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!
Jamie and Mark are pulled out of hibernation, sat in front of some microphones, and we all just hope for the best. That's it, that's all we got for you for this week.
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Buy Mark’s book - The Whisky Cabinet
Our annual podcast with Dr. Don Livermore, Master Blender of Hiram-Walker, takes us through the new Canadian whisky releases for 2020 and beyond. We discuss the barrel maturation process, the youthfulness of rye, and get caught-up on how much the whisky industry has changed during these times.
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Buy Mark’s book - The Whisky Cabinet
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Will Schragis of Barrell Craft Spirits joins us to talk about the latest offerings from Barrell including their rye, bourbon, and their journey into other spirits
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Get Mark’s book: The Whisky Cabinet
Support the podcast (and get great perks) on Patreon.
Get your latest whisky reviews on whisky.buzz! You can find this week’s patron exclusive content here.
This podcast was edited and mixed by Bryan Goman.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
David Jennings (Rare Bird 101) talks to us about his love of Wild Turkey Distillery, his upcoming book, and the best Wild Turkey stories. We breifly cover the history of the distillery, the brand, and the undeniable influence of Jimmy Russell.
Pre-order David’s book. You can find David on Instagram, Twitter, and read his latest reviews.
Follow Jamie on Twitter and Instagram
Follow Mark on Twitter and Instagram
Get Mark’s book: The Whisky Cabinet
Support the podcast (and get great perks) on Patreon.
Get your latest whisky reviews on whisky.buzz! You can find this week’s patron exclusive content here.
This podcast was edited and mixed by Bryan Goman.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Jamie and Mark are joined by Josh Peters (The Whiskey Jug). We cover everything from whisky stones, finished Bourbons, to smoked sheep dung whisky. Gimmick or innovation? Our panel decides!
Read Josh’s latest reviews on The Whiskey Jug.
Articles mentioned in this podcast:
What’s a Whisky Sommelier Part 1
What’s a Whisky Sommelier Part 2
Reddit’s thoughts.
Follow Jamie on Twitter and InstagramFollow Mark on Twitter and Instagram
Get Mark’s book: The Whisky Cabinet
Support the podcast (and get great perks) on Patreon. Get your latest whisky reviews on whisky.buzz! You can find this week’s patron exclusive content here.
This podcast was edited and mixed by Bryan Goman.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
This bonus episode has been brought to you by Johnnie Walker. Whisky is one of the more complex drinks in the world. We bring on Chef Matt Jones to talk about the three main elements to use whisky—pairing whisky with food, infusing whisky with ingredients, and cooking with whisky. Unlike wine pairings, which look for similarities, with whisky it’s all about finding the right contract. Scotches enjoyed on the podcast include Johnnie Walker Black Label, and Talisker 10.
Full recipes mentioned on the podcast are available on whisky.buzz.
Follow Mark on Twitter and Instagram
Get Mark’s book: The Whisky Cabinet
This podcast was edited and mixed by Bryan Goman.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Thank you to Diageo and the Johnnie Walker team for sponsoring this episode! Thank you Diageo for sponsoring all seven of these bonus episodes!
This bonus episode has been brought to you by Johnnie Walker. Whisky and cocktail culture have a long and wonderful relationship. They evolved together. We specifically look at the last few decades of cocktail culture and the innovative cocktails that you can make at home. Whiskies we enjoyed on the podcast include Johnnie Walker Red Label, Johnnie Walker Black Label, and Talisker 10. Also mentioned, the Johnnie Walker Highball recipe.
Follow Mark on Twitter and Instagram
Get Mark’s book: The Whisky Cabinet
This podcast was edited and mixed by Bryan Goman.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Thank you to Diageo and the Johnnie Walker team for sponsoring this episode!
Raj Sabharwal joins Mark and Jamie to tell his story of how he discovered delicious Indian Single Malts from Amrut. He’s since started the import spirits company, Glass Revolutions, and brings in a unique range of spirit products from India, Scotland, Australia, and the Caribbean.
Sign up for Raj’s newsletter. Follow Raj on twitter.
Follow Jamie on Twitter and InstagramFollow Mark on Twitter and Instagram
Get Mark’s book: The Whisky Cabinet
Support the podcast (and get great perks) on Patreon. Get your latest whisky reviews on whisky.buzz! You can find this week’s patron exclusive content here.
This podcast was edited and mixed by Bryan Goman.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
This bonus episode has been brought to you by Johnnie Walker. In this episode we go through the exclusive range of Johnnie Walker scotches, starting with the eighteen year old, and ending with the ghost and rare series that celebrated new world and old world whiskies coming together. Whiskies tasted include Johnnie Walker 18, Johnnie Walker Blue, Johnnie Walker King George V, and Johnnie Walker Ghost and Rare.
Follow Mark on Twitter and Instagram
Get Mark’s book: The Whisky Cabinet
This podcast was edited and mixed by Bryan Goman.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Thank you to Diageo and the Johnnie Walker team for sponsoring this episode!
This bonus episode has been brought to you by Johnnie Walker. In this episode we go through a range of single malt scotches sold by Diageo, and we discuss the subtle nature of tasting whisky. We discuss drinking whisky on ice, adding water, and glassware and how all these elements can change the flavour of whisky. On this episode we taste Dalwhinnie 15, Mortlach 12, Cardhu 12, Johnnie Walker Green, and Johnnie Walker Black. We also discuss how Diageo is the only company to offer complete list of nutritional information for their products through DRINKiQ.
Follow Mark on Twitter and Instagram
Get Mark’s book: The Whisky Cabinet
This podcast was edited and mixed by Bryan Goman.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Thank you to Diageo and the Johnnie Walker team for sponsoring this episode!
Five time Grammy Awards winner, Neil Giraldo, joins us on the podcast to talk about music, bourbon, and how making both are related. We also talk about Steel Bending Spirits, and their first line of bourbons bottled under the label of Three Chord Bourbon.
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Get Mark’s book: The Whisky Cabinet
Support the podcast (and get great perks) on Patreon. Get your latest whisky reviews on whisky.buzz! You can find this week’s patron exclusive content here.
This podcast was edited and mixed by Bryan Goman.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
This bonus episode has been brought to you by Johnnie Walker. In this episode we discover the history of whisky, and its massive influence on the history of the world from paying for civil wars, to its earlier medicinal uses. We cover the more recent history of Scotch, Irish Whiskey, Canadian Whisky, and American whisky. As we cover more recent innovations in the whisky world, we speculate on how whisky continues to change. On this episode we taste Mortlach 12, Cardhu 12, and Johnnie Walker Black. We also discuss the history of Johnnie Walker and its influence on the Scotch industry.
Follow Mark on Twitter and Instagram
Get Mark’s book: The Whisky Cabinet
This podcast was edited and mixed by Bryan Goman.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Thank you to Diageo and the Johnnie Walker team for sponsoring this episode!
Davin de Kergommeaux joins us to talk about the book he co-wrote with Blair Phillips—The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries! Davin and Blair visited every distillery that had a functioning still in Canada. We talk about the writing process, the unique products being distilled, and the journey of Canadian whisky.
Buy Davin and Blair’s book: The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries: The Portable Expert to Over 200 Distilleries and the Spirits they Make (From Absinthe to Whisky, and Everything in Between)
Follow Davin on Twitter.
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Get Mark’s book: The Whisky Cabinet
Support the podcast (and get great perks) on Patreon. Get your latest whisky reviews on whisky.buzz! You can find this week’s patron exclusive content here.
This podcast was edited and mixed by Bryan Goman.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
This bonus episode of this podcast has been brought to you by Johnnie Walker. Emma Walker is a master blender on the Diageo team, responsible for making Johnnie Walker scotch from an inventory of barrels from 29 different distilleries. In this episode we cover the convergence of marketing, art, and science in making whisky. Featured scotches in this podcast are Johnnie Walker Black, Johnnie Walker Ghost Series, and Johnnie Walker Blue. You can read about Emma Walker’s journey to becoming a blender on one of the world top scotch’s in this feature on Master of Malt.
Follow Mark on Twitter and Instagram
Get Mark’s book: The Whisky Cabinet
This podcast was edited and mixed by Bryan Goman.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Thank you to Diageo and the Johnnie Walker team for sponsoring this episode!
705 Likes, 28 Comments - @alanthomasdoyle on Instagram: "Wow...the donations for @adollaradayfdn to support @kidshelpphone keep coming in! Right around..."
Best known as the lead singer from Great Big Sea, Alan Doyle is a folk singer, author, and actor. He joins us on the podcast to talk about the long history of whisky and music in pop culture, folk music, country music, and Celtic music. Why do so many songs include whisky? Alan Doyle gives us the answer! No spoilers.
Follow Alan Doyle on Twitter.
Alan Doyle raises money for Kids Help Phone.
Also mentioned:
Lamb’s Palm Breeze Rum
1948 Newfoundland referendums
Buy Alan’s book: A Newfoundlander in Canada: Always Going Somewhere, Always Coming Home
Follow Jamie on Twitter and Instagram
Follow Mark on Twitter and Instagram
Get Mark’s book: The Whisky Cabinet
Support the podcast (and get great perks) on Patreon. Get your latest whisky reviews on whisky.buzz! You can find this week’s patron exclusive content here.
This podcast was edited and mixed by Bryan Goman.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
This podcast episode is brought to you by Johnnie Walker. Whisky making is part craft, part art, and part science. In this episode Mark Bylok and Bryan Goman (producer) talk about the process of making whisky; growing the grain, fermentation, distillation, and barrel maturation. This is part one in a seven part mini series, brought to you by Johnnie Walker in cooperation with The Whisky Topic. Whiskies mentioned in episode include Lagavulin 8 Year Old, Johnnie Walker Black Label, and we also talk about the history of Jonnie Walker.
Follow Mark on Twitter and Instagram
Get Mark’s book: The Whisky Cabinet
This podcast was edited and mixed by Bryan Goman.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Thank you to Diageo and the Johnnie Walker team for sponsoring this episode!
Kentucky’s first female master distiller, Marianne Eaves, comes on the podcast to talk about life after Brown Forman and Castle & Key Distillery. We talk about some of the industry changes she’s observed over the last several years, as well as her new evolving projects on the consultative side of the business. Congratulations to Marianne on the birth of her first child, Andi Lane Eaves-Venardos, only a few days after this podcast was recorded!
Follow Marianne Eaves on Instagram
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Get Mark’s book: The Whisky Cabinet
Support the podcast (and get great perks) on Patreon. Get your latest whisky reviews on whisky.buzz! You can find this week’s patron exclusive content here.
This podcast was edited and mixed by Bryan Goman.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Mark and Jamie do their part in flattening the curve on St. Patrick's day by drinking whisky and playing a game (that’s not a drinking game). Jamie drinks some Balvenie, and Mark drinks some random sample bottles with (almost) no idea what they are.
Follow Jamie on Twitter and Instagram
Follow Mark on Twitter and Instagram
Get Mark’s book: The Whisky Cabinet
Support the podcast (and get great perks) on Patreon. Get your latest whisky reviews on whisky.buzz! You can find this week’s patron exclusive content here.
This podcast was edited and mixed by Bryan Goman.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Chris Carberry is CEO and co-founder of Explore Mars, Inc. and the author of Alcohol in Space: Past, Present, and Future. We talk about how alcohol has shaped human civilization, and how it might shape our future in space. Space is officially in the state of prohibition, but there are many rumours of drinks being brought up to the space station. We cover that, and what booze might look taste like at zero G. The forward for the book is written by the author of The Martian, Andy Weir.
Get Alcohol in Space: Past, Present, and Future
We mention:
Humans to Mars Summit
Explore Mars
The Martian: A Novel
Artemis
Ardbeg in Space
Follow Jamie on Twitter and Instagram
Follow Mark on Twitter and Instagram
Get Mark’s book: The Whisky Cabinet
Support the podcast (and get great perks) on Patreon. Get your latest whisky reviews on whisky.buzz! You can find this week’s patron exclusive content here.
This podcast was edited and mixed by Bryan Goman.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
Cam Millar of Highland Park and Glenrothes joins Jamie and Mark on the podcast. In the spirit of the holidays, we have a competition. Mark reads out tasting notes, and Jamie and Cam battle out for which whisky was described in that particular way. Someone wins! There is a promise of a prize.
This episode is available on YouTube
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Follow Mark on Twitter and Instagram
Get Mark’s book: The Whisky Cabinet
Support the podcast (and get great perks) on Patreon. Get your latest whisky reviews on whisky.buzz! You can find this week’s patron exclusive content here.
Relevant whisky reviews on whisky.buzz:
The Balvenie Single Barrel 12 Year Old Review
The Balvenie Week of Peat Review
The Balvenie A Day of Dark Barley Review
Tasting notes covered in the podcast:
Edinburgh Whisky Blog - Glenrothes Collection
Whisky Notes - Glenrothes Whisky Maker’s
Connosr.com MarkJedi1 - Highland Park Twisted Tattoo
Whisky Saga - Highland Park Valfather
Scotch Noob - The Balvenie 12 Year Old Single Barrel
Modern Thirst - The Balvenie Week of Peat
The Whiskey Jug - The Balvenie Week of Peat
Scotch Whisky - The Balvenie Dark Day of Barley
This podcast was edited and mixed by Bryan Goman.
The theme song is licensed in thanks to Alan Doyle! It's available on iTunes.
