The Whiskey Lore® Podcast

Wow, two completely different countries here on the first day of Whisky Flights - neither known for whisky - but both with craft distilleries that are working to define the flavors of their countries.

As we began taking nominations for our Craft Distillery Bracketology on Whiskey Lore's Instagram, I put a call out for "world" craft distilleries. When Riachi was nominated by a Whiskey Lore fan, it piqued my curiosity about what a Lebanese whisky would taste like. Then Roy, the 8th generation winemaker and distiller sent me a DM and I instantly knew, I wanted him on the podcast.

It's time to stretch ourselves beyond the traditional distilling regions to kick this show off. Join me as I take you virtually into the mountains of Lebanon to discover Riachi's spirits.

Happy World Whisky Day 2024!

Today is the perfect day to release a brand new Whiskey Lore series called "Whiskey Lore's Whisky Flights."

As usual, I, Drew Hannush, am expanding the boundaries of what a whisky podcast can be.

For years I have traveled to distilleries in Scotland, Ireland, and the United States, talking to founders, distillers, and tour guides. This led to two best selling travel books (Experiencing Irish Whiskey and Experiencing Kentucky Bourbon) where I revealed the secrets of planning the perfect distillery get away. But books take a long time to write and publish and I have so many experiences I want to share.

So now, through "Whiskey Lore's Whisky Flights" you can pack yourself away in my virtual suitcase, as we travel together and learn about great craft distilleries all over this planet. It's something that is made possible, thanks to the power of podcasting, my storytelling, and a bit of imagination.

Join me on my first stop today, in a non-traditional whisky distilling region, South Africa, as we meet Pieter Van Helden and find out why knowing science is an important element in making whisky, and we'll find out more about the town of Parys, where the distillery is located, and maybe inspire you to visit.

As a companion to this podcast, check out the brand new distillery guide that is rapidly being built at whiskey-lore.com/travelguide. Here, you can build wish lists of your favorite distilleries and build your own whisky trail. And if you own a craft distillery, reach out to me at whiskey-lore.com/contact to see how we can feature your distillery.

Enjoy our first flight! It's going to be a wild and fun journey of discovery.

Cheers and sláinte mhath
Drew

In a rugged corner of Northern Ireland, the hills of Inishowen whisper tales of rebellion and moonlit mischief. We'll meet Patrick, a humble tailor thrust into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse with excise officers. Then learn about the defiant distillers of Inishowen use any means at their disposal to preserve their livelihood. Join me on a journey back to the 19th century, where secret stills and hidden valleys echo with the spirit of rebellion.

And after a day off on my own historic journey around Ireland, I set out for Baoilleach Distillery in Donegal. I'll meet with Michael O'Boyle, the proprietor and see first hand, his commitment to using local grains and peat, along with his unique approach to distilling.

Welcome back to the countinued journey through Ireland's storied whiskey past, present, and future.

In a world where branding has become paramount in the promotion of people and products, certain brands have slipped from our vernacular, or have taken on new roles.

Long ago, the saloon was much more than just the domain of cowboys and gunfighters in the Old West. But for some reason, the name disappeared. It's time to delve into the history of the concept and find out...whatever happened to the old time saloon?

For more Whiskey Lore Stories, check out the new book The Lost History of Tennessee Whiskey by Drew Hannush. It's available at your favorite online bookseller or at Whiskey-Lore.com/audio

Think you know the story behind the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897? Well, if you listened to the episode in Season 1 or have read any modern literature on it, prepare to be shocked.

During my research for my new book The Lost History of Tennessee Whiskey, I bumped into an obscure piece of information from 1895 that turns the entire narrative around Colonel E.H. Taylor and the Bottled-in-Bond Act on its head.

In this episode, things will start as they did when I created this episode in 2019, along with some subtle changes. Then, the episode will take a wild turn and you'll hear a story hasn't been told in over 125 years. Prepare to "re-learn" history.

So, where has Whiskey Lore Stories been all summer? I'll give you the lowdown. In reality, I've been working on 30 new episodes, but they will be in a different format than you're used to.

As I break the century mark on Whiskey Lore: The Interviews episodes and complete a summer of writing stories that I have yet to share, it is time to look at how I've done things with Whiskey Lore and where I can make it even better. I give the update as I reveal some of my findings during my research for the upcoming book The Lost History of Tennessee Whiskey.

Enjoy this episode, which is also available on the Whiskey Lore: The Interviews podcast.

It's hard to imagine what the whiskey industry would look like today, if a certain excise man had succumbed to the wounds he received in Donegal in 1810. The early 19th century was a critical time for Irish whiskey. The Acts of Union had united the country with an empire and new markets were open for spirits.

But growing pains were the rule of the day. Large distillers and the Parliament were crushing small distillers and becoming jealous of those who were making higher profits off of their illicit poitín. A war was brewing out west and something was going to give.

Also in this episode, we'll rejoin Alfred Barnard as he travels from Galway to Limerick and I'll be stopping off at the Old Bushmills Distillery in Northern Ireland.

It seems appropriate that an episode featuring me taking a walking tour of Belfast with McConnell's Sarah Kennedy would sync up with the story of the Irish Rebellion of 1798. It was a pivital time in Irish history, when a last ditch effort was made to separate from the control of Great Britain. Its an event that would echo down through Irish history - especially in Belfast and Northern Ireland.

Hear the story of one of the rebellion's central figures and how one of the United Irishmen's own came to haunt one of Ireland's most historic distilleries.

And enjoy a cruise around Belfast, where - dare I say, I tasted the greatest beer I've ever tasted.

Cheers and Slainte mhaith!