Patrick "Pops" Garrett

Founder and Chief Drinking Officer of Bourbon & Banter and DrinkCurious.

Canadian Whisky Reviews

Rare Hare Lucky Bastard Whiskey Review

As soon as I smelled the aromas of my first pour, I got giddy with excitement basking in a combination of smells that reminded me of legendary dusty bourbon bottles like National Distributor Old Grand Dad or Old Charter Proprietor's Reserve.

New Brand Releases

Lux Row Four Grain Double Single Barrel Bourbon Launching in August 2023

Lux Row Four Grain Double Single Barrel Bourbon is the combination of a single barrel of 4-year-old wheated bourbon and a single barrel of 4-year-old ryed bourbon.

New Brand Releases

Green River to Release First Full Proof Single Barrel

Green River Full Proof Single Barrel is a single barrel of the flagship Green River recipe, a rye-forward true Kentucky bourbon with a remarkable flavor profile, the result of a mashbill comprised of 70 percent corn, 21 percent rye and 9 percent malted barley.

New Brand Releases

Old Forester Unveils New 117 Series: Bottled in Bond

Old Forester® announces the newest release in its 117 series – Bottled in Bond. In accordance with the 1897 Bottled in Bond Act, this product is bottled from barrels filled during a single distillation season – the wet and warm late Spring of 2014.

New Brand Releases

Hakata Whiskies Make Their U.S. Debut

Highly sought-after, Hakata Whisky is distilled and matured in Japan using 100% barley, a fraction of which is fermented with Koji - providing healthy enzymes for fermentation, and thus delivering a savory, unmistakable, Umami-enhanced patina.

New Brand Releases

New Riff Distilling Unveils Malt Whiskey Project

Through the reimagination of both old-world and new-world beer styles, the New Riff Distilling team set out to produce a whiskey that showcased all the wonderful malted varieties they’ve experienced as brewers.

New Brand Releases

Yellowstone Limited Edition 2023 New Release

These bourbons were then carefully combined and aged in Tokaji casks. Tokaji is a special sweet wine made from white-wine grapes found in Hungary's Tokaji region. These casks add a remarkable complexity and layered flavors to the bourbon, enhancing its overall quality.

Podcast

Back in the Saddle Again – Bourbon & Banter Podcast #32

The 32nd episode of the Bourbon & Banter podcast – Back in the Saddle Again - is now available for your listening and drinking pleasure. Look, we know we’ve been away for a while. Why? We tell you upfront about Bob’s sequestering that forced us to lay low for the first part of the year.

Bourbon Weekly Roundup

Bourbon Weekly Roundup #3

Lots of new releases to report, but unfortunately, many of them are doing their best to take consumers for a ride with price tags starting at $200 and beyond. When will people start voting by not purchasing these tater-priced releases?

New Brand Releases

Introducing Wild Turkey Master's Keep Voyage

Wild Turkey Master's Keep Voyage is a 10-year-old bourbon finished in Jamaican rum casks, marking the first rum cask finish in Wild Turkey's history.

New Brand Releases

Rare Hare Spirits Releases 30-Year-Old Canadian Whiskey

Lucky Bastard strikes the perfect balance at 89 proof, showcasing a smooth and refined character that delicately unfolds, and inviting an enjoyable experience for a wide range of palates.

New Brand Releases

Brush Creek Distillery Unveils Heroes Edition Straight Bourbon Whiskey

This product is a well-matured blend of Crimson Red, Blue, and White Corn Bourbon born and matured in Indiana and further rested at the Distilery's Saratoga location, along Wyoming’s majestic elevated western frontier.

American Whiskey Reviews

Whiskey JYPSI Legacy Batch 001 Review

It's been a long time since I was surprised by a whiskey. And a celebrity whiskey has never impressed me. But damn, as much as I was ready to tell you how underwhelmed I was with this bottle, that's not the case.

New Brand Releases

Lost Lantern Declares 2023 the Summer of Bourbon!

Lost Lantern’s Summer of Bourbon includes eight whiskies ranging across all three of its product lines: the Blend Series, the Single Distillery Series and the Single Cask Series.

Industry News

Introducing Heaven's Door Straight Rye Whiskey: The Latest Addition to the Decade Series

The Decade Series II Straight Rye Whiskey has a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, delivering bold and spicy flavors, balanced by delicate notes of vanilla and caramel from the barrel.

Industry News

Frey Ranch Distillery Announces Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon

As a cask strength bourbon, the tasting experience differs from the flagship 90 proof experience with robust notes of caramelized, brulé, and hints of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Paid-members only

BITB Club

Replay: BITB Live Tasting #5

Industry News

Four Roses: The Ten Recipe Tasting Experience

The kit will include 50ml bottles of each recipe for bourbon enthusiasts to get a taste of where the brand's offerings originate.

Industry News

Benriach Introduces The Forty to the U.S.

Speyside distillery Benriach has announced the expansion of its luxury portfolio with the stateside arrival of Benriach The Forty, exemplifying an exquisite example of Benriach’s historically diverse methods of distillation and cask curation.

Single Barrel Picks

Single Barrel Heaven

To celebrate the launch of the new Bourbon & Banter website, we're making some of our recent single-barrel picks available again via our retail partner, Ace Spirits. You can purchase bottles of the picks below and have them shipped nationwide for just $20 for up to 12 bottles per shipment.

New Brand Releases

Heaven Hill Distillery Launches Square 6 Wheated Bourbon

With initial aromas of caramel, vanilla, figs, bing cherries and oak, the Square 6 Wheated Bourbon follows with tasting notes of sweet confectioners' sugar and walnuts on the palate. The finish boasts of walnuts, oak tannins, baking spices cinnamon and cola.

Industry News

Sip and Savor: "Fire, Water & Grain: The Story of Empire Rye" Documentary

Indulge your senses as "Fire, Water & Grain" transports viewers into the heart of Empire Rye’s historical production process.

Bourbon Weekly Roundup

Bourbon Weekly Roundup #2

Goodbye 401k: Blue Run's mission to take all of your money continues as they release a $199.99 double-barreled rye whiskey. If you'd like to keep your money, there are plenty of other new releases to explore.

Industry News

Fireball Whisky and Rob Riggle Bring the Heat to Father's Day with Fireball Dragon Reserve

While Fireball Dragon Reserve was not [entirely] conceived as a way to convince dads to throw a Fireball shot back with their adult kids… it's still likely to get the job done.

Industry News

Introducing Barrel Global: New Barrel Ownership Service

Through its online portal www.barrelglobal.com, consumers schedule an intake call with a representative from the company’s bourbon experts to request a barrel reservation from some of the finest American Whiskey-producing regions in the US.