Whiskey Lore: The Interviews: Recent Episodes
Drew Hannush
Join Best Selling Author Drew Hannush as he talks with the founders, distillers, authors, historians, and brand ambassadors that lead us to a greater understanding of the whiskies we love - and the ones we should know more about.
Drew not only explores the history of bourbon, scotch, rye, and other world whiskies, he seeks to broaden our understanding of styles, regions, and the distiller's craft through deep dives with those in the know. Each episode is meant to be as pertinent today as it will be well into the future.
Enjoy the journey - cheers and sláinte mhath!
Bourbon, Scotch, Irish, Japanese, American Single Malt, French, Indian, no whisky category is off limits.
Drew's natural curiosity for the lore and
FINAL EPISODE ON THE INTERVIEWS FEED Please look up the Whiskey Lore Podcast and subscribe for future interviews. I am consolidating feeds. All older interviews have been moved to that main Whiskey Lore Podcast feed.
In this conversation, Drew Hannush interviews Dr. Pat Heist, co-founder of Wilderness Trail Distillery, exploring the journey from a small farmhouse distillery to a significant player in the whiskey industry. They discuss the scientific approach to distilling, the impact of the Renewable Fuels Act, the evolution of fermentation practices, and the importance of data collection in whiskey production. Dr. Heist shares insights on the sweet mash process, the challenges of scaling operations, and the future of whiskey innovation.
TAKEAWAYS
- Wilderness Trail Distillery started as a small farmhouse distillery.
- Dr. Pat Heist and Shane Baker's partnership began in rock and roll.
- Firm Solutions was established during the 2006 economic crisis.
- The Renewable Fuels Act significantly impacted the distilling industry.
- Fuel ethanol production shares similarities with whiskey production.
- The distillery focuses on scientific methods in fermentation.
- Wilderness Trail has expanded its operations significantly since inception.
- Data collection is crucial for understanding whiskey production variations.
- Sweet mash production is a key focus for Wilderness Trail.
- The distillery aims to innovate and improve whiskey quality.
Hear an extended version at whiskey-lore.com/patreon
When it comes to whisky legends, George Dickel has one of the most confusing. Was he a distiller or wasn't he a distiller? Who is this Victor or Manny Shwab that gets a mention during the historical breakdown on the tour. Did George ever own the Cascade Hollow distillery? And if he didn't who did? Plus, where did the slogan for their whisky "Mellow as Moonlight" come from?
My guest today, Clay Shwab, is the great-grandson of the man who had a vision for George Dickel & Co, laid his own money on the line, and helped bring George Dickel's Cascade whisky into the 20th century. He just wrote a new book called Manny Shwab and the George Dickel Company: Whisky, Power and Politics During Nashville's Gilded Age and we're going to dig into some of the stories, compare notes, and introduce you to one of the most fascinating whisky origin stories you've never heard.
Back during the Pandemic, I was chatting with a friend of my from New Mexico about whiskey and I noticed on the Zoom call how many bottles of Laws Whiskey House spirits he had on his back shelf. He was a real fan. And that piqued my interest. So when I was traveling back from California on a major road trip, I made a quick stop into the Denver-based distillery.
It didn't take me long to fall in love with their San Luis Valley Rye. I heard stories that this rye was hand picked from wild rye growing in this region. Was this some romanticized tale that was going around or was it true? Who better to ask than the man behind not only that rye, but also a four grain bourbon, wheat whiskey, and malt whiskey. Join me for my conversation with Al Laws.
This week, I continue my conversation with Alan Bishop as I toss him one of the little gems I found in my research about Kentucky Bourbon. The question must be asked, when did Kentucky move from pot stills and log stills to the modern column and thumper/doubler combination? We might be pretty close to an answer.
It is time to move on to the late 19th century and learn what distillers like James C. Crow and other legends were using in their distilleries and why. And we'll find out Col. E.H. Taylor's opinion about Kentucky's modern distilling tools.
Enjoy this week's dig into the history of distillation.
While digging into the history of Kentucky Bourbon, I kept hearing this nagging voice in my head saying - you need to understand stills to tell this story. Yes, I do know modern stills and have seen them used on both sides of the Atlantic. But these big column stills are not what American whisky was originated on. And, in fact, some of those old style stills have all but disappeared, such as the three-chamber still, kettle stills, and saucer stills.
Knowing that Alan has dabbled in all different types of distillation using a variety of stills, I felt it was time we had a discussion about the evolution of stills and how American's have made whisky from the early days.
In this first part of our conversation, we'll focus heavily on the stills and techniques of early distillers. Then next week, we'll see the evolution in distilling and see how we got to where we are today. Enjoy this fun deep dive.
In this episode, I sit down with Becky Garrison, author of 'Distilling in Washington: A History,' to explore the fascinating history of whiskey distilling in Washington state. We uncover the early days of the industry, its impact on Native American tribes, and how drinking culture evolved over time. From the origins of terms like 'hooch' and 'skid row' to the pivotal role of saloons in state development, we uncover a rich, often overlooked narrative.
Additionally, we dive into prohibition's complex history, including its intersection with women's suffrage, delayed enforcement, and the challenges faced by distilleries and breweries. From smuggling tales to the legacy of gentleman bootlegger Roy Olmsted, we journey through Washington's past, ending with a look at the vibrant culture of modern craft distilling and its unique distillery trail. Join us as we uncover the stories behind the labels and raise a glass to Washington's spirited history.
Join me as we head to Western Kentucky, to meet a man who took his moonshining skills and family traditions and found a way to legalize them and give people a taste of moonshine culture and spirits distilled in one of the most unique looking stills you'll ever see - the square coffin still.
Enjoy my conversation with Arlon "AJ" Casey Jones of the Casey Jones Distillery. Lots of stories, history, and a tasting of their 7 year old barrel proof moonshine. Enjoy!
Cheers! Drew
Time to get to know Maker's Mark from its origins to today.
Beth Buckner, Senior Manager of Innovation and Blending at Maker's Mark reveals the story of Margie Samuels and her influence on the Maker's Mark bottle and brand. Then, we go step by step through all of the classic and new Maker's Mark expressions to build a complete picture of what the brand's whisky is at its core. Beth delves into the creation of Makers 46 and the use of French oak staves. She highlights the Wood Finishing Series, a storytelling series that explores different flavor profiles, and she discusses the importance of consistency in the whiskey-making process. We'll also learn about barrel entry proof and its impact on flavor, as well as the role of the Beam Suntory Blenders Committee and how Maker's has become a favored choice for Scotch distillers. Then we'll learn what's next for Maker's Mark.
In this episode, Drew Hannush and Jerry Daniels dive into their top 10 favorite historic bourbon brands, each with its own unique story and impact on the bourbon industry. They explore the rich histories behind each brand, highlighting the people like E.H. Taylor, George Garvin Brown, J.B. Dant, and Paul Jones Jr., who shaped the bourbon world. Tune in to discover the fascinating tales behind these iconic brands and why they've earned a spot on Drew and Jerry's top 10 lists.
Welcome to a history filled episode that is sure to stir up some debate. This week, I welcome back to the show Jerry Daniels of Stone Fences Tours. Last time we got together, we had a countdown of our favorite Kentucky distillery tours - this week, we're going to fill your ears with history as we compare our own Top 10's of our favorite Kentucky whiskey brands.
Join me on Patreon.com/whiskeylore to let me know your favorites.
In today's episode, Ian Weir from Ian McLeod (makers of Smokehead) and Elliot Walker from Blowfish Glass join me to talk whisky and glassware. We will delve into the traditional techniques used to create the glass, including the intricate process of hand-blowing glass. We also explore the origins of Smokehead single malt whisky, highlighting its distinctive smoky profile and tasting three expressions. We'll see how a specially designed Smokehead glass works versus my favorite Copita and the tumbler. It's a unique episode for Whiskey Lore: The Interviews, originally recorded for the YouTube channel. Hope you enjoy it.
In today's episode, I chat with Brian Haara, an attorney specializing in bourbon law, and the author of Bourbon Justice: How Whiskey Law Shaped America. We discuss Brian's interest in law and how he got involved in the bourbon industry. We also explore the challenges of researching old lawsuits and deciphering handwriting in old documents. I'll do a tasting of a surprise historic whiskey and we'll talk about those unique characteristics, including its heavy body and long-lasting flavors. Finally, we'll dive into the fascinating career of E.H. Taylor and talk about his financial troubles, his many lawsuits, as well as his shift to Bottled-in-Bond whiskey. We'll also highlight Brian's charitable work within the bourbon industry and the generosity of bourbon enthusiasts.
Back in 2019, while preparing for my first season of the Whiskey Lore Stories podcast, I took a trip to Scotland to learn the story of Cù Bòcan, the spectral animal that is said to haunt the village of Tomotin in the Scottish Highlands. I learned of the story while reading the back of a box of Tomatin's peated single malt Scotch and was curious to hear more.
When I contacted the nearby community of Strathdearn, I was introduced to Duncan Bryden, a man knowledgable about the legends and history of the area. I met up with him and we took a walk through the woods across from the Tomatin Distillery and he helped fill me in on the history of the area, including the legends of the last wolf of Scotland, the story of the Witch of Laggan and other local tales.
For the last 4 years, this interview has been tucked away, only available to my Patreon members. But since I am now putting all of my Whiskey Lore Stories episodes on YouTube, I thought I'd bring this back for all the new listeners to the podcast and the long time loyal listeners who just can't get enough history.
Cheers! Drew
Back for 2024 with a new lineup of interviews. Kicking off talking about rye whiskey (a fascinating grain I want to spend more time with this year). We're going back Pennsylvania where rye whiskey made its presence known during and after the Revolutionary War. I'm joined by Maximilian Merrill the founder of a new distillery that is bringing back Somerset County distilled Monongahela rye and introducing a Maryland style rye.
You've heard it before - the world's oldest whisky is going up for auction. But this time, there is more than just carbon dating and a loose story behind the spirit. Join me as I talk with Joe Wilson, the Head Curator at WhiskyAuctioneer.com about this nearly 200 year old whisky, found in a castle. We'll talk about whisky auctions and how they verify claims, the issues with counterfeits, and how modern whisky auctions work.
Here's a quote from Joe from their press release:
“Offering the world’s oldest scotch whisky at auction is truly a once in a lifetime occurrence. I’m fortunate to be well acquainted with old and rare liquid, as Whisky Auctioneer handles some of the world’s rarest whisky bottlings. This, however, is a transcendent discovery that is sure to capture not just the imagination of the whisky industry but also those well beyond.
“Distilled in the 1830s, the whisky was made during a fascinating period when whisky production was experiencing massive change following the 1823 Excise Act, making it a particularly exciting find for those interested in the history and heritage of the Scotch whisky industry.”
It's the bourbon everyone loves or everyone loves to eye-roll at. Blanton's has developed quite the reputation in this current market, with some calling it overrated and some prizing the bottles and paying large amounts for them. Today, we're going to dive into the history of the brand going back to Elmer T. Lee and to the origins of what is now the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Get the ins and outs and learn from a super fan and collector Dominic who has a new book out called Warehouse H: The Story of Blanton's Bourbon.
One of my new favorite people in the whiskey history community has just come out with a fantastic book that explores Texas Whiskey history before Prohibition. Like Tennessee, the history of distilling in what is now Texas goes back much further than you think. Let's step out of the saloon lore and find the real (footnoted) history of Texas whiskey with author and co-founder of Still Austin, Andrew Braunberg. Cheers to real whiskey history!
Today we’re going to dig into the science of blending and talk about a grain that I always associate with Canada rye, with Dr. Don Livermore, Master Blender and Doctor of Brewing and Distilling overseeing brands from Hiram Walker & Sons including J.P. Wiser’s, Pike Creek and Lot 40 - also two books on Canadian whiskey including Blending 101. He's known as the Whisky Doc and he's got a lot of great information to share. We'll also do tastings of two J.P. Wiser whiskies and a Lot 40 Rye. Cheers and Slainte Mhath!
When it comes to whiskey history, some historic names take a long time to see the light of day. When it comes to James A. Miller, his time is well overdue. He started distilling in Bourbon County in the 1830s and eventually built a distillery he called The Bourbon Distillery. His whiskey was "celebrated" in New Orleans and eventually found its way to California and even to Germany and Canada. The whiskey was known as Chicken Cock. And today I'm talking with the current brand owner's ambassador Will Woodington about this history. Enjoy!
With episode 102, it is time to take stock of what Whiskey Lore is about and the way I research my stories. With the upcoming release of my first full-length history book The Lost History of Tennessee Whiskey I've done some soul searching and its time to let you in on what I'm thinking.
Time to dig into the 1970s and beyond with the great Richard Paterson. We're going to talk about how blenders work with spirits, the comradery in the industry in the early days, how Richard got into doing presentations in front of people, the origins of his whisky toss, The Dalmore Distillery and its secrets, and Billy Walker will toss in a comment. Enjoy!
As I celebrate my 100th interview episode, my special guest is Richard Paterson of Whyte & MacKay, the Dalmore, Jura, and of course Shackleton. During this hour we are going to step back into the 1960s with Richard and talk about the way things were versus how they are now in the Scotch whisky industry. We'll also find about the first distillery he visited, Glasgow as a whisky town, distillery character, and as bunch of fun stories as only Richard can tell them.
Slainte!
During my trip to Ireland, I had the pleasure of meeting Sir Maurice O'Connell as we talked about his two whiskey brands - The Liberator and Lakeview Estate. I was fascinated by his family's history in smuggling and his ancestor Daniel O'Connell who is known as the Liberator. We'll take a look back at that history and then dive into a discussion about his unique bonded warehouse, where he gets his barrels, and how he is using Killarney grain to make his whiskey.
Did you know North Carolina has a long history of making whiskey? Join me as I chat with Jason and Jeanne Queen who are bringing back that old tradition, while preserving a grist mill that goes back to the very origins of the state of North Carolina. We'll taste their bourbon, talk NC agriculture, and what it takes to start a whiskey brand in the Tarheel State.
Today its time to learn about whiskey certifications, tips for developing strengths as a blind taster, and we'll discuss wine and its influence on whisky - including flavors, finishes, and barrel types. Adam is the General Manager of the Sommelier Company and a Master of Scotch Council of Whiskey Masters as well as a Certified Specialist of Wine Society of Wine Educators. Don't worry, we'll chat bourbon as well. Cheers!
For those that enjoyed the story of Cu Bocan, the ghost dog from the Scottish Highlands, its time to deep dive into some great history and spirits as I chat with Scott Adamson, blender and brand ambassador of Tomatin. Some revealing history around the bourbon barrel in here as well as a great discussion around the history of what was once the biggest distillery in the world. Enjoy the kickoff of a new year of Whiskey Lore The Interviews
Is there a whisky you love so much, you could write two books about it? Today, I talk to Wild Turkey superfan David Jennings (aka Rare Bird 101) and talk about his two books American Spirit: Wild Turkey from Ripy to Russell and his new book Wild Turkey: Musings.
We'll discuss his passion for the brand, what it took to research its history, how he built an audience behind his work, his first visit to the Wild Turkey Distillery, and what bourbon he would cheat on Wild Turkey with. It was a lot of fun chatting with another South Carolinian and whiskey author. Enjoy!
The first time I traveled to Scotland, I was in Aberlour talking with a bartender about the best whiskies to try. He asked what my favorites were. When I said GlenDronach, he said "ahhh Billy Walker." Since that moment, I've been wanting to learn more about this man and what he is doing at Glenallachie. I was also surprised to hear he dipped into the Irish market.
We're going to talk about his lifetime in the business and dig into some of where his knowledge of blending came from and what he plans next for his current distillery home.
Hard to believe Belfast has been without distilling for so long. On today's episode we'll dive into the first new distillery in Belfast in nearly 90 years. This one is housed in a facility that is rich with history. It is Titanic Distillers and their location on the docks of Belfast take us back to a day when ships were built to be modern marvels.
What do you think of when you think of Canadian whisky? Maple sweetness, rye, non-age-stated, and mellow? Well, Zach and Nick are really pushing the limits of Canadian whisky and want to change your mind about what Canadian whisky can be.
In this episode, we're going to explore the distilleries of Canada through the eyes and palates of these brothers as they seek out whisky that has been resting in barrels for well over 10 years and sometimes over 20 and putting it in bottles at cask strength. We'll do a tasting of 5 of these whiskies and you'll get quite an education in Canadian whisky and the art of blending.
This has been a long time coming. Dan provided me with some historic samples of whiskey from Wild Turkey, Kentucky Peerless (Henderson, KY), and Cream of Kentucky and we're going to jump in and do a tasting of these. I also provided us both with a 100 year old whiskey that we'll take a sip of.
We'll also go into the art of finding dusty bottles and talk about what you can expect from these historic whiskeys. It's a great conversation and a must for anyone interested in sampling historic whiskey!
You've heard me talk about it before, barley is a complex grain that many distilleries dismiss. Yet don't tell the Scots, the Japanese, or the Irish that. Today we are going to dive in deep with a distillery that is digging into the science of barley, trying to completely understand it, so they can make the most amazing whiskies and elevate people's notion of this incredible grain.
Join me as I talk with Waterford Distillery's Head Brewer Neil Conway as he revisits many of the concepts we talked about during my visit last May and help you better understand the vision that builds upon what its owner was doing at Bruichladdich before coming to Ireland.
Not too long ago, I had the pleasure of chatting with Chris Morris, Master Distiller at Woodford Reserve and we talked about his rise and the process of going from assistant under the legendary Lincoln Henderson to the Master Distiller role.
Two weeks ago, my email box held a message that another assistant was getting that honor of moving up to the Master Distiller role and today, its my honor of chatting with the new face of distilling at Woodford Reserve, Elizabeth McCall. Join me as we find out about her journey to this position and where her focus will be going forward.
If you feel as confused about Canadian whisky as I do, Davin (who like me is writing a book on whisky history) is going to dig in deep and introduce us to the world up north. What is this 9.09% rule? Are Canadian rules more lax than U.S. rules? What's the deal with Canadian Prohibition? Can you travel to Canadian distilleries. And do Canadian's mandate no "e" in whisky?
Lots of insights in this episode. Enjoy!
It's not often I get to just sit back and chat with another podcaster about the whiskey industry. Today, that changes, as Irish whiskey podcaster Laurie O'Dwyer invites me in for a chat on his podcast and the two of us go over many of the interesting stories, whiskeys, and people of the Irish whiskey. Laurie cracks open a few bottles and you get a chance to eavesdrop in on our chat about great distilleries like Great Northern, Killowen, Midleton, Crolly, Echlinville, Slane, and more. Enjoy and happy New Year!
So much to chat about today as I talk with Chris Tetterton, VP of Marketing with RD1 Spirits - a Lexington, Kentucky brand that came out of the gate with the historic William Tarr brand. Chris will talk about the historic reference of their name RD1 Spirits and we'll get the scoop on a new distillery. Cheers!
This year I've been working to find whisky legacies in some very unfamiliar regions for the spirit. When Carpathian Whisky reached out to me about their single malt, I thought - well, this is definitely a chance to step into the unknown. Then, my guest Allan Anderson, distiller at Carpathian suddenly was tying his career into a bunch of different distilleries across Ireland and Scotland. Some fun discoveries in this episode. Cheers! Drew
It's that time of year again, when we start to think back on the best of the best from the past year. In today's episode, Allan Dwyer, president of the IWSA will go through the history of the organization from the early days, how he's seen Irish whiskey grow over the last decade, and then will fill us in on how we can vote for our favorite Irish whiskey of the year.
We'll also talk a bit about our experiences on the Irish whiskey trail and I've got a special offer for the holiday season for those wanting to grab a copy of my new book Whiskey Lore's Travel Guide to Experiencing Irish Whiskey. Slainte!
How often do you get a chance to meet the founder of a distillery while on a distillery tour? Well, that was my experience back in 2018 when I made my first whiskey tour of Kentucky and stopped in Kentucky Peerless on the west end of Whiskey Row in Louisville.
But Corky Taylor wasn't the first of his family to own a distillery. In fact, the Peerless name goes back to Henderson, Kentucky where his great grandfather Henry Kraver made a name for himself making Kentucky's special spirit. Hear the story of the original Kentucky Peerless and about the unique style of whiskey that Corky and his son Carson have brought back to the Bluegrass state. Plus we'll learn the origins of a feline princess and find out what rock stars Corky used to share a dormroom with.
This is a distillery I've long wanted to cover on the podcast. After traveling to Campbeltown, I fell in love with the place and its distilling history. And one of two distilleries that survived the collapse of the Whisky Capital of the World was Springbank - and today, it is still owned by the same family that was there during the heyday.
I'll visit with Melanie Stranger, who will fill in some of Springbank's history, talk about the relationship to Glengyle (Kilkerran), and reveal the reason Springbank is so hard to find these days.
Join me as I chat Donegal distilling history, discuss the idea of smoky whiskey and how the myths around scotch and Irish whiskey developed with James Doherty. James is the Founder of the Sliabh Liag Distillers’ Ardara Distillery, the producer of Silkie, one of the new breeds of Irish Whiskeys hitting your local whiskey retailer.
The land of illicit spirits, Ardara breaks that trend with their brand new distillery. We'll talk about peat (or turf) as it is called in Ireland, discuss why Donegal may have gone the direction of illegal distillation, taste Midnight Silkie, and discuss tours and visiting Donegal's 3 new distilleries.
Join me as I chat Donegal distilling history, discuss the idea of smoky whiskey and how the myths around scotch and Irish whiskey developed with James Doherty. James is the Founder of the Sliabh Liag Distillers’ Ardara Distillery, the producer of Silkie, one of the new breeds of Irish Whiskeys hitting your local whiskey retailer.
The land of illicit spirits, Ardara breaks that trend with their brand new distillery. We'll talk about peat (or turf) as it is called in Ireland, discuss why Donegal may have gone the direction of illegal distillation, taste Midnight Silkie, and discuss tours and visiting Donegal's 3 new distilleries.
So what is the oldest distillery company in America? Well, its not a bourbon or rum distillery - no, it is a brandy distillery. And before you say "hey, its not whiskey, so I'm not interested" - you might be surprised at how much this ex-bourbon barrel aged spirit relates to great whiskeys.
Join me as I invite the 9th and 10th generation of Laird distillers on the show. We'll deep dive into the history of a brand that George Washington liked so much, he asked for the recipe.
So what is the oldest distillery company in America? Well, its not a bourbon or rum distillery - no, it is a brandy distillery. And before you say "hey, its not whiskey, so I'm not interested" - you might be surprised at how much this ex-bourbon barrel aged spirit relates to great whiskeys.
Join me as I invite the 9th and 10th generation of Laird distillers on the show. We'll deep dive into the history of a brand that George Washington liked so much, he asked for the recipe.
Before Whiskey Lore: The Interviews takes a month off, join me as I chat with my friend Chris Crowe of Burnt Church Distillery as we talk Palmetto State history, Hilton Head's neighborhood community Bluffton, and the history of a curiously named road that is now publicized through the name of the Burnt Church Distillery.
Plus I'll do a tasting of 4 of their expressions.
Today I chat with my guest Michael Scully about his historic farm and how he is using it to grow a type of grain that hasn't grown in Ireland for a century for his single pot still whiskey.
We'll also talk about the history of the town of Clonakilty and some of its famous residents, including a few ties to some 20th century icons.
In addition, we'll do a tasting of Clonakilty's Double Oak Small Batch whiskey and find out if Julia Roberts really can do a quality Irish accent.
Back in 1909, John Thompson Street Brown was looking for a design for the Old Prentice Distillery. That design still stands today, under the Four Roses banner. Who designed this beautiful Spanish Mission pastiche? Would it surprise you to hear it is the same company that has developed many of the other iconic distilleries across the Kentucky Bourbon Trail?
Listen in to find out how these designs come to life and the ideas behind taking historic structures and filling them with stills and fermenters!
If you love history and you're interested in the recent past during Irish whiskey's rebirth, this is the interview for you. I chat with Darryl McNally who is launching a new brand tied to a town with legal distilling going back to 1750 in Ulster.
We'll talk about the town's history in distilling, the rebirth in this new brand, and we'll also jump into Darryl's 17 years at Bushmills and learn a bit about what the whiskey world looked like back then. Buckle up for a lot of great history and a tasting of an Irish whiskey well worth trying.
When it comes to claims of the oldest, there is always a chance at a caveat. In terms of Ben Holladay Bourbon, it's distilling grounds have a pretty strong claim to the title of the oldest distillery west of the Mississippi River.
Here the story with master distiller Kyle Merklein and find out why his distillery was bold enough to wait 6 years to release their first new generation whiskey.
It's time to turn the tables and let you learn a little bit about me, get behind-the-scenes with Whiskey Lore, and learn a ton about Irish whiskey.
I've given the reins over to one of my favorite podcast hosts Terrence Layhew of the Suit Up! Podcast. He digs into my motivations for starting Whiskey Lore and lets me get deep into the rise and fall and rising again of Irish Whiskey.
It's time to turn the tables and let you learn a little bit about me, get behind-the-scenes with Whiskey Lore, and learn a ton about Irish whiskey.
I've given the reins over to one of my favorite podcast hosts Terrence Layhew of the Suit Up! Podcast. He digs into my motivations for starting Whiskey Lore and lets me get deep into the rise and fall and rising again of Irish Whiskey.
Join me as I jump into a discussion with New York Distilling's co-founder Allen Katz. Starting out in Baltimore, it's no surprise that Allen would find rye whiskey as his passion, but the surprise was - he went to New York City to start a distillery. But before then, he spent life as a bartender in the revitalized cocktail culture of New York. So today we'll talk rye whiskey, cocktails and even find out why the British used to have a different proofing system that we do in the US.
Items we'll discuss:
- How a heist helped choose Allen's destiny
- Bringing Maryland to New York City
- Working with farmers and specific rye varietals
- Does a cocktail need a complex rye?
- The early days of the New York cocktail culture
- The staple rye whiskies for any bartender
- Differences in character between warehouses
- Tasting Ragtime Rye
- The winter hot toddy
- The Empire Rye designation
- The idea of an urban distillery in New York City
- Getting help from others
- Gin and New York's other Matthew Perry
- Navy Strength gin's history and gunpowder
- The basis for the old British proofing system
- Tasting Ragtime Rye Bottled-in-Bond
- The origins of Rock and Rye
- Tasting the Single Barrel
One of the coolest places I visited while on my historic journey through Ireland was Slane Castle. It was there that I met Alex Conyngham, the earl of Mountcharles and co-founder of Slane Distillery, along with his father Lord Henry "the Rock and Roll Aristocrat."
If you don't know the story of this distillery and its neighboring castle, you're in for a treat. Especially if you are a music lover. And by the end of this episode, you'll not only know how Mick Jagger and Bono fit into this story, but also how Brown-Forman helped take this family dream to new heights.
What the heck is Irish Poitín? This was a question I asked myself frequently before traveling to Ireland. Is it just Irish moonshine or just unaged Irish whiskey or is it something completely different?
After traveling the island, I found a handful of distillers who were bringing this long time illicit distilling into the light. Pádraic Ó Griallais and his family are on the forefront of distilling the legal version of poitín, but their family heritage is based in the illicit version. So in today's episode, we will dive in deep and learn all about this uniquely Irish spirit.
It is hard to overstate John Teeling's impact on the Irish whiskey industry. He took on an Irish whiskey monopoly and helped bring interest back into a dying industry.
Then after selling his distillery, he bought another and this one is fostering the growth of the modern Irish whiskey craft industry - supplying fine spirits to new distilleries looking to establish their brands before releasing their own spirits.
He is a legend with humble beginnings. Truly a self-made man, a gentleman, and a roll model for the industry. Here is his story in his own words.
The revival of Irish whiskey is real - I have seen it first hand. And after traveling the entire island of Ireland and Northern Ireland, I can see first hand the results of a country's passion for its lost heritage.
One of the men who was at the forefront of the new breed of Irish distillery owners is Jack Teeling. And Jack has been a part of two different phases of Irish whiskey's expansion beyond the one time monopoly of Irish Distillers, Ltd - first with his father John Teeling at Cooley Distillery and the second time as one of the new young guns of Irish whiskey when he opened Teeling Distillery in Dublin with his brother in 2015. Hear his story.
This week I conclude my interview with Laura Fields as we dive deep into Pennsylvania's pre and post-Prohibition history. We'll also talk about the difficulty of telling American whiskey history without using a Kentucky Bourbon lens.
In addition Laura will dispel some long held beliefs about who could distill during Prohibition and how many distillers had licenses to sell it. Plus we'll look at craft distilling in Pennsylvania and see if the industry is coming back.
Thanks to Steve Bashore of George Washington's Distillery, I had a chance to meet Laura Fields of the Fields Foundation and American Whiskey Convention. Her passionate devotion to recovering the lost history of Pennsylvania distilling is truly inspiring.
Before Kentucky, there was Monongahela Rye and it didn't die out long before Prohibition, instead, it died at the same time Kentucky did. But after Prohibition, Kentucky took over the narrative for American whiskey and Pennsylvania all but forgot its history. In this episode, we aim to change that as we go back to the very origins of Pennsylvania's distilling history.
A pretty bold claim! But W.H. McBrayer had well established his Cedar Brook brand as a quality brand and won awards in Europe for his efforts.
Hear the story of another lost distiller of the 19th century and hear how his decedent Bill McBrayer is honoring the legacy of the man who not only started his own distillery, but helped some of the more prominent names in Kentucky bourbon get their start.
It's hard to believe that in just 12 years, Ole Smoky has grown to become the most visited distillery in the world, seeing more than double the visitors in a year than all of Scotland's distilleries combined!
Ole Smoky has long had ambitions to get into the whiskey market, but for the longest time blends and flavored whiskey's or charred moonshine were all you could find. But that all changed last year when they introduced James Ownby Reserve Tennessee Bourbon - a whiskey named after one of the Overmountain Men who helped turn the Revolutionary War at the Battle of Kings Mountain.
Join me as I chat about this and the origins of Ole Smoky with its co-Founder Joe Baker.
For the first time since Prohibition, Jack Daniel's has a major release of a Bottled-in-Bond Tennessee Whiskey - and not just one, but two!
In this episode, I chat with Chris Fletcher about the concepts behind the new Bonded Series as well as doing tastings of Bonded and Triple Mash, and we also dive into Chris' experience growing up in Lynchburg and Sunday's with his grandfather, legendary distiller Frank Bobo.
And once and for all, we'll find out where that unique banana note comes from in Jack. Cheers!
Not long ago I had a chat with Jeff Arnett, who left the distillery that makes his favorite, Jack Daniel's to start his own Company Distilling. Around the time of that interview I heard the news that John Campbell was stepping away from Laphroaig after a 27 year career to move to the Lowlands.
Was I dreaming? Was this real? I caught up with John at his new distilling home of Lochlea and we talked about Robert Burns, Islay vs Lowland, and the importance of feeling you don't know all the answers.
When you think 19th century Tennessee whiskey distilling, you think Jack Daniel and George Dickel. But we've also uncovered the story of Charles Nelson of Nelson's Green Brier. So which is the biggest of the 19th century?
What if I said "none of them?" The real king of distilling in Tennessee may have been an Irishman named J.W. Kelly. I'll talk with Leslie Sampson who has done extensive research into a man who held many similarities to Tommy Dewar in terms of his energy, innovative spirit, and marketing prowess. Hear the story.
When someone says France, you may think wine, Cognac, Armagnac, and Champagne - but do you think single malt whisky?
You should! France not only has distilling skills, but they also have the natural resources, including producing 30% of the world's barley, and the French have been great lovers of whisky and one of Scotch whisky's largest markets for years.
Find out about the history and development of the French whisky industry and listen in as I taste single malts and blends from Armorik and Bastille including a peated single malt with similar characteristics to Islay whiskies.
With the Derby and Summer right around the corner, it is time to start thinking about Kentucky travel plans and for lovers of bourbon history, it is time to dig into a best of list of historic bourbon destinations.
To do this, I have invited my friend and fellow history fan Jerry Daniels of Stone Fences Tours onto the show to compare our top 10 lists of the best historic destinations in the Bluegrass State. We'll even toss in a few extras - perfect for your travel planning.
Walk into your favorite liquor store and look for a bottle of Westland American Single Malt. Where do you start? It's not in bourbon. It's not with the single malt scotches (or is it)?
As this category grows and whiskey diversifies from region to region and country to country, it's time to have a serious talk about reorganizing store shelves.
Chris Riesbeck and I will talk about that, he'll fill us in on Westland's history developing the ASM category, what it takes to be a brand ambassador, and I'll put him on the spot with a blind tasting!
If you've not heard her name before, you're going to be shocked with all of the projects Lisa's been involved in - from George Washington's Distillery at Mount Vernon, to Preservation Distillery in Bardstown, to Huber's Starlight Distillery in Indiana, and the Beam Brother's Limestone Branch - and she also works as a consultant.
We'll talk about the whiskey and the name Widow Jane, I'll get to sample the 10 year, we'll hear how Lisa moved from blending wine to blending whiskey, and learn a little more about one of her distilling heroes - a woman who ran the last bourbon distillery outside of the United States.
Time for a change of pace episode. Yes, we normally hear from distillers, historians, and ambassadors, but with traveling starting to open up again, I thought this would be an opportune mind to get your mind on distillery travel.
In a few weeks I'll have Jerry Daniel's of Stone Fences Tours on to help whiskey history lovers find the coolest places to visit in Kentucky, but this week - in honor of St. Patrick's Day, I want to put you behind the wheel so you can get comfortable with the idea of driving from distillery to distillery in Ireland and also Scotland (left hand driving that is).
It's time for a fascinating conversation with a man who is resurrecting a legendary whiskey man from Cincinnati Ohio. My guest is co-founder and CEO of Brain Brew Custom Whiskey - Doug Hall. His whiskey is called Dexter's Bourbon - a historic brand you likely never heard of. We'll hear about whiskey from the early 1800s and about the man himself Edmund Dexter.
I'll also get a chance to taste the whiskey and dig into a conversation about crafting your own cocktails and your own whiskey next time you visit Louisville.
It's time for part two of my fascinating conversation with Alan Bishop, master distiller at Spirits of French Lick. We're going to dive more into some of the spirits he's produced, talk about capturing historic yeasts, discover what split brandy is, find some historic distilling sites in Indiana, and get a little more history around some of the names honored by Alan though the whiskies of Spirits of French Lick.
125 years ago this week, a battle would be fought between wet and dry candidates over a bill that could improve the quality of whiskey. What really happened though was so much bigger and expanded government's role in consumer affairs.
When I say Southern Indiana, you might not initially think distilling legacy, but if you think about it, the region is just as close to the Ohio River as Kentucky is. So when I invited Alan Bishop, a distiller, but also a documenter of whiskey history, a whole new amazing history opened up to me.
Check out the stories of preacher-distillers, Prohibition antics, and legacies of great distillers that are finally seeing the light.
Let's go back 154 years to the origins of this week's Federal holiday and find out when the name changed from Washington's Birthday to President's Day.
We'll also take a look at several presidents and discover their association with whiskey - from owning distilleries to taking a shot in the morning with breakfast.
Cheers!
Welcome back to Rory as this week we'll discuss two scotch distilleries every fan should know about.
BenRiach is a Speyside distillery that has developed some fascinating and complex whiskies thanks to Dr. Rachel Barrie.
Glenglassaugh is a seaside Highland distillery with robust and flavorful whiskies that are coming into their own.
Both distilleries have long complicated histories and we'll unravel them here while tasting 7 top notch expressions.
Take a step into the mysterious past and amazing future of George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey with a woman who is taking a 150 year old legacy and expanding it to new heights.
Two years ago, Nicole brought George Dickel back to worldwide attention when her Bottled-In-Bond 13 year old whisky won Whisky Advocate's "Whisky of the Year." Now she is challenging the misconception that Tennessee whiskey is not bourbon with her latest release. Enjoy our dive into the distillery's history and Nicole's thought process in expanding the brand's offerings.
Have you found yourself looking down the Irish whiskey aisle with a look of confusion on your face? Well, you're not alone. Single grain, single pot still, these are names that can throw you for a loop.
Today we are going to get some clarity on the issue from a man who is distilling pot still whiskey in Colorado. Patrick Miller is my guest and he'll tell us how he fell in love with the style, what it is, and why triple distilling is so beneficial for it. Plus we'll taste 5 of his whiskeys and talk Irish whiskey history.
Curious about whiskies from Australia? Well my guest today is one of Australia's leading distillers with a very creative process for aging his whiskies - wet wine barrels. Dave Vitale had a desire to make a very unique whisky that could sit proudly among the great whiskies of the world and today I'm going to taste three of those expressions.
We'll also learn about Australia's forgotten whisky history and learn about Starward's new partnership with the Michelin Guide of North America.
If you love whisky, you've likely heard that Texas has a growing whisky industry and you likely know names like Balcones, Garrison Brothers, and Ironroot. And that is a great beginning, but there is so much more to Texas whiskey.
In this interview, I'll chat with a native Texan who wrote a book on the subject, traveling from distillery to distillery, meeting founders, tasting spirits, and placing his findings in his book, aptly named Texas Whiskey. Join us as we explore what the Lone Star State has to offer.
2021 was an eventful year with a ton of travel, distilleries, and interviews. So before I tackle 2022, it is time to look back on some of the best moments of the year that was.
I'll feature clips from many of this year's episodes focusing on the best of history, process, and the distillers themselves. Enjoy this stroll down memory lane or for new listeners, get a feel for what Whiskey Lore: The Interviews is all about!
I recently had the opportunity to attend the one day per year Snowflake Festival at Red Rocks near Denver and to tour the Stranahan's Distillery.
During the visit, I kicked up a conversation with head distiller Owen Martin about his education in Scotland and how that translated into his current occupation, distilling American single malt.
We decided to take the conversation online so you could eavesdrop. We also talked about this year's two Snowflake releases.
The art of the personality blend. Only a few have mastered it. Melissa Heim, master blender for Big Nose Spirits has done just that with a fantastic whiskey based on the personality of one of the Old West's most interesting characters - Big Nose Kate.
If you've heard the name and don't know who she is, we'll give you a little background and then Melissa and I will talk about what goes into making a whiskey that fits a legend.
His new company, is curiously called "Company" or Company Distilling and he and his teammates have ambitious plans. And we will dig into those during this interview, but since I missed a chance to document his time at Jack Daniel's, were going to start off hearing how Jeff moved from working with coffee to working with spirits and ultimately taking over the master distilling reins from Jimmy Bedford.
Whiskey Lore fans will remember Clay from his article that prompted Fawn Weaver to research the Uncle Nearest story, leading to the establishment of her own whiskey and a foundation in Nathan "Nearest" Greens' name.
He is releasing a beautiful new book, perfect for the bourbon fan on your list, called "Bourbon: The Story of Kentucky Whiskey."
We'll dive into how he writes about historic figures, to finding amazing dusty bottles in the Buffalo Trace bottle archive and more.
Time to share an interview talking about my favorite Highland whisky, GlenDronach. Brand Ambassador Rory Glasgow will introduce us more of the story of James Allardice along with Billy Walker, and Dr. Rachel Barrie.
Plus I do a tasting of the core line of whiskies, up to the 21 year and including the recent Port Wood edition. Plus we'll talk a little controversy and get scoop on some words that disappeared recently from their bottles. It's all here! Enjoy.
Have I got an entertaining interview for you today, with my guests Joe O'Sullivan and Caitlin Bartlemay of Hood River and Clear Creek distilleries in Oregon.
We're going to uncover the secrets of Johnny Appleseed, talk about the origins of American Single Malt and its godfather Steve McCarthy, find out what distiller may have had the worst luck in history, and discover the deeper history of Oregon whisky, including the notorious concoction known as Blue Ruin.
And make sure to join me for Friday Happy Hour to chat about the show on YouTube.com/WhiskeyLore
What happens when a Kentuckian heads to Memphis, Tennessee to make whiskey?
Check out my conversation with Old Dominick's Alex Castle, as we talk bourbon from both sides of the border. We'll dive into the storied history of the 19th century brand, discover a decades old Memphis Toddy, and talk about Alex' journey from pot stills to Wild Turkey to just south of Beale Street. And we'll taste some whiskies as well. Thanks to Old Dominick for the samples. #ad
Some of the world's great whiskies come out of Bruichladdich, including Classic Laddie (unpeated), Port Charlotte (peated), and Octomore (heaviest peat in the world). And the distillery was on the forefront of transparency in its marketing.
But in 2001, the distillery was in mothballs and the future was uncertain. Hear the story of how this great distillery made its way into the hearts of scotch lovers across the planet, as I speak with a man who was a part of that great evolution - Allan Logan.
Plus, we'll talk about and taste the latest Octomore series! #ad
We've grown accustomed to seeing that beautiful bottle of Woodford Reserve on the shelf, but when it debuted, it was putting a whole new image on bourbon.
October marked the 25th Anniversary of Woodford Reserve and we're going to celebrate by talking with Chris Morris, Master Distiller - a man who has been around since the beginning. We'll talk about the historic grounds, talk about the brand's development, triple pot distilling, and I'll taste the Distiller's Series Chocolate Malt Whisper Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Enjoy the show!
In the world of scotch you'll find Highland, Lowland, Speyside, and Islay. Can you name the 5th region?
It's Campbeltown. And at one time, the wee toon had around 30 distilleries - today it has three. It's a town rich with history and Glen Scotia has weathered a lot of it.
My guest is Distillery Manager Iain McAllister, who will share stories of growing up in Campbeltown and some of the rich history of the town and distillery.
Why does Ireland spell whiskey with an "e?" What is the oldest brand of whisky in Ireland? And how many distilleries are there in Belfast?
Just some of the questions I'll explore with McConnell's very passionate brand ambassador Sarah Kennedy. We'll also take our first dive into Irish whiskey history. I'll do a tasting of McConnell's age stated blended whisky and we'll talk about a planned revival of distilling in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Slainte!
Get ready to dig deep into the history of Anderson County, Kentucky - where today Four Roses and Wild Turkey reign supreme.
But when my guest Tom Ripy was a youth there, he lived among distilling royalty, including the Saffells, Bonds, Lillards, Dowlings, and his own family, the Ripys. Some of these names returning to shelves in liquor stores and bars.
Join me in a time machine as we hear how it was in Lawrenceburg, KY from a man who had personal connections to many of the families that helped build the legacy of bourbon.
What town in the 19th Century was known as the "Whisky Capital of the World?" Edinburgh, Louisville, Nashville - none of the above. How about Peoria, Illinois?
Join me as I chat with J.K. Williams CEO Andy Faris and Master Distiller Jeff Murphy about the storied history of distilling in Peoria and their brand's namesake, who was a bootlegger that had some run-ins with Al Capone and Peoria's mafia family.
Hear the history and we'll talk about where J.K. Williams is heading.
As a nice pairing with this week's Whiskey Lore episode about whisky aged at sea, I'm hear to talk about a sea aged Japanese whisky called Kaiyo.
This spirit makes its way from a Japanese warehouse to Liverpool England, picking up personality all along the way.
Join me was I taste a single cask version and we talk Japanese whisky, history, and working with tough woods like Mizunara Oak.
First there was Jack, then there was George, and in 1997 - long before the craft distilling revolution - there was Phil.
Phil Prichard has family distilling roots going back into the 18th century, but it was his emergence in the 20th century that made history.
He's always done things his own way, starting with Tennessee rum, before whiskey. He's a fascinating guy who many distillers talk about, but whose story hasn't been fully told - until now!
Join me as I head to Chattanooga, Tennessee to talk with Tim Piersant, CEO and co-Founder of Chattanooga Whiskey about how he and his head distiller Grant McCracken landed on a high malt bourbon for their flagship whiskey.
We'll also talk a little Chattanooga Whiskey history, burning the right bridges at the right time, and we'll taste their soon to be released Vintage Series Bottled-In-Bond 2017 Fall Edition.
I can't tell you how many times I've heard this blanket statement from bourbon drinkers - "I don't like scotch." Like scotch is just one flavor profile.
That's why I wanted to have a little Scotch 101 discussion, talking about regions, peat smoke vs fruity, age, proof, and what scotch to start with, with my guest Ed Kohl, a scotch whisky distributor who has spent a couple decades helping Americans understand scotch.
We'll also talk about the whisky tariffs, three tier system, and some of the whiskies he distributes like Clan MacLeod, Spey, and Smokehead.
Back from one of the most interesting adventures I've had in trying to reach a distillery. The name of the place is Gobbler Springs and the gentleman who had to pick me up in his 4x4 is the owner and distiller John Hatcher.
A Kentuckian with Irish distilling roots John and his wife long ago decided to make their home in Tennessee. There he produces moonshine, gin, and sweet mash whiskey under something he calls the Lawrence County Process.
Now Jeff and his wife didn't necessarily take the normal path into owning a whiskey distillery. Rather than having grown up around distilling, they had both come from careers in the distribution of whiskey - and from competing companies no less.
Join me for part one of my discussion with Kings County Distillery's master distiller and co-founder Colin Spoelman. A few years back Colin wrote an intriguing book about American whiskey history called Dead Distillers and we will take the time in this episode to chat a bit about his background as a New York City distiller.
While on a journey out to California in search of details about an upcoming episode, I took time out to interview Seth Benhaim of Infused Spirits. Seth is taking a very unique approach to aging whiskey - by placing barrel staves in new make.
We sampled his expressions using Mizunara oak, a Cask of Amontillado (something Edgar Allen Poe fans will appreciate), and scotch peat staves. We also talked about the history of light whiskey, a historic distillery in Kentucky they source from, and the concept of an oak bill.
Just when I thought I had been to every Tennessee distillery or at least met a distiller from each, along came Jim Massey. Jim was actually on the forefront of the current Tennessee whiskey revival.
We'll taste his whiskey and chat about the Tennessee Waltz, helping Tennessee agriculture through whiskey, and his literary inspiration for the company name.
Like a scene from "O Brother Where Art Thou" I stumbled upon a radio station out in the middle of a Mississippi field. And there, I met a radio man whose love of his craft led him to buying his own radio station.
His music scans the genres, from rock to country to R&B, but most especially the blues. People tune in from all over the world to hear some great Mississippi Delta blues.
Join me as we talk Juke Joints, moonshine, and the blues.
From upstairs at the historic Peabody Hotel, I talk with Shelby County Historian Jimmy Rout about the surprising history of Beale Street, W.C. Handy, "Boss" Crump's mafia like rule over the city, the Tennessee Ouster Law, and Juke Joints and hangouts like Pee Wee's Saloon.
We'll also dive into the lore surrounding the city's founding in Belle's Tavern. From Handy to Elvis to today, we'll investigate the whiskey past of Memphis.
Blue Note Bourbon is quickly spreading across the country and a few months ago, I had a chance to walk the warehouses at B.R. Distilling and chat with McCauley Williams - a lawyer turned whiskey brand owner.
In this interview, we chat about hist the transition from the law, how he created Blue Note Juke Joint and Riverset Rye, his long term philosopy, Memphis history, BBQ and the blues.
Royce is an 11th generation distiller with roots going back to back in Ireland. But many of the in-between years were based in Moonshine and if you head to the distillery, you'll see a lot of that moonshining history including a video about the feud between the Allens and the Neeleys that rivaled the Hatfields and McCoys.
Royce brings the creative processes of his ancestors to distilling including triple pot distillation, the use of sweet mash, and the capturing of wild yeast. It is distilling the old way and we'll talk all about it.
Who was this man who talked George Washington into the distilling business?
Scotsman James Anderson is a fascinating character and one that master distiller Steve Bashore hopes to keep learning more about (and he already knows quite a bit).
In this episode, we'll talk about the similarities in Anderson and Bashore's jobs, the art of retelling history through a distillery, and I'll get to taste rye and single malt whiskey made in the 18th century tradition.
How hard was it, making whiskey in the 18th century? There is actually a place you can go to find out.
Thanks to Mount Vernon, director of historic trades and master distiller Steve Bashore, and a cast of all-stars from all over the distilling world, we can see for ourselves.
Join me as Steve and I walk through the historically accurate recreation of George Washington's distillery at Mount Vernon. We'll chat about distilling techniques and recreating history.
When it comes to whiskey, George Washington is an interesting character. He had just seen his countrymen up in arms over Alexander Hamilton's whiskey tax and then he got into business with his Scottish farm manager - making whiskey of his own.
How did this happen?
Listen as I chat with Dr. Jim Ambuske, host of the Conversations at the Washington Library podcast and Jeanette Patrick, a researcher at the library. The answers will be revealed.
Ready to take a deep dive into a very unique Texas distillery? Back in March of 2020, I sat down with Robert Likarish of Ironroot to talk about what got his family involved in whiskey, their inspiration - a man named T.V. Munson who was known as The Grape Man of Texas, Cognac, shoo fly flasks, pot stills, that cheese note in whiskey, and the story behind Texas Legation and the Jim Bowie still.
Plus I will taste several whiskeys including a peated corn whiskey and Irish style whiskey and all from Denison, TX.
When Lori's team approached me about doing an interview and sent me a bottle of Country Smooth, I noticed that the bottle referred to her as the first female founder of an American whiskey brand.
My jaw almost dropped to the floor. Seriously? This can't be true.
Well, being a stickler for accuracy, I researched and was amazed at what I found. In this interview, I'll get more of Lori's experience in a very male dominated industry and get a sense of her mission for the brand and the legacy she wants to leave.
When we're talking legendary distilling families, you can't get bigger in bourbon than the Beams. But another great legacy belongs to the Dants and my guest Steve Beam and his brother Paul are descendants of both families.
In this episode we'll talk about a brand that has ties to both families, Yellowstone bourbon. We'll also find connections with Early Times, Makers Mark and many other legacy brands. And I'll find out how the brothers made their way into craft distilling years before the boom.
What many of us know about Virginia City, Nevada and the saloon scene comes from the depiction of "The Bucket of Blood" saloon in the TV show Bonanza. But is that really what the saloons of the Old West really like?
In the Whiskey Lore episodes on Virginia City, we find out this was no one saloon town. In my interview with local historian Ron Gallagher, we learn more about the Comstock, the saloons, and life before and after Bonanza.
In 1854, a family arrived in the first capital of Nevada, a town called Genoa. Almost 170 years later, that same family has taken their farming techniques and developed a winery and a distillery.
In this episode, we'll talk about some of the family's history in the High Desert of Nevada and hear what advantages there are to having a farm where you source all of your own grains.
Meet Ashley and Colby Frey of Frey Ranch Distillery on this episode of Whiskey Lore: The Interviews.
What happens when a distillery returns from being mothballed? In the case of the Bladnoch Lowland distillery great things.
Join me as I talk with Will Pitchforth about the state of Lowland scotch in the 21st century, how a 203 year old distillery gets back up and running after being relegated to tourist attraction, and as I taste a highly regarded 10 year and a non-age stated whisky finished in California red wine casks.
It's all about the revival of a Lowlands brand.
How does one go from New York fashion photographer, to building their own still in Colorado and crafting a top notch whiskey?
Well that is the road the 291 Distillery's Founder, Michael Myers took and it wasn't always easy, but it definitely paid off in some beautiful ryes and bourbons.
Find out what Colorado Whiskey is, how a Weber Grill and Aspen trees play a part in this distillery's spirits, and I'll do a tasting of two of Michael's flagship whiskeys.
What better way to introduce Whiskey Lore and my book Whiskey Lore's Travel Guide to Experiencing Kentucky Bourbon than by being a guest on another bourbon podcast.
Jim Shannon and Mike Hyatt are the hosts of The Bourbon Road podcast and I'll let them take the controls as we do a tasting of Angel's Envy Cask Strength and Shackleton's Blended Malt Scotch, and I talk about how I got started living a life of a whisk(e)y traveler and podcaster.
What knowledge do you need to start your own distillery? Well, it takes a lot more than just learning to distill.
When I went to Kentucky to interview David Meier about the Old Crow Distillery ruins that sit next to his building, I got a lot more out of the interview than I bargained for. David and his team built their distillery from the ground up - even designing their own stills.
We'll talk some history, but there is a lot of science and process to be discovered here as well. Cheers!
During my second trip to Scotland, I had the pleasure of meeting the staff at the "Oldest Working Distillery" in Scotland, the Glenturret Distillery.
My original plan was to talk distillery cats, but during the tour I was shown a cask of whisky dedicated to Grace Gow, a distillery worker whose untimely death also showed the presence of a female worker at the distillery in the 1800s. And so Glenturret's Development Manager Lucy Armstrong was kind enough to spend a few minutes telling Grace's story and how she's approaching research for this historic distillery.
Did you know that Four Roses was one of the most popular bourbons just after World War II? Did you also know that it was pushed to export and remained off of shelves as a straight bourbon in the United States for over 50 years?
In this interview, I chat with the late-Al Young, who along with master distiller Jim Rutledge helped bring this legendary brand back to life. This is a companion interview to the full story which is available on the Whiskey Lore story-based podcast feed.
In the 19th Century, what was the most popular Tennessee Whiskey in the world? If you said George Dickel or Jack Daniel's think again.
In this interview from 2020, I chat with the descendant of Tennessee's once largest selling brand and find out, not only about the family's past, it's whiskeys (including Belle Meade and Nelson's Green Brier) but also how Charles Nelson's legacy is being returned to the shelves of whiskey shops, bars, and homes across the nation.
Today, the Log Still Distillery is up and running and selling bourbon, gin, and Tennessee whiskey. But back when I conducted this interview, Log Still was still a brand new concept and the distillery was still a dream.
I went to New Hope/Gethsemane to learn more about the pre-Prohibition distillery town of New Hope and what happened to it. And it was there that I met this great family, who are working together to bring jobs and the industry back to the area.
Hear their dreams, their history, and details about the New Hope of the past.
One of the burning questions around the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is "where did bourbon get its name?"
You might be surprised that many lean toward New Orleans and Bourbon Street rather than Bourbon County Kentucky.
While in New Orleans in March of 2020, I had the opportunity to dig into this question a little deeper by chatting with Drink and Learn podcast host and Drinks Historian Elizabeth Pearce. By the end of this interview, you may have the answer. We'll also dig into cocktails, Prohibition, and New Orleans history.
As whisky fans, we are fascinated by origin stories. Yet they are so hard to prove.
Last time I was in Scotland, I went to "The Spiritual Home of Scotch Whisky" Lindores Abbey. So called, because it is here that Friar John Corr produced aqua vitae ("water of life") for King James IV in 1494 - the first record of distilling in the country.
Join me as I talk with the founder of the distillery that owes its existence to that tax record written so long ago.
Maybe you've seen a bottle of Uncle Nearest in your store and you've wondered what it is all about. Or maybe you heard that he was the slave that taught Jack Daniel the art of distilling.
When Fawn Weaver saw a photo of a black man sitting next to Jack in the middle of an early 20th Century distillery photo, the headline proclaiming a not too flattering headline gave her pause. And then, being a research fanatic like me, she flew to Lynchburg, TN and got the real story. Hear her amazing journey and the real story of Nathan "Nearest" Green.
So much lore surrounding Jack Daniel, his distillery, and his world famous Tennessee Whiskey. I sat down with the distillery's Chief Historian Nelson Eddy and we talked about who really trained Jack Daniel as a distiller, his upbringing, and did kicking a safe really kill him?
I'll also ask him about what happened to Jack Daniel's before and after Prohibition, Sinatra's obsession with the whiskey, and more. A lot of legends and myths to investigate!
And hear the entire story of Jack Daniel's life in Season 3 of the Whiskey Lore: The Stories podcast.
At the end of Season 4 of the story-based Whiskey Lore podcast, I realized that a lot of great interview clips were ending up on the cutting room floor. I also felt like I was being held back from being able to do interviews that weren't attached to a particular story I was covering.
So, I introduce to you, Whiskey Lore: The Interviews. A chance for us to learn about the people, history, and processes that make our favorite scotch, bourbon, (etc) whiskies as amazing as they are - without boundaries.
I hope you enjoy the conversations.
Drew Hannush - Amazon Best Selling Author