200 Years, 6 Master Blenders (Episode 832: August 16, 2020)

Johnnie Walker is celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2020, and in all that time, there have been only six master blenders. Jim Beveridge is the latest in a line that goes all the way back to founder John Walker, and he leads the team that created four new whiskies for the anniversary. We’ll talk with him on WhiskyCast In-Depth about the pressure of blending rare whiskies, setting up a blending lab at home during the Covid-19 pandemic, and which of Scotland’s historic distilleries he’d choose to rescue if given a time machine.

In the news, the Trump Administration is leaving tariffs on imported single malt whiskies from Scotland and Northern Ireland in place over the objections of whisky makers. We’ll also look at the local economic impact in Bardstown, Kentucky following the decision to make this year’s Kentucky Bourbon Festival a virtual event, along with updates on the week’s new whiskies and a tribute to one of whisky’s top distillers.

Links: Johnnie Walker | Office of the U.S. Trade Representative | Distilled Spirits Council | Scotch Whisky Association | Kentucky Bourbon Festival | Kavalan | Westland Distillery | Maker’s Mark | Sagamore Spirit | Douglas Laing & Co. | Waterford Distillery | Stoll & Wolfe Distillery | Dewar’s | Elijah Craig | Barrel and Bottle | Food & Drug Administration Gluten Labeling Rule