WhiskyCast

One of the things I get asked about most often is why WhiskyCast doesn't have more tasting sessions. We'll answer that request in this episode, as Suntory's Lincoln Henderson takes me through a tasting session with Suntory's Yamazaki 12 and 18-year-old Japanese single malts. In the news, the European Union fires another volley in the whisky war with India, Bunnahabhain celebrates 125 years with a special single malt, BenRiach releases four new single malts with special finishes, we'll go to the woodshed with Alastair Hart of Hart Brothers, and it's holiday season at Maker's Mark.

There are only two living bourbon distillers with whiskies named after them, and you'll hear from one of them in this episode of WhiskyCast. Elmer T. Lee is the Master Distiller Emeritus at Buffalo Trace, and at 87 years of age, is still selecting the casks that make up the bourbon that carries his name. In the news, a really rare Glenfiddich goes on sale in Calgary, John Glaser of Compass Box has a new innovation in vatted malts, and you can help decide the winners of the Drammie Awards.

It's the first anniversary for WhiskyCast, and we had a big party in New York Monday night to celebrate. OK, it wasn't really our party...it was Malt Advocate's WhiskyFest New York. Still, we're celebrating the anniversary with a special episode featuring the winners of the Malt Advocate Awards, including an unprecedented repeat win for Buffalo Trace as the Distillery of the Year. You'll also hear from Lifetime Achievement Award winner Frank McHardy of Springbank and Glengyle distilleries, George Grant Jr. of Glenfarclas, Russell Anderson of Highland Park, and Euan Shand of Duncan Taylor. There were new whiskies, old whiskies, and even a few non-whiskies...and the details are in this anniversary episode of WhiskyCast!

It's the weekend before WhiskyFest New York, but there's a lot going on! We'll go back to Toronto to visit a whisky lover's dream...the Summerhill tasting tower, where rare whiskies can be yours to sample. In the news, Inver House has new owners with deep pockets, William Grant and Sons' managing director steps down, four new Glengoyne malts hit the market, along with two new Bowmores and one new Hart Brothers Macallan.

Jim Cryle "retired" this year as Master Distiller at The Glenlivet, but somehow he seems just as busy as ever after 40 years of making Scotch. My conversation with Jim includes everything from his early days in distilling to what it's like to walk into a warehouse first thing in the morning, as well as his choice for that final dram. In the news, Bruichladdich's bottling Port Charlotte PC5, the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre gets a new name, and new whiskies are on tap -- so to speak -- for WhiskyFest in New York next week.

Most of us will never be able to produce our own whisky, but admit it, you'd probably love to be able to bottle your own whisky as an independent bottler. Barry Stein and Barry Bernstein are doing just that, and they're the first independent bottlers in Canada. They'll tell us about negotiating the bureaucratic maze, getting their first bottles into liquor stores in Alberta, and just how much fun it is to have a bottle of Scotch on your desk for dramming at desire! In the news, Buffalo Trace Distillery hits the Triple Crown with another Distiller of the Year Award, Woodford Reserve marks an anniversary, Dewar's decides to give the U.S. a taste of Aberfeldy, and will there ever be a deal at Whyte and MacKay?

WhiskyCast hits the road again...this time around, to Toronto for the first Whisky Live Toronto festival! We'll hear from William Grant and Sons' Ian Millar about a new Grant's blend that combines the best of beer and the best of whisky in one...along with the competition for Toronto's best whisky chef/bartender, and a peek into a special Crown Royal whisky that will only be around for a short while. Finally...there's a blessed event in the WhiskyCast family! Put on your hockey jersey, crank up a rousing chorus of "O Canada", and join us for this special edition of WhiskyCast!

Last time, Sweden...this time, Australia. They're about as far apart as you can get physically, but both countries share a love of whisky. There are a handful of Australian distilleries, and we'll hear from Patrick Maguire, who manages the Tasmania Distillery and makes Sullivan's Cove Single Malt. In the news, the saga of Whyte and MacKay continues, and there are a bunch of new whiskies from Buffalo Trace, Gordon and MacPhail, and Diageo's Classic Malts series.

Sweden is a nation of whisky lovers, with more than 200 whisky clubs. In fact, three of the year's best whisky books have been produced by Swedish whisky lovers. We'll hear from Ingvar Ronde, the editor of the 2007 Malt Whisky Yearbook, which is being published this week. We'll also talk with Ulf Buxrud, Keeper of the Quaich, Malt Maniac, and author of the upcoming book "Rare Malts" on the 36 distilleries that make up the Rare Malts series. Finally, Par Caldenby, author of "The Enthusiast's Guide to Enjoying Malt Whisky" gives us his reasons why Sweden's state monopoly on alcohol sales actually makes it easier to find rare whiskies. In the news, William Grant and Sons takes control of its UK distribution rights, Duncan Taylor and Co. puts some rare single malts on the auction block, the US chapter of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society goes on the road, and Malt Advocate Editor and Publisher John Hansell gives us a preview of the fall issue.

Whisky lovers generally love to collect more than just bottles of their favorite drams, and those who collect whisky books are among the most avid collectors. Earlier this year, Ian Buxton produced a new edition of the 1930 Aeneas MacDonald classic, "Whisky". Now, he and fellow whisky book lover Neil Wilson have teamed up to launch Classic Expressions, a new series of historical whisky books rarely seen today. We'll get the details from Ian, and in the news, the Bourbon Hall of Fame inducts three new members, Bowmore gives travelers a 30-year-old Islay malt to collect, and on the business front, Pernod Ricard has a record sales year, while Glenmorangie's hoping to get back into the black.