Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

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We're heading back to the 1990s for another Decades Distilled Deeper Dive, and this time, Kurt Maitland is joined by whisky historian and rare spirits expert Isabel Graham-Yooll for a nostalgic look at the drinks, trends, and experiences that defined the decade.

From their early drinking adventures and questionable cocktail choices to the rise of single malts and the growing appreciation for whisky, Kurt and Isabel reflect on a decade that helped shape their careers and the spirits industry as we know it today.

Along the way, they revisit the popularity of vodka cocktails, Sea Breezes, and Manhattans, the excitement of discovering rare malts on store shelves, and the role of whisky education in introducing a new generation of enthusiasts to the spirit.

It's a lively conversation filled with personal stories, plenty of laughs, and a look at how the drinking culture of the 1990s continues to influence what we enjoy today.

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We’re back with another Decades Distilled: Deeper Dive, our bonus series where we revisit some of the stories that have surfaced throughout our journey through whisky history and give ourselves a little more time to explore them.

This time, we’re heading to Campbeltown.

Once known as “Whiskyopolis,” Campbeltown was one of the great centers of the whisky world, home to more than 20 distilleries at its height. But within a remarkably short period, that booming industry nearly disappeared. So what actually happened?

Kurt is joined by whisky writer, historian and Campbeltown expert David Stirk, whose upcoming book, Whiskyopolis, explores the rise, fall and resurgence of the region’s whisky industry.

Together, they unpack the complicated forces behind Campbeltown’s decline, from changing demand and overproduction to transportation challenges, the aftermath of World War I and an industry built around supplying whisky for blends. They also explore what life was actually like in a town built around whisky, how close Campbeltown came to disappearing from the whisky map altogether, and the people and distilleries that eventually helped bring it back.

Pour yourself a dram and join us for another Decades Distilled: Deeper Dive into the remarkable story of Campbeltown.

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Welcome to Decades Distilled: Deeper Dives, a new bonus series where we revisit some of the decades we’ve explored and take a closer look at the stories, trends and ideas we didn’t have time to fully unpack the first time around.

For our first Deeper Dive, Kurt is joined by historian, writer and broadcaster Colin Hampden White to revisit the whisky world of the 1990s.

It was a fascinating turning point for whisky. Blended Scotch still ruled the shelves, but single malts were finding a wider audience, independent bottlers were introducing drinkers to entirely new flavors, and years of oversupply meant there was some remarkable whisky waiting to be discovered.

Drawing on Colin’s own experiences drinking across Germany, Kenya and Scotland, he and Kurt explore how whisky culture evolved throughout the decade, from discovering single malts in Edinburgh and Glasgow bars to the rise of independent and cask-strength bottlings. They also look at why the blends of the era tasted so different, how the whisky industry has changed since, and what today’s market might be able to learn from the 1990s.

Pour yourself a dram and join us for our first Decades Distilled: Deeper Dive.

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We’ve been quiet, but we definitely haven’t been sitting still.

Sarah and Kurt are back with a quick update on everything happening behind the scenes at Decades Distilled and a first taste of what’s coming next.

Starting this week, we’re introducing Decades Distilled Deeper Dives, a new series of bonus episodes that goes beyond the original seasons with historians, writers, industry experts and people who lived through the decades themselves. First up: conversations exploring Campbeltown’s rise and fall, the whisky world of the 1990s, the distilleries of the 1920s and plenty more.

Sarah also shares what she’s been building with Whiskey Confidence, her new whiskey course and community, while Kurt gives a preview of what’s ahead for Decades Distilled, including Patreon and even more bonus content.

And, of course, there’s Season 5. We’re heading to the 1940s, a decade of rationed grain, silent stills, wartime production and changes to the whiskey industry that are still being felt today.

Pour yourself a dram. There’s a lot more Decades Distilled on the way.

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Single malts rise. Bourbon rebounds. Rye disappears, and then roars back. Japan prepares its quiet takeover. Ireland and Canada fight uphill battles. Bartenders rediscover technique. Writers give whiskey a new language. 

In our season finale, Sarah and Kurt unpack how the chaos of the 1990s laid the groundwork for everything we drink today. The decade didn’t just change what was in the bottle....it changed who told the story. 

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Cocktails in the 1990's were messy. Neon cocktails. Sour mix. Vodka everything. Appletinis in up glasses pretending to be martinis. But then, that chaos gave birth to the modern craft cocktail movement.

This week, join Kurt and Sarah as they dive into the quiet moment when bartenders quietly started caring again. Fresh citrus came back. Forgotten recipes resurfaced. Rye whiskey clawed its way into relevance. And was bars like Rainbow Room to Milk & Honey that help change the way we experience going out for a drink.

This is the story of how we learned to drink again. Pour something classic. Or something fresh. And join us.

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In the 1990s, Canadian whisky had everything. Global dominance, legendary brands, and decades of loyalty. And then… it stalled.

This week, Sarah and Kurt explore the Canadian paradox, of how brands like Seagrams, which had been an iconic brand in the industry lost the momentum in the 1990's.  

Pour a dram and join us as we unpack one of whisky history’s most fascinating “what if” moments.

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Continuing our deep dive into the 1990s, Kurt and Sarah return to Japan, where the economy collapsed, nightlife slowed, and whiskey sales fell… hard.

Instead of cutting corners, Japanese distilleries doubled down on quality. They refined techniques, experimented with casks, and quietly defined what Japanese whiskey should taste like. From Yamazaki and Hibiki to Nikka’s survival story, this episode explores how a decade of low demand created some of the most respected whiskey in the world.

The ’90s were quiet—but the barrels were busy. 

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As part of our deep dive into the ’90s, this week, Sarah and Kurt explores how Irish whiskey went from a one-flavor, one-company category to something far more interesting. We talk smooth blends, smoky curveballs, revived distilleries, and the unlikely balance between a global powerhouse (hello, Jameson) and a rebellious challenger that changed everything.

If the ’90s were about breaking rules and finding your identity, Irish whiskey was right on theme. 

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Once the backbone of American whiskey, rye all but disappeared from bars and back shelves for decades. Then, quietly—and then suddenly—it came roaring back.

On this episode of Decades Distilled, Kurt and Sarah dive into the surprising rise of rye whiskey in America, tracing its journey from pre-Prohibition staple to near extinction, and back again as a favorite of bartenders, collectors, and modern whiskey drinkers.

They unpack what makes rye different from bourbon, why its bold, spicy profile resonates today, and how shifting tastes, craft distilling, and cocktail culture helped fuel its revival. Along the way, they share the key moments, brands, and cultural shifts that turned rye from an afterthought into a star.

Pour something with a little spice and join the conversation — this one’s all about rediscovering a classic.