Tasting Notes: This week, Jason sits down with Sammy Halpern, Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer of Desolas Mezcal, for an energizing conversation about tradition, innovation, and the future of Salmiana agave. From his early days in the industry to helping build Blue Run Spirits, Sammy shares how passion, relationships, and curiosity shaped his journey — and why the world is ready for a brighter, agave-forward mezcal from San Luis Potosí.

🔥 Highlights

🏁 Sammy’s Path Into Spirits

• The internship that changed everything
• Why relationship-building became his superpower
• Lessons from Moët Hennessy and the rise of Blue Run Spirits

☀️ The Story Behind Desolas

• How founder Gigi Mirvis spent 15+ years working with the Olivia family
• Why low-smoke, citrus-forward Salmiana agave is the star of the show
• The meaning of Desolas (“of the sun”) and its role in the brand’s identity
• A timeless, Mexican-crafted design meant to last

🛢️ Aged Salmiana — A First in the Category

• The new Reposado and upcoming 31-month single barrels
• How whiskey blending techniques inform their aged mezcal
• Honoring agave without overpowering it

🌎 Culture, Community & What’s Next

• Why consumers crave education, transparency, and authenticity
• How Desolas is welcoming agave-curious drinkers into the category
• Availability, distribution growth, and online ordering

🔗 Connect With Desolas Mezcal

Instagram: @desolasmezcal
Website: desolasmezcal.com
Order Online: Available to ship to 39 states

🔗 Connect With The Dram Amateur Podcast

Instagram: @dram_amateur
YouTube: The Dram Amateur Podcast
Facebook: The Dram Amateur Podcast
Behind-the-scenes, updates, pours & more every week

Life’s too short for bad pours — make every dram count. 🥃✨

Tasting Notes:  Boom 💣 — we’re lighting the fuse on this one! In this episode, Jason sits down with Vince from Powdermen Spirits, a Connecticut distillery that blends craftsmanship, danger, and family legacy in every pour. From the blasting pits of New England to the barrels of Flyrock Corn Whiskey and Blackwick Bourbon, Vince shares how his father’s life in explosives inspired a one-of-a-kind spirits brand with the unforgettable motto — “Don’t Drink and Blast.”

They dive deep into the history, science, and heart behind Powdermen — exploring how a moonshiner’s recipe, a double gold medal win, and a love of local sourcing have shaped their rise in the craft whiskey world. ⚗️✨

🧨 In This Episode:

🔥 From Blasting Caps to Bourbon:
How Vince and his father Frank turned decades in the drilling and explosives business into a distillery that honors the grit and tradition of real powder men.

🍿 The Legend of Charlie:
The man, the myth, the moonshiner — how a Special Forces veteran and “beaver dam blaster” inspired Powdermen’s first whiskey recipe and spirit of rebellion.

🏆 Double Gold at San Francisco:
Vince relives the shock and joy of winning Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition — and what that validation meant for their small Connecticut operation.

🌾 Local Roots, Real Grains:
Why they insist on working with nearby farms like Pleasant View Farms and the Thrall Family Farm, using 90% corn and 10% malted barley for a distinctly Connecticut flavor.

🧪 Engineering Meets Distilling:
Vince’s inner mechanical engineer shows up big — from experimenting with small barrels and accelerated aging to chill filtration hacks and the science of “slow proofing.”

🔥 Accelerated Aging, Not Shortcuts:
How Powdermen uses temperature cycling and a controlled-heat process to replicate years of maturation — pushing innovation while staying true to bourbon’s soul.

🥃 Blackwick Bourbon & Flyrock Corn Whiskey:
Jason tastes through several batches — including Batch Six (Double Gold Winner) and Batch Ten C (Cask Strength)— unpacking notes of coconut, spice, fruit, and a hint of danger.

🧠 Whiskey Nerd Heaven:
Learn about Uranus’ Principle, saponification, slow proofing, and why Vince keeps a “southern engineer’s curiosity” alive in every experiment.

👨‍👩‍👦 Family Business with Fire:
From his sister designing labels to his father mentoring distilling runs, this is a tight-knit crew doing things their way — small batch, full heart, and New England tough.

🥇 Tasting Highlights:

• Blackwick Batch Six: 🥥 Coconut-forward, rich and oily, layers of sweetness and spice, five years and ten months in a 15-gallon barrel.
• Blackwick Batch Ten C (Cask Strength): 🍓 Sweet fruit and oak in perfect balance, aged one month with accelerated heat method, proofed at 104.
• Batch Nine: ⚡️ A “happy accident” blend that turned a failed experiment into a bold, oaky win.

🌐 Connect with Powdermen Spirits:

👉 powdermenspirits.com
📍 Simsbury, Connecticut
📸 Instagram: @powdermenspiritsco

🎙️ Connect with Jason & The Dram Amateur Podcast:

Instagram: @dram_amateur
YouTube | Facebook: The Dram Amateur Podcast
🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts

🎙️ Tasting Notes:  In this episode of the Dram Amateur Podcast, Jason sits down with Arturo Lamas, founder of Lost Lore Tequila — a brand that’s not just crafting exceptional tequila, but reviving a century-old family legacy. From humble beginnings in Zacatecas to crafting tequila in Jalisco, Arturo’s journey is a tribute to perseverance and passion.

We talk about how Lost Lore was born from a forgotten family craft, the meaning behind its mysterious name, and how Arturo and his wife Sarah are building a brand rooted in authenticity, transparency, and quality. Arturo also shares what it’s like working with legendary master distiller Sergio Cruz, experimenting with unique finishes (including stout barrels and amburana wood!), and pushing boundaries in the world of agave spirits.

Whether you’re a tequila enthusiast, an entrepreneur, or just love a good story about passion and perseverance — this pour is one you won’t want to miss.

🔥 Highlights You’ll Love

✨ Family Legacy Reborn: How Arturo’s great-grandfather began distilling agave in the 1920s — and how Lost Lore honors that 100-year tradition.
🌵 The Meaning of “Lost Lore”: A tribute to traditions lost when Arturo’s father moved to the U.S. and the family’s journey to bring them back.
💪 Teamwork & Tenacity: Arturo’s wife Sarah is not just a partner in life, but a powerhouse behind the business — managing compliance, logistics, and growth.
🧪 Innovation in Agave: From stout barrel experiments to amburana finishes and hoven blends, Arturo breaks down how Lost Lore keeps tequila exciting while respecting its roots.
💬 Transparency & Quality: Why Lost Lore sticks to agave, water, and yeast — and how those three ingredients can create endless flavor profiles.
🌎 Community & Connection: The power of social media, relationships with fans, and how authenticity fuels growth in the craft spirits world.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 At the Core: Arturo opens up about being a family man first — and how every decision starts with his loved ones in mind.
🎶 Just for Fun: What mythical creature represents Lost Lore (hint: it’s a Griffin 🦅), Arturo’s desert island picks, and what’s next for the brand — including collabs with breweries, hip-hop artists, and an AEW wrestler!

🧭 Key Takeaway

Lost Lore Tequila isn’t just about what’s in the bottle — it’s about reviving lost traditions, celebrating culture, and daring to innovate. Arturo’s story reminds us that great spirits are made with heart, hustle, and heritage.

📲 Connect & Follow

Follow Lost Lore Tequila on:

• Instagram: @lostloretequila
• Website: www.lostloretequila.com

Follow The Dram Amateur Podcast on Instagram:
👉 @dram_amateur

🥃 Final Toast

“Tradition may fade, but stories — and good tequila — never die. Here’s to the legends who keep the lore alive.”
– Jason, The Dram Amateur Podcast

🎙️ Tasting Notes:

On this week’s episode of The Dram Amateur Podcast, Jason sits down with one of the most influential voices in modern rum — Kate Perry, U.S. National Manager for La Maison & Velier and the woman behind the Instagram handle @wheninrhum.

From opening Seattle’s iconic Rumba bar to bringing Clairin and other authentic Caribbean spirits into the U.S. market, Kate’s story is equal parts passion, persistence, and purpose. She didn’t wait for opportunity — she booked a flight to the Caribbean and created one.

This episode dives deep into Kate’s journey from sherry to sugarcane, her crash-course trip through the islands, and how a chance encounter at 1 a.m. in New Orleans changed everything. 🌙

🍹 Highlights from the Pour

• Jumping in feet first: How a random idea to open a rum bar led Kate to the Caribbean on a self-taught rum education journey.
• The meeting that changed her life: The story of how she met Luca Gargano at Tales of the Cocktail — and talked her way into her dream job.
• Building the U.S. rum movement: What it was like to self-distribute Clairin and Caroni through the streets of New York long before rum was “cool.”
• The power of community: Why Kate believes rum is best when shared — and how the global rum family continues to grow.
• Authenticity in the spirits world: Her advice to brands — and people — about staying true to your voice and knowing when to say no.
• Rum vs. Bourbon: The rise of transparency, the importance of producers, and why rum still flies under the radar (for now).

💬 Rapid Fire & Reflections

• The rum she pours for someone who says “I don’t like rum.”
• Her three-bottle rum “starter pack.”
• What rum in America will look like in five years.
• A dream tasting panel featuring Joy Spence, Mary Oliver, and 90s Gwen Stefani (yes, really).
• The deeper purpose behind what she does — bringing people together, one pour at a time.

🌍 Final Takeaway

Kate’s journey is more than a career story — it’s a masterclass in following your calling, building community, and doing things the right way. Whether you’re a bourbon drinker dipping into rum for the first time or a longtime sugarcane spirit enthusiast, this episode will make you see rum (and the people behind it) in a whole new light.

🔗 Connect with Us

Follow @wheninrhum for global rum adventures and updates from Kate.
Follow @dram_amateur on Instagram for more behind-the-scenes content, episode drops, and spirited conversations.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode — it helps the podcast grow and keeps the drams flowing!

Tasting Notes: This week, Jason sits down with David and Richard, the passionate founders of Dos Gabachos Mezcal, a brand that was built the hard way: relationship by relationship, bottle by bottle, bar by bar.

These guys didn’t stumble into mezcal—they chased it. From long nights bartending in downtown LA, to life-changing trips to Mexico City, to bumpy car rides through the hills of Oaxaca, their journey is one of grit, authenticity, and respect for tradition.

🎙️ What’s Inside the Episode:

• How a friendship behind the bar in LA turned into a mezcal brand with roots deep in Oaxaca.
• The eye-opening trip that changed everything and introduced them to the Martinez family—4th generation mezcaleros in Santo Domingo Albarradas.
• Why mezcal isn’t just “smoky tequila” (and what really gives it those earthy, complex flavors).
• The hustle behind building a spirits brand without celebrity backing or deep pockets—hand-delivering bottles, educating bartenders, and earning every reorder.
• A deep dive into their lineup: from the Espadín (their flagship) to the Rosé, Tobala, Tepeztate, and the wild, celebratory Pechuga distilled with fruits and a chicken breast. 🐓🍍🍎
• The importance of terroir, tradition, and transparency in every bottle.
• Mezcal’s magic: why it makes you feel alive, connected, and always worth sharing.

🥂 Why You’ll Love It:

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to bring an authentic spirit from the hills of Oaxaca to the shelves of bars in California and New York, this is the episode for you. It’s a story of sweat, culture, passion, and the belief that mezcal is more than a drink—it’s heritage in a glass.

So pour yourself something good (bonus points if it’s mezcal 😉), and join us for this unforgettable conversation with the storytellers behind Dos Gabachos.

👉 Follow Dos Gabachos on Instagram: @dosgabachosmezca

👉 Check them out and order online: dosgabachos.com

👉 Connect with me: @dram_amateur on Instagram, Threads, and X | The Dram Amateur Podcast on Facebook

Tasting Notes: Strap in, whiskey explorers—because this week, we’re saddling up with Chuck and Kim from Overland Drams! 🥃🚙 These two adventurers are blending bold pours of American whiskey with the untold stories of the West. Together, we dive into their brand-new Western Whiskey Trails project, starting with the Santa Fe Whiskey Trail.

From dusty pioneer paths to virtual campfires, they’re proving that whiskey history runs far beyond Kentucky—and it’s just waiting for you to discover it. 🌄

🔥 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• 🌍 The Origin Story: How Chuck’s time in Greenland, Kim’s adventurous spirit, and their shared passion for history + whiskey sparked Overland Drams.
• 🥃 Whiskey Meets the Wild West: Why the Santa Fe Trail is ground zero for Western whiskey, and how distilleries across the West are keeping that legacy alive.
• 📖 Stories You Haven’t Heard: Forgotten distillers, outlaw saloons, and the characters that shaped American whiskey outside Kentucky.
• 🛻 Overlanding & Whiskey Hunting: How they rigged up their adventure vehicle to chase down distilleries across vast Western landscapes.
• 💡 The Big Vision: Building a connected whiskey culture in the West, complete with sensory kits, virtual tastings, and modern-day whiskey rendezvous.
• 🎶 Soundtrack of the Santa Fe Trail: From Johnny Cash to Tom Petty, the music that sets the tone for sipping on the open road.
• 🔮 Legacy & Future: How Overland Drams hopes to preserve history, grow community, and inspire the next generation of whiskey adventurers.

👥 About the Guests:

Chuck & Kim of Overland Drams are explorers at heart—Antarctica veterans, whiskey enthusiasts, and now trailblazers building the Western Whiskey Trails. Their mission? To connect the glass in your hand to the land, stories, and people of the American West.

Follow them on Instagram 👉 @overlanddrams
Learn more 👉 overlanddrams.mykajabi/priority-list

📲 Stay Connected:

Follow me on Instagram: @dram_amateur

YouTube & Facebook: Dram Amateur Podcast

🎧 If you enjoyed this episode, drop a like, share it with a friend, and leave a review—it helps us grow and keeps the pours flowing!

Tasting Notes: 🍹 American rum is having a moment, and Seth Benhaim is leading the charge!

In this episode of The Dram Amateur Podcast, Jason sits down with Seth Benhaim—the visionary mind behind Mainland Rum and the innovative Broken Barrel Whiskey. Seth isn’t just bottling spirits; he’s bottling a movement.

We dive into:

• Why American rum deserves respect and how Mainland is putting domestic distilleries on the map.
• Seth’s “aha moment” that sparked the first independent American rum bottler focused on cask-strength, single-barrel releases.
• The hustle behind the brand—hunting down barrels from California to Louisiana, and the transparency that makes Mainland stand out.
• The wild terroir of U.S. rum (spoiler: it’s not all pirates & pineapples 🍍).
• What’s next for Mainland: island projects, hazmat-proof rums, and a mission to reshape how the world thinks about American rum.

Jason also tastes through Mainland’s lineup live—Georgia, Florida, California, and Louisiana—and the results are nothing short of mind-blowing. 🌟

Whether you’re a bourbon diehard curious about rum, a spirits geek chasing unique pours, or just love a great entrepreneurial story, this episode will light you up.

Connect with Seth & Mainland Rum:

• Instagram: @mainlandrum
• Website: www.mainlandrum.com

Connect with me:

• Instagram / Threads: @dram_amateur
• YouTube/Facebook: Dram Amateur Podcast

🥃 Pour yourself something bold and sip along—this conversation might just change the way you see rum.

Tasting Notes:  Jason is joined by fellow Niners fan, agave enthusiast, and Instagram mainstay John (@mr._given) for Part 2 of their episode taking a deep (and delicious) dive into the world of tequila, agave spirits, and community connection.

What starts with laughs about live streaming challenges turns into a passionate and nerdy journey through flavor profiles, terroir, and barrel aging. Whether you're new to tequila or a seasoned sipper, this episode is packed with gems that’ll level up your agave appreciation.

🥃 What’s Inside the Glass:

• A blind tasting of multiple tequilas 🕶️👃
• Agave flavor preferences: what hits and what misses
• Why G4 Tequila is having a moment
• The art and science of barrel aging
• Real talk on tequila pricing, value, and hype

🧠 Bonus Sips of Wisdom:

• The rise of tequila exploration: what's next?
• Live streaming + podcasting = chaos or connection?
• Building community through shared pours and stories
• That one bottle that totally surprised them…

⚡️ Highlights You Can’t Miss:

• 49ers banter and football meets flavor 🍻🏈
• Personal stories that connect tequila to life moments
• Social media’s role in discovering and sharing great bottles
• The joy of not knowing what’s in the glass — and learning as you go

📲 Connect & Sip Along:

Follow John at @mr._given on Instagram.
Share your favorite tequila finds or tasting notes with us @dram_amateur or at [email protected] — we want to hear what’s in your glass!

🎧 Listen Now:

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you pour your pod time.

Tasting Notes:  We're kicking off Season 3 with a bang — and a blind tequila tasting! Jason is joined by fellow Niners fan, agave enthusiast, and Instagram mainstay John (@mr._given) for a deep (and delicious) dive into the world of tequila, agave spirits, and community connection.

What starts with laughs about live streaming challenges turns into a passionate and nerdy journey through flavor profiles, terroir, and barrel aging. Whether you're new to tequila or a seasoned sipper, this episode is packed with gems that’ll level up your agave appreciation.

🥃 What’s Inside the Glass:

• A blind tasting of multiple tequilas 🕶️👃
• Agave flavor preferences: what hits and what misses
• Why G4 Tequila is having a moment
• The art and science of barrel aging
• Real talk on tequila pricing, value, and hype

🧠 Bonus Sips of Wisdom:

• The rise of tequila exploration: what's next?
• Live streaming + podcasting = chaos or connection?
• Building community through shared pours and stories
• That one bottle that totally surprised them…

⚡️ Highlights You Can’t Miss:

• 49ers banter and football meets flavor 🍻🏈
• Personal stories that connect tequila to life moments
• Social media’s role in discovering and sharing great bottles
• The joy of not knowing what’s in the glass — and learning as you go

📲 Connect & Sip Along:

Follow John at @mr._given on Instagram.
Share your favorite tequila finds or tasting notes with us @dram_amateur or at [email protected] — we want to hear what’s in your glass!

🎧 Listen Now:

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you pour your pod time.

🎙️🥃Tasting Notes:  Planning your dream trip along the Bourbon Trail? Before you hit the road, pour yourself a dram and join Jason as he welcomes Sam from Bourbon Curations—the mastermind behind a service that makes distillery tourism smarter, safer, and way more personalized. 🍁

This episode is a deep dive into the world of bourbon travel, blending tech, taste, and a whole lot of heart. Sam shares how Bourbon Curations got started, the challenges bourbon lovers face when trying to visit their favorite distilleries, and why every stop along the trail should be as unique as the whiskey in your glass.

🔥 In this episode, we cover:

🛠️ The story behind Bourbon Curations and the tech making travel easier
📍 Planning the perfect route across big names & craft distilleries
🥃 The role of your personal palate in shaping your bourbon adventure
🚗 Why safety and pacing matter on the trail (hydration reminder, y’all!)
🌍 How community, transparency, and shared experiences fuel the culture
🔮 What’s next for Bourbon Curations and the future of whiskey tourism
⚡ Rapid-fire takes on trends, must-visits, and what makes a good pour

Whether you're a seasoned taster or just planning your first sip trip, this conversation is packed with laughs, insight, and inspiration for anyone chasing the spirit of bourbon culture.

Connect with Sam (Bourbon Curations):

• 📸 Instagram: @bourboncurations
• Website: bourboncurations.com

🥃 Follow & Support the Show:

• Instagram / X / Threads: @dram_amateur
• Facebook: The Dram Amateur Podcast
• Hit that Follow button, leave a review, and share with your fellow spirits & horror lovers!

📲 Listen now, and start curating your next pour-fect adventure!