Cask to Glass

They're all about The Draam at Isle of Raasay Distillery . It's their signature single malt, based on a six-cask recipe created by founder and Master Distiller, Alasdair Day. It's 80% of what they produce. "We wanted to make a Hebridean whisky," Alasdair tells John in this episode. Hebridean? "Something lightly peated," Alasdair explains. "So not unpeated, not heavily peated. But somewhere in betw...

"I'm a whisky nerd," admits Andrew Symington the owner of Edradour Distillery . "That's how I got involved in the business. I love the different flavours." Edradour, near Pitlochry in Highland Perthshire, is one of Scotland's smallest distilleries and, Andrew says, Scotland's "last traditional farm distillery". Andrew's been in the whisky business for almost 40 years, both as the owner of Edradour...

Next time you're in Spain, "give the oak tree a big hug," implores master blender Max McFarlane. Without the oak, he says, Scotch whisky wouldn't be what it is. Join John as Max takes him on a tasting journey from new make spirit through the casks and years to learn to recognise the look, nose and palate of several very different whiskies. And he throws in an off-note whisky that's really gone wro...

They're "fairly geeky" about the spirit at GlenWyvis admits Craig MacRitchie, Distillery Manager at Scotland's first modern day community-owned distillery. Established in Dingwall at the head the Cromarty Firth in north-east Scotland in 2016, GlenWyvis Distillery is unburdened by a traditional house style. So they do what they like - provided, Craig says, it makes good whisky and complies with the...

The origins of Scotch whisky are lost in the mists of time. But in the Exchequer Roll of 1494, King James IV bestowed his royal seal of approval on a Tironensian monk and distiller from Lindores Abbey in Fife: "Et per liberacionem factam fratri Johanni Cor per preceptum compotorum rotulatoris, ut asserit, de mandato domini regis ad faciendum aquavite infra hoc compotum, viii bolle brasii." "To Fri...

Whisky makers don't make it easy, do they? Bunnahabhain. Glen Garioch. Ledaig. Even the most popular ones can be hard to get your tongue around. Is it Glenfiddich with an "ick" or with an "itch"? Glenmorangie as in "mow-ran-gee" or "morangie" - like orange with an "M" in front of it? In last week's episode, John and former Scotland rugby star Chris Cusiter, who's now a whisky importer in LA, discu...

Nine years ago, former Scotland rugby international Chris Cusiter retired from the professional game and moved out west. Way out west... California west. He bought a specialist liquor store in Los Angeles to follow his newfound dream, building bridges between Scotland and California with whisky. A few years later, after selling his store, Chris became a partner in Alexander Murray & Co importe...

"It's the pulse of one small nation So much more than just a dram..." For almost 30 years Robin Laing , "The Whisky Bard", has been trying to capture the "poetic essence" of Scotland's national drink and the world's favourite spirit in his songs and poetry. His lines above from "More Than Just A Dram" adorn the walls of Clynelish Distillery near Bora in Sutherland. Robin's a well kent face on the...

“A lot of people thought it was a very stupid decision essentially,” Peter Wills recalls the reaction to his dad Anthony’s plan to start a new distillery on Islay. With seven distilleries already on the island, he says the feeling was “there’s no room for another one.” Besides he continues: “All these others had this long heritage.” But Anthony and wife Kathy pressed ahead. And in December 2005 Ki...

What's in the glass? And why does it matter? No we're not talking about the whisky... but the actual glass your whisky's in. Why? Well in earlier episodes John heard from Master Blender, Max McFarlane of Ardgowan Distillery , Gary Mills of Loch Lomond Whiskies , and Deanston Whisky Guru of the Year 2024, Gillian Kirkland owner of The Piper Whisky Bar in Glasgow; all three stressed the importance o...

Gillian Kirkland never planned to run a whisky bar. But when her husband died in 2014, she inherited his pub on Glasgow's George Square and decided to keep it going. Two years later, Gillian turned The Piper into a whisky bar. She knew nothing about whisky, so decided to learn. And did she! In 2024 Gillian was crowned Deanston Whisky Guru of the Year at the Scottish Bar & Pub Awards 2024 and T...

"Eight years, six prime ministers, a pandemic, a cost of living crisis, and now a heart attack." No wonder two of the biggest names in the Scotch whisky industry told Martin McAdam, CEO of Ardgowan Distillery , "Just don't start!" when he first asked them for advice on building a new distillery. Nestling beneath a volcanic rock near Inverkip on the south bank of the Firth of Clyde on the west coas...

Is the tipple in your glass just the product of the cask? Or does the still play some big part? Join John as he and Master Blender Max McFarlane chat with Loch Lomond Whiskies' Gary Mills about Loch Lomond Distillery's three - or is it four? - very different stills, and the role of the distillery's onsite De-char / Re-char cooperage. Oh and find out what Tintin - yes Herge's Tintin - has to do wit...

Popcorn.   That’s right. Popcorn.   As the former Keeper of the Quaich at Edrington, Master Blender Max McFarlane has worked with some of the most famous whisky brands in the world, including The Famous Grouse, The Macallan and Highland Park.   He reckons he can persuade anyone to enjoy whisky.   And he says it all comes down to popcorn...   Now with Ardgowan Distillery an...

“Whisky and freedom gang thegither!,” declared Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet. But why and how do they go together? In this episode John Beattie speaks to Burns scholar and Scotland’s preeminent political commentator, Brian Taylor, about Burns, his work and legacy, and how whisky is rooted in a place that’s both Scottish and international. Slàinte! ------- Twitter: @C2GWhisky @JohnRossBeat...

“Ice is for cocktails!” exclaims Scottish crime writer and whisky lover Val McDermid. So how does she take a dram? And what does she take? And if she loves whisky so much, why did Val create a leading character who enjoys gin when she personally hates it? Join John Beattie as he and Val discuss “morning whiskies”, imposter syndrome and Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns. And if you’re new to S...

How do you take your whisky? Neat? Splash of water? Block of ice? Or even a mixer? However you take it, join John Beattie, former Scotland rugby international and semi-retired radio and TV news presenter, as he celebrates the heritage and flavour of Scotland's national drink and the world's favourite spirit. Whether you call it whisky, whiskey, uisge beatha, aqua vitae, or the water of life... the...