It's Whiskey #FFS | First Fill Spirits

In this episode we talk about our upcoming Coastal Scotch & Lost Lantern Seminar along with our April 24th Independent Spirits Film Screening in Saratoga! Charles is headed for Japan but we still got a podcast in, yes! NEW BOTTLES TO THE SHOP Hard Truth Rye Single Barrel Cask Strength Bardstown Bourbon Co. Collaborative Series Silver Oak Kings County Barrel Strength Peated Bourbon Rare Charact...

In this episode we taste some limited edition J.J. Corry Irish Whiskey releases that may be something special at the shop soon. What perfect timing as well, since we just had Louise McGuane, the founder and blender, in the shop this past week. Then we discuss the Four Roses sale and all of our latest seminars. NEW BOTTLES TO THE SHOP -- WHY ARE THESE HERE? Glaschu Glenallachie 10YR Uncharted Park...

We're back! Our last episode was in November 2024, but we have to do what our customers want, and two of you mentioned that you missed our podcast. We missed it too, so we'll be releasing one episode a month. In this episode, we discuss the innovation and creativity of Lost Lantern, the independent bottler of American Whiskey. Creativity and quality whiskey are essential in the chaos of th...

After many amazing travels to Scotland over the past few weeks, we're finally back in one place! We discuss Cotswolds Distillery, which Holly visited while in London in September, along with a review of some awesome samples from our friend David, tons of new releases to the shop, and some good news for the whisky world. It's not all doom and gloom! NEW BOTTLES TO THE SHOP: Nashville Barrel Co 7YR...

We're back! Today we discuss how our whisky summer has been going along with new bottles to the shop, our latest seminars/classes and upcoming whisky travel. Then, Holly blind tastes Charles on something that may be a potential new item for the shop, does it make the cut? Followed by a discussion of Holladay Distillery in Missouri and Milroy's Whisky Travel Index and their top distillery e...

Today we discuss all of the amazing trips we've just returned from -- all Scotland! There are many new releases to the shop and a lot of upcoming tastings & classes. Then we discuss Clydeside Distillery in Glasgow and the Bloomberg article that thinks "Brandy might be the next Bourbon". Thoughts?? NEW BOTTLES TO THE SHOP Glenfarlcas 105 Alamabique Mexican Rum - Bourbon & Fren...

In this episode, we discuss South Carolina's High Wire Distilling Co. and their Jimmy Red Corn Bourbon along with one of Fred Minnick's latest articles. According to new data, all generations, across the board, are planning to drink less for a variety of reasons but many based on health reasons. We want to know your thoughts as we share ours! NEW BOTTLES TO THE SHOP Dràm Mòr Independent Bo...

We discuss all of the amazing new bottles to shop and it's a lot. We then do a grab-bag of sorts for new samples that we really need to taste and discuss all of the whisky trips we have planned for 2024 and 2025. In the mix, we talk about GlenAllachie and their new mainland-peated releases called "Meikle Toir". Come travel and drink whisky with us! NEW BOTTLES TO THE SHOP: GlenAllach...

This episode is all about Coastal Scotland. We feature Isle of Raasay Distillery and discuss our September West Coast Scotland Whisky Trip. If these distilleries and this discussion don't make you want to book at least 5 trips to Scotland, we don't know what will... Holly blind tastes Charles and we're both a bit out of practice when it comes to blind tastings! Douglas Laing Old Partic...

A lot of big moves and acquisitions in our Scotch & Canadian Whisky world! We discuss Found North, Single Cask Nation, and what we see happening in 2024. We also discuss a Dramface article that was pretty harsh on all of this production increase continuing to happen in the Scotch industry (and beyond). Then, we get back to blind tastings, and Charles blind tastes Holly. Lost Lantern Releases –...

We discuss the experimental and delicious whisky from Spirits of French Lick in Indiana. We took in a few cases as a NYS exclusive of Hindostan Falls Bourbon and everyone is LOVING it, including us. Every December all the influencers, magazines, and all their cousins and friends come out with their top picks of the year. We aren't going to tell you our favorite whiskies of 2023, that's jus...

Our Japan Whisky Tour is coming up in March 2024 so we have Kanosuke on the mind! Also, in the news a ton over the past few weeks is Indian Whisky. We are so excited to see all of this press as Indri, Kamet, and other brands continue to push the category into global awareness. We discuss our next Stauning store pick single barrel and don't forget to look at our upcoming whisky trips! ** Water...

We're back! We missed you all too. During this episode we discuss both of our trips to Scotland and how whisky faired over the summer. Then we chat about Barrell Bourbon and how they truly are pioneers for American Whiskey Blenders. If you're up for it, after Barrell, we overshare our concerns or shall we say, cautious observations, regarding all of the new Scotch Distilleries in the works...

It's time for a more "classic" episode with a distillery discussion around Ardnamurchan on the west coast of Scotland. Do us a favor and look it up on Google Maps. You'll see how cool and rural it is! Then Holly blind tastes Charles on a delicious, old, and rare whisky and we talk about Charle's coastal Scotland trip. Don't forget our 2-Year Anniversary Party on September...

We were able to sneak in a podcast before Charles leaves for Scotland & Holly for NOLA! Holly is on a panel this year at Tales of the Cocktail and in honor of this New World Whisky Panel, we discuss M&H Israeli Whisky Distillery. They recently won World Whiskies Awards 2023 World's Best Single Malt with their sherry-matured single malt whisky. They beat out Scotch, Irish, and single ma...

It's been a month but we have good reasons! I hope you're all up for it but Holly is going to tell you all about her Islay/Water of Life Film trip. No need to get fomo though because we let you know about upcoming trips that you can join as well! Then we discuss the exciting times for Glenglassaugh Distillery even though we're a bit nervous. That has been a hidden gem of the highlands...

This episode has a dash of a psychology lesson. Holly thinks everything she tastes is Craigellachie and Charles thinks everything is New World Whisky. The lesson learned: blind tasting does not necessarily get easier! Our minds get in the way! In this episode, you'll watch Holly basically fall apart in her blind tasting while we discuss our upcoming trips to Scotland. Our distillery feature is...

We just had a class with Cara & Justin King of King's Family Distillery in Tennessee so that is our featured distillery for this episode. Although they are "sourcers" they are "sorcerers" in my eyes. They come from a grain merchant family and Justin even worked at MGP so they have access to pretty amazing barrels all over the country. They also have the relationships to...

Episode 2 of our Interview Series! This time we get to chat with the former CEO & Director of the Institute of Brewing & Distilling, Douglas Murray. If you want to have the best technical knowledge of whisky production and spirits production in general, the institute is where you MUST go. I had to sit down and interview them so us folks in the USA could learn all about this UK-based progra...

This is our first-ever interview podcast! You'll still get to hear us banter at the beginning where we discuss some of our new bottles to the shop, our latest seminars, and Charles' trip to Japan. Also, Charles will finally get to taste Talnua, the Colorado distillery making Irish-style pot still whiskey.  The most important thing to know about this episode is that we will be chatting with Ki...

We're back! Although January & February are supposed to be the retail industry's "down time", we for sure didn't feel that way and we're not even sure why. We have had quite a few amazing Saratoga Whiskey Club classes over the past few weeks and have been focusing on all of our education and travel programs that we're about to launch for 2023. It is really going to be a stellar year of whisky...

Charles and I discuss all of the upcoming seminars we have over the next few weeks and travel! So many great travel opportunities in 2023. To see what we've announced so far write to us or check out Rascal + Thorn . We also discuss one of our favorite New World distilleries, Amrut Indian Whisky. Truly one of the pioneers of New World Whisky. I then get close to guessing the blind dram correctly bu...

It is so difficult to pick our favorite bottles for 2022 but we can pick out a few of the brands that really impressed us. Charles and I discuss which brands really hit it out of the park in 2022 and we can't wait to see what 2023 holds. We also discuss Bardstown Bourbon Company and how impressive their releases have been. They have grown so quickly! Holly blind tastes Charles on a potentially "of...

In this episode, there are no new releases, blind tastings, or anything like you're used to from us! This is a "mini" episode focusing on a particular style of whiskey. We will be doing more of these throughout 2023. In this episode, we review our latest store pick single barrel, Obtainium 15YR Light Whiskey. We discuss the history of light whiskey, and where it is coming from and give you our tas...

The NOT-to-be-forgotten Orkney Distillery: Scapa! We discuss all things Scapa during this episode. Even though it can be a difficult malt to find, if you do see it, order it and take some time to sit with it. These are thinker whiskies. We also go through all of our adventures over the past few weeks in Kentucky and New York City. The holidays are here and the bottles keep comin'!  Please lea...