Patrick "Pops" Garrett

Founder and Chief Drinking Officer of Bourbon & Banter. I've been drinking, writing, and arguing about bourbon professionally since 2011.

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Annual Summit

Save the Date: The 2026 Bourbon & Banter Summit

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This Round's Mine

What the Four Roses Sale Actually Means

This isn't a disaster. It's not a guarantee of greatness either. Gallo has the resources and distribution muscle to make Four Roses bigger. Whether they make it better depends on how much they meddle.

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After Hours

Is this really the voice of reason?

So, in an effort to prove the critics wrong—or possibly confirm their suspicions—we decided to run an experiment. What happens if we intentionally include a voice of reason in our video tasting reviews?

Breaking Boundaries or Garanimals for Drinkers?

Love it or hate it, this redesign opens up a bigger conversation about bourbon branding, usability, and how whiskey companies are trying to stand out in a market that’s only getting louder.

Rye Whiskey Reviews

Detroit City Distillery’s Homegrown Rye Seriously Caught Me Off Guard

A rye I didn’t see coming. Detroit City Distillery’s Homegrown Rye surprised the hell out of me, and I break down why in this video review. If you like discovering new bottles, this one’s for you. 🥃

Industry News

An Interview with Chuck Cowdery: Made and Bottled in Kentucky

Chuck covers a lot of ground here: why the documentary came together, how bourbon storytelling has changed over the years, and why accuracy still matters—especially now.

31 Days of Rye Challenge

Why Go Dry When You Can Go Rye?

At the same time, we have watched Dry January grow in popularity. And to be clear, if taking a month off drinking is the right choice for you, we fully support that. No arguments here. But we kept coming back to one simple question...

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Virtual Tasting

Replay: Bourbon & Banter Holiday Blind Tasting & Trivia Gauntlet

Annual Summit

Tours, tastings, bottle shares and BBQ highlight Bourbon & Banter ’25 Summit

Surely no one came to bourbon musing there would someday be drinkers like them; lovers of bourbon who want to see it made, meet the people who make it and then drink it with friends new and old. But that, in a nutshell, describes Bourbon Banter’s third-annual Summit.

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Virtual Tasting

Replay: 10th Mountain Distillery Virtual Tasting

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BITB Club

Replay: BDC Live Tasting #16

Our sixteenth Blinkd Drinkers Club (BDC) Live Tasting of the Year was held this past Monday. This month's tasting included samples illustrating the growing trend of multi-brand blending, craft distilleries finally coming of age, and a reminder that heritage distillers can create new products for the market

Podcast

Ramble On: The 2025 Summit Podcast Special Edition

This wasn’t an “anniversary episode.” No balloons, no confetti, no commemorative T-shirt order (yet…). Just a damn good conversation fueled by great whiskey and even better company.

Ingram Distillery

Ingram Distillery Announces Floating Barrelhouse Built From Salvaged SS Edmund Fitzgerald

Once completed, The SS Edmund Fitzgerald Barrelhouse will host guided tastings, overnight berths, and what Ingram calls a “nautical proofing program,” where barrels experience the constant temperature swings of Lake Superior’s famously unforgiving climate.

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Virtual Tasting

Replay: J. Henry & Sons Virtual Tasting

Podcast

Bourbon & Banter Podcast #39 – Gitche Gumee Cometh

The biggest and most honest podcast in all of bourbon is back — this time live and in person (and we've got the video to prove it). That’s right, Pops and Bob are finally sharing a mic and a room again, kicking off fall with full pours, fresh rants, and faces made for radio.

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BITB Club

Replay: BDC Live Tasting #15

Our fifteenth Blind Drinkers Club (BDC) Live Tasting was held a little over a week ago. This month's dark and disturbing tasting kits included a variety of samples providing a fantastic range of expressions, including budget-friendly bottles and pricier, hard-to-find new releases. As always, hanging

Bottle of the Day

BOTD Spotlight: Michter's US★1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

If you’re on the quest to complete the 30 Days of Bourbon Challenge, Michter’s US★1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a no-brainer addition to your lineup.

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Barrel Pick Update

On Sale Now: Exclusive West Fork Whiskey Single Barrel

Bottle of the Day

BOTD Spotlight: Fear and Loathing Wheated Bourbon

Inspired by the rebellious spirit of Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing Wheated Bourbon is designed to be anything but ordinary.

Podcast

Bourbon & Banter Podcast #38 – Size Matters

Back at barrel strength: Pops & Bob return with bourbon news, Taylor Swift rumors, a Sniff Team reveal, and a bourbon bullshit rant that takes aim at the state of single barrels in today’s whiskey world.

Bourbon Heritage Month

Welcome to Bourbon Heritage Month 2025

Whether you’re just discovering bourbon or have a cabinet full of well-loved bottles, welcome to Bourbon Heritage Month! We’re kicking off our 12th annual celebration, and we’re glad you’re here. Grab your favorite pour and get ready for 30 days packed with bourbon fun.

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Proof of Life

Proof of Life: The Calm Before the Bourbon Storm

It’s Bourbon Heritage Month, which means the bourbon world’s volume knob just got cranked all the way up. Our 12th Annual 30 Days of Bourbon Celebration is underway, and once again this community is proving why it’s the world’s biggest—and rowdiest—online bourbon party. Grab

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Virtual Tasting

Replay: ASW Virtual Tasting

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Proof of Life

Proof of Life: The Pour Must Go On

The headlines are loud. Sales slumping, lawsuits flying, distilleries closing, and even the darlings of the industry facing court-appointed receivers. But before you start hoarding bottles and building a bunker, take a breath. We’ve been here before, and this week’s edition is here to break it all

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You're Invited: The Ingram Distillery Virtual Tasting