WhiskyCast

If you want evidence of the boom in craft distilling, all you need to do is look at registration numbers for the American Distilling Institute's annual conference each April. This year's event in Louisville had double the attendance of last year's...which had double the attendance of the previous year's...and so on. We'll hear from some of the craft distillers who have jumped into whisky making with both feet, as well as some of their role models...including Jimmy Russell of Wild Turkey.

This week's episode is a little different than most WhiskyCast episodes. My father passed away earlier this week, and my family and I have been in Indiana with the rest of our relatives. I considered taking the week off, but after thinking about my Dad's commitment to hard work, I decided that it would be best to produce an abbreviated episode focusing on the week's news, comments, and the Calendar of Events, along with some comments on life and love and a special version of the "What I'm Tasting This Week Department.

Four times each year, Woodford Reserve master distiller Chris Morris becomes the headmaster of the Woodford Reserve Bourbon Academy. His students get a one-day class on the intricacies of Bourbon, from the entire distilling process to nosing and tasting lessons. We'll listen as Professor Morris leads a recent class through some hands-on mashing experience as well. In the news, Whisky Magazine hands out the Icons of Whisky Awards and the World Whiskies Awards in London, and 192 years of whisky production comes to a close in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock.

It's St. Patrick's Day, and we're in Dublin for the annual Jameson Global Broadcast from the Old Jameson Distillery. Each year, radio stations from around the world broadcast their shows from the distillery, and you'll hear David Byrne of Irish Distillers lead them through a cask sampling of whisky from the Midleton Distillery. We'll also hear from Midleton distiller Liam Donegan and artist Paul Daly, who designed the special St. Patrick's Day Jameson bottle available only at the distillery.

Investment-grade Scotch. The very idea makes many whisky lovers furious...but there are those who see potential profits from their whisky collections. Andy Simpson is a former investment banker who now runs Whisky Highland, a business designed to help whisky investors make the most of their collections. Andy explains the potential he sees for whisky investing, and why it's not for everyone. In the news, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked reaches the market, Laphroaig and Auchentoshan expand their travel retail ranges, and much more!

Time to shatter some long-cherished myths and legends about Bourbon, and Michael Veach will serve as our myth-buster this week. He's the Bourbon historian at Louisville's Filson Historical Society, and is also a member of the Bourbon Hall of Fame. In the news, Knob Creek and Wild Turkey release new rye whiskies, Ian Logan of Chivas Brothers updates last week's story on Glen Keith's revival, and we'll catch up with Bill Samuels Jr. of Maker's Mark.

Each year, Glenmorangie releases a special edition finished in fine wine casks. This year's edition is Artein, and takes the flavors of Sassicaia wine casks from Italy's Tenuta San Guido in Tuscany. We'll hear from Ferdinando Fiori, an Italian whisky connoisseur who suggested Sassicaia casks to Glenmorangie's Bill Lumsden...and distillery manager Andy McDonald takes us to the Tarlogie Springs, the source of the distillery's precious water supply. In the news, Gillian Howell leaves Penderyn to join Bill Lumsden's team, Chivas Brothers plans to reopen Glen Keith for the first time since 1999, and Campari announces plans for a new Wild Turkey bottling plant in Kentucky.

Craft distillers make whisky as much out of passion as a desire to make money, and that gives them the freedom to try different things...just because. Darek Bell is one of the partners in Corsair Artisan Distillery, based in Nashville, Tennessee and Bowling Green, Kentucky, and he's written a new book for craft distillers...and those who would like to be. "Alt Whiskeys" outlines some really unusual whiskey recipes, including an 11-grain Bourbon and "Amarillo Aromatherapy Bourbon." In the news, Adelphi has applied for permits to build Scotland's newest distillery and Cutty Sark tries to reclaim a piece of its heritage.

Rob Cederlid of Stockholm isn't your typical Swedish whisky lover. For instance, you're likely to see him in a cowboy hat and boots that are more suited to cattle drives than cross-country skiing. Rob owns the Saddle & Sabre restaurant and bar, where the steaks, beer, and the whiskey come from the US. The Saddle & Sabre has arguably one of the best bourbon collections of any bar in Europe, and Rob explains his passion for cowboy culture in this week's episode. In the news, two special whiskies honor Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee and another rare Glenfiddich auction raises money for the UK's wounded warriors.

Whisky stories can make you smile, laugh, or even shed a tear once in a while, and we have stories to make you do all three in this episode. Some of whisky's best storytellers share their best family tales, jokes, and even an escapade or two...and those are just the ones we could get them to tell us on the record. In the news, Highland Park hammers the competition with Thor, new whisky sales and export numbers from the U.S., Glenfiddich rolls out the Cask of Dreams, and much more!

More from the Victoria Whisky Festival in this week's episode, including updates from Kilchoman, Gordon & MacPhail, Amrut, Edradour and Signatory, and two of British Columbia's local distilleries, Shelter Point and Victoria Spirits. In the news, there may soon be a truce in the trade dispute between India and the European Union that affects Scotch whisky exports...and Yale's offering an architecture class with a whiskey-related theme.

The end of January means many things, but in the whisky world, it means a trip to the Victoria Whisky Festival in British Columbia. The VWF is one of the world's best whisky festivals, and this week's episode features some of the highlights from this weekend's event. We'll get the latest on new whiskies from Cooley, Glenfarclas, Glenmorangie, and many more distillers, along with the results of the Canadian Whisky Awards and the newest chapter of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

A year ago, the owner of Glasgow's Pot Still Bar, Ken Storrie, passed away. At first, Glasgow whisky lovers were sad...but they quickly became mad after the Pot Still's landlord threw Ken's family and managers out. Now, they're happy...and going back to the Pot Still once again now that former manager Frank Murphy and his family have taken over one of Scotland's best whisky bars. Frank explains the whole sordid story and shares his memories of Ken and his hopes for the Pot Still in this week's episode.

Irish whiskey is enjoyed around the world, but perhaps not with as much passion as in Dublin. Leo Phelan is the president of Dublin's Irish Whiskey Society, and shares some of that passion with us in this week's episode. We'll hear his excitement about the revival of Pot Still Irish Whiskey, discuss some of Dublin's distilling history, and look at the future for Irish Whiskey. In the news, Redbreast 12 Cask Strength is on its way to the U.S., Masterson's Rye is headed home to Canada, and Whyte & Mackay isn't going up for sale any time soon.

Glen Grant's Dennis Malcolm marked 50 years at the distillery during 2011, and spent Christmas Day on a special mission. On Christmas Day in 1961, he filled a sherry hogshead with new make spirit, and three years ago, he moved that cask to a cave in the distillery's garden. On Christmas, he retrieved that cask, and what the angels (and Dennis) didn't get over the years will be bottled as a special anniversary edition of Glen Grant. Dennis shares some of his 50 years of stories with us, and helps quash a report out of Australia that Glen Grant was demolished years ago.

Mike Padlipsky had two loves...software and whisky. He also had one mission...to find what he thought of as the world's best single malt whisky. Sadly, his last act before his death was to find a bottle of that whisky...and he never got to open it. Bill Ricker is the keeper of Mike's dual legacies in computing and whisky. He'll tell us about his friend's passions in this week's episode, and exactly what that whisky was that Mike sought out until his dying day.

This is a big weekend for the eight founders of Sweden's Mackmyra Distillery. Their initial dream of building Sweden's first whisky distillery has been more successful than they dreamed...so much so that they've had to build a second distillery a couple of kilometers away to meet global demand. Rikard Lundborg was one of the founders, and now heads up global sales for the company. He'll tell us about the new distillery, which uses a unique design to minimize energy use and maximize efficiency...and he'll give us the real story behind the ski trip that was the genesis for Mackmyra. In the news, Beam acquires Ireland's Cooley Distillery, a 55-year-old Glenfiddich breaks auction records at Bonhams, and tasting notes for a 60-year-old single malt from The Macallan.

If you're trying to find a rare whisky, the easiest way to track it down may be through one of the many whisky auctions conducted by galleries like Bonhams and McTear's. Bonhams held its pre-Christmas whisky auction in New York City this past week, and we'll have exclusive coverage on this episode. You'll also find out how to put your own whiskies on the block, too. In the news, Johnnie Walker goes platinum, The Naked Grouse visits Dubai, and Buffalo Trace unleashes Bourbons made with rice and oats!

The arrival of December brings with it the annual announcement of the Malt Maniacs Whisky Awards. 171 whiskies from around the world were entered in this year's competition, and just eight won gold medals. Maniacs Keith Wood and Krishna Nukala join me from Germany and India to discuss this year's results on this week's episode. In the news, Woodford Reserve unveils Double Oaked Bourbon, the first permanent addition to the Woodford range since the debut of Distillers Select, and Chris Morris gives us the toasty details. We'll also have word on more new whiskies, and a new bourbon from West Virginia's Smooth Ambler Distillery.

The Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville is holy ground for many bourbon lovers, even though it closed 20 years ago. Stitzel-Weller was the home of Pappy Van Winkle's legendary bourbons, and we'll look at the distillery's history and its future on this episode of WhiskyCast with historian Michael Veach and Julian Van Winkle. Tom Bulleit's Bulleit Bourbon is aged at Stitzel-Weller now, and he'll explain Diageo's plans to open at least part of the grounds to the public as The Bulleit Experience.

Irish Whiskey has been the fastest-growing segment of the whisky business for the last several years. William Grant & Sons acquired Tullamore Dew last year, and has been investing millions of Euros to build the brand. A new "Irish True" marketing campaign for Tullamore Dew debuted this week in New York City, and we'll hear more from John Quinn and Shane Hoyne about the brand's heritage and its future...which may include a new Tullamore Dew distillery at some point. In the news, the Kentucky Distillers Association and Sazerac settle their legal dispute over the Bourbon Trail, new whiskies from The Glenlivet, Kilchoman, and The Whisky Exchange, and WhiskyCast gets a boost from Hollywood!

Whisky Magazine announced its U.S. Icons of Whisky Awards this week in Louisville, and I was on hand for the ceremonies. Four Roses won Distiller of the Year honors for the second year in a row, and Balcones Distillery in Waco, Texas was named Craft Distiller of the Year. We'll hear from winners Jim Rutledge and Chip Tate. In the news, a French family-owned wine company has bought Tullibardine, ghost hunters search Buffalo Trace for spirits of the ethereal variety, and much more!

Ichiro Akuto is a maverick among Japanese whisky distillers, creating traditional whiskies with a style that's anything but traditional. When his family sold their Hanyu Distillery, he not only bought the remaining stocks of Hanyu, but built his own Chichibu Distillery next to the family's sake brewery. Ichiro shares his family history and his philosophy with us this week as we mark the end of WhiskyCast's 6th year.

Each autumn, Woodford Reserve releases its Masters Collection whiskey, a variation on one of the five elements of Bourbon defined by Oscar Pepper and James Christopher Crow 160 years ago. This year's edition is actually two 100% rye whiskies, with one aged in new oak barrels and the other in refill Woodford barrels. Master Distiller Chris Morris unveiled them this week, and explains them in this episode. In the news, they're cheering in Wick, a bit of rumor control with Laphroaig's Simon Brooking, and the annual Pappy Van Winkle whiskies are on the way.

Chuck Miller describes himself as "America's First Craft Distiller". He's been making moonshine legally at his Stillhouse Distillery in Culpeper, Virginia for 25 years, using the recipe and techniques he learned from his grandfather. Grandpa helped keep Washington wet during Prohibition and made moonshine illegally for decades, and despite frequent raids, never once got caught. Chuck shares his "shine" stories with us in this week's episode. In the news, the distillery that's helped many a craft distiller get started has been sold, The Balvenie Road Show winds up, and a listener sings the praises of Blended Scotches.

Adelphi's history dates back to 1826 and the old Adelphi Distillery in Glasgow. Descendants of the distillery's owners revived the name as an independent bottler, and we'll hear more about their unique whiskies and even more unique tasting notes in this week's episode. In the news, a vintage bottle of The Glenlivet sold for nearly $30,000 at the latest Bonhams auction in Edinburgh and Suntory's Mike Miyamoto gives us the details on the Hakushu single malt's arrival in North America.

Jim Beveridge is the master blender for Diageo's Johnnie Walker whiskies, which means he's responsible for some of the world's best-selling Scotch whiskies. It also means he doesn't have time to do interviews very often, and I've wanted to talk with him for several years...so when we had the chance to connect for a few minutes, I jumped at the chance. We'll discuss his latest creation, Johnnie Walker Double Black, which has jumped from travel retail into mainstream markets, along with the art and science of whisky blending. In the news, Suntory prepares to export Hakushu single malts to the U.S., the 2012 Malt Whisky Yearbook has been published, and more!

Back at home, but with Paris still on my mind, and plenty of news to catch up on! We'll catch up with more news on new releases from Whisky Live Paris, along with the latest headlines. Is United Spirits hot for Teacher's, Beam's Red Stag gets two more members in the herd, and Tim Forbes of The Whisky Exchange gives us a preview of this week's Whisky Show in London.

In our final episode from Whisky Live Paris, we'll get updates on the process of exporting Nikka's Japanese whiskies to the U.S. for the first time, along with the latest on new releases from Kilchoman, Compass Box, Glen Grant, Aberlour, and a host of other distillers. In the news, a 19th century bottle of The Glenlivet will go on the auction block at Bonham's next month, Vijay Mallya sets his sights on Beam, and much, much more!

This is the first of two episodes from Whisky Live Paris, and we'll hear from some of the distillers who have traveled from around the world for one of the world's top whisky festivals, including Japan's Ichiro Akuto and Mark Littler of Australia's Hellyers Road. In the news, the final bottle of The Dalmore 64 sells for a new record retail price, Redbreast 12 goes cask-strength, and WhiskyCast welcomes a new sponsor.

Glasgow has been the heart of Scotland's whisky industry for decades, and while it retains much of its gritty character, there's plenty to make whisky lovers feel welcome. This time around, we'll look at some of Glasgow's best places for whisky lovers to visit, including a special focus on McTear's, one of the world's top whisky auction houses. In the news, the Bourbon Hall of Fame welcomes the Class of 2011, new whiskies, and the latest on whisky exports.

Bruichladdich celebrates the 10th anniversary of its revival this weekend, and this week's episode comes from the distillery on the shores of Loch Indall on Islay! We'll look at how the distillery came back to life and brought a new spirit to the people of Islay, in the words of Head Distiller Jim McEwan, Managing Director Mark Reynier, and some of the people who have had their lives touched by the distillery.

Every September, whiskey lovers start prowling their favorite liquor stores for the arrival of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection whiskies. This year's lineup of three Bourbons and two Ryes was unveiled this week, and Kris Comstock of Buffalo Trace joins me to discuss them. I'll also have tasting notes for all five, and compare this year's George T. Stagg Bourbon to previous years. In the news, birthdays, big bottles and a "tun" of news from The Balvenie's Sam Simmons.

The Kentucky Bourbon Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary three weeks from now, and we'll discuss this year's Festival and its history with Executive Director Linda Harrison. In the news, Four Roses unveils its 2011 Limited Edition Small Batch bourbon to be released at the Festival, the final remaining bottle of Dalmore Trinitas finds a home, and new single cask bottlings from BenRiach, GlenDronach, and Glenglassaugh.

One of the world's most unusual whisky festivals is coming up in a few weeks. Maltstock doesn't take place in a hotel or convention center, but at a former Scout camp in the Dutch woods. Maltstock co-founder Bob Wenting joins us on this week's episode to discuss what makes Maltstock unique. In the news, Abhainn Dearg releases its first official single malt, Catto's celebrates 150 years, and Buffalo Trace releases the second edition of Col. E.H. Taylor Bourbon.

It's the second weekend of the month, and they're raising dust on the dirt road leading to Atlantic City. Not the one in New Jersey, but the one in Wyoming. For the last 3 years, Bob and Barbara Townsend have been holding single malt tastings on the second Saturday of each month at their Miner's Delight Inn...and they've had guests from as far away as California! In the news, Japan's Karuizawa whiskies get a new home, Old Pulteney gets an award, and would you believe someone has created a bourbon-based "spa treatment"?

40 years ago, Dublin's Bow Street Distillery closed down after nearly 200 years of producing Jameson Irish Whiskey. In 1997, what survived of the old distillery reopened as the Old Jameson Distillery, a visitors center devoted to preserving the heritage of John Jameson's original distillery. Nearly 250,000 people visit the old distillery each year, and guide Christopher Goggins gives us a private tour in this week's episode...complete with drams at the end!

As the U.S. faces another debt crisis, this week marks the anniversary of a key event in another U.S. debt crisis...the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. On August 1, 1794, 7,000 Americans gathered at Braddock's Field in Western Pennsylvania to protest President Washington's tax on whiskey production. The protest led to a declaration of insurrection, and Washington led an army into the area to quash the rebellion. Dr. Dennis Pogue of Mount Vernon explains the history of the Whiskey Rebellion in this episode. In the news, Glen Moray has its first new single malt release under new ownership, Crown Royal lends its name to NASCAR's Brickyard 400, and much more!

New Orleans certainly has a cocktail culture, and this weekend, it's the Mecca for cocktail enthusiasts and bartenders from all over the world. Tales of the Cocktail is in its 9th year, and co-founder Paul Tuennerman joins us to talk about the history of Tales and how it's survived along with New Orleans in the post-Katrina era. In the news, a Canadian distillery starts producing single malt spirit for the future, Auchentoshan wants to "switch" bartenders, and we'll have a sneak preview of an all-new WhiskyCast podcast!

The Scottish town of Oban celebrated its 200th anniversary this week, and the folks at Oban Distillery fired up a Time Machine to celebrate. They went back to 1823 and found a cousin of the distillery's founders to explain life as Oban was being settled. "Alan Stevenson" explains some of the history, along with Joanne McCutcher of the Diageo Archives and Oban visitors center manager Carol Bennett. We'll also hear from Glenmorangie/Ardbeg's David Blackmore and Knob Creek Whisky Professor Bernie Lubbers, and there's breaking news on plans to export Nikka whiskies to the U.S.!

As distilleries replace old equipment with new, the old stuff winds up on the scrap heap most of the time. Not so at Knockdhu Distillery in Scotland. Whether by coincidence, planning, or sheer luck, many of the distillery's artifacts have been preserved for decades after they were replaced by modern equipment. Knockdhu manager Gordon Bruce gives us a tour of his "museum" in this week's episode. In the news, plans for a new distillery in Louisville, management moves at Pernod Ricard, and plenty of new whiskies!

It's been a little over four months since a massive earthquake destroyed much of Christchurch, New Zealand and claimed 181 lives. Today, the city is trying to rebuild, despite occasional large aftershocks. One of those people trying to rebuild is Michael Fraser Milne of Whisky Galore, Christchurch's largest whisky shop. His store was destroyed in the earthquake, which came just three days before Whisky Galore's biennial DramFest festival. Michael tells us about the recovery in Christchurch, and what he calls a "humbling" outpouring of support from the whisky community. In the news, Ian Macleod Distillers has bought Tamdhu Distillery and will bring it back to life, Diageo plans to expand in Speyside, and much more!

Since 1869, Wild Turkey Bourbon has been made on Wild Turkey Hill, just east of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Jimmy and Eddie Russell saw a need to expand production to meet growing global demand for bourbon, but no room to grow on the Hill. Now, they're making Wild Turkey at a new $50 million distillery just up the road, and the dedication ceremony for the new distillery was held this week. The Russells tell us how they've gotten the new plant to make spirit that tastes just like the old place, and we'll hear Jimmy's entire speech during the ceremony.

Pulteney Distillery celebrates its 195th anniversary this year in the North Sea fishing town of Wick, Scotland. It's the home of Old Pulteney single malt whisky, and distillery manager Malcolm Waring takes us on a tour in this week's episode. In the news, new whiskies from Islay, Colorado, and the Lowlands of Scotland, an old whisky returns home to Islay, and the winners of the first WhiskyCast Father's Day competition.

It's a busy summer at Balblair Distillery in the Scottish Highlands. Not only are they making whisky, but the distillery is also a movie set this week, the site of a wedding next month, and two days after the wedding...construction starts on the distillery's first-ever visitors center. Distillery manager John MacDonald tells us about his hectic summer in this week's episode. In the news...plenty of new whiskies, including two charity bottlings, and dueling boycotts over the conflict in the Middle East.

In the last episode, I mentioned the Balcones Brimstone blue corn whiskey from Balcones Distillery in Waco, Texas...and how the corn was smoked over Texas scrub oak. Turns out I was wrong, and there's an even more interesting story behind this whiskey and the distillery. In the news, Jack Daniel's neighbors want to tax the distillery's whiskey barrels, Ireland could have a fourth distillery two years from now, new whiskies from Glen Garioch and The Macallan, and tasting notes for craft whiskies from Arkansas and Washington.

Chuck Cowdery was writing about Bourbon back in the days when few people were paying attention to America's Native Spirit, and his work has earned him a spot in the Bourbon Hall of Fame. The author of "Straight Bourbon" and "The Bourbon Country Reader" tells us about Kentucky's love-hate relationship with Bourbon, long-gone distilleries, and the rebirth of interest in Bourbons. In the news, new whiskies from Jim Beam, Bunnahabhain, and Laphroaig, the Islay weather report, and a chat with "Whisky Classified" author Dr. David Wishart.

This is a big weekend on Islay, and not only because it's the first weekend of the Islay Festival of Malt & Music. Bruichladdich is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its 2001 revival this weekend, and we'll look back at the last 10 years with managing director Mark Reynier and the Bard of Bruichladdich, singer-songwriter Robin Laing. Midleton Distillery cooper Ger Buckley tells us about the centuries-old art of making barrels by hand, and shows us in the debut of WhiskyCast HD, a new series of video podcasts. We'll also hear from the Spirit Journal's F. Paul Pacult and Euan Shand of Duncan Taylor.

The Powers family distilled whiskey for seven generations and two centuries on John's Lane in Dublin, and John Ryan is the seventh and final generation to carry on his family's tradition. While the Powers Distillery closed nearly 40 years ago, its legacy is now part of Irish Distillers, and John shares that history with us in this episode. In the news, plenty of new whiskies, awards, auctions, and a chance to buy a piece of Ponzi scheme history!

Irish whiskies once ruled the world, and Dublin was the center of Ireland's whisky industry. There are no distilleries left in Dublin, but there's plenty of whisky history to be found, along with a handful of good whisky shops and great pubs. We'll hear from Michael Hedigan, the latest in a long line of Hedigans to run the Brian Boru pub in Dublin's Glasnevin neighborhood. In the news, Irish Distillers unveils two new single pot still Irish whiskies from Midleton and a massive expansion plan for Ireland's largest distillery.