Cheers KC!

#WhiskeyNeat!  I live on the west side of KC... I drive by the west bottoms of Kansas City everyday...  Since the pandemic I've been following this new distillery on instagram called West Bottoms Whiskey.  A brand new local Kansas City whiskey and a new watering hole for the West Bottoms.  A cool old warehouse district... and as you'll learn in the following episode used be home to manufacturers of train cars, tanks, Studebakers, and furniture... now full of funky shops, haunted houses during halloween, and every first Friday, a festival of shopping, food and music.   So one day... specifically this one particular day... was a rough day.  A day worthy for a slow down.  I figured it was time for a visit to West Bottoms Whiskey.  I fell in love instantly.   Whiskey!  Neat!  Follow @WestBottomsWhiskeyCo - @CheersKC and Host @RadioTodd #KansasCity #WestBottoms #CraftWhiskey

Restless - unable to rest or relax  - continuously moving - unquiet.    Describes this distillery in North Kansas City, perfectly... Restless Spirits Distilling Company...@restless_distilling built by two restless souls Mike and Benay Shannon; a husband and wife team.  Mike the marketing and sales mind, 5th generation Kansas City Native of Irish descent ... In charge of everything outside the bottle... and Benay, in charge of everything inside the bottle... a former high school science teacher who taught herself how to distill and is one of only a handful of female master distillers in the country!  Her skills have earned numerous awards, including Missouri Distillery of the Year every year since Restless Spirits opened in 2016.  Follow @CheersKC & Host @RadioTodd

Cheers KC goes to Crane Brewing Co. in Raytown, Missouri.  Tucked in behind Raytown road; a beer warehouse nearby what's left of an old railroad line that will soon be part of the largest recreational trail in Missouri.  Home to what began as home brew, a passion for beer & recipes,  Crane Brewing can now be found at bar taps and coolers all around Kansas City.  I meet up with Chris Meyers, the co-founder, co-owner and idea master at Crane Brewing Co. at their beautiful taproom and brewery in Raytown for some Crane suds and stories!

My first beer when I got to town 4 years ago was an Irish bar just around the corner from the radio station in the Westport area of Kansas City.  Not knowing the significance of the establishment of which I was enjoying a cold beverage.  Turns out, it was the radio station's favorite happy hour spot.  You'll often find our sales staff there after beating the streets for advertising dollars, DJ's after their on air shift, management joining in for the camaraderie ... also turns out it's the oldest building in KC and one of the oldest bar establishments... full of history and stories.  Let's go to Kelly's Westport Inn on Cheers KC.  We talk to Colleen Kelly, and we put the mic in front of some of the team here at Q104 and Steel City Media for some fun.

KC Bier Company.  Beer spelled B-I-E-R... German.  Authentic German style brew.. served with the same freshness and character as a bier one would enjoy in Germany.  A niche not found anywhere in Kansas City and you'd be hard pressed to find anything close to KC Bier Co anywhere really... Boy have they nailed it.  From the bier to the bierhalle & brewery in the Waldo neighborhood of Kansas City.  Managing Partner Steve Holle and Head Brewer Karlton Graham take us on a serendipitous journey to Germany to a classified ad to the brewery and delicious beers you can enjoy today.  Cheers!  Follow us @CheersKC and host @RadioTodd

Episode 4:  It was a hectic day rolling up to Dodson's Bar & Commons in Waldo.  When I met bar curator Eric Jones, I actually had to tell him.  I need a minute to decompress.  It had been one of those days.   Then I realized I was at the exact place...the BEST place to take a minute.   Dodsons's vibe is relaxed, music vibes with the bar...sophisticated but not snobby.    Swanky!   Local brew, cocktail creations that nod to the past, and re-imaging of some of the classics.  Originals that are making this bar famous in KC.  Follow us @CheersKC and host @RadioTodd

Episode 3: City Barrel Brewery and Kitchen in East Crossroad of Kansas City.   This my first visit to the brewery, but not the first time I met co-founder, brewmaster Grant Waner.   We start Cheers KC back where the brew magic happens...a backstage tour of the brewery to check out the massive brew tanks, the cannery, gain a little knowledge before we dive into some happy hour suds.  Follow us @CheersKC and host @RadioTodd

Episode 2: Mean Mule Distilling Co. in the Crossroads District is one of the most unique distilleries in the not only KC, but in the United States!  Distinct because of what they distill.    They make American Agave Spirits... Haven't heard of it?  It has a very familiar taste.    But as I experienced, it's so much better... and made in KC.

Mean Mule Distilling Co

Cheers KC on Instagram

Host @RadioTodd

Episode 1: We talk to Former KC Chiefs QB, Trent Green!   Trent announced to Q104 and Cheers KC that Boulevard Brewing Company is teaming up with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City.  Today and throughout the season cans and bottles of Boulevard's KC Pils will be decked out in red and gold with a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Ronald McDonald House here in KC.