The Dram Dad, also known as Chris, has a refreshingly different approach to whiskey.
Chris, who has only been seriously into bourbon for about a year and a half, represents something I love seeing in the whiskey world. He’s not a decades-long collector. He doesn’t have walls of unopened bottles gathering dust.
Instead, Chris brings a photographer’s eye and a new parent’s perspective to the American whiskey scene in ways that feel genuine and accessible.
When Photography Meets Whiskey
The Dram Dad’s passion for whiskey began almost as a joke. Chris was a photographer on the side, and his wife had this idea that maybe he could get famous with his photography so that the whole family could quit their day jobs and travel. They were brainstorming what he should photograph when she suggested bourbon.
Why whiskey? Well, Chris loved it. Simple as that. He took his camera and a couple of shots, quickly created an Instagram account, and posted his work. The response was surprisingly positive. He rode that wave, and The Dram Dad was born.
The name itself tells you everything you need to know about his priorities. A dram of bourbon, yes, but also the fact that he and his wife welcomed a baby girl about nine months ago. Being a dad is on his mind constantly, and he’s woven that identity right into his bourbon journey.
A Brother’s Gift Changed Everything
What really got Chris hooked on bourbon was a Christmas gift from his brother, who had been seriously into bourbon for years.
The Christmas gift was a bottle of Booker’s Batch 2 from 2024. His brother gave him specific instructions. Crack it open. It’s going to taste like fire. You’re going to hate it. But then revisit it in a month. Then a month and a half. Then two months. Then three months.
At first, Chris thought the high proof was disgusting. But after a month, it was surprisingly decent. He kept at it until about three months in, when the bourbon transformed into this thick, syrupy, hearty, chocolatey experience unlike anything he’d ever tasted. This shared passion brought him and his brother closer than ever.
The Pop It and Drink It Philosophy
Chris’s philosophy about bourbon collecting is not to collect. He’s big on popping bottles and not letting them sit.
When I mentioned seeing people on Instagram showing off their incredible catalogs of unopened whiskeys, Chris laughed. He doesn’t have that problem. He drinks them. He goes to the store, buys one he knows, buys one he’s never heard of, and drinks both.
His wife would kill him if he started stockpiling 20 bottles of Stagg on a shelf. I can relate to that.
California Bourbon Finds
Living in California gives Chris access to some interesting picks that might not be widely known. One of his current favorites is a Stellum Rye Barrel Pick.
He picked up this barrel-strength rye at 128 proof for just $39 because he wanted to try a barrel pick. It turned out to be everything he loves. Thick, chewy, sweet, with rye spice mixed with baking spices. He was almost done with the bottle in two weeks, and he worried that Stellum might not be doing single-barrel picks anymore.
Another standout for him was an Old Louisville 11 Year Single Barrel pick. He’d never heard of the distillery, but the bourbon was phenomenal, he said, with traditional bourbon flavors that changed, starting with honey, vanilla, and cloves before hitting butterscotch at the end.
For daily drinkers, Chris keeps it simple. He likes Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8 Proof, Old Forester 7 Year Bottled in Bond, and Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Proof Tennessee Whiskey.
Building Community Through Whiskey
Chris has made real friends on Instagram, including a close friend in Chicago who sends samples so Chris can try picks from different states and liquor stores. He’s gotten exposed to different types of whiskeys he never would have tried otherwise.
For instance, he’s now tried malted whiskeys he’d never liked before, and rye whiskeys that used to be too spicy for him but now he loves. The whiskey community has opened his mind and his palate.
That’s what Chris loves, as do I, about the bourbon world. Everybody’s supportive of one another. Whiskey isn’t work for most of us. It’s supposed to be fun. We’re supposed to be enjoying each other’s company, sipping some whiskey, and having a good time.
A Toast to Grandma
When I asked Chris who he’d want to share a special bottle with, his answer touched me. First, he mentioned wanting to try the Coy Hill from Jack Daniel’s that his brother has hyped. He’d pop that immediately with whoever was next to him.
He’d also love to share a special bottle with his grandma, who recently passed away. She was a drinker in the best way possible. When she was feeling it, she could out-drink anyone. She lived to be over 90, so clearly, she was doing something right.
Chris would love to go back and have one more sit-down with his grandma and get to say things he didn’t get to say, and share drinks he wasn’t into back then.
And then, with a laugh, Chris mentioned his other dream drinking companion. His wife. With that Stellum Rye she thinks is disgusting. He’s been on a year-long journey to convert her into a whiskey drinker.
I told him about taking my wife to Kentucky, how she didn’t want to pay for distillery tours at first, but after a few, she was hooked. She went with rest and learned so much. Maybe Chris may need to take his wife on a Kentucky bourbon trail adventure. He’s definitely considering it now.
Five Questions with the Dram Dad
How long should I wait before drinking a new bottle of bourbon?
There’s no set rule, but letting a bottle “open up” can dramatically change the flavor profile. Some enthusiasts recommend waiting 10-15 minutes after pouring. For bottles like high-proof Booker’s, visiting the bottle over several months can reveal entirely different tasting notes as oxidation occurs and the whiskey evolves.
What are good daily drinking bourbons under $40?
Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8 (around $35 at Costco), Old Forester 7 Year Bottled in Bond, and Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel are excellent options. These offer solid flavor profiles without breaking the bank and are reliably available. They’re perfect for casual evening sips or for closing out a tasting session.
Should I collect bourbon bottles or drink them?
The bourbon community generally encourages opening and enjoying bottles rather than hoarding them. While saving special bottles for meaningful occasions is perfectly fine, purchasing multiple bottles to flip or simply display goes against the spirit of appreciation. The experience of tasting is more valuable than an unopened collection.
What’s the best way to get into bourbon as a beginner?
Start with accessible bottles like Four Roses Single Barrel or Old Forester, then experiment with different mash bills and proof levels. Join local whiskey groups, follow bourbon enthusiasts on social media, and don’t be afraid to try barrel picks from reputable liquor stores. Most importantly, approach your search with an open mind and focus on enjoying the journey.
What is Stellum Rye, and where can I find it?
Stellum Rye is a barrel-strength rye whiskey often available through single-barrel picks at select liquor stores. It’s related to Barrell Bourbon and typically comes in around 128 proof. Check specialty whiskey shops for barrel picks, though availability may be limited as the brand reportedly isn’t doing as many single-barrel selections.
The Last Call: Breaking the Rules with the Dram Dad
For anyone looking for new meaning in whiskey, the Dram Dad’s road to whiskey offers a blueprint—savor what you love, open bottles without hesitation, and let daily life guide your palate.
American whiskey remains a living tradition, and Dram Dad’s image is that rules are best broken in the company of those who matter most. Have some drams with the Dram Dad on his Instagram.
See whiskeyshenanigans.com for our full podcast with the Dram Dad. For more conversations with fascinating people in the whiskey world, check us out on Instagram @whiskeyshaniganspodcast
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