WhiskyCast

Call it beginner's luck if you want, but Peter Hart's first batch of single malt spirit received rave reviews at the recent Victoria Whisky Festival...even though it was only two months old. Peter's the distiller at Victoria Spirits, a converted British Columbia winery now producing highly-regarded gin and as we'll learn in this episode, plans to produce a 100% British Columbia single malt whisky....

As I reported in the last episode, Maker's Mark is working on a new bourbon. This time around, Master Distiller Kevin Smith sits down with me to taste "Profile 51", which will be released this summer. That's the unofficial name for the new whiskey, which will be bottled at a higher proof than Maker's Mark and will have a completely different taste. In the news, new whiskies from Glenfiddich, Tulli...

This time around, I'm on location at the Victoria Whisky Festival in British Columbia, and I'm joined by a panel of whisky experts to discuss some of the issues facing whisky producers and drinkers alike. Jim Murray, Malt Maniac Davin De Kergommeaux, Ed Patrick of Canada's Companions of the Quaich, Stuart Nickerson of Glenglassaugh, Andrew Gray of Bruichladdich, and Dan Tullio of Canadian Club dis...

Dewar's is one of Scotland's iconic whiskies, thanks to the efforts of generations of the Dewar family. Ian Buxton has just released a new book, "The Enduring Legacy of Dewar's", in cooperation with Dewar's owner Bacardi, and he joins us via Skype from Edinburgh to share some of Dewar's history. In the news, whisky and politics, whisky and sports, and whisky with a smoky kick!  

China may well become the world's largest whisky market over the next decade, and Ian Chang is hoping his Kavalan single malt becomes the choice of Chinese whisky lovers. Kavalan is the first single malt whisky distilled in Taiwan, and even though its first releases are only three years old, Kavalan has already won several medals in international whisky competitions. In the news, heavy snow damage...

The last decade could well be remembered for the emergence of Japanese single malt whiskies on the world stage. We'll discuss the malts from the Land of the Rising Sun with Chris Bunting, author of the Nonjatta.com blog. In the news, new whiskies from Gordon & MacPhail and The Glenrothes, and Whyte & MacKay's Richard Paterson can tell you where to go...if you have a TomTom GPS.    

We'll close out 2009 with a look at bourbon and beer. Devin Zell of Bourbon Drinker.com loves both. He'll share his dual passions with us in this episode, including how he and his friends aged a beer for 9 months in a barrel used for Pappy Van Winkle's 23-year-old bourbon. In the news, new expressions from Berry Brothers & Rudd, the BBC discovers a distillery on the Isle of Lewis, and tasting note...

Distilleries have ghosts and secrets, as well as memories that live within those who work the stills, the malting floors, and the warehouses. Ian Macilwain has collected those stories in his new book "Bottled History" and joins us from Aberdeen for this week's episode. In the news, Bonhams completes a three-continent series of whisky auctions, Highland Park honors an Orkney legend, and Brown Unive...

Having a holiday party this season? Master mixologist Dale DeGroff gives us some tips on cocktails and entertaining in this episode. In the news, Diageo's Scottish workers call off their campaign against plant closings, Scotch whisky exports are up despite the recession, the latest word on new whisky releases, a Balvenie competition, and look for WhiskyCast soon on your iPhone!

Tasting and scoring around 200 different whiskies over the course of a few weeks is tough work, but the Malt Maniacs make this sacrifice every autumn. The results of this year's Malt Maniacs Whisky Awards have been released, and with just 9 gold medal winners, represent the best of the best. Longtime Malt Maniac Davin de Kergommeaux puts this year's winners into perspective. In the news, whisky co...

The Scotch Whisky industry is operating under new rules for the first time in 20 years. A complete re-write of the Scotch Whisky Law went into effect this week, and David Williamson of the Scotch Whisky Association explains the new law in this episode. In the news, if someone offers you a bottle of Tactical Nuclear Penguin beer, sip it...don't chug it...along with Bonham's auction results from Hon...

McKinlay's Rare Old Scotch Whisky was one of the many brands destined to be part of the history books...until two cases of McKinlay's were discovered in 2006 beneath a hut used by Sir Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition from 1907 to 1909. Now, whisky lovers all over the world want to know what a whisky stored in ice for a century would taste like. We'll hear from Al Fastier of the New Zealand...

The whisky world gathers every November for Malt Advocate's WhiskyFest in New York. The 12th annual edition featured new whiskies and longtime favorites. We'll cover the entire show in this episode, including Lifetime Achievement awards for retired Edrington Group master blender John Ramsay and Beam Global's Robert Hicks. In the news, Louisville's Urban Bourbon Trail adds two stops, Woodford Reser...

America is in the forefront of a global micro-distilling boom, with more than 200 licensed artisanal distilleries. 42 of them are producing whisky, and many have received guidance from Bill Owens of the American Distilling Institute. Bill shares some of the benefits and potential pitfalls of starting a distillery in this episode. In the news, new Scotch whisky regulations will take effect later th...

Whisky is a treat for many of us, but the trick is finding the right one (obligatory Halloween reference). Keith Law is one of the master blenders for Diageo, and suggests that a blended Scotch may be the way to go for some people. In the news, English Whisky is just a few weeks away, the Knob Creek drought of 2009 is over, The Balvenie's coppersmith celebrates his 50th anniversary, and tasting no...

This week, I'm on the road at Proof on Main in Louisville! Heaven Hill is celebrating Parker Beam's 50th anniversary as a distiller this weekend, and you'll share in the fun as we hear from Parker and some of his many friends and colleagues. In the news, David Stewart scales back his duties at William Grant & Sons, new travel retail releases, and tasting notes for the Gold Bowmore! We'll also hear...

Time for the annual question and answer episode, as experts answer your questions about whisky. This year's panel includes Dr. Bill Lumsden of Glenmorangie, Chris Morris of Woodford Reserve, and Diageo master blender Keith Law. In the news, Wild Turkey unveils a new bourbon, Mark Andrews of Castle Brands discusses growing bourbon and Irish whiskey sales, and thieves steal a rare collection of Spri...

Jim Murray's 2010 Whisky Bible is out, and let the second-guessing begin. Jim's annual guide to the world's whiskies generates controversy every year, and he'll answer his critics and discuss his choices for the year's best new whiskies in this episode. In the news, new releases from The Dalmore, Glengoyne and The Glenrothes...Buffalo Trace releases more experimental bourbons, results of the Inter...

Johnnie Walker sells more Scotch whisky than anyone in the world, and Diageo is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Johnnie Walker Black Label in 2009. Andrew Ford is a member of the team of master blenders that watches over the Johnnie Walker blends, and he'll tell us about the art of blending in this episode. He'll also answer questions submitted by listeners like you through Facebook and Twitt...

A double feature this week...the latest issue of Malt Advocate is out. John Hansell will give us a preview, and we'll also talk about next month's WhiskyFest in San Francisco. Mikael Mossvall of Mackmyra will give us an update on Sweden's only single malt whisky and plans to export it to the U.S. in 2010. In the news, Jack and Jim pull out of NASCAR, new whiskies from Compass Box, Benromach, and D...

The Macallan folks like to do things big...like the new $15,000 Macallan Lalique expression: 57-year-old Macallan in a Lalique decanter! Ken Grier is the director of malts for Macallan parent Edrington Group, and he'll update us on the latest from the Macallan and Highland Park, including the 1824 Collection series of travel retail expressions and the upcoming Highland Park 1964 and 1968 vintage r...

This time around, we'll have highlights from the Whisky Guild's "Whisky on the Hudson" cruise, including the US debuts of the Balvenie Madeira Cask, Suntory's Hibiki blended whisky, and Laphroaig's new 18-year-old Scotch. In the news, Bowmore comes out with another edition of its legendary 1964 whiskies, Kilchoman debuts its first single malt, and bureaucrats on the loose!

For the first time, Diageo is releasing single cask bottlings from all 27 of its malt distilleries in Scotland. Diageo's master of malt, Dr. Nick Morgan, explains how the Manager's Choice malts were selected, and also previews this year's Distiller's Edition series of single malts. Graeme Wallace will preview the first Whisky Show in London coming up in November, and we'll listen in on the first (...

A bit of Irish distilling history is being brought back to life this weekend, if only for one day. Commercial shipping along Ireland's Grand Canal ended 50 years ago this year...shortly after the closing of the Locke's Distillery in Kilbeggan. Cooley brought the Old Kilbeggan Distillery back to life two years ago, and now, whisky and history buffs are recreating the shipping of whiskey casks from...

Last time around, I mentioned the Laing Brothers and their vatting of casks from Laphroaig and Macallan to create the "Double Barrel." It was so intriguing that I decided to get Stewart Laing on the phone to explain it...and their plans to bring together casks from other distilleries with opposing taste profiles. In the news, the results of this week's Bonhams whisky auction, Arran names a whisky...