Whiskey Chats

Join me for My Irish Sea Boat Chat with Darryl McNally, Master Distiller.

I was invited for a trip to the legendary Scottish Dsitilling town of Campbeltown, as part of a group from the Harbourview Hotel, on their hotel RHIB boat. As Ireland's first whiskey hotel, this is just one of their experiences that they offer.

As well as being Master Distiller at Bushmills Distillery for years, being integral seeting up Dublin Liberties Distillery and founding Limavaddy Irish Whiskey, Darryl is also involved in the Harbourview Hotel whiskey project.

On our way over to Campbeltown on the RHIB, as our group were having the craic all around us, we recorded a chat about his journey so far.

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:

• www.boanndistillery.ie
• www.theharbourviewhotel.com

Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you.

https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast

Laurie

Join me for My Pub Chat with Benny McCabe.

Benny is a legendary Publican in Cork city who owns and operates the Cork Heritage Pub group of pubs, plus The Rising Sons Brewery and is also involved with the new puublicn driven Changing Times Brewery.

Benny's passion for Cork heritage, pub culture, people and his staff have created some of the most iconic pubs in Cork city - The Mutton Lane, Crane Lane Theatre, The Pavillion, The Vicarstown, Canty's, Sin É, Arthur Maynes.... the list goes on....

I met up with Benny in his old family home.... upstairs in his Sin É pub. We then walked across the city to visit The Mutton Lane Inn, one of the oldest watering holes in the city.

I can honestly say it was a pleasure to spend a bit of time with Benny and I know you'll enjoy our chat as much as I did..

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:

• www.boanndistillery.ie
• www.theharbourviewhotel.com

Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you.

https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast

Laurie

Join me for My Ahascragh Distillery Chat with Gareth McAllister.

I visited Garreth's Distillery in Ahascragh village, just east of Galway. What a little gem in this hidden heartland of canals, rivers and rolling hills.

Garreth and Michelle McAllister started production in their meticulously renovated mill buildings, that are again the beating heart of Ahascragh village.

They take immense pride in running the distillery on renewable energies and no expense has been spared in this project.

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:

• www.boanndistillery.ie
• www.theharbourviewhotel.com

Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you.

https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast

I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat.

Laurie

Join me for My illicit Poitín Chat with Al Poitíno.

I visited Al (pseudonym) deep in the high bogs of the mountains of the North West of Ireland..... to discover his amazing hidden still.

We chatted about his homebrew supply business - Hooley Homebrew - and we went through his still set-up and practices in making Ireland's native spirit - Poitín.... pronounced Potcheen...

Al Poitíno has garnered a devout following on social media due to his highly entertaining and instructional videos on homebrewing and how to use the supplies he is selling on his site.

Check it out: https://hooleyhomebrew.ie/

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:

• www.boanndistillery.ie
• www.theharbourviewhotel.com

Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you.

https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast

I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat.

Laurie

Join me for My Irish Whiskey Technical File Chat with Dr Fionnán O'Connor.

The legislation governing how Irish whiskey can be made is going through a review process at the moment. The consensus amongst every producer on the island is that it needs to change and is not historically accurate. This will allow distilleries to produce and market Pot Still Irish Whiskey and Grain Irish Whiskey to alter their methods and recipes for the better.

Fionnán's Doctural Thesis research into historic Irish Whiskey Mashbills or recipes, has made a huge contribution to this momentum and is foundational to the questions currently being asked by the Dept of Agriculture in Ireland, who hold responsibilty, as part of a Public Consultaion process. I encourage you to follow the link below and engage with this process.

https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/consultations/public-consultation-on-proposed-amendments-to-the-irish-whiskey-technical-file/

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:

• www.boanndistillery.ie
• www.theharbourviewhotel.com

Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you.

https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast

I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat.

Laurie

Join me for My Ballina Distillery Chat with Blending Manager Stacey Longworth.

I visited Stacey in what used to be called Connacht Distillery in Co Mayo.

Terroir Distillers, a French drinks company, bought Connacht Distillery in 2024 and it is now rebranded as Ballina Distillery.

They have double and triple Distilled Single Malt releases as their first releases. All of this liquid was distilled at the distillery .......... and a little birdie told me it's roughly 6yr old whiskeys.

I was always impressed with the whiskey that came out of that distillery and really enjoyed my access all areas guided tour with Stacey.

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:

• www.boanndistillery.ie
• www.theharbourviewhotel.com

Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you.

https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast

I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat.

Laurie

Join me for My Irish Distillers History Chat with Archivist Carol Quinn.

This is my third Chat with Carol and they always seem to be better than the last.

Carol is so knowledgeable on the history of Cork Distilleries Company, the precursor to Irish Distillers.

I joined Carol in her archive, at The Distillers Cottage in Midleton Distillery and we had a great chat about how Irish Distillers evolved from CDC and she dispelled a few myths about Irish whiskey along the way aswell, that I put to her.

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:

• www.boanndistillery.ie
• www.theharbourviewhotel.com

Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you.

https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast

I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat.

Laurie

Join me for My State of the Industry Chat with John Teeling..

John Teeling is the current owner of Great Northern Distillery, founder of Cooley Distillery in 1988 and has also been involved in precious minerals and metal exploration and mining for most of his life.

He was a lecturer in economics back in the day and his insight into world markts, especially as they pertain to whiskey, is nearly unrivalled. He has been there and seen it.....

This was an extremely insightful chat for me and I hope you learn as much as I did from it, from this very special fella....

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:

• www.boanndistillery.ie
• www.theharbourviewhotel.com

Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you.

https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast

I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat.

Laurie

Join me for My Belfast Whiskey Week Chat 2026 with Paul Kane.

Paul Kane founded Belfast Whiskey Week in 2019.

This will be it's 9th year running over 9 days from 24th July - 01st August 2026.

This year's festival have an amazing array of events, including 3 sub-festivals, all running in the amazing bars and areas of Belfast city centre. Tickets are now Live for most events and, again, it's a crazy list of experiences to choose from....

https://www.belfastwhiskeyweek.com/

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:

• www.boanndistillery.ie
• www.theharbourviewhotel.com

Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you.

https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast

I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat.

Laurie

Join me for My Dingle Distillery Chat with Elliot Hughes.

Elliot is carrying on the family legacy at the head of Dingle Distillery and The Porterhouse Group.

I sat with Elliot ...... and his 2 doggies..... in his kitchen and had a fantastic chat about his journey with 'The Family Business'.

Dingle Distillery and it's whiskey, gin and vodka is known worldwide and it was great to get a behind the brand chat with someone so involved in the 14yr journey...

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:

• www.boanndistillery.ie
• www.theharbourviewhotel.com

Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you.

https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast

I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat.

Laurie