The Whisky Warrior Podcast

🥃 Can traditional whisky-making techniques produce extraordinary flavour in a fraction of the usual maturation time?

In this episode of the Whisky Wealth Warrior Podcast, host Glen Palmer is joined by Christopher Pateman, Commercial Manager at Lancaster Spirits Company, to explore the fascinating journey of an emerging English single malt whisky distillery.

Lancaster Spirits is preparing for its inaugural English single malt whisky release in 2027, but its approach to whisky production is already challenging conventional thinking.

Combining decades of brewing expertise with traditional, hands-on production methods, Lancaster is creating a distinctive spirit through live brewer's yeast, extended fermentation and carefully selected first-fill casks.

Chris shares why he believes some of Lancaster's 18-month-old spirit could be mistaken for whisky aged 10–12 years, and explains the science and craftsmanship behind its remarkable flavour development.

But this episode goes far beyond whisky production.

Glen and Chris explore what it takes to establish a whisky distillery before its first release, the commercial realities of the English whisky industry, and the opportunities and risks involved in owning a cask from a young distillery.

The Lancaster Spirits story: How an established brewery expanded into English single malt production.

Traditional whisky-making: Why Lancaster prioritises manual production, live brewer's yeast and flavour over maximum efficiency.

Extended fermentation: How fermentation lasting up to 168 hours influences the character of its spirit.

Whisky maturation: The influence of first-fill sherry, bourbon and wine casks, smaller barrels and oxidation.

Young spirit versus mature whisky: Why Chris believes some 18-month-old releases taste significantly older.

Whisky cask ownership: Understanding the Cask Collective, ownership rights, bottling options and potential risks.

The business of whisky: How Lancaster manages costs and builds customer relationships while its whisky matures.

The future of English whisky: Its growing identity and how it can establish itself alongside Scotch.

The first Lancaster single malt: Plans for a limited inaugural release in 2027.

A life well lived: Chris reflects on the people, experiences and memories that make a career in whisky worthwhile.

🥃 Christopher Pateman — Commercial Manager, Lancaster Spirits Company

With approximately 15 years of experience in the drinks industry, Chris has worked across whisky retail, premium spirits, sales and business development. He now plays a central role in developing Lancaster Spirits Company and bringing its first English single malt to market.

🌐 Lancaster Spirits Company — Official website:

🥃 Explore Lancaster's whisky, Cask Collective and Founders' Reserve:

🏭 Distillery tours and tasting experiences:

🔗 Lancaster Spirits Company on LinkedIn:

🔗 LinkedIn — Connect with Glen Palmer:

🌐 Whisky Wealth Mastery — Whisky cask education and guidance:

📖 Download your FREE Whisky Investment Guide:

🥃 Book a complimentary 15-minute whisky cask discovery call:

🎙️ Interested in becoming a guest on Whisky Wealth Warrior?

Whisky Wealth Warrior goes beyond the bottle to explore the people, businesses, innovations and stories shaping the future of whisky.

Hosted by Glen Palmer, the podcast brings together distillery founders, whisky experts, entrepreneurs and industry leaders for engaging conversations about whisky production, ownership, collecting, business and education.

Education first. No hype. No shortcuts.

Play the long game. Play it like a warrior. 🥃

#LancasterSpirits #EnglishWhisky #WhiskyWealthWarrior #ChristopherPateman #SingleMaltWhisky #WhiskyCasks #WhiskyMaturation #WhiskyPodcast

What happens when almost 30 years at Royal Mail leads to an entirely unexpected second career producing award-winning Welsh wine?

In this episode:

Beyond Malbec: The Argentine Wines the World Is Missing | Jasmine Montgomery

than what's inside the bottle.

FREE Whisky Investment Guide

#ArgentineWine #Malbec #Mendoza #Wine #WineLovers #WineIndustry #WineTourism #WineBusiness #JasmineMontgomery #WhiskyWealthWarrior

Whisky Cask Investing EXPOSED: The Truth About Prices, Returns & Risk

A good whisky cask can still be a bad investment if you pay too much for it.

Before buying, investors need to understand exactly what they own, what comparable whisky is worth, what costs they'll incur and — crucially — who might eventually buy that cask from

them.

https://whiskywealthmastery.com/free 

Can Great Wine REALLY Come in a Can? | Ben Franks

Can premium wine really come in a can — or does putting great wine into aluminium immediately make consumers perceive it as inferior?

In this episode of the Whisky Wealth Warrior Podcast, Glen Palmer sits down with Ben Franks, CEO and Co-Founder of Canned Wine Group, to explore entrepreneurship, innovation and what happens when you challenge one of the wine industry's strongest traditions.

Ben entered the wine business remarkably young, launching Novel Wines at just 22 years old before eventually becoming involved in an entirely different challenge: proving that the quality of a wine doesn't have to be determined by the container it comes in.

Canned Wine Group set out to do something different.

Rather than treating canned wine as another RTD product, the company wanted to take premium European wines designed for genuine wine drinkers and offer them in a more convenient format.

🍷 Glen and Ben discuss:

One particularly interesting hospitality argument is waste.

Ben explains how cans can allow venues to open exactly the amount of wine required rather than opening a full bottle, while potentially improving service speed and allowing operators to offer better-quality wine without necessarily increasing the price to the customer.

So perhaps the real question isn't:

“Can great wine come in a can?”

Maybe it's:

“Why have we become so convinced that great wine has to come in a bottle?”

🔗 Connect with Ben Franks

Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfrankswine/ 

Ben Franks – CEO & Co-Founder, Canned Wine Group 

🔗 Connect with Glen Palmer

LinkedIn – Glen Palmer

Whisky Wealth Mastery

FREE Whisky Investment Guide

Book a complimentary 15-minute discovery call 

Want to be a guest on the Whisky Wealth Warrior Podcast?

Whisky Wealth Warrior on YouTube

#CannedWine #Wine #PremiumWine #WineLovers #WineIndustry #SustainableWine #WineInnovation #CannedWineGroup #BenFranks #DrinksIndustry #WhiskyWealthWarrior

What happens when you decide to build a whisky distillery at 69° North — surrounded by Arctic mountains, fjords, extreme weather and the Northern Lights? 🥃❄️

In this episode of the Whisky Wealth Warrior Podcast, Glen Palmer is joined by Tor Petter Christiansen, co-founder of Aurora Spirit Distillery and home of Bivrost Whisky, together with returning guest Chris Greta of Still Life Stories.

Tor's route into whisky was anything but conventional.

With a background in project management, web development and business, he wasn't a distiller — and initially wasn't even a whisky drinker.

But an idea planted by a friend refused to disappear.

Eventually, Tor travelled to Islay to investigate what Scotland's distilleries were doing. After experiencing the whisky, production, tourism, hospitality and storytelling firsthand, he made a life-changing decision: he was going to build a distillery in Arctic Norway.

The result became Aurora Spirit Distillery and Bivrost Whisky.

🥃 Bivrost Whisky / Aurora Spirit Distillery:

📖 Still Life Stories:

🔗 Chris Greta:

🔗 LinkedIn:

🌐 Whisky Wealth Mastery:

📖 Download your FREE Whisky Investment Guide:

🥃 Book a complimentary 15-minute whisky cask discovery call:

🎙️ Want to be a guest on the Whisky Wealth Warrior Podcast?

#BivrostWhisky #AuroraSpirit #NorwegianWhisky #ArcticWhisky #Whisky #WhiskyPodcast #SingleMaltWhisky #ArcticBarley #VikingWhisky #NorseMythology #WhiskyCasks #WhiskyTourism #CraftWhisky #WhiskyWealthWarrior

Could whisky learn something from the gin boom — and could making the category brighter, more accessible and less intimidating bring an entirely new generation of drinkers into whisky?

In this episode of the Whisky Wealth Warrior Podcast, Glen Palmer is joined by Carol Jackson, Founder and Managing Director of Ellis Spirits, for a wide-ranging conversation about gin, rum, whisky, entrepreneurship, branding, innovation and the reality of building an independent Scottish spirits business.

Carol didn't begin her career in the drinks industry.

Her background was in corporate programme management, technology delivery and transformation, including work with RBS Group and Lloyds Banking Group.

But after years of corporate life, Carol wanted to build something of her own.

What started as an idea for a premium ready-to-drink gin developed into Ellis Gin — a Scottish brand built around flavour, personality, experiences and innovative colour-changing gin.

Carol eventually took Ellis Gin from zero to profitable in two years, but the journey taught her that creating a fantastic product is only the beginning.

You still need to know your customer.

You still need a sales strategy.

And most importantly, people need to know you exist.

Carol also shares how Ellis adapted during Covid by creating virtual gin experiences that brought people together at a time when social interaction had almost disappeared.

That journey subsequently took her products to Downing Street and the House of Lords and led to recognition through Small Business Britain.

Today, Ellis has expanded beyond gin into rum.

Carol explains the thinking behind Ellis Rum, a honey-spiced expression combining predominantly Caribbean rum with Scottish rum — with another unusual ingredient in the story:

🐝 Honey connected to around 30,000 bees living in central Glasgow.

Glen and Carol also explore where whisky, gin and rum can learn from one another.

Carol believes whisky could become less masculine, brighter and more fun in its marketing, while using cocktails and experimentation to attract consumers who might otherwise feel intimidated by the category.

Meanwhile, gin could learn something from whisky's ability to create premiumisation and perceived value.

🔗 Connect with Carol Jackson

🍸 Ellis Gin:

🥃 Ellis Rum:

🔗 LinkedIn:

🔗 Connect with Glen Palmer

🔗 LinkedIn:

🌐 Whisky Wealth Mastery:

📖 Download your FREE Whisky Investment Guide:

🥃 Book a complimentary 15-minute whisky cask discovery call:

🎙️ Want to be a guest on the Whisky Wealth Warrior Podcast?

#Whisky #Gin #Rum #EllisGin #EllisRum #ScottishGin #ScottishSpirits #DrinksIndustry #Entrepreneurship #CarolJackson #WhiskyWealthWarrior

🥃🍷 What can two of the world's oldest drinks industries learn from each other — and has whisky become better at innovation than wine?

In this episode of the Whisky Wealth Warrior Podcast, Glen Palmer sits down with Graeme Sutherland, founder of the Good Brothers Wine Group in Edinburgh, for a wide-ranging conversation about wine, whisky, entrepreneurship, hospitality, sustainability, investment and legacy.

Graeme has spent more than two decades in the wine trade, with a career that has taken him from working in Burgundy to senior sales roles before eventually building his own portfolio of businesses.

But his entrepreneurial journey nearly faced disaster before it had properly begun.

In February 2020, Graeme left a secure corporate position to focus on his businesses.

Just weeks later, Covid hit.

With hospitality effectively shutting down overnight, Graeme had to rethink the business rapidly. Good Brothers pivoted into home delivery, supplying everything from wine and spirits to fruit, vegetables, cheese, charcuterie, fish and meat.

That decision helped keep the business moving, kept the brand visible and provided an extraordinary lesson in entrepreneurship and adaptability.

Graeme also shares what years in the wine trade taught him about relationships, trust and premiumisation — and why successful drinks businesses can't simply compete on price.

We explore sustainability, organic and biodynamic winemaking, the changing hospitality industry and why customers increasingly want memorable experiences rather than simply products.

Then we bring the worlds of wine and whisky together.

Graeme believes wine can learn from the willingness of whisky producers and independent bottlers to experiment, innovate and challenge convention.

We also explore whisky and wine as collectibles, secondary markets, investment risk and why both industries have faced problems with fraud.

And Graeme shares an extraordinary story involving six bottles of 1973 Ardbeg bought for just £10 each — some of which he and his friends simply opened and enjoyed.

Would he change that decision knowing what they're worth today?

Absolutely not.

Towards the end of the conversation, Graeme explains what success really means to him.

It isn't about creating a 50-site empire, earning millions or owning a private jet.

It's about supporting his family, travelling with his wife, building something his children could potentially inherit and helping the people who have worked alongside him build fulfilling lives of their own.

🔗 LinkedIn:

🔗 LinkedIn:

🌐 Whisky Wealth Mastery:

📖 Download your FREE Whisky Investment Guide:

🥃 Book a complimentary 15-minute whisky cask discovery call:

🎙️ Want to be a guest on the Whisky Wealth Warrior Podcast?

#Whisky #Wine #WineIndustry #WhiskyIndustry #WineBusiness #ScotchWhisky #Entrepreneurship #Hospitality #WineInvestment #WhiskyInvestment #GoodBrothers #GraemeSutherland #WhiskyWealthWarrior

 What really happens when you buy a whisky cask — and how can you be certain the cask you're buying actually exists?

In this episode of the Whisky Wealth Warrior Podcast, Glen Palmer sits down with Simon Aron, Founder and CEO of Cask Trade, for an in-depth look behind the scenes of the whisky cask marketplace.

Before founding Cask Trade, Simon was already an experienced whisky collector and cask buyer.

But some of his early experiences exposed problems that would ultimately influence the business he created.

Simon describes spending months tracking down casks he'd purchased — discovering casks in different locations, casks held in different wood from what he'd expected, casks that apparently didn't exist and even a cask that had been double-sold.

Those experiences helped inspire Simon to build Cask Trade, with transparency and clear ownership at the heart of the marketplace.

Importantly, Cask Trade shouldn't be viewed solely through the lens of “cask investment.”

It operates as a whisky cask marketplace, covering multiple aspects of cask ownership and the cask lifecycle — including buying and selling, storage, sampling and regauging, bottling and auction. This separation from traditional investment and wealth advisory reflects the company's emphasis on education, transparency and supporting different reasons for owning whisky casks.

Glen and Simon explore everything from choosing the right cask and understanding ownership documentation to diversification, maturation, independent bottlers and perhaps the most overlooked part of buying a whisky cask:

How are you eventually going to get out?

Simon also reveals some of the extraordinary casks he's encountered during his career, including casks that have sold for more than £4 million.

🥃 In this episode:

If you're considering buying a whisky cask, already own one, or simply want a better understanding of how the market actually operates, this conversation is packed with valuable insights.

⚠️ Important: Whisky casks are unregulated investments in the UK. Values can rise or fall and returns are not guaranteed. This podcast is provided for educational and entertainment purposes and does not constitute personal financial advice.

🔗 Connect with Simon Aron

👤 Simon Aron – Founder & CEO, Cask Trade:

🥃 Cask Trade – Whisky Cask Marketplace:

🔗 Connect with Glen Palmer

🔗 LinkedIn:

🌐 Whisky Wealth Mastery:

📖 Download your FREE Whisky Investment Guide:

🥃 Book a complimentary 15-minute whisky cask discovery call:

🎙️ Want to be a guest on the Whisky Wealth Warrior Podcast?

#Whisky #WhiskyCasks #CaskTrade #CaskWhisky #WhiskyInvestment #ScotchWhisky #WhiskyMarket #WhiskyCollector #WhiskyEducation #WhiskyWealthWarrior

What could the wine industry learn from whisky about branding, storytelling and connecting with today's consumers?

In this episode of the Whisky Wealth Warrior Podcast, Glen Palmer sits down with Iain Muggoch, founder of Madame F, for a fascinating conversation spanning decades in the international wine industry, entrepreneurship, brand building, social impact — and why wine might need to start taking a few lessons from whisky.

Iain's career has taken him from becoming the first management trainee at Direct Wines to South Africa, fine wine trading, international buying and overseeing vineyards, wineries and wholesale markets.

Then came Madame F.

What began during lockdown as an idea to create a wine label capable of raising money for the opening of Queer Britain developed into a purpose-led drinks brand that helped raise more than £100,000 and now supports and amplifies under-celebrated communities through art, sport and culture.

• The lessons Iain learned from decades in the wine industry

It's a conversation about much more than what's inside the bottle.

It's about people, purpose, risk, authenticity and building something that genuinely stands for something.

🔗 LinkedIn:

🌐 Madame F:

📧 Email:

🔗 LinkedIn:

🌐 Whisky Wealth Mastery:

📖 Download your FREE Whisky Investment Guide:

🥃 Book a complimentary 15-minute whisky cask discovery call:

🎙️ Want to be a guest on the Whisky Wealth Warrior Podcast?

#WhiskyWealthWarrior #IainMuggoch #MadameF #WineIndustry #WhiskyIndustry #WineBusiness #DrinksIndustry #BrandBuilding #Entrepreneurship #PurposeLedBusiness #Whisky #Wine