We had an idea with our buddies Chris (@MadeSouth) and Joe Bourbon (@bourbonfindoftheday) to get a bunch of friends together and have a bourbon tasting for the ages. Each bottle we brought had to have a story behind it. Chris's friends over at 8 Lavender Lane catered the party with delicious southern fixin's. Although this was our Christmas party, it's focused on the whiskey, so it can be enjoyed at anytime of the year.

Here's the bottle list:

Blanton's Straight from the Barrel, A Midwinter Night's Dram, Kentucky Owl Batch 6, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12yr Lot B, 2014 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, 2016 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, Abraham Bowman finished in Touring & Merlot wine barrels, Elijah Craig 23 year, Col. E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof, Old Blowhard, and Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 15 year.

It was a night with friends that will not soon be forgotten, nor topped. Listen as we tell stories and drink fine whiskey with friends. It's a long one, but we think you'll like it. 

Will and the Greeze dive into the bourbon world outrage of the week and discuss the price hike on Booker's bourbon. Then they go to the parking lot of the local movie theater and pregame the new Star Wars film Rogue One by drinking Whistle Pig 12 year. This was an idea the Greeze had back when we started the show, and his dream came true on this chilly December day. No movie spoilers, just parking lot drinking. 

Kris and Kate from Barrels & Mash (barrelsandmash.com) join Will and the Greeze to talk about bourbon, bourbon hunting, and reviewing bourbon. Check out their site for great whiskey and beer reviews. Then, after the 15, they group tries Old Bardstown Bottled-in-Bond distilled by the Willett Distillery. 

Will and the Greeze can be slow sometimes. They missed an opportunity to thank and honor our nation's veterans on, you know, Veterans Day. So on this Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (December 7, 2016), they sat down with a member of our armed forces and talked about whiskey. While this show is light hearted, it is important to remember the sacrifice of the members of our military on days like today. They were honored to sit and drink with a member of our military and encourage all of you to thank the men and women in uniform to have fought to protect our rights. 

Then, after the 15, the guys drink some Military Special Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. You'll hear what they think of it...

Will and the Greeze debate their differing philosophies over opening bottles of bourbon or whiskey. Will is an "open everything" guy, and the Greeze has a panic attack over the thought of opening a new bottle. In fact, Greeze tries to have a back up of rare bottles before he will consider opening the one he has. After they debate the merits, Will holds an intervention for the Greeze and forces him to open something new. That bottle is from the 2016 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey, and they review it for the 15. 

Greeze talks about his experience being the first person in an entire medical system's files to catch the flu this season. Will thought it was only appropriate to dole out some medicine in the form of Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style, coming in at 115 proof. It is in the style of the whiskey produced by Old Forester during prohibition and only available by prescription. The guys also have their buddy Aaron sitting in the studio, and get his thoughts on the bourbon. Then, after the 15, Will and the Greeze drink J.W. Dant Bottled-in-Bond. 

Will and the Greeze have their friend Brandon back over to get an update on his bourbon habit. Then he selects for them the bourbon for the 15: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. The guys get into a discussion about avoiding high school classes and the Greeze schools will on bourbon aging in different rickhouse locations. Have a happy Thanksgiving y'all!

In this episode, Will and the Greeze stray a bit from straight bourbon, and try a whiskey liqueur: Whisper Creek Tennessee Sipping Cream. Then, after the 15, they try Stagg Jr., a high proof offering from Buffalo Trace. This is the second week with the new rating system "Buy, Bar, or Pass," but the guys forgot all about it during the recording. Greeze was a sport and called in while sick in bed to ensure we keep this new rating system apart of the show. Cheers!

Will and the Greeze make another trek out to the Made South Barn to drink some whiskey. This time we have a Booker's round table pick, Smooth Ambler Rye, and the 2014 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon. Greeze was in charge of the food... you'll hear how that turned out. 

Also, were doing a contest to give away passes to the Made South Holiday Market on Nov. 19 at the Factory in Franklin, TN. To enter, go to our instagram (@thePodCask) and read the instructions on the photo about the give away. All entries must be in by 11:59pm CT on Nov. 13, 2016. Check it out!

It's time... Will finally tells the story of how the Greeze got his name. Will and the Greeze divert off bourbon during the topic portion and just tell a few stories. They bring it back to bourbon by telling a story about Will nearly running over a friend in a liquor store parking lot. Then, after the 15, Will and the Greeze sample Michter's Limited Release Barrel Strength Rye and implement a new rating system.

Will and the Greeze set up a blind bourbon tasting for each other, and the Greeze ends up being a jerk. Then, after the 15, they sample Eagle Rare from Buffalo Trace. It's a 90 proof straight bourbon whiskey. 

First Will and the Greeze talk about the samples community and the instagram bourbon community. Then, after the 15, they sample the brand new Rebel Yell 10 year old Single Barrel. 

Will and the Greeze try a bottle of bourbon which Greeze picked up months ago, and Will has continually ridiculed Greeze about: American Barrels Small Batch Fine Whiskey. It's essentially an extremely young whiskey in a shotgun shell shaped barrel. We took the dive to see if Greeze was duped by marketing or he's a genius bourbon handicapper. Then they move on to try Heaven Hill Green Label: a 6 year old bottom shelf gem. 

The Greeze tells Will about his annual tradition: competing against his previous year's record at Red Lobster's endless shrimp promotion. His preparation for these mini lobsters from he gulf is methodical. He goes over his entire gameday routine to maximize shrimp intake. Then, after the 15, they try a bourbon that is no longer with us: the 12 year old expression of Elijah Craig small batch from Heaven Hill. 

Will and the Greeze were invited to a party at the George Dickel Distillery in Tullahoma, TN. The only problem is that the Greeze had to go to his wife's family reunion the day of the event. So Will too their good friend Danny in the Greeze's stead. The result? Danny and Will had the time of their lives, and the Greeze missed out. In this episode Will and Danny tell about their evening at Cascade Hollow and all the whiskey (or whisky, as the folks at Dickel spell it) they drank. Then, after the 15, Danny and Will introduce the Greeze to George Dickel Superior No. 12. Cheers!

Will and the Greeze talk about budgeting when looking for bourbon and whiskey. What make them buy, how do they stay out of trouble, and what is worth a splurge. Then after the 15, they try Noah's Mill, and are quite surprised by what they find. 

Will and the Greeze were honored to talk with Fred Minnick (FredMinnick.com) about bourbon in general, his excellent books, and tells us his favorite bourbon of all time. Then, for the 15, the guys try a line up of 80 proof, 86 proof, and 100 proof Very Old Barton... plus a surprise 4th one. 

Check out Fred's new book, "Bourbon: the Rise, Fall and Rebirth of an American Whiskey" -- out everywhere Oct. 1.

Also, check out his primer on bourbon tasting: Bourbon Curious.

Will and the Greeze tackle the age old question of what happens to your whiskey once the bottle is opened. Does it go bad? They try to figure it out. Then, after the 15, they discuss Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel with Dillon "Spillin' Beers" Spears. 

Check out our new friend @therobcompany on instagram and see the really cool lamps he makes. He is currently making an awesome custom lamp out of a vintage decanter bottle for our studio. You're going to love his work. 

Wil and the Greeze have been asked many times to have some cocktails on the show. The only problem is the best cocktails they can make involve Evan Williams and a cola. Fortunately, their instagram friend Tim (@timmergund) actually knows what he is talking about. He walks the guys through two amazing whiskey cocktails: one classic and one a modern variation on that classic. Also, make sure that you check out the Greeze's new instagram (@therealgreeze) and our spin off show (@gamedaymix).

Cocktail recipes: 

Whiskey Sour

Build in shaker:

1.5 oz bourbon or rye

3/4 oz fresh lemon juice

3/4 oz simple syrup 

add ice, shake vigorously, then strain into glass

Western Sour 

2 oz bourbon or rye

1 oz grapefruit juice 

1/2 oz falernum

1/4 oz simple syrup

1/2 oz lime juice

add ice, shake vigorously, then strain into glass 

We know many of you may be traveling for the Labor Day holiday, so we thought you would enjoy a bonus show! Will and the Greeze went back out to the Made South barn to drink some more whiskey. Chris brought out his bourbon with the oldest age statements for this one. Another fun time in the barn. 

Will and the Greeze respond to a listener topic suggestion. Jeff on Facebook asked us to give our top ten bourbons we look for when we go hunting. They each give their top 5. They kept it to bourbons that may actually be possible to find (no Pappy on this list). After the 15, they give their thoughts on Old Weller Antique. 

Rate and Review us on iTunes and check out our shop on Facebook to get your very own PodCask shirt.

Will and the Greeze have a heart to heart about flasks. They try to sort out the etiquette of when, where and why flasks are appropriate. After they feel they have sufficiently covered the topic (i.e. they get really thirsty), they move on to the 15. In this episode, they try Sazerac Rye, a.k.a. "Baby Saz." This rye is only the second to be tried on the show. Although it's a reasonably priced bottle, it is becoming increasingly hard to find. 

Also, we have t-shirts to go along with our new logo. Get yours here: www.represent.com/store/podcask

In this episode, Will and the Greeze swap stories, and the Greeze tells Will about a new purchase he has made. Then, after the 15, the guys sample Mellow Corn Bottled in Bond. If you're reading this description, take a minute to rate and review us on iTunes.

Wild Turkey announced a new marketing campaign last week featuring Matthew McConaughey as creative director... so, of course, Will and the Greeze are gonna talk about it. They give their thoughts on this and the new short film that goes along with the campaign to start off the show. Then, after the 15, the only appropriate bourbon to discuss is the one and only Wild Turkey 101. Let's do this!

Will and the Greeze go to a new friend's farm to drink some whiskey. Chris from MADE SOUTH takes them on a journey of 7 different whiskies from 6 southern states. 3 of the whiskies are discussed in this episode. To hear about the other four, subscribe to the Made South podcast and listen to the other half of their conversation. Chris shows his southern hospitality and even throws in a few surprises. Don't miss this episode.