Shows
Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: Cutting Ourselves Off...AgainWhat was once lost is now found. And for that, we can only say...we're sorry! It's our first side quest of the season and we're dishing up over a dozen never before heard podcast moments from over the past two years. These were conversations, tangents and the occasional meltdown that we sadly had to cut for time, even though they resulted in some of the biggest laughs we've ever had behind the mics! If that's not enough to entice you, many feature past guests—including Joanna Estep and Ronin of Rivia—a few offer unique glimpses behind the scenes, and...2025-03-261h 24Whiskey with WitcherEvil by the GlassWe’re back in Blaviken, bitches! This week, we return to the tale that launched our podcast as we take on the graphic novel adaptation of “A Lesser Evil.” Can such a complex and morally murky Witcher story effectively make the leap to comics? Does this latest take on Renfri hold its own against the ones we’ve already seen? Is Stregobor as obnoxious as we’d expect? And has Tim finally warmed up to headband Geralt?!? Art is admired, creative decisions are debated and many tears are shed—though they’re mostly over this week’s whiskey pairing. With two flavored Dou...2025-03-121h 51Whiskey with WitcherA Picture's Worth a Thousand (Somewhat Slurred) WordsWe're back for an all-new season! We've heeded the siren's song (it's absolutely ear-piercing when you're nursing a hangover) and returned to the studio for a full season devoted to Witcher comics and animation, starting with the soon-to-debut Sirens of the Deep! We explain what we'll be discussing and what we won't, and how you can read and watch along with us. We also round up some of the latest Witcher news, discuss the recent Los Angeles fires (don't worry, we're safe!) and share our thoughts on the Sirens trailer that dropped while we were on hiatus. Oh, and Valerie...2025-02-0551 minWhiskey with WitcherOur Grand Fanale (Featuring Our Witcher 4 Trailer Reaction)Is it last call already? Sadly, our fandom season has reached its end, but we're giving it an extra-sized, extra-sauced sendoff that's just as unhinged (and often unfortunate) as the year to which we're saying goodbye. Over some seriously strong Old Fashioneds, we unpack what we've discovered about fandom, revealing things that have surprised and delighted us over these past months. But that's not all! We also discuss the latest Witcher news—including that completely out-of-the blue Witcher 4 trailer! (We recorded a whole special section for it and everything.) Plus, Valerie discusses her recent trip to Iceland and we do an...2024-12-182h 12Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: Boozing About the BizWe're leaving the Continent behind and heading somewhere even stranger—Hollywood! In our newest side quest, we welcome Christina Newhall (aka Tim's wife) back to the podcast to tipsily tackle some of the entertainment questions we've heard arise again and again over the years. What causes some movies and shows to get announced, but never made? Why have TV seasons become so short and the wait between them so long? How come we don't get more official photos, clips and teases in between seasons and films? And are there really showrunners who actively hate the source material they're working on? If...2024-12-041h 41Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: Spilling the TeaThis week, we're taking a break from all the fandom talk to sip some of the finest Witcher tea—literally and figuratively! In this new side quest, we sample three different Witcher-themed teas from Geek Grind Coffee, offering our opinions on each of them while considering if they actually reflect the character they were inspired by. (A Yennefer tea with no lilac or gooseberries? What is this craziness?!?) We also wade into some of the juiciest Witcher gossip to hit over the past few years, offering our sassiest thoughts on all of it. Beau DeMayo! Toxic fans! Possible reasons why He...2024-11-061h 22Whiskey with WitcherSirens and SongsMuch like Sirens of the Deep itself, releasing this episode on the upcoming new Witcher animated movie was a bit delayed. But we think you’ll agree it's worth the wait, as we unpack the recent Geeked Week sneak peek (try saying that five times fast) and come to terms with the movie’s new release date. And that’s just the start! In the second half of the episode, we unveil our latest series of Whiskey With Witcher playlists and reveal how Valerie’s fandom factors into their creation. We also finally make good on our promise and take a shot o...2024-10-091h 23Whiskey with WitcherFact or Fanfiction with Descarada, Part TwoOur conversation on fanfiction continues, as the always insightful Rebekah Rodriguez-Lynn discusses some of the Witcher fics she’s authored and what it’s been like developing as a writer on AO3. Which of her favorite Witcher ships resonate with readers and which one, despite all her best intentions, has not? What has writing and reading fanfiction taught her? And what happens when she’s written fanfic while drinking? Plus, we answer some questions from Rebekah’s fans on Tumblr and subject our guest to some particularly challenging drunken questions. And yes, Tim gets some more verbal spankings—but don’t worry, he’...2024-07-3159 minWhiskey with WitcherSew and Tell with Elias the BardDandelion’s biggest fan...is probably himself. Dandelion’s second biggest fan, however, is arguably Elias the Bard, the extraordinarily gifted cosplayer and Witcher fan who has made a name for himself cosplaying as the flamboyant troubadour. In this week’s episode, we welcome Elias to the podcast, who discusses discovering The Witcher through the trilogy of games and how his love of the world and particularly Dandelion led to him creating some of the most authentic Jaskier cosplays out there. We dive deep into cosplay as a form of fandom, as Elias shares stories about dressing up at cons, explai...2024-07-101h 22Whiskey with WitcherAn Animated Conversation with Edward KurchevskyHow do you know you’re a pretty big Witcher fan? When you spend over a year of your life bringing it to life! This week, we welcome Lihtar Studio’s Edward Kurchevsky to the podcast to discuss the recent animated tribute short he directed based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s short story, “A Grain of Truth.” A stylish interpretation of Geralt and his world, the energetic teaser is a labor of love from all involved—and Lihtar’s very first project. Over scotch, Edward shares why he and his colleagues decided to launch their studio with The Witcher, what he enjoys most ab...2024-06-2655 minWhiskey with WitcherGetting Drawn into Fandom with Joanna EstepSome artists draw comics full of deep emotion. Others draw comics full of sexy naked people! Getting it on! In all kinds of creative ways! Joanna Estep is one of the few who manages to do all of the above while also setting her stories within the world of The Witcher. This week, we welcome Jo back to the podcast to find out exactly how she pulls it off, while also discussing her involvement in Witcher fandom overall. Jo opens up about the role fandom has played throughout her life, revealing why she’s driven to create thoughtful, poignant comic bo...2024-06-191h 33Whiskey with WitcherIntroducing a Fan-tastic New SeasonYour days of sober-minded conversation are over, as Whiskey with Witcher is back with an all-new season devoted entirely to fandom! Why do we fall hard for things like The Witcher, and why does that passion manifest so differently for all of us? How can we love a franchise so much, but still feel driven to write fanfic that’s completely at odds with it? Why are some fans inspired to recreate a show’s costumes, while others get drunk on podcasts and drag that same show’s costume designer? (No, not us—we would never!) We fans are a diverse...2024-06-121h 42Whiskey with WitcherI Spy a CrossoverIt’s a whirlybird of a crossover! In this special bonus episode, Tim and Valerie guest on the Tentpole Trauma podcast to discuss Henry Cavill’s recent box office misfire, Argylle. We break down the film with host Sebastian Bendix to see if we can figure out why the movie failed to find an audience before discussing where Cavill’s career should go from here. We also recap the movie’s utterly bonkers marketing campaign and throw in some Witcher talk, just to cleanse our palate. So, pour yourself a drink—even intoxicated you’re likely to be far more coherent tha...2024-05-092h 18Whiskey with WitcherNews, Booze, and Glassy-Eyed ViewsWe’re back…sort of. While the official debut of our upcoming season is still a few weeks away, we just couldn’t wait to weigh in on all the latest Witcher news! Season 4 is officially in production! Season 5 has been greenlit—and it’s the show’s final season?!? We debate whether this is a good or bad thing before sharing what we’d like to see in The Witcher’s remaining episodes. We also discuss all the casting news that’s hit since our last episode, engage in some controversial Lady of the Lake commentary and bring back over a half dozen...2024-04-261h 23Whiskey with WitcherA Festive Little FeastTake seven different Witcher-themed recipes prepared by four Continent-loving cooks, serve generously and garnish with a bottle of Woodford Reserve BevMo! Barrel Select Double Oaked Bourbon and what do you get? Our 2023 season finale! The highly anticipated Witcher Official Cookbook is now in stores, and we’ve asked our friends (and previous guests) Juliet Bennett Rylah and Christina Newhall to help us give it a test run. The table is set for some colorful culinary conversation, as we discuss the recipes and our experiences making them while sharing our thoughts on the cookbook overall. Which dishes did we love and wh...2023-12-221h 19Whiskey with WitcherBest in GlassThe year may be winding down, but Witcher fans have had much to celebrate in 2023, from one of the most thrilling and book-faithful seasons so far, to news of a new Witcher novel in the works, to the announcement of an all-new animated film. So, in that spirit, we’re doing some celebrating ourselves and revealing a few of our personal favorites from The Witcher’s latest season…and ours! What’s our pick for Season 3’s best episode? Who’s our favorite new character? Which actor’s performance this season reigns supreme and which ship has set our hearts aflutter? We a...2023-12-061h 36Whiskey with WitcherKnowing the ScoreFor all its evil mages, freaky monsters, and conquest-minded kings, music has always been an important part of The Witcher. And while Dandelion may love to take credit, we know that it’s really the hard work of some talented composers who have shaped and finessed the sound of this world that we’ve all come to love. In this episode, we’re raising a glass to them as we revisit the music of Netflix’s Witcher, discussing what we feel works and what doesn’t on each of the five released soundtracks, and highlighting a few of our favorite songs from...2023-11-291h 48Whiskey with WitcherHolding Court with Queen DeniseWe’re in the presence of royalty this week as we welcome Queen Denise to the podcast for the first time. If you’re a regular listener, you know who Queen Denise is, but you may not know what she actually does for a living…and how cool it is! Denise joins us to talk about her career as a bourbon steward (yes, it’s a real job!), explaining what it’s like to get paid to drink whiskey. She also discusses attending Moonshiner University (yes, it’s a real place!), dishes about her relationships with whiskey reps and lifts the veil on...2023-11-221h 08Whiskey with WitcherDiving Into Sirens of the DeepGeeked Week has come and gone and we may have celebrated a bit TOO hard, but that’s not about to stop us from unpacking some of the Witcher-shaped surprises it brought us. We got our first peek at Geralt’s new animated movie with not one, but two different teaser trailers, plus all sorts of juicy details about what we can expect when it hits Netflix in…um…late 2024?!?! While we don’t love that release date, everything else about The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep looks great. We give an overview of what was revealed, speculating on how close they...2023-11-151h 01Whiskey with WitcherThe Psychology of The Witcher with Dr. Rachel Kowerthttps://press.etc.cmu.edu/books/psychgeist-pop-culture
2023-11-0156 minWhiskey with WitcherWhiskey with WednesdayWhat’s this? You may be forgiven for thinking you were getting yet another episode of Tim and Valerie reminding you of how excruciatingly long you’ll have to wait for more of your favorite fantasy show as they mask the despair of their existence with alcohol and bad takes. But if you’re into torturing yourself like that, you really should call in an expert on the subject—someone like Wednesday Addams. So, for one week only, your favorite podcast is trading in their swords, potions and magic spells for knives, poisons and evil curses as they discuss the first se...2023-10-252h 19Whiskey with WitcherPouring Over PagesWe’re returning to the world of word balloons this week as we take on the latest Witcher comic books! Dark Horse’s second omnibus collection features four very different tales starring Geralt of Rivia, each drawn by a different artist. We discuss and unpack all of them, finding much to enjoy in these stories set within the universe of the Witcher games. Tricky moral quandaries! Icky monster fights! Dandelion!! We also find much to enjoy in this episode’s whisky, Kyrö Malt Rye, which we picked up on a recent trip to Finland. What were we doing in Finland? Did we...2023-10-181h 45Whiskey with WitcherA Farewell to Henry CavillFive years. Three seasons. Twenty-four episodes. And a whole lot of “Hmms.” It’s hard to overstate the impact Henry Cavill has had on The Witcher and the role of Geralt of Rivia, which makes his departure from the series difficult for so many of its fans. But rather than being sad that he’s leaving, we’re celebrating his time on the Continent with a special tribute episode! Tim and Valerie discuss the role Cavill had in their fandom of the show, share some of our favorite moments featuring his Geralt and read a few tributes written by listeners. And since...2023-10-111h 48Whiskey with WitcherLast Call for Season ThreeWith all eight episodes now unpacked, Producer Sean at last weighs in as we bid farewell to The Witcher’s latest season. To borrow from our favorite bard, season three is full of “extraordinary things” and we offer our final thoughts on all of them, from the wonderful found family Geralt builds with Yen and Ciri, to Jaskier’s tantalizing relationship with Radovid, to the breathtaking battle at Aretuza. But the most remarkable thing of all may just be that Producer Sean picks a Canadian whisky to accompany our discussion—Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye. We doubt even Dijkstra would have been...2023-10-041h 54Whiskey with WitcherRye, Witcher, RyeWe’ve finally reached the end of The Witcher’s latest season and we’re feeling pretty emotional about it, at least if this week’s discussion is any indication. We have some big laughs. We shed some actual tears (we’re as surprised as you!). We get frustrated with characters, angry at toxic fans and a teensy bit testy with each other before declaring our unbridled love to everything The Witcher has brought to our lives. Or maybe it’s just the super strong Man o’ Sword Single Malt Scotch we decided to pair this climactic episode up with. We do drink a...2023-08-302h 23Whiskey with WitcherLittle Horse, Big PoursWhen we ordered a Blood and Sand, this really wasn’t what we had in mind. Season three’s penultimate episode features a small bit of Brokilon, a handful of teary reunions and a whole lot of Ciri wandering through the desert while hallucinating and hanging out with a unicorn. It’s not the most action-packed hour of Witcher, which may be why we paired it with one of our stronger whiskeys this season—Maker’s Mark Private Selection Toasted Marshmallow. We’re mixed on whether we can taste the marshmallow, but all of us get plenty toasted talking about Ciri’s surpr...2023-08-232h 08Whiskey with WitcherYou Mistook a Bourbon Reflected in a Glass at Night for a RyeMix two parts sorcery and one part elven revenge. Add a dash of political intrigue with a light splash of Nilfgaardian conquest. Shake violently and you have the recipe for Vol. 2’s first episode, “Everybody Has a Plan ‘til They Get Punched in the Face.” Considering the game-changing nature of the episode, we thought it was only fitting that our discussion of it raises the stakes for us as well. So, inspired by Geralt’s climactic head-to-head duel with Vilgefortz, we open up two different whiskeys from Woodinville Whiskey Co.—their award-winning bourbon and their rye. Will double-fisting our way through our...2023-08-162h 09Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: Cutting Ourselves OffIt’s amazing what you can discover when you’re passed out on the cutting room floor. It’s our first side quest of the season, and we’re bringing you a treasure trove of past moments that were never lost and always found…but that we still had to cut for time. Why is there a woman in Arizona who thinks Tim has blue eyes? What would it take for Valerie to wear a hair hat? And can we actually prove Yarskier is real? (Tim seems to think so!) This is Whiskey with Witcher at its most unhinged and proof that...2023-08-091h 09Whiskey with WitcherSexposing the TruthIt’s a party onscreen and in the Whiskey with Witcher recording studio! We uncork a bottle of Johnny Smoking Gun Whiskey to accompany Geralt and Yen’s search for proof and dance our way through season three’s mélange of a fifth episode. And you know what? It turns out all is indeed not as it seems when it comes to the hour’s mix of repeating timelines, juicy acting, questionable couture and oddly chaste sex scenes. (Everything except for Istredd. He is every bit as stupidly hot this season as he appears.) Plus, we recount a few of our re...2023-08-022h 00Whiskey with WitcherMotherf*ckin’ Valdo Marx!Jaskier might not be a fan of the flamboyantly-mannered songsmith introduced in season three’s fourth episode, but we sure are! Actually, there’s quite a bit we’re fond of in this one. From its shipside monster fight, to Fringilla living her best barfly life, to the line that made Radskier shippers squeal the world over, “The Invitation” is easily one of the season’s standouts. But with Valdo making so much noise, why would we pair this one with a whiskey called The Quiet Man? Well, that would be for Geralt, a man of few words. But there’s another, eve...2023-07-261h 43Whiskey with WitcherA Rye ReunionYennefer reconnects with Tissaia. Geralt reacquaints himself with a friend. Jaskier reconciles with Vespula! There are reunions a-plenty in season three’s third episode, so it’s only fitting that our whiskey pairing is one as well. We first discovered Milam & Greene back in our second season, but this time, we’re sampling their Port Cask Finished Rye, a sweeter-than-expected spirit that still has plenty of spice. And what do you know, the same can be said about this episode, which touches on parental sacrifice and love, but still manages to feature season three’s steamiest sex scene (you go, Philippa...2023-07-192h 03Whiskey with WitcherA Little Shipping, A Little WhippingThere are “Extraordinary Things” to be found within season 3’s stellar second episode, as well as some real nightmares, and we have a blast discussing both. Keira Metz makes her debut! Jaskier drops an eye-opening new song! Philippa whips Dijkstra into shape (literally)! Fringilla gets drunker than we do! And as for the episode’s monster, well let’s just say we much prefer it when it’s our whiskey that has all the legs. That said, the terrifying creature did inspire this episode’s pairing, High West Whiskey’s American Prairie Bourbon. Cheers?2023-07-121h 55Whiskey with WitcherWhat Happens at Belleteyn, Stays at BelleteynIt’s time to celebrate, Witcher fans, because season 3 is here! In “Shaerrawedd,” Geralt, Yen and Ciri are finally together...but sadly, the same isn’t true for us. Valerie’s out of town, so we’re recording our discussion of the season’s first episode virtually, but on the bright side, that means more delicious Clyde May’s Alabama Style Whiskey for Tim and Producer Sean! And that leads to a lively chat that touches on everything from Geralt’s big daddy energy, Jaskier’s “meet lute” with Prince Radovid, why Shaelmaars are suddenly called Jackapaces and the one big place where The Witc...2023-07-061h 54Whiskey with WitcherSeason 3 Speculation with DescaradaThe Witcher’s all-new season is mere hours away, so we’re doing a little pre-gaming with one of our favorite fans. Writer and “I Can’t Believe it’s Not Fanon” creator Rebekah Rodriguez-Lynn joins us for a surprisingly classy discussion on Witcher fandom (hey, we’re capable!) and what we can expect from season three…all over a round of fiery margaritas. But be forewarned, the cocktails aren’t the only thing that gets spicy as we discuss bi-Jaskier, canon vs. fanon and whether there actually are hot springs beneath Kaer Morhen.
Keep up with Rebekah’s latest activities by follow...2023-06-281h 19Whiskey with WitcherBye Bye, Blood OriginAnd so two became three… In our final episode devoted to the Witcher prequel series, Producer Sean joins the discussion as we look back at the series as a whole and unpack what worked and what didn’t. (Spoiler alert, there’s a lot more in one category than the other.) We also speculate on what influence Blood Origin may have on The Witcher’s upcoming season, take a look at some recent character posters, find a boozy link between Blood Origin and The Vampire Diaries, subject Sean to some unaged whiskey and bid farewell to a creatively compromised show we feel...2023-06-241h 31Whiskey with WitcherOf Scene-Stealers, Spheres and Sadly Sung SongsWe’re four episodes into Blood Origin and…we’re finished? Yes, hard as it is to believe, we’ve reached the finale of the Witcher spinoff series and all we can say is that it’s a good thing we paired it with a strong whiskey—the 112-proof Seven Spheres Rye by The Obscure, to be specific. While there are moments here and there that we enjoyed (most of them featuring Meldof), the show’s fiery villain goes up in smoke, our proto-witcher proves to be a proto-dud and the legendary Conjunction of the Spheres leaves us all less than starry-ey...2023-06-141h 39Whiskey with WitcherOf Ballads, Betrayals and Boning Broken Beast-MenThings get downright feisty on screen—and in our recording studio—this week as we take on The Witcher: Blood Origin’s third episode. At last, our seven heroes are united as our beloved Meldof joins the team. But our mutual love for the dwarven warrior seems like the only thing we can agree on in what proves to be one of our most contentious episodes ever. Is talking work at a party okay when lives may be on the line? We discuss (and discover we seriously disagree). If the guy you’ve been thirsting for just had a monster blood en...2023-06-071h 39Whiskey with WitcherOf Hair Hats, Healers and Homicides by HammerOur heroic team doubles in size over Blood Origin’s second chapter, as we’re introduced to the cleaver-wielding Brother Death and the two magical celestial twins Syndril and Zacare. So, with siblings playing such a big role in this Witcher spinoff, we liven things up with a bottle of Garrison Brothers Small Batch Texas Straight Bourbon, which proves to pack a flavorful punch perfect for an episode that’s not light on action. Sadly, it’s also not light on rushed storytelling and inconsistencies, but at least we have Michele Yeoh, the wonderfully maniacal Meldof, Eredin’s hot new boy toy an...2023-05-311h 41Whiskey with WitcherOf Prequels, Protests and Problematic PronunciationMuch like Blood Origin itself, our season covering the four-episode Witcher spinoff was more than a little delayed. But the time has finally come to dive into this sometimes-fun-sometimes-frustrating prequel tale, which we kick off with a bottle of Caol Ila Distillery’s North Star Single Malt Scotch Whisky. (Why this particular scotch? Much like most of the things in Blood Origin, it’s better not to question it too much.) So, put on your most architecturally stylish outfit and listen to what we have to say about protest songs, strangely high-tech monoliths, friends-to-lovers, last-minute Minnie Drivers and why you shou...2023-05-241h 44Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: Swords Sheathed, Pencils DownThings got soberingly real for our favorite fantasy franchise this month with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) choosing to go on strike and fight for a better deal for its members. Yet, while writers and studios may be at the heart of this work stoppage, the effects are being felt all throughout Hollywood. In this new bonus episode, we lay out the broad strokes of what the writers are striking over, explaining what sort of impact it’s having now on the industry and could possibly have in the future, and what all of this likely means for The Wi...2023-05-1727 minWhiskey with WitcherSide Quest: Three Things The Hexer Does Better Than Netflix’s WitcherWe’re not going to say that The Hexer is a good show. (We’re nowhere near drunk enough for that.) But the 2002 Polish production isn’t entirely without merit. In fact, for all its why-is-Ciri-wearing-a-gimp-mask strangeness, there are some things The Hexer does quite well. Perhaps even better than Netflix’s Witcher series. In our latest bonus episode, which doubles as our official goodbye to our Hexer season, we reveal what those things are, as each of us lists off three things that The Hexer does better than its Cavill-clad counterpart. Plus, for the first time in the history of our p...2023-05-1052 minWhiskey with WitcherSide Quest: The Time of Contempt is (Almost) NighIt’s the season that’s so big they had to split it into two! We’ve returned and so has Geralt of Rivia, who’s back with a dramatic new season three teaser. We discuss what its talk of fear might reveal about season three, unpack intriguing details (so why is Rience holding a cat?) and share our thoughts on Netflix’s decision to release the season in two “volumes.” We also weigh in on the images that were released alongside it, get a little snarky about Yen’s recent sense of fashion, answer a few listener questions and even get into th...2023-05-031h 15Whiskey with WitcherBrandy with BridgertonHello, dearest listeners, and welcome to the inaugural episode of Brandy with Bridgerton. Now we realize that you might have become accustomed to a certain uncouth and unsophisticated level of humor unbecoming of high society on this channel. But fear not, for today our discussions shall be of only the most genteel nature as we welcome a most prestigious guest, Lady Christina Newhall of Studio City (a quaint shire in the Kingdom of California), and converse on that most delightful of entertainments—Bridgerton Season One! To accompany our discourse, we have selected Carousel Brandy from Lost Spirits Distillery, a potent co...2023-04-011h 46Whiskey with WitcherHey Ciri...It’s taken at least three translators, two streaming services, thirteen whiskeys, a Susanna Hoffs slow dance classic, and far too many references to Spirit Halloween, but we’ve finally gotten to the final episode of The Hexer. Will the series go out with a bang, or a poorly subtitled whimper? (Do you really need to ask?) Still, finishing this amusingly uneven series is something worth celebrating, and since The Hexer turns 21 this year, we’ve paired it with a bottle of Dewar’s Double Double 21-Year-Old Scotch. It’s super smooth, which is more than we can say for Geralt...2023-03-291h 56Whiskey with WitcherTalk, Suckers!We’ve reached the penultimate episode of The Hexer and we still have no clue what’s going on. So in a desperate attempt to help, we’ve paired this episode with Navigator Straight Bourbon, which to our delight and dismay proves to be much more enjoyable than what’s on screen. Geralt has a bunch of acid flashbacks, Ciri dons a lucha libre mask and Jaskier may or may not declare his love to his favorite witcher (we’re still a bit hazy on that). Speaking of Geralt, he doesn’t disappear, but Ciri does, while Eithne just never shows up, pr...2023-03-221h 24Whiskey with WitcherLost in TranslationSomeone must have been hitting the potions a bit too hard because The Hexer’s eleventh episode is easily one of the worst of the series. After dispatching Renfri in the quickest, most anticlimactic way possible, Geralt finds himself wandering around until he winds up in Brokilon Forest again where he…wanders around some more. He also says a bunch of stuff, only half of which we understand due to a translation that reads like it was provided by Gollum on a bender. But never fear, dear listeners, our pain is your gain, as we do have quite a bit of f...2023-03-151h 26Whiskey with WitcherImpales in ComparisonRenfri has arrived! We celebrate what’s one of The Hexer’s strongest episodes to date (but keep in mind that’s a VERY relative term), by unbottling one of Tim’s favorite whiskeys, Redbreast 12 Year Old Single Pot Still, which we drink straight up—you know, in much the same way that our girl is now a straight up villain. We also question the practicalities of impalement, wonder whether the episode’s message of “lesser evils” still makes sense when one of the parties is violently killing refugees, and take time to appreciate that Geralt actually asks Jaskier to play for him. Ge...2023-03-081h 45Whiskey with WitcherIola, Io-Io-Io-Io-IolaThe Hexer’s ninth chapter just may be its most eventful one yet. Renfri returns! Geralt confronts Falwick! Ciri makes her (somewhat anticlimactic) debut! It’s an episode that’s, frankly, overloaded with important moments, and so we’ve paired it with an equally overloaded spirit—the 125-proof White Dog Mash #1 by Buffalo Trace Distillery. There’s no doubt the raw, unaged White Dog is powerful stuff, but is it actually whiskey? That proves to be a matter for debate, as does whether or not we like Hexer’s take on Ciri, if Nenneke should just stop screwing around and jump Geralt’s...2023-03-011h 46Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: Reading Into ItWhile we wait for more news on the Witcher show and games, we got an update on something we really didn’t expect: new books! Okay, we got a brief, off-the-cuff statement on them that was all of five words long. But those five words—“They are in the plans”—came from none other than Andrzej Sapkowski, which means they’re more than enough for us to devote an entire episode to! We speculate on what those plans could be based on things Sapkowski has said in the past, then share our thoughts on what we’d most like to see in any fut...2023-02-2242 minWhiskey with WitcherSide Quest: A Smashing Valentine’s DayIt may be Cupid’s big week, but we’re the ones playing matchmaker in this special Valentine’s Day episode. First, we discuss our all-time favorite Witcher ships, both canon and fanon. You know, the ones we may or may not be secretly writing sexy fanfic about. (Let’s just say Geraskier is SO season one.) But things really heat up in our second segment as we take turns picking Witcher characters at random and making the case for why they should smash. So, light some candles, pour some wine and definitely put the kids to bed as we celebrat...2023-02-151h 16Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: Getting Artsy with Joanna EstepIt’s time to break out the nice glasses as we welcome our first guest of 2023! For years, Joanna Estep has successfully balanced a career drawing, coloring and lettering comics with a love of fanart and The Witcher, recently culminating in her self-published Geraskier minicomic, “Where Are You This Moment?” In this bonus episode, we talk to Jo about her art, her fandom, her love of messy women and why sometimes what seems naughty on the surface is really just about making Geralt smile.
Follow Jo on Twitter at @joannaestep and Instagram at @joanna_estep_draws. You can purchase her Witche...2023-02-011h 28Whiskey with WitcherYou Can’t Count on Geralt Because Geralt Can’t CountWe suspected—well, Tim did at any rate—that with its limited production budget, The Hexer wouldn’t attempt to bring Geralt’s iconic fight with the fearsome striga to screen. Shows what he knows because that classic short story forms the basis of the series’ eighth episode, which we’ve paired with Compass Box’s uniquely fruit-forward scotch blend Orchard House. Sadly, no amount of whiskey can make a rubber suit look frightening, but it might be responsible for Geralt’s sudden penchant for older women wearing nun smocks and for random characters mating with people’s brothers. Also, we've gotten anoth...2023-01-251h 51Whiskey with WitcherA Dainty Little DuduFor our first Hexer episode of 2023, we thought we’d put aside our usual drunken nonsense for a serious discussion of dopplers and elven displacement…but who are we kidding? It takes all of ten minutes for Tim and Producer Sean to devolve into juvenile jokes about the name “Dudu” and it’s all downhill from there. We do manage to discuss whether the episode’s adaptation of “The Edge of the World” is more effective than Netflix’s, riff quite a bit on The Bangles’ 1988 hit “Eternal Flame” and find a lot to like about the Stillhouse Black Bourbon we pair with the episode...2023-01-181h 47Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: School of the CatwalkWho needs a sword when you’re wearing an outfit that absolutely slays? In our first new episode of 2023, we’re focusing on the fashion of The Witcher’s first two seasons, as we toast some of the hottest looks to hit the runways of Novigrad. Tim and Valerie each rank their five favorite costumes, discussing what they say about the characters and sharing their only slightly tipsy thoughts on why they work so well. But it’s not all! We also pick our absolute least favorites because, let’s face it, the Continent is not without its fashion fails.2023-01-1156 minWhiskey with WitcherSide Quest: A Year of Bottles, Bathtubs and BardsWhiskey With Witcher is now a year old! Somehow we’ve managed to keep this thing going for a full trip around the sun, so to celebrate, we’re uncorking a bottle from Tim’s private stash—Harp Song, a 16-year Irish single malt—and answering questions about ourselves asked by you, our listeners! We share some of our more deeply held thoughts on The Witcher and where we see it going, weigh in on the most recent trailer for Blood Origin, and lift the veil a bit more on who we are outside of the podcast (can you guess which one...2022-12-212h 05Whiskey with WitcherDon’t Duny Like ThatThe Law of Surprise has been called in Cintra...and on our podcast! But don’t worry, the only thing we’re rewarded with is an unexpected bottle of Gentleman Jack, which we drink a bit too generously as we unpack The Hexer’s sixth episode, “Calanthe.” We also weigh in on the latest Blood Origin trailer, speculating about what awaits us in the upcoming spinoff and predicting which characters are going to steal the show (Meldof, definitely Meldof). And speaking of predictions, we make a deliciously dirty one about what we’d like to see in episode seven. What can we say...2022-12-161h 52Whiskey with WitcherLove on the RocksBundle up, Witcher fans! This week, we’re unpacking The Hexer’s fifth episode, which finds Geralt, Yennefer and Istredd in a toxic love triangle that doesn’t end the way any of us would like. An adaptation of the short story “A Shard of Ice,” it’s a talky tour of truth and emotion that we’ve paired with a bottle of Jameson Cold Brew, a whiskey that also contains cold brew coffee. Will adding caffeine to our already adult mix of alcohol and sass add some liveliness to the chat? Or will we end up manically running around the room screa...2022-12-071h 42Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: Make it a DoubleSurprised? Well, so were we! In this special bonus episode, we’ve bundled up two “Segments of Surprise” that were cut from our most recent episode. First, Valerie talks about completing Thronebreaker, CD Projekt Red’s card-based adventure game set in the world of The Witcher (who’s up for a hand of Gwent?). After that, we both discuss the recent teaser from Netflix’s upcoming Blood Origin. What does its wide shots and brutal action suggest about the Witcher spinoff series? When might we finally get a full trailer? And can we stop with the freakin’ monoliths already?!?2022-12-0214 minWhiskey with WitcherThe Sorceress, the Bard, and the BathtubIs it just us, or is it hot in here? Maybe we’re feeling the heat from that fire-breathing dragon everyone’s been talking about. Or it could be that foursome happening over there in the tub. But really, it’s probably just the sheer amount of Douglas Liang’s Provenance Single Malt Scotch we imbibed while discussing The Hexer’s pivotal fourth episode. Introducing not one, but two key characters—Yennefer and Jaskier—it’s also the first installment of the series to directly adapt one of Andrzej Sapkowski’s short stories: the dragon hunt adventure, “The Bounds of Reason.” So, with so...2022-11-301h 29Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: The Cavill-ry is On Its Way...OutThe Witcher Season 3 is still over half a year away, so surely it’s safe to take a little break, right? APPARENTLY NOT! While Valerie was on vacation, The Witcher announced that Henry Cavill is leaving the role of Geralt and Liam Hemsworth will be taking it up in his stead. Now that we’re back in the same city, we can finally discuss the big news...because, yeah, we have thoughts and oh so many questions. Did he leave for a new project? Did he have issues with the show’s direction? Was the wig too damn itchy? Could he hav...2022-11-161h 28Whiskey with WitcherDrinking With DryadsGeralt is finally out on the Path, which is as good a reason as any to celebrate with a bottle of Noble Oak Double Oak Bourbon. We discuss this environmentally minded whiskey while unpacking The Hexer’s meandering third episode, which sees the debut of Renfri, the return of Gwidon—now oddly called Falwick—and yet another swoony Geralt romance. Also, our love of Old Witcher only grows, as does our puzzlement over why he doesn’t have a name, and we marvel at Geralt’s…um, poison sucking skills. We also manage to break Valerie, which trust us, isn’t easy to do...2022-11-092h 02Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: A (Molasses) Flood of AnnouncementsCD Projekt Red recently surprised the gaming world by announcing not one, not two, but three new Witcher games. Little is known about them other than their astronomic code names and a handful of other enticing details, but of course, that’s not about to stop us from devoting most of an episode to speculating wildly about what they might be. We say “most” because we also dive into the recent Witcher-themed episode of Netflix’s Nailed It! along with a massive whiskey-fueled tangent into some strange real-life history…which Tim stubbornly refuses to accept as real-life history. It’s a whole thin...2022-11-021h 02Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: A Shot of Something ScaryDim the lights and keep your loved ones close, Witcher fans, because we’re discussing some truly horrifying things in this special bonus episode: vampires, strigas…flavored whiskeys! With Halloween upon us, we surprise our less-than-thrilled Producer Sean with a bottle of Pumking Pumpkin Whiskey before sitting down to share our lists of the five Witcher creatures we find most frightening, explaining why we chose each one and giving you some insight into our own personal nightmares along the way. Its our special treat to you as we prepare for October 31st and whatever frights it may have in store. You...2022-10-261h 04Whiskey with WitcherI Wanna Hex You UpGeralt may be growing up, but we remain as immature as ever during our often-derailed discussion of The Hexer’s second episode. Kaer Morhen only seems to have gotten worse, and not even the discovery of female witchers can save it. Geralt grows awfully close to one of them, but is his seduction all a ruse? We’re, uh…not sure. Maybe? This show isn’t always coherent, guys. But one thing we ARE sure of is that it all goes down a lot better with a glass of Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Whiskey. Not only does this whiskey have an amazing...2022-10-191h 32Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: Much Tudum About NothingTudum, Netflix’s annual “global fan event,” brought with it a wealth of trailers, first looks and cringe-inducing interstitials last month, just very few having to do with The Witcher. Still, that isn’t about to stop us from pouring a glass and unpacking what new information we did get. Looks like Santa’s bringing us a stocking full of Blood Origin this Christmas, but as for Witcher Season 3...well, let’s just say that the Time of Contempt is not very nigh. Enjoy this only slightly snarky new bonus episode, and remember, to err is human, to forgive is divine, but...2022-10-1429 minWhiskey with WitcherWhiskey with WiedźminThe future of Whiskey with Witcher is in the past! Well, at least it is for our latest season, which is devoted entirely to The Hexer, the 2002 Polish-language series that introduced Geralt to the small screen for the first time. We paired the premiere with another famous first—Evan Williams 1783, named after Kentucky’s original distiller. What else do they have in common? They’re both clearly crafted on a budget, but that doesn’t mean there’s not joy to be found within as we unpack this truly unique take on Andrzej Sapkowski’s White Wolf…which turns out to be a litera...2022-10-121h 39Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: The Hexer Your SayConfused about what it is we’ll be discussing during our soon-to-debut new season? Don’t worry, we are too! (Though in fairness, we get confused about a lot of things.) In this new bonus episode, we give you the skinny on The Hexer—the Polish TV series that brought Geralt of Rivia to the world of live action for the very first time. When did this series, which is called Wiedzmin in Polish, debut? Who’s in it? What does it adapt? Why didn’t it succeed? And how the heck are we going to keep from mispronouncing all of those P...2022-09-2146 minWhiskey with WitcherSide Quest: A Fiery Mix of Comics and CornWe turn our attention and raise our glasses to an entirely new medium this week—comics! In our latest bonus episode, we crack open a bottle of cask-strength Balcones Texas Blue Corn Bourbon as we discuss translating The Witcher to the comic book page. To start, we unpack Dark Horse’s first Witcher omnibus, letting you know which of its four stories we enjoyed and which ones we didn’t (who knew a striga story could be boring?). Then, Tim discusses some of his history editing and writing licensed comics, explaining the process and how it might have impacted The Witche...2022-09-071h 34Whiskey with WitcherCrossover: On the Whiskey with Witcher PathTake two podcasts, four different hosts, three strong whiskeys, one cider, two Witcher-themed party games and a whole mess of questionable takes and what do you get? Our very first crossover episode! Get comfortable and pour yourself a drink (trust us on that one) as we spend over two hours talking all things Witcher and drinking all things alcoholic with Brett and Lucy, the two hosts of On the Path. Important questions are asked and answered, like…would you rather get hunted by Nilfgaard, the Brotherhood or the Wild Hunt? Which of Geralt’s three Witcher brothers would you f*ck...2022-08-252h 13Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: Another Round with Producer SeanHe may lap us when it comes to drinking, but Producer Sean has a tendency to fall behind on The Witcher. Well, not anymore! In this bourbon-blessed new bonus episode, we let Sean take the spotlight after binging season two for a tangent-filled talk that covers everything from Geralt’s approach to fatherhood, Ciri’s search for identity, Yennefer’s spectacular skill at screaming and why season two is strangely light on sex. We also explore the female-fronted Milam and Greene Whiskey by sampling their Triple Cask Bourbon. Just don’t expect any sudden revelations about Voleth Meir. We still have no...2022-08-221h 45Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: What the #@%! is Happening with Blood Origin?!?Strap in, Witcher fans, we’re sharpening our swords for this one. There have been a lot of rumors swirling around lately about The Witcher: Blood Origin, the upcoming Witcher spinoff series set during the Conjunction of the Spheres, and...well, we couldn’t NOT talk about them, could we? We speculate a-plenty about what on Earth (and on the Continent) is happening before we segue into a surprise discussion about Valerie’s recent trip to San Diego Comic-Con. What drunken shenanigans took place, and were any of them Witcher-related? You know it! And you also know you’re not going to...2022-08-0849 minWhiskey with WitcherSide Quest: The Honey Cake is Not a LieWe’re not going to lie, we’ve been straight-up obsessed with honey cakes since we discovered them in “Nightmare of the Wolf,” so when our friend Juliet Bennett Rylah offered to make one for us to try on the podcast, we knew we had to have her on! In this bonus episode, we sit down with Juliet over a bottle of Elijah Craig Straight Rye and her Witcher-inspired honey cake to discuss her history with the Witcher and how she started cooking food derived from recipes found within the game (make sure you’re well stocked up on Zerrikanian spices). W...2022-07-251h 18Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: Songs in the Key of JaskierHow much do we admire Geralt of Rivia’s quick-witted and always impeccably dressed traveling companion? Enough to dedicate a whole episode to him! In this musically minded side quest, we rank the five songs sung by Jaskier over the course of The Witcher’s two seasons, offering our thoughts and insights over their often deeper-than-you-realize lyrics. And to add to the merriment, we do it over a glass of Heaven’s Door Double Barrel Whiskey, a whiskey created by none other than Bob Dylan (who also has a gift for clever musical wordplay). Join us for this toast to our fa...2022-07-1136 minWhiskey with WitcherSide Quest: Producer Sean Accepts the ContractProducer Sean is a master of sound editing, an expert (or at least opinionated) appreciator of whiskey, and speaks 'drunk' well enough to make our slurring asses sound smart, but he’d never seen The Witcher...until now! In our latest side quest, we asked Sean to marathon all of season one so that we can get his thoughts about Geralt, Yennefer, Ciri, Jaskier, monster fights, wonky timelines, dad jokes, dryads, high-collared queens, brain worms and weirdly sexless, beautifully shot orgies. And also, whether it’s sexy or gross to do the nasty in a bone cave because if you thou...2022-06-1351 minWhiskey with WitcherSide Quest: Season Two SendoffWe’re finishing off the last of the Four Roses Bourbon and saying goodbye to The Witcher’s sophomore season in what may be our best bonus episode yet. (Or it may not be...but you’ll never know if you don’t listen, right?) What were our favorite things about the season? What were our least favorite things? Which of the whiskeys we sampled was the best and which poor sods will claim the dubious honor of being our Kaer Morons for all of season two? Answers to these questions and more await, so stop messing around with that monolith...2022-05-301h 16Whiskey with WitcherCirilla: Queen of the MonstersIt’s the season two finale and we’re celebrating with Golden Orioles, the powerfully potent cocktail created for us by The Roguelike Tavern. And that’s a good thing because there’s no way we could make sense of Voleth Meir’s plan sober. Is she out for revenge? Just trying to get home? Attempting to start a basilisk reserve? Who knows? What we are clear on is that this is an extra-length episode that you’re not going to want to miss. We discuss where things on the Continent are likely to go from here, swoon over Jaskier and Yennefer...2022-05-242h 14Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: The Golden OrioleOnly Witchers can drink potions? Not anymore! In this special bonus episode, we pay a visit to John McCormick at Burbank’s The Roguelike Tavern to sample the new Witcher-themed cocktail he created specifically for our podcast. A potent mix that uses Four Roses Bourbon as its base, this Golden Oriole might not cure any poisons, but it’ll go down far smoother than anything you’ll find at Kaer Morhen. Plus, we talk to John about his history with the Witcher franchise, our shared love of immersive theater and what it’s like running one of LA’s friendliest—and unabashe...2022-05-1827 minWhiskey with WitcherLeaving You DeathlessWith Ciri’s situation turning serious and the Deathless Mother looking strong, we knew we needed a whiskey to match—so, we crack open a bottle of 120-proof Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Bourbon. With a whiskey that powerful, our survival this episode, much like that of Nilfgaard’s generals, is not guaranteed. But if we go down, you know it won’t be until after we’ve thoroughly critiqued Cahir’s bad allyship, Jaskier’s poor choice of bathwater and Voleth Meir’s completely bonkers plan. Plus, Valerie has words for Geralt, Tim has words for Vilgefortz and they both have words...2022-05-101h 34Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: You Mean You DON’T Want Them to Make Out?We received another listener question, which can only mean one thing—it’s time for another side quest! We’ve talked about our favorite Witcher ships a lot and we don’t see a reason to stop now, but this time, we’re keeping everyone’s hands, arms and lips to themselves as we discuss platonic ships. Who do we think are better off staying strictly friends? And what Witcher friendships would we like to see explored more? After that, we sound off on the latest season three casting news...which wasn’t without its controversy. And you know we’re going to have...2022-05-0233 minWhiskey with WitcherTo Dear Friends and Dead OnesWell, it’s been quite a ride—perhaps a bit too long of one, as Valerie points out—but in this episode, we bid a fond farewell to Roach and lift a glass of Pendleton Whisky in her honor. We also extol the debut of the delightful Codringher and Fenn, read the infamous “Dear Friend” letter aloud, debate the logistics and appeal of sex atop unicorns and implore Geralt to wash his damn face. Also, Tim learns a hard, utterly humiliating lesson in never doubting Valerie, especially when it comes to sarcasm.
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ht...2022-04-251h 42Whiskey with WitcherSmoking in the Bard’s RoomButchers aren’t the only things left burning when Jaskier and Yennefer come face to face with the fire-wielding Rience. So, it only makes sense that we’ve paired this episode up with the smokey sophistication of Stark Spirits’ Peated Single Malt Whiskey! Tim attempts to dissect one of his least favorite Witcher short stories, while Valerie has some words for Vesemir and his freaky-ass mutagen needle. Producer Sean invents a new way of rating whiskey, and we share a Kaer Moron for the first time this season. Who might it be?2022-04-181h 34Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: A World of Pure SpeculationIn our latest side quest, we go hard speculating about some of the recent Witcher announcements. First, we unpack the newly unveiled Season 3 description and try to determine what it all might be referring to. After that, we discuss the recently announced new Witcher game, while schooling Tim on lynxes. (And he calls himself a cat person!) Finally, Valerie turns the tables on her co-host by asking him a few things about shipping because if the show won’t give us any fun sexy moments to talk about, we’ll make up our own, dammit.2022-04-1139 minWhiskey with WitcherYennefer and Cahir’s Not-So-Excellent AdventureYen is laying low with Cahir, Triss is making awkward passes at Geralt, Jaskier’s writing angry breakup songs, and we’re here to savor every moment of season two’s deeply satisfying fourth episode...as well as a bottle of Blinking Owl California Straight Rye Whiskey. Speaking of owls, we both get pretty excited over Dijkstra, but what’s with his mysterious pet? Surely there’s nothing at all odd about that, right?2022-04-041h 41Whiskey with WitcherWhen Violet Eyes Are CryingCiri’s training begins in earnest and it doesn’t go down nearly as smoothly as the Slane Irish Whiskey we sip while discussing it. Valerie feels confident she can take on the pendulum (but the rest of the gauntlet...not so much) while Tim discovers a Witcher ship name he actually likes. Also, Valerie gives us a dramatic reading from Blood of Elves! But don’t get too excited, it’s about a dead rat.2022-03-281h 31Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: Ice Cream SocialWhat’s the one thing that goes better with whiskey than Witcher? Ice cream, apparently. In our latest side quest, we sample Garrison Brothers Whiskey & Pecan Pralines ice cream, a limited release from McConnell’s that’s made from actual Texas bourbon. It’s delicious, but so is the conversation that accompanies it, which touches on everything from our favorite ice cream flavors to what sort of desserts you’re likely to find in fantasy worlds to which Kaer Morhen witcher would be most fun to drink with. Plus, Tim has a full-on freak-out! Over what? Listen to the episode and find o2022-03-2236 minWhiskey with WitcherThe Eskel Problem“We’re so excited that we’re finally getting to meet other witchers like Vesemir, Lambert, Coen and Eskel—WAIT, WHAT?!?!” Yeah, we’re as surprised as the rest of you about the fate of Geralt’s witcher bro in this head-scratcher of an episode, so we’re cracking open a bottle of William Wolf Pecan Bourbon to see if we can figure it out. While we’re at it, we share our thoughts on the Deathless Mother, the return of the elves, Geralt’s parenting, the wisdom of leaving Kaer Morhen on your own and the importance of always cleaning your sword.2022-03-151h 19Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: A Sip of SazeracGrab a glass, Witcher fans, because this one’s all about the booze. After our talk about how this week’s whiskey, WhistlePig Piggyback Rye, was designed for cocktails, we decided to try it out in one! Producer Sean mixes up some Sazeracs while giving us a brief history on the drink. Then it’s time for some freewheeling discussion on everything from cocktail prices to Witcher fandom to why Tim and Valerie just won’t ever agree on absinthe.2022-03-1130 minWhiskey with WitcherThings Quickly Go A-RyeWe’re finally diving into The Witcher’s second season and we couldn’t be more excited…or maybe that’s the WhistlePig PiggyBack Rye that accompanies this episode talking. We both scratch our heads over Triss Merigold’s oddly unexplained new hairstyle, Tim can’t handle the sight of sad Tissaia and Valerie has a few words of advice for the otherwise badass Vereena. Plus, a new final segment!2022-03-071h 20Whiskey with WitcherSide Quest: Quarantining at Kaer MorhenFor this week’s side quest, we’re giving you an extended version of a previous segment—Valerie’s discussion on finishing The Witcher III: The Wild Hunt. Our podcast may focus on the Netflix series, but we’re big fans of the game as well, which offered us both an escape and a chance to connect with each other during the pandemic. And to randomly fall off of ledges. SPOILER ALERT: We do discuss two of the game’s three endings, so proceed with caution if you haven’t yet played it.2022-02-2808 minWhiskey with WitcherSide Quest: You Say Istredd, I Say EestreddIn The Witcher III: The Wild Hunt, side quests are brief missions that have nothing to do with the game’s main storyline, which seemed like a pretty good way of describing the brief bonus episodes we’ll be dropping between full episodes every now and then. In this first side quest, we answer some questions from one of our listeners (thanks for the e-mail, Karen!). Then it’s time to humble ourselves as we come clean about some names we’ve been mispronouncing before Valerie gives us a brief history of fanshipping that, while very interesting, doesn’t make Tim like t...2022-02-2222 minWhiskey with WitcherTrial of the GlassesWe often get pretty animated while talking about The Witcher, so it’s about dang time The Witcher follows suit! In our latest episode, we open a bottle of Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon and discuss The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf. Tim questions whether this movie counts as anime, while Valerie wonders why the mages don’t just...well, magic themselves out of there. Plus, we cower at the Trial of the Grasses, discuss some ties the movie may have to a unique book in the Witcher series and offer up our hopes and dreams for the next Witcher anim...2022-02-141h 29Whiskey with WitcherForbidden Fire(ball) MagicWe celebrate reaching the end of season one with an extra-sized (and extra boozy) episode. Valerie questions the use of death mages, Tim wonders what exactly Tissaia and Vilgefortz think they’re doing and both of them drink a few too many Fireball boilermakers. Plus, we speculate about Witcher: Blood Origin, reveal our plans for the future and pick our perfect monster pets!2022-01-311h 41Whiskey with WitcherThe Penultimate PourCintra falls, so in solidarity, we all fall pretty hard for a bottle of Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Valerie is thrilled for the return of Istredd and the debut of Vilgefortz (yay for magical eye candy!), Tim questions the usefulness of magicians and both demonstrate the value of a good bad pun.2022-01-241h 11Whiskey with WitcherHere There Be FlagonsThe Geralt/Yennefer romance is over almost as soon as it begins and we console ourselves with a bottle of Kikori Whiskey. Valerie explains why all is not as it seems in Jaskier’s song, Tim declares his love for dragons (but his disappointment with the ones in this episode) and we all wonder just what the hell the doppler is doing.2022-01-181h 25Whiskey with WitcherEverybody HmmmsGeralt meets Yennefer, and we get friendly with a bottle of Skrewball as we discuss one of season one’s most pivotal episodes. Tim has a really hard time saying the name “Chireadan,” while Valerie introduces her cohost to the world of hurt/comfort fanfic. And they both agree that when hosting a magical orgy, it’s very important to dress to impress.2022-01-101h 19Whiskey with WitcherA Drink with DestinyWe have a sweet time sipping Cabin Fever Maple Flavored Whiskey while discussing Geralt and Jaskier’s fateful night in Calanthe’s court. Tim questions the need for Ciri’s storyline while Valerie just wants to talk about Geralt’s love of chamomile and baths. Also, we mix things up with another surprise segment!2022-01-031h 11Whiskey with WitcherBlood Striga Sex MagikThe monster at the heart of The Witcher’s third episode might be a nasty little number, but the same cannot be said for the Belle Meade bourbon we enjoy while discussing her. Tim declares his love and affection for Triss Merigold, while Valerie just wants our hero to drink some water (which probably would have been good advice for us as well). All this plus boning in the bone cave!!!2021-12-271h 11Whiskey with WitcherA Tale of Bards, Bone Caves, and BourbonWe bid Jaskier and Yennefer a hearty hello as we dive into The Witcher’s second episode, along with a bottle of Old Bardstown. Valerie surprises everyone with an unexpected segment, while Tim can’t get over Istredd’s weirdly macabre bachelor pad.2021-12-201h 17Whiskey with WitcherStarting Down the PathThe Witcher gets off to a grand start, and we get off to a boozy one as we drink Polish Rye Whiskey (that’s literally the whiskey’s name—“Polish Rye Whiskey”) and toast Geralt’s inaugural adventure.2021-12-131h 13Whiskey with WitcherPreviewThings are gonna get tipsy when Valerie and Tim crack open a bottle of Polish Rye Whiskey to talk about the pilot of Netflix's The Witcher.2021-12-1200 min