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.