52: Whisky Pranks & Drinking Health Studies

/

Mark and Jamie discuss the Whisky Magazine Whisky awards and compare the results to San Francisco’s World Spirit Awards. Joining them on the program, Doctor Tom Stockwell pours some cold water over thoughts that drinking is good for us, and we have Ian Millar on the show! Ian is the global brand ambassador for Glenfiddich, and we talk about the new role he’s moving into, and whisky pranks.

Mentioned on the show:

Old Pulteney Takes Top Honors At World Whiskies Awards
Fred Minnick’s Best Bourbon unbelievable upset
Westminister Dog Show
This Hour Has 22 Minutes
Drinking alcohol offers no net health benefits
Doctor Timothy Stockwell
Glenfiddich Gallery
@distillermillar

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

51: Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day With author Fionnán O'Connor

/

Irish whiskey is triple distilled, smooth, and made of malted and unmalted barley. Or at least, that’s what we’ve been led to believe. Fionnán O'Connor, author of A Glass Apart: Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey, takes us through the diverse Irish whiskey history, and we get a peek into an exciting future for the industry. 

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

50: The Award Show

/

48: Mezcal with Sarah Parniak - “I really hate to use the word artisan.”

/

Joined by drinks writer Sarah Parniak, Mark and Jamie explore the world of mezcals and tequilas. Also mentioned, weird drinking traditions that include eating tequila worms, kissing dead fermented human toes, and cod lips, and was Mark’s Don Julio Reposado actually a Reposado?

Sarah, Jamie and Mark are drinking:
Mezcal Los Siete Misterios
Divino Mezcal Reposado
Don Julio Reposado
Laphroaig Quarter Cask
Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof

Also mentioned:

Should You Eat the Tequila Worm?
Patron Swallows Human Toe While Drinking “Toe” Drink
Kissing the cod
The Sweet Escape in the Distillery District
Drinking lots of coffee saves liver from alcohol damage, research finds
Argentinean Mixology: Fernet and Coke
Hard Water - San Francisco 

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

47: NAS Bourbon, Orphaned Accidents, and Rare Wild Turkeys

/

Mark and Jamie are joined by Josh of The Whisky Jug. Elijah Craig falls under the hammer for removing their age statement, and we talk about Diageo’s latest Orphan Barrel releases that has questionable roots.

Mentioned on the podcast:

Orphan Barrel Gifted Horse Review

Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Review

Epic Tasting: Wild Turkey Rare Breed Vertical

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

46: Interview with The Master Of Wood, Stuart MacPherson

/

This week Mark and Jamie are joined by Stuart MacPherson, the Master of Wood for The Macallan Distillery. Stuart is involved in every step of the preparation process of the barrels from the trees being grown, to them being shipped off to Scotland for barrel maturation. We manage to stay somewhat on topic! 

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

45: January is Over!

/

This week, Mark and Jamie talk about their experiences with DryJanuary where Jamie succeeds, and Mark mostly failed. We inspect Instagram advertising, talk about Grease, Little Shop of Horrors, and mention whisky a little more. The podcast goes off-topic rapidly.

Jamie drank: Wild Turkey Rare Bread

Mark Drank: Elmer T. Lee and Masterson’s Rye

Also mentioned:
Prohibition by Ken Burns
Grease: Live

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

44: Davin de Kergommeaux talks Canadian Whisky

/

Davin (author of Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert) joins Mark and Jamie to talk Canadian whisky! What makes Canadian whisky different from bourbon? We have predictions for the future of the industry. Also, after-parties? 

Also mentioned: 
Writer’s Tears
Victoria Whisky Festival
David Bloom
Gooderham’s & Worts 4 Grain
Wiser’s Hop
Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old
Crown Royal 75 Anniversary Blend
Forty Creek Copper Pot
Crown Royal North Harvest Rye

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

43: Trends in 2015, and looking to 2016 “And I ordered a Shirley Temple once…”

/

Blake from bourbonr.com joins Jamie and Mark to talk about trends in 2015, and we offer predictions for 2016. Also discussed, rare whiskies, best whiskies of 2015, and fancy carbonated waters.

Also mentioned: 

Bourbonr Full Tasting Kit
Exploring The Bourbon Secondary
La Croix Water

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

42: Whisky Heel Parties, Dry January, and Whisky Events

/

Mark and Jamie are joined by Glenford Jameson. They review the whisky heel party hosted in December where guests brought their nearly finished whisky bottles. We have some lessons learned! We review tips for going to whisky events, and also talk about Dry January and Octsober and what it means to us.

Octsober
Environmental Conditions & Tolerance
Frape & Sons
whiskyheelparty
@twisecu
Master of The Wood
Russian Dashcam Videos

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

41: Celebrating Festivus with Whisky - We are Grievances

/

Jamie and Mark celebrate Festivus on this week’s podcast. They pick their Festivus dinner whisky, their grievance whiskies (there are many), perform a feat of strength (cask whisky), and the festivus miracle distillery! Also, your holiday taking selfies tips. 

Whiskies mentioned on the podcast:
Old Grand Dad 114
Crown Royal 75h Monarch Edition
Van Winkle 12 Year Old

Also mentioned:
Dirty Dancing
Over the Top
Whisky Advocate’s Distillery of the Year - MGP Ingredients

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

40: Highland Park & The Macallan with Nicolas Villalon - “To add insult to injury, my boss was paying for them!”

/

Mark and Jamie are joined by Nicolas Villalon (@nick_villalon), micro-biologist and brand ambassador for Highland Park and The Macallan. We chat age statement, rare releases, barrel selection, SWA and openness, and sober November.

We were drinking:
The Macallan Rare Cask
The Macallan M
Highland Park 15 Year Old
Highland Park Saint Magnus

You can follow Nicolas on twitter @Nick_Villalon
You can follow Matt Jones on twitter @whisky_chef

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

 

39: Chatting Jim Beam & Stories of Kentucky

/

Jamie and Mark bring back Matt Jones on the show. Matt is the Canadian Brand Ambassador for Beam Suntory. Discussion includes yeast strains, how distilleries provide unique products, making craft whisky, and pizza parties. Mostly, they chat about stories of Kentucky. Also, this is the absolute last chance to get the Small Batch Hand Crafted “The Whisky Topic” t-shirt. Check it out at teespring.com!

Jamie, Matt, and Mark are drinking:

Jim Beam Signature 12
Jim Beam Distiller’s Masterpiece
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength

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

38: The Bitter Truth About Bitters with Frape & Sons

/

Justin and Giovanni from Frape & Sons join Mark and Jamie to talk about bitters. They ferment and distill their own spirit as the base for all their bitters, and have experimented creatively with the flavouring agents. We talk about bitters used creatively in cocktails and in cooking. Also, hemp bitters & foam parties. Note: This Podcast was Recorded in mid-November.

Jamie is drinking: Basil Hayden
Mark is drinking: Gooderham & Warts 4 Grain Whisky
Justin is drinking: Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof
Giovanni is drinking: Masterson’s 10 Year Old Straight Rye

To enjoy Frape & Sons bitters, head to their website.

Also mentioned:

Taylor Swift
Corsair Quinoa Whiskey
Koval Distillery
Bittercude Bitters
Carol & Company
Dillon’s Distillers

37: Does One Critic Get to Name The Best Whisky In the World?

/

Mark and Jamie investigate Jim Murray’s claim that Crown Royal North Harvest Rye is the best whisky in the world. Naturally, a blind tasting ensues between three top Canadian whiskies. Also, we report in from the New Brunswick Spirits Show. Special thanks to Mark's dogs for making this episode especially difficult to edit! 

Support the show and have an awesome t-shirt. Order The Whisky Topic - “A casual conversation with whisky” t-shirt!

Mark & Jamie blind-tasted Lot No 40, Gooderham & Warts, and Crown Royal North Harvest Rye.

Also mentioned:
Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert
Davin’s Crown Royal Single Barrel
The Lunar Rogue Bar
NB Spirits Festival
Alcool NB Liquor
WhiskyCast
Willet 22 Year Old Wheated Bourbon
Highland Park Odin
@beardedsipper1976

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

36: The Battle of Cask Strength - “I was so furious!”

/

Jennifer Chan, a food and whisky enthusiast, joins Mark and Jamie this week to review the whisky tasting at Mark’s place. It includes a battle of single malts, peated whiskies from around the world, and the battle of big cask strength whiskies. Jen, Jamie and Mark review the results. Plus, Diageo’s new products and transparency statement is discussed. And Justin Bieber? 

35: Hotel Bars, Glassware, and Cocktails - “You shouldn’t be putting crush ice in it.. it’s not a slurpy.”

/

This week, Jamie and Mark talk about Norlan whisky glass, whisky hysteria, hotel bars, boy bands, bad TV, lining up for whisky, vodka martinis, and old fashions vs manhattans. There might yet another discussion about ice.

Reach out to @bourbonthing with your favourite bars that serve old fashions!

Jamie is drinking: Highland Park 12
Mark is drinking: Bowmore Tempest

John Gruber’s Daring Fireball
Jim Coudal’s martini recipe
Souther Charm TV Show
Every onscreen drink on Mad Men Supercut
Wiki page dedicated to ice cubes
Speaker’s Corner
Wholesalers, Retailers, and The Aftermark - Who's profiting from skyrocketing whisky prices?
First Impressions on the Norlan Glass

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

34: Whisky events, whisky, and pizza with Sarah Parniak

/

This week, Sarah Parniak joins Jamie and Mark to discuss whisky events from various perspectives, women and whisky, sherry finishes, and pizza!

Jamie is drinking: Woodford Reserve Four Wood
Mark is drinking: Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof
Sarah is drinking: JP Wiser’s Double Still Rye

Also mentioned:

Globe & Mail Alo Restaurant Review
North of Brooklyn Pizza
BenRiach
Jim Beam Master Craft
JP Wiser’s Hopped
Fireball Whisky
Recall of Fireball Whisky
Laphroaig 25
Glengoyne 21