Stephen King has a habit of putting his strongest messages into his shortest of works. Stand By Me (The Body), Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and The Life of Chuck is no exception. First of all, read it. No. Really. READ IT. Then go and watch the movie. No no. Really. WATCH THE MOVIE.

The Life of Chuck is the affirmation of life that we need in the world we live in today. It doesn't assure us that all will be well, or even that everything will work out just the way we want or hope or think we deserve. No, but it does affirm to us all this. Each of us, every single one of us, are more than we suppose. Not just that, but additionally, who we are, what we experience, what we dream and hope and imagine, absolutely all of it, is important in some way and to some one.

Our pairing on this episode is Ryes of the Robots by Filmland Spirits. We felt it was appropriate. This is a fantastic rye whiskey, and we're looking forward to telling you all about it.

Stephen King | The Life of Chuck

Ryes of the Robots Small Batch Straight Rye Whiskey

BODYBALL!!!! In this Oopsisode, the boys discuss one of the more horrific/grossest/hilarious parts of "From Below" by Darcy Coates. To keep themselves sane, the boys revisit an old friend, Thomas S. Moore Bourbon finished in sherry casks.

Darcy Coates – Horror and Suspense Author

NOTE There is no official website for Thomas S Moore anymore that we can find. It is a product of the Barton 1792 Distillery. If you can find it still on the retail market or other venues, don't miss the chance to pick up a bottle.

On this episode of BBB, Stephen and Mark review a book from Darcy Coates, an author known for her prolific collection of haunted house stories. In From Below, Darcy Coates turns the haunted house story on its head, and takes us on an adventure deep into the ocean and the past.

To keep them afloat, Stephen and Mark will be sampling Old Elk Cigar Cut, Islander Blend.

Darcy Coates – Horror and Suspense Author

Specialty Products — Old Elk

On this episode, Stephen and Mark talk about forbidden relationships in the story. Hilarious and tragic, the boys will make everything better by revisiting Penelope Toasted Bourbon Whiskey.

Home - Joe Abercrombie

Toasted Bourbon – Penelope Bourbon

On this epsisode of BBB, the boys explore a beloved author who they somehow haven't managed to review until now. Mr. Joe Abercrombie's alternate history/fantasy tale "The Devils" is the subject this time around. Hilarious, gory, and unrepentantly grim and sardonic, Stephen and Mark dive into a world of curses, werewolves, elves, Popes, and, of course, truly flawed and damaged characters. It is a world where the scariest things aren't the summoned Dukes of Hell, but the people doing the summoning.

To guard against any lingering traumas from this darkly funny and brutal story, Stephen and Mark will be sampling a new bourbon whiskey from a local distillery, Geneva Lakes Bourbon Whiskey by Geneva Lakes Distilling & Studio Winery in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Home - Joe Abercrombie

Studio Winery

In the oopsisode following the interview, Shannon, Eddie, Stephen, and Mark all sit down for one last addendum to the interview they did on The Chimera Snare by writing team S & E Black. In this unique oopsisode, the group samples not one, but two bourbons they've had before. Stephen and Shannon try In Lieu of Flowers while Mark and Eddie sample Redwood Empire's Emerald Giant.

Welcome to The Chimera Snare - The Chimera Snare series by S&E Black

Dancing Goat Presents — Dancing Goat Distillery

EMERALD GIANT - Craft Rye Whiskey - Redwood Empire Whiskey

On this episode of BBB, Stephen and Mark get to sit down for an extended interview with the husband and wife writing team behind S & E Black, author's of The Chimera Snare: Fragments. Shannon and Eddie are simply amazing people. Kind, funny, and thoughtful, we had a wonderful evening getting to know them, their work, and what's on the horizon for them.

Our featured bourbon for the evening is Angel's Envy Triple Oak. It's an appropriate expression for us to try with this particular episode. Deep, layered, and nuanced both in craft and flavor, it matches with with our interview with Shannon and Eddie as well as the complexity of the story they are sharing with the world.

Because we run out, we also try a bourbon with a good cause by the end of the episode. As many of you know, Stephen's daughter has a rare condition known as Joubert's Syndrome. In order to raise money for research into this disease, the Joubert Syndrome Foundation is selling a bourbon of their own! This LIMITED TIME OFFERING was picked by Stephen and Mark themselves in a comparison with four other blends. They think you will absolutely love it, not to mention it's Bourbon With A Purpose. If you would like to support the cause and get a truly special bourbon expression, follow the link at the bottom.

Welcome to The Chimera Snare - The Chimera Snare series by S&E Black

TRIPLE OAK - Angel’s Envy US/EN

Honestly, we didn't forget anything, but there's just so much going on in that book we could never get through it all in an hour. Tonight we revisit Keeper's Heart.

Matt Dinniman

Keeper's Heart Whiskey