WhiskyCast

This week, we're on the road at the 35th Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, Kentucky. We'll have highlights from the weekend throughout this week's podcast. In the news, President Donald Trump is dropping the hammer on Canadian whiskies with a complete ban on imports set to take effect later this month. Trump also gave Irish whiskey makers a boost by dropping the U.S. import tariff on Irish whiskies.

September is shaping up to be a busy month at George Washington's Distillery at Mount Vernon in Virginia, with weekend tastings and discounts on Washington's Rye whiskey at the Mount Vernon shops. It's not taught in schools, but Washington was one of the nation's leading whiskey distillers after he left the Presidency, and the restored distillery makes whiskey the same way it was done back then. Mount Vernon's Jeremy Ray joins us to discuss both the present and the past at the distillery on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Brown-Forman reported a slight drop in sales during the last quarter, with a slowdown in used barrel sales blamed for much of the decline. Diageo is preparing for layoffs at its North American headquarters in New York City, and we'll have the details in the week's news update.

John Little and John Foster built their reputations around Smooth Ambler before selling the distillery to Pernod Ricard several years ago. After serving out a three-year non-compete agreement, they're back with Little and Foster Whiskey. It's as much a passion project as it is a business venture, with a goal of bringing fun back into the whiskey business. They've just released their first whiskey, A Marriage of Mashbills, and join us on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Saskatchewan plans to impose its own reciprocal tariff on American whiskies next week after the U.S. imposed a 50% tariff on Canadian whiskies last week. We'll have the details and the rest of the week's whisky news on this week's WhiskyCast.

Light Whiskey is an obscure type of whiskey that's distilled to higher proofs than is legally allowed for Bourbons and many other types of whiskies. It was developed in the 1960's as a way for distillers to fight the trend toward vodka and other lighter spirits, but never really reached mainstream acceptance. Now, three retired Austin tech executives are betting that their light whiskies will catch on with consumers. We'll talk with Austin Craft Spirits co-founder Tom Buchsbaum on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth and taste a couple of his whiskies as well. In the news, the trade conflict between the U.S. and Canada is turning into an all-out trade war with tariffs on both sides of the border. We'll have all of the details and the rest of the week's whisky news, too.

Bruichladdich Distillery on Scotland's Isle of Islay is marking 25 years since its resurrection in 2001 by a hardy band of whisky makers led by Mark Reynier, Jim McEwan, and Duncan McGillivray. Adam Hannett was a teenager on Islay watching the distillery come back to life, and joined the team as a warehouseman in 2004. Now, he's the master blender at Bruichladdich, and has created three new whiskies this year to mark the anniversary. We'll talk with Adam on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, trade talks between the U.S. and Canada are heating up ahead of this week's deadline for new U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports, and whiskies are a key stumbling block. We'll have the details, and on this week's Behind the Label, scientists have figured out why some whiskies smell like mangoes and others don't.

2026 is the year of innovation at Four Roses, which was sold earlier this year to E&J Gallo for more than $700 million dollars. The work actually started two years ago under Kirin's management, and Master Distiller Brent Elliott tells us Gallo is doubling down on the desire for innovation at Four Roses. For instance, the familiar ten recipes for Four Roses Bourbon have been expanded with the addition of two experimental recipes. Brent Elliott joins us to discuss the innovations on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, drastic cuts are coming at Diageo, which is also in trouble with food safety regulators in India over flavorings added to its Indian whiskies, and a third discrimination lawsuit has been filed against Bardstown Bourbon Company.

Sam Filmus started importing whiskies into the United States in the 1990's, bringing Signatory and Edradour whiskies to thirsty Americans. Over the years, his ImpEx Beverages has added brands like Kilchoman, the Glenallachie, Ardnamurchan, Nc'Nean, and M&H to the range. Five years ago, he added his own independent bottlings of world whiskies under the ImpEx Collection label, with each annual edition focusing on a specific theme. We'll talk with Sam about the impact of tariffs, his company's history, and taste a couple of his whiskies on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Sazerac makes another play for Brown-Forman, and a major distributor of whiskies and other spirits enters Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Dewar's celebrates its 180th anniversary this year, going back to 1846 when John Dewar opened his wine and spirits shop in Perth, Scotland. Jacqui Seargeant is the keeper of the Dewar's archives, along with overseeing other archivists working within parent company Bacardi, and her work has helped inspire new Dewar's releases and add context to the family history. She'll join us on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, trade tariffs are back in the headlines as President Donald Trump threatens to impose a 50% tariff on Canadian whisky and other goods to retaliate for the provincial boycotts of American alcohol. We'll have all the details, as well as the upcoming closure of Moonshine University in Louisville.

Glengoyne recently released a Mizunara Oak-matured single malt as part of its Oak Masters Series. We'll taste it and talk about it with distillery manager Robbie Hughes on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Brown-Forman is looking for a new CEO after Lawson Whiting announced his retirement plans this week. Maker's Mark is launching a new travel retail exclusive series, and we'll have details on the week's new whiskies.

"Taigh" means "home" in Scots Gaelic, and it's the name for the newest expression from Torabhaig Distillery on the Isle of Skye. It's a precursor to the first 10-year-old Torabhaig single malt expected late next year, and we'll learn more about Taigh and the distillery from Torabhaig's Bruce Perry on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, the receiver in the Uncle Nearest case is blaming the bank for failing to do its own due diligence before loaning millions of dollars to Uncle Nearest, Ian Macleod Distillers cuts back on production at Glengoyne and Rosebank distilleries, and the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame announces its class of 2026.

Lots of whisky makers are releasing 250th anniversary commemorative editions, but only one went back to recreate whiskey from a Colonial-era recipe using historical production methods. Distillers Erik Wolfe and Alan Bishop teamed up to create this authentic whiskey, and both join us on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. We'll also taste their Wolfe & Wilson Straight Rye, too. In the news, Fawn Weaver is apparently out at Uncle Nearest, Edrington has reported declining sales for the year ending last March, and craft distillers are about to get a tax break. Finally, we'll say goodbye and pay tribute to longtime whisky guru Steve Beal.

Jim Hough of Pennsylvania's Liberty Pole Spirits and Paul Tomaszewski of Kentucky's MB Roland Distillery have joined forces on a unique collaboration. They blended each other's whiskey with their own, pairing Kentucky Bourbon with Pennsylvania Rye. The result: Penntucky and Kentsylvania whiskies. We'll talk with Jim and Paul about the collaboration on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Edrington is out of the Bourbon business after selling Wyoming Whiskey to an investment group led by the distillery's co-founder, while Bacardi has taken complete control of Ireland's Teeling Whiskey Company.

Wild Turkey Master Distiller Eddie Russell celebrated his 45th anniversary at the distillery the other night with the premiere of a short film about his career in New York City. "Eddie Russell: His Own Way" covers Eddie's career from pushing barrels as the new guy to the success that got him into the Bourbon Hall of Fame. The premiere came with the release of a Russell's Reserve Bourbon created to commemorate the anniversary by Bruce Russell, Eddie's son and Wild Turkey's Associate Master Blender - the same way Eddie originated Russell's Reserve to honor his father Jimmy's 45th anniversary at Wild Turkey years ago. We'll talk with Eddie and Bruce Russell on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, job cuts could be coming this week at Diageo, and the International Wine & Spirits Competition announces its North American winners for 2026.

In a project so ambitious that it required more than five years of traveling across the entire United States, Lost Lantern Whiskey has created the United States of Bourbon series of whiskies. The 100 Proof and Cask Strength versions feature a blend of straight Bourbons from all 50 states, while the limited-edition 1776 Edition blends Bourbons from the original 13 states. We'll discuss this ground-breaking project with Lost Lantern founders Adam Polonski and Nora Ganley-Roper on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Glenfarclas chairman John Grant is honored with an OBE for his services to the Scotch whisky industry, while police in Philadelphia are searching for clues in the theft of 1,800 cases of Noble Oak Bourbon.

Kentucky's Jeptha Creed Distillery grows all of its corn on the Nethery family's farm nearby, including heirloom grains like Bloody Butcher (red corn) and Bruce's Blue, a strain of blue corn developed on the farm by Bruce Nethery and the inspiration for the new Bruce's Blue Bourbon. The mother and daughter team of Joyce and Autumn Nethery run the distillery, which attracts thousands of visitors every year. We'll talk with Joyce Nethery on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, an unnamed buyer has been found for Uncle Nearest, while layoffs and lawsuits spread around Bourbon Country. We'll have details on the week's new whiskies, including the return of Bruichladdich's legendary Yellow Submarine Scotch.

Minnesota's O'Shaughnessy Distilling wasn't the first American distillery to make triple-distilled Pot Still whiskey, but the makers of Keeper's Heart Whiskey have plenty of Irish heritage to draw on. Former Midleton master distiller Brian Nation now runs the show at O'Shaughnessy, and he's not only making triple-distilled Pot Still whiskey…he has triple-distilled Rye and Bourbon in the works as well. We'll tour the distillery and talk with Brian on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, we have more distillery closings to report, and the judge has ruled in the Uncle Nearest receivership case. We'll have all the details on this week's WhiskyCast.

This week, we're joined by Carey Bringle, the pit master and whisky maker for Peg Leg Porker. Carey owns a barbecue restaurant by the same name in Nashville, Tennessee, and says there's a lot in common between being a pit master and a whisky maker — but he'll never call himself a master distiller. Bringle has just released a "Spirit of America" Tennessee Bourbon to celebrate America's 250th anniversary, and we'll have tasting notes for it, too. In the news, the American Distilling Institute has announced the winners of its 2026 spirits competition, with Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye taking home the title of "America's Best Whiskey."

The newest Talisker single malt is also the oldest Talisker ever bottled at 47 years old. It's finished in virgin American Oak casks toasted using heated volcanic rock from the Isle of Skye, and Diageo Luxury Ambassador Ewan Morgan will explain what the process adds on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. We'll also discuss the new Rare Series of whiskies from Diageo, too. In the news, Brown-Forman has rejected a $15 billion takeover bid from Sazerac, and Diageo's executive corps is undergoing a shakeup.

Craft distillers have been searching for years for ways to differentiate their whiskies from the large brands on the market. Now, the American Craft Spirits Association has created the "Certified Craft" program to meet the need. ACSA members will be able to use the Certified Craft logo on their products and marketing materials, and the seal gives consumers an easy way to tell what is and isn't craft. We'll talk with new ACSA CEO Emily Pennington and Colin Spoelman of Brooklyn's Kings County Distillery about the program on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, another discrimination lawsuit has been filed against Bardstown Bourbon Company, while a gain in Diageo third-quarter sales beat analyst estimates.