The Whiskey Lore® Podcast

There has long been a quote attributed to President Lincoln, when he was pressed about his decision to put a potential drunkard in charge of the Union Army. Is this legend true?

We'll look at the origins of the quote, the drinking history of Ulysses S. Grant, the quandary that Lincoln found himself in, and see if we can make a connection to Old Crow whiskey. (Be 21+) 

The Four Roses brand you know and respect today, may have literally been your grandfather's and great-grandfather's favorite whiskey. But at the peak of its popularity in 1958, it was inexplicably removed from American shelves and remained a distant memory for almost 50 years.

Join me as I invite Four Roses Brand Ambassador Al Young to help me tell the story of the rise and fall and rising again of Four Roses.

In Part 1, Ernest Shackleton is knighted for his attempt at the South Pole. Carelessly he leaves some whisky behind that is discovered and recreated by Richard Paterson. In Part 2, Sir Ernest Shackleton attempts to trans-navigate the continent of Antarctica, only to lead his men through one of the most incredible (if not THE most incredible) survival adventures in mankind's history.

This is the story of two men. One, a Polar explorer affectionately and respectfully referred to as “The Boss;” and the other, a master showman and master distiller whose uncanny ability to blend and analyze scotch whisky earned him the nickname “The Nose.”  And at the beginning of this decade, these two would have their paths cross in a most unusual way - over three bottles of scotch whisky, a set of handcuffs, and a century of patient waiting.

Now, as we've passed the 100th anniversary of the enforcement of the Volstead Act, it's time to look at some of the weird and diverse laws that govern spirits across the United States. With a 10th Amendment that allows each state to create its own laws, there is no wonder figuring out where to buy your bottle in each state can become quite the mystery.

When you see a bottle of Cù Bòcan Single Malt Whisky know that the name was inspired by a spectral beast that roams the Highlands of Scotland. Is it wolf? Is it a ghost dog? Hear the legends that compel villagers to take extra precautions when driving the hills of this beautiful Scottish town.

007 James Bond often takes the blame for the decline of whisky sales in the 70's and 80's. But is he really to blame? We'll take a look at the man who defines cool for many and see how much influence he really wielded. And we'll look at the man who personified cool before Bond, James Bond. A fun story looking back Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack in Las Vegas.

Food fraud was a rampant in the 18th and 19th Centuries. The Industrial Revolution had taken food quality out of the hands of the individual and on to business owners. Adulteration and food fraud would find its way into whiskey and Kentucky decided to fight back.

Why do a podcast around whisky history? There are so many great stories to tell. And it's not just what is in the bottle, it's what happened to help create that bottle, or bring that bottle to you. It's about the mysteries and lore that has been built up around brands, distilleries, and the whiskies themselves. And in this episode, you'll see how these stories can touch you in ways you'd never imagine.

The story of two very different individuals and ways to market their whisky. First James "Cobbie" Allardice, who when having trouble getting sales started, stumbled into a very unconventional way of promoting his guid GlenDronach whisky. And second a whisky maverick named Tommy Dewar who would revolutionize the way Scotch whisky was marketed with his creative flair for grabbing attention.

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