If you have questions about WhiskyCast that we haven’t answered here, please use the contact form at the bottom of the page to get in touch with us. If you’re brand-new to podcasts and need some help, visit our Podcast Basics page.

Q: What is WhiskyCast?

WhiskyCast is a global community sharing the stories of whisky.  We started out in 2005 with the weekly WhiskyCast podcast, and since then, we’ve expanded to include the monthly WhiskyCast Virtual Tastings podcast, WhiskyCast HD video segments, WhiskyCast University, along with the web site, social media, live gatherings, and mobile apps.  Our tasting notes are based upon the opinions of WhiskyCast’s founder, executive producer and host Mark Gillespie.

Q: What is WhiskyCast Virtual Tastings, and how can I be on a tasting panel?

WhiskyCast Virtual Tastings is our monthly podcast that focuses on your opinions about whiskies. Each month, we assemble a tasting panel either by Skype or in-person to taste a series of whiskies, and it’s the opinions of the panelists that determine the scores. Our belief is that almost anyone can learn to nose and taste whiskies, and we want to open up the dialogue previously reserved for a handful of experts. If you’d like to be on a tasting panel for a future episode (and you don’t work in the whisky industry), please use our contact form to get in touch with us.

Q: Do I need to be an expert to share my opinions with the WhiskyCast community?

Of course not! We welcome your opinions on any whisky-related subject…this is as much your community as it is ours.

Q: How can I connect with you on social media?

You can find and “like” WhiskyCast on Facebook, and follow Mark’s Twitter feed as well. We’re also on Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Google+ if you use those services, and you’ll find links to share content from the WhiskyCast web site on many of our pages. If you’re not a fan of social media, you can always email us using the contact form.

Q: Why do you always spell “whisky” without the “e”?

We use the global spelling for “whisky” without the “e” as a general style rule, unless we’re referring to a brand that specifically uses “whiskey” on its label. While Scotches, Bourbons, and whiskies from Canada and Ireland tend to dominate the market, there are great whiskies being produced in Japan, India, Australia, Wales, France and many other countries. We have featured whiskies from all of these countries on WhiskyCast, and if you know of an obscure whisky that deserves more attention, please let us know.

Q: I never had to register on your site before. Why do I have to now?

Let’s face it, the old site was clunky and outdated. We’ve added a lot of new content with the new site and will be adding even more in the coming months, and we’d like to be able to manage it properly. We’d like you to register in order to be able to post comments, receive our email newsletter, enter contests, or take a WhiskyCast University class. In the past, we had one list for the newsletter, and we would pick contest winners from either emails, our Facebook page, or Twitter followers. That’s a lot of work, and we’ve decided to simplify it with one registration page.

Q: Do I have to worry about viruses or spyware when I download your podcasts, and how will you protect my privacy?

Absolutely not! As far as we know, no one’s figured out how to add spyware to .mp3 files. By the way, when you register on the site and click “remember me” at log-in, a small cookie will be saved to your computer so that you remain logged in. However, we do not use tracking cookies or the “deep-packet” tracking software you may have heard about recently, nor do we allow our advertisers to use ad-serving networks that track your viewing habits.

We do use Google Analytics to see how users view the site and where we can improve your experience here, and our website hosts do collect some generic data that we have no control over, such as what country you’re in, the operating system and browser you use, and what files you request while you’re at the site. They may well track other web sites that you visit, and there’s nothing we can do about that. The data is collected as an aggregate, and no individual can be specifically identified. That said, if something bad happens to your computer while you’re downloading a WhiskyCast episode, we can’t be held responsible for it — since we have no control over your computer or Internet connection. If you want to find out more about our privacy policy, check our Terms of Service and Privacy Policies page.

Q: Can I add a link to your site from my website?

Sure, as long as you’re not running a porn site, online gambling, or anything else that could be illegal in certain parts of the world. For legal reasons, we’re not responsible for the content on any site that links to this one, and the same goes for the sites we link to. We have made reasonable efforts to make sure that those links don’t go anywhere unsafe or offensive, but can’t be responsible for sites we have no control over.

Q: Will you add a link to my web site?

It depends. If your site is whisky-related and offers good content, we’ll look at it. Blogs and non-commercial sites will be added for free, along with those for events and distillers, but we do reserve the right to limit free links for for-profit entities such as retailers.  Just ask, and we’ll be glad to discuss it with you.

Q: How can I get an event listed on your Calendar of Events?

Just email us using the contact form on this site, and please provide a URL where readers can find more information. It’s free to list an event on the calendar, but we do offer a promotional package for event organizers that provides the opportunity for enhanced promotion on the weekly podcast and the web site, along with the opportunity to have a WhiskyCast episode produced on location at your event. Contact us for more details.

If you have any other questions, feel free to get in touch with us!