It's time to announce the winners of the 2008 Malt Maniacs Awards, and Serge Valentin will join us with this year's selections from his home in France! In the news, the U.K. flip-flops on a whisky tax increase, we'll take a look at the upcoming 75th anniversary of the end of Prohibition on Friday, Auchentoshan releases a second cask of 50-year-old single malt, and Glenlivet celebrates Founder's Day this weekend.

Willie Tait has been a fixture at Whyte and Mackay for 34 years, and is most known for his work at Isle of Jura Distillery. He's the third of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award winners at the Malt Advocate Magazine Awards, and shares some of his stories with us in this episode...including how he and his family wound up on Jura in the first place. We'll also hear from Chris Morris of Woodford Reserve, John Hall of Forty Creek, and John Glaser of Compass Box on their new whiskies.

Malt Advocate Magazine handed out its annual awards at this week's WhiskyFest New York, and you'll hear from some of this year's winners in this episode, including Jim Rutledge of Distillery of the Year Winner Four Roses and two of the three Lifetime Achievement Award winners: Kenny Gray of Oban and veteran Buffalo Trace warehouse manager Ronnie Eddens (next time, we'll hear from Isle of Jura's Willie Tait). In the news, the latest on Springbank, The Macallan gets artsy, and Jeff Arnett's having a ball as the new master distiller at Jack Daniels.

Robert Hicks tried to retire a couple of years ago as the Master Blender at Teacher's, Laphroaig, and Ardmore...but he's busier than ever these days. 2009 will mark his 45th year in the whisky business, and he'll share his memories in this episode of WhiskyCast! In the news, Diageo taketh away from Canada and giveth to developing markets...new (old) whiskies from Glenglassaugh, the PC7 from Bruichladdich, and (ri)1 takes rye whiskey to the trend-setters...

We'll go inside the laboratory this time around, and our guides are the lead chemist at Buffalo Trace, Truman Cox, and one of the leaders of the distillery's tasting panel, Dendress Ennis. Buffalo Trace was just honored by Whisky Magazine as Innovator of the Year in the US round of its 2009 Icons of Whisky Awards, so these guys are the perfect guides to explain what happens behind the scenes. In the news, the rest of the Icons winners from the US and Scotland rounds, a new independent bottler from South Africa, and more new whiskies from all over the world!

Balblair Distillery sits on the Dornoch Firth in Edderton, and it's been getting a lot of attention these days. Distillery manager John MacDonald was instrumental in helping re-launch the Balblair range from age-dated expressions to vintages, and the Balblair 1989 was recently picked by Scotch lovers as the best whisky at the Whisky Fringe in Edinburgh. We'll hear from John about what went into the redevelopment of Balblair. In the news, Laphroaig's John Campbell tells us about plans to harmonize the distillery's range worldwide, and we'll get updates on this fall's new Classic Malts releases, new malts from Glengoyne and Auchentoshan, and how you can help support prostate cancer research during "Movember."

Many of us think of ourselves as whisky collectors, but Giuseppe Begnoni is in a league of his own. Begnoni is regarded as one of the world's leading whisky collectors, and his spirits collection numbers more than 40,000 bottles. He'll tell us about his nearly 40 years of collecting whisky in this episode, and we'll also hear from Richard Paterson of Whyte & Mackay about the major changes to The Dalmore's single malt range. In the news, a belated Birthday Bourbon from Old Forester, a "Sweet 16" from Bruichladdich, and a 250th Anniversary Robert Burns single malt from Arran, along with the latest on Jim Murray's 2009 Whisky Bible.

Glenmorangie's Dr. Bill Lumsden is regarded as one of the leading innovators in the whisky business. He's credited with creating an industry-leading wood management program and developing the distillery's series of award-winning "finished" whiskies over the years. In this episode, we'll hear from Bill about his work with Glenmorangie and Ardbeg. In the news, Crown Royal re-launches its Reserve Edition, the world's largest whisky collection will go on public display, the 2009 Malt Whisky Yearbook is out, and Mackmyra celebrates 10 years of making whisky the Swedish way.

Bourbon's big, baby! So big that we've crammed four of Kentucky's best distilleries into one big episode of WhiskyCast. We'll get the first look at this year's Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, along with the new Mariage Series from Four Roses, a whopper from Heaven Hill, and a special election bottling from Maker's Mark. In the news, India's Supreme Court strikes a blow against globalism, a look at new Irish whiskies and the latest Blue Hanger, and trying to beat the angels out of their share!

This week, WhiskyCast is in Lebanon, Kentucky for the Marion County Country Ham Days Festival. This year's festival honors Independent Stave's Kentucky Cooperage, the local cooperage that supplies barrels for every one of Kentucky's bourbon distilleries, and you'll get a rare insider's tour in this special episode of WhiskyCast. In fact, the cooperage supplies 9 out of every 10 casks for the county's only distillery, Maker's Mark in nearby Loretto, and we'll also hear from master distiller Kevin Smith.

Here's a special bonus episode from Whisky Live Paris...on location at one of the world's great bars. Hemingway drank at Harry's, Parisians drink at Harry's...and now, WhiskyCast goes to Harry's New York Bar. Thierry Benitah of La Maison du Whisky joins us for this special episode...his family has been supplying whisky to Harry's for 52 years, and he'll share some of the history of Harry's and La Maison du Whisky with us. We'll also hear from Suntory's Mike Miyamoto and Kamiguchi Naofumi of Nikka about their latest and most unusual whiskies that have the French going "incroyable!"

Time now for part two of WhiskyCast's special coverage of Whisky Live Paris! We'll get an update on Islay's newest distillery, Kilchoman...where the first spirit reaches legal age later this year, and the new boss at Glendronach, Billy Walker of BenRiach fame, has plans to turn his team's new acquisition loose and let the spirit go free! We'll also hear from Dennis Malcolm of Glen Grant, Steven Teeling of Cooley, and Michael Urquhart of Gordon & MacPhail...and in the author's corner...Hans Offringa tells us about his new books on the history of Laphroaig and "A Taste of Whisky," and Ulf Buxrud shares details of his new book on Japanese whiskies.

It's Whisky Live weekend in Paris, and this is Part 1 of special coverage of an amazing weekend! We'll find out why the French are so passionate about whisky, and not just drinking it, but distilling it as well! Aberlour's Ann Miller weighs in, along with Jean Metzger of Uberach Distillery, Jean Donnay of Glann Ar Mor, and Whisky Magazine France editor Martine Nouet. Andrew Symington updates us on new releases from Edradour and Signatory, and I'll have details on the sale of Glen Moray to a French company and the new members of the Bourbon Hall of Fame.

Canadian Club celebrates its 150th anniversary starting this month, and we'll discuss the distillery's history with long-time ambassador brand ambassador Dan Tullio. We'll also taste the new Canadian Club 30-year-old whiskey being released to celebrate the anniversary. In the news, we'll also hear from Glenmorangie's Dr. Bill Lumsden about the new Glenmorangie Signet and an update on the sale of Glen Moray, along with new duty-free Glenrothes and Balvenie expressions.

We're just a week or so away from a week that may make Derby Week look almost boring in Louisville...the combination of Ryder Cup week and Kentucky Bourbon Festival Week! Knob Creek Whiskey Professor and Louisville native Bernie Lubbers gives us some ideas of how to spend time in Louisville when you're in the area to visit the bourbon distilleries. In the news...an update from New Orleans and our friends at the Museum of the American Cocktail after Hurricane Gustav.

Three years ago this weekend, New Orleans and much of the Gulf Coast were in ruins after Hurricane Katrina. It's only been in the last couple of months that The Museum of the American Cocktail was able to return to its home in New Orleans, just in time for the arrival of Hurricane Gustav. Museum co-founder Dale DeGroff brings us up to date on the Museum's journey to Las Vegas and back home over the past three years, along with an update on New Orleans's reconstruction. Of course, we couldn't let this master mixologist get away without his favorite cocktail recipe...and he'll share his method for the perfect Sazerac.

Unless you work in the whisky industry, you've probably never heard of James Espey or Tom Jago. However, I'll bet that you've had one of the whisky brands they've been responsible for creating over their decades in the business. Now, they've teamed up with Peter Fleck for The Last Drop, an ultra-premium blend with whiskies blended in 1972 and left in the corner of a warehouse ever since. It's the first of what they promise will be a series of "gob-smacking" whiskies from The Last Drop. In the news, the final still is installed at Roseisle, Bruichladdich turns down bidders, and who tips better, Republicans or Democrats?

A double feature with two (actually, three) great whiskies to talk about this week! Glenlivet's breaking the age barrier with its first 25-year-old single malt, and we'll taste it with Ian Logan. David Mair of The Balvenie will tell us more about the new Balvenie Signature, along with a special distillery-only bottling he snuck out of Speyside for a trip to New York...the Balvenie Rose. In the news, China gives Scotch Whisky trademark protection status, the Famous Grouse releases a new duty-free expression, and Bruichladdich asks us to compare and contrast.

When the temperature's approaching 90 (32), sometimes a cold beer just sounds better than a glass of whisky. Northing wrong with that....especially when the beer has whisky in its DNA. More brewers are experimenting with aging their beers in whisky casks, and one of the most unusual comes from Scotland's Harviestoun Brewery. Ola Dubh is aged in casks from Highland Park's 12, 16, and 30-year-old malts, and each beer bears the special characteristics of its corresponding malt. We'll hear from Harviestoun's master brewer Stuart Cail in this week's episode. In the news, an update on Auchentoshan's new line of malts from new distillery manager Iain McCallum and a preview of some of the fall's new whiskies.

Night and Day, Positive and Negative, Black and White. There are opposites all around us, which means that if there is a Black Bowmore, there must be a White Bowmore. There is...it's the fraternal twin to the legendary Black Bowmores -- both the original and the newly released version. This one was aged in bourbon casks, while the Black Bowmores were aged in brown walnut sherry casks. We'll learn more about the White Bowmore and a new 1992 Bordeaux cask-aged Bowmore from chief blender Andrew Rankin. In the news, a new Macallan for duty-free and Mount Vernon celebrates the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794.

It may be seen as a sacrilege in Scotland, but imagine a single malt whisky from India that can compete with the best of Scotland's malts in many ways. That's the case with Amrut's single malts, which draw their water from the snow melt of the Himalayas and their barley from local farmers in northern India -- and their intense maturation from the heat of Bangalore. Askok Chokalingam of Amrut gives us the details, and Thierry Benitah of La Maison du Whisky previews September's Whisky Live Paris. In the news, an update on the reopening of Braeval, more charity whiskies for WhiskyFest San Francisco, and the "Whisky Bus" hits Glasgow.

Almost every whisky lover has dreamed of getting the call from a distillery to serve on an exclusive tasting panel to select a special release. Jimmy Bradley got that call...and the owner/chef of two New York City restaurants tells about his experience helping to select this year's Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve bottling, In the news, another distillery may be up for sale, Braeval comes back to life, and construction begins on a new distillery in Canada.

It's not too soon to start making travel plans for the fall whisky festival season, and Malt Advocate's WhiskyFest San Francisco on October 10th is shaping up to be something really special. Editor and Publisher John Hansell gives us a preview, along with details on the new summer issue of the magazine that's just hitting the newsstands now. In the news, another distillery may be on the market, Glen Moray may not be on the market for long, and Chivas opens up two of its usually private distilleries for a rare series of visitor tours.

Last fall, I mentioned The Balvenie's search for a brand ambassador to represent the single malt in the US. Now, the lucky person has been chosen, and you'll meet the new "Balvenie Guy" in this week's episode. Sam Simmons is the whisky lover behind the "Dr. Whisky" blog, and now, he's bringing his considerable knowledge of whisky to The Balvenie. In the news, an update on Springbank's now-temporary shutdown for six months, Glenmorangie puts its Glen Moray distillery on the block and announces plans to move its headquarters from Broxburn to Edinburgh, and Bruichladdich comes up with a simpler name for its peated malt..."Bruichladdich Peat."

Compass Box produces some of the more unusual whiskies on the market, and John Glaser gives us the details on two new limited releases coming out later this year. In the news, the official word from Springbank on plans to temporarily stop producing new spirit because of commodities costs, Nikka's plans to start exporting to Russia, and plans for new UK alcohol laws that may or may not mean the end of distillery tour drams.

If you're looking for buddy trip ideas, a distillery school might be just the thing. Fellow Malt Maniac Lawrence Graham just finished up a buddy trip to the Springbank Distillery Whisky School, and he'll tell us what he learned. On a sadder note, the Speyside Whisky Museum may be forced to close its doors next spring, and we'll find out why. In the news, Glenfiddich honors Michael Jackson, we'll hear from the winner of the Australian Malt Whisky Nosing Championship, and Macallan lovers will want to be at WhiskyFest San Francisco in October.

What distillery produces so many different expressions of whisky that one could probably drink a different one each day for a month with no repeats? The answer is simple...Bruichladdich. Jim McEwan and his team come up with a malt for every occasion, and he'll bring us up to date in this episode. In the news, Glengoyne celebrates a special anniversary with a special malt, Tullamore Dew comes up with a 10-year-old Irish whiskey, and Glenfiddich picks a vintage cask.

The best single malts in the world come from Scotland, right? Not any more, and the winner of Whisky Magazine's World Whiskies Award as the world's best single malt is proof. Nikka's Yoichi 20-year-old took top honors this year, and it's the latest honor for a distillery that remains a mystery to many whisky lovers. Japanese whisky expert Ken Noma helps us clear up some of the mystery about Nikka. In the news, new whiskies from Auchentoshan, Balvenie, and Benromach, along with a preview of Scotland's 2009 year-long tribute to Robert Burns.

While it's the start of summer in Scotland, it's the start of a winter of whisky in Australia. Later this month, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society's Australian chapter will revive an old tradition: the Australian Malt Whisky Tasting Championship. The Society's Andrew Derbidge gives us the details. In the news, word of a hedonistic new whisky from Compass Box and a rare chance to learn whisky blending from John Glaser, new distillery expansions in Kentucky, and another legal battle in India.

It's festival week on Islay, and we'll hear about the plans for this week's Islay Festival of Malt and Music from Laphroaig's John Campbell, Ardbeg's Michael Heads, and Jim McEwan of Bruichladdich. Every distillery on Islay and Jura has a special bottling for this week's festival, and the guys will give us details on theirs. In the news, skyrocketing prices for crops and energy mean we'll be paying more for whisky in the future, Constellation Brands sells a Quebec distillery to Diageo, and updates on new whiskies planned for later this year.

One of the world's great whisky bars sits in between a stationery store and a restaurant in Toronto's Beaches neighborhood. Ian Innes has owned The Feathers since 1981, and his selection of single malts is amazing. There are 460 different expressions from almost every distillery in Scotland (and he probably had those at one time or another)! We'll hear about Ian's amazing collection...the most expensive of which is just $35 a dram -- amazing in itself. In the news, a milestone at Buffalo Trace, new whiskies on the market, including a new 40-year-old Springbank, and much, much more...

On the road again, and back in one of my favorite cities...Toronto. This time around, it's for the Spirit of Toronto Festival. We'll have some of the highlights, including the first public tasting of Highland Park's new 40-year-old single malt...more from John Hall of Kittling Ridge on his upcoming new release of Forty Creek Canadian whisky, and a chat with festival organizer Johanna Ngoh.

Good things take time, and after 109 years, Ardmore is finally being released as a single malt. Until now, all of the Aberdeenshire distillery's output has been used for blending, but after Beam Global acquired Ardmore a couple of years ago and realized just what it had...plans were quickly made to release the Ardmore Traditional single malt. We'll hear from Ardmore master distiller Alistair Longwell about the distillery's history and his new pride and joy. In the news, winners of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards, Glen Grant opens a new visitors center, and Scotch whisky exports set a new record.

This is Kentucky Derby week in Louisville, and that makes it a perfectly good time to focus on bourbon. We'll hear from Ron Givens, author of the new book "Bourbon at its Best." Ron's book covers everything from bourbon history to travel tips and cocktail recipes. One of the recipes is for the Seelbach Cocktail, named for the legendary Old Seelbach Bar at the Seelbach Hilton in Louisville. Jerry Slater tells us about the Old Seelbach's century of history with bourbon.

Running a distillery is a tough job...but Ian MacMillan runs three. Oh, he serves as the master blender, too. Ian's in charge of Burn Stewart's three distilleries: Bunnahabhain, Deanston, and Tobermory...and he is also responsible for the Black Bottle blended Scotch. Ian tells us about his 36 years in the whisky business in this episode. In the news, a major -- and unexpected -- change at Maker's Mark, as Kevin Smith replaces Dave Pickerell as master distiller. We'll also have the World Whisky Awards winners, the new 40-year-old Highland Park, and much more...

Time for a road trip...this time to the spiritual home of Bourbon...Kentucky. This week's episode comes from DeSha's Restaurant and Bar in Lexington, which tied for top honors as Best Whisky Bar in the World in Whisky Magazine's recent Icons of Whisky Awards. It's about an hour away from another Icon award winner...the Maker's Mark Distillery in Loretto, which was named Best Visitor Attraction by Whisky Magazine. Assistant Master Distiller Kevin Smith and Rob Samuels, grandson of Maker's Mark founder William Samuels Sr. will guide us through the distillery and its new visitors center.

It's been a busy week for whisky festivals from coast to coast in the US, with events in San Francisco, New York, and Chicago. In this episode, we'll get some of the highlights from Whisky Live New York. Ronnie Cox of The Glenrothes talks about a rare 1975 vintage, Duncan Taylor's Euan Shand updates us on his construction plans for a new distillery and a new website offering cask whisky purchases, new selections from Scott's Selection, and wider US distribution for The Singleton of Glendullan.

In the last episode, I mentioned the growing controversy over proposed UK legislation that would set specific labeling standards for Scotch Whisky, including a new name for what have been known as "vatted malts". Trouble is, support for "blended malts" is not unanimous, and critics are speaking out. Mark Reynier of Bruichladdich is one of the most outspoken critics of the legislation and the influence of the Scotch Whisky Association in preparing it. We'll hear from Mark, along with SWA spokesman David Williamson.

Inver House was recently named Distiller of the Year in Whisky Magazine's annual Icons of Whisky Awards for its work in re-launching the Balblair single malt, along with Old Pulteney and An Cnoc. We'll hear from master blender Stuart Harvey about the behind-the-scenes work that earned Inver House its honors, and he also spills the beans about some new single malts coming later this year.

In Part 2 of our series on Irish Whiskeys, we'll hear from Bushmills master distiller Colum Egan. Colum was under pressure to come up with a special whiskey to celebrate the 400th anniversary of distilling in the area around Bushmills, and he met the challenge with Bushmills 1608. We'll also look at Knappogue Castle and Clontarf with Kelley Spillane of Castle Brands, who predicts a new distillery will be built in Ireland in the next few years because of the worldwide demand for Irish whiskey. In the news, Alastair's no Darling as far as whisky distillers are concerned, someone pinches a rare malt from Gordon & MacPhail, and Harlen Wheatley of Buffalo Trace is back from his laboratory lair with something special.

With St. Patrick's Day just around the horizon, it's time for Part 1 of a 2-part series on Irish whiskies, In this episode, we'll hear from the Master of Whiskey Science at Irish Distillers' Middleton Distillery, David Quinn. He'll explain the basic difference that makes Irish whiskies unique, and tell us about the new Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve. In the news, distilling veteran Stuart Nickerson unveils the plans to revive the mothballed Glenglassaugh Distillery, and we'll hear about two new Balvenie limited editions...and why drinking whisky can save the Earth.

Dominic Roskrow is the former editor of Whisky Magazine, and he's written a new book on whiskies from around the world. "From Confused to Connoisseur" is designed for the novice, and includes distillery details, tasting notes, and Dominic's 50 favorite whiskies. We'll get a preview from Dominic in this episode...in the news, Whisky Magazine's Icons of Whisky award-winners are announced...the first -- and only -- Kininvie single malt will be available at London's Heathrow Airport, a new Singleton of Glen Ord is headed for retailers, and a look at this past week's Kosher Whisky Festival in New York City.

 

 

There's a new generation of whisky makers coming into their own, and we'll hear from one of them in this episode. Iain McCallum told us about the Black Bowmore in Episode 131, and now he shares his story of nearly half a lifetime at Morrison Bowmore. Of course, he's only 32!  In the news, Ardmore Traditional comes to the US, the Classic Malts Cruise is looking for a few good sailors, and the winners of this year's Drammie Awards have been announced.

The new issue of Malt Advocate magazine is out, and the cover story focuses on cask ownership programs. We'll talk with writer Jonny McCormick, who has a cask of his own aging at Bruichladdich. In the news, you'll be able to get Bushmills for a fiver in Ireland...at least a fiver with Bushmills on it, Clontarf gets new packaging honoring its own place in Irish history, and the tax man may have something to say about UK whisky prices soon.

The Black Bowmore is one of Islay's legendary whiskies, and sells for thousands of dollars...when you can find it. Now, Bowmore is releasing a new Black Bowmore, and it's not a copy. It's the same as the original, just a few years older. We'll get the details from Bowmore blender Iain McCallum, and I'll share my tasting notes on this amazing whisky. In the news, changes are coming at Whyte and MacKay, a mothballed distillery in Kentucky is coming back to life, and honors for Gordon and MacPhail and George Washington's Distillery.

With Valentine's Day almost here, thoughts of chocolate will certainly be on the minds of some whisky lovers...whether it's for themselves or for that special person. We'll get some tips on pairing whiskies with chocolates from Sage Friedman of Chocolat Michel Kluizel in New York City. In the news, Irish distillers go to court over a Russian whiskey deal, The Glenrothes releases a new vintage, Duncan Taylor adds a new version of Auld Reekie, and if the Mutter Bowmore isn't the world's oldest whisky...a bottle in a New Zealand museum just might be.

There's always at least two sides to a story, and in the case of the "Mutter Bowmore" controversy, there are many more. This time around, we'll get the third side of the story behind the bottle of Bowmore said to be from 1851 that was auctioned at McTears in Glasgow last month. Glen Moore of Morrison Bowmore tried to win the auction for the distillery, and refutes rumors that the so-called "Russian collector" who won the bottle doesn't exist. In the news, a new An Cnoc, a headless Johnnie Walker, and answers to some of your whisky questions.

It's time to celebrate Burns Night this week! Whisky lovers around the world will honor the bard of Scotland, the legendary Robert Burns, on the 249th anniversary of his birth January 25th. In what's becoming an annual tradition, we'll take a look at Burns' life and his works on this episode. Joann Gilmartin performs Burns' songs and poetry, as well as teaching young people about those works, and she'll share her love of Burns with us. In the news, modern-day gaugers break up a bootlegging operation in the Black Country, a new Laphroaig is duty-free bound, and Diageo apologizes for stuffing the ballot box in this year's Drammies.

This time around, we'll get the other side of the debate over the rare Bowmore that sold for more than $50,000 at McTear's in Glasgow last month, despite questions over its exact age. Martin Green is the whisky consultant for McTear's, and was responsible for verifying its provenance. Martin states his case in this episode. In the news, Bowmore's releasing a new Black Bowmore -- and giving one away in a web contest...a new chairman for the Scotch Whisky Association, and details on a special deal for WhiskyCast listeners!

The debate over whisky auctions and the provenance of some of the whiskies sold at those auctions continues with the saga of a Bowmore said to have been bottled in 1850. It sold at McTear's in Glasgow last month for more than $50,000, even though historians questioned whether the whisky was as old as advertised. Scotch Whisky Review editor Dave Broom's update of the story appears on the WhiskyCast web site, and we'll hear from Dave on this episode. In the news, a new Talisker, potential buyers for Glenglassaugh, honours for Edrington's chairman, and another tale of sadness...and sharing...at airport security.

We'll close out the year with a look at a man fulfilling almost every guy's dream. Keith Wood is a transplanted Englishman in the heart of Munich, Germany, where beer is a passion. Earlier this year, Keith bought a bar in Munich's Schwabing neighborhood, and now The Arc has become one of Munich's best whisky bars. Also...an update on the experiment with a Whisky Works kit from Ontario's Premium Bottlers.

Jim McEwan and the guys at Bruichladdich don't really care what the rest of the whisky industry thinks of them. They do care greatly what whisky drinkers think, though...and the passion they share for great whisky leads them to try the unusual. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't...but there's no denying the passion in each bottle. Jim shares his outspoken views with us in this episode, and in the news, Whyte & Mackay buys back The Dalmore's US rights, Euan Shand gets the permits for his new distillery in Huntly, and we get a lesson on how not to beat the airport security guards.

Single malt scotches and Japan's single malts are a world apart in geography, and some might say the same applies to taste as well. This time around, we'll hear from the man behind Suntory's award-winning Yamazaki single malts, distillery manager Hiroyoshi "Mike" Miyamoto. Mike also has a history in Scotland, where he worked at Morrison Bowmore after Suntory purchased it in 1994. That gives him a unique perspective that few have on whiskies of the world.  In the news, new whiskies and more on the "Macallan 1856" saga.

You may want to introduce your non-whisky drinking friends to the water of life during the holidays, but sometimes it takes a little something extra to get them to try it. We'll take a look at whisky-based cocktails in this episode with veteran mixologist Bobby Gleason and the winner of Whisky Live Toronto's bar chefs competition, Shona Jensen. In the news, 10,000 bottles of Bowmore have been stolen in England, Dewar's starts a year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of Prohibition's repeal, and the Christie's auction of rare whiskies and spirits in New York brings in more than $300,000.

The results are in from this year's Malt Maniacs Whisky Awards, and we'll get a rundown on the top award-winners from Malt Maniac Davin de Kergommeaux at the Maniacs' celebration in Turckheim, France. In the news, Isle of Jura is phasing out its 21-year-old single malt, Ian Macleod strikes a deal to export Chieftain's Choice malts to the US, Christie's pulls a suspect 1856 Macallan from next week's auction in New York, and Ian Buxton debuts the Whisky Channel online community.