For the 2nd annual Whiskey Spectacular we're trying something new; a special guest!  My friend Steve has been asking when he gets to be on the podcast, and since he's one of my few friends that's really into whiskey it only made sense.  

Yes, my interview skills need work, but we had fun talking fatherhood and whiskey.  And yeah, it's a long one.  And this is editted!  I meant to get it out prior Christmas ended, but I just didn't have the time to edit while I was back home.  But at least it's still 2024 when it comes out.

Enjoy!

Coming down the (mountain \m/) home-stretch!  I procrastinated way too many things to the literal last day, but that's what makes this engine run.  Fire up the stress and get ready for over-night trek to Chicago!

Me and the boys got out for the first day of skiing this year.  Last minute, no less.  Was it stress and complication free?  Ha!  But did we pull it off and everyone have fun?  Yes.  Mostly.  Wish I would have gotten 1-2 real runs, but such is life with kids. 

Do I sometimes use Duncan as a tool to do my dirty work?  You betcha! But he needs tasks and sometimes I need helpers.  Win-win

Enjoy!

I've finally been publicy vindacated on something!  Better yet, something that Hayley totally didn't get when I mentioned it.  (Spoiler alert, maybe I should stop being completely honest with her about everything...)

And I have proof that I'm getting mentally healthier!  Seems stupid, but it was a nice bellweather for me to see real progress and change. 

Another Smooth Ambler is up for review.  Contradiction.  I've talked about them before and really like what they do.  Let's see if this lives up to the reputation.

Wanna hear my thoughts on the US health care system?  Too bad,  you have to.  It's a mess and as a country we can't really decide what we want.  But we don't want this.  But we also don't want the other options.  

Enjoy!

It's already December.  Somehow, someway.  I know a lot of people are saying it, and I say it every year, but I have no idea where the year went.  

2 Thanksgivings in the book.  4 turkeys, 4 pies, 2 batches of gravy, 2 pans of stuffing, 2 custards, 2 cranberry sauces.  And it was all great.  Thanksgiving itself was very chill and uneventful.  And we won't talk about the hours of 12:30-4.  

A Booker's product that didn't let me down!  It's a Thanksgiving miracle!  Little Book ch8 - Path no taken.  The rye blend.  

But yeah, I did have a ... lively conversation about the democrats and how things went wrong.  And their views and attitudes towards the bulk of the country just reinforce how we got where we are in the first place.  

Enjoy!

I try to summarize my likely-rambling soliloquy about the election and where the democrats are going, but probably just do more damage.  And make things more unintentionally offensive.  If I ever run for public office, someone burn all of these recordings...

It's Thanksgiving week!!  One of the greatest weeks in the history of weeks!  I've got all my turkeys, I've got my cooking plans, all my ingredients, watched 15 gravy videos, chopped my mirepoix, made my custards (and trolled Hayley's nephew), made some of the pie crusts.  Let's f'n go!! 

What's the perfect review for this week?  Wild Turkey Rare Breed!!  Such a great bottle and one of the first things you get into as soon as you take the game serious.  

We had Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, house guests, great conversations, and somehow it was an eventful but uneventful weekend.  I guess that's good?  I don't know any more. 

Enjoy!

Turns out it's possible for my football teams to disappoint and hurt me even further.  I don't know what else to say that I haven't tearfully muttered into my pillow at night.

But we start a whiskey review theme and drink on some Russell's Reserve 10yr.  Such a classic bottle and a necessary inclusion in a collection.  

Boy do I have some thoughts on the election.  And I'm sure it all spills out wrong.  Like usual.  So I probably said things really poorly, sound like an ass, and upset someone.  I'll address it next week like I always do.  Right now the Democrats are like the 49ers.  They have talent, and should be able to win, but just got out-strategized and tried to get too smart for their own good.  

Wanna hear a story about my morning workout and shower routine in winter?  Too bad!  

Enjoy!

Well, both my football teams officially stink.  Badly.  Like week-old sushi left on the counter.  Purdue will likely go 1-11 this year.  1-11!!  Yeah, that's going to win us some recruits and keep existing talent from hopping into the portal.  And the Bears...just when you think maybe it won't be a dumpster fire, they find a way.  So we're back to chaos and coaching changes and player grumblings and all of it.  

And somehow I got lured back into discussions on facebook and was immediately reminded of why it's like pissing into the wind.  Best case is people just say wild things to rile you up.  Realistically they just try to gas-light you.  

Smooth Ambler Founders Blend is up for a review.  This has to be the best thing in West Virginia.  It's really good, and I can't think of anything else in WV that's good.  

If you could have any fast-food restaurant in your house, Davonte Adams-TacoBell style, what would it be?  

Enjoy!

Democracy hath spoken, and the democrats took this one on the chin.  Lost every swing state, saw their percentages shrink everywhere, and lost the popular vote for the first time since 2004 and only second time since 1992.  Really disapponting showing.

But I rage-bought a delicious whiskey for drinking during Bears games.  Redwood Empire Grizzly Beast.  Does it help the Bears win? Nope.  But it's still a delightful pour. 

And it was my birthday weekend!  Got some very nice presents, and we all went out for a nice (but expensive) steak dinner.  But had yet another incident to navigate.  Really just highlighting that I'm not Head Coach material.  

Finally (not chronologically) Myles and I got out to see Iron Maiden!  Wells Fargo Center.  It was an awesome show.  Really impressed with how well they did.

Enjoy!

Just as I was feeling really good about the Bears and the direction they were going, they have to go and rip my heart out and remind me that sometimes nothing changes.  That was a rough way to head into dinnertime.  

But I picked up a bottle of 2XO American Oak for a review.  Does it live up to Dixon's lofty reputation?  Or just another bottle of generic double-oaked sourced whiskey?  

Oh yeah, Duncan's sick again.  Not COVID, not pneunomia.  Just generic viral infection.  Except Duncan always gets the LONG version of that illness.  So instead of a couple days, it's a whole week.  

Who wants some Econ 101 talk?!  How do we make more goods here in the US, pay all the workers more, but still make things cheaper?  

And my basement receiver broke.  Even the TV didn't want to experience the Bears game.  So my santuary was invaded by chaos.  

Enjoy!

I'm a tux-owning son of a biscuit!  Cause no, this is probably not the last time my wife or her fancy-ass associates are going to have a black tie event.  The wedding was actually very nice.  Except for the open bar selection.  Would it have killed them to have 1 good whiskey back there?!  

And it was my wife's birthday!  Who is second only to my father on the list of people impossible to buy gifts for.  

Did I fall into a Knob Creek 18?  Perhaps I did.  And perhaps it's delicious.  Listen and see...

Details are sketchy, but an issue as old as time has reared it's not-conventionally-pretty head once again.  But I think I've got more pieces to this puzzle, which maybe helps us bring this ship to shore.  Or just crash it on the rocks.  I don't know.  

Enjoy!