In this lively episode of The Sales Gravy Podcast, Jeb Blount welcomes Patrick "Pops" Garrett, Founder & Chief Drinking Officer of DrinkCurious, to explore the unique intersection between bourbon tasting and sales engagement. Key Takeaways: – Virtual Tastings as Sales Hooks: Virtual bourbon tastings became an effective "hook" to attract attendees to sales demos, webinars, and client meetings, increasing engagement and helping to break through typical sales communication noise. – Engagement and Word-of-Mouth: The interactive and educational nature of DrinkCurious’s tastings fostered memorable experiences that spurred word-of-mouth promotion, leading to increased client requests. – Holiday and Retention Use: Drink tastings are popular not only for prospecting but also for employee rewards, client retention, and holiday gifting, with options for virtual events that clients can record and revisit. – Bourbon as Cultural and Historical Icon: DrinkCurious incorporates bourbon’s cultural history into tastings, educating participants on bourbon’s evolution, production, and how it has influenced American culture over decades.  – Gamification in Tastings: To increase engagement, DrinkCurious includes gamified elements where clients guess the bourbon or earn rewards, which can further connect the tasting to the client’s sales objectives. – Event Flexibility: DrinkCurious provides both virtual and in-person tastings, including options for trade shows, private gatherings, and post-conference events, accommodating various client needs. – Building Client Connections: Tastings help establish rapport between clients and sales teams, providing a memorable, relationship-building experience that offers a strong foundation for ongoing conversations. – VIP and Exclusive Gatherings: DrinkCurious organizes exclusive, high-end tastings for VIP clients, offering a tailored, premium experience that enhances client relations and creates unique business opportunities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdxWUVM0fDE The Power of Experience Sales teams today face an ever-increasing challenge to capture the attention of their clients and prospects. In a world filled with automated emails, digital advertising, and competing messages, it’s easy for outreach to get lost in the noise. DrinkCurious, a unique company specializing in bourbon tastings and whiskey experiences, has found a way to break through this clutter. Founded in early 2021, DrinkCurious uses virtual and in-person bourbon tastings to help sales teams engage with clients in a memorable, personal way. By blending education, entertainment, and a bit of gamification, DrinkCurious provides a creative, impactful solution to the challenges of modern sales outreach. Origins of DrinkCurious DrinkCurious originated as a bold step from its founder, who left a traditional advertising career to pursue something he was passionate about: whiskey. With a mission to create deeper, more meaningful interactions between companies and clients, he developed a strategy to use bourbon tastings as a hook to draw in clients and keep them engaged. These tastings are more than just sampling different spirits—they’re interactive experiences that teach clients about the history, culture, and science behind bourbon. By helping people understand the product, DrinkCurious creates a shared experience that builds rapport and leaves a lasting impression. The Virtual Tasting Solution One of DrinkCurious’s primary offerings is the virtual tasting, which became a popular option during the pandemic. Many companies were looking for new ways to engage clients when in-person meetings and events weren’t possible. The virtual tasting quickly became a solution to this problem. By offering clients and prospects a fun, interactive experience that could be enjoyed from anywhere, DrinkCurious helped sales teams keep relationships strong even during a time when in-person interactions were limited.