Botanical Trails

Back by popular demand, one of our favorite guests, Greg Ceithaml, is back and he had an interesting concept for us to try.  For the first time, we do a taste test during the show.  And while trying out his idea, we also chat about his recent trip to Chicago for Lalapalooza, his trip to the beach, and a special book from my childhood.

Come for the drinks, and stick around to hear his surprise for Off The Beaten Path.  It’ll be an entertaining time🎙️

Cheers!!

My thanks to Darin VanderMolen for helping to produce this podcast.

For questions, comments, or to suggest a new gin to try, feel free to send us a message on our Instagram account: @thebotanicaltrails

One of our favorite guests, Brian Place, returns to the show to try two gins from Scotland.  In this episode, which hits not one but two milestones for the podcast, we discuss his parent’s trip to Scotland, the Jeopardy prank that never was, and the beaches of Scotland.

Come for the drinks, and stick around to hear Brian show off his knowledge of sap.  This really might be the most fun hour of your week🎙️

Cheers!!

This episode of this season can be found at: https://botanicaltrails.buzzsprout.com, as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music and other platforms.

#BotanicalTrails #Gin

My thanks to Darin VanderMolen for helping to produce this podcast.

For questions, comments, or to suggest a new gin to try, feel free to send us a message on our Instagram account: @thebotanicaltrails

My pal TJ is my guest for the latest episode and we try a Tennessee Whiskey and a gin from South Africa.  While enjoying these fine spirits, we chat about his trips to Tennessee, getting to witness Mule Days, how we cannot bring ourselves to recommend the novel “The Road” to anyone, and question why Irish authors hate quotation marks.

Come for the drinks, and stick around to hear TJ talk about AI🎙️

Cheers!!

My thanks to Darin VanderMolen for helping to produce this podcast.

For questions, comments, or to suggest a new gin to try, feel free to send us a message on our Instagram account: @thebotanicaltrails

For the second installment of the new season, we have fan favorite Angie back to visit for our PP episode.  In the episode we try two gins from countries that start with the letter P - Poland and the Philippines.  And while trying these two new gins we chat about her trips to Poland, how I chose ARC gin, her Mad Men workout routine, inappropriate company names and how I was once left as collateral at one, and a growing trend in podcasting.

Come for the gin, and stick around to hear Angie chat about Christmas markets in Poland 🎙️

Cheers!!

My thanks to Darin VanderMolen for helping to produce this podcast.

For questions, comments, or to suggest a new gin to try, feel free to send us a message on our Instagram account: @thebotanicaltrails

It took a bit longer than anticipated, but we are back for Season 3!!  And I am joined by two guests to kick off the new season - Andy and Adam Jester have returned.  In the kickoff to this season, we try a couple of gins from South Carolina and chat about their trip to England over 20 years ago and their potential banishment from the country, their upcoming trip to Ireland, the French 75 cocktail, Adam’s hockey career and we end the episode with not one, not two, but three Off the Beaten Path selections.

Come for the gin, and stick around to hear Adam actually sneak in multiple choices for his topic 🎙️

Cheers!!

My thanks to Darin VanderMolen for helping to produce this podcast.

For questions, comments, or to suggest a new gin to try, feel free to send us a message on our Instagram account: @thebotanicaltrails

Wake the kids, call the neighbors - Toe Squished Grapes is back to cap our 2024 season with a special holiday episode.  However, instead of wine this year, they are exploring non-alcohol options for the holidays, with not one, not two, but three beverages for us try.  In this jam packed episode we cover the new drink concocted by Molly - the Lemon Drip, sneak in a little football talk, try to figure out if it is an adaptogen or adopt a gin, discuss gift ideas for kids, tackle some Christmas movie trivia, and share three special Off The Beaten Path topics.  They packed a ton into this episode.

Come for the non-alcohol options, and stick around to hear us debate an issue that continues to divide our country - is Die Hard a Christmas movie or not?  Oh, and we even sneak in a little show and tell 🎙

My thanks to Darin VanderMolen for helping to produce this podcast.

For questions, comments, or to suggest a new gin to try, feel free to send us a message on our Instagram account: @thebotanicaltrails

In our second to the last episode of the season, our fan favorite Brian Place joins us for a third time to enjoy two amazing gins from Spain.  As we savor the flavor of our beverages we chat about his trip to Spain from a few years ago, including the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, discuss exactly what paella is, and share two great Off The Beaten Path topics.

Come for the gin, and stick around to hear about Brian met someone directly linked to one of our OTBP topics 🎙

Cheers!!

My thanks to Darin VanderMolen for helping to produce this podcast.

For questions, comments, or to suggest a new gin to try, feel free to send us a message on our Instagram account: @thebotanicaltrails

As we approach the end of 2024 and look to wrap up season 2, we have three more episodes to release, starting with my buddy Steve joining me for episode 9.  In this episode we try a couple of Navy Strength gins.  While enjoying these high octane drinks, we discuss how the term Navy Strength came about, Steve’s trip to Krakow, Poland, and my adventure in picking up his kids in the school pick-up line.

Come for the gin, and stick around to hear about Steve’s love of a good Old Fashion and a Voocaray, and how we question how single CD's never really caught on. 🎙

Cheers!!

This episode can be found at: https://botanicaltrails.buzzsprout.com, as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music and other platforms.

My thanks to Darin VanderMolen for helping to produce this podcast.

For questions, comments, or to suggest a new gin to try, feel free to send us a message on our Instagram account: @thebotanicaltrails

My guest for our latest episode has had quite a hand in shaping the selection of gins that we have tasted on the show.   Rishi, from Rishi’s International Beverage in Grand Rapids, is our guest for this episode. And while enjoying two tasty gins from the UK, we discuss his journey of starting his own bottle shop and how tastes have impacted the growth of his business over the years.  We also talk about how his customers are now searching more for quality over quantity, and his enjoyment of being able to influence the palates of his customers.  And he has certainly influenced mine, with this episode marking 7 different gin recommendations being featured on the podcast.

Come for the gin, and stick around to hear Rishi’s very unique Off The Beaten Path topic 🎙

Cheers!!

My thanks to Darin VanderMolen for helping to produce this podcast.

For questions, comments, or to suggest a new gin to try, feel free to send us a message on our Instagram account: @thebotanicaltrails

In our latest episode, my cousin Marc joins us as we enjoy two delicious gins from Scotland.  Throughout the episode, we learn about some of the very cool places that Marc has had a chance to visit - including Wales, England, Cuba and New Zealand.  And in Off The Beaten Path, Marc adds a new category to my favorite segment.

Come for the gin, and stick around to hear about Marc filming a documentary in Cuba 🎙

Cheers!!

This episode can be found at: https://botanicaltrails.buzzsprout.com, as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music and other platforms.

My thanks to Darin VanderMolen for helping to produce this podcast.

For questions, comments, or to suggest a new gin to try, feel free to send us a message on our Instagram account: @thebotanicaltrails