Episodes
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Join me for My Midleton Micro Distillery Chat with Barrett Stapleton - Head Distiller in the Micro.
Barrett originally hails from the US and has beat a really interesting path to his current position in Midleton Distillery.
He came back to Ireland at the end of Covid, after studying in UCC in the early 00's, to start work distilling in Clonakilty Distillery.
From Electrician to Scuba Instructor, from Hawaii to Antarctica, I am so glad that none of those things dissuaded Barrett from joining the Irish Whiskey fraternity, because he is a genuine, passionate, bubbly character whose passion is infectious.
He's my kinda guy and I think after listening to this chat, you'll understand why it's so important to have people like this in the Irish Whiskey Industry.
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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
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Join me for My Stonewell Cidery Chat with Daniel Emerson.
Founded by Daniel and Geraldine Emerson in 2009, Stonewell is a small family-run cider producer. Their story began with an old French press and apple mill from Geraldine’s Loire Valley family before upgrading to a modern press at their Carrigaline Production facility.
I joined Daniel in Carrigaline and we walked amongst their fermenters and chatted about how Stonewell have always used apples that are sourced from orchards across Waterford, Kilkenny, Laois, Tipperary, and Cork. They use traditional cider apples like Dabinett and Michelin, blended with eating varieties such as Jonagored, Elstar, and Falstaff
Stonewell cider always stood out to me as one of the better cider offerings in bars. This trip down to them confirmed that.
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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
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Missing episodes?
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Join me for My Spot Whiskey Chat with Robert Mitchell.
Robert Mitchell is the 7th generation of his family to run Mitchell & Son Wine and Spirits Merchants in Dublin city centre.
Mitchell's have left a huge legacy in their wake on Irish whiskey, as at one point in the late 20th century, the only shop in the world to sell Pot Still Irish whiskey was Mitchell's, as they were the only retailers for their Green Spot whiskey, in the world.
Robert and I get into the story behind the Spot range of whiskeys in this chat and it was an honour to sit with Robert for this chat.
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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
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Join me for My Mourne Dew Distillery Chat with Donal Farrell.
Mourne Dew was founded in 2017 by Donal Farrell, a former barrister and chartered accountant.
His inspiration came from an unexpected place—a court case involving cold distillation for forensic DNA extraction. This sparked an idea: what if the same technology could be used to create ultra-pure, high-quality spirits?
He is doing extremely interesting things, extracting and distilling flavours in a vacuum chamber, in order to retain freshness that may be 'cooked' out in a traditional still.
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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
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Join me for My Hinch Distillery Chat with Emma Millar.
Emma Millar is a senior distiller since 2020, at the beautiful Hinch Distillery in Co. Down, founded by Dr Terry Cross in 2019. It is clearly a labour of love. The detail and scale of Hinch Distillery really impressed me as Emma showed me around.
But all the shiny things don't really matter, unless the spirit they produce is good...... and it really is.
Emma showed me the only bonded warehouse onsite, behind the distillery and I'm very happy to report that we won't be running out of Hinch's wonderful whiskey any time soon.
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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
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Join me for My Ardara Distillery Chat with James Doherty.
James and Moira O'Doherty founded Sliabh Liag Distillers and began releasing their Silkie range of sourced smoky whiskeys, just as the covid lockdown hit, as well as An Dúlamán Irish Maritime gins.
James and Moira returned to Ireland from their last pit-stop in Hong Kong, to pick up James's family legacy of distilling 'Inishowen' style or smoky whiskeys again, in his family's native Donegal. Inishowen whiskey was once a by-word for smoky whiskeys, throughout the British Empire and the world.
Their 'recently' commissioned Ardara Distillery is sight to behold, resonating with Islay's distillery's style and I had a fantastic return visit with Jim to see the operation in full swing.
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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
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Join me for My Chat with Tara Clarke from Dair Nua Cooperage.
Tara is the National Sales Manager at the cooperage. She is the conduit between the barrels they source, import, fix, care for and distribute to most of our favourite distilleries and brands throughout the island of Ireland. It is a very important and interesting role in the whiskey industry.
Before working at Dair Nua Cooperage, she worked with Grace O'Malley Spirits.
She is also currently involved in the recently formed Women in Irish Whiskey advocacy group.
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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
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Join me for My Master Cooper Chat with Darren Leonard.
Darren is a Master Cooper, not Head Cooper, above in Dair Nua Cooperage in Foxford, Co Mayo. He is a Master Cooper because he has successfully qualified an apprentice underneath him.
He is passionate about the craft of coopering and retaining the Irish traditions of coopering that Ger Buckley, Midleton Master Cooper, has "legacied" into the small band of coopers and trainees in Ireland. The whole cooper community in Ireland leaves me in awe at their skill and passion for the heritage of the craft.
Darren himself apprenticed under John Neely, a famous Scottish cooper who plied his trade in Ireland, up until his untimely passing in 2018.
It's so great to see Darren continuing on and building a legacy in Irish Coopering.
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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
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Join me for My Palace Bar Chat with Stephen Randles, Michael Cowman & Micháel O'Flaherty.
We met up in The Palace Bar on Fleet St in Dublin city centre. Owner and publican Willie Ahern kindly allowed us to use the private Power's whiskey room, on the top floor, to record the podcast.
He even dropped in at the start of the chat to say hello and find out what we thought of the new Clockwork Velvet Stout from Changing Times Brewery, that was launched the day we were in the bar.
Michael Cowman now works in the Good Spirits Company and also co-owns Redacted Indy Bottlers. Micháel O' Flaherty works for Micil Distillery and Stephen Randles works with Boann Distillery. All 3 lads have worked deeply in the Irish Whiskey for many years and have an amazing perspective on the whole whiskey industry and enthusiast scene.
We chatted about and shared many drops over the evening..... good and bad.......
I love sitting around a table with lads who get it....
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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
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Join me for My Boann Distillery Chat with Pat Cooney.
Pat Cooney is the Patriarch of Boann Distillery, having founded it in 2019, alongside his family.
Pat has been in the drinks industry in Ireland since the 1970's. We discuss on the episode his previous companies and his path to Boann, very interesting.
Boann Distillery have been innovating and ambitious in the Irish Pot Still whiskey since Pat and co turned a Celtic Tiger era car sales-room into a thriving distillery. It must be the only marble tiled still-room on the island! A real pleasure to visit, I highly recommend.
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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
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Join me for My Achill Island Distillery Chat with Seán & Michael McKay.
I recently visited this picturesque island distillery in beautiful county Mayo, just off the west coast of Ireland, by bridge.
Seán and Michael McKay are brothers. They are carrying on the legacy of their father who founded the distillery originally and they are genuinely doing their father's legacy a massive justice. They have an amazing operation at Achill Island Distillery.
2 x 5000ltr pot stills, fed by 7 fermenters, keep this a 7 day operating distillery.
They have vast warehouses with 5yr old whiskey stock, that tastes amazing.
This is a little gem of a distillery that will be a major part of the Irish whiskey landscape going forward. I was very impressed.......
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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
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Join me for My Lough Mask Distillery Chat with Andrew Bourke-Hastings, Head Distiller.
I recently visited this picturesque, yet industrial, distillery in beautiful county Mayo, surrounded on all sides by gorgeous lakes and mountains.
Andrew started in Lough Mask as a brewer and is now their Head Distiller. They are nearing the point in their journey where they will be releasing their very own whiskey. They have a very innovative cask program going where you can jump on with a 20/30 litre cask of their own new make spirit.
They are concentrating on single malt Irish whiskey and are producing amazing products, from what I saw. Well worth checking out.
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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
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Join me for My Micil Distillery Chat with Pádraic Ó'Griallais.
I visited Micil Distillery, based out the back of the Oslo Bar, in the heart of Salthill just outside Galway city, in January 2024.
This is a really charming, boutique distillery that I wanted to see for a long time. I wasn't disappointed. What couldn't come across on the podcast was the amazing smell of turf that hits you as you open the front door. It was a real feast for the senses.
The Ó'Griallaises are a 6th generation distilling family, all their previous generations were proud illicit Poteen (Poitín) men.
Micil are well worth a visit.
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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
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Join me for My Midleton Distillery Garden Chat with Barry Chandler, Dan Pennington, Paul Costello and Mark Lonergan.
I set up a marquee out my back garden over Xmas 2024. The lads called up, Dan was on BBQ duty, I made Belfast Coffees, we had a ball.
I asked Midleton Master Blender Dave McCabe for a sample set from the Midleton blending lab. He very graciously sent me an amazing array of aged whiskeys, that he was working on at the time.
Midleton Distillery have vast depths of amazing liquids maturing quietly. It was amazing to get a little peak behind the curtain, of what whiskeys they have in store for the future.
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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
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Join me for My Eimverk Distillery Chat with Eva Sigurbjornsdottir, in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Eimverk produce Floki Whisky, which is famous for their sheep dung smoked whisky and many other amazing spirits.
My wife Sonya and I recently visited Eva for a look around their innovative distillery, where we discovered just how much effort that they put into their production and raw materials. For a distillery located on a volcanic island, its very impressive.
What a trip it was......
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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
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Join me for My Islay Garden Chat with Dan Pennington, Paulie Costello, Matt Kelleher & Aidan McGovern.
On a recent pilgrimage to the magical whisky island of Islay, off the coast of Scotland, with a couple of good buddies, we sat out the back of our rent-a-house on Bowmare High St, for a very honest chat about the trip so far.
I hope this gives anyone thinking about making the trip, an honest insight about the pitfalls and what we found amazing about Islay.
What a trip it was......
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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
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Join me for My Ardbeg Distillery Chat with Jackie Thomson, Visitor Centre Manager.
On a recent pilgrimage to the magical whisky island of Islay, off the coast of Scotland, with a couple of good buddies - Dan, Paulie, Matt and Aidan, we visited Ardbeg Distillery.
Here, I met up with Jackie Thomson, an absolute livewire of a lady and an enthusiatic whisky evangelist. She is a recent Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame inductee for 2023. I'm not in the least bit surprised.
She gave us a behind the scenes walk around the old distillery and what a amazing facility it is.
She was an absolute pleasure.
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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
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Join me for My Chat with Derek Mather in The Laddie Snug at Artisan.
On a recent pilgrimage to the magical whisky island of Islay, off the coast of Scotland with a couple of good buddies, we made an overnight detour to the small town of Wishaw, midway between Edinburgh and Glasgow, to the famous Artisan restaurant.
Head chef, owner, curator and co-founder of the Friends of Bruichladdich FaceBook group, Derek Mather, founded this whisky mecca 16 yrs ago..... and the grub ain't half bad either.....
Derek and his wife Fiona have amassed 1000's of bottles of Independently bottled Scotch whisky, all open and for sale by the dram at their Artisan Restaurant.
Derek doesn't believe in full bottles and prices each dram with a marginal mark-up, so that whisky lovers can visit and afford to drink some of the most fantastic whisky bottles they will ever have the pleasure of sampling.
We sat in his Laddie Snug and had a great chat about what he's been up to.
It was an absolute pleasure.
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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
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Join me for My Belfast Chat in The Friend at Hand with Jim, Mark & Séamus.
On this episode, I had 3 guests who joined me in a round-table chat in the spectacular tasting room in the back of The Friend at Hand whiskey shop and museum in the heart of Belfast city.
. Jim Ingram who works in The FAH and has the YouTube Channel The Whiskey Novice.
. Séamus Óg Birt, Brand Ambassador in Echlinville Distillery in Co. Down.
. Mark McConville, Brand Ambassador for Bushmills Distillery in Co. Antrim.
We all brought a couple of bottles of special liquids to the table for the chat and we had a ball. It was recorded during Belfast Whiskey Week 2024 and Pride was also on in Belfast at the same time. You will hear one of the many Pride parties happening in the background, as we had the back door open onto the courtyard of The Dark Horse bar next door.
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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
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Join me for My Chat with Willie Jack in The Friend at Hand in Belfast.
Willie Jack is a legend in Belfast. He is a publican, whiskey museum curator, architectural salvager and restorer, antiques dealer, community builder, cultural ambassador and a seriously well connected and sound fella.
I have wanted to speak to Willie for many years about the shrine to Irish Whiskey he has built at The Friend at Hand "whiskey shop"...... it's far more than a whiskey shop.
It is a must go to in Belfast and Sonya and I were given a massive welcome from Willie and the 3 grumpiest of old men, who Willie calls staff........ Ray, Marty & Jim... They're sound too.
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:
www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.comDon'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 listening in to our chat.
Laurie
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