Whiskey Chats

Join me for My Distillery Chat with Dave McCabe, Blender in Midleton Distillery. I strolled around Midleton Distillery with Dave one afternoon and really got the VIP tour. I visited the prestigous warehouse A2 and got to cask sample some of Midleton's finest casks. Then we strolled through the plant to visit the blending team's new Lab. Here, I got to see where the magic will happen for Irish Dist...

Join me for My Chat with Eva O'Doherty, Head Distiller in the Micro-Distillery in Midleton Distillery. I strolled around the micro distillery with Eva for a morning and really got the VIP tour, asking all about the Method & Madness innovations that go on in the micro distillery.  Thanks to Irish Distillers, especially Melissa Kelly for organising, and Eva for the access. Have a listen in on our ch...

Jpoin me for My Cuvée Chat with Ned Gahan, Head Distiller in Waterford Distillery. I met up with him in Charlie Foley's Bar in Killarney town, in the snug, and we cracked open the Cuvée Sample pack released by Waterford at xmas. I wanted to speak to Ned about the Cuvées he has curated over the last 2 years and got a great insight into Waterford's current direction. Drops of the night: Waterford -...

Join me for My Chat with Peter Mulryan in Blackwater Distillery in Ballyduff Upper on the Cork/Waterford border. An absolutely beautiful part of the country, up against the Blackwater river. I called down to check out the distillery and found out more Peter's Blackwater project. I wasn't dissapointed. Have a listen in on our chat, Slainte!

Join me for My Chat with Luke Crowley-Holland, Bar Manager of Celtic Whiskey Bar & Larder in Killarney, Co Kerry. I've wanted to deep dive into French & European spirits and Luke didn't let me down. I highly recommend trying a selection of French spirits to expand your flavour palate. Drops of the night all available at Celtic Whiskey Shop: Delord Bas Armagnac 25yr old Bodegas Tradicion Brandy de...

Join me for part 2 of My Garden Chat with Dan Pennington and Paul Costello. They came up to my back garden studio to share some fine whiskey, cigars, poitín, rum and great chat. I really enjoyed the evening, I hope you enjoy listening in on the chat. Special thanks to John O'Donovan from Irish Malts for supplying the Dingle stout and the Bridger Kelliher from Westrn Herd Brewery for sending down s...

Join me for My GardenChat with Dan Pennington and Paul Costello. They came up to my place to share some fine whiskey, cigars, poitín, rum and great chat. I enjoyed the evening, I hope you enjoy listening in on the chat. Drops of the night: Mulroy Bay Port'N'Peat rested poitín 1960's Powers Pot Still Mulroy Bay rum Western Herd Stout aged in WD O'Connell whiskey barrels Dingle Around The Clock Stou...

Join me for My Chat with John O'Donovan in IrishMalts HQ in Little Island in Cork. I called down and hung out with John and his brother Robert. I wanted to get a feel for how the retail/bond side of the business works. We ended chatting for ages and I really enjoyed my visit. I hope you do too.   Have a listen in on our chat, Slainte!

Join me for My Chat with Maurice O'Connell who founded The Liberator whiskey from his gorgeous home in Lakeiew estate on the outskirts of Killarney. He welcomed myself and my 3 buddies for a tour of his manor house and dunnage warehouse, where he has plenty of tasty barrels slumbering away for us in the future.  Have a listen in on our chat, Slainte!

Join me for part 2 of My Chat with Barry Chandler. He joined me in my back garden on a lovely Autumn evening and we shared some cracking drops of whiskey and put the world to rights! Great craic.  Drops of the evening: Mulroy Bay Peated Potcheen Friends of Bruichladdich Octomore Single Cask Waterford Blood Brothers Micro Cuvee IWS Marrowbone Lane Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve 2015 Have a listen i...

Join me for part 1 of My Chat with Barry Chandler. He joined me in my back garden on a lovely Autumn evening and we shared some cracking drops of whiskey and put the world to rights! Great craic.  Drops of the evening: Method & Madness Mulberry Cask Waterford Micro cuvee Blood Brothers Keepers Heart Irish American Whiskey Pappy Van Winkle 12yr old Have a listen in on our chat, Slainte!

Join me for My Chat with Anthony and Katie Sheehy to celebrate Irish Whiskey  Auction's 3rd birthday on 12th October. They joined me on Zoom in my back garden where I threw them a little birthday party and chatted about their journey so far. Drops of the night: Redbreast SC "6yr old Temple Bar Mulroy Bay Port & Peat Potcheen Two Stacks Blender's Cut Killowen Cuige Donard I hope you enjoy our chat,...

Join me in Crolly Distillery in Donegal for My Chat with Julio Diana, head distiller and Joe Devenney, one of the 3 owners & founders. Joe welcomed me to the distillery and then I got the chance to have a personal tour of the distillery. I hope you enjoy our chat, Slainte

Join me for My Poitín Garden Chat with Dan Pennington, JP O'Riordan & Aidan McGovern Part 2. The four of us took a deep dive into the world of one of Ireland's national spirits, Poitín...... or potcheen, as pronounced up North... as we decided it sounded better. Such a great spirit.  Drops of the night: Bán Poitín 48% Micil Heritage Edition Poitín 40% Killowen Cuige Mish peated Poitín Mulroy Bay P...

Join me for My Chat reviewing Belfast Whiskey Week 2021 with Paul Kane. It was a huge event on the Irish whiskey calendar and it had the whole community talking. It was not without it's controversies and Paul graciously came on for a chat to address them, without shying away from them. Great chat. Drops of the night: Royal Brachla 32yr Penderyn  Old Comber SPS 27yr old Cooley from Cadenhead's Midl...

Join me for My Poitín Garden Chat with Dan Pennington, JP O'Riordan & Aidan McGovern Part 1. The four of us took a deep dive into the world of one of Ireland's national spirits, Poitín...... or potcheen, as pronounced up North... as we decided it sounded better. Such a great spirit.  Drops of the night: Teeling Spirit of Dublin Poitín 52.5% Micil Poitin 40% Killowen Poitin 48% Connacht Straw Boys...

Join me for My Chat with Finbarr Curran, Irish Distillers Wood Planning & Maturation Team Lead. Fin is very involved in all the wood innovation projects like Method & Madness and Dair Ghaelach and I enjoyed picking his brain for insights to Midleton's exciting wood program. Drops of the night: Dair Ghaelach Knockrath Forest tree no. 1 Method & Madness SPS Mulberry finish Method & Madness SPS Wild...

Join me for My Chat with Ivor O'Loughlin, founder of www.tinytipple.com This is a website where you can buy 50ml measures of whiskeys, whiskys, cognacs, vodkas, poitins and other fine spirits. This is a great way to try all those new releases that you might not necessarily want to buy a full bottle of. The flights and boxes are also a fantastic present for that whiskey fan in your life. Ivor honou...

Join me for My Chat with Daithi O'Connell from WD O'Connell Independent Bottlers. Daithi started his one man band in 2019 and has proven to be a massive hit with his sourced releases so far. He can take some credit in the recent resurgence of Irish peated whiskey offerings through the popularity of his Bill Phil range. He joined me on Zoom for a chat and we did end up going on a bit, but only beca...

Join me for Part 2 of My Garden Chat with Brendan Lynch, Paul Costello & Rory McGee who came up to my back Garden for cocktails, whiskey, poitin and cigars. We had a great laugh putting the whiskey world to rights. This is part 2 of 2. We did go on a bit, but had great fun, I hope you enjoy listening in.  Drops from the garden: Dunvilles 14yr old Carry-Out Killarney Thomond Gate Ruby Port Edition...

Join me for My Cigar Chat with Yiorgos Manesis, Managing Director of James Fox Cigar and Whiskey shop in Dublin city. Yiorgos is one of the foremost experts in cigars in Ireland and he joined me on Zoom, in my back garden, where I got a schooling in cigars. Great fun. https://jamesfox.ie/ Drops of the night: Celtic Cask 31 Dingle FF Carry-Out Killarney part 1 Octomore 7.3 Have a listen in on our c...

Join me for Part 1 of My Garden Chat with Brendan Lynch, Paul Costello & Rory McGee who came up to my back Garden for cocktails, whiskey, poitin and cigars. We had a great laugh putting the whiskey world to rights. This is part 1 of 2. We did go on a bit, but had great fun, I hope you enjoy listening in.  Drops from the garden: Waterford Sheestown 1.1 Redbreast 10yr old Redbreast 10yr old 1960's J...

Join me for My Chat with Carl McDermott, who has developed an app called The Whiskey Companion. You can upload your bottle collection and get up to date valuations, without having to trawl through all the auctions plus alot more. Do check it out and see how much it can benefit you. Twitter: @Carl_TWC https://thewhiskeycompanion.com/ Have a listen in on our chat, Sláinte

Join me for My Chat with John Fleming, owner of 2 Carry-Out off licences in Killarney, Co Kerry and a huge advocate for Irish Whiskey fans. John has positioned himself as one of the key facilitators for enthusiasts and brands bringing Irish Whiskey to market. He is a native Kilkenny man, but a key business figure in Killarney and I had a great laugh with him on Zoom, sitting out my back garden on...

Join me for part 2 of My Garden Chat with Aidan McGovern, Dan Pennington & JP O'Riordan as we laugh our way through tasting Celtic Casks aswell as a few gems also. They called up to my outdoor studio I set up in my back garden on a glorious June weekend and we shared a few beers, cigars, whiskeys and chat. I want to thank Julie Christie, Ally Alpine and Celtic Whiskey for providing us with the sam...