Bourbon & Banter

In this very special 2025 Summit episode, Pops and Bob take a spirited look back at how it all began — from a small Facebook group in 2011 to one of the most respected voices in bourbon today. Joined by editor Steve Coomes, community manager Brent Joseph and industry legend Dan Gardner, the crew shares stories from the early days, talks about how the bourbon world has changed, and celebrates the community that's grown along the way. 00:00 – Live from Summit HQPops and Bob reflect on 14 years of Bourbon & Banter with Brent Joseph, Steve Coomes, and bourbon legend Dan Gardner. 04:59 – How It All StartedPops shares how an office bourbon club and Facebook group turned into a community 14 years strong. 08:09 – Back When Blanton's Was EverywhereThe crew looks back at how easy bourbon hunting used to be — and what's changed since. 16:49 – The Wild Turkey DebateOld-school stories and new opinions on the brand that defined bold bourbon. 26:00 – King of Kentucky & Blue Run Hot TakesSteve pours some legendary whiskey while the group dishes honest reviews (and a few burns). 33:24 – Dan Gardner's Barrel Science 101Dan explains how oak, sugar, and age shape bourbon's flavor — masterclass style. 1:25:05 – The Sumo Squat StoryBrent tells the hilarious tale of meeting Bob for the first time — an instant Bourbon & Banter classic. 1:56:42 – Final Toast: 14 Years and CountingA heartfelt cheers to bourbon, friendship, and the community that's kept the banter flowing.

In this episode of the Bourbon and Banter podcast, the hosts dive into a variety of topics surrounding bourbon culture, including the controversial pumpkin spice trend, the success of Bourbon Month, and the upcoming Bourbon and Banter Summit. They also recap their experiences at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, discuss innovative aging projects at Ingram Distillery, and share their opinions on current industry trends and practices. The conversation is lively, humorous, and filled with insights into the bourbon community. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Bourbon and Banter Podcast 02:48 Pumpkin Spice and Bourbon: A Controversial Mix 05:45 Live Recording and Community Engagement 08:50 Recap of Bourbon Month and Community Challenges 11:23 Whiskey Hot Wash: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Recap 22:55 Bourbon and Banter Summit Preview 34:16 S.N.I.F.F. Report: Ingram Distillery's Innovative Aging Project 43:18 Bourbon Bullshit: Industry Rants and Opinions

Episode 38 of the Bourbon & Banter podcast - Size Matters - is here, and Bob and Pops are finally back after a 19-month break—just in time for Bourbon Heritage Month. We're talking all things 30 Days of Bourbon Challenge, dropping hot takes with our new Whiskey Hot Wash segment, and unleashing the Sniff Team for some undercover whiskey sleuthing. Of course, it wouldn't be Bourbon & Banter without a little ranting. This time, we're calling out the sorry state of today's single barrels and the money-grab mentality taking over the industry. Spoiler: quality still matters more than hype. So grab a pour, settle in, and listen at barrel strength. It's unapologetic, unfiltered, and just what you've been missing. Have comments or questions? Drop us a line at podcast@bourbonbanter.com. Cheers!

Dive into Episode 37, Taylor Takes A Drink, and get ready for a wild ride through bourbon town this Valentine's. We're spilling the tea on those eye-watering barrel pick prices and sharing tales from our barrel-hunting escapades. Our Discord fam's been buzzing, and you're missing out if you're not in on the action. We're dropping the latest whiskey lowdown, from New Riff's big news to Kentucky's newest distillery beast. Plus, we've got the dirt on some kick-ass whiskey drops you can't ignore. And, because we love stirring the pot, we're dishing out a hefty serving of bourbon BS, calling out the industry's bad behavior. So, crack open your best bottle, settle in, and hit play for some straight-up, no-chaser bourbon banter. It's all the good stuff – laughs, sass, and a whole lot of bourbon love. Have comments or questions? Drop us a line at podcast@bourbonbanter.com.  Cheers! 

Episode 36 of the Bourbon & Banter podcast – Welcome to the Hellidays - is now available for your listening and drinking pleasure.  We're here to help you through the ridiculousness of the holidays, or "hellidays" as may be more appropriate. That's right, we all learn a new word in this episode! Have comments or questions? Drop us a line at podcast@bourbonbanter.com.  Cheers! 

Episode 35 of the Bourbon & Banter podcast – Squatting on Bublé - is now available for your listening and drinking pleasure.  We're heading into the holidays with excitement following our first ever Bourbon & Banter Community Summit, that is until Bob hears about Michael Bublé's new whiskey…. Have comments or questions? Drop us a line at podcast@bourbonbanter.com.  Cheers! 

Episode 34 of the Bourbon & Banter podcast – Right In The Nards - is now available for your listening and drinking pleasure. Best enjoyed with a barrel-strength bourbon and an open mind!  We're sobering up after Bourbon Heritage Month and have quite a few things we want to tell you. Are you ready? Have comments or questions? Drop us a line at podcast@bourbonbanter.com.  Cheers! 

Episode 33 of the Bourbon & Banter podcast – Count the Bourbons - is now available for your listening and drinking pleasure. Best enjoyed with a barrel-strength bourbon and an open mind!  We're super excited as we kick off the best damn month of the year: BOURBON HERITAGE MONTH! Have comments or questions? Drop us a line at podcast@bourbonbanter.com.  Cheers! 

Episode 32 of the Bourbon & Banter podcast – Back in the Saddle - is now available for your listening and drinking pleasure. Best enjoyed with a barrel-strength bourbon and an open mind! Pops and Bob are back after a few months off for reasons you won't believe. Tune in to discover why Bob isn't fit for a life on the run, and stay for the extra deep bourbon bullsh!t.  Have comments or questions? Drop us a line at podcast@bourbonbanter.com.  Cheers! 

The 31st episode of the Bourbon & Banter podcast – Bourbon…The BS Frontier - is now available for your listening and drinking pleasure. It's a new year, but we're still bringing you the same brutally honest commentary on the bourbon and whiskey world. Have comments or questions? Drop us a line at podcast@bourbonbanter.com.  Cheers! 

Oh give us a home, where the buffalo roam, and the bourbon is flowing all daaaaay…. That's right folks, Pops and Steve Coomes were heard singing that very tune as they walked the grounds at Wyoming Whiskey. A long-time desire for Bourbon & Banter, we finally had the opportunity to secure a single barrel of Wyoming Whiskey, and after that selection, Pops and Steve sat down with co-founder David DeFazio. Have comments or questions? Drops us a line at podcast@bourbonbanter.com.  Make sure to follow us on social! Instagram: @bourbonbanter Twitter: @bourbonbanter Website: podcast.bourbonbanter.com Cheers! 

The 30th episode of the Bourbon & Banter podcast – Craft Shoot - is now available for your listening and drinking pleasure. Join us for the most epic Craft Shoot segment of all time. Will Pops' and Bob's taste buds survive? Only one way to find out. Tune in now! Have comments or questions? Drop us a line at podcast@bourbonbanter.com.  Cheers! 

The 28th episode of the Bourbon & Banter podcast – Jack & Bourbon Went Up A Hill - is now available for your listening and drinking pleasure. We dedicate this podcast to those who have started a bar fight by merely asking the question, "Is Jack Daniels a bourbon?" Have comments or questions? Drop us a line at podcast@bourbonbanter.com.  Cheers! 

The 27th episode of the Bourbon & Banter podcast – Sleep Deprived & Bourbonized - is now available for your listening and drinking pleasure. We dedicate this podcast to those awake at 3 am, thinking about all the limited-release bottles coming out this fall that you'll never see. We feel your pain. Have comments or questions? Drop us a line at podcast@bourbonbanter.com.  Cheers! 

In this special episode, Pops makes his way to Breckenridge Distillery to visit with founder Bryan Nolt. What makes a doctor trade in their stethoscope for a Glencairn? Big Foot may or may not have walked by the distillery during this interview, we can't say for sure. One thing's for sure, though: Breckenridge is a craft distillery doing some great things and worth your time to check out! Have comments or questions? Drops us a line at podcast@bourbonbanter.com.  Make sure to follow us on social! Instagram: @bourbonbanter Twitter: @bourbonbanter Website: podcast.bourbonbanter.com Cheers! 

The 26th episode of the Bourbon & Banter podcast – Kissimmee My Ass - is now available for your listening and drinking pleasure. Just be sure to stay inside in the AC for the best enjoyment, as we're all tired of the ridiculous summer heat. Nowhere is that more prevalent than the state of Florida, which inspired this episode's title. Pops spent some time in the sunshine state last week and couldn't get out of the heat and humidity fast enough. Have comments or questions? Drop us a line at podcast@bourbonbanter.com.  Cheers! 

The 25th episode of the Bourbon & Banter podcast – Wind Beneath My Wings - is now available for your listening and drinking pleasure. No, we're not channeling our inner Bette Midler. But we might be channeling some gas from all the bullshit we've consumed since our last episode. Take baked beans, sardines, sauerkraut, canned cheese spray, and kale (WITH BACON), blend it all in a smoothy, then…well you get the idea. Hence the title for this episode. Have comments or questions? Drop us a line at podcast@bourbonbanter.com.  Cheers! 

The 24th episode of the Bourbon & Banter podcast – The Bullshit Cometh - is now available for your listening and drinking pleasure. Having had a little time off, Pops and Bob return after being bombarded with bourbon bullshit over the last several weeks. So much so that this episode is dedicated specifically to addressing all the crap that's come across our desk since the last episode. The one real news item we just had to include here is a partnership between Black Rifle Coffee Company and Heaven Hill that will yield a triple cask bourbon and a bourbon barrel-aged coffee that will make you an American hero just from drinking it. The amount of BOURBON BULLSHIT that we've witnessed since our last episode is so massive that we've dedicated the majority of this episode to covering it. That's right folks, we hit with the most honest segment of the most honest podcast in bourbon right up front and it carries us to the end. Have comments or questions? Drop us a line at podcast@bourbonbanter.com.  Cheers! 

The 23rd episode of the Bourbon & Banter podcast – The Horsemen Ride - is now available for your listening and drinking pleasure. With the Midwest weather, Pops and Bob have braved wind, sleet, snow, ice, hail, and bad bourbon to bring you this month's installment of the most honest podcast in bourbon. Our community thread spotlight reflects on a new product that brings dung, yes ACTUAL DUNG, to gin. If you want to join the Bourbon & Banter community, where we cut all the bullshit from standard social media groups like crotch shots, be sure to check out our social media platforms for more information. The whiskey news reflects on a historic burn to AB-InBev's new Bud Light Nex, likely from their archrivals over at Miller Coors. The moral here folks: always register your web domain. Chuck Cowdery shares his thoughts on rebranding MGP's flagship bourbon George Remus (yes, we know they changed the name of the distillery…we don't care), and politicians are at it again, this time with Kentucky's single barrel programs. Our new release spotlight starts with one of the best offerings we've had recently, this one from Green River Distilling. Pops doesn't recommend a bottle…he recommends several bottles. The Craft Shoot comes in blazing with a release that inspires some of the most feverish commentary we've heard from this segment. You'll have to listen to find out if it's good or bad. We close Episode #23 with the most popular segment in all of bourbon podcasting: BOURBON BULLSHIT featuring peanut butter whiskey and a disturbing development with the newest spirits awards competition.  Have comments or questions? Drop us a line at podcast@bourbonbanter.com.  Cheers!