Ask the Distiller: Ardbeg’s Dr. Bill Lumsden

This week, Ardbeg and Glenmorangie’s Dr. Bill Lumsden joins us to answer your questions posed in the WhiskyCast Community app. The questions ranged from why… Read More

This week, Ardbeg and Glenmorangie’s Dr. Bill Lumsden joins us to answer your questions posed in the WhiskyCast Community app. The questions ranged from why the new Ardbeg 17 is chill-filtered and bottled at 40% ABV to what it was like working with Beyoncé on her new Sir Davis Whiskey. We’ll have Bill’s answers on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Scotch Whisky industry leaders are calling this week’s UK excise tax hike a “betrayal” and a “kick in the teeth” — and we’ll hear from Scotch Whisky Association CEO Mark Kent, who’s also worried about the potential impacts of this week’s US presidential election on tariffs. We’ll also have the rest of the week’s news, tasting notes, and much more. 

Episode 1081: November 3, 2024

Links: Glenmorangie | Ardbeg | Scotch Whisky Association | The Cabrach Distillery | Aultmore Distillery | Buffalo Trace | Crown Royal | Redwood Empire Distillery | Wyoming Whiskey | Westland Distillery | Jeptha Creed Distillery | Holyrood Distillery | Drinks International | Clonakilty | Stauning Distillery

Shining a Light on Lost Lantern

Lost Lantern Whiskey took the Scotch Whiskey tradition of independent bottlers and applied it to American craft whiskies. Founders Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski weren’t… Read More

Lost Lantern Whiskey took the Scotch Whiskey tradition of independent bottlers and applied it to American craft whiskies. Founders Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski weren’t the first independent bottlers of American whiskies, but their selections over the last four years represent an eclectic variety of whiskies from around the country. They’re about to release their Fall 2024 tranche of whiskies, all at or close to ten years old, and we’ll catch up with Nora and Adam on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, it’s budget week in the U-K, and Scotch Whisky makers will be watching closely for news of an excise tax cut. We’ll have the rest of the week’s whisky news as well, along with this week’s tasting notes and a look at so-called “vatted malts.”

Episode 1080: October 27, 2024

Links: Lost Lantern Whiskey | Remy Cointreau | Sazerac Charity Auction | Center for Courageous Kids Raffle | Kavalan | Littlemill | Tobermory | Oban | Ardbeg | Tomintoul | Tamdhu | Baker’s Bourbon | Woodford Reserve | Barrell Craft Spirits | Laws Whiskey House | Whiskey del Bac | Log Still Distillery | Johnnie Walker Princes Street | Westward Whiskey | Benromach | Cedar Ridge Distillery

Image courtesy Lost Lantern Whiskey.

Behind the Scenes at a Spirits Competition

Ever wanted to find out how a spirits competition works? This week, we’ll take you inside the recent American Craft Spirits Association’s annual judging of… Read More

Ever wanted to find out how a spirits competition works? This week, we’ll take you inside the recent American Craft Spirits Association’s annual judging of craft spirits to show you how the judging process works. It only takes a couple of minutes for trained judges to assess a whisky’s aroma, flavor and finish and determine a score. In the news, American electoral politics could affect the price you pay for whiskies in the future, no matter where you live in the world. 

Links: American Craft Spirits Association | Jim Beam | Maker’s Mark | Old Forester | Woodford Reserve | WhistlePig Whiskey | Douglas Laing & Co. | Bladnoch | The Glasgow Distillery | Kingsbarns Distillery | Glengoyne | Mossburn Distillers & Blenders | ImPex Beverages | Jameson | Old Potrero | The Whisky Exchange | The Macklowe | Ardbeg | Wayne Gretzky Estates | Eden Mill Distillery

From Scotland to California: John Campbell’s New Journey

John Campbell has long been regarded as one of Scotland’s best distillers, but he shocked the whisky world this week by leaving Scotland to join… Read More

John Campbell has long been regarded as one of Scotland’s best distillers, but he shocked the whisky world this week by leaving Scotland to join the tiny Sespe Creek Distillery in Oxnard, California. He’ll explain why he’s making the move to distill Sespe Creek’s Warbringer Bourbon in his first interview since moving to California on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Sweden’s Mackmyra Distillery has been bought out of bankruptcy, while Diageo is looking at options for a new Talisker Distillery on the Isle of Skye.

Episode 1078: October 13, 2024

Links: Sespe Creek Distillery | Mackmyra Distillery | The Press & Journal | Jura Distillery | Wiggly Bridge Distillery | Knob Creek | Booker’s | Orphan Barrel | High West Distillery | Mary Dowling Whiskey | Brother’s Bond | Sagamore Spirit | Ironroot Republic Distilling | Benromach | Royal Tiger Whisky | High Coast Distillery | Nikka Whisky | Waterford Whisky | Bladnoch | Glengoyne | Cedar Ridge Distilling

Images courtesy Sespe Creek Distillery.

True Story: Wes Henderson’s Next Chapter

Wes Henderson retired recently from Angel’s Envy, the whiskey brand he and his father, the late Lincoln Henderson created. Retirement didn’t suit Wes well, though,… Read More

Wes Henderson retired recently from Angel’s Envy, the whiskey brand he and his father, the late Lincoln Henderson created. Retirement didn’t suit Wes well, though, and he’s back in the Bourbon business with True Story’s finished Bourbon and Rye whiskies. He’s also building a $92 million distillery in Versailles, Kentucky and upgrading the nearby Kentucky Castle boutique hotel and event space to make it more Bourbon-focused. We’ll talk with the busy Wes Henderson on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, a port strike on the U.S. East Coast is over, clearing the way for shipments of whisky from Europe. We’ll also have the trophy winners from this year’s International Wine & Spirits Competition. 

Episode 1077: October 6, 2024

Links: True Story Whiskey | International Wine & Spirits Competition | House of Suntory | The Macallan | The Dalmore | Blade and Bow | King of Kentucky Bourbon | Westward Whiskey | The Whisky Exchange | Stauning Distillery | Widow Jane | Johnnie Walker | The Balvenie | Old Overholt | Hudson Whiskey | Uncle Nearest

Image courtesy Saga Spirits.

The World’s Most Remote Distillery?

Few places are as remote as the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic, and that makes the Faer Isles Distillery the world’s most remote distillery.… Read More

Few places are as remote as the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic, and that makes the Faer Isles Distillery the world’s most remote distillery. A group of friends founded the distillery several years ago, and have persuaded more than a thousand shareholders to join them via two crowdfunding campaigns. The first Faer Isles whisky is set for release in late 2026, and co-founder Danial Hoydal gives us a preview on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, a coming port strike on the U.S. East Coast could play havoc with whisky shipments for the holidays, and in our Behind the Label segment, we’ll go behind the creation of The Storyman whisky with actor James Cosmo. 

Episode 1076: September 29, 2024

Links: Faer Isles Distillery | Black Bourbon Society | Malts.com | Bimber Distillery | The Glenlivet | Isle of Harris Distillery | Littlemill | Rampur Distillery | Barrell Craft Spirits | Elijah Craig | Larceny Bourbon | Bulleit Bourbon | Wyoming Whiskey | Milam & Greene | Glenfiddich | Dewar’s | Storyman Whisky

Image courtesy Faer Isles Distillery.

Caitlin Bartlemay: Craft Distilling’s Future

Caitlin Bartlemay of Oregon’s Hood River Distillers is one of the up-and-coming craft distillers on the American whiskey scene. She makes the whiskey widely regarded… Read More

Caitlin Bartlemay of Oregon’s Hood River Distillers is one of the up-and-coming craft distillers on the American whiskey scene. She makes the whiskey widely regarded as America’s first single malt whiskey, McCarthy’s, and joins us this week on WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Edrington offloads The Famous Grouse, Campari takes a minority stake in three Scottish distilleries, and a new report highlights the problems craft distillers face in the current economic climate. 

Episode 1075: September 22, 2024

Links: Hood River Distillers | The Famous Grouse | American Craft Spirits Association | Campari Group | Lochlea Distillery | Laphroaig | Keeper’s Heart | J.P. Wiser’s | Milam & Greene | Widow Jane | Old Elk Distillery | Hard Truth Distilling | Thresh & Winnow | Bladnoch | Glenfiddich | Johnnie Walker | Angel’s Envy | Maker’s Mark

Image courtesy Hood River Distillers.

Sukhinder Singh’s World View

Few people know the whisky industry as well as Sukhinder Singh. He’s a renowned collector of rare whiskies, founded The Whisky Exchange with his brother… Read More

Few people know the whisky industry as well as Sukhinder Singh. He’s a renowned collector of rare whiskies, founded The Whisky Exchange with his brother Rajbir, and is now building a distillery on Islay. We’ll talk with Sukhinder about the coming whisky loch, progress on his new Portintruan distillery, and much more on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Scotch whisky exports fell significantly during the first half of 2024. William Grant & Sons plans a major expansion at its Girvan complex in Ayrshire, and Pernod Ricard’s new North American Distillers unit plans to build a hub around its Rabbit Hole distillery in Louisville. 

Episode 1074: September 15, 2024

Links: Elixir Distillers | Scotch Whisky Association | William Grant & Sons | Pernod Ricard | Potter Jane Distillery | International Wine & Spirits Competition | Angel’s Envy | Maker’s Mark | Hidden Barn Whiskey | Wild Turkey | Bruichladdich | Lagavulin | Duncan Taylor | Benromach | Whisky Auctioneer | Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame | Heaven Hill

On the Road at The Whisky Show in London

This week, we’re on the road at The Whisky Exchange’s Whisky Show in London. We’ll have highlights from the weekend, including an interview with Dave… Read More

This week, we’re on the road at The Whisky Exchange’s Whisky Show in London. We’ll have highlights from the weekend, including an interview with Dave Broom on his latest book, the third edition of the World Atlas of Whisky. 

Episode 1073: September 8, 2024

Links: Scotch Whisky Association | Ardnahoe Distillery | Redbreast | Waterford Whisky | Clonakilty Distillery | Proof & Wood Spirits | Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery | Ardbeg | Compass Box | Gordon & MacPhail | Royal Mile Whiskies

Crunch Time for Craft Distillers

U.S. craft distillers are facing a crisis, with an average of one distillery shutting down each week over the past year. Inflation and cutbacks in… Read More

U.S. craft distillers are facing a crisis, with an average of one distillery shutting down each week over the past year. Inflation and cutbacks in consumer spending get part of the blame, but there’s also a distribution crisis. Just three companies control the route to market for many craft distillers, and their focus is on high-volume brands as opposed to the low-volume craft distillers. Margie Lehrman of the American Craft Spirits Association is one of the leading advocates for “direct to consumer shipping,” which would allow distilleries to ship their whiskies directly to consumers. The option is only available in 10 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, and wholesalers have vehemently opposed any attempts to expand that number. We’ll talk with Margie Lehrman on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, economic headwinds cut into sales for both Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman, while Angel’s Envy co-founder Wes Henderson plans to build a $93 million dollar distillery in Kentucky. 

Episode 1072: September 1, 2024

Links: American Craft Spirits Association | Pernod Ricard | Brown-Forman | Lexington Herald-Leader | Connacht Whiskey | Bowmore | The Dalmore | Jura | Glencadam | Parker’s Heritage Collection | Booker’s Bourbon | Little Book | Redemption Whiskey | Wyoming Whiskey | New Riff Distilling | Compass Box | Lost Lantern | Hirsch Whiskeys