Digging Into Scotland’s Whisky History

Thousands of illicit distilling sites exist around Scotland. Derek Alexander and his team of archaeologists at the National Trust for Scotland have barely scratched the… Read More

Thousands of illicit distilling sites exist around Scotland. Derek Alexander and his team of archaeologists at the National Trust for Scotland have barely scratched the surface of the country’s bothys, but their recent digs have uncovered some rare artifacts of illicit distilling’s past. We’ll catch up with Derek on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, The Balvenie’s longtime Malt Master, David Stewart, is standing down after 47 years in the post. The UK, Australia, and New Zealand all raised liquor taxes this week, and Suntory is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a “tiny house” tour of America. 

Episode 1016: August 6, 2023

Links: National Trust for Scotland | The Balvenie | Scotch Whisky Association | Heaven Hill | Watershed Distillery | Suntory Whisky | Legent Bourbon | Gordon & MacPhail | The Glenlivet | The Macallan | The Irishman | Douglas Laing & Co. | Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery | Hood River Distillers | High West | Hardin’s Creek

Photo courtesy National Trust for Scotland.

Reviving Rosebank Distillery After 30 Silent Years

When Rosebank Distillery’s stills went silent in 1993, many whisky lovers assumed the Falkirk distillery was gone forever – especially after thieves stole the copper… Read More

When Rosebank Distillery’s stills went silent in 1993, many whisky lovers assumed the Falkirk distillery was gone forever – especially after thieves stole the copper stills for scrap a couple of years later. Now, after 5 and a half years of work, Rosebank has come back to life, and the team at Ian Macleod Distillers filled the first casks of Rosebank since 1993 this week. We’ll talk with Ian Macleod’s Gordon Dundas about the revival of Rosebank on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth.

In the news, the whisky world pays tribute to the Bon Accord’s Paul McDonagh after the legendary Glasgow whisky bar’s owner passed away this week. Speyburn Distillery in Scotland is opening its doors to visitors for the first time starting next week, and we’ll have the details. We’ll take a look at sweet mash and sour mash distilling on Behind the Label, and our tasting notes this week include whiskies from Amrut and Arran distilleries.

Episode 1014: July 23, 2023

Links: Rosebank Distillery | The Bon Accord | Speyburn Distillery | Port of Leith Distillery | Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Showdown | Remus Bourbon | Hard Truth Distilling | Old Forester | Green River Distilling Co. | Teeling Whiskey Company | National Trust for Scotland | King Robert II | Amrut | Arran

Photo courtesy Ian Macleod Distillers