Brian and Scott celebrate Halloween in costume with a five-bourbon, five-candy tasting, comparing how the pairings bring out different flavors. They also revisit Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the best-selling album of all time, and share a story about the long lines and phone-locking pouches at a phone-free Jerry Seinfeld show.

• Brian and Scott discuss Thriller, released in November 1982 and described as having sold 70 million copies. They trade thoughts on its hits, lesser-known tracks, and the iconic “Thriller” video.
• Brian explains his pairing approach: match bourbon and candy flavors, using each to accentuate the other.
• Four Roses Single Barrel meets Twizzlers. Brian chose it for its red-berry notes; Scott, who usually dislikes Twizzlers, says the pairing makes them more enjoyable.
• Weller 12-Year and Butterfinger prove a less successful match: Scott finds the candy’s peanut-butter flavor overpowers the bourbon.
• Woodford Reserve Double Oaked with M&M’s becomes Scott’s favorite pairing. He likes both the bourbon and the combination.
• Taylor Small Batch Bottled-in-Bond joins Twix. Brian explains bottled-in-bond requirements, including 100 proof, at least four years of age, and whiskey from a single distillation season.
• Booker’s and a fun-size Snickers close the tasting. Brian picked the high-proof bourbon for the nutty character associated with Jim Beam; Scott finds it a strong finish.
• Scott’s overall favorite is the Twix pairing, while Woodford Double Oaked with M&M’s leads for bourbon. The hosts invite listeners to share their own candy-and-bourbon combinations.
• Scott recounts the long entry and exit lines at the Anthem’s phone-free Jerry Seinfeld show, where staff used Yondr pouches to secure phones and smartwatches.
• The hosts choose Third Eye Blind’s self-titled album for a future episode and encourage listeners to vote in the upcoming election.

Brian and Scott kick things off with cocktails, a homemade pumpkin bourbon experiment, and a surprisingly fixed monitor before moving into their main album discussion: Smashing Pumpkins’ Siamese Dream. They also cover a packed fall weekend, a Sturgill Simpson show, the ongoing “podcast curse,” and a few very modern uses of AI around the house.

Key topics

• Brian shares his “smashed pumpkin” cocktail, made with bourbon, pumpkin puree, pumpkin syrup, lime juice, and bitters.
• Brian and Scott revisit Siamese Dream by Smashing Pumpkins, discussing its 1990s alternative-rock sound, layered production, and lengthy tracks.
• They trade thoughts on “Cherub Rock,” “Today,” “Disarm,” “Mayonaise,” and “Luna”—and on why Billy Corgan’s voice can be divisive.
• Scott and Brian joke about the podcast being cursed after several postponed concerts, canceled plans, and disappointing sports outcomes.
• They swap theories about the Super Bowl halftime show, including rumors involving Jay-Z and Miley Cyrus.
• Brian recounts a busy Sunday that ended with a last-minute trip to see Sturgill Simpson, performing as Johnny Blue Skies, at Capital One Arena.
• The conversation turns to concert etiquette, packed arenas, and Brian’s idea for displaying song titles once a song is underway.
• They preview next week’s Halloween-season episode: a listen to Thriller and a candy-and-bourbon pairing taste test.
• Scott shares how AI helped him plan the arrangement of nine soccer pictures on his son’s bedroom wall.

Brian and Scott catch up over old fashioneds while comparing bourbon notes, revisiting Hootie and the Blowfish’s Fairweather Johnson, and swapping stories from a rainy political festival, a 25-year high school reunion, and a bourbon pickup that turned into a surprisingly stressful dog walk. They also cover TV and sports updates, including what they’re watching next and why the Capitals and Ovechkin still matter so much in DC.

Key topics

• Brian explains what makes a bourbon “wheated”: it uses wheat instead of rye alongside corn and barley.
• Scott shares his first impressions of the Wilderness Trail Wheated bourbon, while Brian discusses how wheat and rye can shape a bourbon’s flavor.
• Brian breaks down the basics of bourbon, including the 51% corn requirement and the use of new, charred oak barrels.
• They revisit Hootie and the Blowfish’s Fairweather Johnson, comparing it with Cracked Rear View and discussing the tracks that stood out.
• They talk about the Power to the People festival, organized by Tom Morello, and its lineup of Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Public Enemy, Cypress Hill, Killer Mike, and others.
• Scott says Tom Morello and Friends was a festival highlight; Brian and Scott discuss why Dave Matthews’s quieter set felt out of place in the lineup.
• Brian shares stories from his 25-year high school reunion in Richmond.
• Scott recounts walking his large dog while carrying a bottle of bourbon, prompting a conversation about accidentally dropping bottles and cases of beer.
• They compare TV watchlists, discuss Ovechkin and the Capitals, and talk about Banana Ball at Nats Park.
• Brian reveals the next album pick: Siamese Dream by the Smashing Pumpkins.