Mark Gillespie

Who's ready for a new episode of WhiskyCast? This week, we'll look at the story behind Masataka Taketsuru's distilling studies in Scotland a century ago...and the first English translation of his legendary notebook! We'll also have the week's whisky news, tasting notes, and much more! Listen with your favorite #podcast app or at WhiskyCast.com.

If you missed tonight's #HappyHourLive webcast with @DavindeK and @meatrobot, the on-demand replay is available now at our YouTube channel! You can find out why Billy has a photo of Adam West's #Batman, too! ;) https://youtu.be/tCH-8AVslMI

Our Friday #HappyHourLive weekly webcasts return starting tomorrow! @davindek will join us to talk about tonight's Canadian Whisky Awards presentation, and @meatrobot will be with us to talk about his new book "The Philosophy of Whisky." The fun starts at 5pm NY Time/10pm UK time on the WhiskyCast YouTube channel, our Facebook page, Twitter, and Twitch!

At the doctor’s this morning… “Do you use tobacco?” “Never” “Do you drink alcohol?” (Takes a sip of coffee from this mug…) “Ummm…yeah. It’s my job.” 😏

We'll dig into Scotland's whisky history on this week's WhiskyCast! National Trust for Scotland archaeologist Derek Alexander joins us to share his research into illicit distilling sites all over Scotland, and how many of them may still have yet to be discovered. We'll also have the week's #whisky news, tasting notes, and a debate over the markups some liquor stores charge for Pappy Van Winkle and other rare whiskies. Listen with your favorite #podcast app or at WhiskyCast.com.

New year, same classic @redbreastirishwhiskey Small Batch by the fire! #SaturdayNightSip #WhiskyCastSponsor

Just thinking out loud… There’s a perception among some consumers that Blended Scotch whiskies aren’t as good as single malts or other whiskies. So…what if they changed the rules? Drop the “blended” and just label it #ScotchWhisky? Keep “blended” for blended malts and grains along with “single” for single malts and grains. The best-selling Irish whiskies are blended, but they don’t use the “b-word.” Is it worth having the discussion, knowing it would require a change in Scottish law? I’m a big fan of Blended Scotch whiskies, and want to see them get the respect they deserve. If that means changing the terms, then let’s have that discussion. Too many consumers confuse Blended Scotch whiskies with the one other category that uses the “B-word” — Blended American Whiskey. Hell, that’s the worst stuff we make in the US…no wonder it confuses people. It’s blended with grain neutral spirits, flavorings, etc. If it weren’t for the dominance Blends have in the global market, we would have 10% of the malt whisky distilleries we have in Scotland now. It’s clear that there either needs to be more consumer education or a change in philosophy.

There’s a special place in Hell for people who charge this much for Van Winkle whiskies! That’s more than 10X the list price!!! 🤬

The Whisky Fairy (they/their) made their first stop of 2022 this morning! 😏

This came in the mail today. Someone needs a new marketing person...look at the first photo and decide what service you think it's for before you look at the second one. 🙄

More rickhouses should have windows like this one at Nevada's @freyranchdistillery . The sunlight makes the barrels look beautiful, as this week's Whisky Photo of the Week shows.

If you haven't tried the youngest of 3 whiskies in the Dewar’s Double Double series, this 21-Year is an absolute must try. Their unique 4-stage aging process is a testament to the care and craftsmanship required to make such a fine whisky. Scored the Double Double 21 94 points when I tasted it! #whiskycastsponsor #dewars #scotch

This week on WhiskyCast, we'll visit the New York Distilling Company in Brooklyn. The distillery just celebrated its 10th anniversary last month with the release of a single barrel Ragtime Rye whiskey selected by bartending guru Dale DeGroff, with proceeds going to the USBG's Helen David Relief Fund. We'll also get an update on the rush by US distillers to get back into Europe with the end of the EU's import tariff on American whisky, and Chef David Burke tells us about next Thursday's Beef & Bourbon dinners at his restaurants to raise money for Western Kentucky tornado victims. Listen at WhiskyCast.com or with your favorite #podcast app!

Our first #podcast of 2022 just dropped! We'll talk with Allen Katz of @nydistilling on the #Brooklyn distillery's 10th anniversary (and break some news), along with news on the end of Europe's tariffs on US whiskies as distillers re-enter the market. Listen with your favorite podcast app or at WhiskyCast.com!

First pint of the #NewYear!!!

Have decided on my #LastDram of 2021...the really rare Tom's Blend No. 1 from @lastdropdistillers that was created especially for the late whisky blender Tom Jago. His daughter @rebeccajago gifted it to me earlier this year, and I only open it on special occasions. Happy New Year, everyone!