Drinks Adventures is a new podcast for adventurous drinkers of beer, wine, spirits, cider… and everything in between.
The program is hosted by me, James Atkinson, former editor of Brews News and TheShout, and now a contributor for titles including Executive Style, Good Food, Halliday, Virgin Australia Voyeur, QantasLink Spirit and Australian Business Traveller.
Season One began in September 2018 and features brands including Sullivans Cove Whisky, Penfolds Wines, Sipsmith Gin, Bruny Island Cheese & Beer, Willie Smith’s Cider, De Ja Vu Sake and more.
The impetus is the many exciting trends we are currently witnessing across all categories of premium drinks.
Winemakers, brewers and distillers are increasingly experimenting and collaborating with one another on products that blur the definition of what’s in your glass like never before.
The creativity is most prevalent among the new wave of ‘craft’ brewers and distillers but it is not only happening on the fringes.
Powerhouse wine brands Jacob’s Creek and Concha y Toro have released wines aged in ex-whisk(e)y barrels, while Constellation Brands has released a wine aged in ex-tequila barrels. Penfolds Wines has released Lot 518, a wine fortified with the Chinese grain spirit baiju.
Spirits giant Pernod Ricard has had tremendous success with its Jameson Caskmates line of whiskies, aged in oak that has previously held beer – so much so that it purchased a brewery to ensure future supply.
Such hybrid products are playing to drinkers who are increasingly open-minded and adventurous and enjoying a wide array of different drinks to suit different occasions, rather than identifying with one particular category.
Today’s drinker is consuming less alcohol overall, and instead spending more on higher quality products that deliver on flavour and are underpinned by authentic stories.
The people who produce and champion these fine drinks are the talent I hope to be speaking with on this podcast.
Thanks for visiting and I hope you will listen in. Listen now on iTunes, or your favourite podcast player. You can contact me here with any enquiries.
James Atkinson
More:
Whisky podcast episodes on Drinks Adventures
Australian wine podcast episodes on Drinks Adventures
I love those dulcet tones in the background!