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Proof of Concept

Proof of Concept

By: Toby Blue | Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of The Tasting Alliance
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Welcome to Proof of Concept, the official podcast of The Tasting Alliance — the team behind the world’s most prestigious spirits competitions, including the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, New York World Spirits Competition, Asia World Spirits Competition, and Latin America World Spirits Competition. Hosted by Toby Blue, Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of The Tasting Alliance and longtime spirits industry executive and Jason Rabinowitz, Multiple Grammy Award Nominee and Entertainment Industry Veteran, this series explores the journeys behind the world’s most exceptional Double Gold–winning spirits — and the founders bold enough to build them. At its core, Proof of Concept is about entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, innovation and resilience. Each episode dives deep into the stories of founders, distillers, master blenders and visionaries who transformed an idea into an award-winning spirit — validated under the most rigorous blind tasting standards in the world. Proof as potency. Proof as validation. Proof that an idea can work. This podcast is where passion meets purpose, and where brand building, storytelling, sustainability, leadership and legacy intersect in the glass. From Idea to Icon. From Grain to Glass to Gold.2026 Art Cooking Economics Food & Wine Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Heaven Hill Tasting - Bourbon, Rye, and Irish Cream

    Heaven Hill Tasting - Bourbon, Rye, and Irish Cream
    Jul 7 2026
    In this bonus episode of Proof of Concept, hosts Toby Blue and Jason Rabinowitz pour their way through the Heaven Hill portfolio — one of the largest family-owned distilleries in America and a cornerstone of Kentucky whiskey. The lineup spans Henry McKenna, Elijah Craig, and Rittenhouse before taking a smooth left turn into Carolans Irish Cream. From bottled-in-bond bourbon to benchmark rye, this tasting digs into what nearly two centuries of distilling heritage tastes like in the glass. Whether you're a bourbon loyalist or just building your whiskey vocabulary, this one covers a lot of ground in a single sitting.
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    8 mins
  • Stewardship Over Shortcuts: Kate Latts on Heaven Hill's Legacy

    Stewardship Over Shortcuts: Kate Latts on Heaven Hill's Legacy
    Jun 24 2026
    Heaven Hill has stayed family-owned for almost 90 years — through a fire, a generational handoff, and a whiskey boom that swallowed up most of its peers. Co-President Kate Latts joins Toby Blue and Jason Rabinowitz to talk independence, patience, and what it takes to protect a legacy bigger than any one leader.
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    53 mins
  • Ten to One Rum Tasting - Caribbean, Complex, Refined

    Ten to One Rum Tasting - Caribbean, Complex, Refined
    Jun 11 2026
    In this bonus episode of Proof of Concept, hosts Toby Blue and Jason Rabinowitz sit down for a guided tasting of Ten to One Rum — a modern Caribbean brand redefining what rum can be. This episode goes beyond the bottle and into the glass, breaking down the rich, nuanced character that has made Ten to One a standout in the category. From the blend of aged Caribbean rums to the craft and cultural pride behind every pour, this tasting offers a deeper look at what sets truly exceptional rum apart. Whether you're a longtime rum enthusiast or just spirit-curious, this is your chance to experience the craft.
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    10 mins
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