WhiskyCast

Latest Episodes:

T is for Texas and Terroir May 26, 2025

Show notes

This week, we're going to geek out with the results of two studies comparing whiskies matured in Texas with the same whiskey matured elsewhere. Milam and Greene's Heather Greene joins us to explain her team's decision to age otherwise identical whiskey in Texas and Kentucky, while Jared Himstedt and Gabe Richarde of Balcones Distilling share the findings of their experiment maturing the same single malt whiskey in four different locations. We'll also taste the Milam and Greene whiskies, which are being released this week in a two-bottle set. In the news, new U.S. trade tariffs on the European Union are being delayed until July 9 to allow more time for negotiations, while Diageo says tariffs could cost the company $150 million this year.

Ireland's Midleton Distillery Celebrates 200 Years May 18, 2025

Show notes

Ireland's largest distillery is celebrating 200 years since the original Midleton Distillery opened in 1825, along with the 50th anniversary of the "new" Midleton, which replaced the original distillery in 1975. Master Distiller Kevin O'Gorman joins us on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth with details on two new whiskies commemorating the anniversaries. In the news, Old Elk is getting new ownership and a new home in Ohio, while the Dublin Liberties Distillery is shutting down because of the headwinds facing the Irish Whiskey industry.

Glendronach Releases The Master's Anthology Series May 11, 2025

Show notes

Scotland's GlenDronach Distillery has released a new collection of three no-age-statement single malts created by master blender Dr. Rachel Barrie, including a rare peated GlenDronach. We'll talk with Rachel about the collection, along with her comparison of a whisky blender to a symphony conductor, on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, India and the UK have finally reached an agreement to reduce India's whisky tariffs. Another craft distillery has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and Campari's first-quarter sales left analysts disappointed.

The Spirit of Independents May 04, 2025

Show notes

Independent bottlers take sourced casks of whisky, mature them, and then bottle them under their own brand names. It's a practice that's been commonplace in Scotland for generations, and has expanded to the U.S. with independents like Single Cask Nation and Lost Lantern. Greg Swartz is the co-director of Independent Spirits, a new documentary series highlighting independent bottlers, and he'll join us on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, a cask investment firm with an estimated $80 million in casks has gone into administration, while Moet Hennessy plans to lay off 1200 workers and return headcount to pre-pandemic levels.

Inside the Johnnie Walker Vault Apr 27, 2025

Show notes

Deep below the Johnnie Walker Princes Street experience in Edinburgh lies Dr. Emma Walker's personal playground. The Johnnie Walker master blender curates around 500 of the more than 10 million casks of maturing whisky in Diageo's inventory in the Vault. If you have the means, she'll create a bespoke blend that takes your personal likes and dislikes into account. It's a long way from the council estate where she grew up, and she'll share her journey on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, U.S. whiskey exports fell during 2024 in what was otherwise a record year for American-made spirits. Suntory's CEO has a warning for the Trump Administration, and we'll have a fish story from Buffalo Trace.

The Pattisons' Empire: A House of Cards Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

Robert and Walter Pattison were among the most successful whisky brokers of the 1890's, a golden era for Scotch whisky. However, their empire collapsed because of bad loans, fraudulent cask sales, and an accounting scheme that inflated the company's profits. When the Pattisons finally fell, they took other whisky merchants down with them, just as the industry's overproduction ended the golden era. Justine Hazlehurst spent four years researching the Pattisons for her new book "Opening the Case: The Affairs of Pattisons' Whisky," and she joins us on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Kentucky's Garrard County Distilling has gone into receivership, while The Macallan is demolishing its old distillery and The Glenturret is looking for some whisky thieves.

Chapter 11: Doom and Gloom or Saving Grace Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

Oregon's Westward Whiskey filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week, as the House Spirits-owned distillery tries to reorganize its business and keep the stills running. CEO Tom Mooney joins us this week in his first in-depth interview since the filing, and explains why Chapter 11 doesn't automatically mean going out of business. In the news, the Trump Administration has set a 10% import tariff on all whiskies and most other exports for at least 90 days while talks continue with U.S. trading partners. Buffalo Trace is cleaning up after massive flooding, while Maker's Mark is introducing a new whisky…one that's not a Bourbon.

Rye or Rye Not? Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

Europeans have been making rye whisky for generations, but a 20-year-old treaty between the European Union and Canada is affecting their ability to call their whisky what it is…rye whisky. The treaty restricts the use of "rye whisky" to Canadian ryes, even though there's no requirement that Canadian Rye whisky be made with rye. We'll talk with Stauning Whisky's Alex Munch about the bureaucratic nightmare that was only recently discovered. In the news, flooding has hit Kentucky distillers hard, while tariffs are going into effect this week that will affect whisky makers worldwide.

Stone Toasting: A New Way to Toast Whisky Casks Mar 30, 2025

Show notes

Coopers have used everything from torches to infrared lamps to toast the inside of barrels. Now, a technique pioneered by the wine industry is making its way into whisky: the use of heated Icelandic magma stone formed by volcanic lava. It's said to provide a more consistent toasting than other methods, and Dewar's is the first to use the technique in whisky. We'll talk about it with Dewar's master blender Stephanie Macleod on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, more tariffs on whisky could be coming this week, while Whisky Magazine hands out its annual World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky Awards.

Taiwan's First Malt Whisky Distillery Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

King Car Group's Kavalan Distillery in Yilan, Taiwan marks its 20th anniversary this year. Kavalan has won numerous awards for its single malts, including the "World's Best Single Malt" in the World Whisky Awards. We'll talk with Kavalan's David Chen about the distillery's history and its growing global following on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, the European Union delays a return to tariffs on American whiskies until mid-April, while Laphroaig Distillery is undergoing repairs after a pressure issue with a boiler led to a loud "bang" that had Ileachs fearing an explosion.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected