Author name: Mark Gillespie

Six years ago, the wildfire known as “The Beast” devastated Northern Alberta, forcing the evacuations of 88,000 people in the area around Fort McMurray. At the time, Wood Buffalo Brewing & Distilling had to leave behind a pallet of peated malt to escape the fire, but firefighters managed to save both the distillery and the malt, which had absorbed a lot of smoke from the fire. The distillery pre-sold bottles of “The Beast” whisky made from that malt to raise more than $100,000 for local charities in the months following the fire, and while the distillery later closed its doors, Read More »

During the golden age of Irish Whiskey, Belfast-based Dunville’s was one of the biggest brands on the market. While the brand was almost lost to history, it was revived a decade ago by the family-owned Echlinville Distillery in Northern Ireland. Using vintage sourced whiskies, the Dunville’s brand has been preserved for new generations of Irish Whiskey fans. We’ll talk with Echlinville’s Jarlath Watson about the Dunville’s heritage and building new traditions as the distillery prepares to release its own whiskies starting in 2023.  Links: Echlinville Distillery | Jack Daniel’s | The Independent | Westward Whiskey | Icons of Whisky Awards Read More »

Bigger isn’t necessarily better, and we have proof of that this week with our podcast recorded on location at the New Brunswick Spirits Festival in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The festival punches well above its weight class to deliver an outstanding event every year, and celebrated its 25th anniversary this weekend. We’ll talk with founder and chairman Frank Scott to find out his secrets for success on WhiskyCast In-Depth, and we’ll also catch up with another old friend. Martine Nouet has been organizing the festival’s food and whisky lunches for years, but is scaling back her whisky work to pursue other Read More »

With the holidays coming up, whisky books may be on your gift list. We’ll talk with two noted whisky writers who have new books out this holiday season. Ian Buxton is the author of “101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die,” and Dave Broom’s latest book “A Sense of Place” looks at whisky’s place in Scottish culture. We’ll have tasting notes for a Christmas whisky from Paul John and the new American Single Malt from Jack Daniel’s, and Lochlea’s John Campbell helps us explain how the strength of peated whiskies is measured on this week’s Behind the Label. Links: “101 Read More »

Nick Offerman has entertained millions of people with his film and television career, but it’s his whisky career that he’s sharing with us this week. From the early days of featuring Lagavulin on Parks and Recreation to his dozens of Tales of Whisky videos for the brand, Offerman has become synonymous with Lagavulin. He’ll join us on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth to discuss his Lagavulin origin story, working with blender Stewart Morrison, and cutting peat on Islay with the legendary Iain “Mr. Pinky” McArthur. We’ll also have details on the sales of Wilderness Trail and Balcones distilleries, this week’s tasting Read More »

Colum Egan had a unique challenge when presented with the opportunity to build a new Bushmills distillery that would complement the venerable existing distillery: take the best technology of today while making the whiskey taste the same way the old distillery has been producing it for decades. The €37 million project went into production a year ago, but few visitors have been allowed inside to take a look at the new distillery. You’ll get a first look inside with Colum Egan on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Irish Whiskey exports rose in 2021, but will be pressed to Read More »

Much has been made of the boom in Irish whiskey over the last decade, but one industry veteran says that boom is only the foundation for greater growth in the future. Walsh Whiskey Company founder Bernard Walsh believes the industry still has some growing pains to go through before the “renaissance” really begins, and he’ll share his views with us on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. We’re in Dublin this week for a series of distillery visits sponsored by the Irish whiskey Association and Tourism Ireland, and we’ll also have a crypt keeper’s story to share on Behind the Label. Links: Read More »

Unless you’re drinking a single cask bottling, every whisky you drink has been prepared by a team of blenders. That goes for single malts, too, and Stewart Morrison is the blender behind Lagavulin’s latest release: the Offerman Edition Charred Oak. Morrison teamed up with actor and Lagavulin lover Nick Offerman to create the third release in the Offerman Edition series, and he’ll join us on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Islay’s distilleries may soon run short of peated malt supplies to meet the island’s growing demand, while U.S. whisky exports are rising following the removal of European and Read More »

There are at least 774 malt whisky distilleries around the world, according to the 2023 edition of the Malt Whisky Yearbook. We’ll hear from some of the emerging malt whisky makers, including Dhavall Gandhi of The Lakes Distillery in England and Desiree Reid of New Zealand’s Cardrona Distillery, on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. Number 775 could be Jack Daniel’s, which unveiled plans this week to release an American Single Malt next June. We’ll also take a look at a group of whisky lovers that need special attention from whisky show organizers…those who need wheelchairs to get around. Links: Business Post Read More »

This week, we’re on location in London for The Whisky Exchange’s annual Whisky Show at Old Billingsgate. We’ll have interviews from throughout the weekend on WhiskyCast In-Depth, including Diageo’s Colin Dunn, Oliver Chilton of Elixir Distillers, and Tomatin’s Scott Adamson. Tomatin took home top honors at this week’s International Wine and Spirits Competition Awards, and we’ll have that story in our news segment along with details on a new record for Kentucky’s growing Bourbon barrel inventory. We’ll also have tasting notes from the weekend, and in our Behind the Label segment, we’ll explain the difference between rejuvenated casks and “STR” Read More »