WhiskyCast

WhiskyCast Episode 556: October 4, 2015

05 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this year, Japan's Nikka Whisky announced plans to replace many of its age-statement single malts with new no-age-statement versions. The comp...

WhiskyCast Episode 555: September 25, 2015

28 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In this special bonus episode from Whisky Live Paris, we'll have more highlights from one of Europe's top whisky festivals. We'll look at the recent c...

WhiskyCast Episode 554: September 26, 2015

26 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

This time around, we're in Paris for the first of two episodes this weekend from Whisky Live Paris! Each year, Whisky Live Paris draws whisky fans and...

WhiskyCast Episode 553: September 19, 2015

20 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Sam Mead is a fifth-generation rancher, but never had any interest in distilling...until he came back home to work at Wyoming Whiskey, the distillery ...

WhiskyCast Episode 552: September 12, 2015

13 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The Glenrothes was one of the first Scotch Whisky distilleries to label its single malts with wine-style vintages instead of age statements. While the...

WhiskyCast Episode 551: September 5, 2015

06 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Louisville isn't just famous for Bourbon...it's also becoming a popular city for culinary connoisseurs, and the foodies are flocking to Chef John Vara...

WhiskyCast Episode 550: August 29, 2015

30 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Kieran Folliard is a native son of Ireland, but calls Minnesota his home now. While running a group of Irish pubs in Minneapolis, he and his staff dec...

WhiskyCast Episode 549: August 22, 2015

23 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Many American craft distillers produce single malt whiskies, but Seattle's Westland Distillery is one of the few that only produces single malts. The ...

WhiskyCast Episode 548: August 17, 2015

18 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The "Bourbon Boom" has led to a corresponding boom in the publishing industry, with almost as many new Bourbon books as there are Bourbons on the mark...

WhiskyCast Episode 547: August 8, 2015

09 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're on location at the M.B. Roland Distillery in Pembroke, Kentucky for a special benefit to raise money for the Lifting Spirits - Jay & ...

WhiskyCast Episode 546: August 1, 2015

02 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Scotland's Bladnoch Distillery will be 200 years old in 2017, but for more than a year, it was fair to question whether one of the oldest Lowlands dis...

WhiskyCast Episode 545: July 25, 2015

26 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The history of Bourbon is filled with enough myths to make a dozen Disney movies, enough crimes for years of True Detective, and enough mysteries to m...

WhiskyCast Episode 544: July 19, 2015

19 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Bourbon has a unique place in American history, but as with other elements of American history...many of the stories of Bourbon are based more on myth...

WhiskyCast Episode 543: July 11, 2015

12 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

There are dozens of stakeholders in the Scotch Whisky industry, and while they do work together on a few key fronts, their competitive nature makes it...

WhiskyCast Episode 542: July 4, 2015

04 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Jim Rutledge gets most of the credit for reviving Four Roses Bourbon in the US over the last decade after years of neglect by the brand's previous own...

WhiskyCast Episode 541: June 27, 2015

28 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Just as whisky brands need to change things up once in a while to remain fresh, so do whisky festivals. Tickets have gone on sale for this September's...

WhiskyCast Episode 540: June 20, 2015

21 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

It's Father's Day weekend, and we have two stories to share on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. Euan Henderson didn't want to work in the whisky busin...

WhiskyCast Episode 539: June 13, 2015

14 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Dave Schmier and Michael Kandar started Bardstown Barrel Selections five years ago to bottle some casks of good whiskey they'd come across from MGP-I ...

WhiskyCast Episode 538: June 6, 2015

07 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're looking at the end of an experiment nearly 14 years in the making...Buffalo Trace's Single Oak Project. The attempt to create "Bourbo...

WhiskyCast Episode 537: May 30, 2015

31 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Irish Whiskey once dominated the world, but several factors combined to nearly wipe the country's distillers out over time. While it's now the fastest...

WhiskyCast Episode 536: May 23, 2015

24 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Gordon & MacPhail reopened Benromach Distillery in Speyside in 1998 after 15 years of inactivity, and Keith Cruickshank has been there since the still...

WhiskyCast Episode 535: May 16, 2015

17 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The labels on whisky bottles often give us more than just the legal description of what's inside the bottle. Good ones convey the character and herita...

WhiskyCast Episode 534: May 9, 2015

10 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

This episode wraps up our special coverage of the Spirit of Speyside Festival in Scotland, and we'll hear from soccer's Michael Owen. The former Manch...

WhiskyCast Episode 533: May 2, 2015

03 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Lots of people try to pair whiskies with foods, but pairing whiskies with music? That's the challenge Neil Ridley and Joel Harrison took on when they ...

WhiskyCast Episode 532: May 1, 2015

02 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

We're kicking off this weekend's special coverage of the Spirit of Speyside Festival in Scotland this time around! Thousands of people from around the...

WhiskyCast Episode 531: April 25, 2015

26 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a busy week in the whisky world, and there's a lot to talk about on this episode. We'll have the latest on Friday's explosion at the Silver ...

WhiskyCast Episode 530: April 18, 2015

19 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

If distilleries have ghosts, the ones haunting the former Old Taylor Distillery in Kentucky finally have some people to scare. After nearly 43 years, ...

WhiskyCast Episode 529: April 11, 2015

12 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're on location at the Maker's Mark Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky for the annual Maker's Mark Handcraft Festival and the running of the...

WhiskyCast Episode 528: April 4, 2015

05 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Bacardi took a step into the Bourbon business this week with its acquisition of Angel's Share Brands, the parent company of Angel's Envy Bourbon and t...

WhiskyCast Episode 527: March 28, 2015

29 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Suntory Holdings CEO Takeshi Niinami is one of Japan's leading business executives. He's the first CEO from outside the founding Torii family, and is ...

WhiskyCast Episode 526: March 21, 2015

22 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

US President Barack Obama visited a whisky maker for the first time this week during his trip to Cleveland for a speech to the City Club of Cleveland....

WhiskyCast Episode 525: March 14, 2015

15 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Anthony Bourdain is many things...a chef, author, journalist, and media personality. At heart, though, he's a hedonist seeking pleasure from everythin...

WhiskyCast Episode 524: March 7, 2015

08 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Lawyers are circling around the whisky industry, much like sharks around a shipwreck. At least five different US distillers and bottlers have been hit...

WhiskyCast Episode 523: February 28, 2015

01 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Lots to talk about this week, with news from all over the world! Bruichladdich's Jim McEwan joins us on WhiskyCast In-Depth to talk about the world's ...

WhiskyCast Episode 522: February 21, 2015

22 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

For the second straight year, a Texas whiskey has won Best in Show honors at the American Craft Spirits Association competition. San Antonio's Ranger ...

WhiskyCast Episode 521: February 14, 2015

15 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

It's Valentine's Day, and who better to explain his passion for making whisky than Rifino Valentine of Valentine Distilling. His Woodward Ltd. Bourbon...

WhiskyCast Episode 520: February 7, 2015

08 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Ian MacMillan has been overseeing the whiskies from Deanston, Tobermory, and Bunnahabhain for years...but Cognac casks were one thing he hadn't experi...

WhiskyCast Episode 519: January 31, 2015

01 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Graeme Macaloney gave up a secure career in the pharmaceutical industry to pursue his dream of making whisky, and the Scottish expat is getting closer...

WhiskyCast Episode 518: January 24, 2015

25 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Kentucky's Four Roses Distillery announced this week that supply problems will prevent this spring's release of the annual Four Roses Limited Edition ...

WhiskyCast Episode 517: January 18, 2015

19 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In the second of our two episodes from this weekend’s Victoria Whisky Festival, we'll catch up on more of the week's news - including more details o...

WhiskyCast Episode 516: January 17, 2015

18 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

We're on the road for the first time in 2015 this weekend, with the first of two episodes from the 10th annual Victoria Whisky Festival in Victoria, B...

WhiskyCast Episode 515: January 10, 2015

11 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

On New Year's Day, David Perkins and his team at Utah's High West Distillery fired up the still at their new distillery for the first time. High West ...

WhiskyCast Episode 514: January 3, 2015

04 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Irish whiskey will take another step in 2015 with the first exports of Yellow Spot to the US market, still the strongest market in the world for Irish...

WhiskyCast Episode 513: December 28, 2014

28 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

As we close out 2014, we'll hear from the man some might call "The Whisky Whisperer" for his ability to coax young distilleries into producing spirit ...

WhiskyCast Episode 512: December 20, 2014

21 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Each year, the Malt Maniacs honor some of the world's best whiskies with the Malt Maniacs Awards. This year, for the first time, the overall winner di...

WhiskyCast Episode 511: December 13, 2014

14 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Amrut got whisky lovers used to the idea of single malt whiskies from India, and now, Paul John is challenging Amrut's standing as the leader in India...

WhiskyCast Episode 510: December 8, 2014

08 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

As we reported on our last episode, Balcones Distilling founder Chip Tate has accepted a buyout agreement from the majority owners of the Waco, Texas ...

WhiskyCast Episode 509: December 6, 2014

07 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of this week's two episodes of WhiskyCast, we'll travel to Sweden to look at two of the country's whisky distilleries. Mackmyra is Sweden...

WhiskyCast Episode 508: November 29, 2014

30 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Irish Whiskey has been leading the global growth in whisky sales for the last several years, posting double-digit gains every year. That growth is bei...

WhiskyCast Episode 507: November 22, 2014

23 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Dewar's has focused on its Blended Scotch whiskies for generations, with the limited exception in recent years of single malts from Aberfeldy. However...

WhiskyCast Episode 506: November 15, 2014

16 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Stuart Harvey has been the master blender for Inver House for nearly 11 years, and he's living proof that you don't have to be born into the industry ...

WhiskyCast Episode 505: November 8, 2014

09 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

This episode marks the end of our 9th year, and we'll hear from two of the more outspoken voices in the whisky world on this week's WhiskyCast In-Dept...

WhiskyCast Episode 504: November 1, 2014

02 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

The battle between Scotland's illicit distillers and the excisemen known as "gaugers" is the stuff of which legends, books, and now, a movie have been...

WhiskyCast Episode 503: October 25, 2014

26 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

This week's episode comes from Whiskey Live Dublin, and we'll be focusing on Irish whiskies this time around with some of the winners from Thursday ni...

WhiskyCast Episode 502: October 18, 2014

19 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Finland has a love-hate relationship with whisky. Finns love it, and the Finnish government hates it. Distilled spirits advertising is banned, and reg...

WhiskyCast Episode 501: October 11, 2014

12 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we'll look at the growth of craft distilling through the eyes of Darek Bell and James Rodewald. Bell is one of the co-founders of Corsair A...

WhiskyCast Episode 500: October 6, 2014

06 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

This is a special episode of WhiskyCast - not only is it the 500th episode, but it's the second of two episodes this weekend from The Whisky Show in L...

WhiskyCast Episode 499: October 4, 2014

04 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

This is the first of two episodes this weekend from The Whisky Show in London, and we'll be looking at some of the new whiskies that made their debut ...

WhiskyCast Episode 498: September 26, 2014

27 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

With all of the issues being raised over whisky labeling in the US and a new lawsuit challenging claims on Templeton Rye's labels, we'll hear this wee...

WhiskyCast Episode 497: September 21, 2014

21 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

It's Kentucky Bourbon Festival week, and there's a lot of news coming out of Bourbon Country these days. Thousands of Bourbon lovers descended on Bard...

WhiskyCast Episode 496: September 12, 2014

13 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Templeton Rye has been in the spotlight in recent weeks as critics go after so-called "sourced whisky" producers for what they claim are violations of...

WhiskyCast Episode 495: September 7, 2014

08 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

When you've worked at the same place for 60 years, it's hard for your colleagues to keep a secret from you. Wild Turkey and the Kentucky Distillers As...

WhiskyCast Episode 494: August 30, 2014

30 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Steve Gertman of California's Ascendant Spirits produces Breaker Bourbon, and his brand is one of those targeted by a Chicago-based law firm that spec...

WhiskyCast Episode 493: August 22, 2014

23 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we'll wrap up our conversation with Bourbon Hall of Fame member Chuck Cowdery, author of the new book "Bourbon: Strange" and get his views ...

WhiskyCast Episode 492: August 16, 2014

17 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Chuck Cowdery is regarded as one of the top Bourbon writers around, and is one of the few writers to be inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fam...

WhiskyCast Episode 491: August 8, 2014

09 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Stuart Nickerson has kept a low profile since leaving Glenglassaugh Distillery following its sale last year, but he has several new projects coming on...

WhiskyCast Episode 490: August 1, 2014

02 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Scotland's newest distillery has opened on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula along the western coast, and the first casks of spirit were filled on Thursday a...

WhiskyCast Episode 489: July 25, 2014

26 Jul 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Tasmania's distillers have been making some unusual and incredible whiskies in recent years, but many of them are flying under the radar of whisky lov...

WhiskyCast Episode 488: July 18, 2014

19 Jul 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrity-branded spirits are a big trend these days, and the whisky world is no exception. Last week, we reported on the lawsuit filed by John Wayne'...

WhiskyCast Episode 487: July 11, 2014

12 Jul 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Glenmorangie's Dr. Bill Lumsden wanted to push the envelope 16 years ago when he got his hands on some French Oak barriques from an undisclosed Bordea...

WhiskyCast Episode 486: July 4, 2014

05 Jul 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Corn farmers have a saying "knee high by the Fourth of July" to gauge whether their crop will be a good one, and we'll look at the grains that go into...

WhiskyCast Episode 485: June 27, 2014

28 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Urquhart is retiring from Gordon & MacPhail in September, but the leader of the family-owned business calls it a natural "changing of the guar...

WhiskyCast Episode 484: June 20, 2014

21 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Distilling is serious business, and safety is paramount. Brianna Bailey of The Oklahoman can testify to that...she was an eyewitness to an explosion i...

WhiskyCast Episode 483: June 13, 2014

14 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

David Blackmore spends most of his year on the road as the brand ambassador for Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, and was in Taipei for Ardbeg Day 2014 in what...

WhiskyCast Episode 482: June 6, 2014

07 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Humans have been drinking alcohol for centuries, but there are still many things we don't understand about it...basic things like the chemistry behind...

WhiskyCast Episode 481: May 31, 2014

30 May 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Tokyo's whisky bars are legendary, but so hard to find that they're often compared to Prohibition-era speakeasies. Hidetsugo Ueno owns Bar High Five i...

WhiskyCast Episode 480: May 24, 2014

23 May 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Seiichi Koshimizu has been making whisky at Suntory for 41 years, and became the company's chief blender in 1991. Over the years, he's been responsibl...

WhiskyCast Episode 479: May 17, 2014

17 May 2014

Contributed by Lukas

The old saying goes "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Dan Garrison's life was full of lemons back in 2003, and he decided to make lemonade....

WhiskyCast Episode 478: May 10, 2014

11 May 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Brown heads up Buffalo Trace and its parent company, Sazerac, and he's known for speaking his mind even when it goes against the rest of the Bour...

WhiskyCast Episode 477: May 3, 2014

04 May 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Most distillery startups these days come from entrepreneurs looking for a new challenge in life, and Ken Lewis is no different. His New Riff Distiller...

WhiskyCast Episode 476: April 26, 2014

26 Apr 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Whisky has inspired many musicians over the years, but Copper Dogs is turning that around. Four whisky industry veterans have turned to performing, th...

WhiskyCast Episode 475: April 19, 2014

19 Apr 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Whisky has a place in the kitchen as well as the bar, and Bourbon may well be one of the most versatile spirits chefs can experiment with. It adds a s...

WhiskyCast Episode 474: April 11, 2014

13 Apr 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Craft distillers took center stage during Whisky Live New York on Wednesday evening, and we'll hear from several of them on this week's episode. Chip ...

WhiskyCast Episode 473: April 5, 2014

06 Apr 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Many of Scotland's historic distilleries have faded into history, to be remembered only by archivists and the occasional whisky lover. While the actua...

WhiskyCast Episode 472: March 29, 2014

30 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

James Espey has created some of whisky's legendary brands during his career, along with the Keepers of the Quaich, and was named an Officer of the Bri...

WhiskyCast Episode 471: March 22, 2014

23 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Dave Broom has written and edited many books on whisky and other spirits, but none quite like his latest book. "Whisky: The Manual" is for whisky drin...

WhiskyCast Episode 470: March 15, 2014

16 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Bruichladdich expressions come and go...sort of like the waves on Loch Indaal do. Laddie fans are lamenting a decision to pull the Laddie Ten, Sixteen...

WhiskyCast Episode 469: March 8, 2014

09 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Graham Eunson has seen a lot during his career in the Scotch whisky industry. He shed a tear or two when he was assigned to close Scapa and Glendronac...

WhiskyCast Episode 468: March 1, 2014

02 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Maker's Mark celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, and the distillery is about to undergo a $70 million dollar expansion that will increase capac...

WhiskyCast Episode 467: February 23, 2014

23 Feb 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Alwynne Gwilt couldn't stand whisky...hated it, in fact. That is, until a former boss in London dragged the Canadian expat to a media tasting. It's no...

WhiskyCast Episode 466: February 15, 2014

16 Feb 2014

Contributed by Lukas

There have been many more questions than answers about Diageo's new Orphan Barrel range of whiskies...until now. Diageo's Ewan Morgan answers our ques...

WhiskyCast Episode 465: February 8, 2014

09 Feb 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Whisky's brand ambassadors roam the world, racking up tens or hundreds of thousands of frequent flier miles every year and spending up to half their n...

WhiskyCast Episode 464: February 1, 2014

02 Feb 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Kilchoman became Islay's newest distillery in 2005, about the same time Jean Donnay started making whisky at Glann ar Mor on France's Brittany Coast. ...

WhiskyCast Episode 463: January 25, 2014

26 Jan 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Colin Scott is celebrating two anniversaries -- his 40th anniversary in the whisky business and 25th anniversary as the Master Blender for Chivas Rega...

WhiskyCast Episode 462: January 19, 2014

20 Jan 2014

Contributed by Lukas

More coverage of the Victoria Whisky Festival in this bonus edition of WhiskyCast, with details on new and upcoming releases from Springbank, Duncan T...

WhiskyCast Episode 461: January 17, 2014

18 Jan 2014

Contributed by Lukas

This is the first of two episodes from this weekend's Victoria Whisky Festival in British Columbia, where Canadian whisky was featured on opening nigh...

WhiskyCast Episode 460: January 11, 2014

12 Jan 2014

Contributed by Lukas

London and Seattle have a few things in common: reputations for foggy, rainy weather...a vibrant cultural scene...and now, craft distilleries. Seattle...

WhiskyCast Episode 459: January 4, 2014

05 Jan 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Southern California isn't the place you'd normally think of for a Bourbon to call home, but Steve Gertman picked the wine country of Santa Barbara Cou...

WhiskyCast Episode 458: December 29, 2013

29 Dec 2013

Contributed by Lukas

The classic Irish pub is becoming an endangered species, thanks to a combination of progress and the economy. There are some pubs that still cling to ...

WhiskyCast Episode 457: December 21, 2013

21 Dec 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Think of Belgium and drinks, and beer is usually the first thing that comes to mind. However, Belgians are quite fond of whisky as well, and Etienne B...