The quest for a solution to overproduction of whisky soon turns into a vehicle bent on total domination of America's alcohol industry.

At the center of this quest is the president of the infamous Whisky Trust, Joseph Greenhut. His success is so great during the first year, that he soon becomes emboldened to ratchet up the pressure on his biggest rival. And his methods soon cross the line.

And as Standard Oil and other trusts draw the attention of lawmakers, Greenhut makes a shift to keep the eyes of the law off of his business.

Join me for an epic mini-series as we investigate one of the darkest chapters in the history of whisky - the age of the Whisky Trust.

Built to help control and out of control industry, the Distillers and Cattle Feeder Trust started simply enough, with a goal of stopping the mass overproduction of alcohol.

But soon greed took hold of its founders and soon, any device necessary was used to bring the industry under their thumb. Even going as far as Japan to find resources to help them dominate their competitors.

When it comes to whiskey history in the United States, bourbon seems to get all of the accolades. But before there was bourbon, there was Pennsylvania rye.

Yet the most we hear about it, usually, is in association with the Whiskey Rebellion. Well, today we're going to change that, as I dive into the early history and development of Pennsylvania rye, dispel some myths, and find out what old Monongahela rye really is.

Today, we demand a certain amount of transparency with our food stuffs. But in the 19th Century when it pertained to patent medicines, everything was a cure-all! Even whiskey!

Hear the story of an enterprising distiller who decided his product was so good, it could cure just about anything. And he even got the government believing his marketing. This is the story of Walter Duffy and his miracle cure - Duffy's Pure Malt Whiskey.

And here more about it in my interview with Clay Risen of the NY Times on Whiskey Lore: The Interviews (available wherever you download your podcasts).

Who was William Johnson?   The high sheriff of the Oregon provincial government seemed to be living a double life. And his moonlighting appeared to be as a trader, using a colorful potion to subdue his trading partners, the local tribes.   Is the legend of Blue Ruin true? And what can it teach us about life on the frontier, the fur trade, and our history?

Is it just clever marketing or is ocean aged whisky really something to behold?

Well, aging at sea is actually nothing new. In fact, the history of sea aging goes back centuries. Hear the story of these nautical spirits through the ages and climb aboard a ship may very well have sparked the move to American independence.

Hear more of Season 5 as a member of the Whiskey Lore Society. Your support will help in the creation of future episodes and seasons. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeylore

The Summer is almost over. Time for the new season of Whiskey Lore. Make sure you are subscribed.

And check out the new podcast from Whiskey Lore called Whiskey Lore: The Interviews, where I turn the storytelling over to founders, distillers, historians, and authors.

Find it and subscribe here on Apple Podcasts.

What is a "dusty hunter?" Find out in this week's episode and join me as we talk about the largest collection of Pre-Prohibition whiskey sold at a Christie's auction. Whiskey that sat for a century in two vaults owned by a man who helped put Los Angeles on the map and also brought its citizens plenty of whiskey.

And find out where I take 2 bottles of this Pre-Prohibition whiskey during my 6000 mile journey across the country. And find out how to see pictures of these old bottles and get tasting notes from those 2 century old bottles as a Whiskey Lore Society member.

Support production of future seasons of Whiskey Lore at patreon.com/whiskeylore

One morning, I opened my email and read about one of the most fascinating finds any whiskey fan could hope for. A paralegal from Los Angeles who is also a fan of the show, had a client who recently passed away, and within their house was a store of whiskey filled with the most fascinating history imaginable.

Not only from the dusty bottles themselves, but also the story of how they got there - a magical gift from the man who created what the Los Angeles Times called in 1919, "the wettest spot in America."

Support production of future seasons of Whiskey Lore at patreon.com/whiskeylore

While on a journey out to California in search of details about an upcoming episode, I took time out to interview Seth Benhaim of Infused Spirits. Seth is taking a very unique approach to aging whiskey.

We sampled his expressions using Mizunara oak, a Cask of Amontillado (something Edgar Allen Poe fans will appreciate), and scotch peat staves.  We also talked about the history of light whiskey, a historic distillery in Kentucky they source from, and the concept of an oak bill.