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The fastest way to understand a city’s culture is to taste what it drinks, and Detroit has a few bottles that instantly tell a story. We’re pouring Detroit City Distillery tonight, starting with a freezer-cold Jeżynówka-style blackberry brandy that a lot of people know from Hamtramck bars, deer blinds, and Punchki Day traditions. From the first sip we get into real tasting notes, how temperature changes the experience, and why blackberry brandy can feel both nostalgic and surprisingly refined.

https://www.detroitcitydistillery.com/

From there we line things up the only way that makes sense: side-by-side. A young bourbon can be a reality check when you revisit it, especially next to something as bold as fruit brandy, and we talk honestly about what feels missing and what a finish can fix. The highlight is a blackberry brandy finished bourbon that lands “Jeżynówka adjacent” with a fruit-forward nose and a smoother back end, which turns into a bigger conversation about craft distilling in Detroit, barrel finishing, and what makes a bottle worth the price.

Because it’s Man Cave Happy Hour, the drinks open the door to everything else: local distillers helping each other out, a Shark Tank detour with behind-the-scenes rules you don’t hear about, and a nerd corner where we argue our way through Marvel, Daredevil, Spider-Man, and the Dune release calendar. We also hit the real-world stuff like doing ballgames solo, fraternal clubs as the cheat code for cheap drinks, and the “high holy holidays” of Detroit party season from St. Patrick’s Day to the Nain Rouge Parade to Opening Day.

If you like whiskey tasting, spirits storytelling, Detroit craft distilleries, and the kind of conversation that only happens after the first good pour, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review. What’s the one bottle that always starts the best stories for you?

Recorded 3-9-26

https://lerouxusa.com/flavours/jezynowka-blackberry-flavored-brandy/

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Jamie Flanagan @DJJamieDetroit

Matt Fox @fox_beazlefox

August Gitschlag @rawgusto

Merch www.WearingFunny.com

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A Guinness Old Fashioned sounds like something you order on a dare, but we decided to build it like it deserves respect. We mix Irish whiskey with Guinness, Demerara syrup, and molasses bitters, then taste it honestly: does it drink like a real Old Fashioned, or does stout steamroll everything in the glass? If you’ve ever searched for a St Patrick’s Day cocktail, an Irish whiskey cocktail recipe, or a new way to use Guinness at home, this one will spark opinions fast.

Detroit is the backdrop the whole way through. We recap parade day strategy, the unofficial rules of bouncing between bars, and why St Patrick’s Day proper isn’t always the heaviest drinking day. We also get into local traditions like the Nain Rouge, plus the everyday chaos of social media changes and the kind of teaching stories that make you wonder how schools function at all.

Then we pour something we actually savor: Redbreast Lustau Edition, finished in sherry casks. We dig into tasting notes like dark fruit, marzipan, spice, and oak, and talk about how sherry cask finishing can make Irish whiskey feel deeper without turning it into something unrecognizable. And because we can’t resist, we toss out trivia to test who’s really listening, from Madonna chart history to a wild Detroit fact that stops the room.

If you like whiskey tasting, Detroit stories, and the kind of conversation that wanders from cocktails to culture without losing the thread, hit play. Subscribe, share it with a friend who loves Guinness, and leave a review with your verdict: Guinness Old Fashioned yes or no?

Support the show

https://linktr.ee/ManCaveHappyHour

www.ManCaveHappyHour.com

Jamie Flanagan @DJJamieDetroit

Matt Fox @fox_beazlefox

August Gitschlag @rawgusto

Merch www.WearingFunny.com

Send a text

What happens when a Mysore-born tech founder falls in love with American whiskey—and decides to ship the culture back to the world? We head into Shankar Distillers in Troy, Michigan, where copper columns hum, the hybrid pot still shines, and Reserve 102 proves why a high-rye single barrel can win fans on both sides of the bar. Varchas shares how global travel exposed a gap on overseas shelves, why he partnered with MGP while building his own production, and how a Detroit-made identity can thrive from Metro Detroit to Bangalore.

We taste and compare the 102-proof single-barrel high-rye bourbon with a lineup of thoughtful finishes, including a standout Madeira cask that layers dark chocolate and cherry without burying the base whiskey. Along the way, we dig into the engineering: a continuous column for stripping, the pot still for precise cuts, and why finishing works best when the starting whiskey already sings. Distribution strategy, pricing that punches above its weight, and Michigan’s Great Lakes water all play a role in keeping quality consistent while scaling smart.

Then we pivot to tequila, done the right way. It’s 100% blue agave, additive-free, made and bottled in Mexico, and aged in their own used bourbon barrels to bring a shortbread-cookie sweetness bourbon lovers will recognize. We talk agave age, 900-degree ovens, blending column and pot distillate, and how fresh green pepper and cooked-agave notes can sit in harmony. The team also opens up about becoming the first American craft whiskey to enter India, why they built a diverse spirits portfolio, and how a regulated investment round turns fans into brand ambassadors.

If you love bourbon, are curious about cask finishes, or want to understand what “additive-free tequila” really means, this tour has you covered—plus plenty of insider tips on store picks, state availability, and what’s launching next. Pour a glass, press play, and tell us: would you reach for the high-rye single barrel, the Madeira finish, or the reposado aged in bourbon barrels? Subscribe, share with a spirits-loving friend, and leave a review to help more drinkers find the show.

Support the show

https://linktr.ee/ManCaveHappyHour

www.ManCaveHappyHour.com

Jamie Flanagan @DJJamieDetroit

Matt Fox @fox_beazlefox

August Gitschlag @rawgusto

Merch www.WearingFunny.com