Not Another Whisky Podcast

It’s Halloween, the nights are drawing in and whisky season is well and truly here. So naturally, Mitch and Daz are talking about dead mashmen, haunted maltings, disappearing old ladies, cursed distilleries, the Devil hiding inside a whisky cask and a professor who apparently solved a haunting with two iron stakes and a ley line. Completely normal whisky podcast stuff.

We start with the obvious question: do either of us actually believe in ghosts?

From there, Mitch tells the story of The Balvenie’s Green Lady, including former maltman Robbie Gormley’s poem about meeting her during his final night shift — before sharing his own unexplained experience inside the Balvenie maltings at around 1:30 in the morning.

Then things get properly strange.

There’s the rocking horse in the infamous school room at Drummuir Castle — made considerably creepier when, halfway through telling the story, an old Diageo colleague connected to the castle inexplicably phones.

We get into Hazelwood House and the stories surrounding Wee Jannie, Jura’s Prophecy and the remarkably specific prediction that supposedly came true more than 200 years later, plus Cardhu’s dead mashmen, mysterious footsteps and perhaps the greatest piece of paranormal problem-solving in Scotch whisky history.

Daz takes us to Islay for the legend behind Bowmore’s Devil’s Casks, where the Devil himself supposedly fled the famous Round Church, hid inside a whisky cask and disappeared aboard a ship that was never seen again.

Naturally, we also find time to actually drink some whisky, as Daz gets into Bowmore’s Halloween releases, including the Devil’s Cask 10 and 22 Year Old.

Elsewhere:

• The Glenrothes ghost and the professor who blamed a broken ley line
• Magnus “Mansie” Eunson hiding illicit whisky beneath a fake funeral at Highland Park
• GlenDronach’s mysterious Spanish Lady
• The voice at Buffalo Trace that may have saved a work crew
• Strathisla’s 130-year-old Old Meg
• Duncan MacCallum and the haunting stories surrounding Glen Scotia
• Why Mitch may have stayed on the good side of Wee Jannie
• Why Daz still refuses to believe any of it
• And why Mitch’s soul may still be somewhere behind Tesco in Campbeltown
•

Some of these stories are historical.

Some are folklore passed down through generations of distillery workers.

Some are genuinely difficult to explain.

And some are almost certainly complete bollocks.

Happy Halloween.

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.

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Five years ago, Dr Whisky joined us to talk about blending whiskies from 14 different countries. Five years later, he's back, and apparently he's still not run out of ideas. Or ways to get himself into trouble.

This week, Mitch catches up with old friend Sam Simmons, Head of Whisky at Atom Brands and the creative mind behind That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Wormtub, Darkness and a frankly ridiculous number of whisky releases.

And Sam's got a few things to get off his chest.

Are whisky shows actually putting people off whisky? Have enthusiasts become so obsessed with cask strength, single malts and age statements that we've forgotten how to simply enjoy a dram? And with warehouses full of whisky and consumers tightening their belts, has the industry got a little carried away with itself?

We also get into the changing world of independent bottling, Atom's return to independent ownership, the joys of blended whisky and why a Johnnie Walker Black Label on ice is sometimes exactly what the doctor ordered.

Then there's Dalry Milk. What started as an emotional love letter to Edinburgh turned into a whisky inspired by a chocolate bar, complete with a rather polite request from the lawyers to stop selling it. You couldn't make it up.

Throw in 21-year-old world whisky blends, worm tub condensers, exciting new distilleries, peanut butter whisky and Sam's new life in Norway, and we've got plenty to talk about.

It's whisky, friendship, a few strong opinions and absolutely no requirement to take any of it too seriously.

Welcome back, Dr Whisky.

LINKS & DRAMS MENTIONED

Want to explore some of Sam's creations? Here are the links to the brands, bottles and questionable ideas we talked about.

• Atom Brands – The home of Sam's whisky creations.
• Master of Malt – Where you'll find many of the whiskies discussed.
• That Boutique-y Whisky Company – Independent bottlings, brilliant labels and plenty of unusual drams.
• Wormtub Whisky – Big, bold, meaty whiskies, including the single cask releases Sam discusses.
• Darkness Whisky – Intensely sherried whiskies from Atom.
• 21 Year Old World Whisky Blend – Sam's latest adventure in blending whiskies from around the world.
• Dalry Milk (Removed by the Fun Police) – The infamous Edinburgh grain whisky that got the lawyers interested.
• The Islay Collection – A collaboration with Studio Minerva featuring 16, 20 and 30 year old Islay single casks.
• Master of Malt Flavoured Whisky Range – Peanut Butter, Mint Choc and Gingerbread.
•

If you've enjoyed the episode, give us a follow, leave a review and share it with a fellow whisky lover. Preferably one who doesn't insist everything has to be cask strength.

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back!

After a few ridiculously busy weeks, Mitch and Daz finally manage to get themselves in the same virtual room for a much-needed catch-up. And judging by what's been happening in the whisky world, they've got plenty to talk about.

Mitch's been gallivanting around Ireland, hosting whisky adventures across Scotland and launching two new Turas Mòr whiskies on the Isle of Raasay. Meanwhile, Daz has been drinking old Glengarioch, exploring whisky bars in Hong Kong and generally living his best life.

But there's some serious whisky news to get stuck into as well.

A bottle of The Macallan 1926 has sold for over £2 million at Sotheby's first auction held at the distillery. Balvenie has unveiled an extraordinary 88-year-old single malt, becoming the oldest Scotch whisky ever released. The controversial English Whisky Geographical Indication has caused a bit of a stir, and sadly, community-owned GlenWyvis Distillery has entered administration.

Naturally, Mitch has a few opinions. Particularly when it comes to what actually constitutes a single malt whisky.

In this episode:

• Mitch's Irish whisky adventure, from Tullamore and Dingle to Midleton and Kinsale.
• Daz's adventures with old Glengarioch and Hong Kong whisky bars.
• The Turas Mòr launch on Raasay, featuring questionable Scottish weather, wild swimming and whisky on a cliff.
• Daz tastes the new Turas Mòr Dailuaine and Benrinnes 12-year-olds.
• The Macallan 1926 sells for over £2 million.
• Balvenie releases an extraordinary 88-year-old single malt, alongside two new expressions celebrating its traditional maltings.
• The English Whisky GI controversy. Should single malt whisky have to be mashed, fermented and distilled at one distillery?
• GlenWyvis enters administration. What does its closure tell us about the pressures facing independent distilleries?
• And the usual amount of nonsense you've come to expect from us.

Get your hands on Turas Mòr

Two new limited-edition Speyside single malts under their independent bottling brand, Turas Mòr.

Only 150 bottles of each have been produced, and both were launched during a whisky adventure on the Isle of Raasay.

Dailuaine 12 Year Old, Edition #3

A vibrant, creamy Speyside single malt with fresh orchard fruit, toasted nuts, gentle spice and a touch of oak.

Buy Dailuaine 12 Year Old

Benrinnes 12 Year Old, Edition #4

Rich, fruity and full of character, with dark berries, chocolate, fruitcake and warming spice.

Buy Benrinnes 12 Year Old

Both are exclusively available through The Speyside Whisky Shop, subject to availability.

Explore the full range: https://www.turasmorwhisky.com/

Whisky news and articles

The Macallan 1926 auction

A rare 1926 Fine & Rare bottling takes centre stage at Sotheby's first auction held at The Macallan Estate.

Sotheby's: Live from The Macallan Estate

The Spirits Business: Rare Macallan 1926 sells for £2.2m (2023 record)

Balvenie 88 Year Old

Just 17 bottles of the 1931 vintage exist, making this a remarkable piece of whisky history.

Financial Times: Balvenie's 88-year-old whisky

English Whisky GI controversy

The approval of English Whisky's geographical indication has sparked debate over single malt production methods, with the Scotch Whisky Association formally appealing the decision.

Scotch Whisky Association: Appeal against English Whisky GI

UK Government: English Whisky GI specification

GlenWyvis Distillery enters administration

Sad news for the world's first community-owned distillery, with administrators appointed following prolonged financial difficulties.

Interpath: GlenWyvis enters administration

The Spirits Business: GlenWyvis secured £500,000 funding earlier in 2026

Follow the adventure

Enjoyed the episode? Give us a follow, leave a review and share it with someone who loves a good dram and a healthy dose of whisky industry nonsense.

Thanks for listening

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back on the Isle of Raasay, three years after our last proper sit down with Alasdair Day, co founder and master blender at the Isle of Raasay Distillery.

Recorded at the distillery, the conversation is less about introducing Raasay and much more about how it is growing up. With the spirit now approaching nine years old, Alasdair talks us through how the original six cask recipe is developing, what they’ve learned from ex rye, Bordeaux and Chinkapin oak, and why lower filling strengths could be having a significant effect on maturation.

We also get into one of the more interesting whisky debates we’ve had for a while. How much does water really contribute to the character of a whisky? While the industry often talks about a figure around 2%, Alasdair believes Raasay’s mineral rich water could be responsible for considerably more, particularly because they use it throughout cask reduction on the island.

Away from the liquid, we talk about what the distillery has done for Raasay itself. New jobs, a growing population, people moving to the island to build their lives there, community energy projects and the relationship between the distillery and the people around it.

And, of course, we look ahead. Ten and fifteen year old Raasay, another warehouse, ideas for a whisky school, the currently paused Campbeltown distillery project, and why Alasdair isn’t exactly rushing out to fill Raasay spirit into tequila and mezcal casks just because the rules now allow it.

A proper catch up with one of whisky’s busiest men, from one of Scotland’s most remarkable wee islands.

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mitch heads to The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s Queen Street Members’ Room in Edinburgh to sit down with Calum Lawson, SMWS Member Experience Manager and co-host of the Society’s Whisky Talk podcast.

Calum’s route into whisky wasn’t exactly mapped out from the beginning. From years in Glasgow hospitality and running a bar and restaurant, he moved into the Society as manager of the Bath Street Members’ Room, spent time on the whisky buying team, and now finds himself helping shape everything from member experiences and international tastings to podcasts and new releases.

We get into the wonderfully terrifying world of blind tasting and SMWS’s new Caskmaster competition: eight mystery drams, nine possible answers and absolutely nowhere to hide. Mitch recalls Charlie MacLean’s advice never to blind taste Scotch whisky, while Calum explains why the Society decided to ignore that advice entirely.

There’s also plenty of Society chat: how those mysterious distillery numbers work, how single casks are selected, why ridiculous bottle names such as “Beware of the Lurking Gherkin” are part of the fun, and what actually goes into creating memorable whisky experiences for members around the world.

But there’s also a bit of news.

CopperCairn and The Scotch Malt Whisky Society are teaming up for a Speyside adventure from 12–15 March 2027, bringing Society members north for a few days of behind-the-scenes distillery access, whisky dinners, tastings, blending sessions and a few distinctly CopperCairn additions along the way.

There is even talk of a dip in the River Spey. Speedos remain optional. Probably.

And there’s another twist: the 2026 Caskmaster Champion will win a place on the CopperCairn Speyside trip, making the stakes in the Society’s blind tasting championship considerably higher than bragging rights over your mates.

Caskmaster 2026

The Caskmaster Grand Final takes place at The Vaults in Leith on 12 November 2026.

The overall champion receives lifetime membership of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society as well as a place on the CopperCairn Speyside adventure from 12–15 March 2027.

Find out more

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society: smws.com

SMWS Whisky Talk: www.smws.com/podcast

CopperCairn: coppercairn.com

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we welcome whisky maker, consultant and long-time friend of the podcast Brendan McCarron back to Not Another Whisky Podcast.

And this time, we’re talking yeast.

It might not sound like the sexiest part of whisky making, but the deeper you go, the more fascinating it gets.

We chat about how yeast was viewed when Brendan first started making whisky at Diageo, whether Scotch became a little too focused on yield and consistency, and why distillers are now starting to look at yeast as a genuine tool for creating flavour.

From Glenmorangie and Holyrood to InchDairnie, Loch Lomond, The Lakes and what American whiskey producers have been doing for decades, we get into different strains, longer fermentations, wild yeast, wine yeast and just how much influence the little buggers can actually have.

We also talk about Brendan’s work with new distilleries, how the conversation around yeast has changed during his career, working alongside Dr Bill Lumsden, and whether Scotch whisky has been a little bit behind the curve.

It gets geeky.

But in a good way.

Welcome to The Yeastie Boys.

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mitch and Daz are back together for a long-overdue August catch-up, recorded from the glamour of Daz’s self-proclaimed “bitchin’ kitchen.”

They compare notes on what they’ve been up to, the whisky they’ve been drinking and the general chaos of a busy summer before diving into some of the more unusual stories from around the whisky world.

There’s the retired farmer storing a £750,000 whisky collection in converted pigsties, Woven and Civerinos combining whisky, Scottish honey and a fairly aggressive collection of chillies, and the arrival of the new Stannergill Distillery in Caithness.

Mitch also shares his experience at The Macallan’s Coconut Dreams pop-up beside the Spey, including the slightly surreal sight of Macallan being poured into a blender to make piña coladas.

The pair also discuss the new signature single malt from the Isle of Harris and whether whisky drinkers occasionally need to become a little less precious about how their drams are enjoyed.

Later in the episode, Mitch catches up with Victoria Miller, founder of Sip Seekers, to hear about the platform she has created to make discovering and booking Scotland’s distilleries, tastings and drinks experiences considerably easier.

Expect whisky news, old drams, questionable kitchens, expensive pigsties and the usual amount of informed nonsense.

Links to news and Sip Seekers

£750k Pigsty Whisky Collection – The Whiskey Wash

Woven x Civerinos Hot Honey

The Macallan – Inspired by Fresh Coconut

Stannergill Distillery Starts Production – The Spirits Business

The Isle of Harris Single Malt Whisky

Sip Seekers

Not Another Whisky Podcast on Acast

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is a wee bit different.

Earlier this year, Mitch met Graeme and Angus from Whisky Stories and the idea was simple: get both podcasts in the same room, pour a few drams, and record something together.

That idea quickly grew into a live event, a charity night, and a raffle that raised an incredible £1,400 for The BEN, supporting people across the hospitality and licensed trade.

Recorded live at Uno Mas, this episode sees Not Another Whisky Podcast go head to head with Whisky Stories, with the brilliant Mark Thompson trying his best to keep everyone in line.

Expect drams, audience votes, questionable tactics, brilliant whisky chat, and a few strong opinions along the way.

We get into favourite distillery visits, cask finishes, whisky bars, and the kind of stories that only come out when you put whisky people in front of a live audience.

A huge thank you to everyone who donated bottles, prizes, minis and support for the raffle, and to Sian at Uno Mas for letting us use the venue.

Pour yourself something good and enjoy a proper live whisky night with NAWP and Whisky Stories.

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daz is flying solo this week as he sits down with Highland Park’s Martin Markvardsen on the eve of his twentieth anniversary as the distillery’s brand ambassador.

Martin takes us back to his early days managing the legendary Quaich Bar at the Craigellachie Hotel, where 784 whiskies, industry characters and the occasional lock in provided a fairly thorough education. He explains how repeatedly including Highland Park 18 in his tastings eventually led to a phone call offering him the ambassador’s job.

They look back at what whisky ambassadorship involved in 2006, from lengthy technical masterclasses and enormous whisky festivals to the characters who shaped the industry, including Jim McEwan, Charlie MacLean, Dave Broom, Ronnie Cox, Ian Miller and Ian Logan.

Martin and Daz also discuss how the role has changed. Today’s ambassadors need to understand social media, online tastings, cocktails and content creation alongside the traditional production knowledge and storytelling. There are tales of sideways Zoom tastings, Facebook mistaking Martin’s Highland Park tattoo for pornography and Daz missing his own masterclass after a particularly enthusiastic night aboard the Viking Line.

Finally, they attempt to choose their greatest Highland Park releases of all time, covering bottles including Leif Eriksson, the 1977 Bicentenary, Hjarta, the original 50 Year Old, Dark Origins and the ever dependable Highland Park 18.

A relaxed and wonderfully nostalgic conversation about two decades with one distillery, the people who make whisky special and why Martin still has no plans to slow down.

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

After more than 200 episodes, we have finally given Irish whiskey the proper attention it deserves. Mitch and Daz are joined by Barry Chandler, better known as Irish Whiskey Barry, an independent educator, community builder and three-time Whisky Magazine Ireland Communicator of the Year.

Barry guides us through Irish whiskey’s past, present and future using three pot still whiskeys. We begin with Redbreast 12 and uncover the story of Gilbey’s, Dublin’s historic whiskey bonders, the “priest’s tipple” and the surprising connection between Redbreast and the original Baileys bottle.

For the present, Barry chooses Boann Legacy, an accessible modern pot still whiskey that represents Ireland’s extraordinary growth from just four working distilleries to more than 50.

Finally, we head to the Mourne Mountains and Killowen, a tiny direct-fired distillery Barry describes as “Ireland’s Springbank,” where historic mash bills, radical transparency and hands-on production point towards the future.

Along the way, we discuss the Dingle effect, the myths surrounding the malt tax, oats in Irish whiskey, triple distillation, Jameson’s dominance, the current review of the Irish whiskey technical file and the commercial pressures facing the country’s newer distilleries.

Plus, Barry explains why “smooth” might be one of whiskey’s most useless compliments.

Follow Barry on Instagram and TikTok at @irishwhiskeybarry, and discover Stories & Sips, Three Drams and Irish Whiskey Experiences through his channels.

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mitch heads to Fife for Lindores Abbey Distillery’s annual Bear Burning ceremony, where an enormous bear and ragged staff carved into the hillside is set alight.

First, Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Donaldson discusses her journey through the whisky industry, joining Lindores at a pivotal moment, the challenges the business has faced and her plans for building a sustainable future.

Then Distillery Manager Gary Haggart takes us into the stillhouse. Gary discusses developing the Lindores spirit character, why good whisky doesn’t necessarily need to be old, the different personalities of two supposedly identical spirit stills and his ambition for drinkers to recognise Lindores simply by its aroma.

There’s whisky, history, business, Angel Delight, Star Trek and the crucial importance of not fucking up the wash still.

A huge thank you to everyone at Lindores Abbey Distillery for the invitation, accommodation and excellent hospitality.

Find out more about Lindores Abbey Distillery:

https://lindoresabbeydistillery.com

Listen to more episodes and find out what we’re up to:

https://www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow the podcast and leave us a rating or review. It genuinely helps more whisky lovers find the show.

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎙️ NOT ANOTHER WHISKY PODCAST IS GOING LIVE

On Thursday 6 August, we are taking on the guys from Whisky Stories in a live podcast battle at Uno Mas in Edinburgh.

There will be six whiskies, with three chosen by each podcast, plenty of questionable competitive behaviour.

Tickets are £20, with every penny going to The BEN, the charity supporting people working within Scotland’s hospitality industry.

The show starts at 7pm and capacity is limited, so grab your tickets before they disappear:

👉 BUY TICKETS FOR THE LIVE SHOW

Back to the episode…

Mitch and Daz are finally back together for another catch-up, covering everything from sherry-soaked holidays and Islay building sites to whisky in a can and one of the worst distillery tours Mitch has ever experienced.

Mitch reports back from Portugal and Jerez, where a private visit to the new Sherry Museum provided a much deeper dive into the history, culture and casks behind one of Scotch whisky’s most important influences.

Then it is over to Islay, including warehouse tastings, dinner at Bowmore, a visit to Ardbeg House and a hard-hat preview of the new Portintruan Distillery with Georgie Crawford. They discuss its automated floor maltings, multiple spirit styles and what another major distillery could mean for the future of the island.

There is also news of two upcoming Turas Mòr bottlings and the usual run through some of the latest whisky news.

Along the way, they get into:

• The whisky opportunity in Portugal

• Why whisky lovers should visit Jerez

• Whether Islay can retain its character as the island grows

• Port of Leith’s whisky in a can

• The new permanent release from Isle of Harris

• Four Roses being sold to Gallo

• A truly questionable distillery tasting involving plastic cups and someone else’s water bottle

• The best whiskies Mitch and Daz have tasted recently

The episode finishes with Mitch naming the GlenAllachie 19 Year Old Solera Cask as his whisky of the year so far.

Apart from his own whisky, obviously.

Follow Not Another Whisky Podcast on Instagram and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Mitch sits down with whisky industry veteran Kenny Mackay at Ballindalloch Distillery in Speyside.

Kenny has spent nearly 50 years in Scotch whisky, working with names including Peter Thompson’s, Bowmore, Macallan, Carn Mor, Lindores Abbey and Ballindalloch. In this episode, he shares stories from across his career, from missing out on becoming a helicopter pilot to helping launch Black Bowmore and shaping some of Scotland’s best known whisky brands.

We talk about the early days of malt whisky marketing, growing Macallan in Scotland, the birth of whisky collecting, the changing world of independent bottling, and why Ballindalloch’s slow, estate led approach makes it such a special distillery.

Kenny also gives his take on where the Scotch whisky industry is right now, why downturns are nothing new, and why he still sees plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

Expect brilliant stories, sharp industry insight, a few legendary bottles, and one very committed fire alarm.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to Ballindalloch Distillery

01:10 Introducing Kenny Mackay

02:20 The Navy’s loss and whisky’s gain

03:00 Starting out at Peter Thompson’s of Perth

04:20 Glen Grant, Macallan and early whisky distribution

06:20 How the industry has changed over 50 years

09:40 The story behind Black Bowmore

12:00 Bowmore 40 Year Old and early luxury whisky

13:50 Independent bottling then and now

14:30 Building Carn Mor

19:40 One of One and raising millions for charity

23:00 Ballindalloch Distillery and the single estate approach

29:00 Vintage releases and the long term family vision

31:30 Kenny’s take on the current Scotch whisky market

38:00 The cashflow reality of growing a single malt brand

39:10 Quick fire questions

44:20 Desert island drams

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram

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Live from Spirit of Speyside, host Daz welcomes three blenders—Brian Kinsman (William Grant & Sons), Ollie Chilton (Elixir/ Tormore), and Sarah Burgess (Head of Whisky Creation at International Beverage, jokingly “banned” from other sessions)—to taste four whiskies and talk careers, process, and mischief. Brian explains his science-to-apprentice path under David Stewart and taking over in 2009; Ollie traces retail-to-cask-buying and acquiring Tormore in 2022; Sarah recounts starting as a Cardhu tour guide, moving through Diageo, becoming a Macallan blender via a sensory/blending interview, then returning to Scotland. They taste a 2023 Tormore “plain spirit”, a 2006–2018 Speyburn single cask, and a Glenfiddich 30 22-year with oloroso and a palo cortado finish, discuss water’s role in blending, sensory blind spots, grain’s value, stock legacy, cask strategy, innovation limits, and shifting whisky audiences toward flavor over age.

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

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Recorded in the historic Vaults in Leith, Mitch Bechard is joined by SMWS “chief storyteller” Richard Goslan and Kask Whisky founder Justine Hazlehurst for a deep dive into one of Scotch whisky’s most overlooked powerhouses.

Leith was never just a port. It was a whisky engine room: bonding, brokering, blending, bottling and shipping enormous volumes of Scotch around the world. At one point, the area was home to around 90–100 bonded warehouses, yet its role in shaping the modern industry is often pushed into the background.

Richard brings The Vaults to life, from its ancient origins and long links with the drinks trade to the birth of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in 1983. He shares how the Society’s single-cask ethos developed, why bottle 1.1 became legendary, how the tasting panel works, and how SMWS bottle names manage to be both brilliant and completely unhinged.

Justine guides us through Leith’s boom-and-bust whisky past, from Pattison’s infamous 1898 crash, to wars, consolidation, the whisky loch, and the stories still hiding in plain sight on the Leith Whisky Trail. There are disputed parrots, a very real pub puma attack, independent bottling chat, festival stories, and a reminder that whisky history is always better when it hasn’t been polished to death.

A proper sense-of-place episode from one of Scotland’s most important whisky rooms.

00:00 Welcome to The Vaults in Leith

00:48 Meet Richard Goslan and Justine Hazlehurst

02:46 Inside the history of The Vaults

05:57 Why Leith matters to Scotch whisky

08:46 The origins of the Leith Whisky Trail

11:06 Wild stories from Leith’s past

12:46 SMWS founding story and bottle labels

16:30 Whisky as a shared community

19:54 Leith’s boom-and-bust whisky timeline

26:02 The whisky loch and SMWS’s first cask

28:11 SMWS codes, flavour profiles and tasting culture

29:42 How the SMWS tasting panel works

30:47 The joy of flamboyant bottle names

31:25 Creators Collection and whisky artwork

32:28 Desert island dram: SMWS 1.1

34:54 Glenfarclas and Leith connections

35:50 The independent bottling boom

38:26 Fife Whisky Festival and modern whisky culture

40:39 Justine’s Pattison crash book

45:19 The Pattison parrots myth

48:01 Finding Pip Hills again

52:07 Vaults legends and wild old days

54:35 Where to find Richard and Justine

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.

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This week, Not Another Whisky Podcast goes live from the Craigellachie Hotel for Battle of the Stills, recorded during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.

Daz is joined by three brilliant distillers: Euan Christie from The Cabrach Distillery, Polly Logan from Tormore, and Kristy Lark from Killara Distillery in Tasmania.

Euan shares the story of The Cabrach: an area with deep illicit distilling roots, a shrinking population, and a new community-led distillery using whisky to support local regeneration. He also introduces The Feering, The Cabrach’s first blended malt, created with donated casks from across the industry.

Polly takes us inside Tormore, one of Speyside’s most beautiful distilleries, as it prepares to launch its new core range. She talks about shaping the distillery’s fruity, floral style, the importance of American oak, and working with blender Oliver Chilton.

Kristy brings the Tasmanian perspective, from growing up with a still outside her bedroom door to founding Killara Distillery. She shares how Tasmania’s climate shapes maturation and introduces a wonderfully unusual whisky inspired by a Black Velvet cocktail, finished through sparkling wine and stout casks.

There are audience questions, festival chaos, whisky gossip, and at least one answer involving rum-infused Scottish tea that probably needs a legal disclaimer.

Featured Whiskies and links to where you can find them

The Cabrach – The Feering Early Harvest

A bright, bourbon-led blended malt with gentle peat and a strong community story.

Tormore – Timeless

Fruity, floral and elegant, showing orchard fruit, malt and honeysuckle notes.

Killara – Black Velvet Inspired Single Cask

A rich Tasmanian single cask involving tawny, sparkling wine, stout and glorious madness.

Please subscribe, rate and review Not Another Whisky Podcast wherever you listen. Slàinte!

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.

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Mitch and Daz catch up after a packed festival season, They recap Spirit of Speyside’s, Mitch’s chaotic-but-fun Tormore launch and plans to expand their sold-out “Battle of the Ambassadors” into a winter tournament, “The Road to Speyside,” with heats and a final at the festival.

Daz recounts Fèis Ìle highlights at Laphroaig’s 40th anniversary tastings and Bowmore events, including a boat trip on Loch Indal and a 1969 Bowmore dram.

They taste three whiskies: Chivas Charles Leclerc 16 (40%), Raasay Hungarian Oak (50%), and SMWS “A Belter for America” Tullibardine 10 (61%). They announce being shortlisted for the Scottish Podcast Awards, discuss Tormore’s new releases, the Bon Accord closing, Woven’s new Leith blending experience, and Glen Cairn’s leadership change, then tease upcoming episodes and a giveaway of a Ferrari cap plus whisky samples for reviews.

00:00 Whisky Stories Banter

00:48 New Theme Tune Debate

02:23 Show Intro and Catch Up

03:55 Festival Season Rundown

05:31 Tormore Launch Chaos

08:10 Road to Speyside Plan

12:24 Three Drams Lineup

13:51 Chivas x Leclerc Collab

17:52 Fèis Ìle Highlights

23:57 Feis vs Speyside Vibes

27:33 Raasay Island Escape

29:11 Hungarian Oak Tasting Notes

31:41 Warehouse Night Stories

32:53 Podcast Award Shortlist

34:35 Whisky World News Roundup

36:43 Edinburgh Whisky Experiences Boom

38:32 Glen Cairn Leadership Change

39:40 World Cup Whisky Bottling

44:28 Deep Dives and Cooper Traditions

46:57 Wrap Up and Listener Giveaway

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.

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Mitch and Daz take a deep dive into coopering — the ancient craft behind every great dram.

Recorded in Edinburgh over suspiciously large highballs, the episode traces the cask from Celtic barrel-makers and Roman trade routes to modern whisky maturation, wood policy, rejuvenation and the global cask trade.

Mitch speaks with Ian MacDonald, former head cooper at The Balvenie, who started his apprenticeship in 1969 and spent over 50 years in the trade. Ian shares stories of rebuilding bourbon barrels into hogsheads, working alongside David Stewart, being paid per cask, apprentice initiations, and why coopering is far more than “just hammering bits of wood together."

The episode also features Lawrence Proctor, manager of Camlachie Cooperage and president of the Coopering Federation, who explains the modern reality of running a cooperage: cask repair, rejuvenation, apprenticeships, bourbon barrel prices, industry slowdowns and why coopers are often the first to feel the pressure when whisky dips.

Featuring

Ian MacDonald — former Head Cooper at The Balvenie

Lawrence Proctor — Manager at Clydeside Cooperage and President of the Scottish Coopering Federation

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.

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Daryl interviews Sarah Dowling, lead whisky maker at Laphroaig, tracing her path from a genetics and environmental background to a 2012 Edrington recycling contract that turned into a long whisky career via sensory panels, Diageo, and nearly seven years at Cooley in Ireland (working on Connemara and other releases, and even managing the site). She discusses how her palate evolved from missing vanilla to treating smoke as a “neutral,” and how collaborative tasting works best when nobody gets told what they “should” taste. Sarah explains the organic Willem Dafoe collaboration (the “Unforgettable” campaign), built from pilot blends, repeated tastings, and an Oloroso-driven 14-year whisky bottled at 53.7% with rich texture. For Fèis Ìle’s 40th anniversary, Laphroaig’s Càirdeas is fully matured in French oak, noted for Lapsang souchong-like smoke and melon notes, and Sarah previews interactive Laphroaig Day tastings, parties, and Friends of Laphroaig camaraderie.

00:00 Welcome Sarah Dowling

01:09 From Sustainability to Whisky

02:59 Discovering Sensory Panels

07:03 Finding Flavor Blind Spots

11:53 Irish Whiskey Calling

16:41 Life at Cooley Distillery

17:55 Full Time Blender Role

18:36 Willem Dafoe Collaboration

20:34 Building the Oloroso Blend

23:47 First Tastes and Bold Character

24:28 Bold New Release

25:07 Willem Gets It

26:17 On Set Inspiration

29:05 Friends And Festivals

30:40 French Oak Cairdeas

31:58 Tasting Notes Tea Smoke

35:51 Feis Ile Tastings

38:04 Friends Stories And Farewell

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gordon Dundas brings out Tamdhu’s Dalbeallie Dram, ninth edition — a natural-colour, first-fill sherry powerhouse sitting at 60.5% ABV. It’s everything you’d hope for from Tamdhu in full sherry beast mode: fruitcake sweetness, dark spice, espresso bitterness and a finish that somehow drinks far too easily for its strength.

The panel get stuck into age statements, natural colour, value, pricing, and where the whisky market is heading after a few years of everyone releasing everything, everywhere, all at once.

Then Stuart Buchanan steps up with the final dram: a newly shelved Benriach 2009 15-year-old peated whisky at 61.1% ABV, matured in refill hogsheads before spending six years in PX. Stuart talks through Benriach’s peated history, how cask choice shapes phenols, and why everyone apparently needs to save the hogshead.

Along the way, the ambassadors talk favourite recent markets, from Japan and Turkey to Singapore and Australia, before looking ahead to what might be next for whisky: more highballs, more blends, more indie bottlers, and hopefully fewer releases that require remortgaging your house.

The episode finishes with distillery recommendations from around the world, thoughts on new distilleries finding their feet, concerns around the pace of Irish whiskey growth, and the all-important audience vote.

00:00 Next Dram Setup

00:22 Dalbeallie Origins

01:41 Sherry Bomb Breakdown

03:44 Tasting Notes Banter

04:29 Editions and Value Talk

05:28 Age Statements Debate

07:13 Whisky Market Correction

10:06 Secondary Market Trends

11:16 Final Dram Dedication

12:17 Introducing Benriach Peat

12:58 Peated Release Details

14:50 Cask Strategy and Hogsheads

17:09 PPM and Peat Science

19:23 First Impressions Wrap

19:29 Sherry Cask Debate

20:14 Speyside DNA Explained

21:10 Glenglassaugh Coastal Dram

22:11 Travel Highlights Quickfire

23:49 Whisky Trends Next Year

26:41 Distillery Picks Worldwide

33:32 New Distilleries Growing Pains

34:59 Irish Whiskey Boom Concerns

37:41 Global Whisky Wrap-Up

39:39 Audience Vote Results

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)

🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland

🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.