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.

Brian and Scott are joined by Andrew Oh, Heaven Hill’s on-premise channel manager for Northern Virginia, for a cocktail-forward conversation tied to Elijah Craig Old Fashion Week. They cover what makes a strong old fashioned, how bourbon pairs with food, and how the event supports hospitality workers through charity.The crew also gets into bourbon basics, product innovation at Heaven Hill, and why classic pours like Elijah Craig Small Batch still lead the way.

Key topics

• Andrew shares his background in hotel management, grocery and distributor work, and how he landed at Heaven Hill
• The group compares old fashioned builds, including proof, bitters, syrup, and ice
• Andrew explains Heaven Hill’s history, family ownership, Kentucky production, and brands including Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Larceny, Bernheim, Rittenhouse, and Parker’s Heritage
• The group discusses Old Fashion Week’s origins, the $600,000 raised, and its support for hospitality workers through the Southern Smoke Foundation
• They explore how old fashioned recipes vary by bar, from maple and smoked versions to walnut and other creative twists
• Andrew shares what makes a classic old fashioned work, including orange peel, stirring, and bartender precision
• The conversation touches on bourbon and food pairings, including red meat, fish, and curated tasting menus
• Andrew talks about common consumer questions and how he approaches bourbon education
• They discuss innovation at Heaven Hill, including toasted barrel finishes and grain-to-glass sourcing
• The final stretch covers PGA and Ryder Cup partnerships, golf-themed giveaways, and the Tavern Trail featuring historic Virginia properties

Brian and Scott kick off with an update on Scott’s painful fall down the stairs, the urgent care visit that confirmed badly bruised ribs, and the ongoing recovery. From there, the episode shifts into a full 90s nostalgia tour, anchored by Hootie and the Blowfish’s Cracked Rear View and a run of childhood memories that shaped both hosts. We discuss music, TV, snacks, playgrounds, and the stores that defined the decade, with plenty of side quests into concerts, sports, and the weirdness of modern festival cancellations. Brian and Scott also cover a bad restaurant experience, a 4DX movie outing with the kids, and a surprisingly good Farm Aid performance.

Key topics

• Scott explains how he fell down the stairs at home, landed hard on his back, and went to urgent care for X-rays after struggling to breathe and sleep.
• Brian and Scott compare injuries and joke about being medically unqualified but fully supportive of water, painkillers, and recovery.
• The hosts recap a canceled Ocean’s Calling and connect it to the broader “curse” of concerts and festivals getting rained out.
• They dig into Cracked Rear View by Hootie and the Blowfish, calling out “Hannah Jane,” “Only Wanna Be with You,” and the album’s unusually strong run of hooks and singles.
• Scott shares the backstory behind Hootie’s long grind before breaking through, including years of playing shows and the deluxe edition demos.
• Brian and Scott compare Darius Rucker’s voice to Eddie Vedder and talk about how early-90s rock vocals often got lumped together.
• They preview next week’s album pick, Fairweather Johnson, and joke that it may be the classic sophomore slump.
• Scott brings back “Scott Throws Restaurants Under the Bus” after a bad night at Bourbon Boulevard Reserve, where he was overcharged for a smoked old fashioned and a horseradish side.
• The restaurant rant turns into a larger complaint about gimmicky menus, empty dining rooms, and terrible customer treatment.
• Scott describes taking his kids to Avengers Endgame Encore in 4DX, where the seats moved, water splashed, and snow and wind effects turned the movie into a theme park ride.
• The weekend also included Farm Aid, where Brian and Scott talk through Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, the violin accompaniment, and how “Don’t Drink the Water” plays very differently live.
• The episode ends with a shared list of 90s essentials: MTV, TGIF, wooden playgrounds, Dunkaroos and Handy Snacks, Blockbuster, Toys R Us, and memorized phone numbers.

Brian and Scott kick things off with cocktails, album homework, and a little friendly chaos before settling into a bigger conversation about the start of fall. They also cover two big live music weekends, and a shared love of seasonal bourbon. In this episode: Brian and Scott compare notes on the new Death Cab for Cutie album, talk through standout live shows from Guster and the Avett Brothers, and debate why fall is either the best season or merely acceptable. They also get into pumpkin drinks, bourbon season, and the kind of concert memories that make you wish you had bought the ticket.

Key topics

• Scott’s improvised cocktail experiment with Eagle Rare, maple syrup, and Dalmarva syrup
• Brian’s barrel strength Old Forester and why both hosts are clearing out bottles near the end of their lives
• Death Cab for Cutie’s I’ll Be You a Tower discussion, including:
  • Brian’s favorites: Envy the Birds, Stone Over Water, and Riptide
  • Scott’s picks: I Built You a Tower, Pep Talk, and Riptide
  • The shared verdict that it was solid, but not a top tier album for either host
• The contrast between Death Cab’s older material and its newer, more “dad rock” direction
• Scott’s surprise enthusiasm for Guster as an opener, especially their crowd work at Wolf Trap
• The Avett Brothers playing two nights, two sets, and nearly 50 songs with only a few repeats
• Why some concerts feel like can’t-miss events, especially when paired against football or other plans
• A full fall debate covering:
  • clothing
  • football
  • early sunsets
  • pumpkins and pumpkin drinks
  • apple picking
  • fall festivals, hayrides, and pumpkin patches
• Bourbon Heritage Month and why September feels like the right time to celebrate America’s native spirit
• Brian and Scott’s shared appreciation for stouts, especially gingerbread and bourbon barrel variants

Brian and Scott are back and kick things off with cocktails, a quick catch-up on the show’s return, and a detour into a 1999 album by American Football. From there, Scott breaks down a memorable golf trip to Ocean City, Maryland, including random playing partners, a contested lost ball, a hotel air conditioner from hell, and a final-hole finish that came down to a single stroke. They also touch on opening weekend of the NFL, a fantasy football naming mix-up, and a few TV shout-outs before ending with a new album pick for next week: Death Cab for Cutie’s I Built You a Tower.

Key topics

• Brian opens with a cherry maple old fashioned made with Bowman single barrel, maple syrup, cherry bitters, and a cherry.
• Scott goes with an “Emergen-C breeze,” a mocktail of orange juice and Emergen-C because he is recovering from the golf trip.
• Brian’s pick of American Football is framed as a 1999 “emo darling” album, but Scott argues it is better described as post-rock or math rock.
• They compare the band’s sound to post-rock acts like Sparta and the early sound of Death Cab for Cutie.
• Brian notes the novelty of a band named American Football having a difficult-to-search identity, with all four of the band’s albums sharing the same name.
• Scott recaps his annual golf trip with friends, including a 54-hole competition and a memorable first round paired with two strangers, Emma and Terri.
• A lost ball creates a scoring controversy after Scott stops to help his playing partners search, then cannot find his own ball.
• The trip is nearly derailed by a hotel air conditioner that sounds like a horror-movie stabbing scene and keeps them awake for hours.
• Scott describes Ocean City bike week, with loud motorcycles, metal music, and a nightlife scene that felt like being out of place in Sons of Anarchy.
• The episode closes with Scott’s next album pick, Death Cab for Cutie’s I Built You a Tower.

Brian and Scott kick things off with a post-Labor Day catch-up, then spend most of the episode debating Phoebe Bridgers’ album Lost Weekend, especially whether it’s a grower, a little too long, or just not Brian’s thing. They also get into football season, including Super Bowl picks, halftime show predictions, streaming frustration, and why September TV is about to disappear behind the NFL.

Key topics

• Brian and Scott recap a low-key Labor Day weekend, including pool parties, a family fantasy football draft, and the return to work.
• Scott shares his cocktail of the week using Eagle Rare, DelMarVa syrup, chocolate bitters, and a large cube.
• Brian talks through his Kentucky buck, made with Old Forester barrel proof, ginger syrup, lemon, grenadine, and orange liqueur.
• The album discussion centers on Phoebe Bridgers’ Lost Weekend, which Brian finds lonely, sad, atmospheric, and sometimes boring, while Scott calls it a grower.
• Scott argues the album has repeat-listen value, especially on tracks like “The Outside,” “The Lost Boys,” and “Haunted.”
• Brian notices recurring lyrical themes like lost, sleep, blood, death, and Bobby, and says he did more homework on this album than any previous pick.
• They talk about how much context matters in music, including the album’s references to her father, ex-boyfriend, and current boyfriend.
• Football season takes over the second half of the episode, with Super Bowl predictions, surprise playoff picks, and concerns about streaming fragmentation.
• They discuss whether their kids would ever play tackle football, with both leaning toward flag football or safer alternatives.
• The show closes with TV recommendations, shout-outs to golf, Aerosmith, s’mores, and a concert-streaming platform called Volta.

Brian and Scott are back in their home studios with cocktails in hand, catching up on music, football, food, and a few deeply specific side quests. The episode moves from a review of Billy Strings’ latest album to college football kickoff, neighborhood burger rankings, bowling expectations, and a wildly memorable babysitter story.

In this episode:

• Brian and Scott open with the return to their regular setup after recording in a car, plus a discussion of what they’re drinking
• They review Billy Strings’ album So Much for Goodbyes, including the bluegrass/Americana sound, the length of the record, and standout tracks like “I Like Train Songs,” “Wish I Was Wanted,” and “Still I Crash”
• They talk about the challenge of listening to long albums when you are also trying to keep up with a separate daily album project
• They recap Jason Isbell at Wolf Trap, including the venue’s seated crowd, an opener who ran long, and the impact of curfew on the set
• Brian shares being recognized in the wild by Scott’s mother-in-law at a bus stop
• They debate the best mass-market burger, with Fuddruckers and Outback all entering the conversation
• They revisit the nostalgia of late-night bowling in Atlanta, Waffle House runs, and Krystal burgers
• They shift into college football, with UVA’s season outlook, NIL and transfer portal frustration, and a prediction that the Cavaliers could land anywhere from 7-5 to 10-2
• They compare college football culture to the NFL, including dress codes, tailgating, rivalry week, and the appeal of opening weekend spectacle
• They agree to continue the album exchange tradition with Phoebe Bridgers’ Lost Weekend and set up a future halftime-show prediction bet
• They close with a shoutout to tomatoes, freeze-dried Pop Rocks M&Ms, and Oreo’s experimental flavors, especially chicken and waffles Oreo
• Scott finishes with an unforgettable babysitter story involving Oreos, tequila, and a suspicious Coors Light

In this episode of the Two Old Fashioneds podcast, hosts Scott and Brian embark on a road trip to a Jason Isbell concert, discussing their concert experiences, preferences for seating, and the excitement of tailgating. They review the album 'The 502's' and share their anticipation for the concert. The conversation shifts to fantasy football preparations, including draft day traditions and strategies. They also touch on their experiences with electric vehicles during road trips, highlighting the ease and enjoyment of traveling with an EV.