21: Cheap Drinks and Templeton Rye Settlement with Eric Burke

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Jamie and Mark are joined by Eric Burke of www.bourbonguy.com. The topic of discussion includes the Templeton Rye class-action lawsuit settlement, Eric’s picks of cheap whiskies, (bad) tips on talking to your doctor, and cross-boarder shopping.

Apologies for the occasional audio issue. We had a echo for part of the podcast that made editing a challenge. 

Jamie is drinking: Dry Fly Washington Whisky
Mark is drinking: Bulleit Rye
Eric is drinking: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond

Also mentioned:

Forty Creek Copper Pot
Star Trek: Synthehol
WhiskyCast’s interview with Templeton Rye
High West
Smooth Ambler
Old Grand-Dad
Four Roses
Two Star Whiskey

The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes. 

20: The Bourbon Empire with Reid Mitenbuler

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Jamie and Mark are joined by Reid Mitenbuler, the author of The Bourbon Empire: The Past and Future of America’s Whisky. We talk about about the link between American’s history and whisky, the craft whisky movement, dirty dancing references, twittersphere, and writing books.

Jamie is drinking: Hudson Baby Bourbon
Mark is drinking: Glenmorangie 18

The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes. 

19: Whisky reviews and drinks you had in your early 20s

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Mark Bylok recently wrote about how he’s rebooting his whisky review writing process. Jamie and Mark discuss whisky reviews, and finding that reviewer that your tastes sync up with. Also discussed, napping, Annie the musical, throwing sleep-over parties, and Trent’s big head.

Jamie is drinking: Wiser’s Legacy
Mark is drinking: Grant’s Family Reserve

Also mentioned:

Tweet @bourbonthing for whisky music recommendations
Do’s and Don’t For Napping
Women Who Whisky
Mark Updates The Review Process
Chris Nuttall-Smith
Matt Mark
Canadian Club Sherry Finished
 

The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes. 

18: Beam Suntory Brand Ambassador Matt Jones - Food, whisky, and cocktails

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This week, Jamie and Mark have Matt Jones on the podcast. Matt is the Canada’s brand ambassador for Beam Suntory specializing in bourbon with over 16 years of bartending experience. Topics include craft whisky, flavoured whisky, cooking with whisky, whisky pairings, and summer cocktails! We also talk about whisky tours in the Beam Suntory portfolio, and restaurant recommendations for Louisville. Special thanks to Matt Mark, who provided the equipment.

Jamie is drinking: Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof
Mark is drinking: Highland Park Thor
Matt Jones is drinking: Knob Creek Small Batch

Other mentions on the show:

Geraldine Resetaurant in Toronto
Basil Hayden
Knob Creek Smoked Maple
Maker’s Mark Ambassador Program

Kentucky Recommendations:

Third Street Dive
Fourth Street Live
The Silver Dollar
Bourbon’s Bistro
Garage Bar
Proof on Main

The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes. 

17: Chatting Whisky with The Whiskey Jug

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Jamie and Mark are joined by Josh Peters of The Whiskey Jug, to discuss whisky reviews, whisky clubs, blind tastings, favourite whiskies, and washroom habits.

Jamie is drinking: Stagg Jr

Mark is drinking: Duncan Taylor Cragganmore Single Barrel

The Whiskey Jug

SoCal Whisky Society

LA Scotch Club

Black Bull 30

Russell’s Reserve

Wild Turkey Forgiven

Why LA Is Maybe the Worst Place to Make Whisky

Corsair Whisky

@WhiskyRedHead

Bowmore Black

Blind Black Bowmore

Special thanks to Alan Doyle for the theme song! 

16: Tricky Blind Tastings - Yeah, adulting, whatever.

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This week on The Whisky Topic, Glenford Jameson joins Jamie and Mark to discuss the tricky blind tasting that included variations of Eagle Rare, Weller 12 vs Van Winkle 12, and tasting oxidized whisky. Speculation went rampant on whether or not Eagle Rare is going to go NAS. The podcast takes an eerie turn when Woodford Reserve’s dried banana candy flavour is discussed.

Jamie is drinking: W.L. Weller 12

Mark is drinking: Teeling Whiskey

Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails

Old Grand Dad

Mellow Corn

Buying Pappy from the Government

Special thanks to Alan Doyle for the theme song! 

15: Craft Whisky - Maybe I don’t want anyone touching my bottle!

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This week Jamie and Mark tackle to the topic of craft whisky and hand made whisky. Do hands touching your whisky make it taste better?

Jamie is drinking: Wild Turkey Forgiven

Mark is drinking: Willett Rye

Your ‘Craft’ Rye Whiskey Is Probably From a Factory Distillery in Indiana

Jim Beam hit with handcrafted lawsuit

Templeton Rye lawsuit

14: Crossing Over Styles of Whisky

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Mark and Jamie make suggestions for bourbon and single malt drinkers to cross over to other types of whiskies, including hot climate whiskies!

Jamie is drinking: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select

Mark is drinking: Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel

Also mentioned on the show:

Mark’s Eater Article on Hot Climate Whiskies

Mill St. Tankhouse Ale

Basil Hayden

Wild Turkey

Woodford Reserve

George Dickel Tennessee Whisky

E.H. Taylor Collection

Laphroaig Quarter Cask

Johnnie Walker Black

Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask

Three Ships 5 Year Old Whisky

13: One person's palate - Scotch Whisky

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Mark and Jamie return back to single malt scotch, with special guest Sam Simmons, known as Dr. Whisky in the scotch community, and more currently, brand ambassador for Balvenie. We talk about his article from last year on Jim Murray, 2015 Whisky Bible, and Why Scotch Whisky Sucks. Other topics include the truth behind sherry casks, single barrel whisky, cask strength whisky, and troubles with recording in Paris!

Jamie is drinking: Society Single Malt No. 73.57

Mark is drinking: Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask

Other whiskies mentioned:

Balvenie Single Barrel 15 Year Old

Glengoyne

12: Whisky Context & Camera Crews

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This week, Mark and Jamie discuss the context around enjoying whisky. Do the circumstances we have the whisky under affect the enjoyment of the whisky? Also discussed, hangover cures, tips for managing your drinking, apps that help you avoid dry counties, Mad Men, land-lines, and cutting the cable cord!

Jamie is drinking: Knob Creek Single Barrel

Make is drinking: Dalwhinnie 15

Also mentioned:

Heather Greene’s Whisky Women Get Stereotype

Maker’s Mark Cask Strength

Elmer T. Lee

Bourbon Empire: The Past and Future of America’s Whiskey

Beaumont Inn wins a James Beard Award

Ep 11 - Consumer Protection in the Whisky Industry

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Bottled in Bond is an early example of a consumer protection laws passed to the benefit of the whisky buyer. That law was more about health and authenticity. Food lawyer, Glenford Jameson, talks about consumer protection laws as it relates to whisky. Plus, what’s whisky supposed to taste like? And we touch on that phrase, craft whisky.

Glenford is drinking: Bulleit 10

Mark is drinking: BenDriach 12

Mark also has: Stranahan’s

Also mentioned on the show:

yummly hot bourbon recipes

Glen’s law practice

Grant’s Blended Whisky

reddit whisky

Death’s Door Spirits

Episode 10 - Canadian Whisky - How did that hand warming work out for you?

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Canadian whisky offers a unique voice in the whisky world. Davin de Kergommeaux, author of Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert, joins Jamie and Mark this week. The discussion goes deep into authenticity of whisky, additives, and comparisons between Canadian whisky and the rest of the world. Plus, Davin and Mark get dramatic about swirling and warming whisky, and Jamie seeks out whisky gossip!

Jamie is drinking: Canadian Club 100% Rye

Mark is drinking: Masterson’s 10 Year Old Rye

Davin is drinking: Forty Creek Three Grains

Davin is also drinking: Thunder Bolt Rye

Mentioned on the show:

Whistle Pig

Still Waters

66 Gilead

Glassware, Swirling Whisky, and Winning Whisky Competitions

Perfect Dram Glass

Glencairn Canadian

Canadian Whisky: The Comeback Story

Dave Broom’s The World Atlas of Whisky

Johnnie Walker Black

Blair Phillips

The Whisky Topic - Episode 9 - Whisky Events & Trolling Jim Murray

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Jamie Johnson and Mark Bylok discuss whisky events—what to do, and what not to do. They review Spirit of Toronto, and highlight rare whiskies they enjoyed at the event including Jim Murray’s 2015 winner, the Yamakazi 2013 Sherry Cask. Finally, Jamie and Mark touch upon rugby, the Apple Watch, and Jamie’s Bad Day Box kickstarter idea.

Jamie is drinking Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old

Mark is drinking Nikka Single Cask Coffey Whisky 1998

Aberlour A’Bunadh

Spirit of Toronto

Johanna Ngoh

People storming the Yamakazi 2013 Sherry Cask

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible

Union Local - Ottawa Restaurant

Whisky Exchange Whisky Show in London

Whisky Live

Apple Watch

The Whisky Topic - Episode 8 - Throwing Your Own Whisky Party

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Host a whisky party! Jamie Johnson and Mark Bylok discuss their tips and tricks for throwing your own whisky party. Topics include considerations for glassware, food pairings, setting up the order of the whisky, and the types of party you might want to throw. Plus, Jamie shares how you should leave a party early (unless they're serving cake). Links from the show:

Barterhouse Orphan Barrel

Duncan Taylor

Glencairn Whisky Glass

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible

The Whisky Topic - Episode 7 - We are not doctors!

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Mark and Jamie discuss the ridiculous articles claiming the health benefits of whisky. We also look at Sinfully Thinn Light Whisky, and Oliver Klimek breaking the story on the definition of a light whisky. Finally, we talk about vintage whisky advertisements targeting women, feminism, Jamie’s wedding, manhattans, and old fashions (somehow all this ties in!).

Dramming Article on Sinfully Thinn Light Whisky

Health Benefits of Whisky

Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch

Amrut Portonova

Hair of the dog

1965 Calvert Whiskey Ad

The Whisky Topic - Episode 6 - Whisky from Scotland!

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The Whisky Topic - Episode 5 - Knob Creek vs Booker's - A story of glassware

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Many whisky enthusiasts were surprised Knob Creek won San Francisco’s World Spirit 2015 Award for best bourbon. On the first episode of The Whisky Topic, Jamie and Mark agreed that they liked Knob Creek, but loved Booker’s. So what happened? Fred Minnick likewise seemed puzzled! Jamie Johnson and Mark Bylok do a blind tasting between the two in different glassware. Does glassware make a difference in what we’re tasting? Listen ‘live’ to this blind tasting, filled with foils and nervous laughter. Which one wins out? Plus, we rehash the debate on the origin of whisky, and talk (briefly) about Kavalan.

Shocking Winner at San Francisco’s World Spirit Awards

Whiskies mentioned:Knob Creek, Booker’s Bourbon, Stagg Jr, Kavalan

Wikipedia’s History of Whisky

Glencairn Whisky Glass

Glencairn Canadian Whisky Glass

The Neat Glass

The Whisky Topic - Episode 4 - No, not Blanton's!

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The Whisky Topic heads to Kentucky! Mark Bylok and Glenford Jameson visit Buffalo Trace and Barton Distillery (home of 1792). In their visit to Buffalo Trace Distillery, they review the process Buffalo Trace uses to pick those special barrels that make it as Blanton’s single barrel bourbon. Reviewed whiskies included a range of Colonel E.H. Taylor (Cured Oak, Tornado, Cask Strength), the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, and the yet to be released 2015 Pappy Van Winkle 20 year old. 1792 was had from the cask. Speaking of cask-strength whisky, how does Maker’s Mark measure up? 

Beaumont Inn

Four Roses Single Barrel OESK

Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel

Buffalo Trace Distillery

Colonel E.H. Taylor Tornado Bourbon

Colonel E.H. Taylor Cured Oak

Hirsch Selection 25 Year Old Straight Rye

1792 Bourbon

Catnap - Portlandia

4020 John Deere Oil

The podcast starts sounding like Drunk History

Maker’s Mark Cask Strength

Glenford Jameson, Food Lawyer

The Whisky Topic - Episode 3 - Pappy Van Winkle. Is it hype or worth the trouble?

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This week, Mark and Jamie discuss the famous Pappy Van Winkle whisky. The history is quite complex. Is it worth the hype? Are whisky drinkers a touch sensitive about Pappy? Is Pappy 15 the perfect Pappy? What about poor man's pappy? Plus, Mark went to Panama City. 

Humo BBQ

Talisker 10

Donde Jose

Buying Pappy From The Government

The Complete Guide to Pappy Van Winkle

Old Rip Van Winkle

Diageo Restores Weller

The Whisky Topic - Episode 2 - Irish Whiskey, Because St. Paddy's Day

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Mark Bylok, whisky writer, and Jamie Johnson, who runs a private bourbon club, explore the world of Irish Whiskey. Is Irish whiskey going to see the same boom that bourbon has seen? Mark shares his thoughts. Jamie and Mark talk about flavoured whisky, and parallels in the industry with flavoured vodka. Also tackled, with some reluctance, the no-age statement movement and the hosts tell there story of what steps they need to go through to get Pappy Van Winkle in Toronto.

Links from the show:

Redbreast 12

Writers Tears

Whisky Can’t Hide Its Age

Mark Reynier’s Bruichladdich Story

Mark Reynier buys Irish brewing site

Five Star Review of S’more Vodka