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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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

The Definitive Guide to the 30 Days of Bourbon Challenge: 2025 Edition

Here’s the deal: drink 30 different bourbons in 30 days. Sounds fun, right? But it’s more than just a boozy checklist—it’s a full-on bourbon experience. You’ll explore new bottles, discover fresh favorites, and gain a deeper appreciation for the history, variety, and flavor that bourbon delivers.

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Proof of Life

Proof of Like: Bourbon at 30,000 Feet

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Virtual Tasting

Replay: Union Horse Virtual Tasting

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Annual Summit

Save the date: 2025 Summit

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Proof of Life

Proof of Life: Scams, Scandals & Single Barrels

It’s been a scorcher here in St. Louis—humid enough to proof down barrel strength bourbon with the air alone. But while the temps are boiling, this edition of Proof of Life is cooling things down with some smart sipping advice, a side of spirits scandal, and more new

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BITB Club

Replay: BDC Live Tasting #14

Our fourteenth Blind Drinkers Club (BDC) Live Tasting was held this past Monday. This month's dark and disturbing tasting kits included seven samples providing a fantastic range of expressions, including budget-friendly bottles and pricier, hard-to-find new releases. As always, hanging out with everyone to enjoy

Events

INDY OR BUST: A Whiskey Weekend Recap

Earlier this month, the Bourbon & Banter crew hit the road for another whiskey-fueled adventure—this time to Indianapolis. We’re talkin’ barrel picks, behind-the-scenes distillery access, ATV-fueled trail sippin’, and one late-night bottle share that wrapped around 3 a.m. (because of course it

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Proof of Life: Declaration of Drinkdependence

Surprise! We’re dropping this edition of the Proof of Life newsletter a little early so you can enjoy it with your Fourth of July coffee—or whatever you’re sipping before the fireworks start. Because nothing says "America" quite like bourbon, bold opinions, and a newsletter that

Proof of Life

Proof of Life: Get Lost

Irregular Dispatches for the Drinking Class from Your Chief Drinking Officer

Proof of Life

Proof of Life: The Last Refuge

Irregular Dispatches for the Drinking Class from Your Chief Drinking Officer