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Ten bourbons, one table, all the hype, and no mercy! Andy M., Chris, and Josh join Matt for another bourbon extravaganza! We lined up everything from a $20 Bottled-in-Bond workhorse to beloved Buffalo Trace labels, a sleeper single barrel, a stave-finished Maker’s Private Selection, and a cask strength closer—and let the flavors fight it out. With four palates in play, we tracked nose, finish, drinkability, and real-world use cases to answer the question that actually matters: which bottle should you reach for, and why?

The ride starts with contrasts: Bib & Tucker Double Char’s toasted oak and short finish against Noble’s feather-light four-grain profile that drinks almost like a blended scotch. Then we dive into the Buffalo Trace family where bias meets reality: approachable sweetness in Buffalo Trace, refined citrus-honey spice in Elmer T. Lee, and the soft-but-divisive richness of Weller 12. We pause to unpack how proof tolerance evolves, why wheat can smooth edges, and when “hard to find” becomes head noise on your palate.

Mid-show, the value conversation heats up. Clover Single Barrel brings classic vanilla and baking spice flavors at 92 proof, while Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond earns respect as the 100-proof cocktail backbone you actually want behind the bar. We break down the Bottled-in-Bond Act and how it still signals quality: one distillery, one season, at least four years, exactly 100 proof. From there it’s an ascent: Baker’s 7 Single Barrel charms us all and a special Maker’s Mark Private Selection, brought by Chris, layers French oak complexity into holiday warmth. Brothers Bond Cask Strength closes with caramelized sugar and a lingering burn that begs for a spirit-forward cocktail.

Use the link below to send up your favorite bourbon or suggestions for us to try next!

We tally the scores and determine which of our 10 bourbons comes out on top. We hope you’ll leave with a simple bar strategy: keep a dependable 100-proof mixer, a nuanced mid-proof sipper, and a special-occasion bottle that rewards slow pours. Press play, compare your top three with ours, and tell us what would move up or down. If you enjoy the show, subscribe, share with a bourbon-loving friend, and drop a review so more listeners can find us. Cheers!

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Josh and Matt bring you visions of a bright red glass, a room full of friends, and a recipe that earns its place at the table—our cranberry whiskey sour brings seasonal flavor to a timeless form while telling the story of how a humble template shaped cocktail culture. We start with the build: rye for spice, cranberry for tart depth, fresh lemon for lift, real maple for warmth, and orange bitters to tie it all together. Then we zoom out to the roots of the sour—spirit, citrus, sugar—born from sailors fighting scurvy and refined from ship to saloon.

Across the episode we share why the whiskey sour is a benchmark order at any bar and how mastering it unlocks the logic behind the many other popular cocktails. Our holiday variant respects the classic while speaking in winter tones—cranberry’s tannic snap, maple’s woodsy echo, and a bright orange twist. You’ll leave with a reliable recipe, a sharper palate for balance, and a new way to explain why a “basic” drink often carries the deepest craft.

If this story and recipe hit the spot, follow and subscribe, share with a friend who loves cocktails, and leave a review telling us your favorite whiskey sour riff. Cheers to balance and to better holiday drinks.

Christmas Cranberry Whiskey Sour

Ingredients

• 2 oz rye whiskey
• 4 oz cranberry juice
• ½ oz real maple syrup
• 1 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice
• A couple dashes of orange bitters

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake well.
3. Strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass.

Garnish - Orange twist

Makes 2 cocktails

Support the show

Visit www.mattandfriendsdtu.com for links listen, support the podcast, and more!

Check out our sponsor, Poppin's Travel Company, for all of your travel needs! Their highly qualified agents are ready to book your next big adventure or dream vacation.

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We'd love to hear from you on social media! Like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and X.

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A frosty glass, a warm toast, trivia, and a roomful of music nerds trying not to cry-laugh over a slide whistle—our holiday special brings the good stuff. We start with a cookies-and-cream Sugarlands concoction and buttery-nipple shots poured into Matt's Grandpa’s vintage shot glass set, then raise a heartfelt toast to departed friend. From there the energy jumps: holiday music trivia, name‑that‑tune chaos with student recordings, and a chord-progression challenge that reveals how deeply these carols live in our bones.

We dig into the stories behind the songs with some trivia. The slide whistle segment might be the funniest minute of our year, but it’s also a clever lesson in melody recognition: strip away the production and you can still sing your way home. Then we pivot to the all-time top toys list—Slinky, Yo-yo, Barbie, Game Boy, LEGO, Hot Wheels, Wii, Switch—and unpack why certain fads explode, which classics endure, and how design, scarcity, and nostalgia shape holiday demand.

To cap it off, we play a yes–no lightning round of questions to guess what Andy is thinking of and pick our Stellar Sip. It’s equal parts music history, party game, and story time—woven with real friendship, small traditions, and the kind of laughter that lingers. Pour something sweet, press play, and join the table. If you smiled, shared a memory, or guessed a tune before we did, subscribe, leave a review, and tell a friend who needs a holiday laugh.

Support the show

Visit www.mattandfriendsdtu.com for links listen, support the podcast, and more!

Check out our sponsor, Poppin's Travel Company, for all of your travel needs! Their highly qualified agents are ready to book your next big adventure or dream vacation.

Visit our merch store

We'd love to hear from you on social media! Like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and X.

Cheers, and thanks for listening!