WhiskyCast

A Cask-Strength Celestial Spectacle (WhiskyCast Episode 656: August 27, 2017)

28 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Around 6,000 people combined last Monday's total solar eclipse with whiskey - watching the celestial spectacle from the fields around MB Roland Distil...

The World's Hottest Whisky? (WhiskyCast Episode 655: August 20, 2017)

20 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

  Since our first visit to Taiwan's King Car Distillery in 2011, its Kavalan single malts have arguably become some of the most-acclaimed whiskies in...

Distilling Returns to the Birthplace of Scotch Whisky (WhiskyCast Episode 654: August 13, 2017)

12 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Lindores Abbey has a unique place in Scottish history. In 1494, the abbey's Friar John Cor was responsible for the oldest known written reference to w...

Celebrating the World's Whiskies in Dublin (WhiskyCast Episode 653: August 6, 2017)

06 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Whiskies are celebrated at festivals all over the world these days, but there's no place quite like Ireland when it comes to whisk(e)y. The inaugural ...

All in the Whiskey Family (WhiskyCast Episode 652: July 30, 2017)

30 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The Likarish family opened Ironroot Republic Distillery in Denison, Texas in 2013. Brothers Jonathan and Robert Likarish handle the distilling, while ...

Tales of a Retired Whisky Maker (WhiskyCast Episode 651: July 23, 2017)

23 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Jim Boyko's career took him from the old Seagram's distillery in Waterloo, Ontario to the Canadian prairie in Gimli, Manitoba, and eventually around t...

I Spy a Bourbon (WhiskyCast Episode 650: July 16, 2017)

16 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We've seen whisky and movie tie-ins before, but Old Forester's new Statesman Bourbon is a bit different. It's featured in the upcoming movie "Kingsman...

The Best Way to Combine Whisky and the Solar Eclipse (WhiskyCast Episode 649: July 9, 2017)

09 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

If you're looking for an excuse to take off from work and watch the total solar eclipse that will cross North America on August 21, there's no better ...

Glencairn's Whisky Glasses Shatter Expectations (WhiskyCast Episode 648: July 2, 2017)

02 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

When Raymond Davidson and his sons started marketing the Glencairn Whisky Glass in 2001, they thought the target audience was whisky blenders and indu...

Celebrating Canada's 150th Anniversary Whisky-Style (Episode 647: June 25, 2017)

25 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

July 1 is Canada Day, and this year it's even more of a holiday than usual. Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary this Saturday, and Hiram Walker Di...

A Tale of Texas Whiskey at Balcones (WhiskyCast Episode 646: June 18, 2017)

18 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Last year, Balcones Distilling left behind its original distillery - hand-built in an old welding shop underneath the 17th Street bridge in Waco, Texa...

Straight Shooting with Bulleit Bourbon Founder Tom Bulleit (WhiskyCast Episode 645: June 11, 2017)

11 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Tom Bulleit wasn't born into the Bourbon business, but even as a successful Kentucky lawyer, he knew there was something calling him to whiskey. He ev...

Boom Days for Bourbon (WhiskyCast Episode 644: June 4, 2017)

04 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Bourbon's growing global profile is at its highest in decades, and that's good news in Kentucky. Even though Bourbon can be made anywhere in the US, K...

Does The Nose Know For Sure? (Episode 643: May 28, 2017)

28 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

You may be able to tell different styles of whiskies apart by nosing them - when you know what you're nosing to begin with. When it comes to telling B...

A Trip Down the Rabbit Hole (Episode 642: May 21, 2017)

21 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What would you think of someone who gives up a successful career to make Bourbon for a living? If you said they should seek professional help, Dr. Kav...

Malting Barley the Old School Way (WhiskyCast Episode 641: May 14, 2017)

14 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Most Scotch Whisky distilleries source their malted barley from large commercial maltsters today, but a handful of distilleries still maintain their o...

Making Whisky with Passion in Denmark (Episode 640: May 7, 2017)

07 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Denmark is known for its beers and aquavit, but is starting to develop a reputation for whiskies as well with distilleries like Braunstein and Staunin...

Viking Soul & Whisky in Denmark (Episode 639: April 30, 2017)

29 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're in Copenhagen, Denmark for the launch of Highland Park's new Valkyrie single malt and new packaging for its core range that doubles d...

WhiskyCast Episode 638: April 23, 2017

23 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The end of April has grain farmers in North America and Europe poised to get into the fields and start planting this year's crops - and some of that g...

WhiskyCast Episode 637: April 16, 2017

16 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we'll talk with two people who have turned their passion for whisky into careers. Tracie Franklin is one of the newest brand ambassadors fo...

WhiskyCast Episode 636: April 9, 2017

09 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Scotland's Bladnoch Distillery celebrates its 200th anniversary this year, but the Lowlands distillery almost never made it to that milestone. When Bl...

WhiskyCast Episode 635: April 2, 2017

02 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

There will be music, food, and of course, plenty of whisky on hand during the Spirit of Speyside Festival coming up at the end of this month in Scotla...

WhiskyCast Episode 634: March 26, 2017

26 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week's American Whiskey Convention at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park featured an air of generational change. At one end, legendary master dist...

WhiskyCast Episode 633: March 19, 2017

19 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

For years, whisky connoisseurs whispered about a mysterious Irish whiskey called Green Spot and begged friends traveling to Ireland to track down a bo...

WhiskyCast Episode 632: March 12, 2017

12 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Whisky was historically thought of as a "man's drink" - but today, not only are more women drinking whisky, but women make up around 40% of the Scotch...

WhiskyCast Episode 631: March 5, 2017

05 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Mickey Heads grew up about three miles from Islay's Ardbeg Distillery, but the third-generation whisky maker never thought he'd wind up as the manager...

WhiskyCast Episode 630: February 26, 2017

26 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're in Ireland for the debut of the new Method And Madness range of Irish Whiskies from Irish Distillers. The name comes from the collabo...

WhiskyCast Episode 629: February 19, 2017

19 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Camden, New Jersey has a long manufacturing heritage dating back decades, but the city's glory days ended decades ago - leaving behind empty buildings...

WhiskyCast Episode 628: February 12, 2017

12 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we'll be talking about money and politics along with whisky, and of course, there are connections between all three. With the world's atten...

WhiskyCast Episode 627: February 5, 2017

05 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It's hard for some people to retire. Jim McEwan says he was pacing around his home on Islay "like a tiger" after retiring from Bruichladdich a year an...

WhiskyCast Episode 626: January 29, 2017

29 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Marcio Ramos started his whisky journey as a bartender in his hometown of Lisbon, Portugal...but thought he'd left the whisky business behind when he ...

WhiskyCast Episode 625: January 22, 2017

22 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're on location at the Victoria Whisky Festival in British Columbia! We'll discuss a new range of premium Canadian whiskies coming this f...

WhiskyCast Episode 624: January 15, 2017

15 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we'll tell you about two upcoming opportunities to taste rare whiskies in Scotland and Kentucky. David Faughn and Brian Shemwell will have ...

WhiskyCast Episode 623: January 8, 2017

08 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The controversy over Beam Suntory's sudden decision to change its plans for a Booker's Bourbon price hike during the New Year's holiday weekend left b...

WhiskyCast Episode 622: January 1, 2017

01 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Blending is part art and part science, and unless you're drinking a single cask whisky, every dram you try has been tweaked by the nose of an experien...

WhiskyCast Episode 621: December 25, 2016

25 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The founders of Baltimore's Sagamore Spirits could have chosen to buy a distillery anywhere they wanted to, but they wanted to help revive Baltimore's...

WhiskyCast Episode 620: December 18, 2016

18 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What do oysters have to do with making whisky? You might not think there's much in common, but Glenmorangie is working with Scotland's Heriot-Watt Uni...

WhiskyCast Episode 619: December 11, 2016

11 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A couple of weeks ago, we credited San Francisco's Anchor Distilling with being the birthplace of the American craft distilling movement in 1993. Whil...

WhiskyCast Episode 618: December 3, 2016

04 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this year, we reported on the Scotch Malt Whisky Society's changes in the US, with marketing and promotion for the global whisky club and inde...

WhiskyCast Episode 617: November 27, 2016

28 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What we think of today as the boom in craft distilling started 20 years ago this year, when San Francisco brewer Fritz Maytag bottled the first batch ...

WhiskyCast Episode 616: November 20, 2016

20 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Bourbon's history is as murky as a fermenter full of mash, and questions about the origins of Bourbon have led to more than a few arguments over the y...

WhiskyCast Episode 615: November 12, 2016

14 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're celebrating the 11th anniversary of WhiskyCast with a potpourri of sorts, as we catch up with people from all over the world of whisk...

WhiskyCast Episode 614: November 6, 2016

06 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

This Monday marks the 20th anniversary of the fire that destroyed Heaven Hill's distillery and 90,000 barrels of whiskey in Bardstown, Kentucky. Not a...

WhiskyCast Episode 613: October 29, 2016

30 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Distillery managers come and go at Lagavulin, but Iain McArthur is a fixture at the legendary Islay distillery. McArthur's something of a legend himse...

WhiskyCast Episode 612: October 23, 2016

24 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Lagavulin Distillery is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year, and the Islay distillery hasn't changed all that much over the years - at least o...

WhiskyCast Episode 611: October 16, 2016

16 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Charles Maclean is arguably one of the most prolific Scotch whisky writers around, and his years of research and writing have given him a unique histo...

WhiskyCast Episode 610: October 9, 2016

09 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Japanese whiskies have become harder to find as worldwide demand grows for them, but books about them are even harder to find. Longtime whisky writer...

WhiskyCast Episode 609: October 2, 2016

02 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Transparency in Scotch Whisky isn't a new issue, and it's one that's likely to last a lot longer now that John Glaser of Compass Box is giving up his ...

WhiskyCast Episode 608: September 25, 2016

25 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We're at a unique point in whisky history when it's not unusual to see people celebrating 40, 45, or even 50 years of working in whisky and still have...

WhiskyCast Episode 607: September 17, 2016

18 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Ardbeg unveiled its first single malt with an age statement since the original debut of the 10-year-old edition many years ago. The Ardbeg ...

WhiskyCast Episode 606: September 11, 2016

11 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Eddie Russell has been working in the shadow of his father, Wild Turkey's legendary master distiller Jimmy Russell, for the last 35 years. Now, Eddie'...

WhiskyCast Episode 605: September 4, 2016

04 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we'll visit the Sherry capital of the world...Jerez de la Frontera in Spain. The sherry casks that many whisky makers depend on come from J...

WhiskyCast Episode 604: August 28, 2016

28 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're in Sweden visiting Box Distillery for a follow-up to our 2014 visit, and Box is making some big changes six years after it opened in ...

WhiskyCast Episode 603: August 21, 2016

21 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

After years of working with supermodels and high-strung art directors in New York City, Michael Myers lives a much simpler - and more rewarding life i...

WhiskyCast Episode 602: August 14, 2016

14 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Diageo has faced criticism on social media for its decision to shut down the long-running Masters of Whisky program, a US-based education program aime...

WhiskyCast Episode 601: August 7, 2016

07 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We've packed this week's WhiskyCast full of cask-strength conversation from around the world! Texas distillers Amanda and Nick Swift will explain why ...

WhiskyCast Episode 600: July 31, 2016

31 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Philadelphia has a long history of whisky distilling dating back to Colonial days, and craft distillers are reviving some of that history that died ou...

WhiskyCast Episode 599: July 24, 2016

24 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is not only an independent bottler of Scotch whiskies, but also the world's largest whisky club - and it's looking to g...

WhiskyCast Episode 598: July 17, 2016

17 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

There are lots of whiskies to choose from, and there's a story behind each one. This time around, we'll talk with the entrepreneurs behind two vastly ...

WhiskyCast Episode 597: July 10, 2016

10 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The push by distillers for US Government recognition of an "American Single Malt Whisky" definition would also have an impact on single malt whiskies...

WhiskyCast Episode 596: July 3, 2016

04 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Single malt whiskies have been sold in the US for decades, but technically, there's no official definition for "single malt" in the federal government...

WhiskyCast Episode 595: June 25, 2016

26 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Willie Cochrane retired last month after 39 years at Jura Distillery, and spent the last 11 of them as the manager of the Isle of Jura's largest busin...

WhiskyCast Episode 594: June 18, 2016

19 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Moving is one of those things that no one really enjoys...let alone when one has to move hundreds of rare whisky samples to a new home. Whyte & Mackay...

WhiskyCast Episode 593: June 12, 2016

12 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Many factors go into the decision to give a whisky brand a shakeup, and we'll look at the factors behind two major facelifts announced in the last few...

WhiskyCast Episode 592: June 4, 2016

05 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Penderyn is the only whisky distillery in Wales, but may soon spin off a second distillery under its name in nearby Swansea. Local leaders want a seco...

WhiskyCast Episode 591: May 28, 2016

29 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

This weekend usually marks the beginning of summer, and many people will be heading for the beach - either for real or in their dreams. The entreprene...

WhiskyCast Episode 590: May 22, 2016

23 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

One of Scotland's newest distilleries opened its doors for the first time to visitors this week, though opportunities to visit InchDairnie Distillery ...

WhiskyCast Episode 589: May 14, 2016

15 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Booker Noe passed away in 2004, but some of the whiskey he laid down shortly before his death is adding a new chapter to his legacy. This past week, B...

WhiskyCast Episode 588: May 7, 2016

08 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan Drew wants to take his success in the cigar business and expand into the spirits industry, and he plans to do it with the same unique style a...

WhiskyCast Episode 587: April 30, 2016

01 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The other night, one of the whiskey bars in Louisville held a "Jim Rutledge Tribute Night" to honor the retired Four Roses master distiller. Less than...

WhiskyCast Episode 586: April 23, 2016

25 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Paul Hletlko is one of the leaders in North America's craft distilling movement, and the founder of FEW Spirits is in the middle of a distillery expan...

WhiskyCast Episode 585: April 17, 2016

17 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Japan's Hombo Shizu has been making whiskies off and on since 1949, and the company's whisky heritage claims a critical link to Masataka Taketsuru, th...

WhiskyCast Episode 584: April 10, 2016

10 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The Whisky Sponge has been puncturing egos and tweaking the Scotch Whisky industry with impunity - and relative anonymity - for nearly three years, bu...

WhiskyCast Episode 583: April 3, 2016

03 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A lot of trends come out of Portland, Oregon...and while the craft distilling movement didn't originate there, Portland's House Spirits helped jump-st...

WhiskyCast Episode 582: March 26, 2016

27 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

You'll see a lot of businesses with the "& Son" as part of the name, but rarely do we see businesses with "& Daughter" - let alone "& Daughters." The ...

WhiskyCast Episode 581: March 19, 2016

20 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

After two years of victories for Pacific Rim whiskies, a single malt Scotch is back on top of the World Whiskies Awards. Old Pulteney's 1989 Vintage w...

WhiskyCast Episode 580: March 12, 2016

13 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

There was once a time when Ireland's single pot still whiskies were among the world's most popular drams, but a combination of changing tastes, politi...

WhiskyCast Episode 579: March 5, 2016

06 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Adam Hannett has a tough job, though he wouldn't trade places with anyone for the world! He took over for the legendary Jim McEwan as head distiller a...

WhiskyCast Episode 578: February 28, 2016

28 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

There's been a lot of attention paid recently to women working in the whisky industry, but when Allisa Henley was promoted to Head Distiller at Tennes...

WhiskyCast Episode 577: February 20, 2016

21 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Chip Tate is about to get back into the whisky business, about 15 months after his acrimonious departure from Balcones Distilling, the Texas distiller...

WhiskyCast Episode 576: February 14, 2016

14 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

With oil prices in the doldrums, stocks sagging, and other forms of investments losing value, a number of investors are turning to rare whiskies as a ...

WhiskyCast Episode 575: February 6, 2016

07 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

One of the Southern Hemisphere's biggest whisky festivals is coming up later this month, and DramFest 2016 caps off a busy few weeks for Michael Frase...

WhiskyCast Episode 574: January 30, 2016

31 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The debate over age statements on whiskies shows no sign of going away, but how does a brand decide to remove the age statement from its whiskey? Earl...

WhiskyCast Episode 573: January 23, 2016

24 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Drew Mayville's 36 years in the whisky business include stints as the final master blender at Seagram's and as Sazerac's master blender for Buffalo Tr...

WhiskyCast Episode 572: January 17, 2016

18 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most-discussed topics at this weekend's Victoria Whisky Festival was a National Post feature on whisky questioning the future of vintage wh...

WhiskyCast Episode 571: January 15, 2016

16 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're on location with the first of two episodes from the Victoria Whisky Festival in Victoria, British Columbia. For the last several year...

WhiskyCast Episode 570: January 9, 2016

10 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

America has a love-hate relationship with alcohol, and it's fair to say that drinking has changed the course of American history - for better and for ...

WhiskyCast Episode 569: January 2, 2016

03 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

David Stewart will need new business cards soon, though the longtime master blender at William Grant & Sons is far too modest to ask for them. That's ...

WhiskyCast Episode 568: December 26, 2015

27 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

There are a lot of issues facing the world of whisky and spirits these days, and we'll discuss many of them on this week's WhiskyCast. During the rece...

WhiskyCast Episode 567: December 19, 2015

20 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we'll look at the business behind the whiskies we drink - and investors hope to profit from. More investors are looking seriously at the wh...

WhiskyCast Episode 566: December 13, 2015

13 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we'll give you a glimpse at something rarely seen...the very first still run at a new distillery. This week, the stills at Ireland's Waterf...

WhiskyCast Episode 565: December 5, 2015

06 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Every once in a while, you might want to step outside of your comfort zone and try something besides whisky. A WhiskyCast listener asked for suggestio...

WhiskyCast Episode 564: November 29, 2015

30 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we'll be talking about whisky and education. Not teaching people how to drink whisky, but how to make it! There aren't many university-leve...

WhiskyCast Episode 563: November 21, 2015

22 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're at Canada's oldest whisky festival...the New Brunswick Spirits Festival in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The festival is celebrating it...

WhiskyCast Episode 562: November 14, 2015

15 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

As we begin the 11th year of WhiskyCast, we're taking a look back this week to catch up with some of the friends we've made over the last ten years......

WhiskyCast Episode 561: November 7, 2015

08 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Scotland's Glenturret Distillery celebrated its 240th anniversary this week by gathering 240 people at The Famous Grouse Experience for a toast, and b...

WhiskyCast Episode 560: October 31, 2015

01 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Popular, yet controversial in many ways, WhistlePig Farm's distillery has finally opened after a series of lengthy delays and disputes. Founder Raj Pe...

WhiskyCast Episode 559: October 24, 2015

25 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Andy Cant has been a Scotch Whisky nomad for nearly four decades, working at distilleries and maltings all over Scotland. He's done everything from ma...

WhiskyCast Episode 558: October 17, 2015

18 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

George Washington's Scottish distiller never made single malt whisky at Mount Vernon in the 18th Century, but Scottish distillers John Campbell, Bill ...

WhiskyCast Episode 557: October 10, 2015

11 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

It's rare that we talk about spirits other than whiskies on WhiskyCast, but with many people complaining that rising prices for single malts are forci...