Key In The Lake Whiskey Podcast

Pinhook founder Sean Josephs joins at The Stockroom (GNS Market) in Uptown, Chicago to select a 9-Year Single Barrel. Sean explains the backstory of his vertical-single barrel series with the distillery and how he implements his sommelier background into crafting whiskey. Sean, Chris Blatner, Z from The Stockroom and I sip through three different barrel samples to find the best fit for the Northsi...

Chris Blatner & Eric Rosentreter pop back on for a 360 conversation on the whiskey industry. We discuss the decline of whiskey sales in this young year, the rise of layoffs, and where the category of the luxury products is heading. We also chat about the Beam’s continued method of innovation with excellent products, and large brands like Four Roses remaining firm on what they do best versus “t...

Live from Delilah’s in Chicago, I am joined by Brett Bauer, Chris Blatner, Alex Brick, Eric Rosentreter and Wilson Torres. I leave the show about 24 mins into the episode, and let the inmates run the asylum. We chat about what whiskey means to us, we all share our origin stories into the industry and the rising momentum of international whiskies growing across the world. Guests: Brett Bauer, Chris...

Cameron George, Ardbeg National Brand Ambassador , joins me for an enlightening and inspiring conversation on life and whisky. We explore the wanderous perks and loneliness of working on the road. Cameron shares how the beauty of Scotland was ingrained in him as a child and built a foundation for his pursuit of scotch and whisky as an adult. We also chat about how the nature of whisky is parallel...

Zak Rye and Eric Rosentreter join me upstairs at Warehouse liquors in downtown Chicago. We discuss how bars are missing the mark on providing innovative experiences, and why the secondary market place driving up retails prices across the country. Guests: Zak Rye & Eric Rosentreter Host: Jake Hukee Shop at Warehouse Liquors here Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com

Brett Bauer and Steve Malloy join the show. We talk through the emergence of celebrity-backed spirits and the lack of integrity involved with such brands. We also forecast the trends of ’24; will premium priced bottles continue to sell? And, while sipping on single barrels, we build a Key In The LaKe whiskey portfolio. Guests: Brett Bauer & Steve Mallo y Host: Jake Hukee Listen to more episode...

Chris Blatner, The UrbanBourbonist and Executive Director of Bourbon Charity, joins me for a conversation on the current climate of single barrels and LTO’s. We discuss how the market will respond to these higher-lined items in 2024, and the brands were looking forward to seeing innovations from this year. Guest: Chris Blatner Host: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthela...

A one of a kind single barrel from Starward Whisky Is discussed. I’m an ambassador of Starward, and I sit down with friend and colleague Steve Malloy of Malloy’s Finest to chat about his Starward single malt single barrel aged in a Tawny cask for five years. Deal with this moment of self-indulgence. Host: Jake Hukee Steve Mallo y Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com Key In...

Guest: Alex Brick Hosts: Jake Hukee & Matt Brown Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com Key In The Lake

We finally got the whiskey power couple. The Rosentreters, Eric and Susan, joined us at Delilah’s to chat about a variety of topics. They reminisce about working and meeting at Delilah’s, and how working at such a coveted whiskey bar developed their skillsets of educating and developing brands. Susan shares her 20 years of working in a male-dominated industry, and how she’s earned the respect of b...

Live from Malloy’s Finest, proprietor Steve Malloy shares his Rare Character Amburana Rye single barrel. Steve shares how he forged a relationship with RC to purchase the first Illinois single barrel from the company. Also, listen to the very, very end, you might be surprised. Guests: Steve Malloy & Eric Rosentreter Host: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com...

John Chesney of Slightly Toasted shares their latest single barrel from Old Forester. John is always looking for the best whiskey he can find for their extensive single barrel program. As an operator of the on-premise, he and his business partners tussle with the idea of adding their single barrels to cocktails or serving them neat, but, this Old Forester can be enjoyed any way you desire. It’s hi...

Our beloved brothers from Wiscy City, USA lead us off on the 12 Days of Barrel Picks this year. Matt Brown explains their single barrel approach and highlights a delicious, unique pick from Malloy’s Finest in Chicagoland. Guests: Matt Brown & John Chesney Hosts: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com Key In The Lake

Alex recently became an ambassador for Teeling Whiskey. He shares a brief history of the acclaimed Irish distillery and how it relates to the history of whiskey produced in Ireland. Alex also explains how the roots of the distillery were involved in the revival of Teeling, and how they’re integrating an innovative approach to making modern Irish whiskey for their core collection and single barrel...

John is the GM and Operator of Slightly Hospitality.. Slightly Toasted is one the best modern whiskey bars in Chicago. John shares his perspective of building/running bars and restaurants during the height of the whiskey and revived cocktail booms. He discusses his method of working with distributors to build a prestige back bar, handling relationships with spirits reps., and being a guide—from be...

Steve Malloy of Malloy’s Finest and Eric Rosentreter of Old Elk join me for an industry check-in. We debate consumer fatigue of spending money on limited whiskey releases and single barrels vs. the overall fatigue of spending money for expensive items. We also chat about what “makes” a speakeasy. And, AND, we reveal Steve’s lead on purchasing a goddam BOOKER’S single barrel. Guests: Steve Malloy &...

J. Henry & Sons is a beloved brand on this podcast. We’ve had our dear friend Joe Henry, cofounder and son of the family-owned distillery, on multiple times, but, now, we get to hear from the matriarch. Cofounder Liz Henry (Joe’s mom) comes on live at Wisconsin Whiskey Fest. She shares how the distillery changed her life and her family, her experience working with Nancy Fraley, and how proud s...

Susan Rosentreter of Samson & Surrey joins me live from the Wisconsin Whiskey Fest. We go over her 20 years in the industry, including her time running one of the greatest whiskey bars in Chicago, Fountainhead. We also chat about pride of developing/working with small whiskey brands and how they’re stacking up against big brands. And of course, we discuss the future of single barrels in Americ...

We head back to see our friends in Wiscy City, USA. Nick Maas and his band of brothers, who operate Dancing Goat, share the updates of their distillery, including the expansion of their Presents Series. We also discuss the legacy of the DG, acquiring and leveraging distilleries, and brand building by “owning your backyard.” Towards the end, we forecast the future of small distilleries. We speculat...

Assistant Distiller Ted Wolfe and Sales Director Brett Bauer are on the show, and they’re not here to just talk whiskey. Sagamore is launching a new Amaro. Ted explains the intricate process of developing the herbal liqueur, and Brett shares the market execution of launching the Amaro in a Black Manhattan campaign across the US. Ted also shares his experience of studying astrophysics to developing...

Chris Blatner, Steve Malloy, Eric Rosentreter and Wilson Torres join me for a roundtable discussion on a variety of topics. We primarily focus on the single barrel scene for small distilleries, and the overall growth of small distilleries. We discuss the approach of these distilleries discovering their identity while developing, in the moment, and following nontraditional routes to customers. Gues...

Chris Blatner and Wilson Torres are back to reimagine the current state of Bourbon…and to drink a lot of Bourbon. We chat about the abundance of distillery collaborations with breweries, vineyards and even with other distilleries, and the longterm impact these collaborations will have on whiskey. We also discuss the recent purchases of small distilleries by larger spirits portfolios; revisioning t...

My boss and Starward Whisky Founder David Vitale is back. Dave is moving back to Australia after building Starward in America during the past five years. We talk about the successful strategies of launching our whisky in The States, along with the struggles of building a relatively unknown brand, and the our future projections of our whisky—whisk(e)y, in general—in America. Guest: Dave Vitale Host...

Callum is embarking on a new journey in New York, subsequently, a friend I love like a brother is leaving the podcast. Callum was a catalyst to continuing the podcast during covid and in low moments of my personal life when I questioned quitting the show. He inspired me to continue by bringing great guests, enthusiastic conversation and most importantly, love. Hosts: Jake Hukee & Callum O’Donn...

Callum and I share our perspectives of the current state of the Bourbon industry. We discuss the future of exportation and how the next generations of drinkers will appreciate America’s Native Spirit. Hosts: Jake Hukee & Callum O’Donnell Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com