WhiskyCast

The cask-strength podcast on whiskies from around the world, including Scotch, Bourbon, Irish, and Canadian whiskies. Listen for the latest whisky news, interviews, tasting notes, and much more! To find out more about WhiskyCast, visit us at WhiskyCast.com.

Inside the Johnnie Walker Vault 04/27/2025

Inside the Johnnie Walker Vault 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. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/36330575

The Pattisons' Empire: A House of Cards 04/21/2025

The Pattisons' Empire: A House of Cards 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. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/36255490

Chapter 11: Doom and Gloom or Saving Grace 04/14/2025

Chapter 11: Doom and Gloom or Saving Grace 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. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/36119580

Rye or Rye Not? 04/09/2025

Rye or Rye Not? 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. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/36060660

Stone Toasting: A New Way to Toast Whisky Casks 03/30/2025

Stone Toasting: A New Way to Toast Whisky Casks 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. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/35927735

Taiwan's First Malt Whisky Distillery 03/24/2025

Taiwan's First Malt Whisky Distillery 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. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/35830090

In Depth with Michter's President Joe Magliocco 03/16/2025

In Depth with Michter's President Joe Magliocco Joe Magliocco didn’t found Michter’s Whiskey…but he is the modern-day father of the brand. Magliocco uncovered the lapsed trademark for Michter’s nearly 30 years ago that led to the brand’s revival. He’ll join us on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth to discuss everything from the history of Michter’s to today’s concerns over tariffs and overproduction. In the news, the European Union has joined the trade war with the U.S., and will impose a 50% tariff on Bourbon and other American whiskies April 1. The U.S. has responded with a threat from President Donald Trump to tax European spirits and wines at 200%, and spirits producers on both sides of the Atlantic are concerned. We’ll have the details, along with the story of a New Jersey man’s unusual find along the beach — 11 bottles of Prohibition-era whiskey. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/35717355

From Wine to Whiskey: Tara Lindley's Journey 03/09/2025

From Wine to Whiskey: Tara Lindley's Journey Tara Lindley started out in the wine business before joining High West Distillery nine years ago. Now, she’s the director of sensory analysis and new product development for High West’s owner, Constellation Brands, and her latest project is the 2025 release of High West’s Bourye, a blend of Bourbons and Rye whiskies. We’ll talk with Tara on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, the North American trade war heats up as Canada retaliates for U-S tariffs on Canadian imports by pulling American whiskies off retail shelves. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/35599590

25 Years of the Ardbeg Committee 03/02/2025

25 Years of the Ardbeg Committee The Ardbeg Committee was one of whisky’s first online affinity groups, and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. We’ll talk with Committee chair Jackie Thomson about the early days of the group, as well as the new Ardbeg Eureka release that marks the anniversary. In the news, the threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports is back this week. Diageo is defending its lackluster earnings as a cyclical phenomenon, while Jack Daniel’s is introducing its oldest whiskey in more than a century. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/35503815

Elixir: San Francisco's Best Whisky Bar 02/23/2025

Elixir: San Francisco's Best Whisky Bar San Francisco’s Elixir dates its history back to 1858, when it opened in the city’s Mission District along a plank road at the corner of what is now 16th and Guerrero. The bar still has its Gold Rush-era look and feel, thanks to careful restoration work led by owner H. Joseph Ehrmann. We’ll talk with head bartender Nick Madden and general manager Shea Shawnson on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, English Whisky is a step closer to getting its own geographical indicator status, though not without some objections. Campari is considering layoffs because of declining Cognac sales, and Suntory Holdings is reporting a slight gain in 2024 sales. We’ll have the details, along with the week’s tasting notes and much more. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/35399205

A View from the Corner Office 02/18/2025

A View from the Corner Office Dan 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. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/35342190

Hotaling & Co.'s Bruce Joseph Retires After 45 Years 02/09/2025

Hotaling & Co.'s Bruce Joseph Retires After 45 Years Bruce Joseph started out as a brewer at what was then Anchor Brewing in San Francisco, and became a distiller when owner Fritz Maytag decided he wanted to add a distillery to make rye whiskey. Old Potrero has become a San Francisco favorite, and after 45 years with what is now Hotaling & Co., he's easing into retirement this week. Bruce Joseph joins us for an exclusive interview on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, U.S. trade tariffs against Canada and Mexico are on hold for 30 days, but the fallout continues to spread across North America. We'll talk with the co-chair of the Congressional Bourbon Caucus, Kentucky Rep. Morgan McGarvey about that fallout and the impact on the Bourbon industry. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/35212125

The Bar at Willett: More Than Just a Bar 02/02/2025

The Bar at Willett: More Than Just a Bar The Bar at Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky serves up more than just neat pours and classic cocktails. It’s also a gourmet-quality restaurant, as proven by its 2025 James Beard Awards nomination. We’ll talk with general manager and beverage director Andy Pope on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, a trade war is brewing across North America after President Trump imposed import tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico, which will make Canadian Whisky more expensive. Canadian and Mexican leaders responded with tariffs of their own targeting Bourbon and other American whiskies, and we’ll have all of the details. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/35119890

Whisky's Myth Buster 01/26/2025

Whisky's Myth Buster Drew Hannush loves nothing more than to disprove whiskey lore, and spends his time researching historical documents to find the truth behind many of whiskey’s legends. His new book is Whiskey Lore: Volume One, and he’ll join us on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, President Trump wants to impose tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, and Canadian leaders are threatening to retaliate with tariffs and boycotts of American whiskies. Bourbon also had a place at Trump’s Inauguration, and we’ll have the details. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/35019340

On the Road at the Victoria Whisky Festival 01/20/2025

On the Road at the Victoria Whisky Festival This week, we’re in Victoria, British Columbia for the annual Victoria Whisky Festival, one of the world’s great whisky events. The Canadian Whisky Awards were presented during the festival, and we’ll have the results, including a surprise winner of the Canadian Whisky of the Year. We’ll also talk with Wayne Gretzky Distillery head distiller Tim Wilson and Forty Creek master blender Bill Ashburn on WhiskyCast In-Depth, and Dr. Don Livermore gives us an explanation of Fick’s Law and how it affects whisky maturation in our Behind the Label segment. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/34916240

Everything's Coming Up Rosens 01/13/2025

Everything's Coming Up Rosens Rosen Rye was once favored by distillers for its unique flavor. However, Rosen fell out of favor several decades ago because of cross-pollination and the development of other strains of rye. Now, Rosen is making a comeback on farms in Pennsylvania and Michigan, and we’ll talk with two distillers working with the heirloom grain. Erik Wolfe of Pennsylvania’s Stoll & Wolfe Distillery and Chad Munger of Michigan’s Mammoth Distilling join us on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, a Speyside distilling veteran is taking on a new challenge, while a U.S. whisky and rum importer is hoping to spur sales by cutting prices. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/34836050

Turning the Tables on Mark 01/05/2025

Turning the Tables on Mark With 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 the initials MBE to his business cards. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/34729375

50 Years...and Still Going Strong 12/29/2024

50 Years...and Still Going Strong Tomintoul Master Distiller Robert Fleming is celebrating two anniversaries. 2024 marks his 50th year in the whisky business, while 2025 will be his 35th year as manager at Tomintoul. We’ll talk with the industry veteran this week on WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, hundreds lined up days in advance at three Texas liquor stores for a chance to buy rare Bourbons Saturday. California’s Redwood Empire Distillery is getting a new home, and Glenturret is getting out of the peated whisky market. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/34647325

Have We Reached Peak Whisky? 12/22/2024

Have We Reached Peak Whisky? A new report from Noble and Co. shows the secondary auction market for whiskies turned in another poor year, and the retail market for whiskies isn’t doing much better. We’ll talk with Noble’s Duncan McFadzean about the report and its implications for whisky collectors and investors, as well as the wider whisky market. In the news, a Heaven Hill rickhouse worker was killed this week in a warehouse accident, while Diageo has been fined nearly $700,000 after a distillery worker was seriously burned in a 2021 accident. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/34572860

Holyrood Distillery: Punching Above Its Weight 12/16/2024

Holyrood Distillery: Punching Above Its Weight The tiny Holyrood Distillery in Edinburgh shocked the whisky world when it was named Distillery of the Year last week in Whisky Magazine’s Scottish Icons of Whisky Awards. Less shocking was Holyrood’s Embra single malt, which took top honors for Lowlands no-age-statement single malts in the World Whiskies Awards. We’ll talk with Holyrood co-founder Rob Carpenter about this unique distillery on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. There’s a lot of news this week, starting with the TTB’s decision to enact an official definition for American Single Malts…we’ll have all the details and the rest of the week’s whisky news, too. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/34461505

Waterford's Reynier Mounting a Comeback Effort 12/08/2024

Waterford's Reynier Mounting a Comeback Effort Waterford Distillery founder Mark Reynier isn’t giving up on his dream, even though the distillery went into receivership last week. As he tells us on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth, he’s putting together an investor group to bid on Waterford’s assets when they go up for auction in January. We’ll talk with Reynier about Waterford’s failure and where things went wrong on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Brown-Forman is taking pre-emptive steps to guard against the impact of potential trade tariffs, while Chivas Brothers has filed for planning permission to build a distillery on Islay. We’ll also have details on the latest holiday whisky releases and much more. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/34338320

A Bottled in Bond Brother's Bond 12/01/2024

A Bottled in Bond Brother's Bond Actors Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley have released their latest edition of Brother’s Bond Bourbon, a 7-year-old Bottled in Bond whiskey. It’s a release that shows the two are serious about their whiskies, and not just slapping their names on a bottle. We’ll talk with Paul and Ian on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. It’s been a troubling week for the whisky industry with the bankruptcy of Kentucky Owl parent company Stoli Group USA and the collapse of Ireland’s Waterford Distillery, and we’ll have the details on both, along with President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, which could include Canadian whisky and Tequila. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/34219340

On the Road at the New Brunswick Spirits Festival 11/25/2024

On the Road at the New Brunswick Spirits Festival It’s time for our annual trip to the New Brunswick Spirits Festival in Fredericton, New Brunswick. This year, the legendary Scottish bard Robin Laing was on hand, and we’ll catch up with him on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. We’ll also talk with festival founder and chairman Frank Scott, longtime master distiller Alan Winchester, and have more highlights from the week in Fredericton. In the news, Suntory Global Spirits is moving its Irish Whiskey bottling operations out of Ireland, while Diageo has called time on a Crown Royal distillery project in Canada. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/34147835

Ironroot Republic Celebrates 10 Years 11/18/2024

Ironroot Republic Celebrates 10 Years Many craft distilleries that came to life in the early 2010’s are marking their 10th anniversaries, and this weekend, the folks at Ironroot Republic Distilling in Denison, Texas celebrated their anniversary. The Likarish family founded Ironroot Republic after Robert Likarish decided that he didn’t want to practice law in his final year of law school, and his brother Jonathan gave up a career designing medical equipment to become Ironroot Republic’s head distiller and blender. We’ll talk with Jonathan Likarish on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Diageo opens a distillery in China, while an Indian distiller plans to open a distillery in Scotland. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/33982282

The Bond Between Peat and Whisky 11/10/2024

The Bond Between Peat and Whisky While politicians in Scotland debate a potential ban on the harvesting of peat, author Mike Billett writes of the undeniable ties between peat and whisky. In his new book “Peat and Whisky: The Unbreakable Bond,” the peatland scientist explores Scotland’s peat bogs, healthy and not so healthy, and how whisky companies are helping to restore damaged peatlands back to health. Mike Billett joins us on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, whisky industry leaders are worried about the results of Tuesday’s U.S. election and the potential for new tariffs in a second Trump Administration. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/33871072

Ask the Distiller: Ardbeg's Bill Lumsden 11/03/2024

Ask the Distiller: Ardbeg's 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 the new Ardbeg 17 is chill-filtered and bottled at 40% ABV to what it was like working with Beyoncé on her new SirDavis Whisky. 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/index/show/whiskycast/id/33765602

Shining a Light on Lost Lantern 10/28/2024

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 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/index/show/whiskycast/id/33643772

Behind the Scenes at a Spirits Competition 10/20/2024

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 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. /episode/index/show/whiskycast/id/33539162

From Scotland to California: John Campbell's New Journey 10/13/2024

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 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/index/show/whiskycast/id/33438357

True Story: Wes Henderson's Next Chapter 10/06/2024

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, 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/index/show/whiskycast/id/33349282

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