The Dram Amateur

Season 3 Ep. 22: Why Armagnac Might Be the Greatest Spirit You’ve Never Tried ft. Dan @oadearmagnac

Tasting Notes: In this episode, Jason sits down with Dan Hakker, founder of Oade Armagnac, for a deep dive into the history, craftsmanship, and soul behind one of the world’s most overlooked spirits. From hidden cellars in Gascony to tasting 100-year-old Armagnacs straight from the barrel, this conversation explores why Armagnac isn’t just another spirit category—it’s living history in a glass. Dan shares the journey of building Oade Armagnac from scratch, traveling across southwest France to uncover forgotten barrels, meeting multi-generational producers, and introducing American drinkers to a spirit built on patience, authenticity, and human connection. This episode is about more than tasting notes. It’s about slowing down, honoring craftsmanship, and appreciating the stories behind every pour. 🔑 Key Topics & Takeaways 🇫🇷 Discovering the Soul of Gascony * How Dan fell in love with Armagnac through travel, food, and culture * Why Gascony feels completely different from the modern spirits world * The emotional connection between people, land, and spirit production * What makes Armagnac feel deeply personal compared to other categories 🥃 What Exactly Is Oade Armagnac? * The meaning behind the name “Oade” * Why Oade focuses on honoring producers instead of making spirit themselves * Traveling across France to taste over 2,500 barrels * Finding rare single-barrel, cask-strength Armagnacs to bring to the U.S. 🧪 How Armagnac Is Actually Made * The once-a-year harvest and distillation process * Traveling alembic stills that move from farm to farm * Why Armagnac production is still incredibly small-scale * How aging environments dramatically impact flavor 🍇 The Importance of Terroir & Grapes * The difference between Bas Armagnac and Tenarèze * Why Baco grapes became legendary after Phylloxera * How soil, climate, and barrel placement shape flavor profiles * Why no two producers taste alike 🏚️ Hidden Cellars & Forgotten Barrels * Discovering producers with no digital footprint * Walking into century-old cellars covered in dust * The emotional experience of tasting Armagnac from the 1900s * Why some producers refuse to sell—even when the barrels are extraordinary ⚠️ Building a Brand With No Roadmap * Launching an import business with zero alcohol industry experience * Navigating distribution, importing, and international logistics * Surviving tariff increases right as the first shipment was ready * Why educating consumers is the real challenge 🕰️ Why Armagnac Teaches You to Slow Down * Appreciating time, craftsmanship, and patience * Why Armagnac changes in the glass over time * The importance of savoring experiences instead of rushing through them * How Armagnac became Jason’s “Sunday pour” 🧠 What You’ll Learn * Why Armagnac is radically different from bourbon and cognac * How vintage Armagnac is preserved and documented * What makes aging conditions so important in Armagnac * Why authenticity matters more than hype * How culture and craftsmanship still survive in modern spirits 🔁 Why This Episode Matters This episode is a reminder that not everything needs to move fast. Armagnac represents: * patience over production * craftsmanship over scale * connection over marketing And in today’s spirits world, that’s becoming increasingly rare. 🥃 Featured Armagnacs Tasted * “The Farewell” — 1986 Domaine Marquestau * “Serendipity” — 1985 Domaine du Carpoulat * 1976 Vintage — J. Damblat Selection Follow Oade Armagnac * Oade Armagnac Website: www.oadearmagnac.com * @oadearmagnac on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/oadearmagnac?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Follow the Dram Amateur Podcast * @dram_amateur on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dram_amateur?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * The Dram Amateur Podcast on YouTube * Share this episode with a fellow spirits enthusiast * Leave a review to help grow the community 🥂 Closing Thought Some spirits are made to sell. Others are made to preserve history. Armagnac belongs to the second category.

Season 3 Ep. 21: They Brought Whiskey Back to a City After 100 Years… Here’s How ft. Tim Piersant @chattwhiskey

Tasting Notes: What does it take to revive a whiskey city after 100 years? In this episode, Jason sits down with Tim Piersant, CEO of Chattanooga Whiskey, to unpack the journey from grassroots startup to 2x Craft Producer of the Year. From fighting outdated laws to building one of the most innovative distilleries in America, this conversation dives into the mindset, risks, and relentless creativity behind the brand. This isn’t just about whiskey—it’s about identity, community, and building something that actually means something. 🔑 Key Topics & Takeaways 🔥 Bringing Whiskey Back to Chattanooga * The accidental discovery of Chattanooga’s pre-Prohibition distilling history * Launching a brand overnight with nothing but a story and a Facebook page * Turning local pride into a movement 🏆 Craft Producer of the Year (Twice) * What the award really means internally * Why “product integrity” is the core of everything they do * How validation changes (and doesn’t change) the mission ⚙️ Building a Brand from the Ground Up * Bootstrapping the business with extreme risk and belief * The moment they had to jump from 20 barrels to 1,200 * Changing Tennessee laws to legally distill 🧪 The Experimental Distillery * Over 500 experimental barrels and counting * Why innovation never stops being R&D * How small-batch releases became a cult following 🥃 Tennessee High Malt Explained * Creating a completely new style of American whiskey * Why they chose to “wear blinders” instead of copying trends * The role of roasted & toasted grains in their flavor profile ⚡ The Biggest Risk That Could’ve Killed the Brand * Replacing sourced whiskey with their own overnight * Walking away from 18,000-case momentum * Betting everything on authenticity 🏙️ Why Chattanooga Matters * The city’s role in the brand’s success * Community, culture, and investor support * Why this story couldn’t exist anywhere else 💬 Standout Moments * “We didn’t just build whiskey—we built identity.” * “Product integrity over brand hype. Every time.” * “We could’ve killed the company overnight… but we didn’t.” * “This is a company full of creators—not just distillers.” 🧠 What You’ll Learn * How to turn history into opportunity * Why authenticity beats trend-chasing in spirits * What real innovation in whiskey looks like * The power of community-driven brands 🔁 Why This Episode Matters This episode is a masterclass in: * Taking risks when there’s no roadmap * Building a brand with purpose—not just product * Staying creative even as you scale Follow Chattanooga Whiskey: * Follow @chattwhiskey on Instagram * www.chattanoogawhiskey.com Follow the Dram Amateur Podcast: * Follow @dram_amateur on Instagram * YouTube, Facebook * Share this with a fellow whiskey lover * Leave a review to help grow the community 🥂 Closing Thought Some brands follow the rules. Others rewrite them. Chattanooga Whiskey chose the second path.

Season 3 Ep. 20: What Liquor Stores DON’T Tell You (Allocations Exposed) ft. Vick @kenny18bts

Tasting Notes:  Ever wonder who actually decides what hits the shelf… and what never makes it out of the warehouse? Jason sits down with Vick, owner of Kenny 18 Bottle Shop in Atlanta, to break down the real world of liquor retail—allocations, hype bottles, hidden gems, and what customers get completely wrong. What We Get Into: 🥃 The Truth About Allocations It’s not just luck—there’s strategy, relationships, and a whole lot of behind-the-scenes maneuvering. 📈 Bourbon vs. Tequila Boom Is bourbon cooling off? Is tequila next in line for allocation chaos? 👀 Hype vs. Reality Blanton’s, Weller… worth it? Plus: underrated bottles you’re probably overlooking. 🛒 Customer Mistakes Buying the name instead of the juice—and how to break that habit. 📱 Social Media’s Impact Great for exposure… dangerous when hype replaces honesty. 👉 The best bottle isn’t the most popular one… …it’s the one you actually enjoy drinking. 🏪 What Makes Kenny 18 Different: * Community-first vibe 🤝 * Real conversations, not sales pitches * Sampling + education over pushing product Follow Kenny 18 Bottle Shop: * Instagram: @kenny18bts Follow The Dram Amateur Podcast: * Instagram: @dram_amateur * YouTube, Facebook 🎯 Final Pour Vick’s goal is simple: Put the right bottle in your hands… and let word of mouth do the rest. 🎧 Listen Now Tap in, pour something good, and enjoy the conversation. Until next time—one more pour. 🥃

Season 3 Ep. 19: From Zamboni Driver to Spirits Obsession ft. @a_whiskey_kydd_and_his_peppers (Part 2)

🥃 Tasting Notes: What happens when a hockey-loving Zamboni driver falls headfirst into the world of whiskey, rum, tequila, and cigars? In this episode, I sit down with Jerry—co-host of Bourbon, Beards & Belvederes and the voice behind @a_whiskey_kydd_and_his_peppers. From COVID-fueled curiosity to building a collection of hundreds of bottles, Jerry shares how passion, patience, and community shaped his journey. We talk mezcal surprises, rum revelations, evolving palates, and why sometimes the best pour isn’t the rarest bottle—it’s the right one for the moment. And yeah… we also talk about driving a Zamboni 🧊 🔥 What We Get Into * 🧊 From hockey rinks to whiskey glasses: Jerry’s unexpected journey * 🥃 The COVID turning point that changed everything * 🌵 Falling down the tequila & mezcal rabbit hole * 🍌 Breaking down a wild 17-year Trinidad rum pour * 💸 Why chasing bottles isn’t the move anymore * 🧠 How your palate actually evolves over time * 🎙️ Building Bourbon, Beards & Belvederes from the ground up * 🧔 The beard game… and the products that actually work * 🤝 Community over hype—always 🎯 Key Takeaways * Your palate will change—what you loved early on may not stick * Trying before buying saves money and regret * Rum and tequila are still wildly underrated categories * The “story” matters… but the moment matters more * Community is what keeps this whole thing fun 💬 Standout Moment > “It’s more important what you say no to than what you say yes to.” That applies to bottles… and honestly, everything else too. 🎧 Why You Should Listen If you’ve ever: * Bought a bottle you regretted * Wondered how your taste changed over time * Felt overwhelmed by all the options out there This episode hits home. It’s real, it’s relatable, and it’s exactly what this community is about. 📲 Where to Connect Follow Jerry: * Instagram: @a_whiskey_kydd_and_his_peppers * Podcast: Bourbon, Beards & Belvederes @bourbonbeardsandbelvederes Follow The Dram Amateur Podcast: * Instagram: @dram_amateur * YouTube, Facebook 🥃 Final Pour This one’s about the journey. Not the hype bottles. Not the price tags. Just good pours… good people… and figuring it out along the way. Until next time—one more pour. 🥃

Season 3 Ep. 18: From Zamboni Driver to Spirits Obsession ft. @a_whiskey_kydd_and_his_peppers (Part 1)

🥃 Tasting Notes: What happens when a hockey-loving Zamboni driver falls headfirst into the world of whiskey, rum, tequila, and cigars? In this episode, I sit down with Jerry—co-host of Bourbon, Beards & Belvederes and the voice behind @a_whiskey_kydd_and_his_peppers. From COVID-fueled curiosity to building a collection of hundreds of bottles, Jerry shares how passion, patience, and community shaped his journey. We talk mezcal surprises, rum revelations, evolving palates, and why sometimes the best pour isn’t the rarest bottle—it’s the right one for the moment. And yeah… we also talk about driving a Zamboni 🧊 🔥 What We Get Into * 🧊 From hockey rinks to whiskey glasses: Jerry’s unexpected journey * 🥃 The COVID turning point that changed everything * 🌵 Falling down the tequila & mezcal rabbit hole * 🍌 Breaking down a wild 17-year Trinidad rum pour * 💸 Why chasing bottles isn’t the move anymore * 🧠 How your palate actually evolves over time * 🎙️ Building Bourbon, Beards & Belvederes from the ground up * 🧔 The beard game… and the products that actually work * 🤝 Community over hype—always 🎯 Key Takeaways * Your palate will change—what you loved early on may not stick * Trying before buying saves money and regret * Rum and tequila are still wildly underrated categories * The “story” matters… but the moment matters more * Community is what keeps this whole thing fun 💬 Standout Moment > “It’s more important what you say no to than what you say yes to.” That applies to bottles… and honestly, everything else too. 🎧 Why You Should Listen If you’ve ever: * Bought a bottle you regretted * Wondered how your taste changed over time * Felt overwhelmed by all the options out there This episode hits home. It’s real, it’s relatable, and it’s exactly what this community is about. 📲 Where to Connect Follow Jerry: * Instagram: @a_whiskey_kydd_and_his_peppers * Podcast: Bourbon, Beards & Belvederes @bourbonbeardsandbelvederes Follow The Dram Amateur Podcast: * Instagram: @dram_amateur * YouTube, Facebook 🥃 Final Pour This one’s about the journey. Not the hype bottles. Not the price tags. Just good pours… good people… and figuring it out along the way. Until next time—one more pour. 🥃