Jamie and Mark celebrate Festivus on this week’s podcast. They pick their Festivus dinner whisky, their grievance whiskies (there are many), perform a feat of strength (cask whisky), and the festivus miracle distillery! Also, your holiday taking selfies tips.

Mark and Jamie are joined by Nicolas Villalon (@nick_villalon), micro-biologist and brand ambassador for Highland Park and The Macallan. We chat age statement, rare releases, barrel selection, SWA and openness, and sober November.

Jamie and Mark bring back Matt Jones on the show. Matt is the Canadian Brand Ambassador for Beam Suntory. Discussion includes yeast strains, how distilleries provide unique products, making craft whisky, and pizza parties. Mostly, they chat about stories of Kentucky. Also, this is the absolute last chance to get the Small Batch Hand Crafted “The Whisky Topic” t-shirt. Check it out at teespring.com!

Justin and Giovanni from Frape & Sons join Mark and Jamie to talk about bitters. They ferment and distill their own spirit as the base for all their bitters, and have experimented creatively with the flavouring agents. We talk about bitters used creatively in cocktails and in cooking. Also, hemp bitters & foam parties. Note: This Podcast was Recorded in mid-November.

Mark and Jamie investigate Jim Murray’s claim that Crown Royal North Harvest Rye is the best whisky in the world. Naturally, a blind tasting ensues between three top Canadian whiskies. Also, we report in from the New Brunswick Spirits Show.

Jennifer Chen, a food and whisky enthusiast, joins Mark and Jamie this week to review the whisky tasting at Mark’s place. It includes a battle of single malts, peated whiskies from around the world, and the battle of big cask strength whiskies.

This week, Jamie and Mark talk about Norlan whisky glass, whisky hysteria, hotel bars, boy bands, bad TV, lining up for whisky, vodka martinis, and old fashions vs manhattans. There might yet another discussion about ice.

This week, Sarah Parniak joins Jamie and Mark to discuss whisky events from various perspectives, women and whisky, sherry finishes, and pizza!

This week, Mark and Jamie speak with Jane Conner from Maker’s Mark. Jane oversees barrel maturation and new product development at the distillery. We speak about the Maker’s Mark Private Select Program, whisky terroir, and barrel maturation!

Mark & Jamie provide updates on their whisky collections, and follow-up on Pappy shortage, and whisky history vs reality. The podcast finishes with an interview of Hamish Torrie (Global Brand Ambassador of Ardbeg).