Shows
WhiskyCastCelebrating the Great Jim McEwanAs we continue our series leading up to the 20th anniversary of WhiskyCast in November, it’s important to celebrate the whisky legends who are still with us while they’re still around to receive our recognition. Jim McEwan retired from public life a couple of years ago after nearly 58 years in the whisky business, and he’s always been one of our favorite interview subjects. This week, we’re featuring Mark Gillespie’s interview with Jim from May 25, 2013, just as Jim was about to celebrate his 50th anniversary with a Feis Ile celebration at Bruichladdich. In the news, Diageo pla...
2025-09-0152 minWhiskyCastA View from the Corner OfficeDan Leese wears two hats: one as CEO of the importer and distiller Hotaling & Co., and the second as the current chairman of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. Mark Gillespie sat down with Dan Leese to discuss the state of the whisky industry and the threats posed by trade tariffs, legal cannabis, and other challenges. In the news, the Trump Administration gets a victory as India agrees to reduce its tariffs on American whiskies, while new data shows declining sales as consumers switch to less-expensive whiskies.
2025-02-1923 minWhiskyCastTurning the Tables on MarkWith WhiskyCast celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, we thought we’d start the year by turning the tables on host and creator Mark Gillespie. Longtime listener Juan Cruz collected questions for Mark from WhiskyCast Community app members, and sat down with Mark over New Year’s Day drams for a conversation. It’s our special one-time-only WhiskyCast In-Depth this week. In the news, the U.S. Surgeon General wants new warnings about the links between alcohol and several different types of cancers on beverage labels, while MGP is looking for a new CEO and Glenmorangie’s Dr. Bill Lumsden can add...
2025-01-0556 minWhiskyCastMastering a New RoleMidleton's Kevin O'Gorman was tapped two years ago to take over for Brian Nation as Master Distiller, and the results of Whisky Magazine's 2022 Icons of Whisky Awards show he's succeeded in his new role. O'Gorman was named Master Distiller/Blender of the Year, and combines both roles with his annual release of Midleton Very Rare. WhiskyCast's Mark Gillespie sat down over drams with Kevin in Dublin just days after the announcement, and you'll hear their conversation on WhiskyCast In-Depth. Mastering also comes into play with the latest Jameson release, a "remastered" version of the old Jameson 15 Single Pot Still...
2022-04-0353 min
WhiskyCastWhisky's Need for Diversity and InclusionWhisky is a universal drink, a pleasure that can be shared by all regardless of gender, color, national origin, disability, age (as long as one is legally old enough to drink), and so on. The trouble is, too many people still hold the stereotype of whisky drinkers as older, male, and White - and that includes some people within the whisky industry. While the recent Whisky Bible controversy brought the issue of diversity and inclusion in the world of whisky into the spotlight, the desire for change has been growing. This week, we'll bring you part of a panel...
2020-10-051h 05
WhiskyCastThe Past & Future of WhiskySince so many people are working from home, "self-isolating" or more because of the coronavirus crisis, we've decided to produce some extra content to help you pass the time. Earlier this month during DramFest 2020 in Christchurch, New Zealand, WhiskyCast's Mark Gillespie took part in a panel discussion on "the past and future of whisky" with veteran whisky writer Charles Maclean, Michael Fraser Milne of the Whisky Galore shop in Christchurch, and moderator Dave Broom. Their hour-long discussion is a bit too long for one of our regular episodes, but we thought you might enjoy listening to it on its...
2020-03-191h 00
WhiskyCast HDCatching Up with Forty Creek Whisky Founder John HallForty Creek Whisky founder John K. Hall has kept a low profile since selling his distillery to Campari five years ago. He won dozens of awards for his whiskies at Forty Creek, and turned his startup into one of the best-selling Canadian whiskies around - earning him a place in Canadian Whisky history. Hall returned to the 2019 Victoria Whisky Festival for the first time since the sale to serve as the keynote speaker for the Canadian Whisky Awards dinner. In an exclusive interview with WhiskyCast's Mark Gillespie, he shared his thoughts on today's whisky business and whether he may make...
2019-01-2712 minWhiskyCast HDCleaning Up Thousands of Bourbon Barrels at Barton 1792 DistilleryOn June 22, 2018, half of Warehouse 30 collapsed at the Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, spilling around 9,000 barrels of whiskey. The rest of the warehouse collapsed on July 4 with another 9,000 barrels. Crews have been working since then to recover as many barrels - and as much Bourbon - as possible. The site is closed to reporters, but Sazerac has released a video and new images showing cleanup work at the warehouse site.
2018-08-1403 minWhiskyCast HDCrown Royal's Bourbon...Uh, Blenders' MashWith the ongoing trade dispute between the US and Canada, it's important to keep in mind that Canadian Whisky remains extremely popular in the US. Crown Royal has released the latest edition in its Noble Collection series - a 13-year-old "Blender's Mash" using one of the five different styles of whisky Crown Royal makes at its distillery in Gimli, Manitoba. They call it a different name at the distillery, though...and when they tried to use that "Bourbon Mash" name in the US...let's just say it didn't go quite as planned.
2018-07-1206 minWhiskyCast HDA Craft Distiller's Last CallJames Yoakum opened Cooper River Distillers in 2014 in the heart of Camden, New Jersey - just wanting to make good whiskies and rum. He and his team did just that, but they learned an important lesson along the way: size matters. They couldn't make enough whiskey and rum to meet the demand, but they also couldn't make enough money to expand the distillery. Faced with that dilemma, Yoakum decided to close the distillery with one final Kentucky Derby party on May 5, 2018.
2018-05-0707 minWhiskyCast HDThe Archivist Preserving Irish Whiskey's HistoryIrish Whiskey's history has been written over centuries, but Carol Quinn has the unique task of preserving the history that was actually written down. The professional archivist has spent the last five years cataloging more than two centuries' worth of historic documents, photographs, and bottles from the distilleries that joined forces in 1966 to form Irish Distillers - and she's barely getting started. The stories hidden away in the Irish Whiskey Archive tell more than just the facts and figures ... they give today's whiskey lovers a glimpse of the people who helped put Irish Whiskey on the map.
2017-12-3010 minWhiskyCast HDWhisky Starts with the Grain and "The Gatekeeper"We'll visit the Hiram Walker and Sons distillery in Windsor, Ontario, which uses around 100 million metric tons of grain each year to distill its Canadian whiskies, and meet "The Gatekeeper," Kristy Fregonese. It's her job to make sure that every truckload of grain that arrives at the distillery meets strict quality control standards.
2017-12-2109 minWhiskyCast HD10 Years of Making Rye Whiskey at George Washington's DistilleryGeorge Washington's original whiskey distillery at his Mount Vernon estate in Virginia operated from 1797 until shortly after his death in 1799. In 2007, the restored distillery began producing rye whiskey using Washington's original recipe. Ten years later, distillers from around the United States gathered at Mount Vernon to celebrate - and make some whiskey.
2017-12-1309 minWhiskyCast HDA Snowflake Whiskey in the Rocky MountainsOn the first Saturday each December, Stranahan's Distillery in Denver releases its annual Snowflake limited-edition single malt whiskey. The release party has become more than just a one-day event, as hundreds of whiskey lovers start camping outside the distillery days in advance to claim a spot in line. We'll meet these "Strana-fans" and get a look behind the scenes as the 2017 release of Snowflake goes on sale.
2017-12-1013 minWhiskyCast HDReviving Whiskey Distilling in Dublin's LibertiesDublin's Liberties neighborhood was once the center of the whiskey universe at a time when Irish Whiskey ruled the world more than 100 years ago. Changing tastes, wars, and economics ended that, and the last heritage distillery in the Liberties closed in 1976. Four decades later, the resurgence of Irish Whiskey has led to a resurgence of distilling in the Liberties, with two distilleries now in production and two more under construction as the Liberties reclaims its place in the whiskey world. We'll explore that revival with a visit to Dublin on this episode of WhiskyCast HD!
2017-11-0909 minWhiskyCast HDSelling Whiskey in a Whisky WorldThe boom in Bourbon and American Whiskey sales isn't just a North American phenomenon. Whisky lovers around the world are demanding Bourbon, Tennessee Whiskey, and other whiskies from legendary and new distilleries alike, as we found during The Whisky Show in London. Part of the demand is being created by the cocktail culture, as American whiskies are key to making both classic and modern cocktails, but there's also a demand for the unique flavors of American whiskies, too.
2017-10-2108 minWhiskyCast HDTaiwan’s King Car: A Distillery on FireBTaiwan's King Car Distillery is only 10 years old, yet its Kavalan single malt whiskies have won worldwide acclaim. As the distillery enters its second decade, Master Blender Ian Chang is leading his team with a heavy heart following the sudden death of his mentor earlier this year. Dr. Jim Swan was a consultant and mentor to distillers and blenders around the world, but had a special place in his heart for his friends in Taiwan, where he helped fashion the single malt whiskies that gave Kavalan its global reputation.
2017-08-3009 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Making Whisky Under a Bridge in Waco, TexasBalcones Distilling moved into a brand-new modern whisky distillery in Waco, Texas in 2016, leaving behind its home in an old welding shop under the 17th Street Bridge a few blocks away. Head Distiller Jared Himstedt helped build the original distillery, and took us back for a tour of the largely hand-built distillery that helped Balcones make its name. We’ll also get a look inside the new state of the art distillery as well.
2017-06-2207 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Making Scotch Whisky the Old School Way with Floor MaltingThe pagodas that adorn the roofs of many whisky distilleries in Scotland aren't there just for show. Years ago, those pagodas reeked with smoke as distillers dried the malted barley they produced on their malting floors. Economics forced all but a handful of distilleries to shut down their maltings many years ago and source their malted barley from large commercial maltings. However, a handful of Scotland's distilleries still malt some of their own barley because they believe it makes a difference in their whisky. We'll visit the malting floors and smoky peat-fired kilns at Orkney's Highland Park Distillery, where they...
2017-05-1311 min
WhiskyCastMaking Whisky with Passion in Denmark (Episode 640: May 7, 2017)Denmark is known for its beers and aquavit, but is starting to develop a reputation for whiskies as well with distilleries like Braunstein and Stauning winning awards for their rye and single malt whiskies. Nyborg Destillerie hopes to make its own mark when it releases its first single malts next month and opens its new distillery to the public after laying down casks since 2009. Kim Møller-Elshøj is Nyborg's chief blender, and sat down with Mark Gillespie in Copenhagen the other day to talk about making whisky with a unique Danish character and passion, and you'll hear our co...
2017-05-0742 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: The Story of Green Spot Irish WhiskeyFor years, whiskey lovers spoke of a mysterious Irish Whiskey that could generally be found only in Ireland. Green Spot is a single pot still Irish Whiskey that was created by Mitchell and Son, the legendary Dublin wine and whiskey merchant. Green Spot got its name from the dab of green paint on each cask, and was one of four different Spot whiskeys bottled by the Mitchell family for decades using whiskey from Dublin's Jameson Distillery.
2017-03-1708 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: A Peek Inside Dublin’s New Jameson Distillery Bow StreetThe Old Jameson Distillery in Dublin has been one of Ireland's most popular tourist attractions for years, but it closed at the end of August 2016 for an €11 million renovation project. It has now reopened as the Jameson Distillery Bow Street, with a whole new approach to go along with the new name.
2017-03-0705 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Inside the Port Ellen MaltingsThe days when each Scotch Whisky distillery malted its own barley are long gone, and only a few distilleries still have malting floors. Now, most distilleries get their malt from one of the 11 commercial maltings in Scotland, and we’ll go inside Diageo’s Port Ellen Maltings on Islay for a look at the process of malting barley - one of the first steps in making whisky.
2016-12-2809 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: 200 Years of Whisky History at Islay’s Lagavulin DistilleryLagavulin Distillery on Scotland's Isle of Islay is celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2016. It's not Islay's largest distillery, nor does it make the island's smokiest single malt Scotch whisky. Instead, Lagavulin's distillers focus on making the best whisky they can every day, and that dedication has led to whisky lovers around the world falling in love with Lagavulin.
2016-11-2610 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Wine to Whisky: The Sherry InfluenceMany of our favorite whiskies can be traced to Spain’s Sherry Triangle, the coastal region where Sherry comes from. We’ll look at the influence Sherry casks have on whiskies and visit the Antonio Páez Cooperage in Jerez, where Sherry casks are still made largely by hand.
2016-09-1609 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: What’s In a Name?Many of Scotland's whisky distilleries are named after their towns, such as Aberlour, Bowmore, and Craigellachie. However, The Glenrothes is the exception...it's distilled in the Speyside town of Rothes, 92 miles north of Glenrothes in Fife. Glenrothes has a new distillery to call its own, and we'll visit InchDairnie Distillery for a look at its modern way of making classic Scotch Whisky.
2016-05-2504 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Pouring The Perfect Pint of GuinnessThis is a special “throwback” video with the very first WhiskyCast video segment released on March 17, 2011 featuring former Guinness master brewer Fergal Murray demonstrating how to pull a perfect pint of Guinness from the tap.
2016-03-1609 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: The Brian Kinsman InterviewBrian Kinsman became the sixth Master Blender in the history of William Grant and Sons in 2009, following in the footsteps of his mentor, David Stewart. While Stewart continues to oversee The Balvenie, Kinsman is responsible for Glenfiddich, the Grant's blended Scotch whiskies, and the rest of the company's portfolio.
2016-03-1510 min
WhiskyCastWhiskyCast Episode 568: December 26, 2015There are a lot of issues facing the world of whisky and spirits these days, and we'll discuss many of them on this week's WhiskyCast. During the recent New Brunswick Spirits Festival in Canada, WhiskyCast's Mark Gillespie moderated a panel discussion with Glenfiddich's Ian Millar, Dr. Kirstie McCallum of Burn Stewart Distillers, Angostura Rum master distiller John Georges, and The Glenlivet's Alan Winchester. We discussed topics ranging from declining whisky sales to the impact of the thaw in diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba and more, and you'll hear the entire discussion on WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, t...
2015-12-271h 30WhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD:The First Still Run at Ireland’s Waterford DistilleryIt's rare to watch a whiskey distillery's stills run for the very first time, but that's what we're bringing you in this episode of WhiskyCast HD. Just a year and a week after buying the former Guinness brewery in Waterford, Ireland, Mark Reynier's Renegade Spirits has fired up the stills at what's now known as Waterford Distillery. Many of the brewery's former employees laid off after it closed two years ago have come back to work at the distillery, and 46 area farmers have been contracted to grow barley for use in Waterford's single malt whiskey, which is expected to go...
2015-12-1209 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Don’t Try This At Home!Whisky glasses come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and while most of us have our own personal favorite style of glass, they all start out the same way...white-hot molten glass on the end of a glass blower's pipe. As part of Auchentoshan's "Art of Auchentoshan" project, a group of whisky writers was given a chance to hand-blow our own whisky glasses at Brooklyn's Urban Glass - with supervision!
2015-11-0604 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: The Jim Beveridge InterviewDr. Jim Beveridge is the Master Blender for Johnnie Walker, and leads a team of blenders at Diageo's blending lab in Menstrie, Scotland. He rarely does interviews, but sat down with WhiskyCast's Mark Gillespie recently in New York City to discuss the science and the art behind whisky blending.
2015-10-1612 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Chatting with Bourbon Legends Parker Beam and Jimmy RussellParker Beam and Jimmy Russell were part of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame's inaugural class in 2001, and on September 16, 2015, Jimmy helped present Parker with the Hall of Fame's first Lifetime Achievement Award. The award has been named for Parker as a tribute to the longtime Heaven Hill master distiller, who has been fighting ALS for the last three years. After the presentation, both Bourbon legends sat down with WhiskyCast's Mark Gillespie for a chat.
2015-10-0819 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Seattle’s Hometown Single Malt WhiskeySeattle is known for coffee, but Westland Distillery wants Seattle to be known for its whiskey, too. Westland has already outgrown its original distillery, and is one of the few American distilleries producing single malt whiskey exclusively. Westland is also one of the few North American distilleries with its own peat bog...the only one in the region not designated as protected wetlands.
2015-09-1007 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Silver Trail’s Story of SurvivalKentucky had not had a fatal distillery accident since Prohibition until the morning of April 24, 2015, when the still at the Silver Trail Distillery suddenly over-pressurized and exploded. Distillers Jay Rogers and Kyle Rogers were hit with a blast of steam followed by burning alcohol, and both men suffered severe burns. Kyle Rogers died 17 days later at Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical Center, while Jay Rogers spent more than two months in the burn unit before he was released. He and Silver Trail founder Spencer Balentine share their stories of survival, the generosity of Kentucky's whiskey community, their future plans, and pay...
2015-08-2814 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Bringing Whisky to BallindallochThe Macpherson-Grant family has owned Scotland's Ballindalloch Estate for 469 years, so short-term thinking isn't in their DNA. The family has converted an old barn on the estate into Speyside's smallest distillery, with plans to release a Ballindalloch Single Malt Scotch Whisky years from now.
2015-06-1606 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: The Spirit of Speyside FestivalThousands of whisky lovers descend on Scotland's Speyside region on the first weekend of May each year for the Spirit of Speyside Festival. The festival has more than 400 events over the River Spey's 100-mile length, combining music, art, and food as well as some of the world's finest whiskies.
2015-05-2106 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: The Alan Winchester InterviewAlan Winchester is Master Distiller for The Glenlivet, along with overseeing distilling operations at all of the Chivas Brothers distilleries in Scotland. This June, he'll celebrate his 40th anniversary in the Scotch Whisky industry, and he sat down with WhiskyCast's Mark Gillespie to discuss the past, present, and future of Scotch Whisky during the Spirit of Speyside Festival.
2015-05-1415 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: A Big Weekend At Maker’s MarkThe second weekend of April means The Masters for golf lovers, but for fans of Maker's Mark Bourbon, it means horse racing and a visit to the distillery in the heart of Kentucky's Bourbon Country. More than a thousand people lined up at Keeneland in Lexington on Friday (April 10) for the annual Keeneland charity bottle signing featuring University of Kentucky basketball legends. The next day, more than 4,000 people descended on the tiny town of Loretto, Kentucky for the distillery's annual Maker's Mark Handcraft Festival.
2015-04-1705 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Single Malt Whisky Swedish StyleSwedes have a passion for whisky, and that's led some Swedish whisky lovers to open their own distilleries and make single malt whisky with a Scandinavian flair. We'll visit Box and Mackmyra distilleries in Sweden to see what makes Swedish single malt whiskies unique on this episode of WhiskyCast HD.
2014-12-1109 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: The John Glaser Interview, Part TwoCompass Box founder John Glaser has been shaking up the Scotch Whisky industry for the last 15 years. In the final part of our 2-part interview conducted in John's blending lab, we'll discuss his differences with the Scotch Whisky Association, the story behind the new Compass Box whisky “The Lost Blend”, and John answers more questions submitted by WhiskyCast listeners.
2014-10-2614 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: The John Glaser Interview, Part OneCompass Box founder John Glaser has been shaking up the Scotch Whisky industry for the last 15 years. In Part 1 of our 2-part interview conducted in John's blending lab, we'll discuss the early years of Compass Box along with his latest whisky, Great King Street Glasgow Blend. He'll also answer questions submitted by WhiskyCast listeners.
2014-10-1812 min
The WhiskyCast Tasting PanelWhiskyCast Virtual Tastings: September 2014September is Bourbon Heritage Month, and this month's panel is tasting what else...Bourbons. Justin Victor and John DeYoung joined us via Skype, while Dan Huntzinger was in the studio with Mark Gillespie to taste the Jim Beam Signature Craft Quarter Cask Finished Bourbon, the 2014 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch, and the 23-year-old Elijah Craig Single Barrel. We also have another whisky club to honor as this month’s Whisky Club of the Month, too!
2014-10-0237 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Making Bourbon On Display At The Evan Williams Bourbon ExperienceAfter decades of Bourbon history, Whiskey Row along Main Street in downtown Louisville finally has its first distillery. Heaven Hill's Evan Williams Bourbon Experience was built around a barrel-a-day microdistillery.
2014-10-0206 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: New Life For Stitzel-Weller As The Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience OpensFor decades, the legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery in the Louisville suburb of Shively has been a mystery for Bourbon lovers. Now, the distillery made famous by Pappy Van Winkle has opened its doors to the public as the home of the Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience.
2014-09-2706 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Whisky “On The Rock”Tokyo's bartenders have been carving ice into perfect spheres for years, but Hidetsugu Ueno found that boring. The owner of Bar High Five in Tokyo's Ginza district not only designed his carving knife, but a design for carving his ice into diamonds that taper perfectly to fit a whisky glass.
2014-05-1703 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: On The Road With Whisky’s WanderersBeing a brand ambassador for a major whisky brand sounds like a lot of fun...and it is, but it's also a job with perks like jet lag, lost luggage, flight delays, and occasionally, a trip to the local police station. Some of the whisky world's top brand ambassadors shared their tales from the road with us at the 2014 Victoria Whisky Festival in Canada.
2014-02-0711 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: The Richard Paterson Interview, Part 2Richard Paterson, Whyte & Mackay’s Master Blender, answers questions from WhiskyCast community members in Part 2 of our interview during the Victoria Whisky Festival.
2014-01-2416 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: The Richard Paterson Interview, Part 1Richard Paterson is known to whisky lovers as “The Nose”, and Whyte & Mackay’s Master Blender sat down for a one on one interview at the Victoria Whisky Festival. In Part 1, he discusses his recent project with Chef Daniel Boulud and his feelings about the current situation at Whyte & Mackay.
2014-01-2310 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Reviving Pennsylvania’s Rye Whiskey Heritage at Dad’s HatPennsylvania was once the center of American whiskey distilling. John Cooper and Herman Mihalich are trying to revive the Keystone State’s rye whiskey heritage with their Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey, distilled in an old woolen mill near the banks of the Delaware River in Bristol, Pennsylvania.
2013-12-3007 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: The Tap Tavern in Kinsale: A Classic Irish PubIrish pubs are legendary, but original ones are becoming harder and harder to find. The Tap Tavern in Kinsale, County Cork, has been owned by the same family since 1886, and is one of the best examples of a classic Irish “local” around.
2013-12-2806 min
The WhiskyCast Tasting PanelWhiskyCast Virtual Tastings: Forty Creek SpecialThis special episode of WhiskyCast Virtual Tastings was recorded on location at Canada's Forty Creek Distillery during its annual "Whisky Weekend" at the end of September, 2013. Mark Gillespie moderated a tasting panel with Forty Creek's John Hall, Canadian Whisky Awards founder and author Davin de Kergommeaux, and the "Whisky Lassie," Johanne McInnis.
While Forty Creek is a sponsor of WhiskyCast Virtual Tastings, we have elected to present this tasting panel as a special episode because of its educational value to whisky lovers as a rare opportunity to hear whisky writers discuss a flight of whiskies with the...
2013-10-0843 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Forty Creek Distillery's Whisky WeekendCanadian whisky lovers converge on the Forty Creek Distillery in Grimsby, Ontario on the final weekend of September each year. That's when Forty Creek founder and whisky maker John Hall releases his annual limited edition release. This year, WhiskyCast's Mark Gillespie was on hand as John released Forty Creek's "Heart of Gold" whisky and around 3,000 whisky lovers showed up to claim their bottles.
2013-10-0705 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Ireland's Midleton Distillery Celebrates Massive ExpansionIrish Whiskey is the fastest growing segment of the worldwide whisky market, and Midleton Distillery is the largest in Ireland. Even running 24/7 isn't enough to meet global demand for Jameson, Redbreast, Powers, Paddy, and the other whiskies distilled at Midleton. Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard is investing $265 million to expand Midleton, and dedicated the distillery's new stillhouse with a housewarming party on September 4, 2013.
2013-09-1008 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Atlantic City's Best Whisky BarWhisky lovers travel to Atlantic City from all over the U.S. for the monthly Second Saturday Single Malt Tastings at the Miner's Delight Inn. Bob and Barbara Townsend started the monthly tastings after they bought the inn in 2006, and their "Two-Bit Cowboy Saloon" has 86 different whiskies behind the hand-crafted bar. They're used to a bit of confusion, though. This Atlantic City is in Wyoming, not New Jersey.
2013-08-1810 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Glenmorangie's Cask Masters ProjectCrowdsourcing comes to the world of whisky, as Glenmorangie gives whisky lovers the chance to select its next single malt Scotch whisky. The choices range from the type of casks, all the way down to the plans for the launch party in 2014.
2013-07-1304 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Cocktails - Shaken Or Stirred?Visit any cocktail bar, and you're certain to hear the sound of a bartender shaking a drink over ice. It may be a great way to show off, but is it the best way to make some whisky-based cocktails like the classic Manhattan? With some help from Beam Master Mixologist Bobby Gleason and Louisville-area bartenders Larry Rice and Levi Beckley, we'll see whether shaking or stirring a Manhattan makes a difference.
2013-07-0103 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Single Malt from Grain to Glass at Canada's Shelter Point DistilleryIn the old days, distilleries were almost always part of a farm, since farmers would distill their excess grain to make some extra money. Some craft distillers are reviving that heritage, including Patrick Evans and Jim Marinus of Shelter Point Distillery on Canada's Vancouver Island. They've been distilling and maturing single malt whisky for the last couple of years and waiting for it to mature, while running the Evans family farm full-time and using the distillery to host weddings and other events.
2013-05-2905 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Highland Park - Scotch Whisky, Orcadian HeritageHighland Park is Scotland's northernmost distillery, and has a character that's uniquely Orcadian. Orkney was home to ancient Neolithic tribes well before the Vikings invaded from Norway 15 centuries ago, but both cultures have merged to create a unique place...that's home to a unique distillery. We'll look at what makes Highland Park different from other Scotch whiskies...and solve a mystery: how did a distillery that's technically not in the Scottish Highlands get the name Highland Park?
2013-05-2105 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Single Malt Whisky the Indian Way: A Visit to AmrutIndia is one of the world's largest whisky-consuming nations, but never had a single malt whisky to call its own until the Jagdale family's Amrut Distillery in Bangalore produced the first Indian single malt in 2004. Originally available only in the UK, Amrut expressions are now available in 22 nations around the world...but only in one of India's 25 states...so far.
2013-04-1308 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Kentucky Distilling Families Reclaim Their HeritageGenerations of Kentucky families made whiskey and Bourbon, but once Prohibition ended, not all of those families returned to their traditions. One branch of the Beam family is reclaiming its past at Limestone Branch Distillery near Lebanon, while the descendants of the Willett family are back making whiskey in Bardstown after three decades of watching others make whiskies for them.
2013-03-1307 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Maker's Mark Cuts Its ProofFor the first time since Bill Samuels Sr. introduced Maker's Mark Bourbon more than 50 years ago, the whisky is being changed. Supply shortages have forced Maker's to lower the alcohol by volume (ABV) level from 45% to 42%, which lowers the proof from 90 Proof to 84 Proof. In this interview with WhiskyCast's Mark Gillespie, Maker's Mark Chief Operating Officer Rob Samuels explains the reasons behind the move, and why he claims it won't affect the taste of the whisky.
2013-02-1512 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: The Bourbon Barrel DanceYou can do many things with Bourbon Barrels, but did you know that you can dance with a Bourbon Barrel. Truman Cox learned the art of barrel dancing at Kentucky's Buffalo Trace Distillery, and dancing with a barrel isn't just a way to spend a lonely Saturday night. It's actually a very effective way to check the structural integrity of the barrel before filling it with spirit for aging.
2012-12-1904 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: The Tale of Wyoming Whiskey BourbonThere's a common misconception that Bourbon Whiskey can only be made in Kentucky. Actually, it can be made anywhere in the U.S., as long as the conditions are right. Former Maker's Mark master distiller and Bourbon Hall of Fame member Steve Nally is proving that in Wyoming, where his Wyoming Whiskey Bourbon went on sale December 1, 2012. The debut of Wyoming Whiskey also fulfilled a dream for the distillery's owners, who lured Steve and his wife Donna out of retirement and out of Kentucky to the Wild West.
2012-12-0807 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: The Best Whisky Bar in Los AngelesSeven Grand helped revive downtown nightlife in Los Angeles, and with nearly 400 whiskies behind the bar and a top-notch education program, it's become one of the must-visit places for whisky lovers from all over Southern California and beyond.
2012-11-0804 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Traveling the Kentucky Bourbon TrailThe Kentucky Bourbon Trail draws tens of thousands of tourists every year, and now, there are even more reasons to visit the Bluegrass State. Jim Beam has opened the new $18 million Jim Beam American Stillhouse visitors center in Clermont, complete with a small-scale distillery to show Bourbon lovers the craft of making whiskey one barrel at a time. At the other end of the Bourbon Trail, Four Roses has opened an all-new visitors center of its own, and even more improvements are planned at the state's distilleries over the coming year.
2012-11-0114 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Glenfiddich's 125th Anniversary Party in DallasGlenfiddich is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a series of parties in 8 US cities during 2012, including one in Dallas, Texas. This episode of WhiskyCast HD is your pass to get past the velvet rope and see highlights from the Dallas event on October 2, 2012.
2012-10-0405 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: The World Championship Bourbon Barrel RelayOne of the highlights of the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival is the World Championship Bourbon Barrel Relay competition. Teams from many of Kentucky's distilleries compete for bragging rights in a competition you won't see anywhere else.
2012-09-2505 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: The Kentucky Bourbon FestivalBourbon has been part of the fabric of Central Kentucky for generations, and that heritage is celebrated every September at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown. 50,000 people attended this year's festival, making it the largest whiskey festival in the world.
2012-09-2105 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Whisky Cocktails at Brooklyn's "The Drink"Brooklyn is one of the epicenters of the cocktail culture, and the bartenders at "The Drink" are some of the borough's more creative mixologists. Owner Adam Collison's "Salty Walnut" cocktail features Glen Grant single malt Scotch, along with Tawny Port and other ingredients, and is a perfect drink for a hot summer day.
2012-07-1704 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Taking It To The SourceMany distilleries guard the source of their water supply carefully, but in this episode of WhiskyCast HD, you'll get a close-up look at Scotland's Tarlogie Springs near the town of Tain, the source of Glenmorangie Distillery's water for making its single malt Scotch Whiskies.
2012-05-2204 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Building Whiskey Stills at Vendome Brass and Copper WorksVendome Brass and Copper Works has been building stills on the banks of the Ohio River in Louisville for more than 100 years. Their stills are used by many of the world's top distillers, and the boom in craft distilling is keeping Vendome's shop crew busier than ever. We'll meet some of their craftsmen, as well as a craft distiller visiting Vendome to pick up his new still.
2012-04-0606 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: The Old Jameson Distillery on St. Patrick's Day WeekendThere are few places better to celebrate St. Patrick's Day than in Dublin, Ireland. Each year, Jameson Irish Whiskey invites radio broadcasters from around the world to do their shows from the Old Jameson Distillery on Dublin's Bow Street. This year, WhiskyCast was part of the Jameson Global Broadcast for the first time, and here's a look at some of the fun.
2012-03-2304 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Scotland and Tuscany Combine in Glenmorangie ArteinArtein means "stone" in Gaelic, and Sassicaia means "the place of many stones" in Italian. Glenmorangie has brought the two together in Artein, a Single Malt Scotch finished in Sassicaia wine casks from Tuscany's Tenuta San Guido.
2012-02-2707 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: The Victoria Whisky FestivalEach January, whisky lovers gather in Victoria, British Columbia for one of the world's top whisky festivals, the Victoria Whisky Festival.
2012-02-0207 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Bidding on Whisky at BonhamsRare whiskies aren't hard to find...if you know where to look. Several auction houses hold regular whisky sales, and we'll take a look at the recent Bonhams auction in New York City.
2011-12-1100 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Cooking With Whiskey at Woodford ReserveA splash of whiskey can make many dishes even better. Woodford Reserve chef-in-residence Ouita Michel shows us how she uses whiskey to enhance a turkey breast rolled with dried fruits.
2011-10-3106 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Glasgow's Bon Accord Whisky BarThe Bon Accord in Glasgow is one of Scotland's top whisky bars, and is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2011. We'll find out what makes The Bon Accord so unique in this interview with owner Paul McDonagh.
2011-10-2300 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Whisky Live Paris 2011Whisky Live Paris is one of the world's top whisky festivals, and you'll see why in this episode of WhiskyCast HD. France is one of the world's top two whisky export markets, along with the United States, and there's a passion for whisky in France that's hard to match.
2011-10-0400 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Bruichladdich Celebrates 10th AnniversaryBruichladdich Distillery on Scotland's Isle of Islay marked the 10th anniversary of its reopening on September 11, 2011 with the first bottling of The Laddie Ten. It's the first 10-year-old single malt whisky from Bruichladdich produced exclusively with whisky distilled since the distillery's revival in 2001. WhiskyCast's Mark Gillespie was on hand as The Laddie Ten was bottled.
2011-09-1600 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Chef Mike Isabella's Bourbon Caramel SauceChef Mike Isabella has appeared on Top Chef and Top Chef All-Stars, and now he shares the secret of his Bourbon Caramel Sauce with you on WhiskyCast HD. He uses it on Zeppoles with powered sugar and blueberries, but it's great with all kinds of desserts.
2011-07-2200 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Knockin' on History's DoorKnockdhu Distillery in Scotland opened in 1894, and has seen many changes over the years. However, the home of An Cnoc single malt has been able to hold on to some rarely-seen parts of its history. Distillery Manager Gordon Bruce gives us a tour.
2011-07-1600 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Q&A with Wild Turkey's Jimmy & Eddie RussellWild Turkey Master Distiller Jimmy Russell and his son, Associate Distiller Eddie Russell, answer questions from WhiskyCast listeners in this episode.
2011-06-2500 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: The Balblair Distillery TeamIn the old days, as many as 14 men made whisky at Balblair Distillery in the Scottish Highlands. Now, just 7 men are needed...but they do a little of everything during the week, from running the stills to mowing the lawn and painting barrel heads. We'll meet some of the Balblair team in this episode.
2011-06-1500 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Revealing the Secrets of Taiwan's First Single Malt DistilleryIt took Taiwan's entry into the WTO in 2002 to fulfill the dream of a whisky-loving Taiwanese industrialist. T.T. Lee took advantage of the end of a government monopoly on distilling to build a world-class whisky distillery in Taiwan. King Car's Kavalan single malts have been shocking whisky experts for the last two years, and this is a rare look at what makes King Car's whiskies unique.
2011-06-0300 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Raising a Glass with Laphroaig's Simon BrookingThe thought of speaking in public scares most people to death, but sooner or later, you'll be in a position where you have to offer a toast. In this episode of WhiskyCast HD, Laphroaig brand ambassador Simon Brooking offers some suggestions for toasting your friends or colleagues at a special event.
2011-05-2800 minWhiskyCast HDWhiskyCast HD: Midleton Distillery Cooper Ger BuckleyGer Buckley is a 5th generation master cooper at Midleton Distillery, and one of only four coopers working at whiskey distilleries in Ireland. He demonstrates some of the tools and techniques handed down over centuries of barrel making.
2011-05-2000 min