In September 1692, one of the darkest moments in colonial American history came to a close as eight final victims lost their lives on the hanging rope on Gallows Hill, thanks to accusations of witchcraft.

It's a subject that has been covered historically, scientifically, and mostly as spooky entertainment. There are several theories as to why Salem descended into madness during the year 1692.

In this episode, we'll look into a study that appeared in Science Magazine fifty years ago this week, that examined the evidence and hypothesized that the madness around the village may have been due to a popular grain and a parasitic fungus called Claviceps purpurea or Ergot. It's a theory that made headlines throughout the country back in 1976. But is there any validity to the argument? It's time to dive into what some call ergot poisoning and others call rye madness.

Join me for a conversation with whiskey maker Ari Sussman as we dive into the story behind Whiskey JYPSI, co-founded by Raj Alva and singer-songwriter Eric Church, learn about Ari's path into the industry, from politics to winemaking in France, international bartending, and eventually studying at Michigan State University's pioneering distilling program under the late Dr. Kris Berglund.

We'll talk about Berglund's quiet influence over the modern craft distilling industry, the Rosen rye project (a historic grain varietal with deep ties to Michigan and MSU), and the philosophy behind Whiskey JYPSI's products, using their Tribute, Explorer, and Legacy whiskeys as examples to illustrate the brand's focus on storytelling through grain, wood augmentation, and innovative blending.

Enjoy the return of the long-form interview on Whiskey Lore.

On this anniversary of the signing of the Bottled-in-Bond Act, it is time to dig in deep, and focus research on the man behind the Bottled-in-Bond Act, learn the real reason the bill was created, hear the 1897 arguments for and against it, and ride the rollercoaster of American legislation at the tail end of the Gilded Age. I'll also reveal why we should never refer to the modern regulations as The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897.

If you heard my first Bottled-in-Bond episode when it was released in 2019, I'm sorry for leading you astray. I was prone to marketing lore and there is a lot of it around this Act. When you hear today's episode, you'll realize how easy it is to get lore that seems confirmed by fact. If you heard my update just over a year ago, gone is the long drawn out story about adulteration. Today, we're going to dig in deep and focus on the goal of filling in the gaps of our knowledge about the real Bottled-in-Bond Act through contemporary accounts.

And, it's time we honor the man who brought the bill through committee to the floor and who hand delivered it to President Cleveland.

Happy Bottled-in-Bond Day! Drew

Read the original bill here:

whiskeylore.org/episodes/season-seven/the-hero-of-the-bottled-in-bond-act-of-1897

Open a whiskey magazine, newspaper, or check out your social media feed and you're sure to hear plenty of doom and gloom around the current whiskey market. There seem to be demons hiding in the bushes everywhere. Scapegoats include over-supply, over-confidence, speculation, poor management, inflation, capital constraints, tariffs, changing tastes like shifts to RTDs, hemp drinks, a rise in tequila popularity, or the younger generations seeming disinterested in drinking alcohol. And these are just the most popular.

I've heard it over and over, we're heading for another whiskey depression (comparing this time to the 80s and 90s when whiskey fell out of favor). For some, it is just a matter of time, after all, history repeats, doesn't it?

Join me as we take a look back on the trials and tribulations of the 20th century post-Prohibition whiskey industry, to see if there are any clues as to where our current industry is heading.

WHISKEY STORIES ARE BACK!

Cheers and slainte mhath, Drew

The first time I picked up a whiskey history book, I was introduced to the story of George Thorpe, an Englishman who came to Berkeley Plantation in 1620, to make "hooch," as the book stated. He was credited with making America's first corn whiskey and starting an industry.

As I dove more and more into research on whiskey history and the evolution of distilling techniques, this American origin story seemed less and less likely. Still, I had to admit, I didn't know enough of the story to do any more than suggest, it was possibly lore.

After diving deep into the historical record, I'll take a look at three popular theories as to why George is considered America's first distiller of corn whiskey. By the end, I'll give you my thoughts, but you too will be well versed enough in the story to make your own educated guess.

Enjoy this dive into early American distilling and watch for bonus coverage in Behind the Lore at patreon.com/whiskeylore .

Cheers and slainte mhath, Drew

Florida's Emerald Coast may be known for beaches and sunshine, but just north of Destin, two neighbors turned an engineering mindset and a love of brewing into one of the state's most inventive distilleries. In this episode, Drew Hannush heads to Timber Creek Distillery to meet co-founders Cam Ford and Aaron Barnes and discover why they chose to distill grains separately, embrace Florida-grown ingredients, and invite visitors to become blenders themselves.

• How a Silicon Valley engineer and a homebrewer became distillers • Why Timber Creek borrowed ideas from Scotland instead of Kentucky • Building a distillery around brewing equipment and a traditional worm condenser • Florida-grown rye and discovering the Sunshine State's terroir • Distilling grains separately and blending whiskey after aging • The story behind Florida Whiskey and Southern Reserve • Creating a 100% Florida rye whiskey • How their bourbon blending kits became a hit during the pandemic • Bourbon blending experiences and creating your own whiskey profile • Wine and chocolate pairings, cigar rolling, and axe throwing • Exploring Florida's Emerald Coast and the Panhandle whiskey scene • Plus, Drew shares his three reasons why Timber Creek Distillery deserves a spot on your Whiskey Lore Wish List

📍 Timber Creek Distillery Crestview, Florida

Travel maps, distillery information, and trip-planning tools for more than 1,000 whiskey destinations can be found at WhiskeyLore.org/flights.

What started with two Columbus entrepreneurs and a vision for building something local has grown into one of Ohio's largest and most influential distilleries. In this episode, Drew Hannush visits Watershed Distillery to meet cask manager Ryan Venrick and brand ambassador Tommy Householder and discover how a community-driven startup became a destination for bourbon, gin, apple brandy, and one of the most unusual liqueurs you'll find anywhere.

• How Watershed helped launch Columbus's modern distilling scene • Why community and local ingredients are at the heart of the distillery • The story behind Watershed's name and Ohio roots • From vodka and gin to one of Ohio's leading bourbon producers • Sweet mash bourbon and evolving mash bills • Exploring the rickhouse and the science behind maturation • Apple brandy made from Ohio apples and finished with American oak • Supporting Ohio cooperages and keeping production close to home • The story behind Nocino, a black walnut liqueur inspired by an Italian family recipe • Tasting whiskey surrounded by thousands of barrels in the "barrel fort" • Exploring Columbus and the growing Central Ohio distilling scene • Plus, Drew shares his three reasons why Watershed Distillery deserves a spot on your Whiskey Lore Wish List

📍 Watershed Distillery Columbus, Ohio

Travel maps, distillery information, and trip-planning tools for more than 1,000 whiskey destinations can be found at WhiskeyLore.org/flights.

Enjoy this entertaining discussion or take the FULL TOUR and hear us taste each of their Bourbon expressions, gin, and apple brandy, plus get deeper stories with a 7-day free trail of the Whiskey Lore Speakeasy at patreon.com/whiskeylore

Most people come to Cooperstown for baseball, but they may leave talking about whiskey. In this episode, Drew Hannush strolls through the village that gave rise to America's pastime before heading to Cooperstown Distillery to meet founder Gene Marra. Together, they explore the marriage of baseball and spirits, the philosophy behind New York whiskey, and why one chef-turned-distiller believes cold-weather maturation creates flavors you won't find anywhere else.

• How a restaurateur and chef found his way into distilling • Why Cooperstown became the perfect home for a baseball-inspired distillery • The story behind the famous baseball decanters and sports-themed bottles • New York grain and Gene Marra's vision for distinctive bourbon • Using three barrel sizes to shape flavor and maturation • Four-grain bourbon and the role of oats in creating a creamy mouthfeel • New York rye whiskey and balancing spice with corn sweetness • Touring the cellar and tasting whiskey straight from the barrel • An award-winning American single malt and the Solera sherry finishing system • Why Gene believes New York whiskey offers something different from Kentucky bourbon • Baseball memories, Yogi Berra, and growing up near Yankee Stadium • Exploring Cooperstown, Main Street, memorabilia shops, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame • Plus, Drew shares his three reasons why Cooperstown Distillery deserves a spot on your Whiskey Lore Wish List

📍 Cooperstown Distillery Cooperstown, New York

Travel maps, distillery information, and trip-planning tools for more than 1,000 whiskey destinations can be found at WhiskeyLore.org/flights.

Members of the Speakeasy can hear an extra 20 minutes of interview time, including a dive into New York's cooper who is gaining a great reputation, and we'll taste an Apple Brandy and see what the Europeans thought of that. Check it out at patreon.com/whiskeylore. Sign up for a 7-Day Free Trial.

TRUTH OR LORE: Did James "Cobbie" Allardes enlist the help of Edinburgh's ladies of the night to sell his "guid Glendronach whisky?"

It's a story I used to kick off the Whiskey Lore podcast back in 2019, but a lot has happened since then—especially when it comes to the way I conduct research.

Join me as I take a second look at the life of James Allardes and the creation of Glendronach Distillery. The real story is fascinating and once you hear it, it will beg the question: Was the story of the Cannongate ladies of the night truth or lore?

Along the way, we'll learn just how successful the distillery was under Cobbie's ownership and the style of whisky he was making. For lovers of the modern sherry bomb Glendronach, you might be in for a shock.

And join me later this week for a deeper dive into the history of Glendronach on Behind The Lore, available to members of the Speakeasy at patreon.com/whiskeylore

Vermont is famous for maple syrup, but in Quechee, one distillery found a different way to put the state's signature ingredient to work. In this episode, Drew Hannush visits Vermont Spirits Distilling Company to meet head distiller and COO Don Kolp and explore a world where maple becomes vodka, gin spends years in bourbon barrels, and bourbon gets just enough maple to remind you where it came from. Along the way, you'll discover one of New England's most distinctive distilling experiences.

• How Vermont Spirits became the state's oldest craft distillery • The origins of maple vodka and turning sap into spirits • The legacy of Harry Gorman and the creation of Harry's Cocktail Lounge • Inside the unique glass column still and custom-built distillery • Why maple vodka delivers vanilla and butterscotch instead of maple syrup flavors • Barrel-aged gin and why whiskey drinkers may find themselves converted • The story behind Number 14 Bourbon and Vermont's place in American history • Adding maple to bourbon without overwhelming the whiskey • Barrel-aged vodka and other experimental spirits on the horizon • Upcoming barrel tastings and fill-your-own-bottle experiences • Exploring Quechee, the Connecticut River Valley, and New England distillery country • Plus, Drew shares his three reasons why Vermont Spirits Distilling Company deserves a spot on your Whiskey Lore Wish List

📍 Vermont Spirits Distilling Company Quechee, Vermont

Travel maps, distillery information, and trip-planning tools for more than 1,000 whiskey destinations can be found at WhiskeyLore.org/flights.