The Upshot takes a look at how the oil industry could learn a thing or two from the bourbon industry. This immediately prompted a response from Forbes bluntly titled “Why Oil Is Not Like Bourbon.”

We reported on the opening of Boundary Oak Bourbon last week in Reads, and this week it turns out that the freshly-minted distillery now holds the record for the most expensive bourbon to be sold in the U.S. Via online auction, bottle #1 of Boundary Oak fetched an impressive $25,000. The winner opted to remain anonymous, but the proceeds from the sale will be going direct to their charity of choice. [The Spirits Business]

Need help brewing your own beer? There’s an app (and machine) for that. Brewbot helps the new homebrewer with the brewing process step by step. The machines are in the process of being manufactured, with 80 pre-orders already lined up and a predicted ship date in early 2015. And for those not willing or able to spend $4,000, one could always just hop on down to the library and read a book. Or hop online to read some tutorials. [New York Times]

In other new product news, the Sonic Decanter claims to make one’s wine taste better using sound waves. Does it really work? Huffington Post test drives the machine, scheduled for release in May of 2015. [Huffington Post]

Grand Marnier Group, the French cognac maker, is exploring options which include putting itself up for sale. No idea yet on which companies are potential suitors for the potential acquisition, but this could prove to be more interesting than some of the more noted acquisitions and mergers in 2014. Our complete and total speculation: look for an announcement by year’s end. [Bloomberg]

And finally today, in a bit of a head scratcher, police in the metropolitan Nashville area are looking for a bandit who has been robbing liquor stores, but not taking the predictable Pappy thievery route. They’re snatching up Canadian whiskey by the caseload. [Associated Press]

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