A podcast for lovers of wine, beer, liquor (incl. whisky, whiskey, bourbon, gin, vodka, tequila etc) and cocktails, Drinks Adventures hosts wine makers, brewing and distilling experts, sommeliers, bartenders & more.
Brewing company Fermentum Group – parent company of craft beer heavyweights Stone & Wood – has announced its shock sale to Japanese-owned brewer Lion Australia.
You are likely as shocked by this as I was. You know how committed Stone & Wood seemed to their independence back when we met the founders in this 2019 documentary.
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Soon after the news broke I published an opinion piece that expressed pretty clearly how I felt about their backflip, and the unfortunate knock-on effect for the independence movement:

• Stone & Wood’s multinational backflip costly for indie beer

On Friday I got hold of co-founder Ross Jurisich to try and make sense of the decision.
Theme music 'Devotion' by Silverlining. Purchase here.
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A podcast for lovers of wine, beer, liquor (incl. whisky, whiskey, bourbon, gin, vodka, tequila etc) and cocktails, Drinks Adventures hosts wine makers, brewing and distilling experts, sommeliers, bartenders & more.
Mezcal featured in Season 9 of the podcast when we met Grant Collins, who had recently opened the mezcal-focused bar and restaurant Cartel in Sydney.
One of the mezcals I tasted with Grant during that interview was Quiquiriqi.
And the more I read about Quiquiriqui, the more I thought it would be a grand idea to invite its London-based founder, Melanie Symonds, onto the show.
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With no background whatsoever in drinks or hospitality, Melanie's path to being a mezcal brand owner was unconventional, to say the least.
She fell in love with the spirit on visiting Mexico in 2011 and returned to London with the pretty half-baked plan – I don’t think Melanie would mind me saying that – of opening a mezcal bar underneath a kebab shop in East London.
Soon after came the Quiquiriqui Mezcal brand, which Melanie makes in direct partnership with families who have been producing mezcal traditionally in their communities for generations.
But I’ll leave it to Melanie to tell you in her own words how Quiquiriqui came to be.
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Tags: gin, distilling, distillery, distiller, liquor, craft spirits, cocktail, cocktails, drink, drinks, wine, winemaking, winemaker, viticulture, beer, craft beer, brewing, agave, tequila, mezcal, bartender, bartenders, sommelier, sommeliers, cicerone, whisky, whiskey, cognac, bourbon, rum, vodka, vineyard, mixology, bars, pubs, restaurants

A podcast for lovers of wine, beer, liquor (incl. whisky, whiskey, bourbon, gin, vodka, tequila etc) and cocktails, Drinks Adventures hosts wine makers, brewing and distilling experts, sommeliers, bartenders & more.
• Agave spirits potential huge in Australia, says ASX-listed Top Shelf;• Mighty Craft invests heavily in whisky; and• James Squire puts a new spin on zero alcohol beer.
Theme music 'Devotion' by Silverlining. Purchase here.
Follow Drinks Adventures at @drinksadventures_au and James Atkinson at @byjamesatkinson on Instagram.
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Tags: gin, distilling, distillery, distiller, liquor, craft spirits, cocktail, cocktails, drink, drinks, wine, winemaking, winemaker, viticulture, beer, craft beer, brewing, agave, tequila, mezcal, bartender, bartenders, sommelier, sommeliers, cicerone, whisky, whiskey, cognac, bourbon, rum, vodka, vineyard, mixology, bars, pubs, restaurants

A podcast for lovers of wine, beer, liquor (incl. whisky, whiskey, bourbon, gin, vodka, tequila etc) and cocktails, Drinks Adventures hosts wine makers, brewing and distilling experts, sommeliers, bartenders & more.
In more than 40 years of writing about whisky, Charles Maclean has achieved global recognition and no shortage of accolades for his work.
He’s a Master of the Quaich – the highest honour in the Scotch whisky industry – and a member of the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame. In fact, he was also its founding editor.
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Charles has written 18 books and counting on whisky. His magnum opus, Malt Whisky, was first published in 1997.
It’s been translated into nine languages and was the recipient of a prestigious Glenfiddich award, and his 2003 book Scotch Whisky: A Liquid History won the James Beard Award for ‘Best Wine and Spirits Book.’
And in June 2021 his services to Scotch whisky were further recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Charles was appointed as an MBE – a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
So, stay with me this episode as Charles and I discuss some of his career highlights, his love/hate relationship with writing, and what it’s like to taste ultra-aged whiskies retailing at more than $100,000 a bottle.
He shares his insights on the age-old debate of blends vs single malts, the resurrection of the legendary Brora and Port Ellen Scotch whisky distilleries, and his opinion on Tasmanian whisky, after visiting in 2019.
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Tags: gin, distilling, distillery, distiller, liquor, craft spirits, cocktail, cocktails, drink, drinks, wine, winemaking, winemaker, viticulture, beer, craft beer, brewing, agave, tequila, mezcal, bartender, bartenders, sommelier, sommeliers, cicerone, whisky, whiskey, cognac, bourbon, rum, vodka, vineyard, mixology, bars, pubs, restaurants

A podcast for lovers of wine, beer, liquor (incl. whisky, whiskey, bourbon, gin, vodka, tequila etc) and cocktails, Drinks Adventures hosts wine makers, brewing and distilling experts, sommeliers, bartenders & more.
- Brewer Stone & Wood enters the burgeoning contemporary beer space;- Victorian wine pioneer Seppelt celebrates its 170th anniversary;- Nusa Cana Rum launches a Batavia Arrack; and- Ambitious craft beer venue Urban House of Brews on track for 2022 launch in Sydney.
Theme music 'Devotion' by Silverlining. Purchase here.
Follow Drinks Adventures at @drinksadventures_au and James Atkinson at @byjamesatkinson on Instagram.
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Tags: gin, distilling, distillery, distiller, liquor, craft spirits, cocktail, cocktails, drink, drinks, wine, winemaking, winemaker, viticulture, beer, craft beer, brewing, agave, tequila, mezcal, bartender, bartenders, sommelier, sommeliers, cicerone, whisky, whiskey, cognac, bourbon, rum, vodka, vineyard, mixology, bars, pubs, restaurants

A podcast for lovers of wine, beer, liquor (incl. whisky, whiskey, bourbon, gin, vodka, tequila etc) and cocktails, Drinks Adventures hosts wine makers, brewing and distilling experts, sommeliers, bartenders & more.
Gin distiller Simon Brooke-Taylor (and yes, he is related to the late Tim Brooke-Taylor from 'The Goodies') founded Hurdle Creek Still in Milawa, North East Victoria, with his partner Wendy Williams in 2014.
Hurdle Creek produces gin, genever, liqueurs and aperitifs that champion locally sourced ingredients.
And it’s one of a handful of Australian distilleries that produces its own base spirit from scratch, in this case using locally sourced grain.
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Coming from a brewing background, Simon considers base spirit somewhat similarly to role malt plays in beer.
In contrast to some of the distillers we’ve heard from previously on this podcast who say they need a completely neutral base spirit to show off the botanicals in their gin, Simon likes having a base with character that adds layers and texture to the flavour of his gin.
He wants to educate drinkers that there is much more to gin than just the dry styles that currently dominate the market.
First up though, Simon recounts his path from studying biochemistry and toxicology at university to becoming a master brewer, and the evolution of his distilling hobby into a professional career.
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Tags: gin, distilling, distillery, distiller, liquor, craft spirits, cocktail, cocktails, drink, drinks, wine, winemaking, winemaker, viticulture, beer, craft beer, brewing, agave, tequila, mezcal, bartender, bartenders, sommelier, sommeliers, cicerone, whisky, whiskey, cognac, bourbon, rum, vodka, vineyard, mixology, bars, pubs, restaurants

A podcast for lovers of wine, beer, liquor (incl. whisky, whiskey, bourbon, gin, vodka, tequila etc) and cocktails, Drinks Adventures hosts wine makers, brewing and distilling experts, sommeliers, bartenders & more.

Theme music 'Devotion' by Silverlining. Available to purchase here.
Follow Drinks Adventures at @drinksadventures_au and James Atkinson at @byjamesatkinson on Instagram.
More must-listen episodes:

Tags: gin, distilling, distillery, distiller, liquor, craft spirits, cocktail, cocktails, drink, drinks, wine, winemaking, winemaker, viticulture, beer, craft beer, brewing, agave, tequila, mezcal, bartender, bartenders, sommelier, sommeliers, cicerone, whisky, whiskey, cognac, bourbon, rum, vodka, vineyard, mixology, bars, pubs, restaurants

A podcast for lovers of wine, beer, liquor (incl. whisky, whiskey, bourbon, gin, vodka, tequila etc) and cocktails, Drinks Adventures hosts wine makers, brewing and distilling experts, sommeliers, bartenders & more.
Founded in 2005 by David Walsh, the rather infamous owner of Tasmania’s Mona Museum, Moo Brew is a highly respected brewery that has been somewhat uncompromising in its approach.
From the outset, David insisted on packaging the Moo Brew beers in rather ornate, expensive bottles.
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Its early marketing declared the beers were, ‘not suitable for bogans’. (Otherwise known as rednecks or chavs for our international listeners).
And the company maintained an allegiance to classic beer styles that were otherwise out of fashion in Australia, generally speaking.
So I’ve watched with interest in recent years as different kind of Moo Brew has emerged.
Packaging its beers in cans. Releasing an IPA. Creating a new label, Brew By Moo Brew, focused on unfussy, easy drinking beers that seemed to appeal to all beer drinkers. Even bogans.
Lauren Sheppard joined Moo Brew as general manager in July 2020, prior to which she worked for the Domaine A and Moorilla Estate wine brands that are also part of the Mona family.
I asked Lauren whether it was a difficult decision to move from wine into beer. And what was the remit she was given when she was offered the role at Moo Brew.
More must-listen episodes:Two Paddocks wine with Sam Neill, pinot noir obsessive: S6E6Wine critic Jancis Robinson on the changing world of wine: S4E4Brewing historian Tara Nurin, and beer sensory expert Briony Liebich: S11E6Cocktails meet coffee with Mr Black Spirits: S8E5

A podcast for lovers of wine, beer, liquor (incl. whisky, whiskey, bourbon, gin, vodka, tequila etc) and cocktails, Drinks Adventures hosts wine makers, brewing and distilling experts, sommeliers, bartenders & more.
Wine Australia is now focusing its efforts on other emerging markets in Asia, where Australian wine has a small share of the total wine market. That's according to general manager of marketing, Stuart Barclay, who addressed last week's Wine Export Diversification Webinar. In other news:
· Australian winemakers confronting challenges in Japan· Australian craft spirits distributor Nip of Courage launches new wholesale and retail offerings; and· Melbourne’s Brick Lane Brewing creates amburana-aged beer
Follow @drinksadventures_au and @byjamesatkinson on Instagram.
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Tags: gin, distilling, distillery, distiller, liquor, craft spirits, cocktail, cocktails, drink, drinks, wine, winemaking, winemaker, viticulture, beer, craft beer, brewing, agave, tequila, mezcal, bartender, bartenders, sommelier, sommeliers, cicerone, whisky, whiskey, cognac, bourbon, rum, vodka, vineyard, mixology, bars, pubs, restaurants

A podcast for lovers of wine, beer, liquor (incl. whisky, whiskey, bourbon, gin, vodka, tequila etc) and cocktails, Drinks Adventures hosts wine makers, brewing and distilling experts, sommeliers, bartenders & more.
Whisky in Australia is highly fragmented, characterised by many small craft distilleries. Launched in 2021, Morris Whisky is one of few distilleries operating at a decent scale.
When winemaker John Casella acquired Morris of Rutherglen in 2016, his sole aim was to save an Australian icon from liquidation.
You may also like:The NBA’s wine obsession, with Baxter Holmes of ESPN: S10E1UK wine writer Matthew Jukes on non-alc wine & more: S12E1Brewing legend Chuck Hahn's 50-year global brewing odyssey: S11E2Iconic cocktails: Julio Bermejo, creator Tommy’s Margarita cocktail: S4E8
But then he saw the original hybrid copper still and the many barrels maturing Morris’s renowned fortified wines and saw an opportunity to make a uniquely Australian single malt whisky.
Casella Family Brands set up a dedicated company, Copper and Grain Distilling, and lured Scotch whisky experts John McDougall and Dr. Jim Swan, to advise the business. Darren Peck, formerly of Diageo, was appointed head distiller.
From the start, John was determined to compete with foreign imports, by creating the best possible whisky at an accessible price tag.
In June 2021, Copper and Grain released two debut whiskies under the Morris label that have been extremely well-received, being awarded gold medals pre-release at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
You’ll hear two interviews within in this episode. The first is with John Casella and Michael Sergeant, who is head of strategy and innovation at Copper & Grain. I spoke separately to head distiller Darren Peck.
More must-listen episodes:Two Paddocks wine with Sam Neill, pinot noir obsessive: S6E6Wine critic Jancis Robinson on the changing world of wine: S4E4Brewing historian Tara Nurin, and beer sensory expert Briony Liebich: S11E6Cocktails meet coffee with Mr Black Spirits: S8E5