Whisky Pilgrims

Yorkshire! Yorkshire! Yorkshire! It feels good to be breathing fresh air in the land of flat caps & whippets, real ale pubs, quaint villages and scenery that lends itself to the poets amongst us. I ventured down to Nidderdale in North Yorkshire to seek out a distillery that was unknown to me. It sits quietly off of the beaten track and boasts a hefty five thousand litre capacity which equates...

Yorkshire! Yorkshire! Yorkshire! It feels good to be breathing fresh air in the land of flat caps & whippets, real ale pubs, quaint villages and scenery that lends itself to the poets amongst us. I ventured down to Nidderdale in North Yorkshire to seek out a distillery that was unknown to me. It sits quietly off of the beaten track and boasts a hefty five thousand litre capacity which equates...

Matt Laird, a man who has walked, hiked, camped and drank his way around this wonderful land. Scotland isn’t just whisky, lochs, highland cows, haggis and so on - it is the amalgamation of them all which creates a scene only artists can portray. Matt, also known as @thedrambler, gives us insight into his whisky rambling knowledge while pouring me some fantastic drams!  He founded the Elgin Wh...

Matt Laird, a man who has walked, hiked, camped and drank his way around this wonderful land. Scotland isn’t just whisky, lochs, highland cows, haggis and so on - it is the amalgamation of them all which creates a scene only artists can portray. Matt, also known as @thedrambler, gives us insight into his whisky rambling knowledge while pouring me some fantastic drams!  He founded the Elgin Wh...

A chance encounter forged an instant friendship on the well-trodden path to liquid eutopia. One afternoon, I received an email from a lucky Springbank ballot winner that would not only result in a new pal - but another whisky pilgrim with a heap of stories. This episode is more akin to striking up a conversation with that stranger you meet in the pub, when you go for a quiet one. Michael paints a...

A chance encounter forged an instant friendship on the well-trodden path to liquid eutopia. One afternoon, I received an email from a lucky Springbank ballot winner that would not only result in a new pal - but another whisky pilgrim with a heap of stories. This episode is more akin to striking up a conversation with that stranger you meet in the pub, when you go for a quiet one. Michael paints a...

Join me today as I chat with Sam Staniforth (surname I consistently get wrong) a mum, whisky nerd, sensory rebel and a voice for women in whisky! Sam set off on a pilgrimage many moons ago and took the giant leap over the pond to Scotland. Originally from the US she embraced a culture, industry and dialect to which many a song was written! But how do you find your feet in an industry that has carv...

Join me today as I chat with Sam Staniforth (surname I consistently get wrong) a mum, whisky nerd, sensory rebel and a voice for women in whisky! Sam set off on a pilgrimage many moons ago and took the giant leap over the pond to Scotland. Originally from the US she embraced a culture, industry and dialect to which many a song was written! But how do you find your feet in an industry that has carv...

Ey up! Here we continue with Josh’s story through life and whisky. After part one took us extensively through his cancer journey - we now focus on the highlights over the last couple of years! Ballindalloch, Balmenach and Glenmorangie Signet are a welcome line up for any drammer, so pop the cork and get comfy. Slainte! @whiskypilgrims #whiskypilgrims LIKE - FOLLOW - SHARE @whiskypilgrims whiskypil...

We often talk about the connection between whisky and its ability to ground us in a specific time and place, which can be said for most sensory experiences. Here, I talk with Josh Lavers as he indulges me with some of the drams which have shaped his journey to date. A young man who found himself at a crossroads, when his ambition to jump headfirst into the industry he loved, was abruptly paused. B...

An Irishman and a Yorkshireman meet up in the epicentre of Scotland for a few drams to celebrate 2025. LIKE - FOLLOW - SHARE @whiskypilgrims whiskypilgrims@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On location at Benriach distillery, we chat to Stewart Buchanan, their Global Brand Ambassador and one of the friendliest, straight talking, whisky experts you’ll ever meet. He started out hands-on in the distillery, learning every part of the process. He knows what makes Benriach tick because he’s lived it. No fluff or flannel just passion and pizzazz. Now, as the face of Benriach around the worl...

A marriage, a vatting, a blend — call it what you will. Some folks still turn their noses up at them. Maybe they had a rough encounter once, or maybe someone told them “real whisky” has to be single malt. But here’s the thing — there are millions who adore blends.  Don’t let an old prejudice keep you from a new discovery. Not all blends are equal — and that’s the beauty of it. When the right...

Pilgrims can find themselves in unexpected places. Stay with us in this episode, as we discover what's behind Bogincur, a Wonderland in Moray; exploring water, coffee and whisky. We chat with Warren (aka The Wizard), a water engineer with many passions. He takes us on an adventure down the rabbit hole as we experience, among other things, a whisky that escapes the confines of time! LIKE - FOLLOW -...

Hugely proud to introduce young Sam Nettleship, recent graduate from Heriot-Watt University, now part of the production at Ballindalloch Distillery, where we all met in 2024. In this episode, we keep it real and raw, listening to Sam’s whisky journey so far, whilst enjoying the Seven Springs Edition One and one of the Thompson Brother’s Mystery Malts.  Included are his insights into savouring...

There’s no doubt that living in Speyside is whisky heaven but this time, Andrew and Josh take a detour to explore the rich, world of Irish whiskey. They meet up for a blether and uncork three bottles; one from the oldest licensed distillery in the world, another of the iconic John’s Lane release and a newcomer from the current whiskey renaissance In just two decades, Ireland has gone from three di...

A deep dive into independent bottling, as Andrew Smith (co-founder and director) shares his in-depth geekery of distilling and cask maturation. He is one half of Little Brown Dog in Aberdeenshire, which takes its name from his beloved dog, who was his constant companion, following him everywhere. In January, they won two major accolades at the highly esteemed Scottish Whisky Awards; gold medal for...

Your patience has been rewarded! Part Two of the conversation with Juliette and Callum Buchan recorded at the taproom, Against The Grain, in Elgin. Andrew and Josh introduce Part Two with GlenAllachie 10 year old, (Cask Strength Batch 59.4%) and the big hitter GlenAllachie 15 year old, (46%). We toast Juliette, celebrating her time at the giant of the Speyside region, The GlenAlachie distillery. I...

GlenAllachie is one of our favourites for its complex adventurous drams and it's on our doorstep. One of their big personalities is European renowned Juliettte Buchan, French from birth, Scottish from heart. She has been European Sales Manager for 5 years, before becoming Brand Home Manager over a year ago. In this episode, we chat with Juliette and her husband Callum about another one of their lo...

As you descend towards Rothes on the A941 you can see Doig’s pagoda peeping through the treetops. Tucked away in a narrow glen with the Granty Burn running through it, is the hidden gem of Speyburn distillery. It's not just its locale that makes it a hidden gem but the liquid. To taste it, you do need a little more effort than going to the supermarket and yet it doesn’t cost the earth. Don’t...

"The best laid plans of mice and men Go oft awry, And leave us only grief and pain, For promised joy!" In the late hours of the eve of the Scottish National Whisky Festival, Storm Éowyn got the better of us and our plans for our first episode didn't come to pass. Being Burns Night we explored the life of the great poet with drams from Lochlea and Annandale distilleries.   "Freedom and wh...

An Irishman and Yorkshireman share a common love of all things whisk(e)y. Join us in this Inaugural Episode and answer the clarion call to put your best foot forward on this pilgrimage of discovery. All are welcome, whether you are a seasoned traveller or struggling to find your feet in the world of whisky. LIKE - FOLLOW - SHARE @whiskypilgrims whiskypilgrims@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...