Honest to a Malt

Mike & Duncan chat with Euan Campbell, Head of Whisky at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, often shortened to SMWS, a global whisky club and society, which bottles a lot of whiskies from all around the globe, with many from Scotland. We try the latest batch of The Five Regions:  https://smws.com/the-five-regions/  - a 50% blended malt matured in a selection of bourbon, oloroso, PX & htmc hog...

Mike and Duncan explore bourbon cask whisky, the flavours, and types, and why it's perfect for spring and summer. Plus, Duncan is back in the auction game sniping 5 bargains, and trying a filthy red wine Ledaig, a United Distillers period refill bourbon Speyside, and a Bardstown bottled in bond from 'who knows when'. You can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buy us a dram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Mike & Duncan delve into their regional favourite Scottish distilleries! Choosing one distillery from each of the regions of Scotland (which in itself is up for debate) but includes: Speyside, Lowland, Highlands (and Islands), Islay and Campbeltown. Use code SMWYES to redeem two free glasses with your new SMWS membership . A £100 yearly membership includes a bottle of whisky. You can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Mike and Duncan chat with David Thomson, co-founder of Annandale Distillery. We chat through the start and progression of Annadale Distillery, diving into two new South of Scotland bottles of whisky as we go: Man O'Words - Double Oaked Ex-Bourbon - Cask 1563 at 58.9% Man O'Swords - STR Ex-Red Wine Cask - Cask 387 at 57.9% As well as Annandale related stories we cover off all our usual bits...

Mike and Duncan eventually chat about blending whisky at home and it's safe to say the chaps have very different viewpoints methodologies. Also this week, we recap our wonderful evening of whisky and Cigars at JJ Fox in London. We were lucky to present three different Ardnahoe whiskies paired with a Rocky Patel Cigar. We got to meet some great people on the night, as mentioned in this episode,...

This week Mike and Duncan tackle the hard hitting life questions—like, at what point does a prized collection cross the line into full-blown hoarding? We cover off all the usual stuff such as what's been in our glass and up are arse! Collector or Hoarder?: The psychology behind why we keep what we keep. Nostalgia Trip: NFL cards, Pokémon, and the golden era of Pogs. Parenthood & Hobbies: B...

Have you visited The Malt Lounge in London? We went to a whisky and food pairing recently with drams from @wmcadenheads, Japanese inspired canapés, and cocktails mixed by the expert bar staff. Tucked away within @theprinceakatokilondon, Marylebone, near Marble Arch, the ambience and lighting makes it a joy to spend an afternoon or evening. Here's the menu for the montly tasting we attended: Whisky...

Mike & Duncan get stuck into the latest Ardbeg Cask Strength 10 Year Old, and take time to reflect on the ups and downs of the world loved distillery by peat fans, over recent times. Plus, massive DOMS, NFL Pokémon cards, and updates on Donuts upcoming Whisky Attic. The Ardbeg Cask Strength 10 weighs in at 61.7% and is available to committee members to buy on the 24th February 2026 for £75. Yo...

Mike & Duncan give important updates on backs, thumbs, the holidays, Chad Smith, and new (old) houses. What were our favourite drams of 2025, and we tried some new Brave New Spirits releases too. You can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buy us a dram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ which will make us very happy, and we will shout you out. Check out the Honest to a Malt ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast...

Welcome to the Honest to a Malt 2025 Christmas Quiz !Mike and Duncan team up with Rob Patchett, Global Whisky Ambassador for Cotswolds, Matt Hastings, Blender at Nc'Nean, and Whisky Legend, Billy Abbott, Ambassador for the Whisky Exchange - in a special episode, where guest is pitted against guest (and Mike) in an end of year quiz, with Duncan as quizmaster. Who will win? Meanwhile, we shine a...

Mike and Duncan welcome back the legend that is Paul Main of Hunter Laing, Whisky Toasts and Ardnahoe fame. A year on from the first ever Ardnahoe Society release, Mikes Dram of the year 2024, and Paul has sent us some samples of what has been going down on Islay! The chaps dive into: Skerryvore XX Aqvavitae Special Edition 6 y/o Cask Strength 5 y/o 2025 Society Release Infinite Loch Also Paul gen...

Mike and Duncan Chat about a recent tasting with Greg King - US Brand Ambassador for Diageo(Full recording to following in 103 Part Duex).We decant our views of the Oban 12, Lagavulin 12 and Talisker 14, 2025 Special releases and maybe a couple more! Listen in to our casual post interview chat.

On this weeks Episode Mike and Duncan chat with Marc Watson, the Master Whisky Maker at Highland Park, to discuss his own whisky journey as well as diving into two new drams from the 'Between You and I' release. As well as all of that we have the usual topics like what's been UP your arse and what's been in your glass. Marc runs us through his Pudding Island Drams as well as Whisky...

This week Mike and Duncan welcome Scott Sneddon, managing director of InchDairnie Distillery on to the show. Scott shares his experience in the whisky industry and the chaps dig into two KinGlassie whiskies, all whilst swooning over the bottle design! We cover off all the usual topics such as what's been up our arses and in our glasses and Scott also dives into his Pudding Island Dram selectio...

Mike & Duncan celebrate 100 episodes in style and visit 3 Greek Street, aka Milroy's, the world's oldest independent whisky shop, to discuss its evolution, the whisky tasting experience in various parts of the bar and the changing landscape of whisky tasting and pricing. Hosted by Stephen and Joel, the chaps explore the importance of distillery heritage, innovations in tasting experiences, and...

Mike & Duncan catch up about their summer breaks, or lack of one, then review a half a hatful of Bimber Shoulders of Giants Releases, whilst pondering the influence bestowed from the Palo Cortado, or Fino casks. Duncan appears to have dressed up for the episode, and Mike's not sure why. You can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buy us a dram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ which will make us very happy, and w...

Mike & Duncan host Alex Munch, Co-Founder of Stauning Whisky, for a light hearted, yet fairly geeky episode on the past, the present and the future of the distillery. Expect gratuitous chat about smoky whisky, and did a cask ABV actually go up?! Stauning will be 20 years old in December 2025, and we get a bit of a scoop as we hear about life after the separation from Diageo. Alex gives us his...

Mike & Duncan chat with Megan Brown, Co-founder of Woodrow's of Edinburgh, an independent bottler and whisky specialist - discussing some of Megan's favourite Woodrow's releases, tropical Islay whisky, TK Maxx and rap. You can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buy us a dram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ which will make us very happy, and we will shout you out. Check out the Honest to a Malt ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

The world's two top whisky investigative journalists (cough cough) are on a press trip to the outer edges Edinburgh for the launch of One Cask at a Time , to try some old whiskies, in a proper old building. Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠Whisky T-Shirt Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠ with #TumblerClub tees and ones featuring our favourite episode artwork. New whisky t-shirt designs being added regularly. You can also ⁠⁠⁠buy us a dra...

Mike and Duncan chat with Richard Foster, of Exploring English Whisky, and the gentleman behind some very popular whisky festivals. We tap into Richard's extensive knowledge of whisky made in England and answers the question: Is English Whisky viable alternative to Scotch? You can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buy us a dram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ which will make us very happy, and we will shout you o...

Mike & Duncan welcome Matt Mckay, aka The Dramble back onto the pod. Now in a new role as MD and Whisky Maker for The London Distillery Company , we hear about the past, the present and the future. How does saltiness get into whisky? Did you know the difference between Renaissance and renascence? Matt 'Wordsmith' does, and we do too, now. Other Matt's are discussed, Matt Berry, and...

Mike and Duncan are joined by Dan from the Summerton Whisky Club to do a review of the Summerton Whisky Festival in St Albans. Lots of shout-outs, thank yous and reviews of what was in our glass on the day. Some stories have been censored/edited out for reputational reasons ;) Cough Cough Dun-Can't. Festival aside, we also cover off what else has been in our glass and what's been up our arse this...

Mike and Duncan recant their trip to the Gherkin to sample a new bottling from The Dalmore, Luminary 3. The chaps discuss a Steve Rush Tweet tasting with Brave New Spirits and all the usual stuff including a new addition to Gareth Whisky Corner. Check out the YouTube channel on the link below for the Auction Sins section of this podcast(whilst you're there give us a like and a subscribe) https://y...

This is a special episode! Mike and Duncan had the opportunity to an exclusive tasting session accompanied by Michael Henry, aka Michelle 'Enry, Master Blender, and Nick Bradley, Prestige Portfolio Manager, from The Loch Lomond Group. The chaps get to try some spectacular, once in a lifetime whiskies. The new Elements of Campbeltown, Release No.1 Air . Limited to 100 individually numbered deca...

Mike and Duncan have been imparted with the power of creating Executive Orders to correct the World... What could go wrong? The chaps discuss what's been in there glass and crack open some new bottles: Mike cracks open The Chorlton Peallach(Ledaig) 8 y/o Rioja Barrique at 58.2% Duncan cracks open the latest Summerton Whisky Club release Wolfburn Double Wood 11y/o at 52.5% We also introduce a n...