Deep below the Johnnie Walker Princes Street experience in Edinburgh lies Dr. Emma Walker’s personal playground. The Johnnie Walker master blender curates around 500 of the more than 10 million casks of maturing whisky in Diageo’s inventory in the Vault. If you have the means, she’ll create a bespoke blend that takes your personal likes and dislikes into account. It’s a long way from the council estate where she grew up, and she’ll share her journey on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, U.S. whiskey exports fell during 2024 in what was otherwise a record year for American-made spirits. Suntory’s CEO has a warning for the Trump Administration, and we’ll have a fish story from Buffalo Trace.