Drams at Diggers - Closed Distilleries, Lots of Drams, and Our Whisky Festival

Is there anything in whisky that Brendan McCarron hasn't done? Brendan talks us through his career from a Diageo graduate to running the whole of Diageo's Islay Group. Creating Ardbeg An Oa, learning from Dr Bill Lumsden, distilling for Deanston, Tobermoray and Bunnahabhain, and then starting how own business. His career has been an incredible journey and he's got some great stories from everything he's done. Pour a couple of drams for this one.

We wanted to talk through some controversial whisky opinions of our own and from our listeners. It was a chance for the 4 of us to catch-up, have some drams and talk through some whisky opinions that might split the room. I don't know if I should put a trigger warning on this episode, but some of the topics definitely caused some debate. Pour a dram, sit back and give it a listen and tell us your own controversial whisky opinions.

This episode blew my mind when we recorded it. To say Ian Palmer has had quite a career is an understatement. Starting out as an apprentice Fitters Mate at Invergordon to Operations Director of the whole group, then building Starlaw, buying Glen Moray, and then eventually starting out on his own with InchDairnie Distillery. There's so much to unpack in this episode. Just pour a dram, sit back and enjoy this one.

150 episodes in 150 weeks! We were back in Diggers for a catch up, drams and some whisky chat. Ross handed in a last minute sick note, so we were joined by Jake Adcook for the evening. What have been the biggest lessons we've learnt from the podcast? But the BIG news is that Whisky Stories Whisky Festival tickets are ON SALE NOW! Pour a dram, run yourself a bath, and enjoy episode 150!

A week later, we have part 2 of this epic chat with Tomatin Distillery Manager Jamie Muir and Global Marketing Manager Danny Whelan. In the last episode we heard the stories behind the guys and how they got into whisky. Now it was all about Tomatin and what goes into making the whisky. I had no idea just how long some of the people who have worked at the distillery have been there. It's incredible to think of the time and service some people have given. And Jamie talks us through how he manages that and works with new, younger people coming through. Danny let us know how selling and marketing whisky across the world actually works. From dealing with importers to brand advocacy. On top of that we got a chance to try some excellent Distillery Exclusives as well.