We Like Drinking : A Perfectly Potable Podcast

It’s time for Booooooooze News! The upbeat tune reverberated through the not yet illuminated vineyard, sending us a jolt of excitement from hearing familiar voices. On this particular morning in the south of Turkey, it was the hosts of We Like Drinking that pulled us out of our sleepy daze, opposed to our usual two cups of coffee. For the first time since we started hopping time zones, we were able to catch a live episode of our favorite podcast. One which – maybe too obviously – centers around the topics of beer, wine, and spirits.

The Guys Behind We Like Drinking

Two Jeffs, a John, and a prized place among the airwaves. A place we eagerly anticipate returning to each Friday morning when new episodes drop. It was a fluke that we discovered them in the first place. Merely a response to the recurring boredom with the repetition of FM radio on the way to work each day. But they had us hook, line, and drinker with their effervescent personalities from the very first episode.

The We Like Drinking podcast panel is comprised of the perfect cocktail of a recovering wine blogger, a commercial brewer, and a specialist of wine. Most episodes feature prominent guests ranging the gamut from wine producers to tequila experts and everything in between.

Why We Love Them

Aside from the sheer entertainment value, We Like Drinking has been an invaluable source of information. It’s almost a guarantee that each episode imparts a new nugget or two of wisdom and often encourages us down a path of intellectual curiosity.

They’ve been the source behind some of our most favorable purchases, like Aldi’s annual cheese advent calendar, and have inspired us to try new food and wine pairings, like sloppy joes and Lambrusco. Another time, we held a sour beer and cheese tasting party based on a We Like Drinking episode that garnered our attention.

One of the more enjoyable bits of each episode is called Wine, Beer, Spirit, or Pop Culture Reference. In this segment, a term is introduced to the panel and each member has the opportunity to make their best guess on whether it falls into the category of wine, beer, spirits, or – you guessed it – some sort of pop culture reference. At this juncture of the podcast, we inevitably argue amongst ourselves over the correct answer. We’re usually both wrong, but I digress. We can now tell you that malus is a genus of apples used in the making of Applejack. This piece of education led us to incorporate an Applejack cocktail into our 2020 election night menu. Our wine and spirits evolution has increased tenfold thanks to the Jeffs and the John.

Sense of Community

The benefits of the podcast far outweigh the serious audio upgrade bestowed upon our daily commute. Listeners of the podcast are invited to join the exclusive Facebook group, We Like Drinking : The Tavern. This group has become a thriving community of its own. Members exchange ideas and answer wine, craft beer, and spirits related questions. If not one of the hosts, usually a member of the group has been able to provide expert advice to most of our questions. And if the Jeffs and John find it especially intriguing, it may even make an appearance in the next recorded episode of We Like Drinking. You can hear us discussed in this episode of Getting Cheeky with April Wachtel for the Halloween candy and beer pairing blog we wrote.

An ongoing weekly thread in The Tavern that encourages member participation is the much anticipated Friday night roll call! Each member is encouraged to share a photo of what they’re sipping on to usher in the weekend. It’s a time to show off your best vintages, interesting labels, and in our case – good old-fashioned lawnmower beers. The world of wine is your oyster and there is no wrong answer.

During the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Jeffs and John really showed their commitment to the community. They held a weeks-long competition to distract from the quarantine we were all facing. One of the challenges we participated in was the “Socks Slide” where contestants were to film their best slide. We were the proud champions of this round (and eventually the entire competition). Have we mentioned we are slightly competitive?

Journey Around the World

After listening to the podcast for awhile, we began to feel like we owed these artists a little something for the hours of entertainment and education they had been providing us. We considered becoming a Patreon to show appreciation for their efforts, but with an upcoming trip around the world we were really pinching our pennies.

Matt had the idea to ask the panel to send him a set of stickers that we would carry with us in our backpacks. Along the way, we’d pick a place in each country to leave a little piece of We Like Drinking behind. The hosts obliged, we carved out room in our overstuffed luggage, and the rest is history!

Here are a few places you can now find We Like Drinking stickers around the world. With any luck, onlookers got curious and the podcast has a few new listeners 🙂

Final Thoughts

Is it obvious yet? We’re completely enamored with the We Like Drinking podcast. It’s been about two years now since we first discovered this unrivaled source of humor and intellect in the wine world. And every Friday, like clockwork, we continue to tune in for the latest episode. If you’re even remotely interested in expanding your knowledge base on wines, craft beer, and spirits – or maybe just need a good laugh to pass an hour or so of your day, we highly recommend adding We Like Drinking to your weekly rotation.

Cheers friends,

Megan + Matt