Binny's Blog

Scarcity in beer. It sounds like an oxymoron, however, when everyone wants to get their hands on the same beer it creates hysteria!

Hosts Kristen Ellis and Jeff Carlin are joined by the world-renowned Whiskey Hotline on this episode of Barrel to Bottle with Binny's Beverage Depot.

Kristen teaches Jeff to taste like a pro on this episode of Barrel to Bottle with Binny's Beverage Depot.

On the inaugural episode of Barrel to Bottle with Binny's Beverage Depot podcast, hosts Kristen Ellis and Jeff Carlin tackle one of the most common questions people have about wine: What should I drink and when?

We're digging up an old classic. The Brandy Alexander is sweet as a candy bar and is full of nutmeg, eggnog and cinnamon flavors. Bartender Brittney describes the flavors as the bottom of an ice cream tub - and we couldn't agree more.

Originally, the Sazerac cocktail was made with French brandy. In 1873, the recipe for the Sazerac Cocktail was altered to replace the French brandy with American Rye whiskey. We decided to recreate the original with Hennessy Cognac - plus ginger syrup, a few dashes of barrel aged bitters, and of course, a heavy absinthe rinse.

The taste of bourbon is a bit too austere for some. Fret not; there are some wonderful cocktails that can soften it up a bit. One such example is the Minneapolis Hustler. This cocktail has much in common with a classic cocktail from years past known as the Oriental Cocktail.

Give this unconventional bourbon cocktail a try. The key ingredient in this drink is Orgeat syrup, a sweet and nutty syrup familiar to Tiki devotees like myself, but a mystery to many. Do yourself a favor and pick up a bottle tout suite. This delicious almond syrup is the magical ingredient in dozens of tropical drinks, most famously the Mai Tai.

The mint julep has been a smash for centuries due to its potent yet supremely refreshing profile. It is now utterly unthinkable to let a Derby Day go by without enjoying a Julep or two. For those of us who have watched as mint has taken over our herb gardens this is just the starting gate for a Julep filled summer. That is definitely a hands down win!