EmbellishPod

I have a couple of different types of episodes. One is interview based(which is what we will do tonight) and the other is background info on distilleries or brands that somehow tie together in my sometimes erratic methodologies. These episodes take a good deal of research and when it comes to craft distilleries this can be difficult as many are not necessarily getting the press they deserve. I'm not afraid to admit I've used the website of tonights guest numerous times for that primary information. Chase and Devin have amassed a large quantity of information about craft distilleries and have now moved into blending their own expressions. Tonight we'll talk through Borrowed Page and their website....and anything else that happens to come up. @mashngrain mashandgrain.com

David and I have been circling the same guests and events pretty much since the beginning of both of our podcasts. I figured it was time for us to finally meet and decide who should quit first.

hint: it's probably me.

Sorry for the less than stellar audio but it was the only way I could get the fire to load for my audio podcast feed. If you want better quality audio, and some video hop over to youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnnkD_SxNOw

In this episode of the Embellish podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jason Petty, also known as Propaganda or Prop Hip Hop. Prop is a multi-talented artist, including being a musician, author, and podcast host. We had a unique conversation covering a range of topics, from his music and storytelling style to his passion for coffee and whiskey.

The conversation dives into Prop's background and his journey as an artist. He discusses the importance of storytelling in his music and how it is deeply rooted in the Black experience. He credits his upbringing in church and the influence of hip hop for shaping his storytelling style. Prop emphasizes the power of storytelling to evoke emotions and create connections with listeners.

We then shift gears to discuss Prop's foray into the world of coffee. He shares his collaboration with Onyx Coffee and their joint venture, Terraform Cold Brew. Prop talks about the sourcing trip to Colombia and the process of curating the perfect flavor profile for their coffee. He also mentions the other elements of the Terraform universe, including his poetry book and albums.

The conversation takes a turn towards politics, with a focus on Prop's podcast, Hood Politics. He explains that the show aims to provide analysis and context rather than hot takes on current political events. Prop shares that the podcast has given people permission to have their own takes on politics and feel more confident in discussing important issues. He also highlights the importance of understanding the system and breaking down complex concepts for listeners.

The episode concludes with a discussion on the intersection of snobbery and drinking, where Prop emphasizes the importance of enjoying drinks in a way that suits individual preferences. He also touches on the impact of his podcast and music in empowering listeners to engage in conversations and take action.

French Oak has been widely used by the wine industry for eons but is rapidly gaining popularity within the Bourbon and American Whiskey realms. Understanding what the actual impact of this oak variety might help you better understand if its a flavor profile you are interested in. We'll walk through a few offerings that are using french oak, some wood species characteristics and maybe even a tasting or two.

I've always been interested in "alternative" aging methods employed by different brands to achieve newer, faster, or alternative flavor profiles. When Bespoken Spirits reached out about their product line it was a no brainer to pick the brain of Martin Janousek and talk about the motivating factors behind creating a brand like this and what the identity happens to be. It's always interesting to hear from folks that were not born or steeped in the spirits(whiskey) tradition. Their perspectives can be refreshing in a culture that is often wary of new ideas and technologies.

I get the opportunity to talk with bestselling author of Drinking & Knowing Things, Michael Juergens. Not only is he an author he's a Certified Sommelier with the Guild of Master Sommeliers, a Certified Specialist of Wine, and a Master of Wine Candidate with the Institute of Masters of Wine. He is the founder of the Bhutan Wine Company, he owns the award-winning SoCal Rum company, is a professor at the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of CA, Irvine and has agreed to climb down to the dregs of social media and rub elbows with us cretins.

If you've been around the Whiskeygram for more than a few weeks you've probably seen Jake floating around pushing the wonders of his company Starward. I had the privilege months ago of being able to attend the first of many virtual Starward(and other spirits) tastings that Jake led and I can tell you it won me over to the Australian Single Malt market and solidified my core fandom of "Key in the Lake" one of his other ventures. Join me as we talk through his brand, podcast and any other thing that happens to come up.

I've been following Penelope as a brand for about as long as they have been a brand. They don't have a lineage or history with the spirits industry specifically, but their investment into this market is complete and whole. I've had occasion to meet Matt, Mike and Danny over the last year(even if they can't remember it) and really connected with the ethos behind the brand and the future vision of it. We'll talk through their inception, creation and launching of many different whiskey variations and whatever else happens to come up.

There have been a handful of highly anticipated releases in the last few months are there are more to come. If you aren't already following @comingwhiskey you probably should be and I know I use it to get myself hyped up for bottles that are on the horizon. Beyond that you should at least be on the mailing lists of all the distilleries you love. Thats how you get into the nitty gritty of the details. Tonight we talk about some things already released and some things to come.

Founding fathers had an interest in whiskey whether it be from a commerce or taxation perspective, and some brands carry the names today. I thought it fitting to talk about a few of these brands tonight considering I just returned from trips to Monticello, Mount Vernon and Washington DC.