Not Another Whisky Podcast

Mitch heads to The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s Queen Street Members’ Room in Edinburgh to sit down with Calum Lawson, SMWS Member Experience Manager and co-host of the Society’s Whisky Talk podcast. Calum’s route into whisky wasn’t exactly mapped out from the beginning. From years in Glasgow hospitality and running a bar and restaurant, he moved into the Society as manager of the Bath Street Members’ Room, spent time on the whisky buying team, and now finds himself helping shape everything from member experiences and international tastings to podcasts and new releases. We get into the wonderfully terrifying world of blind tasting and SMWS’s new Caskmaster competition: eight mystery drams, nine possible answers and absolutely nowhere to hide. Mitch recalls Charlie MacLean’s advice never to blind taste Scotch whisky, while Calum explains why the Society decided to ignore that advice entirely. There’s also plenty of Society chat: how those mysterious distillery numbers work, how single casks are selected, why ridiculous bottle names such as “Beware of the Lurking Gherkin” are part of the fun, and what actually goes into creating memorable whisky experiences for members around the world. But there’s also a bit of news. CopperCairn and The Scotch Malt Whisky Society are teaming up for a Speyside adventure from 12–15 March 2027, bringing Society members north for a few days of behind-the-scenes distillery access, whisky dinners, tastings, blending sessions and a few distinctly CopperCairn additions along the way. There is even talk of a dip in the River Spey. Speedos remain optional. Probably. And there’s another twist: the 2026 Caskmaster Champion will win a place on the CopperCairn Speyside trip, making the stakes in the Society’s blind tasting championship considerably higher than bragging rights over your mates. Caskmaster 2026 The Caskmaster Grand Final takes place at The Vaults in Leith on 12 November 2026. The overall champion receives lifetime membership of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society as well as a place on the CopperCairn Speyside adventure from 12–15 March 2027. Find out more The Scotch Malt Whisky Society: smws.com SMWS Whisky Talk: www.smws.com/podcast CopperCairn: coppercairn.com Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we welcome whisky maker, consultant and long-time friend of the podcast Brendan McCarron back to Not Another Whisky Podcast. And this time, we’re talking yeast. It might not sound like the sexiest part of whisky making, but the deeper you go, the more fascinating it gets. We chat about how yeast was viewed when Brendan first started making whisky at Diageo, whether Scotch became a little too focused on yield and consistency, and why distillers are now starting to look at yeast as a genuine tool for creating flavour. From Glenmorangie and Holyrood to InchDairnie, Loch Lomond, The Lakes and what American whiskey producers have been doing for decades, we get into different strains, longer fermentations, wild yeast, wine yeast and just how much influence the little buggers can actually have. We also talk about Brendan’s work with new distilleries, how the conversation around yeast has changed during his career, working alongside Dr Bill Lumsden, and whether Scotch whisky has been a little bit behind the curve. It gets geeky. But in a good way. Welcome to The Yeastie Boys . Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mitch and Daz are back together for a long-overdue August catch-up, recorded from the glamour of Daz’s self-proclaimed “bitchin’ kitchen.” They compare notes on what they’ve been up to, the whisky they’ve been drinking and the general chaos of a busy summer before diving into some of the more unusual stories from around the whisky world. There’s the retired farmer storing a £750,000 whisky collection in converted pigsties, Woven and Civerinos combining whisky, Scottish honey and a fairly aggressive collection of chillies, and the arrival of the new Stannergill Distillery in Caithness. Mitch also shares his experience at The Macallan’s Coconut Dreams pop-up beside the Spey, including the slightly surreal sight of Macallan being poured into a blender to make piña coladas. The pair also discuss the new signature single malt from the Isle of Harris and whether whisky drinkers occasionally need to become a little less precious about how their drams are enjoyed. Later in the episode, Mitch catches up with Victoria Miller, founder of Sip Seekers, to hear about the platform she has created to make discovering and booking Scotland’s distilleries, tastings and drinks experiences considerably easier. Expect whisky news, old drams, questionable kitchens, expensive pigsties and the usual amount of informed nonsense. Links to news and Sip Seekers £750k Pigsty Whisky Collection – The Whiskey Wash Woven x Civerinos Hot Honey The Macallan – Inspired by Fresh Coconut Stannergill Distillery Starts Production – The Spirits Business The Isle of Harris Single Malt Whisky Sip Seekers Not Another Whisky Podcast on Acast Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is a wee bit different. Earlier this year, Mitch met Graeme and Angus from Whisky Stories and the idea was simple: get both podcasts in the same room, pour a few drams, and record something together. That idea quickly grew into a live event, a charity night, and a raffle that raised an incredible £1,400 for The BEN , supporting people across the hospitality and licensed trade. Recorded live at Uno Mas , this episode sees Not Another Whisky Podcast go head to head with Whisky Stories , with the brilliant Mark Thompson trying his best to keep everyone in line. Expect drams, audience votes, questionable tactics, brilliant whisky chat, and a few strong opinions along the way. We get into favourite distillery visits, cask finishes, whisky bars, and the kind of stories that only come out when you put whisky people in front of a live audience. A huge thank you to everyone who donated bottles, prizes, minis and support for the raffle, and to Sian at Uno Mas for letting us use the venue. Pour yourself something good and enjoy a proper live whisky night with NAWP and Whisky Stories. Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daz is flying solo this week as he sits down with Highland Park’s Martin Markvardsen on the eve of his twentieth anniversary as the distillery’s brand ambassador. Martin takes us back to his early days managing the legendary Quaich Bar at the Craigellachie Hotel, where 784 whiskies, industry characters and the occasional lock in provided a fairly thorough education. He explains how repeatedly including Highland Park 18 in his tastings eventually led to a phone call offering him the ambassador’s job. They look back at what whisky ambassadorship involved in 2006, from lengthy technical masterclasses and enormous whisky festivals to the characters who shaped the industry, including Jim McEwan, Charlie MacLean, Dave Broom, Ronnie Cox, Ian Miller and Ian Logan. Martin and Daz also discuss how the role has changed. Today’s ambassadors need to understand social media, online tastings, cocktails and content creation alongside the traditional production knowledge and storytelling. There are tales of sideways Zoom tastings, Facebook mistaking Martin’s Highland Park tattoo for pornography and Daz missing his own masterclass after a particularly enthusiastic night aboard the Viking Line. Finally, they attempt to choose their greatest Highland Park releases of all time, covering bottles including Leif Eriksson, the 1977 Bicentenary, Hjarta, the original 50 Year Old, Dark Origins and the ever dependable Highland Park 18. A relaxed and wonderfully nostalgic conversation about two decades with one distillery, the people who make whisky special and why Martin still has no plans to slow down. Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After more than 200 episodes, we have finally given Irish whiskey the proper attention it deserves. Mitch and Daz are joined by Barry Chandler, better known as Irish Whiskey Barry, an independent educator, community builder and three-time Whisky Magazine Ireland Communicator of the Year. Barry guides us through Irish whiskey’s past, present and future using three pot still whiskeys. We begin with Redbreast 12 and uncover the story of Gilbey’s, Dublin’s historic whiskey bonders, the “priest’s tipple” and the surprising connection between Redbreast and the original Baileys bottle. For the present, Barry chooses Boann Legacy, an accessible modern pot still whiskey that represents Ireland’s extraordinary growth from just four working distilleries to more than 50. Finally, we head to the Mourne Mountains and Killowen, a tiny direct-fired distillery Barry describes as “Ireland’s Springbank,” where historic mash bills, radical transparency and hands-on production point towards the future. Along the way, we discuss the Dingle effect, the myths surrounding the malt tax, oats in Irish whiskey, triple distillation, Jameson’s dominance, the current review of the Irish whiskey technical file and the commercial pressures facing the country’s newer distilleries. Plus, Barry explains why “smooth” might be one of whiskey’s most useless compliments. Follow Barry on Instagram and TikTok at @irishwhiskeybarry , and discover Stories & Sips, Three Drams and Irish Whiskey Experiences through his channels. Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mitch heads to Fife for Lindores Abbey Distillery’s annual Bear Burning ceremony, where an enormous bear and ragged staff carved into the hillside is set alight. First, Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Donaldson discusses her journey through the whisky industry, joining Lindores at a pivotal moment, the challenges the business has faced and her plans for building a sustainable future. Then Distillery Manager Gary Haggart takes us into the stillhouse. Gary discusses developing the Lindores spirit character, why good whisky doesn’t necessarily need to be old, the different personalities of two supposedly identical spirit stills and his ambition for drinkers to recognise Lindores simply by its aroma. There’s whisky, history, business, Angel Delight, Star Trek and the crucial importance of not fucking up the wash still. A huge thank you to everyone at Lindores Abbey Distillery for the invitation, accommodation and excellent hospitality. Find out more about Lindores Abbey Distillery: https://lindoresabbeydistillery.com Listen to more episodes and find out what we’re up to: https://www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com If you enjoyed the episode, please follow the podcast and leave us a rating or review. It genuinely helps more whisky lovers find the show. Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎙️ NOT ANOTHER WHISKY PODCAST IS GOING LIVE On Thursday 6 August , we are taking on the guys from Whisky Stories in a live podcast battle at Uno Mas in Edinburgh . There will be six whiskies, with three chosen by each podcast, plenty of questionable competitive behaviour. Tickets are £20 , with every penny going to The BEN , the charity supporting people working within Scotland’s hospitality industry. The show starts at 7pm and capacity is limited, so grab your tickets before they disappear: 👉 BUY TICKETS FOR THE LIVE SHOW Back to the episode… Mitch and Daz are finally back together for another catch-up, covering everything from sherry-soaked holidays and Islay building sites to whisky in a can and one of the worst distillery tours Mitch has ever experienced. Mitch reports back from Portugal and Jerez, where a private visit to the new Sherry Museum provided a much deeper dive into the history, culture and casks behind one of Scotch whisky’s most important influences. Then it is over to Islay, including warehouse tastings, dinner at Bowmore, a visit to Ardbeg House and a hard-hat preview of the new Portintruan Distillery with Georgie Crawford. They discuss its automated floor maltings, multiple spirit styles and what another major distillery could mean for the future of the island. There is also news of two upcoming Turas Mòr bottlings and the usual run through some of the latest whisky news. Along the way, they get into: • The whisky opportunity in Portugal • Why whisky lovers should visit Jerez • Whether Islay can retain its character as the island grows • Port of Leith’s whisky in a can • The new permanent release from Isle of Harris • Four Roses being sold to Gallo • A truly questionable distillery tasting involving plastic cups and someone else’s water bottle • The best whiskies Mitch and Daz have tasted recently The episode finishes with Mitch naming the GlenAllachie 19 Year Old Solera Cask as his whisky of the year so far. Apart from his own whisky, obviously. Follow Not Another Whisky Podcast on Instagram and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Mitch sits down with whisky industry veteran Kenny Mackay at Ballindalloch Distillery in Speyside. Kenny has spent nearly 50 years in Scotch whisky, working with names including Peter Thompson’s, Bowmore, Macallan, Carn Mor, Lindores Abbey and Ballindalloch. In this episode, he shares stories from across his career, from missing out on becoming a helicopter pilot to helping launch Black Bowmore and shaping some of Scotland’s best known whisky brands. We talk about the early days of malt whisky marketing, growing Macallan in Scotland, the birth of whisky collecting, the changing world of independent bottling, and why Ballindalloch’s slow, estate led approach makes it such a special distillery. Kenny also gives his take on where the Scotch whisky industry is right now, why downturns are nothing new, and why he still sees plenty of reasons to be optimistic. Expect brilliant stories, sharp industry insight, a few legendary bottles, and one very committed fire alarm. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to Ballindalloch Distillery 01:10 Introducing Kenny Mackay 02:20 The Navy’s loss and whisky’s gain 03:00 Starting out at Peter Thompson’s of Perth 04:20 Glen Grant, Macallan and early whisky distribution 06:20 How the industry has changed over 50 years 09:40 The story behind Black Bowmore 12:00 Bowmore 40 Year Old and early luxury whisky 13:50 Independent bottling then and now 14:30 Building Carn Mor 19:40 One of One and raising millions for charity 23:00 Ballindalloch Distillery and the single estate approach 29:00 Vintage releases and the long term family vision 31:30 Kenny’s take on the current Scotch whisky market 38:00 The cashflow reality of growing a single malt brand 39:10 Quick fire questions 44:20 Desert island drams Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live from Spirit of Speyside, host Daz welcomes three blenders—Brian Kinsman (William Grant & Sons), Ollie Chilton (Elixir/ Tormore), and Sarah Burgess (Head of Whisky Creation at International Beverage, jokingly “banned” from other sessions)—to taste four whiskies and talk careers, process, and mischief. Brian explains his science-to-apprentice path under David Stewart and taking over in 2009; Ollie traces retail-to-cask-buying and acquiring Tormore in 2022; Sarah recounts starting as a Cardhu tour guide, moving through Diageo, becoming a Macallan blender via a sensory/blending interview, then returning to Scotland. They taste a 2023 Tormore “plain spirit”, a 2006–2018 Speyburn single cask, and a Glenfiddich 30 22-year with oloroso and a palo cortado finish, discuss water’s role in blending, sensory blind spots, grain’s value, stock legacy, cask strategy, innovation limits, and shifting whisky audiences toward flavor over age. Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded in the historic Vaults in Leith, Mitch Bechard is joined by SMWS “chief storyteller” Richard Goslan and Kask Whisky founder Justine Hazlehurst for a deep dive into one of Scotch whisky’s most overlooked powerhouses. Leith was never just a port. It was a whisky engine room: bonding, brokering, blending, bottling and shipping enormous volumes of Scotch around the world. At one point, the area was home to around 90–100 bonded warehouses, yet its role in shaping the modern industry is often pushed into the background. Richard brings The Vaults to life, from its ancient origins and long links with the drinks trade to the birth of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in 1983. He shares how the Society’s single-cask ethos developed, why bottle 1.1 became legendary, how the tasting panel works, and how SMWS bottle names manage to be both brilliant and completely unhinged. Justine guides us through Leith’s boom-and-bust whisky past, from Pattison’s infamous 1898 crash, to wars, consolidation, the whisky loch, and the stories still hiding in plain sight on the Leith Whisky Trail. There are disputed parrots, a very real pub puma attack, independent bottling chat, festival stories, and a reminder that whisky history is always better when it hasn’t been polished to death. A proper sense-of-place episode from one of Scotland’s most important whisky rooms. 00:00 Welcome to The Vaults in Leith 00:48 Meet Richard Goslan and Justine Hazlehurst 02:46 Inside the history of The Vaults 05:57 Why Leith matters to Scotch whisky 08:46 The origins of the Leith Whisky Trail 11:06 Wild stories from Leith’s past 12:46 SMWS founding story and bottle labels 16:30 Whisky as a shared community 19:54 Leith’s boom-and-bust whisky timeline 26:02 The whisky loch and SMWS’s first cask 28:11 SMWS codes, flavour profiles and tasting culture 29:42 How the SMWS tasting panel works 30:47 The joy of flamboyant bottle names 31:25 Creators Collection and whisky artwork 32:28 Desert island dram: SMWS 1.1 34:54 Glenfarclas and Leith connections 35:50 The independent bottling boom 38:26 Fife Whisky Festival and modern whisky culture 40:39 Justine’s Pattison crash book 45:19 The Pattison parrots myth 48:01 Finding Pip Hills again 52:07 Vaults legends and wild old days 54:35 Where to find Richard and Justine Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Not Another Whisky Podcast goes live from the Craigellachie Hotel for Battle of the Stills, recorded during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. Daz is joined by three brilliant distillers: Euan Christie from The Cabrach Distillery, Polly Logan from Tormore, and Kristy Lark from Killara Distillery in Tasmania. Euan shares the story of The Cabrach: an area with deep illicit distilling roots, a shrinking population, and a new community-led distillery using whisky to support local regeneration. He also introduces The Feering, The Cabrach’s first blended malt, created with donated casks from across the industry. Polly takes us inside Tormore, one of Speyside’s most beautiful distilleries, as it prepares to launch its new core range. She talks about shaping the distillery’s fruity, floral style, the importance of American oak, and working with blender Oliver Chilton. Kristy brings the Tasmanian perspective, from growing up with a still outside her bedroom door to founding Killara Distillery. She shares how Tasmania’s climate shapes maturation and introduces a wonderfully unusual whisky inspired by a Black Velvet cocktail, finished through sparkling wine and stout casks. There are audience questions, festival chaos, whisky gossip, and at least one answer involving rum-infused Scottish tea that probably needs a legal disclaimer. Featured Whiskies and links to where you can find them The Cabrach – The Feering Early Harvest A bright, bourbon-led blended malt with gentle peat and a strong community story. Tormore – Timeless Fruity, floral and elegant, showing orchard fruit, malt and honeysuckle notes. Killara – Black Velvet Inspired Single Cask A rich Tasmanian single cask involving tawny, sparkling wine, stout and glorious madness. Please subscribe, rate and review Not Another Whisky Podcast wherever you listen. Slàinte! Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mitch and Daz catch up after a packed festival season, They recap Spirit of Speyside’s, Mitch’s chaotic-but-fun Tormore launch and plans to expand their sold-out “Battle of the Ambassadors” into a winter tournament, “The Road to Speyside,” with heats and a final at the festival. Daz recounts Fèis Ìle highlights at Laphroaig’s 40th anniversary tastings and Bowmore events, including a boat trip on Loch Indal and a 1969 Bowmore dram. They taste three whiskies: Chivas Charles Leclerc 16 (40%), Raasay Hungarian Oak (50%), and SMWS “A Belter for America” Tullibardine 10 (61%). They announce being shortlisted for the Scottish Podcast Awards, discuss Tormore’s new releases, the Bon Accord closing, Woven’s new Leith blending experience, and Glen Cairn’s leadership change, then tease upcoming episodes and a giveaway of a Ferrari cap plus whisky samples for reviews. 00:00 Whisky Stories Banter 00:48 New Theme Tune Debate 02:23 Show Intro and Catch Up 03:55 Festival Season Rundown 05:31 Tormore Launch Chaos 08:10 Road to Speyside Plan 12:24 Three Drams Lineup 13:51 Chivas x Leclerc Collab 17:52 Fèis Ìle Highlights 23:57 Feis vs Speyside Vibes 27:33 Raasay Island Escape 29:11 Hungarian Oak Tasting Notes 31:41 Warehouse Night Stories 32:53 Podcast Award Shortlist 34:35 Whisky World News Roundup 36:43 Edinburgh Whisky Experiences Boom 38:32 Glen Cairn Leadership Change 39:40 World Cup Whisky Bottling 44:28 Deep Dives and Cooper Traditions 46:57 Wrap Up and Listener Giveaway Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mitch and Daz take a deep dive into coopering — the ancient craft behind every great dram. Recorded in Edinburgh over suspiciously large highballs, the episode traces the cask from Celtic barrel-makers and Roman trade routes to modern whisky maturation, wood policy, rejuvenation and the global cask trade. Mitch speaks with Ian MacDonald, former head cooper at The Balvenie, who started his apprenticeship in 1969 and spent over 50 years in the trade. Ian shares stories of rebuilding bourbon barrels into hogsheads, working alongside David Stewart, being paid per cask, apprentice initiations, and why coopering is far more than “just hammering bits of wood together." The episode also features Lawrence Proctor, manager of Camlachie Cooperage and president of the Coopering Federation, who explains the modern reality of running a cooperage: cask repair, rejuvenation, apprenticeships, bourbon barrel prices, industry slowdowns and why coopers are often the first to feel the pressure when whisky dips. Featuring Ian MacDonald — former Head Cooper at The Balvenie Lawrence Proctor — Manager at Clydeside Cooperage and President of the Scottish Coopering Federation Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daryl interviews Sarah Dowling, lead whisky maker at Laphroaig, tracing her path from a genetics and environmental background to a 2012 Edrington recycling contract that turned into a long whisky career via sensory panels, Diageo, and nearly seven years at Cooley in Ireland (working on Connemara and other releases, and even managing the site). She discusses how her palate evolved from missing vanilla to treating smoke as a “neutral,” and how collaborative tasting works best when nobody gets told what they “should” taste. Sarah explains the organic Willem Dafoe collaboration (the “Unforgettable” campaign), built from pilot blends, repeated tastings, and an Oloroso-driven 14-year whisky bottled at 53.7% with rich texture. For Fèis Ìle’s 40th anniversary, Laphroaig’s Càirdeas is fully matured in French oak, noted for Lapsang souchong-like smoke and melon notes, and Sarah previews interactive Laphroaig Day tastings, parties, and Friends of Laphroaig camaraderie. 00:00 Welcome Sarah Dowling 01:09 From Sustainability to Whisky 02:59 Discovering Sensory Panels 07:03 Finding Flavor Blind Spots 11:53 Irish Whiskey Calling 16:41 Life at Cooley Distillery 17:55 Full Time Blender Role 18:36 Willem Dafoe Collaboration 20:34 Building the Oloroso Blend 23:47 First Tastes and Bold Character 24:28 Bold New Release 25:07 Willem Gets It 26:17 On Set Inspiration 29:05 Friends And Festivals 30:40 French Oak Cairdeas 31:58 Tasting Notes Tea Smoke 35:51 Feis Ile Tastings 38:04 Friends Stories And Farewell Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gordon Dundas brings out Tamdhu’s Dalbeallie Dram, ninth edition — a natural-colour, first-fill sherry powerhouse sitting at 60.5% ABV. It’s everything you’d hope for from Tamdhu in full sherry beast mode: fruitcake sweetness, dark spice, espresso bitterness and a finish that somehow drinks far too easily for its strength. The panel get stuck into age statements, natural colour, value, pricing, and where the whisky market is heading after a few years of everyone releasing everything, everywhere, all at once. Then Stuart Buchanan steps up with the final dram: a newly shelved Benriach 2009 15-year-old peated whisky at 61.1% ABV, matured in refill hogsheads before spending six years in PX. Stuart talks through Benriach’s peated history, how cask choice shapes phenols, and why everyone apparently needs to save the hogshead. Along the way, the ambassadors talk favourite recent markets, from Japan and Turkey to Singapore and Australia, before looking ahead to what might be next for whisky: more highballs, more blends, more indie bottlers, and hopefully fewer releases that require remortgaging your house. The episode finishes with distillery recommendations from around the world, thoughts on new distilleries finding their feet, concerns around the pace of Irish whiskey growth, and the all-important audience vote. 00:00 Next Dram Setup 00:22 Dalbeallie Origins 01:41 Sherry Bomb Breakdown 03:44 Tasting Notes Banter 04:29 Editions and Value Talk 05:28 Age Statements Debate 07:13 Whisky Market Correction 10:06 Secondary Market Trends 11:16 Final Dram Dedication 12:17 Introducing Benriach Peat 12:58 Peated Release Details 14:50 Cask Strategy and Hogsheads 17:09 PPM and Peat Science 19:23 First Impressions Wrap 19:29 Sherry Cask Debate 20:14 Speyside DNA Explained 21:10 Glenglassaugh Coastal Dram 22:11 Travel Highlights Quickfire 23:49 Whisky Trends Next Year 26:41 Distillery Picks Worldwide 33:32 New Distilleries Growing Pains 34:59 Irish Whiskey Boom Concerns 37:41 Global Whisky Wrap-Up 39:39 Audience Vote Results Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mitch kicks off a sold-out Clash of the Drams live recording, making it clear from the start that this is not going to be one of those polite Speyside tastings where everyone nods quietly and pretends to know what quince is. This year’s brave contenders are Stuart Buchanan from Brown-Forman, Gordon Dundas from Ian Macleod Distillers, Struan Grant Ralph from Glenfiddich, and first-time entrant Charlie Metcalfe from The Balvenie. The audience are given the terrifying responsibility of judging both the drams and the banter, before casting their final vote in the Quaich Bar. Part one features two outstanding drams. First up is Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix, created after the heavy winter snow of 2010 caused warehouse roofs to collapse, leading Brian Kinsman to vat together a unique selection of rescued casks. The panel talk through the story, the rarity, the price, and why it still holds such a special place for Glenfiddich fans. Dram two comes from Balvenie, with an 18-year-old finished for seven years in Pineau des Charentes casks. Charlie explains how ambassador-led ideas can help shape whisky projects, while the group get into cask influence, flavour development, market differences, and what happens when ambassadors are allowed anywhere near new liquid. And because this is Not Another Whisky Podcast, things naturally take a turn. The episode ends with the ambassadors being forced into celebrity-style whisky poems, including Daniel Craig and Jack Nicholson impressions that may never fully leave the room. Part two is where things get even more unhinged. 00:00 Welcome to Clash 01:37 How the Voting Works 03:11 Meet the Panel 07:16 Festival Banter 10:26 Ambassador Origins 12:47 Dram One: Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix 18:26 The Warehouse Roof Collapse 19:17 Snow Phoenix Price Talk 20:50 Tasting Notes and Vibes 21:54 Dram Two: Pineau des Charentes Cask 25:01 How Ambassadors Shape Whisky 25:38 Signatures and Fingerprints 29:48 Markets and Innovation 32:42 Envelope Impression Game 37:40 Part One Sign Off Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mitch is joined by Ria McAdam, European Marketing Manager at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, for a dive into the world of SMWS — who chats about the current chance for members to win an entire Distillery 10 Islay cask . They get into the origins of the Society, from Pip Hills sharing cask-strength whisky with friends in the 1970s to the founding of SMWS at The Vaults in Leith in 1983, before moving into how it has grown into a global whisky membership community. Ria talks through the monthly outturn model, the coded bottles, the flavour-led approach, and the gloriously odd names that have become part of SMWS folklore. There’s also plenty on what membership actually gives you, from access to exclusive bottlings and Members’ Rooms to tastings, guest access, content and whisky education. Ria explains the crazy current May promotion where buying a festival bottle or activating a membership gets you into the draw to win a full Distillery 10 cask. The episode also touches on SMWS’s Scotland football-inspired release, A Belter for America , a 10-year-old Highland single cask bottled to celebrate Scotland’s return to the World Cup. Links SMWS website Join SMWS Win a cask / festival bottles Buy A Belter for America (28.118) 00:00 Welcome to SMWS 01:45 Origin story: Pip Hills 03:38 Global membership today 05:06 Ria’s role in marketing 06:27 How outturns work 10:11 Wild bottle names 11:52 What membership offers 13:19 Members’ Rooms and perks 15:14 Staff training and whisky culture 17:59 Ria’s own whisky journey 23:00 Events, outreach and content 25:36 Win a cask giveaway 29:03 A Belter for America 30:42 How to join and buy 33:24 Wrap up and thanks Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mitch takes Not Another Whisky Podcast on the road for a live recording at Speyburn, joined by distillery manager Euan Henderson and head of whisky creation Sarah Burgess —two people quietly shaping one of Speyside’s most underrated distilleries. They dig into Speyburn’s “hidden gem” reputation, what’s changed with the new visitor centre, and how the team balances consistency in new make with the creative chaos of building a modern whisky portfolio. There’s proper whisky chat too—none of that vague “notes of happiness” nonsense. The lineup starts with the Speyburn 10 Year Old (refill ex-bourbon, 40%), before moving through the range, touching on the 15 and 18 with their increasing sherry influence, plus experiments with rum casks and the slightly geeky (but very cool) world of dechar/rechar cask rejuvenation. Euan breaks down the distillery’s unusual setup— worm tubs, mixed condensers, and a blend of wooden and stainless steel washbacks —and how those choices shape Speyburn’s crisp, green-apple-driven spirit. There’s also a look at real-world challenges, including water supply issues that actually forced production cuts (because whisky isn’t always as romantic as we pretend it is). They nose fresh, fruity new make, chat about early peated runs now quietly maturing away, and then… land on something ridiculous: A 1975 vintage (53.4%) , distilled in 1975 and re-vatted in 2017 into sherry-seasoned European oak butts—packed with rich, balanced old-whisky character and, somehow, still talked about as “good value” (which feels illegal). It’s part distillery deep-dive, part live tasting, part organised chaos—with a proper crowd in the room. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome & warm-up 00:40 Meet the hosts 02:10 Speyburn: the “hidden gem” conversation 04:07 Who actually does what behind the whisky 08:03 First dram: Speyburn 10 09:12 Range breakdown & cask strategy 12:04 Distillery DNA explained 15:15 Inside Speyburn 16:18 Worm tubs, condensers & water realities 17:18 Drum maltings heritage 18:45 Old stock & shifting flavour profiles 19:56 Expansion vs consistency 20:47 Life as a distillery manager 22:05 Sustainability & water challenges 24:48 New make: green apple and freshness 26:19 Peated experiments & terroir chat 28:51 The 1975 edition story 31:06 Tasting notes & balance 33:46 Age vs flavour debate 36:24 Audience Q&A & wrap Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daz and Mitch are back—slightly dusty, fully loaded with stories, and picking up where they left off. They kick things off by chatting about the now-legendary two-part Thomson Brothers live episodes (and the ongoing failure to actually sit down and have a proper dram with them like normal human beings). Then it takes a turn… Mitch’s back garden goes full disaster movie. A neighbour’s shed fire spreads, wipes out half his own setup, melts the hot tub (yes, melted), and leaves about £10k worth of gear gone. It’s equal parts chaos and a public service announcement: check your insurance before your hot tub becomes modern art. From there, it’s straight back into work mode—hosting guests around Speyside and running Wildmoor experiences at the Fife Arms alongside Aldo Kane and a crew of Taiwanese influencers. Meanwhile, Daz has been living a completely different life—heading stateside from Savannah to Augusta for the Masters. Think whisky tastings, cigars, house parties, and somehow ending up in rooms with Dave Grohl and Brett Young. Casual. Back on home turf, there’s Islay, Jura, and a deep dive into the ever-divisive world of wine cask finishes—sweet wines, orange wines, weird experiments… and the occasional accidental success. They round things out with a look ahead at a stacked Spirit of Speyside lineup—live podcasts, events, questionable decisions—plus plans for Fèis Ìle and the gloriously named “Burning of the Bear” at Lindores Abbey. Standard service resumes. Timestamps: 00:00 – Cold open (slightly chaotic, obviously) 00:09 – Back after a month: where have we been? 00:21 – Thomson Brothers live episode recap 01:36 – Mitch’s shed fire disaster (RIP hot tub) 04:08 – Hosting in Speyside & Five Arms Wildmoor experience 05:55 – Daz does the Masters (no phones, all vibes) 08:51 – Augusta afterparty madness 10:48 – Islay, Jura & battling the weather 11:51 – The great wine cask debate begins 14:46 – Weird casks & when port actually works 15:56 – Orange wine casks… seriously 16:20 – Listener poll on wine finishes 16:57 – Recent whisky highlights 18:02 – Highlander side-by-side tasting 18:45 – Listener shoutout (Roy 👏) 19:15 – Spirit of Speyside week preview 19:53 – Live events lineup 22:50 – Opening dinner plans 23:54 – Fèis Ìle plans 24:47 – Laggan Bay milestone 25:07 – Burning of the Bear (yes, really) 26:29 – Laphroaig celebrity collab chat 28:21 – Bottle chat & whisky gifts 29:29 – Wrap up Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.