What to Drink

What to Drink

By Conner TaylorArtsFood
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What to Drink episodes

  • What to Drink in a Cognac Cocktail: Meukow VS in a Horse's Neck

    Anne Sarteaux, International Cellar Master, & Philippe Coste, owner and CEO of Meukow Cognac, join us this week to tell us why Meukow VS works perfectly in a Horse's Neck Highball cocktail!

    How to Make a Horse's Neck:  This highball cocktail is bright, refreshing, and complex. Meukow VS is the best Cognac to use, with an emphasis on fruitiness and a smoothness due to a lighter tannin content.

    1. Pour 2 ounces of Meukow VS Cognac in a Collins glass over ice.
    2. Top with Fever Tree Ginger Ale
    3. Garnish with a long strip of Lemon Peel (that's where the cocktail gets its name -- the lemon peel is long and looks like a Horse's Neck!)

      4. What makes Meukow Special:

      • Cellar Master Anne Sarteaux, one of the very few female Cellar masters in the cognac world, blends spirits together like a musical composition, creating a symphony of suppleness, power, and elegance
      • Meukow VS is characterized by its well-balanced blend between the roundness of its fruity notes and the delicacy of its woody nuances
      • The Black Panther on every bottle perfectly embodies the strength, elegance and suppleness which are the intrinsic qualities of this cognac

        • Anne and Philippe also recommend putting the bottle in your freezer, then taking a chilled sip with smoked trout or caviar. Yum!

        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meukowcognac/

        27 min
      • What to Drink While You're Picking Barrels: Old 4th Distillery Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon

        Adam Dorfman, Clinton Dugan, & Patrick Lemmond, founders of Shortbarrel Bourbon and NEW owners of Old Fourth Distillery, join us today to explain the ins and outs of barrel picking and tell us their mission for Old Fourth Distillery!

        What makes this project special:

        • Adam, Clint, & Patrick are taking Atlanta's first distillery since prohibition in a new direction: future O4 Whiskey will be aged and distilled here in the Peach State!
        • Georgia is further south and therefore slightly warmer than Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana, leading to even greater barrel concentration and 'Angel's Share' each year
        • This trio will use their barrel picking and blending acumen, a skill unto itself, to inform their distilling techniques here in Atlanta

          • Be sure to check out Old Fourth Vodka (created from a sugarcane base, but bone dry and gluten-free) and Gin as well!

          Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oldfourthdistillery/

          28 min
        • What to Drink with Beef Tenderloin: Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon

          Legendary winemaker Chris Carpenter (Cardinale, Lokoya, Hickinbotham, La Jota, and Mt. Brave) joins us today to tell us why Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon is the perfect pairing for beef tenderloin!

          We also talk all things Mount Veeder and discuss the differences in mountain versus valley floor grapes.

          Why the Pairing Works: 

          • Mt. Brave has a brightness and acidity that pair beautifully with the fatty richness of tenderloin
          • The blue fruits, violets, and acid in Mt. Brave make the perfect contrast to the savory, fatty, and weighty texture of tenderloin
          • The tannins of this wine are curved and don't need as much cellar time or decanting

            • What Makes this Cabernet Special: 

            • Chris's specialty is mountain fruit from the Napa Valley, which tends to have more minerality than valley fruit. Mt. Brave is made from Mount Veeder fruit and can live in a cellar for years but is also ready to drink now
            • Compared to some of his other projects, Chris makes Mt. Brave to be a mountain wine with softer tannins, meaning a Somm or consumer could serve it immediately, tableside without cellaring
            • Mt. Brave and parent company Jackson Family have invested in creating sustainability in Napa, Sonoma, and all of California. The Napa properties are organic and regenerative. Agriculture produces 30% of the carbon load to the world, so Chris & Jackson Family believe that viticulture must be the leader in carbon reductions

              • Chris's Last Supper: 16 inch pepperoni pizza from Renaldi's and a 9 liter Guinness

              Song Pairing: Sympathy for the Devil

              Learn more here: https://www.mtbravewines.com/

              Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtbravewines/

              36 min
            • What to Drink with Fried Chicken: Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte

              Lauren King, Senior Manager of Wine Education for Ste Michelle Wine Estates, joins us today to tell us why Fried Chicken and Champagne (specifically, Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte) go together like Peanut Butter & Jelly!

              Join us this episode as we put 3 Fried Chickens to the test: Publix Chicken Tendies, Chic-fil-a Chicken biscuit, and Bojangles Cajun Chicken Filet biscuit! We'll reveal our winning pairing #ChickenOff

              Why the Pairing Works:  The great news for Champagne lovers: Champagne pretty much pairs with anything. Bubbles will specifically cleanse your palate of the juicy and fatty fried chicken and get you ready for the next bite. Champagne has these three pairing principles working for it:

              • Bubbles - cleanse the palate for another bite
              • Acid - cuts through fat and makes food seem brighter
              • Autolytic notes - These toasty, brioche-like flavors come from aging wine on the lees (dead yeast cells) and complement many flavors in fried chicken and other fares.

                • What Makes this Champagne Special: 

                • Nicolas Feuillatte is a co-op winery, meaning it's a union of small grape growers that all get shares of the revenues. The better the growers do, the better the wines will be! Contrast this to big Champagne houses that solely purchase grapes.
                • Feuillatte Champagnes tend to lead with the red grapes (Pinot Noir and Meunier) for a bit more body, fruitiness, and brightness.
                • Feuillatte uses up to 35-40% of their reserve wines in their Non-Vintage Brut, which is significantly higher than most Champagne houses. Impressive for the #1 wine in France!

                  • Nicolas Feuillatte Brut, in Emoji's: 🍐 🍋 🌼 🍑 🥐 🧀 😋 😛

                  Netflix Pairing: The White Lotus

                  Learn more here: https://www.nicolas-feuillatte.com/us/

                  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erathwines/

                  39 min
                • What to Drink on your Holiday Table: Erath Reserve Pinot Noir

                  Leah Adint, winemaker for Erath Winery, joins us today to tell us why her Reserve Pinot Noir is *perfect* for your holiday table!

                  Why the Pairing Works:  Pinot Noir is one of the most versatile wines for food! It's all about balance. Pinot has great acidity, bright flavors, medium-bodied & alcohol content, and lower tannins than other varietals, so there's no worry about overpowering certain dishes. Pinot will complement red fruits in foods like cranberry sauce and also work perfectly with roasted turkey.

                  What Makes this Pinot Noir Special: 

                  • Dick Erath moved to Oregon in 1967 and planted grapes in 1968, not knowing how incredible the terroir would be. Leah is only the 4th winemaker since its inception.
                  • Oregon Pinot Noir is kind of a 'best of both worlds' of California and Burgundy, France. We find ripe fruit (California) and herbaceous and floral qualities (Burgundy)
                  • The 'Reserve' Pinot is a delicious blend of Erath's many Single Vineyard expressions, lighter and perhaps more 'Burgundian' than the rest in the lineup

                    • Erath Pinot Noir Reserve, in Emoji's: 🎉🍒🍃🍲

                    Song Pairing: Journey's Don't Stop Believing

                    Learn more here: https://www.erath.com/

                    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erathwines/

                    26 min
                  • What to Drink with Sunday Dinner: Laneta Tequila

                    Edward Geyman, founder & CEO of Laneta Tequila, joins us today to explain why his Tequila embodies the philosophy of its name (Laneta means "truth" in Spanish). Joey "Baby Kangaroo" Waknine and Manny "From the Bronx" Blanco are also in studio today, sharing their truths (as well as some laughs).


                    What makes Laneta Tequila Special:

                    • Edward Geyman is a fourth generation glassmaker from Ukraine, who used their acumen to design one of the most beautiful bottles of Tequila out there. Look for the flower of life on the bottom of the bottle!
                    • Laneta, or "the truth," signifies their mission to create a spirit greater than the category, and for its enjoyers to discover their own truths.
                    • The mission for Laneta is to bring friends and family together. Sidenote: it works beautifully in an espresso martini!

                      • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lanetatequila/

                      20 min
                    • What to Drink with Roast Chicken: Neyers Sage Canyon Red Blend

                      Road Trip time!!

                      We took What to Drink on the road to the Napa Valley to interview industry legends Barbara & Bruce Neyers, owners & founders of Neyers Vineyards!

                      The married duo recounts the story of their journey into the world of wine, starting in the early 1970's in the Napa Valley. All of their wines are delicious and leave you wondering, "Am I drinking Old World (European) wines right now, or could these indeed be Californian?!"

                      The Sage Canyon Red blend is a delicious

                      Rhône-style blend (Carignan, Mourvèdre, & Grenache) & will pair with most dishes, but we eventually singled out roast chicken because the two mentioned the perfect marriage of these two several times.

                      What makes Neyers Sage Canyon Red special:

                      • Winemaker Daniel Brunier of Chateauneuf du Pape winery Vieux Télégraphe remarked that the Central Valley of California was not much different in temperature than the Rhone; why couldn't the Neyers' grow their favorite Rhône grapes in California?
                      • Bruce and Barbara started purchasing Carignan,
                        • Mourvèdre, & other Rhône-style grapes from Central Valley winemakers with specific instructions: 1. the grower must reduce their grape yields to prioritize quality over quantity, and 2. they had to employ Old World winemaking techniques like pigeage (stomping grapes by foot) & stem-inclusion.
                        • Bruce's wines are a perfect example that California & the 'New World' can achieve 'Old World' elegance, savoriness, and body!

                          • BONUS RECIPE: Barbara's Couscous Salad with Chicken Breast Recipe (Serves 4)

                          INGREDIENTS:

                          • 2 cups dried couscous
                          • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half – Sweet 100 and Sungold tomatoes
                          • 1-2 Cucumbers, Persian or Armenian — peeled and sliced ¼ to 1/8-inch thick
                          • 2 chicken breasts, boned and skinless
                          • 1 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed
                          • 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
                          • Fresh basil torn into pieces for garnish
                          • Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper

                            • VINAIGRETTE INGREDIENTS:

                            • 1 Tablespoon minced shallot
                            • 2 Teaspoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
                            • ½ Teaspoon paprika
                            • ½ Teaspoon coriander
                            • ½ Teaspoon turmeric
                            • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

                              • PREPARATION:

                              1. Cook the chicken breasts on a grill using mesquite charcoal.
                              2. Cook the couscous as directed on the package. Refrigerate the couscous if not using immediately.
                              3. Combine the vinaigrette ingredients and set aside.
                              4. Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise and then into ½-inch pieces.
                              5. In a bowl combine the couscous, chicken breasts, chickpeas and vinaigrette.
                              6. Season with Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.
                              7. Serve the couscous with cherry tomatoes and cucumbers on top and garnish with basil and feta cheese.
                                8. 31 min
                              8. What to Drink on a Diet: Guinness Draught Stout

                                Guinness National Ambassador Ryan Wagner joins us today to explain why this iconic Dry Irish Stout is not a bad choice to drink when you're counting calories!

                                "There's nothing on this planet like a pint of the black stuff."

                                Guinness Dry Irish Stout is a legendary beer, and in fact was brewed for the first time in 1959 to celebrate the 200-year anniversary since Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease on St. James’s Gate Brewery. It’s rich, it’s creamy, and it’s black (well actually, if you look closely, Guinness is ruby red in color but don’t tell anyone!).

                                What Makes Guinness Perfect for a Diet:

                                • Clocking in at 4.2%, Guinness is surprisingly sessionable, with a beautiful creamy head but lighter and lighter body
                                • At 126 calories per 12 ounces, it's quite comparable to many American Light Lagers (@ ~115 calories)
                                • Guinness utilizes Nitrogen as well as CO2, making it 75% less carbonated than most beers and less filling

                                  • PRO TIP : To achieve the classic pour with a Guinness Draft Stout can, get yourself a clean pint glass and hold it at a 45 degree angle. Begin to slowly pour your Guinness Draught in a Can off the side of the glass. As it fills, slowly tilt your glass upwards until it is vertical. Let it settle and enjoy!

                                  23 min
                                • What to Drink When You Need to Take it to Eleven: 2XO (Two Times Oak) Whiskey

                                  Dixon Dedman, founder of 2XO - "Two Times Oak" Whiskey, joins us today to explain why his award-winning blends will, in the words of Spinal Tap's Nigel Tufnel, "Take it to Eleven!"

                                  "Two Times Oak" is a blending process Dixon pioneered, where he re-barrels his hand-selected aged whiskey into new charred oak barrels. The result is intense wood notes and extraordinarily rich, complex flavors. Will these blends take it to 10? Well, sure. But sometimes you need.. "one more!"

                                  What makes 2XO 'American Oak' Special:

                                  • The first of the "Oak" series with an innovative double oak technique. Dixon introduces additional charred oak to barrels with a moderate amount of rye in the mashbill.
                                  • American Oak moves from sweet, rich butterscotch on the front, to savory roasted nutty notes in the middle, finishing with a lingering mild spice. It is very approachable and perfect for cocktails.
                                  • Dixon Dedman has been turning heads for years as a blender using innovative techniques for adding flavor and complexity to his robust bourbon and rye blends.

                                    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2xowhiskey/

                                    31 min
                                  • What to Drink in a National Park: Redwood Empire "The Lost Monarch" Whiskey

                                    Lauren Patz, Head Distiller for Redwood Empire Whiskey, joins us this week to tell us why you need their "Lost Monarch" on your next trip to a National Park!

                                    Why this pairing works:  This whiskey is an homage to John Muir, father of the National Park system, and each bottling is named for a living Redwood tree. This blend of rye and bourbon has the perfect balance of sweetness and spice and pairs perfectly with the Japanese art of 'Tree Bathing,' or going into the woods and observing the majesty of a tree.

                                    Alternate Pairing: S'mores! The vanilla, baking spice, caramel & maple syrup flavors of this whiskey will compliment the graham cracker, marshmallow, and chocolatey goodness of a s'more.

                                    What makes this Whiskey Special:

                                    • The "best of both worlds" choice for those who just can’t decide between rye or bourbon. The perfect balance of sweetness and spice.
                                    • Named after the world's largest coastal Redwood, the bottle art pays tribute to John Muir, father of the National Parks
                                    • Redwood Empire plants a tree for every bottle sold!

                                      • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redwoodempirewhiskey/

                                      26 min

                                    About What to Drink

                                    From the publisher's feed

                                    **NEW EPISODES TUESDAYS** Our podcast reveals What to Drink with different food, holidays, occasions, and seasons. Whether it’s everyday meals or special milestones, we'll help you pair anything & everything.