The Whiskey Lore® Podcast

Liberty Pole Spirits (Washington County, PA) WF025

A historical rye, peated Bourbon, and tons of history - you know I'm there. Join me this week as I stop off at a distillery where turning your Alexander Hamilton painting upside down is considered the appropriate way to display it.

It's time to meet Jim Hough and learn about his family based distillery, focused on bringing back Monongahela Rye. We'll chat about this historic spirit and dive into some Whiskey Rebellion history. And, I'll give you tips on some cool things to pair with a visit to the distillery, including a sandwich topped with something quite unexpected.

Plus, on The Week in Whiskey Lore, I'll look at a famous single malt first and see if it holds up.

And if you're interested in planning a trip to Pennsylvania to visit distilleries and you want to get a wish list together, visit whiskey-lore.com/pennsylvania and sign up for a free account. Then create the ultimate wish list.

Stoll & Wolfe Distillery (Lancaster County, PA) WF0024

Since I first heard the story of how Dick Stoll, formerly of Michters, and Erik Wolfe partnered to keep alive a Pennsylvania rye distilling tradition, I've wanted to have him on the show. Today it happens.

We'll dig into the history of a local distillery with roots back to when the British and French were fighting over the Colonies. Then we'll look at how a legendary distillers, who began his distilling career with Michter's when it was in Pennsylvania, joined with a passionate whiskey enthusiast, to carry these stories and spirits into the future.

We'll also revisit a sad day in Bourbon County history, on This Week in Whiskey Lore. And we'll mix in some great side trips with our travels, including pretzels and chocolate. Check it out.

And if you're inspired to visit Stoll & Wolfe and other Pennsylvania distilleries, there are now 23 listed at whiskey-lore.com/pennsylvania in the Whiskey Lore Travel Guide.

Laws Whiskey House (Denver, Colorado) WF0023

Welcome to a special edition of Whiskey Lore's Whisky Flights. This is the "pilot" episode (no pun intended) that I recorded as a proof of concept back in the early summer, for this theater of the mind program surrounding trips to distilleries around the globe.

This is a chance to hear my original ideas for the structure of the show, while also hearing parts of the interview I did with Al Laws, founder of Laws Whiskey House.

See if you can spot the differences from the more recent episodes. And listen up, because I've got a couple of big announces in the intro of the show.

And watch for a Colorado series coming up later this fall.

Ahascragh Distillery (Ahascragh, Ireland) WF0022

From the day I first saw them post on Instagram about their conversion of a 19th Century corn mill into a distillery, I've been waiting for a chance to see it and hear the story behind it. Well, in 2022, I stopped by, but the construction was still underway and the stills had not yet arrived.

Today, you'll get to meet Gareth McAllister, one part of a husband/wife team that has taken a derelict mill, abandoned for 70 years, and turned it into the first fully sustainable distillery in Ireland's 700 known years of distilling. Join me as we learn how this modern facility is helping to bring a small village in East Galway back to life.

Plus, it's the 230th anniversary of George Washington's proclamation to the rebels of Western Pennsylvania. We'll celebrate with the details on This Week In Whiskey Lore. Plus all the travel tips you need to plan out a great Irish adventure.

See all the great craft distilleries we've visited so far: whiskey-lore.com/flights

Powerscourt Distillery (Wicklow, Ireland) WF0021

It's time to jump across the Irish Sea to check out one of the most magnificent settings for a whiskey distillery. Join me as we head to the home of Fercullen Irish Whiskey at the Powerscourt Distillery on the edge of the Wicklow Mountains.

We'll hear the origin story of the distillery, the history of the estate and mill, and hear how the distillery got its start under legendary Cooley distiller Noel Sweeney. Plus, This Week In Whiskey Lore will look back on a 135 year old ad for Dunville's Irish Whiskey that was sold as a cure for what ails you.

And if pique your interest in traveling to Ireland to do a distillery trip, make sure to pick up a copy of Experiencing Irish Whiskey (available on Amazon) or head to whiskey-lore.com/ireland to see a list of current distilleries you can add to your Whiskey Lore Wish List.

The Cotswolds Distillery (The Cotswolds, England) WF0020

Today, we head to the largest distillery in England by volume. A distillery you may or may not have heard of - but you soon will (especially since you're listening to this show). I sit down with the brand's Whisky Brand Ambassador Rob Patchett to talk about the evolution of the distillery, its New Yorker founder, the development of a world class tourist experience, and the spirits they are creating.

Plus, on This Week in Whiskey Lore, we'll revisit an event that happened 4 years ago, that brought a historic brand to a new home. And we'll trace the history of that brand back to just after the Civil War.

And if I pique your interest in visiting distilleries in this region, make sure to check out the 20+ English whisky distillery profiles at whiskey-lore.com/england.

White Peak Distillery (Ambergate, England) WF0019

Today, I head to the southern region of the Peaks District of England to enjoy some beer and whisky made from the same brewer's yeast - thanks to a partnership between White Peak Distillery and a local brewing neighbor.

White Peak has a fascinating story (and they make a lightly peated whisky, which drew my attention). We'll find out about their very unique building from their co-founder Max Vaughan, plus how they are managing casks, their unique warehouse, and what the tasting experience is like.

Plus, This Week In Whiskey Lore will dive into a forgotten community, started on the back of a distiller, and one connected to one of the most historic moments in technological history. Plus, since we are exploring the modern world of English whisky, we'll take a step back into England's relationship with whisky distilling.

It's a power packed episode! Perfect for a weekend listen.

And if I pique your interest in visiting distilleries in this region, make sure to check out the 20+ English whisky distillery profiles at whiskey-lore.com/england.

The Forest Distillery (Cheshire, England) WF0018

Join me for a visit to a distillery rich with stories, a high elevation, and a fun story of distilling on the stove to finding markets around the world. I'll chat with co-founder Karl Bond about how he and his wife Lindsay got into the spirits making business, find out about their unique location on the Cheshire/Derbyshire border, and the historic 19th century inn with the curious name that is now the home of their distillery.

And if I pique your interest in visiting distilleries in this region, make sure to check out the 20+ English whisky distillery profiles at whiskey-lore.com/england.

The Borders Distillery (Hawick, Scotland) WF0017

Today's Whisky Flight adventure takes me back to the Borderland region of Scotland and England, where we meet John Fordyce, one of the founders of The Borders Distillery.

Every distillery has a story and John relates how a town built on the textile industry became the perfect spot for making whisky in a sustainable environment. He'll tell us about the historic building they renovated, the unique way his distillers work, and what you can expect from a visit to The Borders Distillery.

And if I pique your interest in visiting distilleries in this region, make sure to check out the 20+ English whisky distillery profiles at whiskey-lore.com/england and the 75+ Scotch whisky distilleries at whiskey-lore.com/scotland

Cooper King Distillery (North Yorkshire, England) WF0016

Join me today as I chat with Chris Jaume of Cooper King Distillery. Of all of the different ways you can get interested in building a distillery, Chris and his wife Abbie found one of the most unusual paths. They were inspired to make English whisky, not by traveling north to Scotland, but instead by heading far to the South, to one of the world's growing whisky centers - Tasmania.

Hear their story and learn what inspired them about Tasmanian distillers and what processes and tools they brought back to the burgeoning English whisky scene.

And if I pique your interest in visiting England's distilleries, make sure to check out the 20+ English whisky distillery profiles at whiskey-lore.com/england