In this episode we are treated to a cocktail masterclass with the one and only Cocktail Contessa aka Heather Wibbels. Join us as she guides us through using sensory to craft elevated cocktail experiences.

Key Moments:(00:00) Intro

(05:11) Bourbon and bitters class

(06:03) Find your old fashioned

(06:22) Your palate changes

(08:24)Choosing a cocktail

(09:06)The Whiskies

(09:40) The Amari

(14:12) Choosing the spirit, amaro combination

(16:00) First cocktail

(17:25) Choosing to add or not add bitters

(19:52) How to choose fruit for garnishing vs juicing

(21:31) Try black manhattans at different temperatures

(23:16) Building a cocktail

(29:47) How bitters change a cocktail

(37:57) Second cocktails

(44:20) Comparing second cocktail notes

(47:00) Third cocktail

(49:17) Dankness and balance in cocktails

(56:52) Who is Heather Wibbels?

(01:00:22) Comparing three Black Manhattans

(01:02:02) What’s that flavor?

(01:03:44) Taste testing amari

(01:05:23) The Origin of Cocktail Contessa

(01:07:47) Who is a whiskey drinker?

(01:10:00) Blind Tasting

(01:14:15) Your palate is actually okay

(01:17:51) Ordering what you want at a bar/restaurant

(01:20:13) Favorites of cocktails we made

(01:22:15) Sipping cold vs room temperature

(01:29:37) Flavor differences between palates are okay

(01:30:56) Different is how you define why something is better

(01:32:48) All experiences are informativ

(01:38:14) The reality of glassware in bars/restaurants 1:38:14

(01:41:08) Expectations of a whisky drinker

(01:44:02) The role of memory in cocktail experience

(01:49:46) What makes a whiskey drinker a whiskey enthusiast

(01:52:14) Whiskey [more than] neat

(01:53:19) The hazmat people

(01:54:11) Creme brûlée cinnamon or churro cinnamon

(01:57:11) Elevated cocktails

(02:00:32) One person, dead or alive, you’d want to sip with

(02:02:20) Drinking with Thanos

(02:05:18) New book

(02:11:24) Are low sugar, low carb cocktails possible?

(02:12:56) Having a healthy relationship with alcohol

(02:15:40) Flights + Comparison + Sensory

Base Black Manhattan recipe from the episode:

• 2 oz bourbon or rye
• 1 oz amaro
• 1 dash (8-10 drops) of bitters
• lemon peel garnish

Rye whiskey from the episode:

• Castle and Key Restoration Rye
• Russell's Reserve 6 yr Rye
• New Riff Single Barrel Rye

Amari from the episode:

• Amaro Braulio
• Amaro CioCiaro
• Amaro Montenegro
• Foro Amaro

For more on amari checkout Heather’s recent post - https://www.cocktailcontessa.com/whiskey-and-amaro-cocktail-playground/

Follow Heather on Instagram @cocktail_contessa

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Every week we share explorations in flavor, sipping, and curated experiences.

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New Name. New Vibe. Same Curious Palate.

After a long break, the podcast is back, and it has a wild new twist.

Say hello to Wyld Pours 🥃
(formerly Distilled: Legends & Lore)

We’re diving into blind tastings, bottle battles, and offbeat conversations with the people behind the pours: distillers, brewers, vintners, sommeliers, and industry pros.

Less lore, more flavor. Less script, more sip.

Hit follow to be notified of future episodes.⁠⁠⁠

⁠Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠

Let's get Wyld!

In this episode, we look back on the year 2023 and talk about our tastings and learnings.

Key Moments:

(00:00) Intro

(00:45) What we saw

(01:51) What we tasted

(03:05) What we learned

Hit the follow to be notified of future episodes.⁠

Follow us on Instagram⁠

Visit ⁠thecuratedcup.com⁠ for reviews and other content

If you're interested in a curated tasting, send us an email at tastings@thecuratedcup.com

Music by ⁠AlexGrohl

In this episode, we give our Top 5 Smash, Sip or Pass episodes of 2023.

Key Moments:

(00:00) Intro

(01:29) #5

(04:02) #4

(06:26) #3

(09:48) #2

(11:35) #1

What did you think about this Top 5 Smash, Sip or Pass Episodes of 2023?

Let us know by checking out the episode Q&A or sending us a message at hello@thecuratedcup.com

If you liked this episode, hit the follow to be notified of future episodes.

⁠Follow us on Instagram⁠

Visit ⁠thecuratedcup.com⁠ for more reviews and other content

If you're interested in a curated tasting, send us an email at tastings@thecuratedcup.com

Music by ⁠AlexGrohl

In this episode, after blind tasting through 16 wheated whiskies, we reveal all of the matchups in our 2023 Battle of the Wheats and our 2023 Champion of the Wheats. View all matchups at thecuratedcup.com/battleofthewheats2023 Key Moments: (00:00) Intro (01:36) Sweet 16 (18:31) Elite 8 (30:19) Final Four (35:58) Finals What did you think of Battle of the Wheats 2023? Let us know by checking out the episode Q&A or sending us a message at hello@thecuratedcup.com If you liked this episode, hit the follow to be notified of future episodes. ⁠Follow us on Instagram⁠ Visit ⁠thecuratedcup.com⁠ for more reviews and other content If you're interested in a curated tasting, send us an email at tastings@thecuratedcup.com Music by ⁠AlexGrohl

In this episode we taste the final matchup of our 2023 Battle of the Wheats. Listen to find out which whiskey is our Champion of the Wheats 2023.

Stay tuned for our reveal of all matchups and our winner.

View all matchups at thecuratedcup.com/battleofthewheats2023

Key Moments:

(0:00) Intro

(00:58) How Battle of the Wheats 2023 works

(02:25) Whiskey #10

(03:37) Whiskey #16

(05:56) Smash Sip or Pass

Did you enjoy this battle of the wheats blind tasting?

Let us know by checking out the episode Q&A or sending us a message at hello@thecuratedcup.com

If you liked this episode, hit the follow to be notified of future episodes.

⁠Follow us on Instagram⁠

Visit ⁠thecuratedcup.com⁠ for more reviews and other content

If you're interested in a curated tasting, send us an email at tastings@thecuratedcup.com

Music by ⁠AlexGrohl

In this episode we continue the Final Four of our 2023 Battle of the Wheats where we’re blind tasting through 16 wheated whiskies to crown our champion of the wheats.

Follow along at thecuratedcup.com/battleofthewheats2023

Key Moments:

(00:46) How Battle of the Wheats 2023 works

(02:10) Whiskey #6

(03:01) Whiskey #10

Are you enjoying this battle of the wheats blind tasting?

Let us know by checking out the episode Q&A or sending us a message at hello@thecuratedcup.com

If you liked this episode, hit the follow to be notified of future episodes.

⁠Follow us on Instagram⁠

Visit ⁠thecuratedcup.com⁠ for more reviews and other content

If you're interested in a curated tasting, send us an email at tastings@thecuratedcup.com

Music by ⁠AlexGrohl

In this episode we begin the Final Four of our 2023 Battle of the Wheats where we’re blind tasting through 16 wheated whiskies to crown our champion of the wheats.

Follow along at thecuratedcup.com/battleofthewheats2023

Key Moments:

(00:58) How Battle of the Wheats 2023 works

(02:22) Whiskey #13

(03:29) Whiskey #16

(05:12) Smash Sip or Pass

Are you enjoying this battle of the wheats blind tasting?

Let us know by checking out the episode Q&A or sending us a message at hello@thecuratedcup.com

If you liked this episode, hit the follow to be notified of future episodes.

⁠Follow us on Instagram⁠

Visit ⁠thecuratedcup.com⁠ for more reviews and other content

If you're interested in a curated tasting, send us an email at tastings@thecuratedcup.com

Music by ⁠AlexGrohl