73: Music and Whisky with Mike Di Caro

/

Mike Di Caro joins Jamie and Mark to discuss how music is influenced by whisky. We taste Drake’s Virginia Black Whiskey, Sinatra Select, and Mike gives us a quick dive into country music. You can find Mike on twitter @mikedicaro

We were drinking:
Drake’s Virginia Black Whiskey
Sinatra Select

Mentioned links: 
Miranda Lambert - Vice & Jack Daniels
Brandy Clark — Three Kids No Husband
#GeorgeThorogood
@beardedsipper1976
Foodism Toronto

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

72: Interview with Han Shan from Hudson Whiskey

/

This week’s feature is an interview with Han Shan from Hudson Whiskey. Hudson Whiskey has an odd start, with a plot of land being purchased for use as a climber’s ranch, that eventually became the home of Tuthilltown Distillery. This became the first distillery in New York State post-prohibition. News items covered include Knob Creek going NAS, and Toronto Distillery Co stirring controversy over their new release! 

Links:

Hudson Whiskey
Han Shan’s twitter
Knob Creek goes No-Age Statement reports Fred Minnick
Toronto Distillery Co’s First Barrels
Reddit AMA by Toronto Distillery Co
Whisky Live Author’s Rowwith Mark Bylok

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

71: Kentucky Bourbon Festival with Eric Burke

/

The Kentucky Bourbon Festival happens each September in Bardstown Kentucky. Eric from bourbonguy.com joins Mark and Jamie on the podcast to share his experiences at the 2016 Bourbon Festival. We talk fan clubs, prices of whisky, Kentucky whisky purchases, and places to eat. Eric recently celebrated a big milestone with Robin, his wife, over her four-and-a-half year check-up of being cancer free. Ovarian cancer is frequently misdiagnosed by doctors. Please see the factsheet. 

Links:

Ovarian Cancer Factsheet
Using Old Forester Birthday Bourbon to Celebrate a Serious Milestone
Eric’s trip to Kentucky
Eric previously appeared on episode 56 talking about March Madness! 

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

70: Interview with Dr. Nick Morgan of Diageo

/

While Dr. Nick Morgan sometimes earns the ire of whisky enthusiasts, his passion for whisky is unmistakable. Nick is the head of whisky outrage for Diageo, and shares his thoughts on age-statements on whisky bottles, blind-bottle tastings, blended scotch vs single malt scotch, and shares the story behind Lagavulin 8 Year Old. 

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

69: Is Summer Over? Let’s Discuss

/

High West Distillery has won over the hearts of many whisky enthusiasts for their delicious unique whiskies and the policy of being open about their products. We interview David Perkins of High West. In contrast, Jeff Quint is the owner and operator of Cedar Ridge Distillery. Cedar Ridge is expanding throughout the US and growing in demand with their premium whisky, and they make every drop they sell. Mark and Jamie also talk about the weather, airshows, and marathons. 

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

68: Tales from Tales of the Cocktail

/

This week, Mark and Jamie talk about Tales of the Cocktail, Diageo’s decision to remove the Masters of Whisky program, and Matthew McConaughey taking Jamie’s spotlight. 

Diageo to Axe Masters of Whisky Program
Tales of the Cocktail
Ben from A Dram a Day
The Irish Pub
Proof: The Science of Booze by Adam Rogers
Civil Liberties Bar
Wild Turkey Bourbon: Matthew McConaughey Short Film
Matt Jones taking on Mila Kunis
The Macallan in a Maserati with Kieron Elliott

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

 

 

67: Is the “Meta-Critic” the ultimate whisky reviewer?

/

Curious about the math behind whisky reviews? This week on the podcast, Mark and Jamie interview Eric from WhiskyAnalsysis.com. Eric uses the “meta reviewer” concept on his website, where he collects whisky scores from various reviewers and provides an overall ranking. Other topics covered include whisky changing in the bottle, Jim Murray’s reviews, and various challenges for whisky reviewers. Search for your favourite whisky in the The Meta-Critic Database.

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

 

 

64: Sour Mash, Sweet Mash, and The History of American Whisky

/

Gary Gillman joins Jamie and Mark to discuss the history of making bourbon, particularly with a focus on the sour mash. When researching the roots of hand-made sour mash, Gary found documents from the 1800s and 1900s that revealed the changes in the process overall. 

You can find Gary Gillman on twitter or read his articles on beeretseq.com. Read his article on the topic, The Roots Of Hand-Made Sour Mash: Appalachia and the Scots-Irish.

Also mentioned: 

Proof - The Science of Booze
Davin de Kergommeaux’s Wiser’s Last Barrels Review
Woodford Reserve Sweet Mash
Canadian Club 100% Rye review from The Whiskey Wash

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

63: Visiting Louisville with Maggie Kimberl

/

Maggie Kimberl joins Mark and Jamie to take us back to Louisville. Topics touched on include the history of bourbon in Kentucky, cigar and whisky pairings, tourism in Kentucky, and best places to visit while in Kentucky. 

You can find Maggie at:

LouGirl502
The Whiskey Wash
The Alcohol Professor
 

Also mentioned: 
Michael Veach
MilkWood Restaurant 
Urban Bourbon Trail - 50 kinds of bourbon
Butchertown Grocery 
502 Cafe
Old Taylor Distillery
Pairing Bourbon & Cigars
Kentucky Peerless Distillery 
Copper & Kings

62: "There are no wrong answers.. but there is ONE wrong answer."

/

This week on The Whisky Topic, Jennifer Chan joins Jamie and Mark to discuss the enthusiasts whisky tasting Mark hosted. Listen to hear whisky fans analyze whisky as they tasted them blindly. Jamie gets to be the teacher looking through everyone’s answers! 

You can find Jen on Instagram and her website.

Whiskies mentioned on the podcast:

Bulleit Rye
Russell’s Reserve Straight Rye whsky.buzz review
Old Forester Bourbon
Pikesville Straight Rye whsky.buzz review
Colonel E.H. Taylor Rye whsky.buzz review
Toronto Distillery Co. Rye
Toronto Distillery Co. Applejack
New Riff Distillery
Heartfelt & Co Bourbon Whisky

Also mentioned: 

Barely Legal Rye
Short video from the tasting
The Caledonian events page (Mark & Jamie are frequently here!) 

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

60: Deconstructing Single Malt Scotch with Beth Havers

/

Deconstructing whisky is the process by which we take the blends of barrels that go into the final product, and taste each individually. Each barrel adds its own character to the final product. This week, Mark and Jamie have Beth Havers of Glenfiddich on the podcast to deconstruct Glenfiddich 15 Solera Edition. 

@whiskybeth
Jamie in Alan Doyle's 1, 2, 3, 4 video
Chef’s Congress Dinner in Scotland
Solera process
Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Solera
Glenfiddich Distillery Edition
Wounded Warriors Project
Glenfiddich Presents Wounded Warriors with $123,000

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

59: Spoiled Dusties, Agricole, and Whisky Events

/

Glenford Jameson joins Jamie and Mark to review their recent experiences at Spirit of Toronto. Dusties were tasted, Glenford did not like some of the old scotches, and Jamie made Mint Juleps!

Links: 

Glenford Jameson
Toronto Distillery Co
Riker Googling
Welcome to Food Court Podcast with Glenford Jameson

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

 

57: Chuck Cowdery Talks Past, Present, and Future of American Whisky

/

This week on the podcast, Chuck Cowdery joins Mark and Jamie. The discussion ranges from marketing gimmicks from decades ago to today, the change in the whisky industry, and trends coming out in the future. 

Links:

whsky.buzz shop
2016 Spring/Summer releases included Booker’s Rye
Chuck Cowdery’s Blog
Bourbon, Strange by Chuck Cowdery
The Golden Age of American Whiskey? You're Living in It
KT.Taylor3's Instagram account

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

56: We Review Whisky March Madness in April

/

Eric of bourbonguy.com joins Mark and Jamie to discuss his whisky themed March Madness bracket. In addition, we cover non-whisky spirits and bad YouTube videos. 

YouTube sensation Jamie Johnson (Making bad batched drinks)

Suresh Doss

Bottom-Shelf Bourbon Brackets 2016: Championship Rounds

My Wandering Eye: Mount Gay Barbados Rum: Black Barrel

Antiquing and Bottle Dating: Four Roses and Related

54: Is vodka cool again? Naw.

/

Mark and Jamie discuss Mark’s trip to Kentucky, visiting distilleries, buying bourbon in Kentucky, snapchat, and is vodka cool again? Plus, we feature bottled-in-bond and straight bourbon.

Snapchat IDs for markbylok and heyjamiejay

Jamie is drinking Eagle Rare
Mark is drinking Blanton’s Single Barrel

Also mentioned: 

Alan Doyle
Mint Julep Tours
Is drinking vodka cool again?
Evolution of Straight Bourbon
Craft vodka?
Jack Daniel’s Rested Rye
Ladies-only Beer Festival
Beaumont Inn

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

53: The Tables Have Turned on the Hosts

/

This week, Suresh Doss guest-hosts the show to get deeper under the covers of the podcast by interviewing Mark and Jamie. We share travel stories, drinking stories, answer difficult questions, and debate craft beer drinkers vs whisky drinkers.

Mentioned on the podcast:

Suresh is on Twitter, Instagram, and writes for Toronto Life, and Globe & Mail.

Hellyers Road Single Malt Whisky

Toronto bars mentioned:

Rush Lane
Emmet Ray
Caledonian
Allen’s

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