Key In The Lake Whiskey Podcast

Ever wonder what it’d be like to blend your own Pinhook True Small Batch? Well, take a listen to Garrett Turnquist of Maize + Mash and Steve Malloy of Malloy’s Finest joint experience of heading to Kentucky and blending together barrels and evaluating proofs to create their own three barrel blend. Guest: Steve Malloy and Garrett Turnquist Hosts: Jake Hukee Visit Pinhook Here Listen to more episode...

Wilson Torres is on to share the love, the pride and the restoration it took to develop Castle & Key’s single barrel program. This distillery’s story begins from reengineering Colonel Taylor’s bourbon recipe to developing a rye whiskey from the heartbeat of Kentucky, then transforming batches from both of the whiskeys into single barrel programs. Guest: Wilson Torres Hosts: Jake Hukee Listen t...

Day 4 | 12 Days of Barrel Picks. Chris Blatner, Executive Director of Bourbon Charity shares their magnificent Four Roses single barrel. Chris shares how the nonprofit organization raises money for various charities across the country through whiskey auctions and from the aid of its donors and distilleries that they partner with. Chris also highlights his trip to Kentucky to select this lovely sin...

Day 3 | 12 Days of Barrel Picks. We catch-up with our old friend Bob Zacharias. Bob is the GM of the taproom at the brewery/distillery located in Chicago. Bob shares the growth of Maplewood’s spirits program, and the difference between hospitality when operating a bar versus a taproom and creating a community atmosphere. Midway through the conversation, Adam Smith, Special Projects Manager, joins...

Day 2 | 12 Days of Barrel Picks. Andres Arias of Pernod Ricard is back to highlight the first Jefferson’s single barrel in the on-premise of Illinois. Andres and Callum share the history of selling Jefferson’s, which includes a long-awaited arrival of single barrels from the distillery—that’s been around for nearly 30 years. We also discuss the $250million investment that Pernod is dedicating to t...

Day 1 | 12 Days of Barrel Picks. Andres Arias of Pernod Ricard joins the show to highlight a single barrel from the West Virginia distillery. We discuss the rise of the distillery and the demand for single barrels for their Old Scout label. Andres also shares how Pernod is investing into American whiskies, and how he’s personally devoting interest and time into whiskey. Guest: Andres Arias Hosts:...

Old Elk’s new market manager, Eric Rosentreter returns to the show to talk about his new job with the Colorado distillery. Eric explains the rise of their single barrel program, and the responsibility of selling/representing a whiskey made by a living legend like Greg Metze. Guests: Eric Rosentreter Hosts: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com

Garrett Turnquist of Maize + Mash and Steve Malloy of Malloy’s finest join the show to discuss their Pinhook True Small Batch Bourbon for their restaurants and retail shops. They share the intricacies of meeting with the Pinhook founders to make their personal blend from three different bourbon barrels, and how their individual customers are enjoying their selection. Guest: Steve Malloy and Garret...

Live from Bitter Pops, our dear friends and many regular voices from our first 199 episodes help us celebrate 200 episodes of building community and sharing the stories behind label. In Part 2, the drinks start flowing through our gauntlets and taking a wild toll on our conversation. It’s fun. Guests: Bob Zacharias, Chris Blatne r, Jamie Duffy, Stephen Dragun & more Hosts: Jake Hukee , Wilson...

Live from Bitter Pops, our dear friends and many regular voices from our first 199 episodes help us celebrate 200 episodes of building community and sharing the stories behind label. This is part one of a two-part podcast. Guest: Bob Zacharias, Chris Blatne r, Jamie Duffy, Stephen Dragun & more Hosts: Jake Hukee , Wilson Torres & Callum O’Donnell Visit Bitter Pops when you’re in Chicago Li...

Chris Blatner (Urban Bourbonist) joins the show to share whiskeys from his 13 Summer Whiskeys list. We drink and comment on Wood Creek Rye, Laws Henry Road Straight Malt Whiskey, Westward Single Malt Cask Strength, Pinhook Bourbondini and the 7-year Pinhook Single barrel that Chris and I chose on Episode 186. We also talk about the curiosity of American single malts, the purpose of being a listene...

Live from Wisconsin Whiskey Fest, we sit down Murphy Quint, Head Distiller of Cedar Ridge. Murphy explains how his parents started this Iowa-based distillery on the foundation of the great soil and grain of the Heartland. He also shares his personal story of growing up in the distillery, moving away and working at Stranahan’s Distillery, and coming back home to help grow their brand into the numbe...

Live from the Wisconsin Whiskey Festival, Dancing Goat Founder Nick Mass joins the show to update the progression of his distillery. Twenty minutes into the conversation, Dixon Dedman, Kentucky Owl and 2XO, crashes the show (in the very best way). The two founders and blenders share stories of how their techniques developed while creating their individual brands. We also get deep into true purpose...

Live From WI Whiskey Fest, Ross Graham, Director of Sales at Old Elk Distillery shares how Greg Metze, Old Elk’s Master Distiller is using his historic pedigree to shape the brand into one of the most emerging brands in America. Also, our good friend Eric Rosentreter of Woodinville Whiskey joins the conversation halfway through the episode to share his industry insights. Guests: Ross Graham &...

Pinhook founder Sean Josephs returns. We discuss brand building with transparency and integrity, and how certain trends have dominated the whiskey industry, as of late, that may fall short of those two fundamentals. We also chat about the direction of craft and craftsmanship, along with the foundation of Pinhook beginning with an idea of blending whiskey but totally flipping on its head to follow...

Wilson and Jake sit down to speak about what bourbon means to them as people and as employees of whiskey distilleries. They go deep on the purpose of life, and the balance between their professional and personal interaction with whiskey. Hosts: Jake Hukee & Wilson Torres Visit Castle & Key Here Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com Key In The Lake

Whiskey Acres cofounder Nick Nagele explains their “Seed to Spirit” approach of farming high quality grains on the very farm the distillery sits on. Whiskey Acres foundation begins with, varietals of corn builds success, and the exploration of those varietals represents the terroir in each pour after they’ve been distilled and aged on their farm. Their whiskey speaks to and represents the place th...

Steven Dragun, Lustau National Brand Ambassador, joins the show. Steven shares how exploring his dream of becoming a musician through studying and playing music across the world led him to the spirits’ industry. Currently with Lustau in Chicago, Steven previously worked for whiskey distilleries like Angel’s Envy and New York Distilling Co. and behind the stick at various great bars in New York. Hi...

I sit down solo on the mics to share my experience from the road as a whisky brand ambassador. The "Where You Want To Be" series focuses on my visits to various markets across the US, documenting the distinctive details of an ambassador’s life in each city. I’ll also weave-in the lessons I’ve learned from my previous travels, while examining stories, essays and documents from notorious travelers/w...

Live from New Orleans at Tales of The Cocktail, a special guest, Mickey Pinstripe aka The Bourbon and Rye Club, joins the show. Sagamore Spirit’s Brett Bauer cohosts with me to chat with Mikey about his journey through whiskey, and his landing on his love for rye whiskey. We also discuss the events of Tales and the good times we experienced during the 20th anniversary of the coveted spirits event....

Jake shares the details of his recent trip to Kentucky and The Bourbon Trail, which included a long anticipated visit to Castle & Key. He also shares his thoughts on the value the online space still holds in the whiskey industry. Hosts: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com

Kyle Smith is a man that can’t rest. For the past eight years, Kyle has relentlessly ran around Chicago’s hospitality industry. He’s directed bar programs at Michelin awarded restaurants, worked for various whiskey distilleries, established multiple pop-up bars/events in every type of venue possible, and is currently working with Camp Yoshi. Camp Yoshi is Kyle’s respite from the city as he runs he...

Eric Rosentreter of Woodinville Whiskey Co. and I sit down to discuss the rise and importance of single barrels and whiskey clubs. We run through the pros of selling single barrels across the country to grow a brand, and the potential downfall of attaching yourself to the wrong club—that can’t commit to the promises that they make. We run through it all. Guest: Eric Rosentreter Host: Jake Hukee

Chris Blatner joins me and provides three delicious single barrel samples from Pinhook. Chris and I sit down at Wolf Point Distilling to select the next Pinhook Bourbon single barrel for Leo’s Mayfair. Chris guides us through the history of Pinhook’s vertical single barrel program as we taste through and choose a 7-year-old bourbon for Leo’s. Hosts: Jake Hukee & Chris Blatner Listen to more ep...

Jefferson’s founder Trey Zoeller joins the show to share how he’s “Pushing the boundaries of what bourbon can be, and the defintions without bastardizing it.” We also share a dram of Jefferson’s newest release Ocean Rye. Trey explains the origins of the Ocean series, and how he’s honoring tradition, history and adventure to create a whiskey apart from the rest of American distilleries. Guests: Tre...