Beast Masters Club

This is an incredible story that gives us pride, joy, and - not gonna lie - a bit of jealousy!  Dan Hakker tasted the first Beast Masters Club Armaganc back in 2018, our 30 year 1988 Leberon, and fell in love. Like many who tasted that bottle, he was a bourbon fan who'd never tasted Armagnac before. But unlike many fans he took his affection for that juice to a whole 'nother level! For the 7 years between then and now, Dan and his wife have made countless trips to Gascony, created their own import and production company, discovered and imported new domaines that have never been sold in the US before.  Like we said, we're impressed, and more than a little jealous. Today they're sitting on a treasure trove of casks at their facility, quietly aging to perfection as they patiently release one at a time. Meet Oade Armagnac.  Beast Masters Club got one of the first ever private cask selections from Oade, and we had a big shindig at the podcast studio to celebrate, taste his inaugural line of releases, and crack open our very special 37-year cask "Beastly Destiny."

James Saunders visits Beast Masters Club for a live barrel pick of the oldest bourbon we've ever found! This 20 year Tennessee bourbon was an incredible picking experience! The crowd got a bit lively as the sips progressed, but it was a fun ride!

Beast Masters Club gathers with a live audience at our podcast studio to talk with our special guest Joann Street - Wild Turkey American Whiskey Ambassador and granddaughter of bourbon legend Jimmy Russell.  We talk through the ins and outs of Wild Turkey's production methods, aging, what it's like to grow up in the Russell family, and finally we select Beast Masters latest private barrel, a 9-year Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon!

Pour a glass, settle into your favorite chair, and join us with our special guest, Joe Beatrice of Barrell Craft Spirits. 

Steve The Smoky Beast sits down with Jay Jadot of Armagnac.blog to talk about the meaning of life, obsession, and all things Armagnac. Jay is a writer after our own hearts who sees the beauty, irony, idiosyncrasy, and madness of becoming obsessed with a spirit and then trying to document your experience. He's also creating one of the best references out there for all many brands, bottlers, domaines, and vintages of Armagnac. *Warning this is a pretty wonky "deep in the weeds" discussion, but for your Armaganc lovers we dive into some of our favorite bottles and share the experience of discovering a new spirit.  

It's been a long while since the Beasts were able to gather in full pack formation for a live barrel picking event, but we couldn't have been happier to sit down with our guests in the new Beast Lair in NYC to pick this barrel with Knob Creek Brand Ambassador, Allie Klug.   

The beasts sit down with Zhana Londoner from the Brooklyn-based spanish food market Mercado Central and Nic Palazzi from PM Spirits (exclusive importers of L'Encantada Armagnac) to talk about pairing tapas with unique hand crafted French & Spanish spirits. Some spirits are not meant to be sipped in a vacuum. They're meant to be paired with rich, spicy, and delicious foods! We recreate the bar scene from San Sebastian in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain where they serve boquerones with Cognac-infused grape juice, Iberian Jamon with Armagnac Vin Mute, and cheese with cidre eau-de-vie. And we wrap up with dessert - chocolate paired with Armagnac D'Esperance!  

In one of the most random and amazing trips of our lives, the intrepid Beast Masters Club heads to the Gascony region of France and meets Jean-Phillippe from Domaine de Charron. In a sheer act of blind faith, four faithful Beast Masters follow your's truly The Smoky Beast on an adventure through Armagnac country. In this first of three half-hour podcasts, we deplane to discover tiny french automobiles, missing Chateaux, a very old part of the world, and a great new friend who makes some of the most incredible Armagnac we've ever tasted!

The first Beast Masters Club Armagnac barrel was a 1988 Domaine de Léberon, which we released in 2018 at 30 years old. It was a game-changer for us and many other folks in the whiskey game, showing how Armagnac could compete in terms of flavor with our favorite bourbons and ryes. Right now in our shop (www.beastmastersclub.com/shop), you can pick up a 1994 Léberon single cask that mirrors much of what we loved about that original 30-year. When we heard that the latest generation of Armagnac-makers Caroline Rozes and her husband Roman were in New York, we were lucky enough to persuade them to join us at the Beast Lair for a super informative and fun podcast. We talk about the Armagnac region, the multi-generational family estates of Léberon and Aurensan, their completely traditional and organic techniques of farming and distilling that create these brilliant spirits, and even an old-fashioned French country romance!

Steve the SmokyBeast is joined in his dining room by friends new and old - L'Encantada Armagnac aficionados Vincent Cornu and Frédéric Chappe, and self-proclaimed spirit nerd Nicolas Palazzi of PM Spirits.  Calling all beastly francophiles - this episode is for you. 

Steve the Smoky Beast (and self-proclaimed CEO of Beast Masters Club) is joined at home by Eric Kaye and Maura Gedid, spirit experts at the hilt of Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum. They sample their way around the world with a vast array of easy sippers and beasts.  Clinking and slurping sounds abound - the sure sign of a good time, if you ask us.  Watch out for this drop on Friday, beasts and beavers. You don't wanna miss it. 

Steve the SmokyBeast and Ben welcome Nick Taylor to the podcast, armagnac extraordinaire and founder of Taylor & Taylor Whiskey. He tells the Beasts (boys) lore about a little single estate producer of Bas Armagnac, Domaine de Charron, that produces the robust, crisp Baco grape. Fewer than a thousand bottles of this stuff are made available in the United States every year, and you Beasts in the audience may be lucky enough to score a bottle.  Most importantly, though, Ben, formerly known as JewDunDrankMyWhiskey, changes his moniker. Care to wager a guess on what he chose?  Hint: don't get sniped by the laser. 

These are the definition of dark days. As SmokyBeast puts it, "it's dark at, like, 4:30, everyone in the world has the VID, and we're all hiding under our beds again." Not to fear. The Beast Masters have the antidote, and no more will they deny the world.  SmokyBeast is joined today by the inimitable Will Schragis of Barrell Bourbon whose storied whiskey career speaks for itself (and whose voice may sound familiar to the lifers in the audience). They taste five new samples and discuss everything from the spectacular Seagrass whiskey that you'll have the chance to taste, to the secrets of frozen drinks. They may also fluff you a bit for being the adventurous beasts that you are, so if you're in need of a bit of encouragement today, take a listen. 

We know, we know. You don't drink sherry. You think you it's too niche, too sweet, cloying, too port-esque for a beast like you to sip on. But it doesn't have to be that way. Allow us to introduce the illustrious Mr. Nicolas Palazzi (whose voice you may have heard his voice on the pod before). From the man that brought Armagnac to the Beast Masters audience, comes this fortified wine that will blow your MIND. (And it's zero carbs!) Listen in to hear his expert commentary as he joins Mr. and Mrs. SmokyBeast around the dinner table. 

Everyone loves an underdog, so you'll definitely love the Armagnac from Château Garreau.  Join Steve the SmokyBeast and his very special guests Gregoire and Carole for a warm discussion about the terroir and distillation process of this "farm-spirited" liquor, the centuries-long Garreau family legacy, and why Gregoire calls Armagnac the world's only "bespoke" spirit. 

The pod is BACK! Old friend, super-journalist and whiskey personality Aaron Goldfarb joins the SmokyBeast in his kitchen. They discuss his many books (Hacking Whiskey, Gather Around Cocktails, etc.), the joys of fatherhood, and beaver anus whiskey. Find Aaron's work in Esquire, PUNCH, VinePair, and the Whiskey Advocate.  They taste through our Ezra Brooks, Starlight and Starbright, Knob Creek and Lucky 7.  Clink!

This week on the pod, the boys are joined by the one and only Tyler Mirt from Old Forester. While we're always excited for our guests, Tyler is extra special - he is one of a small few in the world who can call themselves a Sommelier, Cicerone and Executive Bourbon Steward.  Join Ben, Tyler and SmokyBeast in the "fruity warehouse" for this delicious conversation about our (your) barrel, the science behind the spirits at Old Forester, and what super-taster Tyler looks for in booze. 

What can transcend cultural and language barriers, connect people across oceans, and is equally appreciated by Frenchman and American alike? Armagnac, of course.  This week on the pod, take a French immersion class with spirit masters Vincent Cornu of L'Encantada and Nicolas Palazzi of PM Spirits. Learn about the distilling process, the estates, the distinct beauty of each of France's famed regions, and why whiskey lovers are flocking to the brand.  In the end, for both Frenchman and American, whiskey warrior and armagnac devotee, it's all about finding beautiful, delicious things, and sharing them with one another.