The Rolex Whisky Passion Project

In this episode of the Rolex Whiskey Passion Project, co-founders Marcelo Grande and Roland Ng pull back the curtain on Fog City Social, a San Francisco-based event designed to fix the "broken" spirit of corporate whiskey festivals.

Moving away from crowded ballrooms and frantic VIP lines, they explain their "everyone is a VIP" philosophy, where every ticket includes a high-end festival bottle and access to rare vintage libraries—like the entire Glendronach lineup—poured generously without red tape.

The duo discusses their transition from a humble 240-person gathering to a massive "Whiskey Week" featuring fourteen masterclasses, a charity gala, and unique retail partnerships that allow guests to purchase the rare spirits they taste. 

In this engaging episode of the Rolex Whiskey Passion Project, Gavin Linde welcomes Kurt Maitland (author and founder of the Manhattan Whiskey Club) dive deep into the evolving landscape of whiskey over the last thirty years.

Maitland shares nostalgic stories of his "whiskey journey," from discovering Jameson in college to hunting for "dusty" rare bottles in overlooked corner liquor stores—what he affectionately calls whiskey bodegas.

They also discuss the technical shifts in the industry, such as how cost-cutting and efficiency measures at major distilleries like Macallan have altered the flavor profiles of modern spirits compared to their "heavier," unhurried vintage counterparts.

Joel Harrison, a veteran whiskey writer, joined the "Rolex Whiskey Passion Project" to discuss the dramatic changes in the whiskey industry over his nearly 20-year career.

They centered on the evolution of whiskey pricing, with Harrison and host Gavin Linde recalling a time two decades ago when quality, mature whiskies, including rare bottles from now-closed distilleries like Port Ellen, were abundant and significantly cheaper.

Harrison shares his "aha" moment with Balvenie Doublewood and his eventual transition from the music industry to full-time whiskey writing, highlighting the global, passionate nature of the whiskey community. 

Davide Ansalone, known as "Whiskey Munich," joined Gavin Linde on the Rolex Whiskey Passion Project podcast to share his unique journey into the whiskey world.

He discussed how he went from discovering smoky Scotch to becoming an influential blogger and photographer who collaborates with the whiskey industry.

Highlights of his story include an impulsive, yet valuable, purchase of a 30-year-old Lagavulin and a deep dive into the historical importance of the Italian whiskey market, which set the stage for "pinch me" moments involving rare whiskies such as a 21-year-old Brora.

Kashish Shrestha, founder and CEO of the Nepali Spirit Company, joins the show to share the journey of bringing Nepal’s ancient distilling traditions to the global stage. Shrestha discusses his transition from a high-end whiskey collector and auction regular to a craft distiller based in California, producing traditional rice spirits out of Florida.

He provides a deep dive into the cultural history of Aila—a spirit used in Nepali rituals for centuries—and explains how he is evolving the craft by introducing wood-aging through Amburana, Mizunara, and Sherry casks. From the fire-like profile of traditional rice whiskey to his upcoming Himalayan espresso liqueur, Shrestha highlights the bold future of the first international Nepali rice whiskey brand.

In this engaging discussion, Stephen Martin, The Dalmore’s Global Brand Ambassador, joins Sam Rothschild of BlockBar and Gavin to unveil an exclusive 33-year-old single cask release.

The conversation highlights a landmark collaboration that merges traditional Scottish craftsmanship with modern NFT technology, allowing enthusiasts to purchase high-end spirits directly from the distillery without the logistical burdens of storage or authenticity concerns.

This particular expression, finished in Premier Grand Cru Classé Barriques, is described as a "no-brainer" for collectors, featuring the classic Dalmore profile of chocolate and orange bolstered by complex notes of cassis and antique wood. Beyond the bottle, the drop offers a unique VIP experience for the first ten purchasers, including a curated trip to the distillery in the North Highlands.

Gavin traces Brian Evans' journey in spirits, beginning with early experiences with Jameson to a deep appreciation for high-value spirits like rum and Armagnac, culminating in an obsession with Japanese whiskey.

Evans details his "aha" moment with Chichibu, a distillery praised for its experimental use of unconventional casks, and the massive undertaking of curating the Hotel Chelsea's extensive Japanese whiskey program.

They also touch on current consumer trends, noting the market impact of GLP-1 drugs on alcohol consumption and the resulting shift towards more selective, preimmunized drinking experiences, with Mars Whiskey highlighted as a strong value option for new explorers.

Suntory Global Scotch Senior Scotch Ambassador, Simon Brooking, was interviewed for the "Rolex Whiskey Passion Project" to discuss his nearly 30-year career.

Brooking detailed his 19 years with Laphroaig, emphasizing the brand's unique culture, the enduring legacy established by figures like Ian Hunter and Bessie Williamson, and the 30th anniversary of the highly personal "Friends of Laphroaig" program.

They touched upon the ambassador's mission to dispel negative myths about Scotch by stressing the importance of patience, the growth of whiskey clubs in the US, and new developments within the Suntory Global Scotch portfolio, such as the reintroduction of traditional methods at the historic Glengarioch distillery.

Gavin Linde welcomed Peter Jnr. of Luchi's Whiskey Bar to the Rolex Whiskey Passion Project. Peter Jr. detailed the bar's transformation into a specialist for Islay and Jura malt whiskies, a shift that was inspired by an American VIP's observation of the jarring contrast between the luxury whiskey lounge and the public bar's Jäger bomb clientele.

This led to the decision to focus on opening rare bottles for drinking. The bar now boasts an inventory of between 1,800 and 1,900 exclusive Islay and Jura bottlings, having removed all non-Islay whiskies to focus on island exclusives, driven by a rising international customer demand over the past 7 to 10 years.

Gavin welcomes Jessica Ann Zimlich and Zach Zimlich of ZAK Cooperage, discussing their family business history, which started in 1990.

Zach's upbringing in the cooperage provided him with creative control over whiskey flavor profiles. The conversation covered the enduring consistency of cooperage techniques despite automation and the critical importance of responsibly sourcing white oak due to increased whiskey demand.

They both shared observations from a trip to Scottish cooperages, where used barrels are the norm, contrasting with the US focus on new oak.