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Faith No More’s Billy Gould joins the show and shares his passion for Serbian Brandy. Billy starts his own brand, Yebiga, a Serbian brandy called Rakija made in Croatia. In turn, Fred offers up some rare rye whiskeys, including WhistlePig Boss Hog and Michter’s 10 year. All the while, the two become instant friends over good drink and solve the problems. Bill sheds light on something Fred knows little about—Serbian Drinking Customs. Little did he know, grandmas in Croatia drink two shots a day to help them live long and healthy lives. Could that be applied in the United States?

Known for his Tony, Golden Globe, and Emmy winning role as Belize in the Broadway production Angels in America and its acclaimed HBO miniseries adaptation, actor Jeffrey Wright joins the show and sips Uncle Nearest with Fred. They discuss the state of the world and how Wright is on a mission to tell true stories that can cut through fake news and misinformation.

Fred's friends Mark Ford and John Rudolph join the show to discuss the insider financial world of music. They also raid Fred's traveling bar, nearly drinking all his bourbon.

Oxford Road Ad agency owner Dan Granger joins the show to sip some ultra rare bourbon, including a 1978 Eagle Rare. Fred talks to the young businessman about the state of podcasting and the analytics business, while Dan drops his love and knowledge for former President Teddy Roosevelt, who, of course, played a major role in American whiskey. Some history tidbits dropped: What happened to studying the aging of barrels? Why did distillers add rattlesnakes to whiskey in 1800s? And who used to distiller Eagle Rare before Buffalo Trace?

Our Lady Peace's frontman Raine Maida is a veteran hitmaker. From Clumsy to Superman's Dead, the iconic Canadian rock band has held strong since 1992. On The Fred Minnick Show, Raine sips with Fred: Michter's 10 year, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521, Wyoming Whiskey National Parks Edition and Kentucky Senator. The two talk about the classic Our Lady Peace songs, even the ones Raine doesn't like to play, and the rare bond they share from Iraq--sipping tea with the locals.

Former UK and Sweden Ambassador Matthew Barzun (Obama administration) joins the show to talk about what it's like to serve at the highest levels of government, to be a member of the Brown family of Brown-Forman and his new book, The Power of Giving Away Power. Buy his book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0525541047/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=httpwwwfredmi-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=934b64658668c3bfedbd33a7643dbcca&creativeASIN=0525541047

On this episode of The Fred Minnick Show, former National Football League quarterback Jay Cutler, who enjoyed stints with the Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins, drops by. Cutler, who was an NFL Pro Bowler in 2008, talks candidly with Fred about a lot of topics, including dishing on former teammates. He also talks candidly about Aaron Rodgers, his relationship with the Green Bay Packers, and more. Of course, they drink and talk about whiskey at length.

On this episode of The Fred Minnick Show, Fred is joined by Sony Music recording artist Hannah Dasher, who grew up in Georgia, fell in love with country music and became a successful singer-writer in the genre. She also has a popular TikTok cooking show titled, “Stand By Your Pan.” Her latest musical release, The Half Record, features her newest single, “You’re Gonna Love Me.” On the episode, Hannah and Fred engage in a spirited interview that delves into moonshine, Hannah’s rising career, wigs, Dolly Parton and more over a flight of whiskey and bourbon.

On this episode of The Fred Minnick Show, Paul Charchian joins Fred for whiskey sipping and spirited conversation. Charchian is an fantasy sports pioneer who launched Fanball.com in 1993, currently serves as the Chairman of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association and makes regular appearances on AM-1130 KFAN and Fox Sports Radio as well as ESPNews. They sip Pappy Van Winkle 15-year and other bourbons on the show.

In a rare opportunity, Fred Minnick sat down with heavy metal icon Shawn Crahan, aka Clown of Slipknot, They blended Iowa Bourbon at Cedar Ridge and Clown opened up about his favorite foods and more.

On the latest episode of The Fred Minnick Show, Fred is joined by former NFL star quarterback Peyton Manning. Manning, considered one of the best to ever play the game, won two Super Bowls while playing 18 years with the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos and will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame 2021 class. He also had a successful collegiate career at the University of Tennessee before being drafted first overall in the 1998 NFL draft. On the episode, joined by Peyton’s older brother Cooper, Peyton and Fred touch on topics like ascots, Peyton’s whiskey brand Sweetens Cove, hiding your best bourbon where no one can find it and rum history, all while sipping whiskey and rum. Whiskeys tasted: • Sweetens Cove Batch 2 (6:50) • Vintage Four Roses circa 1940s (13:09) • Michter’s 10 Year (23:59) • 291 Colorado Whiskey (32:38) • Vintage Cuban Rum (35:58) • Vintage Oscar Pepper Bourbon circa 1925 (43:50) RESOURCES http://www.peytonmanning.com/ https://sweetenscovespirits.com/

On the new episode of The Fred Minnick Show, Fred is joined by country music star Craig Campbell, who has a brand new single titled "Never Mine." He is best known for hits such as "Family Man" and "Keep Them Kisses Comin'." While on the show, Craig and Fred talk TikTok, tuning guitars, bourbon notes, whiskey in song, coffee and plenty more. Oh yeah, and they sip six, count them, six whiskeys. (Note: This interview was recorded early in the covid pandemic.) Whiskeys tasted: Jack Daniel's Taster's Select (16:28) Jack Daniel's Single Barrel (22:14) Wild Turkey Revival (27:30) Russell's Reserve 10 Year Barrel Pick (39:59) Four Roses Single Barrel (45:38) Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (52:27) EPISODE SUMMARY Fred and Craig talk about a wide variety of things, such as: Craig uses a friend's house for the interview because the internet service at his place is "terrible." Craig's daughters are big fans of TikTok, a space Fred hasn't mastered yet. Campbell jumps into a song before the whiskey comes out, performing "The Whiskey's Fine." The first whiskey poured is Jack Daniel's Taster's Select, and Craig has to grab a glass (although, to be fair, drinking whiskey straight from the bottle is probably pretty darn country). Jack Daniel's Single Barrel comes next, and Fred chose JD because of Campbell's affinity for cinnamon and banana pudding. They talk about why the word "whiskey" appears in a lot of country songs - Craig notes that it's a "man's drink," and if you drink it, "that means you're a bad-ass." While Craig admits he can't find the banana flavor, he promises Fred he will try to dig into the bourbons more offline to try and train his palate. Craig talks about being an independent artist versus having record deals. Campbell explains that while he is often his own worst critic, he also is a big fan of himself. He believes when he listens to his own songs, he can spot ways to improve. On the Wild Turkey Revival, Craig says, "The Turkey was ... stout." It's onto the Russell's Reserve, and Campbell's palate finds the cinnamon almost immediately. Craig is a coffee drinker, and he and Fred compare tasting coffee versus tasting bourbon. Only one involves actively slurping. Campbell says when he sees Four Roses bourbon, he thinks of a "not-good whiskey." Fred tells him the fascinating history of why for some people, Four Roses once was not seen in a positive light. Of course, Jim Rutledge changed that. Fred then dispels the myth that to be bourbon, it must be made in Kentucky. As a bonus, he drops a funny anecdote. Craig's wife Mindy makes an appearance to jokingly make sure Fred isn't getting Craig drunk. Campbell chooses his favorite as the Jack Daniel's Tasters Select, calling it the smoothest for his palate. Craig closes out the session by playing his song, "You Can't Drown Misery With Whiskey." QUOTABLES Craig Campbell, on being signed to a record label: "The upside to having a record label is that if you are one of their guys, they will make it happen. But if you're not one of their guys, it will not happen." RESOURCES https://www.craigcampbell.tv/ https://www.facebook.com/CraigCampbelltv https://twitter.com/craigcampbelltv https://www.instagram.com/craigcampbelltv/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Fred Minnick Show, Fred is joined by Terry Bradshaw, the legendary NFL quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his 14 seasons in the league, Bradshaw helped lead the Steelers to four Super Bowl wins in a career that would lead him to induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989. Since 1994, Bradshaw has been an NFL analyst on Fox NFL Sunday. On the show, Fred and Terry sip some whiskey and talk about many things, from Bradshaw's brand of bourbon to his football career and plenty more. Whiskeys tasted: Bradshaw Bourbon Batch 2 (10:15) Bradshaw Rye (25:51) Old Grand-Dad Vintage 1970s 86 Proof (36:41) Very Old Barton Vintage 1960s (52:21) I.W. Harper Vintage 1933 (1:10:00) EPISODE SUMMARY Fred and Jay talk about a wide variety of things, such as: Terry is immediately impressed by the Fred Minnick logo mini-bottles. He tells Fred how he came to release his bourbon, emphasizing the importance for him that he loved the bourbon he ultimately chose to release under his name. "I wanted it to have a wow impact. I wanted it to taste to last and not fade out on me." Terry notes he didn't know anyone in the industry, nor did he have any clue how to launch a whiskey brand, before jumping in. He started by watching the film "Neat." He doesn't like the fact it was immediately termed a "celebrity bourbon," but says, "Hey, it is what it is." The 51.9 proof in the bourbon is also Bradshaw's career completion percentage in the NFL. Fred says the Bradshaw Bourbon tastes more mature than its two years of aging. There is a long and involved discussion of smelling things. Fred notes when he was in the agriculture business, he could smell fertilizer from five miles away. When Terry first got into the bourbon business, he didn't know who Fred was, and then he discovered that Fred was "important" to what he was doing. "When I heard you liked me bourbon," Terry tells Fred, "it was like ... oh my god." They try the Bradshaw Rye, and Fred gets sugar cookies and lots of spice. (Terry admits he's never been a "rye guy.") Fred notes that two other former NFL stars - Peyton Manning and Charles Woodson - also are in the bourbon business now. Terry says he heard Manning's bourbon is highly expensive, and to Terry that means he isn't a "serious player" in the business. Bradshaw's bourbon hits around $40. They move to the vintage Old Grand-Dad, which Fred says it is a "throwback" to when National Distillers was making its hay releasing 86-proof whiskeys. The one being tasted dates back to the 1970s, when Bradshaw was lighting up the NFL. Fred talks about how distilling is different today than when the Old Grand-Dad was made, much the way football is different today than it was then. Fred then asks Terry if this particular whiskey reminds him of any game or play from the 1970s. "If I could drink a bunch of this, I could go back and tell you about some times," Terry says, laughing. Terry: "I call it bourbon, I don't call it whiskey. Bourbon is a little sexier than whiskey." Fred tells Terry he got into the bourbon business at just the right time. Terry then tells the story of how he picked his first barrel. Terry's pretty sure the master distiller who helped him was none other Jim Rutledge at Four Roses. He ended up doing it two more times - while also donating profits to Wounded Warriors - which is how he ultimately decided to get into the business. Terry: "I have a little problem with my preacher. They think I am some kind of heathen." Terry: "I get the feeling I would become an alcoholic before I ever got good at this." Terry talks about a scene he wants to shoot a scene that has a James Bond theme. Sadly, Bond was a vodka drinker. Terry chimes in: "I don't like vodka. I can't stand gin. Tequila, you can have. If I drink beer I have one beer and that's enough for me. I'm a bourbon drinker." Fred notes that many ranchers would use...

On this episode of The Fred Minnick Show, musician, actor and producer Fee Waybill joins in. Waybill was front man for 1970s-1980s hitmakers The Tubes and also worked with artists such as Toto, Richard Marx and Bryan Adams. He also has appeared on television and film, including a cameo in "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure." He sits down with Fred to talk about his diverse career, getting back to touring, the band's reputation for being over the top and, of course, he tastes some bourbon. Whiskeys tasted: Chapin and Gore Vintage (06:10) 291 Colorado Whiskey (19:33) Barrell Bourbon 15 Year Old (53:14) Diplomatico Rum (1:06:00) EPISODE SUMMARY Fred and Fee talk about a wide variety of things, such as: They start with the Chapin and Gore whiskey from the 1970s, which is around the time when The Tubes were just bursting onto the music landscape. Fred gives Fee a quick education on what bourbon is versus whiskey. Fee talks about performing in the early days, telling the story of his stage manager Chopper always having a joint rolled and ready for him when he walked off stage. When he started drinking, it began with Jack Daniel's. These days, it's single malt Scotch whisky. Fred asks about Fee's on-camera chemistry with David Letterman. Turns out Fee knew Letterman's girlfriend, who was a huge fan of The Tubes. They move to the 291 Colorado Whiskey, and Fee immediately exclaims, "Oh, it's hot!" But his taste buds quickly acclimate. Talk turns to the inability for artists to make money from streaming. "The only way we can make money these days is by live performance and selling merchandise," Fee says. Of course, the pandemic wiped out most of that income. Fee talks about the timeline of The Tubes, which broke up in the 1980s, but got back together in 1994. They're still together, although they haven't played a live show since January 2020, thanks to covid. Plans are in the works for live shows later this summer. Fee recalls when the band "ruled" San Francisco, back in the days when they would put topless girls onstage to dance during shows. In Kansas City, they had to play under a $10,000 "obscenity bond." But fee insists there was no truth to the rumors of live sex onstage. He talks about meeting Richard Marx and about recording the Tubes' hit "She's a Beauty." The two became good friends, and Fee has written many songs with him. Much of their work culminated in a Fee Waybill solo album. The Barrell Bourbon is broken out, but Fee admits he's "Pretty much done already." The high-proof Colorado Whiskey tends to do that. Then Fee starts talking about Pavarotti and a duet he did with James Brown. Pavarotti sang his part in Italian, and the Tubes ended up performing a parody of it. Fred goes to the subject of Fee's acting career, and Fee says he is "obsessed" with making it to Broadway. Specifically, he wants to play the part of the King in "Hamilton." He then tells the story of being cast as Frankfurter in a production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Fee's dog Daisy makes a brief appearance. They go to the final pour, Diplomatico rum. Fee picks the Barrell Bourbon as his favorite of the session. RESOURCES https://www.facebook.com/TheFeeWaybill/ https://feewaybill.com/ https://www.thetubes.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thefeewaybill/   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Fred Minnick Show, the great E-40, the legendary rapper and hip hop artist, joins the show. E-40, whose given name is Earl Stevens, is well known as a pioneer of West Coast rap, the founder of Sick Wid it Records, and a collaborator with artists like Tupac Shakur, Lil Jon, Snoop Dogg and countless others. E-40 also is a purveyor of spirits, from wine to cognac to tequila to his new bourbon brand, Kuiper Belt. During this week's interview, Earl and Fred sip whiskey (obviously) and discuss topics such as his spirits brands, how hip hop would be different if Tupac was still alive, San Francisco 49ers football, and a lot more. Whiskeys tasted: Russell's Reserve Barrel Pick (12:34) Eagle Rare Vintage 1970s (31:48) Old Schenley Vintage 1940s (53:54) EPISODE SUMMARY Fred and E-40 talk about a wide variety of things, such as: They start things off by talking about E-40's bourbon, Kuiper Belt 8 Year Whiskey, which Fred calls one of the better sourced bourbons he's had in some time. Look for more releases coming soon. Among his many ventures, E-40 even has a cookbook coming out under the moniker Goon With a Spoon. The first whiskey in the session is a Russell's Reserve barrel pick, which Fred says has a similar flavor profile to Kuiper Belt. They do a side by side tasting, and E-40 quickly exclaims, "Kuiper Belt got 'em!" Fred shifts to talking football, and the recent draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers, of which the Bay-area native E-40 is a big fan. The rapper predicts big things for Trey Lance. Talk then turns to Steve Young and Joe Montana. And then? Colin Kaepernick. Talk then turns to E-40's life in the 1990s, when he was making his ascent, along with what he was drinking in those days. Back then, he always mixed bourbon with Coca-Cola. "I wanted it to last all damn day," he says. "All gas, no brake pads." Fred asks what Tupac was drinking during the day, and E-40 offers some interesting commentary at around the 23:00 mark. The choice in those days was Hennessy Cognac. Today? E-40 feels sure it would be his brand, Tycoon Cognac. Why? Because Tupac was all about supporting black-owned business and products. E-40 mentions that he misses his friend, and also brings up another friend, Biggie Smalls. He and Fred talk about what the hip hop industry would be like if they were alive today. "One thing 'Pac did was uplift the inner-city spirits," E-40 says. "Whether it was female or male. No matter what you were going through, he had something to say that was going to uplift your spirits." Branching off a conversation about family, Fred talks about how the international bourbon community has become a family. At that point, E-40 says, "Can I stop you for a minute? I'm drunk!" He then says, "I'm getting in the studio tonight! I'll probably write the dopest rap ever." It's been a while since Fred has laughed this hard on the show. As they head into tasting the vintage Eagle Rare, E-40 collects himself and talks about why he likes to help young rappers, such as Jeezy. E-40's son Droop-E, also a rapper, comes into the conversation, along with the evolution of hip hop. We briefly get into what would happen if E-40 was a deep sea fisherman on Clubhouse. He talks about growing up with a single mother - after age 8, at least - and how life for his family was difficult. As the oldest of four, however, he knew he had to "figure it out." But, he said, "I did it." They bust out the Old Schenley to toast to E-40's mom. Then check out a story about the fate of one of his platinum records, as well as some other personal belongings. It's a story he clearly is still frustrated by, but he vowed to let it go. Fred responds with a story of his own that turned out better, but was similarly frustrating. Will Fred ever launch his own bourbon brand? Two or three years ago, he would have said "never." But covid helped change his thinking....

On this edition of The Fred Minnick Show, NFL defensive end Ndamukong Suh joins Fred for an interview and a few whiskeys. Suh was a No. 2 overall draft pick by the Detroit Lions who has gone on to be a five-time All-Pro, as well as Defensive Rookie of the Year in his first season, 2010. During this episode, Fred Ndamukong talk about what it's like to win a Super Bowl, the ongoing saga with Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Portland, Oregon, and whiskey. Whiskeys tasted: Spirits of French Lick Four Grain (7:04) 291 Colorado Whiskey (9:31) Chapin & Gore Vintage 1960s (18:49) Gregarious Grump Rum 12 Year (24:23) EPISODE SUMMARY Fred and Ndamukong talk about a wide variety of things, such as: First things first: What's it like to win the Super Bowl? Ndamukong says it was nice to "get the monkey off his back" after being unsuccessful in his first attempt with the Rams. His hope is his current team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, can get back there again after the 2021 season as well. He says the defense executed its game plan to near perfection in the dominant win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was running for his life all evening. They discuss Lori Locust and Maral Javadifar, female coaches in the NFL who work for the Buccaneers. Peyton Manning comes into the conversation. His comment on Suh was that he wanted to say only nice things so as not to make Ndamukong mad. Ndamukong talks about projects he's working on in his home of Portland, Oregon. He has developed a company with a friend that, among other things, is to help facilitate affordable housing for those who need it. Suh's philosophy is to empower people by giving them a sense of ownership in their community. He then describes the 291 Colorado Whiskey as "definitely powerful." Fred jokingly compares the 1960s-era Chapin & Gore to 1960s football, when you could "poke a guy in the eye and smoke a cigarette on the sideline." They talk about free agency and the off-season NFL drama. Suh follows it mostly because it's hard not to, given how much moves and situations get talked about. He calls the Aaron Rodgers situation "interesting." Like most of us, he would be interested in hearing some of the details. "It seems like it's a little bit of a fractured relationship," Suh says. "Get some charcuterie boards and some cheese, and have a nice sit-down with some bourbon." They talk about playing a season during covid and playing on a team with Tom Brady. Suh describes what he terms "a challenge," from constant masking, daily testing and staying focused. But he described a team in which everyone focused on doing their jobs and achieving a team goal. They then discuss the difficulty of having to "pivot" to change a game plan at the last minute. He, of course, is referring to the team nearly losing to the Washington Football Team and quarterback Tyler Heinecke. Fred tells Ndamukong the high-proof flight he prepared for the show was "the equivalent to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defensive line." QUOTABLES Ndamukong Suh on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers: "Ton of respect for him. I think he's been able to do a lot of successful things in his career - a quarterback I would consider for sure playing with, even though we've had our own feuding on the field. ... We've lipped quite a bite. All in good fun on the football field." RESOURCES https://www.ndamukongsuh.com/ https://twitter.com/ndamukongsuh https://www.instagram.com/ndamukong_suh/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Fred Minnick Show, singer-songwriter and model Rachel Lorin drops by. Born in Atlanta, the 25-year-old Lorin began singing at age 12 and went on to launch her career by way of the reality singing show, "Next Big Thing." Her newest single "Shoot a Man" is out now. On the show, she and Fred discuss pot stills, southern food, skiing, the music business and, of course, bourbon. Whiskeys tasted: Willett Pot Still (6:45) 291 Colorado Whiskey (16:29) Lagavulin 16 Year Old (26:43) Foursquare Rum 12 Year Old (38:43) EPISODE SUMMARY Fred and Rachel talk about a wide variety of subjects, such as: Rachel's first taste of whiskey came when she was a baby and her dad put whiskey on her gums to help relieve teething pain. Fred describes what a pot still is for Rachel as they start to sip the Willett Pot Still. She talks about her new song, "Shoot a Man," which is a fictional story set in a saloon. Fred goes through his standard tasting techniques to get Rachel started on her flight. Then she tastes it and says, "Whoo! This is going to put hair on my chest!" Her standard spirit while touring is Hennessy cognac. Rachel is hopeful she can embark on another tour this year, with covid restrictions lifting across the U.S. "It's going to be good to be back on stage. It's going to feel weird." They talk about pairing fried chicken with bourbon. Rachel suggests throwing in some waffles for good measure. Fred jokes that this episode is sponsored by the American Heart Association. (Hear that, AHA? It was just a joke.) They then go to the 291 Colorado Whiskey, which is over 130 proof. Fred warns her that it's likely going to come in hot, or as he put it, it's "more in a feisty zone." She takes a drink and admits it "has a bite." They talk about her hit tune "Kerosene" briefly, which recently hit 1 million streams on Spotify, which leads them to talk about the music streaming industry. She then talks about how the sometimes slow pace of releasing music can drive her a little nuts. The peaty aroma of the Lagavulin catches Rachel off guard; she decides to "let it breathe for a minute." She talks about her musical influences as she was growing up, which, interestingly, leaned toward classic rock. She notes she was in a Journey cover band when she was a teen-ager. But the band she's seen perform live the most is Muse. Fred says his favorite concert of all time was a birthday surprise from his wife to see Garth Brooks in a small setting in Las Vegas. They finish the session with the Barbados-made Foursquare rum. Rachel's response is "Wow." When it's all said and done, the Lagavulin is Rachel's favorite. QUOTABLES "Anything alcoholic, I never kick out of my bed. Whiskey is one of my favorites." Rachel Lorin RESOURCES https://www.rachellorinmusic.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLeZUwnIuGh5FVipkFk5gbQ https://twitter.com/RLorinOfficial https://www.instagram.com/rachellorinmusic/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The three chamber still was extinct until Todd Leopold and the Leopold Brothers brought it back. Now, it's a still to be reckoned with! Fred tastes the rye from this magnificent still and interview Todd. The YouTube version: https://youtu.be/foeHvskXuLE Leopold Brothers video on the Three chamber Still: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NL2vimfbog&t=526s See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Fred Minnick Show, barbecue master Rodney Scott, who won a James Beard Award and put barbecue on the level of fine dining, joins in. Rodney and Fred talk about his new book, "Rodney Scott's World of BBQ," chicken thighs, cooking with bourbon, shopping for meat, and of course, pairing meat with bourbon. Whiskeys tasted: Michter's 10 Year (7:43) Woodinville Finished in Port Casks (14:10) Blood Oath Finished in Cognac Casks (29:18) 291 Colorado Whiskey (49:29) EPISODE SUMMARY Fred and Rodney talk about a wide variety of things, such as: Fred starts right off with the hard-hitting questions, asking Rodney if he drinks bourbon while is in the barbecue pit. Rodney confirms that he does. The first pour, the Michter's, was Fred's first bourbon in four days. "When you drink for a living, sometimes you have to schedule some off time," he notes. The Michter's inspires Rodney to pair it with pulled pork or maybe dark meat chicken, like a thigh, then he explains the optimal way to smoke chicken thighs. Fred admits he's already getting hungry. Fred asks Rodney for the "secret sauce" to making great barbecue and doesn't get much out of Rodney. Hey, why give away trade secrets? They talk about using bourbon as a marinade and how to utilize it in grilling. Mustard slaw or mayonnaise slaw? Rodney was raised on the latter: "I am an adult today because of mayonnaise slaw." Fred leans mustard-style. Fred talks about his days raising pigs. They ponder what's special about barbecue and why it brings people together. Rodney attributes it to natural human curiosity. They talk about what Rodney's accomplishments as a barbecue chef have affected the world of barbecue overall. They agree the Blood Oath would be a great pairing with barbecue - Rodney jokes that it might be best to enjoy that one when you're not in charge of dinner because "it invites you back in." Nevertheless, Rodney thinks smoked turkey and beans would be good pairings. Fred circles back to Rodney's "secrets," and insists he's holding out. "You gotta put on the right tunes. You gotta be in a good mood," Rodney says. Fred opines that restaurants will never go away because they are too important to our culture. Rodney agrees. They talk about the recent "attack" on meat. Rodney says, "Say what you want about meat, I'm going to eat meat. I'm going to cook meat." Fred: "You want to be a vegan, eat a carrot." But why vilify meat? And why try to copy it by turning plants into fake meat? Carnivores can relate. Rodney suggests pairing steak with the 291 Colorado Whiskey. Something like a bone-in ribeye. The barbecue chef talks about what he looks for when buying meat - pay attention, backyard barbecuers. (One hint: Always get the jumbo wings.) Rodney compartmentalizes his bourbon flight, saying he would choose the Michter's 10 Year first if a friend came over. But he would be selfish with the 291. QUOTABLES Rodney Scott on why barbecue brings people together: "One of the things that strikes our curiosity to draw us into barbecue so much is the fact that, one, you're cooking with fire; two, we know that you're cooking some type of protein. And the last thing that's going to keep you there is how is your protein going to be different than what I had before? That curiosity is such a natural thing. It's almost automatic." RESOURCES https://www.rodneyscottsbbq.com/ https://twitter.com/pitmasterrs https://www.instagram.com/rodneyscottsbbq/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Fred Minnick Show, New York Times political reporter and author Jennifer Steinhaur joins Fred for conversation and whiskey sipping. Steinhaur has covered the U.S. Congress since 2010, having joined the Times in 1989. During the interview, she and Fred talk about life during Covid, her book The Firsts: The Inside Story of the Women Reshaping Congress, women's roles in history, meatloaf, the beef industry and plenty more. Whiskeys tasted: Old Forester 117 Series (14:59) Johnnie Walker Green Label (28:11) High West Bourye (43:22) EPISODE SUMMARY Fred and Steve touch on plenty, such as: Jennifer offers a look at her 2020 book and how it pays tribute to the women coming up through U.S. Congress. Fred admits he prefers working with women, in part because of communication. Steinhaur offers interesting insights. Talk briefly turns to sexual misconduct and harassment in the military (a topic Jennifer covers often) and Fred's experience working with women during his service in the Army. The whiskey comes out, and they talk about how women tend to be excellent tasters and why. Jennifer loves the tough-to-find Old Forester 117 Series, describing it as "her new favorite thing ever." Fred suggests Old Forester 1920 as a whiskey that's easy to find and has a similar flavor profile. On the Johnnie Walker Green Label, Jennifer says it tastes like a "high school bonfire." Along the way, Fred offers up a brief history of Scotch whiskey. About halfway through, Jennifer goes into her love of meatloaf and the meatloaf cookbook she co-authored. Bottom line, it's easy to make and it's affordable. They then talk about the future of eating beef amid environmental concerns about how it is raised. Conversation then turns to the current difficulty of, well, having productive conversations. Fred posits that it would be great if whiskey could be the universal conversation conduit. Fred talks about drinking certain whiskey neat versus with ice or in cocktails. They briefly delve into the world of book nerds and the difficulty of writing a book proposal. Jennifer asserts that the proposal often seems more difficult than writing the book itself. Fred talks about "the return of rye," rye history and MGP's role. The topic of glassware comes up. Fred prefers a glass that "shows the whiskey." He of course then sings the praises of the Glencairn glass. Ultimately, Jennifer chooses Old Forester as her favorite of the flight. QUOTABLES Jennifer Steinhaur, on women's likelihood to be good collaborators and problem-solvers: "I think women naturally, in the workplace and in their family lives, have to find themselves in that kind of mediator mode. Sometimes it is the role we have to embrace in very male spaces. ... Sometimes, perhaps that plays out in the legislature and the workplace in a way that can be favorable to outcomes." RESOURCES https://www.jennifersteinhauer.com/ https://twitter.com/jestei https://www.instagram.com/steinhauer.jennifer/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.