The Whiskey Ring Podcast

Whiskey, Rum, and Community: St. Augustine Distillery

In this episode of the Whiskey Ring Podcast, we take a deep dive into the world of craft distilling in Florida, featuring two key figures from the St. Augustine Distillery: Will Hensler, the COO, and Rick deMontmollin, the VP of Production. As we explore the unique landscape of distilling in the Sunshine State, we uncover the rich history and innovative practices that have shap...

Are You In The Muff Market? Are You A Muff Liquor Man? 

Ok folks, we're going to have fun on this one. 

When I started the research for this episode, I wasn't sure whether the "Muff Liquor Company" name was a tongue-in-somewhere thing or a hard lean-in. Turns out it's the latter with a healthy dose of the former. It is a company based in Muff, Ireland that makes liquor, and yes they know what the name means. 

If you doubt it, check...

Blueberry Muffins in Cognac and an Ice Cream Collab Waiting To Happen

Allison Parc began as a ballet dancer, and nearly 20 years after leaving that career behind, she still exudes the confidence and posture of one about to assume first position. Her new career, embarked upon at just 23 years old, was wildly different: one grounded in a product of indulgence and imbibing. Even she was unsure if she'd succeed - yet succeed she has, g...

Shochu Tradition Meets The New Japanese Whisky

In Kagoshima, along one of the longest beaches in Japan, lies Kanosuke Distillery. Though the family has been distilling shochu for 140+ years, they hadn't entered the whisky sphere. That changed in 2017, with the first products coming out in 2021. 

This is a new standard for Japanese whisky, making grain whisky on shochu stills and using Japanese stills to distill the malt. They've ag...

He's ozonating spirits, y'all - what the hell. 

I'm thrilled to welcome back my friend, distilling guru, alchemist, historian, artist, swearer, and so many more things, Alan Bishop. 

There's no need for long show notes on this one. It's a wild ride, from injecting ozone into sunflower spirit to what it means to be the face and embodiment of a brand. Everything else in the middle is a bonus. 

Yes there's cursing. Yes there's dirt di...

Where I Spent More Time With A Cat Than In The Distillery

Though I really ought to return! 

Leiper's Fork Distillery was founded by Lee Kennedy, who had a long-standing fascination with the history and science of whiskey production (starting with a Fox Fire book series I'd never heard of, all about Appalachian life). After experimenting with home distilling as a teenager, Kennedy pursued establishing the distillery in Williamson Co...

Sugar Kelp, A Little Peat, And A Vision For The Future

I first heard about - well, read about - Isle of Harris Distillery in Dave Broom's A Sense of Place. A small community known for its beauty, its tweed, and its declining population, its would-be savior was not a Scot at all, but an American who had grown fond of the area (owning an island nearby) and wanted to save it. 

How though? A distillery - not one that would fall into th...

An OG New York Distiller - But You May Know Them From Elsewhere

Finger Lakes Distilling is one of the oldest distilleries in New York, having started in 2007. They're part of the Empire Rye collaborative, and are producing whiskies, brandies, vodka, and a soju spirit. 

But you probably know them for a serendipitous partnership: Pursuit Spirits, from Kenny and Ryan at Bourbon Pursuit, who used Finger Lakes Distilling bourbon and rye...

High Malt Bourbon and Community Support, No LCP Needed: The Story Behind Chattanooga Whiskey

A few years is a lifetime in craft whiskey, and few brands epitomize this more to me than Chattanooga Whiskey. When I first tried them - most likely their now-gone 1816, which was sourced transparently but not representative of where they are today - I was not a fan. Something was off, and I resisted revisiting the brand for years. Then, Th...

From Bogs to Bottles: Peat's Unbreakable Bond With Whiskey

This one's for you, Bill.

In this episode of the Whiskey Ring Podcast, I had the pleasure of welcoming Mike Billett, a peatland specialist and researcher, to discuss his newly released book, Peat and Whiskey: The Unbreakable Bond. His passion for peat led him to write a popular science book that not only highlights the scientific aspects of peat but also intertwines it with...

Untangling the Myths and Legends of Whiskey

How many distillery tours have you been on? Are you a veteran of the hobby, or a new entrant looking to learn as much as they can, or perhaps someone on a family trip taking a brief trip to a nearby distillery for fun? Whichever of these applies to you, chances are you will hear something (probably multiple somethings) that are apocryphal, stories told so many times and pushed so hard tha...

There's More To Western Pennsylvania Than The Whiskey Rebellion!

If you're a whiskey nerd of any level, of course you know this, but it's worth saying again. Previous guests such as Wigle Whiskey and Liberty Pole Spirits have done excellent work exploring the Whiskey Rebellion's place in history and its importance to the area - so if you're a new distillery looking to find your niche, you better bring something new or different to ...

Bats, Bees, and Bushels - Farm Distilling in Georgia

For my first "visit" to Georgia, I wanted to find somewhere that felt truly of the land. You can't do better than Doc Brown Farm & Distillers. Georgia terroir, farming their own heritage corn (Jimmy Red!) and getting whatever they can't grow themselves locally, even Georgia barrels. It's all about Georgia, and it's all about the sense of place. 

Amy Brown, her son Dan, and Am...

Italy, Nashville, and Danville Enter The Distilling Ring

In this episode of the Whiskey Ring Podcast, I had the pleasure of welcoming Francesco Viola, the founder of Luca Mariano Distillery, to discuss his journey in the world of distilling. Francesco's story is deeply rooted in his family's Italian heritage, which adds a unique flavor to his approach to bourbon production.

We kicked off the conversation by exploring the origins of...

Whiskey in Wyoming, via Nevada and NorCal

It's been nearly 20 years since I visited Wyoming, and I still remember it as one of the most beautiful places in the US. The least populous state, with multitudes more cattle and sheep than people, it is nonetheless one of astounding natural beauty, where small towns abound and you know your neighbors and who's growing your grain. 

This was the place Chad Brown wanted to bring his family. ...

Makers, Not Fakers: Phil Brandon on Craft Distilling in Little Rock, Arkansas

In this episode of the Whiskey Ring Podcast, I am thrilled to welcome Phil Brandon, the founder and distiller of Rock Town Distillery in Little Rock, Arkansas. As the first legal distillery in the state since before Prohibition, Rock Town emphasizes the importance of local sourcing and building a distillery that reflects the character of Arkansas, despi...

Jimmy Red Corn And We Should All Care! 

In this episode of the Whiskey Ring Podcast, I welcome Scott Blackwell, co-founder of High Wire Distilling in Charleston, South Carolina. The conversation dives into Scott's diverse entrepreneurial background, which spans restaurants, coffee, and packaged foods, before transitioning into the spirits industry. Scott shares how his passion for flavor and culture led him to distilling, despite i...

The Monogram and the Wettest Block: Kansas City's Distilling Heritage

In this episode of the Whiskey Ring Podcast, we’re heading down to Kansas City, Missouri, to chat with Ryan Maybee, the co-founder of J. Rieger & Company. Ryan takes us on a journey from his early days as a bartender to the exciting revival of the historic J. Rieger brand, which originally flourished from 1887 until Prohibition put a stop to it all.

We kick t...

Whiskey Prison: Southern Grace Distilleries and Conviction Bourbon  

Join us as we delve into the captivating story of Southern Grace Distilleries, one of North Carolina's most unique bourbon producers, with Thomas Thacker. Celebrating their 10th anniversary, Thomas shares the remarkable journey of crafting their signature Conviction bourbon. Learn about their distinctive Piedmont-style mash bill and the innovative Whiskey Prison ...