Sam Whiskey's Authentic Brands

07/22/2026

A Sam Whiskey’s Moment

As Gen X, many of us have reached that point in life where our parents are aging—and some of us have already had to say goodbye.

Since my father passed, I’ve found myself appreciating something as simple as mowing my parents’ lawn.

It was one of his favorite things to do. He took pride in the yard, in keeping it cared for, and in the quiet satisfaction that came with the work.

Today, while mowing, I stopped and looked at the apple tree I planted for my parents after my daughter was born—their first grandchild.

It’s a big tree now, full of apples this time of year. The deer come to eat beneath it and rest in the shade of its branches.

One of them crossed my path as I mowed.

The sky was deep blue. The air was cooler. The tree looked perfect against the sky.

So I shut off the mower for a moment and just stood there.

I smiled, thinking about my father, my daughter, that tree, and how much life had passed through that little piece of ground.

Nothing dramatic happened.

It was simply one of those quiet moments when the past and present seem to meet and you realize how wonderful the ordinary can be when you slow down long enough to notice it.

That was a Sam Whiskey’s Moment.

Real people. Real places. Moments worth slowing down for.

Just Coast.

07/12/2026

BREAK WEEK DISCOVERY: CHRISTO’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL
Lower Grand Lagoon • Panama City Beach Christo's Sports Bar & Grill Visit Panama City Beach

Break week took us back to Lower Grand Lagoon, one of our favorite parts of Panama City Beach, and this trip finally brought us through the doors of Christo’s Sports Bar & Grill on Thomas Drive.

From the outside, it may be easy to drive past without realizing what is waiting inside. But once we took our usual seats at the bar, it immediately felt like our kind of place.

The atmosphere was laid-back, comfortable, and completely unpretentious. More importantly, we were made to feel genuinely welcome from the moment we sat down.

One thing that really stood out was the service.

Christo’s does not feel like one of those places where you are assigned to one person and everyone else walks past pretending not to see you. The entire staff seemed to work together. Someone was always checking whether we needed another drink, a refill, an extra plate, or anything else.

Friendly, attentive service without hovering—and they made it look effortless.

Then the appetizers arrived.

First up was the **Fried Goat Cheese**, served with mango chutney, corn salsa, and seasoned pita chips.

This was not just a plate of goat cheese dropped beside a few crackers. The creamy, tangy richness of the cheese worked incredibly well with the sweetness of the mango chutney, while the corn salsa added freshness and texture. Scoop everything together onto one of the seasoned pita chips and you get creamy, sweet, savory, crisp, and just enough brightness in every bite.

It was one of the most interesting and well-balanced appetizers we had during the entire trip.

Then came the **Trail Blazing Shrimp**.

These are crispy baby shrimp tossed in a honey-habanero sauce, and they absolutely killed it.

The shrimp stayed crisp beneath the sauce, while the honey brought sweetness up front before the habanero delivered a warm, lingering kick. It had plenty of flavor without turning into one of those dishes where the heat overwhelms everything else.

Sweet, spicy, crispy, and dangerously easy to keep eating.

This was supposed to be our first visit to Christo’s.

It quickly became our first of several visits.

That gave us a chance to see whether the first experience was a lucky day—and it was not. The food remained consistently well-prepared, the service remained friendly and attentive, and the bar remained just as comfortable each time we returned.

Christo’s calls itself a “sports bar with a twist,” and that feels accurate. There are plenty of televisions and cold drinks, but the food is far beyond what you might expect from a typical neighborhood sports bar.

Nothing pretentious. Nothing forced.

Just good food, a comfortable bar, and people who seem genuinely happy that you walked through the door.

Christo’s has officially earned a place in our Lower Grand Lagoon rotation.

**SAM WHISKEY’S APPROVED.**

And when you go, do yourself a favor:

Order the Fried Goat Cheese and the Trail Blazing Shrimp.

You can thank us later.

And one last thing…

You already know we are unapologetic lovers of PBR, so when we spotted Christo’s red, white, and blue hat with that unmistakable old-school PBR-inspired look, it immediately caught our attention.

Unfortunately, they did not have one available during our visit.

But it is officially on our list for the next trip—and honestly, it should probably be on yours too.

Good food, great people, cold drinks, and a hat that speaks our language.

Christo’s, save one for Sam Whiskey’s.

A special shout-out to our waiter, Gage, who helped make us feel right at home. Friendly, attentive, and always quick to make sure we had everything we needed.

07/07/2026

05/21/2026

🥃⛳️ FORE THE LOVE OF BOURBON… SAVE THE DATE! ⛳️🥃

The 1816 Bourbon Club is excited to officially announce the Inaugural Bourbon & Birdies Golf Classic! 🥃⛳️

Join us for an afternoon of golf, bourbon, great people, and giving back — all while supporting two incredible local organizations.

📅 Saturday, August 29, 2026
📍 Shadowood Golf Course
⛳️ 1:00 PM Shotgun Start

⛳️ Format: 4-Man Scramble
💵 Entry Fee: $400 Per Team
🎁 Tee Gift for All Players
🥃 Bourbon Tastings
🎟 Silent Auction Featuring Rare & Allocated Bourbon
🏆 Prizes & More

Proudly benefiting the Jackson County Humane Society and Red Sky Rescue ❤️

Whether you’re here for the golf, bourbon, fellowship, or simply supporting a great cause — this is one event you won’t want to miss.

⛳️ To sign up a team or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, message us directly!

Tee it high. Sip it slow. See you on the course. 🥃⛳️

05/19/2026

LATE 1970's Indianapolis. Hot sun, loud engines, packed grandstands, and a cold PBRs in hand.

There was just something about that era.

Families grilling, the garage doors open. The radio turned up full blast so everybody could hear the race, because back then, you couldn’t watch the Indy 500 live in Indiana.

You didn’t need a screen in every room. You had the smell of charcoal, the sound of the broadcast bouncing off the garage walls, coolers full of beer and soda, and somebody always yelling over the noise to ask who was leading.

Trucker hats, denim, sunburns, PBR cans, open-wheel cars screaming around the track — that was race day. Raw, loud, simple, and unforgettable.

So we have to ask…

What was your favorite era of the Indy 500?

Vintage Indy Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Cold PBR Pabst Blue Ribbon. Pure Americana.

Sam Whiskey’s Approved.

05/19/2026

This is how my dad got his PBR.

Some memories don’t come back as pictures.

They come back as sounds. Smells. Summer heat. Bottle caps popping. The clanging of old glass PBR bottles in a cardboard case riding in the cab of my dad’s 1972 Ford pickup — Ole Blue — as he shifted that granny gear on the way home from Hoosier Avenue Liquor on a Friday after work.

That was how Dad got his beer back then. A case of Pabst Blue Ribbon bottles, the kind you returned for the deposit before picking up the next round. Nothing fancy. Nothing trendy. Just working-man beer at the end of a working-man week.

My dad drank PBR the same way his dad — my papaw — did before him.

I remember one early evening in July. The sun was still up, and Dad and Papaw had been out back hanging rafters on the pole barn the old way — by hand, by grit, and by a little ingenuity. No fancy equipment. Just sweat, know-how, and men who could figure things out because they had to.

It felt like a simple time, although I know now it probably didn’t feel simple to him. The oil embargo had people worried. Layoffs were a real concern. So Dad, with help from my grandfather, was building that pole barn on the property. The plan was simple: if the plant slowed down or let him go, he’d have a place to work as a diesel and heavy machinery mechanic and keep supporting his family.

Dad and Papaw both had their own way of drinking PBR, too — with a pickle spear dropped right down in the bottle. That was my first taste of beer, on a hot July evening, with the smell of grass, lumber, sweat, and a hard day’s work still hanging in the air.

They were sitting under a shade tree in the backyard when Dad reached into a styrofoam cooler, pulled out a PBR, and popped the top. He smiled and asked if I wanted a sip.

It was just a sip.

And hey, we were Gen X kids — back then, that wasn’t exactly abnormal.

That was my dad.

No frills.
Never needed much.
Never tried to impress anybody.
Just did what had to be done.

I try all kinds of beers now, and I like several. But I still drink PBR. And yes — I still drop a pickle spear in one from time to time.

Because every time I pop a top, I get that sensory recall.

Glass bottles clanging in that cardboard case.
A shade tree in July.
My dad.
My papaw.

Some things stick with you.

PBR Pabst Blue Ribbon just happens to be one of mine.

What about you ... what's your sensory story ??

05/18/2026

Sam Whiskey's Trip Series:

The evening started off right at West Baden, when another visitor was kind enough to share not only a great cigar with me, but some great conversation too. That set the tone for the whole night.

From there, we rolled into Paoli and found our way to Porky’s BBQ.

We always sit at the bar when we can, and this place was our kind of vibe from the minute we sat down. Wood-paneled walls, cold PBRs, red baskets, good food, and locals at the bar who were as friendly as could be. Our server knew exactly how to make us feel right at home — the kind of hospitality you don’t forget.

I had the fish sandwich with their BBQ beans, and we also tried the Reuben with sweet potato fries. I don’t say this lightly: that was hands down the best Reuben we’ve ever had.

Then came the surprise. Sitting there by the bar, we looked up and spotted a bottle of Rip Van Winkle and a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle on the shelf. Not exactly what you expect to find in a small-town BBQ stop — which made it even better.

That’s why we love these kinds of trips. A shared cigar. A good conversation. A cold PBR. A small-town bar full of friendly locals. And a meal you’re still talking about the next day.

Porkys BBQ of Paoli Indiana. Sam Whiskey’s Approved.



Porkys BBQ of Paoli