The Whisky Topic is a weekly podcast hosted by Mark Bylok, author of The Whisky Cabinet, and Jamie Johnson, who runs private (but approachable!) bourbon club. We cover topics for the whisky curious and the whisky enthusiast.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Thank you for listening!
Mark brings the podcast on the road to Kentucky, where he interviews Freddie Johnson in an old warehouse on the Buffalo Trace property. Freddie is the third generation of his family to work on these grounds, and he talks to his family’s history. Also, ghosts, Pappy, and the Bourbon Pompeii. You can visit Freddie when on tour at the Buffalo Trace Distillery! Just be sure to book the tour in advance.
A shortened podcast this week as Mark previews his trip to Kentucky, the episodes coming up, and Elijah Craig Small Batch vs the discounted 12 Year Old Age statement Elijah Craig.
Follow Jamie on Twitter and Instagram
Follow Mark on Twitter and Instagram
Join the contest to pick a topic by buying Mark’s Book and posting it on Instagram with the hashtag #TheWhiskyCabinet
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Eric Burke of bourbonguy.com comes on the podcast to discuss the results of the March Madness Bourbon Tournament, a tournament dedicated to find the best affordable bourbon. Learn which ones were elevated to the Fancy-Shelf!
Links:
You can follow Eric Burke on twitter @arok
The blog is bourbonguy.com
Bottom-Shelf Bourbon Brackets: The Championship Rounds
If You've Had... the Jim Beam Edition
Join the contest to pick a topic by buying Mark’s Book and posting it on Instagram with the hashtag #TheWhiskyCabine
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Raj Peter Bhakta’s journey included being on season 2 of The Apprentice, losing the 2006 congressional bid in the 13th congressional district of Pennsylvania, and buying a 500-acre milk farm in Vermont. It was the purchase of the farm, and his love for whisky, that started him on a path of WhistlePig Distillery. Mark and Jamie ask Raj about the distillery, his sugar shack, and WhistlePig’s newest release, FarmStock. Also, Jamie notes the importance of balloons.
Follow Raj Bhakta on Instagram @rajpeterbhakta
Follow Jamie on Twitter and Instagram
Follow Mark on Twitter and Instagram
Other show notes:
WhistlePig Distillery
WhistlePig FarmStock
Join the contest to pick a topic by buying Mark’s Book and posting it on Instagram with the hashtag #TheWhiskyCabinet
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Mark and Jamie discuss their origin stories on how they got into whisky. Jamie claims to not need research, but that proves wrong. Mark keeps talking about wanting to have the mutant healing factor super power. We mention whisky.
Mentions:
whiskey_flyer’s whisky cabinet
Join the contest to pick a topic by buying Mark’s Book and posting it on Instagram with the hashtag #TheWhiskyCabinet
Follow Jamie on Twitter and Instagram
Follow Mark on Twitter and Instagram
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Whisky Brand Ambassadors carry the heart and passion of the distillery out to their local scene. This week Jamie Johnson, of The Balvenie Distillery, talks about her experience of going to Scotland and becoming a brand ambassador for the distillery. We also mention green beer, boy bands, and tips for St. Patrick’s Day!
Links mentioned:
Join the contest to pick a topic by buying Mark’s Book and posting it on Instagram with the hashtag #TheWhiskyCabinet
Follow Jamie on Twitter and Instagram
Follow Mark on Twitter and Instagram
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Mark and Jamie discuss recent whisky news including Pappy Van Winkle coming back with its oldest whisky yet, the continued rise of whisky sales, and Jamie finally quotes a study!
Mentioned on the podcast:
Supply, Demand, and Shelf Space - The Story Between Whisky Makers and NAS Haters
Who Wants 25-Year Old Van Winkle Bourbon?
American Whisky Revenue is Up
Diageo Returns to Irish Whiskey
The Whisky Topic Episode 70 with Dr. Nick Morgan
Don't Cry for Old Grand-Dad 114 - It’s back!
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
It’s all about Canadian whisky. Mark and Jamie are joined by author of Canadian Whisky: The Portable Export and Head Judge of the Canadian Whisky awards, Davin de Kergommeaux. We get inside whisky judging, the winners, and debate batches!
Links:
Follow Davin on Twitter @davindek
Canadian Whisky Award 2017 Best In the World
Masterson’s Straight Rye - Best Canadian Whisky 2017 on whsky.buzz
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
This week we’re joined by Peter of @newbourbondrink. Peter is a whisky blogger and collector. As an example, he has 30 different Buffalo Trace Antique Collections. Peter shares his tips on finding these rare rare whiskies. Incidentally, Peter brings samples of his favourite 5 whiskies of 2016 and plus some of the surprise whiskies he disliked.
Follow Peter on Twitter @newbourbondrink and read his whisky reviews on wordpress
Links mentioned:
Peter’s and Mark’s Gifted Horse Review
First Impressions Drinking from a Norlan Whisky Glass
No 1 Whiskey of the Year vs some lesser Rye…
Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye: Worth the Hype?
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
We are joined this week by Conor Timmons, Brand Ambassador for Jameson! We explore the new Jameson whiskeys focused on the craft of making whisky. We also discuss St. Patrick’s Day, green beer, and shots (and how to avoid them!)
Links mentioned:
Conor’s Instagram Account
Jameson’s Makers Series: Cooper’s Croze, Blender’s Dog, Distillery’s Safe
Lot No 40 Cask Strength whsky.buzz review
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Mark and Jamie wouldn’t be podcasting without Mark Gillespie of the WhiskyCast. Mark Gillespie joins Mark and Jamie to talk about how he started in podcasting, how the whisky enthusiast community has changed over the years, social media, and where he sees whisky going in 2017.
Links Mentioned:
WhiskyCast Podcast
Beam Suntory Backtracks after Booker’s Boo-Boo
Victoria Whisky Festival
Hotel Grand Pacific
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
In our annual holiday podcast, Mark and Jamie celebrate St. Tibb’s and air grievances in honour of Festivus! Booker’s Bourbon price increase gets “mentioned” but more importantly, Jamie shares some great whisky news!
Mentioned on the podcast:
Festivus for the Rest of U
Tibb’s Eve
Booker’s Bourbon Price Increase
The Balvenie
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Marcio Ramos, Brand Ambassador for Bowmore and Laphroaig, comes to the Whisky Topic to share rare whiskies from both distilleries. We offer tricks and tips to how to get these rare whiskies at whisky trade shows and events!
Marcio’s Instagram
Marcio’s The Whisky Topic t-shirt photo
BourbonGents
The Caledonian
Friends of Laphroaig
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Nicolas Villalon from Edrington comes over to offer Mark and Jamie some rum, special bottling of blended whisky (Black Grouse, Alpha Grouse release), and we have some Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition.
Links mentioned:
Cutty Sark
The Famous Grouse
Brugal Rum 1888
Nicolas Villalon on Instagram
Nicolas Fishing
The Macallan X Lyan: Scotch whisky purists try The Macallan in cocktails
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
This week, Jamie and Mark interview a distillery from Kentucky and one from Ontario to compare how regulation and taxation affects the whisky they make. Andrew Buchanan is of Hearetfield & Co from Paris, Kentucky, and Michael Hook is from The Last Straw Distillery in Vaughan, Ontario. We discuss how Bill 70 being proposed in Ontario will affect Ontario distilleries.
Links:
The Whisky Cabinet is available on Amazon
The Ontario Craft Distillers Association
Ontario's Micro-Distillers Feel Betrayed by Their Government
Heartfield & Co Distillery
The Last Straw Distillery
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Jamie and Mark interview Matt Jones, the Canadian brand ambassador for Beam Suntory, specifically focused on Jim Beam and Canadian Club. We look at the history of no-age statement bourbons, new products coming into the marketplace, and the whisky ambassador lifestyle.
You can follow Matt’s adventures on Instagram and Twitter (@whisky_chef)
Mentioned on the podcast:
Jim Beam Black wins IWSC Best Bourbon
Jim Beam Bonded
Jim Beam Double Oak
Ironing Board Meetings on Instagram
NB Spirit Festival
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Marvin Allen is the bar manager at the Carousel Bar & Lounge, the world’s only carousal where you need to be 21 to ride. Marvin talks about how the cocktail scene has changed in the last 15 years, Tales of the Cocktail, and his book: Magic in a Shaker.
Mentioned on the show:
Tales of the Cocktail
Hotel Monteleone
The Carousal Bar & Lounge
Magic in a Shaker by Marvin Allen
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Fearful of the whisky shortage? Mark and Jamie go through the best whiskies in their cabinet that are easily available at liquor stores! We break it down into ryes, bourbons, and malt whiskies. Let the debate begin. Be sure to check out the whisky reviews on whsky.buzz
Links mentioned:
Kentucky and Scotland Both Avoid the B Word
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Mark and Jamie discuss the “Beast” whisky coming out of Fort McMurry, the importance of the way a whisky bottle looks, and Jamie’s travels!
Drinking:
Laphroaig Quarter Cask
Bulleit 10 Year Old
Mentioned:
Bar Chef Toronto and The Bar Chef Book
@jotterface
Fort McMurray Fire Leads to “Beast” of a Whisky
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Mark and Jamie are joined by Fred Minnick (author of Bourbon: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American Whiskey) and Davin de Kergommeaux (Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert). We drink Canadian whisky, talk about new oak versus reused oak, the importance of fermentation, and reveal secrets behind scoring whisky.
Davin de Kergommeaux has previously appeared on episode 10 and 44 of The Whisky Topic. You can also get more information on Fred Minnick’s book on episode 69 of Bourbon Pursuit.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
