This episode is a packed-out catch-up filled with incredible news and a whole lot of chat. We're back in our spiritual home at The Diggers and have some major news to share right at the start!

We've secured an exclusive 15% discount for our listeners on tours at the revived Rosebank Distillery. We break down just how good a deal this is, especially with a dram of the 32-year-old Rosebank on offer!

In the episode, we also dive into:

The highly anticipated return of Scapa 16 Year Old and whether it lives up to its legendary reputation.

A lively debate on what makes a distillery "cool," with arguments for Springbank, InchDairnie, and the Thompson Brothers.

A blind tasting of a Mystery Malt from Batch 2! Can we guess what's in the bottle?

A fun fantasy about what our own independent bottling company would be and which distillery we'd approach for casks.

The craziest cask finishes we can imagine, from Irn-Bru to Buckfast.

This is a fun, off-the-cuff episode filled with plenty of laughs and even more great whisky.

Get 15% off your Rosebank tour with code: WSP15

You can also check out our visit to the distillery here:

Rosebank Distillery Tour - A Day with Ian Macleod Distillers

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This is a cracker of an episode, I don't think we've had anyone on who's done as much as Craig has done in his career.

From starting out cleaning toilets at the Glenkinchie Distillery to blending The Famous Grouse and working with Macallan, he's travelled the world and collected some amazing whisky stories on the way.

Craig took us on an incredible journey, sharing stories that prove just how global the whisky industry is. We followed his path from a tour guide at Glenkinchie to working in sales in Canada and even living in Dubai. He also talked about his time as a distiller at the Lark Distillery in Tasmania, where he got to create some truly unique whiskies, like a Christmas Cake Cask!

We talked about his work on both sides of the coin, from the incredible attention to detail that goes into every bottle of The Macallan to the surprising process behind a global brand like Famous Grouse.

We learnt so much and we've left plenty of chat in the tank for a second episode further down the line.

There's also plenty of chat about:

We were back in our spiritual home at The Diggers and had a fascinating chat with Craig Johnstone, a man whose career has taken him all over the world in whisky.

Craig took us on an incredible journey, sharing stories that prove just how global the whisky industry is. We followed his path from a tour guide at Glenkinchie to working in sales in Canada and even living in Dubai. He also talked about his time as a distiller at the famous Lark Distillery in Tasmania, where he got to create some truly unique whiskies, like a cask finished in a beer barrel!

But the real insight came when he told us about his time at Edrington, where he worked as a master blender and whisky maker. We talked about his work on both sides of the coin, from the incredible attention to detail that goes into every bottle of The Macallan to the surprising process behind a global brand like Famous Grouse. It’s a completely new look at how these iconic whiskies are made, and Craig’s straight-up approach means he doesn't hold back. This is an episode you definitely don't want to miss.

You'll want to hear about:

• Craig’s tips for whiskies to drink in 45-degree heat.
• The surprising cask policy behind Famous Grouse.
• How a bartender’s trick can make you look smarter.
• The genius of Australia's most rebellious distiller, Peter Bignell

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This week we recorded our Indy Bottler Spotlight with the Thompson Bros in front of a live audience packed into The False Widow in Leith.

We tasted an incredible lineup of whiskies, including their "accidental blend" Blended Scotch Whisky 6 Year Old and a bargain North British 33 Year Old grain whisky.

Join us as we uncover the fascinating Dornoch whisky journey, from the Dornoch Castle Hotel to the progress on their new Struie distillery. We also get the full story behind their unique labels and the hugely popular Mystery Malt series.

This episode is packed with great Scottish whisky chat, behind-the-scenes stories, and plenty of laughs.

Featured Drams:

• Thompson Brothers Blended Scotch Whisky 6 Year Old
• Glen Scotia 11 Year Old
• North British 33 Year Old
• Dornoch Distillery Single Cask Sample
• Mystery Malt Series (Torabhaig and Altmore)

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This is the one we’ve all been waiting for, folks! The warehouse episode. We’ve finally got a proper peek behind the scenes and what a place to start. We're not down in the Diggers Vaults this week; we are in a massive room full of casks and the gentle, intoxicating aroma of whisky. The magic really does happen in here!

Join me and Angus as we go to the Lowland Bond, home of the tallest cask racking in Europe. Seriously. Our host, James Zorab, and his right-hand man, Chuck, gave us an exclusive tour, and we even went up to the top of the racking system. My fear of heights was well and truly tested, but the view—and the aromas—from up there were absolutely worth it.

We delved into the art and science of maturation, from the different types of racking systems to the consistent inconsistencies that make every cask unique. We'll be talking about the new rules for cask ownership, what a 'Wooga' is, and how James and his team handle everything from re-racking to the five-day sample turnaround promise that makes them feel like the "seventh emergency service."

You'll hear Chuck reveal what it’s like to handle liquid history, including a 1990 Littlemill. We also get the lowdown on the mysterious 'timing' of casks, which involves some seriously impressive teamwork from the warehouse crew.

Plus, stick around for our guests’ "What Three Casks" and a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the podcast and joined our Facebook group. We’re on a high, and the only way is up!

Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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We're back in the Diggers Vaults at the Athletic Arms, battling the heat (it's roasting!) and diving into a proper global whisky adventure! This week, Angus and I were joined by the brilliant Carl Crafts, Sales Executive for Ardnamurchan Distillery and Adelphi.

Carl, our first American guest, tells us all about his fascinating journey into the whisky world, from craft beer in the US to helping Scottish brands navigate the wild west of American exports. We're massive fans of Ardnamurchan Whisky here, and Carl gives us the inside scoop on this remote Highland gem.

We dive deep into Ardnamurchan Single Malt, discussing their unique approach with both peated and unpeated spirit, and their commitment to sustainability with a biomass boiler. We also get the lowdown on Adelphi, the independent bottler with a wild history – including a legendary washback explosion in Glasgow!

And of course, we're dramming some absolute crackers! Carl pours us the unreleased Ardnamurchan Midgie Batch 2 (with port influence and a sneaky sherry butt!), a tasty new core range expression. We also get into the nitty-gritty of their single cask whisky releases and how they balance broader appeal with limited editions, including their annual Ardnamerica bottling.

To round off a cracking chat, Carl reveals his fascinating What3Drams picks, sharing personal favourites that shaped his journey in whisky. This episode is packed with Carl's expert insights, plenty of laughs, and a deep dive into the unique world of Ardnamurchan Single Malt and Adelphi

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We're back in the Diggers Vaults at the Athletic Arms, sweating it out (it's roasting!) and diving into a proper global whisky adventure!

This week, Angus, Ross, Fraser, and I are catching up after our whirlwind travels, and I've brought back some rather unique souvenirs for us to try.

First up, we're tackling Indian whiskies! I'll share some insights from my recent trip to Mumbai for a wild blind tasting experience with the Single Malt Amateur Club.

We try some of India's biggest selling brands – Royal Stag, Blender's Pride, and 100 Pipers – and let's just say, the results are... interesting.

Some surprises in there, especially when it comes to the "Scotch" element!

Then, Fraser unveils a true unicorn: a super rare Japanese whisky from Fuji Gotemba Distillery – the mysterious Dunbar! This one has a bizarre story and some even more bizarre tasting notes (urinal cakes, anyone?!).

We also get Fraser's take on his new gig at Gordon & MacPhail, following up on our last chat with Stephen Rankin.

He gives us the lowdown on life inside one of the world's most historic independent bottlers and how their incredible whisky portfolio stretches from affordable drams to absolute treasures.

Plus, we talk about Rosebank Distillery's incredible Tamdhu residency and the unique blending experience there. And stick around for a hilarious debate on the "Seven Wonders of the Whisky World" and whether a distillery tour is better during production or shutdown.

Finally, we unveil the utterly mind-blowing Gordon & MacPhail Driver's Pack drams that Stephen Rankin generously sent us – a line-up of truly world-class, aged whiskies we'll be showcasing in a separate video!

It's just another Friday night in the pub with lots of drams, plenty of laughs, surprising whiskies, and the occasional whisky chat you won't hear anywhere else. Don't miss it!

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Join Angus and I as we roll into Elgin for the final leg of our Speyside whisky road trip – and boy, have we got a corker of an episode for you! We managed to corner Stephen Rankin, Director of Prestige at Gordon & MacPhail, the legendary independent bottler and a total powerhouse in the Scotch whisky industry.

This chat's a right laugh, folks. We dig into the incredible Gordon & MacPhail family business story, kicking off way back in 1895 when they were, believe it or not, just a local grocer. Stephen spills the beans with some hilarious and fascinating tales about growing up surrounded by whisky (literally!) – from helping his grandad knock down warehouses at Benromach Distillery to navigating the quirks of a multi-generational setup.

We chat about how independent bottling really works, the magic behind whisky maturation, and how Gordon & MacPhail's obsession with quality has kept them at the top of their game for decades. You'll get the inside scoop on their approach to cask management and why building proper whisky industry relationships is absolutely vital. Plus, Stephen drops a few hints about a brand-new release that's about to rewrite the history books – you won't want to miss it!

We'll be sipping on a cracking Glenburgie 1994 from their Connoisseurs Choice range, having a natter about their other distilleries like The Cairn Distillery, and, naturally, rounding it off with Stephen’s personal "What3Drams" picks.

If you're a fan of a good single malt whisky, love a genuine family business yarn, and fancy a chuckle, then this episode is well worth a watch (or a listen!).

• Subscribe to the Whisky Stories Podcast for more cracking whisky content!
• Join our Facebook Group for the Weekend Dram Roll Call – get involved and share your drams with the best whisky community around!
• Keep an eye on our newsletter for Angus's Dram of the Week and loads more!

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This week on Whisky Stories, it's a complete change of scenery! Graeme journeyed to India and got the incredible chance to catch up with Hemanth Rao and Harsha Thimmaiah  from the Single Malt Amateur Club (SMAC) in Bangalore.

Join us as we dive into the fascinating story of how Hemanth, the visionary behind the SMAC, built India's largest whisky club from humble beginnings in 2011 to a massive community of over 7000 members today.

Harsha was the first to join him, and together, they've not only expanded the club but also became India's first 'independent bottler' and a trusted voice for some of the world's biggest whisky brands.

Due to India's strict licensing laws, we set up our recording on a vibrant rooftop terrace in Bangalore, allowing us to freely explore the 6 or 7 whiskies we had on the table!

Hemanth and Harsha offer a brilliant explanation of all things Indian Whisky, from its distilling origins to the potential impact of the new Free Trade Agreement, which will see tariffs on imported Scotch drop significantly from 150% to 75%.

Pour yourself a dram and join us for this unique global whisky adventure!

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This week on the pod, we were back in the Diggers Vaults and joined by the brilliant Ali Reynolds—a man with a seriously impressive whisky journey. From award-winning bartender to global brand ambassador, and now running his own creative spirits marketing business, Ali’s got stories for days.

After winning World Class Bartender of the Year in 2015, Ali landed a dream role as Brand Ambassador for Johnnie Walker—the world’s biggest Scotch whisky brand. From delivering masterclasses and global training sessions, to helping shape how people engage with whisky, his impact has been huge.

In this episode, we talk about:

🥃 The role Johnnie Walker has played in shaping the Scotch whisky industry

🥃 How Ali made his training sessions stand out from the rest

🥃 His move to Denmark to work with the innovative Stauning Distillery

🥃 Launching his new creative agency, Yellow Hammer, which blends his experience in bartending, brand work, and spirits marketing with his passion for photography and storytelling

Ali also shared some great drams, cracking stories, and had us in stitches more than once. This one was packed with insights, laughs, and a fresh perspective on the whisky industry from the inside out.

Enjoy!

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In this week’s episode, we were joined by Christopher Coates, Editor at Large for Whisky Magazine, along with returning guest and co-host Hazel MacLeod (aka Hazy Drams) from Woven Whisky.

Christopher took us through his incredible journey into the world of whisky—from an impromptu student tasting led by a German roommate, to working in the shop at the Scotch Whisky Experience, and eventually hitting the road (and the skies) as a full-time whisky writer, editor, and content creator.

From being handed the keys to a car and told to go find whisky stories in the Scottish Highlands, to producing world-class whisky content across print, video, and events, Christopher’s stories are as insightful as they are entertaining.

And, being the gent that he is, he brought along three brilliant whiskies for his What3Drams picks:

🥃 Dram 1: Hellyers Road ‘The Iberian’ – A Tasmanian single malt finished in sherry and port casks

🥃 Dram 2: Fuji Gotemba Single Blended – A beautiful expression from Japan

🥃 Dram 3: Tamdhu 21 – Sherried elegance from Speyside

We also caught up with Hazel on what’s new at Woven, and—of course—got stuck into plenty of top-quality Scotch whisky chat, drams, and storytelling.

It’s a longer episode this week, but trust us—it’s well worth pouring yourself a big one and settling in.

Enjoy

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