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Islay Boys, Islay Whisky (Episode 964: August 7, 2022)

Scotland’s Isle of Islay is known for its distilleries, and construction will begin soon on the island’s 12th distillery near the shores of Laggan Bay. The Islay Boys, Donald MacKenzie and Mackay Smith, plan to build the new Laggan Bay Distillery across from Islay’s airport on the site of a former RAF World War II barracks. MacKenzie and Smith also own the island’s lone brewery, and plan to make Islay Ales part of the Laggan Bay development. We’ll catch up with Donald MacKenzie on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Kentucky’s Bourbon community is coming together again to help Read More »

Happy Hour Live with Springbank’s Findlay Ross and Ranald Watson (Episode 902: October 8, 2021)

Springbank’s Findlay Ross and Ranald Watson joined us from Campbeltown, Scotland on the latest Happy Hour Live webcast to answer your whisky questions. We also talked about plans for J&A Mitchell’s third distillery to be built in Campbeltown, with a goal of having it open in time for Springbank’s 200th anniversary in 2028. There are also new environmental initiatives in the works for Springbank and Glengyle distilleries, along with new whiskies and the return of Springbank’s popular whisky school in 2022. Links: Springbank

Happy Hour Live with Ashley & Colby Frey, Beth Behrs, and Gareth Howells (Episode 900: September 22, 2021)

Colby and Ashley Frey own and operate Frey Ranch Farmers + Distillers, a true “grain to glass” farm distillery in Fallon, Nevada. Not only do they grow all of their own grain, but the only thing the Frey family didn’t build themselves was the still – a unique combination of column and pot stills custom-built by Vendome. The Freys did have to assemble the still, though…and that’s one of the stories they shared on our Happy Hour Live webcast the other night. We’re also joined by Aberfeldy’s Gareth Howells and actor Beth Behrs, known for her roles on “The Neighborhood” Read More »

Happy Hour Live with Scott Neil and Nick Ravenhall (Episode 888: August 11, 2021)

Earlier this month, Nick Ravenhall and his brother Alex did something most of us would never dream of trying. They led a small team of swimmers through Scotland’s treacherous Corryvreckan whirlpool as part of their Whisky and Waves campaign of open-water swims around Great Britain. The “Whisky Smugglers” are carrying small bottles of whisky during their swim that will be blended and sold later this year to raise money for Sea Shepherd’s ocean conservation efforts in New Zealand, where the Ravenhall brothers call home. Nick joined us on the #HappyHourLive webcast along with Horse Soldier Bourbon co-founder Scott Neil. He Read More »

Happy Hour Live with Distillers Bob Baxter & Todd Leopold (Episode 884: July 28, 2021)

Bob Baxter distills the award-winning Two Brewers Canadian single malts with co-founder Alan Hansen at their Yukon Spirits distillery in Whitehorse, Yukon, and Todd Leopold makes equally renowned whiskies with his brother Scott at Denver’s Leopold Bros. Distilling. Bob and Todd joined us on the latest #HappyHourLive webcast to talk about their whiskies, along with the unique three-chamber still now being used at Leopold Bros. We also talked a bit of hockey, shared heritage in the Detroit area, and much more on the webcast, too! Links: Two Brewers Whisky | Leopold Bros. 

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