Most people think being a liquor connoisseur means chasing rare, locked-up bottles — standing in line, paying secondary prices, and hoping you’re “chosen” to buy something.We stopped doing that.In this episode of The Liquor Connoisseur, Crystal and Roger break down their real connoisseur journey — from early curiosity bottles to educated, flavor-forward choices you can actually buy off the shelf.We talk about:Why we stopped chasing allocated “unicorn” bottlesHow our palate evolved across absinthe, tequila, rye, cognac, and bourbonWhat bottles we put down — and what we picked up insteadWhy proof doesn’t equal harshnessHow better quality actually makes better cocktailsAnd how to drink smarter without overpaying for hypeThis episode isn’t about flexing rare bottles.It’s about drinking with intention, education, and confidence.👇 Drop a comment and tell us:What bottle did YOU stop chasing?Tell us YOUR connoisseur journey in the comments — what’s one bottle you used to love that you’ve since replaced?#LiquorConnoisseur#DrinkSmarter#BourbonEducation#WhiskeyTalk#StopChasingHype#TequilaJourney#SpiritEducation#AllocatedBourbon#DrinkToRemember#BourbonCommunity#AgaveSpirits#WhiskeyLovers🍸 Sponsored by The Bar BookDiscover your perfect pour.Join today for free and take the guesswork out of finding spirits and cocktails you’ll love.Drink smarter, explore more, and enjoy with confidence.Available on Apple & Android.📌 New episodes weekly📌 Subscribe for spirit education, reviews, and real conversations📌 Drink to remember, not to forget 🥃⏱️ CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Why We Stopped Chasing Allocated Bottles01:05 – The Bottles People Always Ask About02:20 – Our First “Different” Spirit Experience (Absinthe)04:15 – Absinthe Myths vs Reality06:10 – How Education Changed Our Drinking07:45 – Walking Away from Don Julio & 194209:30 – Discovering Agave-Forward Tequila11:40 – Mezcal, Bacanora & Expanding the Palate13:25 – Losing the Fear of Proof15:10 – Why Higher Proof Can Sip Smoother17:00 – When Cheap Spirits Ruin Cocktails18:30 – Cognac: What We Drink Now Instead20:15 – The Truth About Allocated Bourbon22:10 – Shelf Bottles That Beat Hype Bottles24:00 – Stop Waiting in Line, Start Drinking Better25:30 – Share Your Connoisseur Journey