Filmland Spirits founders Troy Bolotnick and Charlie Flint created their brand as an homage to the classic “B Movies” of the 1950’s and 60’s. With eye-catching labels based on movie posters and names like “Moonlight Mayhem” and “Ryes of the Robots,” their whiskies stand out on store shelves and in the eyes of the critics, who have given Filmland Spirits’ whiskies several medals in recent competitions. Troy Bolotnick joins us on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth, and we’ll have a double feature tasting of his whiskies in the What I’m Tasting This Week Department. In the news, two more Irish distilleries have been shut down, including Diageo’s Roe & Co. facility in Dublin, at a time when the deadline for a new European Union-U.S. trade deal is fast approaching.
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36:04
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36:04
Campbeltown's Role in Scotch Whisky History
At one time, Campbeltown, Scotland was the heart of the Scotch Whisky industry with around 30 working distilleries. Over the years, all but two disappeared, and the futures of Springbank and Glen Scotia were very much in doubt at various times over the last century. Author David Stirk researched the history of Campbeltown and its distilleries for his new book “Whiskyopolis,” and he’ll join us on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, we have details on more layoffs in the whisky industry, with declining global demand getting the blame. Two Canadian provinces are ending their boycott of American-made whiskies, and we have a lot of new releases to talk about this week.
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38:28
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38:28
In Search of Vintage Whiskey
Whisky collector Mark Wade specializes in vintage bottlings, specifically Prohibition-era “medicinal” bottles. Part of his collection went on the auction block this month at Sotheby’s, and he’ll join us on his week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth to discuss the search for dusties, authenticating his finds, and that one whisky he’s still searching for. In the news, this year’s class of Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame honorees has been announced, and we’ll talk with Parker Beam Lifetime Achievement Award winner Chris Morris. We’ll also look at an Irish distillery’s unique use of nanotechnology in its stills on Behind the Label.
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36:46
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36:46
The Masters...and The Protege
Dr. Bill Lumsden is best known as the head of whisky creation for The Glenmorangie Company, but he’s also the master blender for Beyonce’s Sir Davis American whiskey. Much of the day to day work of blending Sir Davis falls to master blender Cameron George, who took on the role when Sir Davis was launched last year. We’ll talk with both of them on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth, and we’ll also be joined by Ireland’s first female master blender, Helen Mulholland of Sazerac’s Hawk’s Rock Distillery. She’s just released the first whiskey from Hawk’s Rock, the Garavogue 20-year-old Irish single malt. In the news, investors ran away from Brown-Forman shares this week following a disappointing earnings report, and two fledgling Kentucky distilleries are facing lawsuits and liens over construction bills.
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42:36
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42:36
Mary Dowling: The Mother of Bourbon
Mary Dowling was a pioneer among women in distilling. She ran distilleries and cooperages with her husband John before and after his death in 1903, and is the subject of a new historical novel, “Mother of Bourbon” by Eric Goodman and Kaveh Zamanian. Zamanian is the founder of Rabbit Hole Distillery in Louisville, and recently released a series of whiskies bearing Mary Dowling’s name. He’ll join us on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth, and we’ll taste one of Mary’s whiskies in the What I’m Tasting This Week Department. In the news, the courts are getting involved in President Donald Trump’s trade war, while economic conditions have prompted a major Scottish maltster to postpone its expansion plans.
Each week's episode features the latest whisky news, a calendar of upcoming events, and interviews with whisky experts. For more information, links, and a complete archive of past episodes, visit www.whiskycast.com.