Send us a text

As we close out Season Three of Decades Distilled, Kurt and Sarah step behind the scenes of the whiskey world in the 1970s—a decade defined not by taste trends but by seismic shifts in business and technology. Corporate shakeups, industry consolidations, and major advances in production reshaped the landscape of whiskey, setting the stage for the modern era. Tune in as we explore how the machinery of big business and bold infrastructure decisions quietly transformed the spirit we know today. And stay tuned as we’re hard at work for our next season, coming this fall! 

Send us a text

Irish whiskey entered the 1970s as a spirit with a proud legacy, once the global standard for quality. Yet this decade marked one of its darkest chapters—distilleries closed, the home market shrank, and the industry teetered on the brink of collapse. And still, Irish whiskey endured. In this episode, Kurt and Sarah explore how the pivotal decisions of the 1970s not only kept the tradition alive but also set the stage for an extraordinary revival that would reshape its future.

Send us a text

The 1970’s were a time when bourbon faced one of its most uncertain chapters. Once the backbone of American spirits, bourbon found itself losing favor as vodka and clear spirits dominated the cultural moment. Tune in as Kurt and Sarah explore how economic shifts, changing consumer tastes, and a decline in domestic demand nearly brought the industry to its knees. But even in the downturn, seeds of revival were planted.

Send us a text

In this episode of Decades Distilled, Kurt and Sarh rewind to 1976 and the legendary Judgment of Paris, a moment that forever changed the wine world. But what about whiskey? While California wines stole the spotlight, the ripple effects of this event traveled far beyond the vineyards. We explore how the Judgment of Paris sparked a global rethinking of taste, terroir, and tradition—fueling a renaissance in whiskey making, especially outside Scotland and Ireland. 

Send us a text

This week we journey North to our neighbor, Canada, and learn about the history of their version of rye whiskey. Kurt and Sarah take you on the journey of how the smoothness of Canadian whiskey, including Crown Royal, took hold in the United States.

Send us a text

The 1970s were a decade of high highs and sobering lows for Scotch whisky. In this episode Kurt and Sarah unpack the boom of scotch in Italy, specifically the rise of Glen Grant thanks to the importer Armando Giovinetti. They also return to the story of DCL, Distillers Company Limited, as they begin to lose their large footprint across Europe.

Send us a text

Before Japanese whisky became a global sensation, a quiet revolution was brewing in the distilleries of Nikka and Yamazaki. In this episode, Kurt and Sarah take a deep dive into the transformative decade of the 1970s — a pivotal era when Japanese whisky began to come into its own.Join us as we uncover how economic shifts, cultural pride, and quiet ambition helped shape a legacy that would eventually take the whisky world by storm. 

Send us a text

We journey to the windswept shores of Islay to uncover the story of a woman who defied expectations and helped shape the world of Scotch whisky — Bessie Williamson. As the first female distillery manager in the 20th century and a pioneer in the male-dominated whisky industry, Bessie’s tenure at Laphroaig is the stuff of legend. Pour yourself a glass, sit back, and let’s raise a toast to the woman who put the “spirit” in spirited leadership.

Send us a text

We all know, and have likely tasted, a single malt. But it was the 1970’s where the idea of single malt was first marketed and brought to the wider world by a now iconic distiller, Glenfiddich. So tune in as Kurt and Sarah share this decision would fully reshape the story of whisky.

Send us a text

We’re detouring a few decades earlier to 1941, when the SS Politician shipwrecked off the coast of a Hebridean island with over 24,000 cases of Scotch whisky. It was the local islanders who recovered most of the barrels—to the dismay of the government. This tale was brought to the world through Compton Mackenzie’s novel Whisky Galore. The early 20th century was indeed an era of whisky galore, but that would begin to change as Kurt and Sarah set the tone for whisky in the 1970s.

---

Thank you for listening to the latest season of Decades Distilled!

Sarah and I would like your help in picking what Decades we will cover in our upcoming seasons and would love for you to vote in the poll below. The Decade with the most votes will be Season 4 and the runner up will be Season 5. Make your voices heard!

Vote for Season Four of Decades Distilled