Episodes
Published 04/18/20
When the Pittsburgh Whiskey Friends invited us to come to their city and lead a benefit tasting in honor of the 11 people killed in the October 27, 2018 mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue, we didn't hesitate. This episode was recorded at the tasting on November 26, 2018 in Pittsburgh, with all of the proceeds going to benefit the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) in memory of the Tree of Life shooting victims. Dad's Hat, Powers, Amrut importer Raj Sabharwal, and Liberty Pole...
Published 12/01/18
We're tasting Bottled in Bond Bourbons this time around with members of the Monmouth Whisky Club in New Jersey. Rich Romano, Michael Timpanero, and Glenn Fuchs tasted the Henry McKenna 10-year-old Single Barrel, the Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond, and Old Granddad Bonded while other club members chimed in from the audience. Bottled in Bond whiskies have become more popular in recent years because of demand from bartenders for higher-proof whiskies that don't get diluted as much in...
Published 10/27/18
We've assembled a panel of podcasters and a longtime WhiskyCast listener for this Tasting Panel session recorded on location at the Podcast Movement 2018 conference in Philadelphia. Elsie Escobar, Chris Liro, Sean MacCready, and Mike Joachim nosed and tasted a flight of rye whiskies: Heaven Hill's Pikesville Rye, Beam's Old Overholt Bottled in Bond Rye, and High West's 2018 edition of its Yippee Ki-Yay rye.
Published 07/29/18
  This month, we put our panel to the test and had them taste three whiskies blind. The only thing Davin de Kergommeaux, Mark Bylok, and Frank McDonald knew was that they were tasting peated single malts from Scotland, and we'll keep you guessing, too...right up until we reveal the whiskies and surprise all three panelists! Our panel gathered at the Wonderful World of Whisky Show at the NAV Centre in Cornwall, Ontario, and we're grateful to Ian Bentley and the entire staff of the NAV Centre...
Published 03/26/18
This time around, we're on the road in Victoria, British Columbia to taste four whiskies from four different countries with some of the folks from The Strath whisky and spirits shop as part of the annual Victoria Whisky Festival. Pat Dunlop, Adam Bradshaw, Dan Rampling, and Emily de Korte tasted the Bernheim 7-year-old Straight Wheat Whiskey from Kentucky, Penderyn's Madeira Finish Welsh single malt, the Glenglassaugh Revival single malt from Scotland, and Nikka's Coffey Malt from Japan.
Published 01/27/18
With the holiday season in full swing, we turned to three "wise men" for this month's Tasting Panel and gave them three single malt Scotch whiskies to taste and score. Mike Farley, Angelo Veneziano, and Sam Speers tasted the Oban 14, The Glenburgie 15 from the Ballantine's Single Malt Series, and the 18-year-old Highland Park Full Volume. There's also a bonus holiday dram at the end, too.
Published 12/24/17
This time around, we're tasting Highland single malts with a panel of Canadian whisky lovers at the New Brunswick Spirits Festival in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Rhonda Moore, Tanya Gracie, and Tyrone Cotie sat down to nose and taste the Glenfiddich Solera Reserve 15-year-old single malt, The Dalmore 12, and the Talisker 10, and also shared their stories of visiting Glenfiddich and Talisker. We'll also crown a new Whisky Club of the Month and tell you how you can be part of a tasting panel...
Published 11/21/17
No, we're not tasting Australian Bourbons...we have Australians tasting Bourbons this time around! Lilith Morgan and Chris Tatzenko make the long trip from Australia to the U.S. each year for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, and stopped by the WhiskyCast studio during a side trip to New York City. Colton Smith joined them to taste four Bourbons: the Four Roses Al Young 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch, the 2o17 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, the 2017 Angel's Envy Cask Strength...
Published 10/18/17
We're back with a new name, but with the same goal of opening up whisky conversation as regular whisky lovers taste, rate, and debate whiskies from around the world! This month, we're in Houston, Texas at Reserve 101, one of the city's best whisky bars, to taste the Brenne 10-year-old French single malt, the Glen Grant 18-year-old single malt, and Sonoma County Distilling's Cherrywood Rye from California. We should note that our panel was recorded before Hurricane Harvey devastated many parts...
Published 09/08/17
We're back after a winter hiatus, and diving right into the controversy over "no-age-statement" whiskies. Our tasting panel takes on three of these "NAS" single malts, as Pat Goodfellow, Chris Anderson, Brett Gordon, and Brianna Gillespie taste The Glenrothes Vintage Reserve, Talisker Storm, and Laphroaig Select. We'll also honor two whisky clubs as this month's Whisky Clubs of the Month!
Published 04/20/15
September is Bourbon Heritage Month, and this month's panel is tasting what else...Bourbons. Justin Victor and John DeYoung joined us via Skype, while Dan Huntzinger was in the studio with Mark Gillespie to taste the Jim Beam Signature Craft Quarter Cask Finished Bourbon, the 2014 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch, and the 23-year-old Elijah Craig Single Barrel. We also have another whisky club to honor as this month’s Whisky Club of the Month, too!
Published 10/02/14
This month, our panel tastes three Rye whiskies. John McCarroll, Tim Quernes, and Mike Parrish taste Knob Creek Rye, Russell's Reserve Rye, and the Rittenhouse Rye 10-year-old Bottled in Bond from Heaven Hill. We'll also kick off a new feature on WhiskyCast Virtual Tastings honoring the whisky club of the month.
Published 08/29/14
We're back from spring break, and it's time to taste some whiskies with our tasting panel of Sean McMillan, Chris Killilea, and Brianna Gillespie. They're tasting the Auchentoshan American Oak, Tomatin's new 14-year-old Port finish, and the Peat Monster 10th Anniversary Edition from Compass Box.
Published 06/19/14
This month, we're back at the "Barthenon" in Cherry Hill, New Jersey to taste Irish whiskies with the guys from the blog “It’s Just the Booze Dancing”. Mike Farley, John Maxwell, Angelo Veneziano, Chris Eattock, and Ray Kassekert tasted the Paddy Irish blended whiskey, Tyrconnell's 14-year-old single malt, and the Redbreast 15 single pot still whiskey.
Published 04/07/14
This month, we're bringing together two brothers who only get to see each other a couple of times a year for a Skype-based blind single malt tasting. David Lavin, Kevin Lavin, and Kevin's girlfriend Stephanie Buchert tasted the Speyburn 10, the Arran 14, and the Talisker Storm.
Published 03/08/14
There's an old saying that wisdom comes from the mouth of babes. That was proven true with this month's panel, when 6-year-old Maggie DeYoung  told her father John that talking about whisky to the world "was a great responsibility" and generously offered to help her Dad in any way that she could. John and his wife Jay make up half of our tasting panel this month, along with Jill-Ann and Robert Mark. What's more...they nosed and tasted this month's whiskies blindly, and weren't told until they...
Published 02/01/14
The holidays are here, and that means gathering for a dram with family and friends. This month, Mark's joined by his son-in-law, Colton Smith, Dr. Sean McMillan, and Sean's brother-in-law, Chris Killilea, and they're tasting three Irish whiskies: Powers Gold Label, Writer's Tears, and the Knappogue Castle 16-year-old Twin Wood single malt.
Published 12/20/13
This month, our tasting panel is sacrificing Virgins at the annual PhilCon science fiction convention in Philadelphia...Virgin Oaks, that is. Bill Ricker, Mark Richards, Wrenn Simms, and Dennis McCunney tasted the Deanston Virgin Oak, the Glen Garioch Virgin Oak, and Glenmorangie's Ealanta, which was matured for 19 years in Virgin Oak casks.
Published 11/17/13
October means chilly weather as the leaves turn bright red and orange, and the autumn colors were especially vibrant as our tasting panel gathered in Ottawa, Ontario...Canada's capital city. Davin de Kergommeaux, Emmett Hossack, and Herb Wallace tasted four Canadian whiskies: Stalk & Barrel Single Malt Cask #3 from Still Waters Distillery, Masterson's Rye, Wiser's Legacy, and Forty Creek Copper Pot Reserve.
Published 10/09/13
This special episode of WhiskyCast Virtual Tastings was recorded on location at Canada's Forty Creek Distillery during its annual "Whisky Weekend" at the end of September, 2013. Mark Gillespie moderated a tasting panel with Forty Creek's John Hall, Canadian Whisky Awards founder and author Davin de Kergommeaux, and the "Whisky Lassie," Johanne McInnis. While Forty Creek is a sponsor of WhiskyCast Virtual Tastings, we have elected to present this tasting panel as a special episode because of...
Published 10/08/13
This month features our annual “Friends & Family” tasting panel, and comes to you from St. Mary’s, Georgia. Mark’s son-in-law, Colton Smith, and his fellow Marines Christopher Moon and Joe Clark tasted four flavored whiskies aimed at younger palates: Bushmills Irish Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Knob Creek Smoked Maple, and Red Stag Hardcore Cider.
Published 09/16/13
This month, we're tasting whiskies with the "Lounge Lizards" at Karl Kadar's home in Newark, Delaware. In addition to Karl, our panelists are Aaron Spector, Gary Cline, Steve Husain, Mason Tyler, and Matt Taylor.These guys have a thing for Islay whiskies, and that's a good thing, because they're tasting The Laddie Ten from Bruichladdich, Bowmore's Dorus Mor (Tempest outside the U.S.), the Laphroaig 10-year-old, and the Jura 10 from just across the strait.
Published 08/22/13