Michael is joined by friends Steve Lombardo, Sherif Mansour, Brett Shriver, and Justin Yeakley to discuss the history of their love of bourbon, COVID and the bourbon enthusiast, and the enjoyment of private barrel picks.  Justin shares with the group the history of his website and app - Bourbon Analytics - and how it’s helped both customers and sellers with finding and selling bourbon.  Michael fires his first shot ccross the bow at state liquor control regimes - starting with Ohio - and the group delves into the first installment of True Tater Stories!

Ep. 2 - Brian Haara, Author of Bourbon Justice

Welcome to The People's Proof where we believe the true proof of any spirit are the people who enjoy it. My name's Michael Walker  and when I was in law school, back in 2002, I bought a bottle of Pappy van Winkle, 20 year bourbon for $85 at the Liquor Barn. And it was all over the shelf because pretty much people just enjoyed Maker's Mark and Woodford Reserve, where I grew up in, whereas in school and my, how things have changed.

It's a whole new industry worth billions, and it's brought millions of people into this wonderful hobby and community that I love and enjoy. Anytime you take a drink of bourbon, you're really taking a drink of history that sat in the barrel for years. But there's more to it than that. It's the grain that made the spirit. It's the wood that made the barrel.  It's the farmer and the land and this nation.

I hope you'll come along for this journey, because I want to do something different than your typical bourbon podcast. We're going to do happy hour conversations. We'll have people on Zoom Happy Hours. Heck if you subscribe and join, you'll be able to join in on the fun.

So I hope you'll join me, and let's raise a glass...together.