest.com/ While you're there, check out A.M. Scott's newest space, a historic theater converted to an elegant restaurant and lounge, The Mayflower: https://www.mayflowertroy.com/ Sip cocktails from The Mayflower from their ticket-booth-turned-outdoor-bar while you watch a Beatles Tribute Band the weekend of June 7th: https://www.mayflowertroy.com/music-events And see what else is happening this summer in Troy during the Fridays on Prouty Concert Series: https://troymainstreet.org/fridays-on-prouty Cheers, friends!  

Hello and Happy Friday!  Today the Boys bring two bottles that break the mold (and the bank).  Matt brings a very rare and expensive Bardstown Bourbon Discovery Series Batch 9, while Drew brings the more readily available and slightly less expensive Tequila ArteNOM Seleccion de 1146, an anejo from a favorite distillery. Both bottles hold contents that have been blended from multiple barrels, and the Boys tip their hats to these Master Blenders! Listen and sip along as the Boys geek out on barrels, bottles, and guitarists.  Discover QuickSips™ that have been masterfully paired.  But most important: Create the special occasion when you open these bottles, share with your friends, and Make It A Happy Friday™.

Back-to-Back Beginner Buys?  Yes, please!  The 5th installment of Beginner Buys is a special one. Today the Boys bring you two special treats: A Scotch and an Anejo that fit the bill to be Beginner Buys: available, affordable, and approachable. Matt brings the Dewar's 12 Blended Scotch Whiskey, and Drew brings the Tequila Tapatio Anejo. Typically, a Scotch and an Anejo would be too pricey for a Beginner Buy, but the Boys know how to do this! The QuickSips™ are delicious, and the Boys pick a clear winner.  Which way do you prefer? These bottles are everywhere, and both together are likely less than an 'ole Ben Franklin out the door.  So scoop 'em up, gather your friends, sip, listen, and Make It A Happy Friday™!

Today the Boys bring you the fourth installment of Beginner Buys.  Matt brings the JTS Brown Bottled in Bond Bourbon, a bottom-shelf treasure, and Drew brings Cascahuin Blanco Tequila, a nicely priced bottle admired by all tequilaphiles. Although these bottles were not paired specifically for the QuickSips™, they prove to match beautifully, providing heightened flavors and long, long finishes. So, stop by your favorite liquor outlet, find these two bottles, gather your friends, sip the liquid,  savor the fellowship, and Make It A Happy Friday™.

Welcome to a sneaky edition of Whiskey Tequila Fridays! It starts as a Beginner Buy, but quickly becomes a sneaky episode, with sneaky bottles containing sneaky juice! Drew sneaks one past Matt and brings the Ezra Brooks Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon and the Tres Generaciones Cenobio's Batch Plata Tequila- two (maybe not so) sneaky products where the liquid inside the bottle was not produced at the home of the label on the outside of the bottle. Matt shares deep insight to the Heaven Hill juice inside an MGP bottle, and Drew sheds light on Cascahuin juice inside a Sauza(!) bottle.  It's a sneaky little show! The Boys manage to educate and libate, geek out on their favorite Action Movies, and finally get to beautiful QuickSips™ with a clear winner. Ezra Brooks Single Barrels are everywhere and the Cenobio Batch is still available with just a little bit of searching. So, sip along, won't you? Grab these two bottles, share with your friends, and Make It A Happy Friday!™

Well, the Boys are at it again.  They manage to pair two beautiful bottles that match perfectly, and they manage to act like middle-schoolers for most of the recording.  You'll understand why once you know Matt brings the George Dickel and Leopold Bros Collaboration Rye. Drew brings the Tequila G4 Lot 12 Reposado aged in very old Dickel and charred French Oak barrels.  It's a match made at the distillery!  And it's perfect. The QuickSips™ really make this pairing, so pick up a bottle of each, invite your friends, sit back, sip along, and Make It A Happy Friday™. Cheers, Friends!  

This week the Boys bring two bottles with a ton of wine influence.  Matt brings another Starward Single Barrel from Malloy's- this time the Australian Single Malt aged in Tawny Port Casks.  Drew brings the Don Fulano Anejo Tequila coming out of the often-mentioned NOM 1146. Don Fulano will be on the shelves of most high-end liquor stores.  This Starward Single Barrel was exclusive to Malloy's in the Chicago area, but Starward Single Barrels abound!  Find one that mentions fig and you are good to go! So grab these bottles, share a pour for you and your friends, sit back, relax, listen and QuickSip™ along, and Make It A Happy Friday™.     *The Boys want to clarify their technique for getting those chocolate notes around 48:35.  Take a sip of the Starward, deeply nose the Don Fulano, swallow the Starward, then go right in for a super QuickSip™ of the Don Fulano Anejo.  Taste that chocolate?  The Boys hope you do! 

Today the Boys bring a few bottles that are really hard to find on the shelves.  Unicorns?  Nah. One Hit Wonders?  No.  But these are definitely gonna be hard to find.  The Boys figure they will have these bottles once and that's probably it- One and Done.  Matt brings the Jim Beam Repeal Batch Bourbon, a uniquely low-proof non-chill filtered whiskey.  And Drew brings the ArteNOM Seleccion de 1549 Blanco tequila. If you can find these bottles, then sip along as the Boys geek out on the bottles, report updates in the Additive Free saga, wander into a discussion of One Hit Wonders, and explore QuickSips™ that reveal flavors that the individual spirits struggle to deliver. So pull up a chair, crack a bottle (any bottle), share it with good friends who like a good laugh, and Make It A Happy Friday™.

Happy New Year, and Welcome to a dry episode of WTF - Whiskey Tequila Fridays.  This week the boys bring two bottles with dry wine barrel influence. Matt brings the 118 proof Cedar Ridge Quintessential American Single Malt Single Barrel.  Might be tough to find this one, but they do have a standard line at 92 proof that is on shelves everywhere. Drew brings Excellia Blanco, the third expression from this brand to make it on the show.  A blanco with barrel influence?  Yep! Drink and listen as the boys tangent into a discussion of the CRT entering the "Certified Additive Free" arena and do a triple-take of the QuickSips™. If you can find these bottles, scoop them up, sip with us and your friends, and make it a Happy Friday!  

Today the boys are gonna sprint through with all the Christmas spirit they can muster in 12 minutes.  That's right, this episode is 12 minutes, because the boys need to hurry back home and help Santa wrap the gifts. Matt brings a Malloy's Single Barrel pick, the Journeyman Silver Cross 4 Grain Whiskey.  While you may not be able to find this exact single barrel near you, there is a main line of Silver Cross 4 Grain available on the shelves.  Drew brings the El Tequileno Anejo Gran Reserva.  This one is available everywhere, and is very reasonably priced considering what's in the bottle. The flavors are glorious, the QuickSips™ show another perfect pairing, and they are, umm, quick.  Really quick.  And at the very end there are some teasers to episodes coming in 2024.  Sure, that takes it longer than 12 minutes, but around here the boys make the rules. All of us here at WTF - Whiskey Tequila Fridays Podcast wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Safe and Happy New Year. See you in 2024!

Well, the boys have gone and done it this time. What should have been two Beginner Buy bottles became four, with two spicy, aromatic, Amaro-laced cocktails.  Merry Christmas! Lucky for you, Old Forester and Altos are on most shelves, and any decent liquor store will have an Amaro.  Sip along and make it a Happy Friday! Happy Holidays!

Today the boys bring bottles with a little age in 'em!  Matt brings the Calumet Farm 16 Year Straight Bourbon.  That's right: 16 years in the barrel!  Drew brings the G4 Tequila Extra Anejo, aged 4 years.  The boys took a gamble on this one, having never tasted the two bottles together before hitting Record.  And the gamble paid off.  The QuickSips™ reveal two more bottles the boys won't be drinking without the other. These two spirits ain't cheap, but if you are looking to treat yourself, now is the time to do it.  If you can snag them, then call your friends, share your treasures, sip along, and make it a Happy Friday! Everyone at Whiskey Tequila Fridays hope you had a very Happy Thanksgiving, and wish you the best for this Holiday Season.

Today the boys have a spicy pairing with plenty of punch.  Matt brings the 114 Proof Kentucky Peerless Single Barrel Bourbon, straight from the distillery Gift Shop, and Drew brings the Tequila Tapatio 110 Proof Blanco. Matt recounts his 2nd trip in two years to Bourbon Country to help pick a special barrel.  And while very few of you will have this specific pick, there are similar bottles on the liquor store shelf.  Listen along as the boys give sneak peeks to future episodes, describe the nose and palates of these beauties, and tangent off into nonsense as old friends will do.  And stick around to sip along with the QuickSips™ which prove to require some additional experimentation.  Take the boys' advice: buy these bottles, call your friends, sip and talk and enjoy what will surely be a Happy Friday!

It's been so hot this fall that the boys decided to bring back a blanco, and this time it's one of the most special they've tried to date: the Calle 23 Criollo Blanco, made with a blend of different sized blue agaves. Matt pairs it with the Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon, a bottle blended with various mash bills. Hear two new online reviews, some geeking out, a tangent here and there, nosing, tasting notes, and some QuickSips™ that require a second go! The Criollo is harder to find, but is still out there, likely with a strong mark-up.  The Four Roses is available for a more palatable msrp.  If you can find them, call your friends, sit back, sip along, and make it a Happy Friday!

Summer is gone and Fall is here, so the boys must say goodbye to The Summer of Blanco.  And following their epic two-part discussion with Mike Morales of Tequila Aficionado, this is the perfect episode to drop.  A year ago, the boys sipped these two, not knowing why they paired so well until recently when Mike informed them that these older Herradura's were aged in Jack Daniels barrels! As a pairing made in history, the QuickSips™ are perfect.  And as a pairing made in infamy, the boys are perfectly clueless!  But they know what tastes good, and these two bottles fit the bill.  Find the Jack Single Barrel Rye at your local store.  At 20+ years old, the Herradura will be hard to find, but who cares?  Grab some friends, grab some bottles, sip along, and make it a Happy Friday!

For Episode 31 we continue our discussion with Mike Morales of Tequila Aficionado Media.  Sit back, sip a pour, learn from The Expert, and Make It A Happy Friday!   Find Mike on the Socials- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IntimateTequilaTastings Instagram: https://instagram.com/timberelk Twitter: https://x.com/timberelk   Find Tequila Aficionado Media on the Web and Socials- https://www.tequilaaficionado.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TequilaAficionado Instagram: https://instagram.com/tequilaaficionado Twitter: https://x.com/tequilaaficion   Listen to Mike and friends on the Tequila Aficionado YouTube series https://youtube.com/@TequilaAficionadomedia?si=W_5WEZRcVMek7nDs and on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tequila-aficionado/id1235107756   Mike's Article about Celebrity Tequila on Medium: https://timberelk.medium.com/celebrity-tequila-brands-are-like-bc7114ad98bc Mike Morales on Medium: https://timberelk.medium.com/ NPR interview with Guillermo Sauza: https://www.npr.org/transcripts/323714694 Agave Social Club featuring Guillermo Sauza: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-agave-social-club/id1528306060?i=1000556390689 Watch for other links on our Social Media posts! ¡Salud!

For Episode 30 we are honored to be joined by Mike Morales of Tequila Aficionado! Mike is the Master Catador and Content Director for Tequila Aficionado.  He is a Tequila Industry Expert and Influencer with more than 30 years of experience, Host of the "Sipping off the Cuff" and "Tequila Aficionado" web- and podcast series.  As the leader of the Tasting Team, he is the Head Judge for the Tequila Aficionado Brands of Promise competition. So reach for a tall pour, and join us for Part 1 where we discuss all things agave: old and new, right and wrong, history and predictions. (Don't forget to join us for Part 2 in two weeks.) And, as always, make it a Happy Friday!

This Friday it's Matt's turn to steal the show, and he certainly does with this lineup.  All Heaven Hill.  All Bottled in Bond.  All Drew has to do is sit back and drink! Listen and sip along as the boys sample JTS Brown Straight Bourbon Bottled In Bond, Heaven Hill 7yr Bourbon Bottled In Bond, and the Henry McKenna 10yr Single Barrel Bourbon Bottled In Bond.  (Have a flight then say that 3 times fast!) These bottles are on the shelves regularly, so pick up each one, pull up a chair, fill your glass, lend an ear, and make it a Happy Friday!  

Get ready for a hot one, cuz today the boys bring the heat! Drew brings the Terralta Blanco 110 Proof, one of the bottles featured in Episode 23: Drew's High Proof Blanco Blind Tasting.  Matt brings the Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey 110 Proof, hoping to pair the rye spice with the Terralta's grassy notes. The QuickSips™ are HOT and tasty, and there is definitely a clear winner! These two bottles are readily available, so pick them up, sip along, and make it a Happy Friday. We'll see if you can handle the heat! 

Today the boys bring a few friends to join the zoom room to discuss Clubs.  Listen along as Jason Langreder, Founder of The Wheaton Whisky Club, and Mike Barad, Founder of the Great Lakes Tequila Club, discuss their motivations, challenges, and victories in starting and maintaining a spirits-themed club. Find The Wheaton Whisky Club on the interwebs and socials:  https://thewheatonwhiskyclub.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/658110408295251/ https://www.instagram.com/the_big_red_dram/   Find The Great Lakes Tequila Club on the interwebs and socials: https://www.greatlakestequilaclub.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/332551178875708 https://www.instagram.com/greatlakestequila/  

Welcome to the 1 Year Anniversary Episode! Can you believe this makes 26 episodes over 52 weeks?  Can you believe we made it this long?  Can you believe you're still here?!? To celebrate 1 Year of the Greatest Podcast To Occur Every Other Friday Featuring A Whiskey and A Tequila, the boys bring back some of their favorite bottles and do their favorite thing when drinking together: The QuickSips™ In this episode, you'll get to revisit 5 of our favorite pairings: Herradura Blanco 92 and Yellowstone American Single Malt The Col. EH Taylor Small Batch and Fortaleza Blanco Tequila Ocho Reposado Barrel Select Widow Jane and Widow Jane 10 Year Bourbon Fortaleza Winter Blend 2020 and Sagamore Spirits Ale Cask Finish Rye Heaven Hill Bottled-In-Bond and El Tesoro Platinum in the Olive Oil bottle. The boys also talk a little about resources to help shape the show, what goes on behind the scenes, unravel the mysteries of the endless Tom Hanks references and "The Lost Episodes," tease some future projects, and thank those who have helped us along the way. We are thrilled to have made it this far, and we hope to be sipping with you through Year Two and beyond! Happy Friday, Friends!

Happy Friday!  Today Matt brings a bottle of tequila from NOM 1579, aka El Pandillo, and Drew matches it with two more!!!  Join the boys as they celebrate the Master Distiller, Felipe Camarena, during this Fabulous Felipe Friday! This episode continues Drew's Summer of Blancos with 3 more from El Pandillo: G4, Pasote, and Volans! The Pasote from 1579 is getting harder to find, but it's not extinct.  As it's popularity grows, G4 can be hard to come by on the shelf, and Volans is ultra-premium.  The combination is amazing!  Sit back and sip along with the boys and they tour three beautiful blancos from 1579.  Share with your friends and make it a Happy Friday!  Cheers!

What happens when the boys record in the garage when temps approach 100 degrees?  A short episode with a lot of outtakes! What happens when the boys find two beautiful bottles, available almost everywhere and all the time?  They tell you to RUN to the liquor store and sip along! Today Matt brings the Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey and Drew brings Siete Leguas Reposado.  The nose and palate on these are sublime, and the QuickSips™ reveal two unique journeys and one clear winner. So listen to the boys- RUN, don't walk, to the liquor store, buy these bottles, sip and listen with friends, and make it a Happy Friday!

This Friday the boys continue the "Summer of Blanco"!!!  No brown liquor here today...  This time it's Drew's turn with a High Proof Blanco Lineup! The boys hope you'll sip along as they blind taste: Calle 23 Criollo (98.6 Proof) Tapatio 110 Terralta 110 Herradura Blanco 92 Proof The boys bring back the Herradura Blanco 92 proof to put it through the gauntlet against the Calle 23 Criollo.  Will it stand up? Then, similar to Episode 22, they set up a double-blind tasting, but not before enjoying another cover by Joby Holland. Once again, these are bottles that are (mostly) available on the liquor store shelf, so grab a few and make it a Happy Friday! Follow Joby and Shed at the Fourche Creek Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fourche-creek-podcast/id1537005321 Find Doug Price and Sophie Decobecq on the Agave Social Club Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-agave-social-club/id1528306060?i=1000559553709  

The boys finally did it...  They let Matt off the leash so he can go full geek on a gorgeous High Proof Bourbon Lineup! Pull up a chair and a glass and sip along as the boys blind taste: Booker's Bourbon 2019-02 Shiny Barrel Batch, Booker's Bourbon 2020-30 Pigskin Batch 1792 Full Proof Bourbon, Maker's Mark Cask Strength Bourbon, and, last but certainly never least: The Col. E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof! Learn how to "blind" yourself and your friends and hear all about these beauties.  Enjoy another great song performed by The Joby Holland Band.  And find out if Drew, a confirmed 80-proof Tequila drinker, can handle 4 bottles of 125+ proof. (He can't.) These are bottles that are (mostly) available on the liquor store shelf, so grab a few and make it a Happy Friday!     Find Joby and Shed at the Fourche Creek Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fourche-creek-podcast/id1537005321 See and hear more of Joby Holland's original songs and covers: https://youtube.com/@fourchecreek5583  

Spring has sprung, and the boys are happy to share a few bottles with a soft, refreshing palate for those warm days and enough proof to keep you warm once the sun goes down! Matt brings the Yellowstone American Single Malt Whiskey at 108 proof, and Drew brings a special Herradura Tequila Blanco 92 Proof.  The QuickSips™ are sublime and the boys can't decide the winner in a split decision.  Matt chooses one direction; Drew chooses the other. But you'll be the real winner when you're enjoying these beautiful spirits on a Springtime Friday!   Now don't go to the store and pick up the wrong bottles.  The boys encourage you to check their social media pages and use the pictures as reference. https://instagram.com/whiskeytequilafridays?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734383463433182/?ref=share_group_link Happy Friday!  

The boys noticed that the question they get most often is something like, "I've never tried whiskey/tequila before.  Where should I start?"  So here we go with Beginner Buys 2! (or is it Deux?)  In this episode, the boys bring two bottles they think are perfect for beginners, experts, and everyone in between.  Matt brings Russell's Reserve 10 Year Bourbon, and Drew brings Espolon Reposado.  Each bottle has a unique story and both fit the criteria the boys set for a Beginner Buy. These bottles are everywhere, so pick up one of each, tune in, listen and sip along, and make it a Happy Friday!