Episodes
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O'Shaughnessy Distilling Co. (Minneapolis, MN) WF0035
The Midwest Great Lakes Tour 2024 is winding down, but not before we hit a jewel of the Midwest, Minneapolis and the distillery that is bringing together Irish and American spirit traditions. The distillery is O'Shaughnessy the home of Keeper's Heart. I'll chat with former brewer, now lead distiller Chris Sliber about how he and Irish distiller Brian Nation are building the perfect infusion of Irish Pot Still, grain, and American Bourbon and rye. We'll talk about pot stills, deconstructing whiskey, and what to expect while on tour.
Plus, fans of Prince will get a chance to be Prince for a Day and the latest edition of This Week In Whiskey Lore will go back 139 years to one of the ties to Tennessee's distilling history. We'll do it in honor of my Lost History of Tennessee Whiskey audiobook making it to Audible, iTunes, and Amazon.
Find this and 600 other distilleries on the Whiskey Lore Distillery Travel Guide
whiskey-lore.com/travelguide
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45th Parallel Distillery (New Richmond, WI) WF0034
After a short (recording) layoff, thanks a a hurricane power outage, I'm back to finish off the last three visits on my Midwest Great Lakes Tour 2024. Today, we're off to a distillery with great fan support in an area just a little off the beaten path. It's 45th Parallel, just about 50 minutes east of Minneapolis. It's a distillery focused on grain-to-glass, getting most of their grains from the local community and they're working on a variety of spirits beyond Bourbon and Rye. We'll talk about one of them - aquavit. We'll also dive into their wheat whiskeys and how the distillery came about.
Also, on This Week In Whiskey Lore, we will celebrate the return of a Tennessee whiskey and I'll give some hints as to who my guest will be on the Whiskey Lore: The Interviews podcast when it returns this week.
Want to build a wishlist of your favorite distilleries? Whiskey-Lore.com/travelguide now features over 600 distilleries that you can bookmark and track with a free membership.
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Missing episodes?
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Lucky Guys Distillery (Hudson, WI) Whisky Flight 33
The sign says it all "mad scientist at work." Join me as I arrive on the border of Wisconsin and Minnesota and chat about all things bitters (including how they're made), cocktails, white whiskey, and what charcoal filtering really does. I'll be chatting with Lucky Guys founder Guy Whitehead.
And check out the growing list of distilleries available for you to plan trips to at whiskey-lore.com/flights
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Great Northern Distilling (Stevens Point, WI) WF0032
Thanks to everyone taking part in our Instagram Craft Distillery Bracketology. Without you, I wouldn't have discovered so many great Wisconsin distilleries, including the one I'm visiting today in the heart of America's Dairyland, beer land, and now whiskey land.
During our visit, we'll learn about what potatoes bring to vodka, the special ingredients that make a Wisconsin Old Fashioned unique, and dive into the concept of the Wisconsin supper club with Brian Cummings, Great Northern's founder.
Plus on This Week in Whiskey Lore, we'll go back 130 years to the day Chicago went dry...at least in terms of distilling.
To see Whiskey Lore's online distillery travel guide, head to whiskey-lore.com/travelguide and look for distilleries with headphone icons to find episodes of our Whiskey Flights.
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Ethanology Distillation (Elk Rapids, MI) WF0031
If you're into creativity and you love distilleries that push the boundaries, today's distillery has you covered. Nick and Geri Lefebre made gin and Bourbon, but they also make a pretty amazing spirit (2 ways) out of honey. Single malt and brandy fans might find this episode fascinating.
Nick and I sit outside, enjoying samples and talking about creative distilling, Michigan grain, B Corp Certification, and the search for flavor. The conversation was so fascinating, time flew by - so enjoy this extended interview as we say goodbye to Michigan with a special visit.
whiskey-lore.com/flights
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Mammoth Distilling Co (Bellaire, MI) WF0030
A big thank you to Mammoth for inviting me to South Manitou Island for the Rosen Rye project. What an amazing experience. You'll hear about some of it in this episode with my guest, farmer, brewer, and distiller Collin Gaudard. He'll talk about how Rosen Rye got to America, how popular it was, how it went away, and how we got it back.
Also during this episode, we'll go back to the gangster era and hear how a little Tennessee town earned a nickname worthy of the most famous gangster.
And don't forget to add your favorite distilleries from the show to your Whiskey Lore distillery wish list. https://www.whiskey-lore.com/travelguide
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Traverse City Whiskey Co (Traverse City, Michigan) WF0029
Way back in 2019 I was in my favorite Tennessee whiskey shop when I saw a bottle I'd heard about but hadn't seen in the wild. It was a bottle of XXX Traverse City Straight Bourbon Whiskey. I bought it and really enjoyed the flavor and the idea I was sipping something from the state I was born in.
Today, Traverse City is growing the spirits its making and focusing on the local cherry scene. Join me as I chat with Chris Fredrickson, co-founder of Traverse City Whiskey Company, meet the company dog, and get a sense of what's to come.
Extended tasting audio available on Patreon version at patreon.com/whiskeylore
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Grand Traverse Distillery (Traverse City, MI) WF0028
When I started this journey to Michigan, I have to say, I knew very little about the distilling history of my birth state. Come to find out, this modern craft boom might just be the very start of its reputation in the world of fine spirits. And one of the first to fire up a still was Kent Rabish. Inspired by a trip to Oregon and his grandfather's still, hear the story of the early days of Michigan distilling, the thought process that goes into building a distillery, and why Grand Traverse is big in Michigan, but not really too far outside of it.
Plus, on The Week In Whiskey Lore, we will look back 150 years to learn how Cincinnati found itself taking the blame for flames in a pair of New Orleans distilleries.
And if you're interested in planning a trip to Michigan to visit distilleries and you want to get a wish list together, visit whiskey-lore.com/michigan and sign up for a free account. Then create the ultimate wish list.
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Iron Fish Distillery (Thompsonville, MI) WF0027
It's time to visit distillery 2 on my journey through the great distilleries of the Midwest. The one stands as Michigan's first post-Prohibition farm distillery. Here grain-to-glass can be seen first hand, after a drive down one of Michigan's patented easy driving dirt roads.
Find out what makes this particular distillery tick, how they are handling sustainability, and what inspired these owners to attempt both farming and distilling - something they had zero experience with when they started.
And This Week In Whiskey Lore will focus on a battle between moonshiners and revenuers that locals went to calling a war.
And if you're interested in planning a trip to Michigan to visit distilleries and you want to get a wish list together, visit whiskey-lore.com/michigan and sign up for a free account. Then create the ultimate wish list.
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Journeyman Distillery (Three Oaks, MI) WF0026
Welcome to the first episode of The Midwest Great Lakes Tour 2024! After a 692 mile drive from Greenville, SC, I arrived in Southwest Michigan ready to start a great 10+ distillery adventure through the Midwest.
My first stop was perfect. After an extremely long drive, I felt right at home with the Midwestern hospitality provided by Bill and Johanna Welter, the founders of the Journeyman Distillery. I have to say, I've seen their whiskey on the shelf, but hadn't given it a try. After my 4 hours at the distillery, I was enamored with the story, the building, the founders, and the experience. I captured an hour of that meeting here and an excited to share it with you.
Enjoy my return to the state of my birth and hear the story that starts in Scotland and ends with not one, but two distilleries between Michigan and Indiana.
And if you're interested in planning a trip to Michigan to visit distilleries and you want to get a wish list together, visit whiskey-lore.com/michigan and sign up for a free account. Then create the ultimate wish list.
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Liberty Pole Spirits (Washington County, PA) WF0025
A historical rye, peated Bourbon, and tons of history - you know I'm there. Join me this week as I stop off at a distillery where turning your Alexander Hamilton painting upside down is considered the appropriate way to display it.
It's time to meet Jim Hough and learn about his family based distillery, focused on bringing back Monongahela Rye. We'll chat about this historic spirit and dive into some Whiskey Rebellion history. And, I'll give you tips on some cool things to pair with a visit to the distillery, including a sandwich topped with something quite unexpected.
Plus, on The Week in Whiskey Lore, I'll look at a famous single malt first and see if it holds up.
And if you're interested in planning a trip to Pennsylvania to visit distilleries and you want to get a wish list together, visit whiskey-lore.com/pennsylvania and sign up for a free account. Then create the ultimate wish list.
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Stoll & Wolfe Distillery (Lancaster County, PA) WF0024
Since I first heard the story of how Dick Stoll, formerly of Michters, and Erik Wolfe partnered to keep alive a Pennsylvania rye distilling tradition, I've wanted to have him on the show. Today it happens.
We'll dig into the history of a local distillery with roots back to when the British and French were fighting over the Colonies. Then we'll look at how a legendary distillers, who began his distilling career with Michter's when it was in Pennsylvania, joined with a passionate whiskey enthusiast, to carry these stories and spirits into the future.
We'll also revisit a sad day in Bourbon County history, on This Week in Whiskey Lore. And we'll mix in some great side trips with our travels, including pretzels and chocolate. Check it out.
And if you're inspired to visit Stoll & Wolfe and other Pennsylvania distilleries, there are now 23 listed at whiskey-lore.com/pennsylvania in the Whiskey Lore Travel Guide.
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Laws Whiskey House (Denver, Colorado) WF0023
Welcome to a special edition of Whiskey Lore's Whisky Flights. This is the "pilot" episode (no pun intended) that I recorded as a proof of concept back in the early summer, for this theater of the mind program surrounding trips to distilleries around the globe.
This is a chance to hear my original ideas for the structure of the show, while also hearing parts of the interview I did with Al Laws, founder of Laws Whiskey House.
See if you can spot the differences from the more recent episodes. And listen up, because I've got a couple of big announces in the intro of the show.
And watch for a Colorado series coming up later this fall.
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Ahascragh Distillery (Ahascragh, Ireland) WF0022
From the day I first saw them post on Instagram about their conversion of a 19th Century corn mill into a distillery, I've been waiting for a chance to see it and hear the story behind it. Well, in 2022, I stopped by, but the construction was still underway and the stills had not yet arrived.
Today, you'll get to meet Gareth McAllister, one part of a husband/wife team that has taken a derelict mill, abandoned for 70 years, and turned it into the first fully sustainable distillery in Ireland's 700 known years of distilling. Join me as we learn how this modern facility is helping to bring a small village in East Galway back to life.
Plus, it's the 230th anniversary of George Washington's proclamation to the rebels of Western Pennsylvania. We'll celebrate with the details on This Week In Whiskey Lore. Plus all the travel tips you need to plan out a great Irish adventure.
See all the great craft distilleries we've visited so far: whiskey-lore.com/flights
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Powerscourt Distillery (Wicklow, Ireland) WF0021
It's time to jump across the Irish Sea to check out one of the most magnificent settings for a whiskey distillery. Join me as we head to the home of Fercullen Irish Whiskey at the Powerscourt Distillery on the edge of the Wicklow Mountains.
We'll hear the origin story of the distillery, the history of the estate and mill, and hear how the distillery got its start under legendary Cooley distiller Noel Sweeney. Plus, This Week In Whiskey Lore will look back on a 135 year old ad for Dunville's Irish Whiskey that was sold as a cure for what ails you.
And if pique your interest in traveling to Ireland to do a distillery trip, make sure to pick up a copy of Experiencing Irish Whiskey (available on Amazon) or head to whiskey-lore.com/ireland to see a list of current distilleries you can add to your Whiskey Lore Wish List.
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The Cotswolds Distillery (The Cotswolds, England) WF0020
Today, we head to the largest distillery in England by volume. A distillery you may or may not have heard of - but you soon will (especially since you're listening to this show). I sit down with the brand's Whisky Brand Ambassador Rob Patchett to talk about the evolution of the distillery, its New Yorker founder, the development of a world class tourist experience, and the spirits they are creating.
Plus, on This Week in Whiskey Lore, we'll revisit an event that happened 4 years ago, that brought a historic brand to a new home. And we'll trace the history of that brand back to just after the Civil War.
And if I pique your interest in visiting distilleries in this region, make sure to check out the 20+ English whisky distillery profiles at whiskey-lore.com/england.
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White Peak Distillery (Ambergate, England) WF0019
Today, I head to the southern region of the Peaks District of England to enjoy some beer and whisky made from the same brewer's yeast - thanks to a partnership between White Peak Distillery and a local brewing neighbor.
White Peak has a fascinating story (and they make a lightly peated whisky, which drew my attention). We'll find out about their very unique building from their co-founder Max Vaughan, plus how they are managing casks, their unique warehouse, and what the tasting experience is like.
Plus, This Week In Whiskey Lore will dive into a forgotten community, started on the back of a distiller, and one connected to one of the most historic moments in technological history. Plus, since we are exploring the modern world of English whisky, we'll take a step back into England's relationship with whisky distilling.
It's a power packed episode! Perfect for a weekend listen.
And if I pique your interest in visiting distilleries in this region, make sure to check out the 20+ English whisky distillery profiles at whiskey-lore.com/england.
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The Forest Distillery (Cheshire, England) WF0018
Join me for a visit to a distillery rich with stories, a high elevation, and a fun story of distilling on the stove to finding markets around the world. I'll chat with co-founder Karl Bond about how he and his wife Lindsay got into the spirits making business, find out about their unique location on the Cheshire/Derbyshire border, and the historic 19th century inn with the curious name that is now the home of their distillery.
And if I pique your interest in visiting distilleries in this region, make sure to check out the 20+ English whisky distillery profiles at whiskey-lore.com/england.
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The Borders Distillery (Hawick, Scotland) WF0017
Today's Whisky Flight adventure takes me back to the Borderland region of Scotland and England, where we meet John Fordyce, one of the founders of The Borders Distillery.
Every distillery has a story and John relates how a town built on the textile industry became the perfect spot for making whisky in a sustainable environment. He'll tell us about the historic building they renovated, the unique way his distillers work, and what you can expect from a visit to The Borders Distillery.
And if I pique your interest in visiting distilleries in this region, make sure to check out the 20+ English whisky distillery profiles at whiskey-lore.com/england and the 75+ Scotch whisky distilleries at whiskey-lore.com/scotland
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Cooper King Distillery (North Yorkshire, England) WF0016
Join me today as I chat with Chris Jaume of Cooper King Distillery. Of all of the different ways you can get interested in building a distillery, Chris and his wife Abbie found one of the most unusual paths. They were inspired to make English whisky, not by traveling north to Scotland, but instead by heading far to the South, to one of the world's growing whisky centers - Tasmania.
Hear their story and learn what inspired them about Tasmanian distillers and what processes and tools they brought back to the burgeoning English whisky scene.
And if I pique your interest in visiting England's distilleries, make sure to check out the 20+ English whisky distillery profiles at whiskey-lore.com/england
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