Last month, Malt Advocate Magazine honored David Stewart of William Grant & Sons with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his 45 years in the whisky business. Stewart is the Malt Master for Grant's, and is responsible for both Glenfiddich and The Balvenie single malts, as well as Grant's blended Scotch. David shares his story with us in this episode...in the news, we'll get word of a new nautical-themed Benromach, an update on Euan Shand's plans for a distillery in Huntly, and more Icons of Whisky regional awards from Whisky Magazine.

Only one distillery can claim to have the world's best selling whiskey, and it's not in Scotland or Kentucky. Jack Daniels in Lynchburg, Tennessee sells more than 10 million cases of its Black Label whiskey every year...and 2008 will mark 40 consecutive years of service for master distiller Jimmy Bedford. We'll hear from Jimmy, along with the latest on a rare Glenfiddich single cask, Ardmore's pending arrival in the US, and how to make it as a whisky ambassador.

John Hall of Canada's Kittling Ridge Distillery makes his whiskies the hard way, distilling and maturing his grains separately, then blending them years later to make Forty Creek Canadian Whiskey. He's won numerous awards for his whiskies over the last several years, and we'll hear his story in this week's episode. In the news, a $12,000 Macallan, the guys who work at Glengoyne select three single-cask bottlings, a new Highland Park hits duty-free, and if you've ever dreamed of working in the whisky business, The Balvenie is looking for two serious whisky lovers. 

On the road again...this time at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for the Maker's Mark "When in Rome Weekend". Nearly 1500 Maker's Mark Ambassadors descended on Caesars for the distillery's first major event outside Kentucky, with bourbon tastings, cooking classes, and a toga party. We'll hear from some of the Ambassadors, along with master chef Bryan Ogden of Bradley Ogden's restaurant in Las Vegas, and a lesson on bourbon history from Bill Samuels, Jr. in the biggest episode of WhiskyCast yet!

This is a special episode of WhiskyCast with highlights from Tuesday night's Malt Advocate WhiskyFest in New York City. It's the 10th anniversary of WhiskyFest New York, and we'll hear from the winners of this year's Malt Advocate Whisky Awards, including Alastair Walker of Distillery of the Year BenRiach, along with Lifetime Achievement Award winners David Stewart of William Grant & Sons and Jim Rutledge of Four Rosesr. We'll also get updates on several new whiskies, including a couple of powerhouse ryes and a single grain from Ireland.

Willie Nelson made "On the Road Again" famous, and it's time to hit the road for a series of special episodes. Thie time around, it's Whisky Live in Toronto, and while technical problems kept me from recording the show live on-site, we'll get the latest on a new edition of Wiser's Canadian whiskey, along with a bunch of changes at Whyte & Mackay, and we'll check on two old friends. Last year, we met Barry Stein and Barry Bernstein, who gave up their successful careers to become independent whisky bottlers. We'll get the update from Barry, Barry...and their wives.

It's a good time to be in the whisky business. Scotch whisky exports are growing by 4 percent a year, and added up to $5 billion last year worldwide. We'll talk with Scotch Whisky Association chief executive Gavin Hewitt about the political and business issues facing the industry. In the news...more new whiskies this week, a preview of the Christie's whisky auction this December in New York City, and John Hansell gives us the details on the fall edition of Malt Advocate Magazine...along with a preview of WhiskyFest events in San Francisco and New York City.

Jim Murray's Whisky Bible is almost required reading for serious whisky lovers, and the 2008 edition of the Bible is on its way to booksellers now. We'll get a preview from Jim in this episode, along with his thoughts on the passing of Michael Jackson. In the news, more new whiskies are on the way -- including the annual Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, a duty-free Highland Park, new Macallans, and a small batch Forty Creek. Also...a bottle of George Washington's rye whiskey brings $35,000 at a charity auction, and a full schedule of whisky events around the world.

Ever wondered whether the CEO's of whisky companies get any special perks? In this week's episode, we'll get the answer from Tom Flocco, CEO of Beam Global Spirits & Wine. On a more serious note, we'll find out how the two-year-long process of integrating Laphroaig and other former Allied Domecq brands into Beam's portfolio is going, along with his view of the global whisky market. In other news, the 2008 edition of the Malt Whisky Yearbook is out, and we'll get a preview from editor Ingvar Ronde...along with word on new rare -- and expensive malts from the Classic Malts series.

For the first time, we'll talk about something other than whiskies on WhiskyCast! There's a new trend toward single-estate Cognacs and Armagnacs from France that compare very favorably with many single malts...and can often be a fraction of the price! Veteran spirits writer F. Paul Pacult led a tasting of rare Cognacs and Armagnacs this past week in New York, and he'll help guide us on a journey through the French countryside. In the news, a $30,000 Balvenie hits the market, new whiskies from Compass Box, and Mallya does motorsports as well as whisky...

George Washington...founding father of the United States, and a man who knew how to capitalize on an opportunity. When he heard that merchants near his Mount Vernon estate couldn't meet the demand for whiskey, he built one of the fledgling nation's biggest distilleries. The restored distillery is now producing rye whiskey from George's original recipe, and you'll hear the details in this episode. In the news, we'll hear from Springbank's Frank McHardy about his distillery's whisky schools this fall...and much, much more...

The world of whisky lost its greatest ambassador this week. Through his books, Michael Jackson gave us a vocabulary, and set words to our passion for the water of life. Michael passed away at his home Thursday morning (August 30) after a long fight with Parkinson's Disease and other health problems. In March, I had the chance to talk with Michael, and you'll hear part of that interview on this episode, along with memories of Michael from Martine Nouet. Raise a glass if you will...to a man who now sips from the angel's share.

The Famous Grouse is Scotland's #1 blended Scotch, but the newest version of the Grouse won't be available there. The Black Grouse is a new blend that takes the best of the Grouse and adds in a touch of Islay for a peatier, smokier blend. It's been on the market all year in Sweden, where Edrington's Helen Potter got the inspiration to create the Black Grouse. Helen is the innovation and development manager for The Famous Grouse, and she'll give us the details on the Black Grouse. In the news, new whiskies from Benriach and Old Forester, and they'll fire up the still at George Washington's Distillery this week.

The rumors of change at Glenmorangie are true, and we'll get the details on the new Extra Matured range from Glenmorangie whisky maker and blender Rachel Barrie. In the news, Heaven Hill announced the details for a new collection honoring master distiller Parker Beam, the International Wine and Spirits Competition honors whiskies from around the world, New York ends its ban on whisky auctions...and what exactly is a Flanscargle single malt?

It's time for the first question and answer episode of WhiskyCast, as we'll get answers to your e-mailed questions from John Glaser of Compass Box, John Hansell of Malt Advocate magazine, and Steve Fox of Preiss Imports. In the news, is Glenmorangie going Gallic...new whiskies from Laphroaig and Arran, Templeton Rye goes back home to Chicago...and a collector's item sure to make the most devoted Robert Burns fan weep with joy goes on the auction block at Bonham's later this month.

Nick Morgan of Diageo has the job most of us would love...next to running a distillery of our own. As Global Marketing Director for Diageo's premium malts and the Classic Malts series, he has access to whiskies most of us only dream of being able to taste. We'll find out about his personal favorites, as well as what goes into selecting malts for the Classic Malts range. In the news, Dewars gets a $250 million investment to expand its whisky production...Jim Beam releases a special bourbon to benefit the children of New York City firefighters, the Westin Turnberry Resort has a few bottles of a rare Glenfiddich private release left, and Bruichladdich keeps the golf theme going with two new releases in its Links series. 

The Grant family bought Speyside's Glenfarclas distillery in 1865, and six generations of Grants have worked at the distillery since then. George Grant is following the path led by his great-great-great grandfather, and he'll lead us through a vertical tasting of four single malts from the family distillery. In the news, profits and losses in the business, Glengoyne gives a nod to its past, Heaven Hill gives Parker Beam a well-deserved honor, and an update on the calendar of events.

Iain Henderson's CV includes everything from sailing the seas as an engineer on oil tankers to managing the stills at Laphroaig, Bladnoch, and Edradour (among others). His latest venture, though, has created some controversy in Scotland -- he's helping a single malt distillery in England get off the ground! In the news, Benromach's organic single malt is on its way to the U.S., Woodford Reserve isn't the only one experimenting with bourbon and chardonnay barrels, and Diageo submits its plans for a new malt distillery in Roseisle.

It's a milestone episode for WhiskyCast, and to mark the occasion, I've selected a few of my favorite moments from the first 99 episodes. You'll hear from Jim McEwan, John MacDougall, Jim Cryle, Jim Murray, Tom Bulleit, and others during this special episode. In the news, the other shoe has dropped in India's whisky tax war, there are new releases from Whyte & Mackay and Bruichladdich, and the Classic Malts Cruise gets underway in Oban.

There's no shortage of Scotch whiskies with wine finishes, but until now, finished Bourbons have been just an academic idea. Chris Morris of Woodford Reserve worked with his corporate siblings at Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards to create a chardonnay-finished version of Woodford Reserve. We'll get a preview from Chris, along with a look at next week's Classic Malts Cruise along the Scottish coast from Diageo's Nick Morgan. In the news, India has lowered its whisky tariffs, Whyte and Mackay's managing director leaves, and details on a "double-barrel" Ardbeg.

Last September, Ian Buxton gave us a preview of his "Classic Expressions" series of vintage whisky books, lovingly re-printed under the guidance of Ian and publisher Neil Wilson. Back then, Ian was looking for founding subscribers to support the printing of the first two books in the series. Now, "Reminiscenses of a Gauger" by Joseph Pacy and Ian MacDonald's "Smuggling in the Highlands" are available for a new generation of whisky lovers to enjoy. Ian and Neil have three more classics in the pipeline, and we'll get an update from Ian in this episode. In the news, Talisker gets a new manager, Canadian Club celebrates Dario Franchitti's Indy 500 victory, and the Indian spirits tariff dispute may have a resolution soon.

Time to travel down under to Australia, where fall has turned into winter, and it's whisky season. 15 years ago, Bill and Lyn Lark started Australia's first malt whisky distillery on a lark (pun intended). Since then, they've produced the Southern Hemisphere's first peated single malt whisky, and helped spawn a series of distilleries that have put Australia on the whisky map. In the news, new whiskies from Isle of Jura, Templeton Rye celebrates a "quasquicentennial", and a lack of rain in Lynchburg, Tennessee has the folks at Jack Daniels nervous.

It's a rare road trip for WhiskyCast, with a special episode taped on location at the Brandy Library in New York City. We'll get an update on the new Benriach series of finished 15-year-old single malts from Steve Fox of Preiss Imports, the US importer for Benriach. By the way, if you don't like caramel coloring or chill-filtering, raise a glass in Steve's honor if you try one of these malts...he's the guy who convinced Benriach to drop them. In the news, we'll hear about a $10,000 Macallan sale and plans for a new distillery in western Scotland.

There's been a lot of talk about India and whisky over the past few months, and in this episode, we'll get the local perspective on India's whisky tastes, tariffs, and the Whyte & Mackay deal from India's only Malt Maniac, Krishna Nukala.

There probably isn't a serious whisky lover who hasn't dreamed of having his or her own distillery. Euan Shand of Duncan Taylor is making his dream come true, with plans for a new (and carbon-neutral) distillery in Huntly. We'll hear about Euan's plans, along with the winners in Scotch and Irish whiskies at this year's International Wine & Spirit Competition and an oil shortage that could bring Islay's distilleries to a halt...all on this episode of WhiskyCast!

Evan Cattanach has seen a world of changes since he got his first distillery job in 1961. Over the years, he worked at Linlithgow, Glentauchers, Caol Ila, Cardhu, and Lagavulin before retiring in 1993. That only lasted a few months before Diageo brought him back to serve as a brand ambassador traveling the world on behalf of the Classic Malts range. We'll hear from Evan and his wife, Melissa, on this episode. In the news, the Whyte & Mackay deal is finally done, Benromach's organic single malt gets top honors, and yours truly gets a lesson in royal protocol.

It's rare that a whisky is more well-known overseas than in its home country, but that's the case with Four Roses Bourbon. It was once America's best-selling bourbon, until Seagram's magnate Samuel Bronfman decided it should be sold only in export markets. Bronfman's long gone, but Four Roses is back at home. We'll hear the whole story from Four Roses Master Distiller Jim Rutledge. In the news, Speyside's finest are honored, Ardmore finally gets its due as a single malt, and the latest from Jim Murray on the 2007 Whisky Bible.

Distillers get all the glory, but there's more to making great whisky than just running the still. The whisky industry's unsung heroes are the coopers, the guys who make the barrels that hold our precious whisky for years without a leak...even though the angels still get their share. Don Ramsay is head cooper at Glenfiddich, and has been building barrels for nearly 47 years. We'll hear his story on this episode, along with news of a royal whisky, overpouring drams, and brain shrinkage...

It's festival week in Speyside, as whisky lovers descend on the banks of the River Spey for the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. We'll find out what's new this year from festival coordinator Ros Lewis. It's also Kentucky Derby week in Louisville, and Woodford Reserve's Chris Morris shares his recipe for the traditional mint julep. In other news...Duncan Taylor is sending its new NC2 malts to North America, and a whisky cheat pleads guilty...

The World Whiskies Conference has ended, with some unusual ideas that may spark some controversy...OK, a lot of controversy. But getting back to whisky, we'll hear from one of the world's great bourbon makers, Julian Van Winkle, along with plans for the rebirth of the Spirit of Toronto Festival next month and a new 21-year-old single malt from Glengoyne.

It's whisky festival season, and that always means new bottlings, along with unusual whiskies that come out of the woodwork to make their debut. In this episode, we'll look at more of both, with a new Ambassador's Cask bottling from Highland Park, new vintages from The Glenrothes, and details on the new Singleton of Glendullan. In the second category, we'll find out about a rye whiskey that got its start in Iowa during the dark days of Prohibition, and is now coming out of the moonlight (or moonshine) into the spotlight.

This is one of the biggest weeks for whisky lovers in the United States, with three major whisky festivals in three different cities over a 10-day period. Whisky Magazine's Whisky Live New York started off the fun this past Wednesday night, and I'll have the details in this episode, including interviews with experts from Bowmore, Black Bottle, Four Roses, and Old Pulteney. In the news, Scotch whisky exports set a new record, William Grant & Sons plans for a new malt distillery, and Ulf Buxrud has the best spirits book of the year for 2006.

This is an abbreviated episode of WhiskyCast, as a family emergency kept me from making it to Mount Vernon for this week's opening of George Washington's Distillery. Because of that, it's just the headlines this time around, along with a look at the calendar of events. In the headlines, the winners of this year's San Francisco International Spirits Competition have been announced, there's a new edition of Johnnie Walker Blue Label available in Asia, Old Pulteney sends two older expressions sailing off to the U.S., and this Thursday is "Wear A Kilt to Work Day".

Michael Jackson gets credit for inspiring the current generation of whisky writers and journalists with his work, including the "Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch" and "Whisky." Now, Michael has disclosed that while he's been writing and traveling the world for the last ten years or more, he's also been fighting Parkinson's Disease. He'll update us on his writing plans, as well as his health, in this episode of WhiskyCast.

Irish whiskeys really deserve more than just a taste at St. Patrick's Day. They're the fastest growing segment of the whisky business, and we'll hear from Bushmills Master Distiller Colum Egan and Cooley Distillery's Jack Teeling. In the news, William Grant & Sons has plans to enter the travel retail business, Shetland's Blackwood Distillers pulls back from plans for a new distillery on Unst, and Spirit of Toronto organizer Johanna Ngoh is putting together a whisky auction in honor of Michael Jackson and his fight with Parkinson's Disease. We'll get an update from Michael on that fight, with more to come in the next episode.

Dr. Jim Swan has been working with distilleries around the world for years as a consultant, helping to make the whiskies we drink even better. Jim was a guest on the very first episode of WhiskyCast, and we'll get his unique perspective on the industry in this episode. In the news, we'll get an update on the upcoming Whiskies of the World Expo in San Francisco, the United States sides with the European Union in the whisky war with India, the Scotch Whisky Association keeps fighting in Canada, and more details on the new expression from Longmorn.

If you're planning a summer vacation to Scotland, there are plenty of new places to visit. Many distilleries are sprucing up their visitor centers as a way to connect with whisky lovers, and we'll get an update from Caroline Dewar of Distillery Destinations. In the news...yet another Distiller of the Year award for Buffalo Trace as Whisky Magazine announces its annual Icons of Whisky winners...a facelift for Gentleman Jack and a new expression for Longmorn...and the latest on the whisky war between Europe and India.

Wonder just how differently casks from the same distillery, produced and stored under identical conditions, can turn out after years of maturation? We'll get some insight as we join the tasting panel at Bayway's World of Liquors as they select a barrel of Eagle Rare Bourbon for a store-exclusive bottling. In the news...still more expansion as Heaven Hill gets the green light to add capacity and jobs at the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, and Whyte and Mackay gets a new U.S. distributor for many of its whiskies.

The whisky business is growing by leaps and bounds worldwide, and distillers are responding with millions of dollars in new investments. This past week, Diageo announced plans to pump nearly $200 million into its Scotch production, including an all-new malt distillery in the Moray area. We'll hear from Diago's Peter Smith and Ken Robertson, along with Dave Pickerell of Maker's Mark, where Beam Global is also investing on additional capacity. In the news, Mount Vernon will be able to sell whisky from George Washington's distillery, 400 distillery workers in Southern Indiana may be able to keep their jobs, and the saga of Whyte & MacKay's sale may finally be near an end.

The guys at Bruichladdich have never shied away from a challenge, and their latest goal is to bring whisky distilling back to the nearby town of Port Charlotte on Islay. The town's distillery was turned into a car park decades ago, but Mark Reynier tells us they have the old warehouses, a still, and big plans for the Port Charlotte Distillery. In the news, the 16 Men of Tain at Glenmorangie is now 15...and a woman of Tain. There's also news of next month's Woodford Reserve bourbon academies, discounts for WhiskyCast listeners at the Wild Scotsman Whisky School, and much more.

Plenty of news in this episode: A Nova Scotia distillery wins its battle with the Scotch Whisky Association...for now, India may give in to demands to reduce its stiff tariffs on imported spirits, whisky accounted for $5 billion in U.S. sales during 2006, Laphroaig adds a lounge at the distillery just for its Friends, and the new issue of Malt Advocate magazine is out! We also pay tribute to John Sutherland, distillery manager at The Glenrothes, who passed away last week at his home near Elgin.

 

 

Scotland celebrates the 248th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns this week...and the world celebrates with Scotland. Burns Suppers are held all over the world...for just a few people or a few hundred people. We'll get the details on hosting your own Burns Supper, as well as a look at the life and legacy of Robert Burns. In the news, there's word of new distribution deals for William Grant & Sons and Blackadder, a new web site for the Scotch Whisky Association, and the latest issue of Whisky Magazine is in the mail.

 

Jim McEwan is one of whisky's most outspoken ambassadors. As production manager at Bruichladdich, he's been responsible for bringing a silent distillery back to life, and creating some of the more unusual single malts around. He'll share some of his stories with us in this episode. In the news...one of Jim's proteges gets a promotion, there's a new production manager at Glenfarclas, and Bunnahabhain opens the doors to its online store.

Welcome to 2007, and if you're in New York, your assignment is to go to the library. Not the big building with a bunch of books, but the Brandy Library in Manhattan's Tribeca neighborhood. We'll talk with spirit sommelier Ethan Kelley about one of America's best whisky bars. In the news, researchers have found new photos of Laphroaig legend Bessie Williamson, Burn Stewart brings out a 10-year-old Ledaig single malt, Maker's Mark announces the dates for its annual Thoroughbreds and Redheads Weekend in April, and honors for Malt Maniac-turned writer Ulf Buxrud.

It's the final episode of 2006, and we'll end the year with a profile of one of the newest distillers in the business, and one who's already making her mark on single malts. Gillian Howell is the distiller at the Welsh Whisky Company, which produces Penderyn Single Malt. Gillian explains how she went from the University of Cardiff straight to the stillroom at Penderyn, and we'll get a performance review from her mentor, Dr. Jim Swan. Finally, thanks for listening to WhiskyCast over the past year. I've learned a lot about whisky from producing this podcast, and I hope you've learned something as well. Best wishes for a New Year full of joy, peace, and abundance. Slainthe!

There are many whisky competitions, but few give the average whisky lover a vote in deciding the winners. Now, the Drammie Awards have changed that, thanks to Kevin Erskine of The Scotch Blog. Erskine created the Drammies, and joins us to go through the inaugural list of winners. In the news, Jim Murray gives a blended whisky top honors and malt lovers fits, Scotch whisky exports have an economic impact of nearly 3 billion pounds, and help boost profits at Gordon & MacPhail...the Scotch Whisky Association takes on a Canadian distillery over the word "Glen", and Glenmorangie PLC confirms that Michael Heads will be taking over at Ardbeg in the spring. Pour yourself a dram, relax, and have a very merry Christmas...Hanukkah, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa...or whatever holiday you're celebrating...

The debate over blended whiskies vs. single malts will never be decided, but both can be appreciated, much as a music lover can enjoy both symphonies and jazz. One of the maestros of blended whiskies is Whyte & Mackay's Richard Paterson, and he shares his lifetime of experience in the whisky business with us. In the news, Ardbeg has hired a new manager to replace Stuart Thomson, Duncan Taylor puts more rare whiskies on the auction block for charity, and we'll get some tasting notes on a Pakistani single malt!

Many of us would describe ourselves as "malt maniacs", but the title of "Malt Maniac" belongs to 24 serious whisky experts from around the world. You've heard from several of the Maniacs in previous episodes, and now, Master Maniac Johannes van den Heuvel joins us from Amsterdam with the winners of the 2006 Malt Maniacs Awards! In the news, socialism and whisky apparently don't mix well in Venezuela, but do in Vietnam, and the infidels are distilling something interesting in Pakistan.

The green and white labels may be plain, but the whisky inside the bottles is usually something special. We'll go inside the Scotch Malt Whisky Society with US chapter president Alan Shayne. In the news, one of the oldest bottles of whisky on record fetched thousands at auction, more whisky winners, and was George Washington not only the "father of his country", but the "distiller of his country"?