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Historians aren't sure who distilled the first Scotch-style single malt whiskey in the United States, but Oregon's Clear Creek Distillery has a pretty solid claim to the title. Steve McCarthy started making his McCarthy's Oregon Single Malt in 1993, and while Steve McCarthy sold Clear Creek in 2014 and eased into semi-retirement, his influence still guides Clear Creek's distillers to this day. We'll talk with Clear Creek's Jeanine Racht on WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, the G7 Summit ends with no progress in resolving a global trade dispute pitting the US against its key trading partners, while new tariffs could affect 65 percent of all US whiskey exports within the next month. We'll look at a new whisky that's raising money for search and rescue operations in the UK, along with other new whiskies, tasting notes, and much more.

With Father's Day coming up, we'll meet a Scottish woman following her father into the whiskey business. That's right...whiskey. Jennifer Nickerson married her Irish farmer husband, Liam Ahearn, and moved to his family's farm in County Tipperary, Ireland. Her father is longtime Scotch Whisky veteran Stuart Nickerson, and when he saw Liam's farm, he persuaded them that it was the perfect place for a distillery. They're now building the Tipperary Boutique Distillery, and while Liam works the farm, Jennifer will be making the whiskey. We'll talk with father and daughter on WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, the whiskey trade war is expanding, and distillers are preparing to face the impact of new tariffs on exports of Bourbon and other American whiskies. We'll have that story and much more on the midweek edition of WhiskyCast. 

  Canada and the European Union are planning retaliatory tariffs on imports of Bourbon and other American whiskies after this week's move by the Trump Administration to impose tariffs on their steel and aluminum exports to the United States. That sets the stage for what could potentially become a full-fledged trade war with whisky as a weapon, and whisky makers are worried that the U.S. will respond with tariffs against their whiskies. We'll talk with William Lavelle of the Irish Whiskey Association, who's urging European Union leaders to carefully consider the economic impact of their plans. We'll also explain just how tariffs on whisky imports work in our Behind the Label segment, and share some of your reactions on Your Voice. In the news, the ringleader of the "Pappygate" distillery thefts in Kentucky has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, but there's still no verdict yet on the fate of the stolen whiskey.

Bourbon scares some people away...at first. Often, those who approach Bourbon gingerly develop a true passion for it, and become what Linda Ruffenach refers to as a "Bourbon Badass." Linda founded the Whisky Chicks four years ago in Louisville, and while her book "How to be a Bourbon Badass" is geared to women, the term itself - just like a passion for Bourbon - is gender-neutral. We'll talk with Linda Ruffenach on WhiskyCast In-Depth.  In the news, the trade war is on between the United States and the European Union over steel and aluminum imports, and the Europeans are firing back with plans to impose tariffs on Bourbon and other American whiskies. We'll have that story, along with plans for another new distillery in Scotland's Speyside region, The Macallan's oldest whisky ever, and your comments on the raging inferno from our last episode.

Bruichladdich's Port Charlotte single malt lies in between the distillery's namesake unpeated whiskies and its Octomore heavily peated malts, and Bruichladdich CEO Douglas Taylor admits the range has suffered from "middle child syndrome" in recent years. As part of Bruichladdich's open day today during the annual Islay Festival of Malt & Music, Port Charlotte is getting some much-needed attention. There's a new Port Charlotte 10-year-old that will be available worldwide, a new 2011 Islay Barley bottling, and an end to "hand-me-down" bottles and packaging. On WhiskyCast In-Depth, we'll talk with Douglas Taylor about the upgrade, along with growing concerns on Islay about the Scotch Whisky industry's impact on the island. In the news, another deadline is approaching in the ongoing trade dispute between the U.S. and the European Union, while Sazerac's plans for a new distillery in Tennessee have gotten the green light. We'll also have tasting notes for a couple of whiskies that take spice - and the score for

  Edrington first announced plans for The Macallan's new distillery in 2012, but the planning process on what may be one of the longest distillery projects on record started well before that, and construction work alone took three and a half years. The Macallan's new home welcomed its first guests the other night, and will open for tours on June 2. We'll talk with The Macallan's Ken Grier about the new distillery and what it means for the brand's future, along with the recent move to revamp The Macallan's core ranges and last week's pair of million-dollar bids for two rare 1926 Macallans at Bonhams in Hong Kong. In the news, Diageo has named project managers for the revival of its Port Ellen and Brora distilleries. There's a report that U.S. trade officials are pressuring Great Britain to weaken protections for Scotch Whisky in a post-Brexit free trade deal, while Gordon & MacPhail has unveiled another new range of single malts and Irish Distillers is adding two new whiskies to its Method and Madness line

Irish Whiskey lost one of its longtime champions this past week with the passing of John Clement Ryan. He was the 7th - and final generation of Dublin's Power family to work in the Irish Whiskey business, and while he never distilled a drop of whiskey himself, he traveled the world for three decades promoting Jameson Irish Whiskey during one of the industry's bleakest periods. His evangelism and fervor for Irish Whiskey contributed to the renaissance we see today as Irish Whiskey sales grow year after year. In 2013, we sat down with John Ryan for an interview that's never aired before as he shared some of his history and Irish Whiskey's history with us - you'll hear that interview on WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, the million-dollar mark for a single bottle of whisky sold at auction has been broken - twice in one day! We'll have the details, along with the story of an unusual collaboration among some of Bourbon's masters for Kentucky charities. We'll also have your comments, tasting notes, and look at barr

In May of 1988, the Scotch Whisky Experience opened its doors on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, next to Edinburgh Castle. Over the last 30 years, millions of whisky lovers have made the hike to the top of the Royal Mile to learn more about Scotch Whisky - and sample a dram or two. This month kicks off a year-long anniversary celebration, and we'll talk with Julie Trevisan Hunter of the Scotch Whisky Experience on WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Suntory is disappointing whisky lovers with word that it'll be dropping the Hakushu 10 and Hibiki 17 whiskies later this year because of supply shortages, while Diageo broke ground this week for a new Bulleit Distillery visitors center in Kentucky. We'll also have details on the week's new whiskies and find out how 500 whisky lovers are getting their names on the car Jay Howard is trying to qualify for next weekend's Indianapolis 500. Finally, we'll look at a whisky debate that may send shivers down your spine, depending on how you feel about ice in your dram!

  Scotland's distilleries have been investing millions of pounds over the last several years to upgrade their visitor experiences as more tourists come to Scotland specifically to learn more about whisky. Now, Diageo is making what is likely to be the largest single investment ever in Scotch Whisky tourism with a £150 million project over the next three years. In addition to upgrades for the visitor centers at its 12 distilleries that are open to the public, there are plans for a new Johnnie Walker brand home in Edinburgh. While the plans are still in development, Diageo's Ewan Gunn joins us on WhiskyCast In-Depth with a preview. In the news, U.S. distillers are gathering in Washington for the industry's annual public policy conference - and to persuade members of Congress to make the recent cut in federal excise taxes on distilled spirits permanent. The Scotch Whisky industry is gearing up for a tax battle of its own, and Pernod Ricard is getting into the beer business for the first time - to protect one of

Dave Broom has been one of Japanese whisky's most passionate observers for many years, and his latest book "The Way of Whisky" delves into Japan's unique whisky culture at a time when demand for Japanese whiskies far outpaces the supply. We'll talk with Dave about those shortages, along with other so-called "world whiskies" that he's uncovering on his travels and his upcoming Scotch Whisky documentary, "The Amber Light," on WhiskyCast In-Depth. We'll also look at the latest political clashes that could pose problems for whisky lovers and get the details on new whiskies, including one that's getting our highest score ever! To appreciate the great, though, one must taste the not-so-great, and our new "Behind the Label" segment has the back story of what could be one of the worst - yet still highly sought-after whiskies ever bottled.

  Bob Dylan is known for many things, but slapping his name onto a product to make a quick buck is definitely not one of them. In fact, the new Heaven's Door line of whiskies marks the first time the legendary singer and songwriter has ever put his brand on anything other than his music and art. Dylan partnered with a team of spirits experts led by Marc Bushala, who helped bring Angel's Envy to the market before selling it to Bacardi in 2015, and Ryan Perry to create three new whiskies, along with plans for a distillery and art gallery scheduled to open next year in Nashville. Marc Bushala and Ryan Perry join us on WhiskyCast In-Depth to share their story of creating whiskies with Bob Dylan, and we'll also have tasting notes for the Heaven's Door whiskies, too. In the news, a bad Brexit breakup could cost the Scotch Whisky industry millions of pounds each year in trade tariffs, and industry leaders are trying to persuade British officials to avoid that outcome. We'll have that story, along with a look at the

The area around St. Andrews was home to Scotch Whisky's Haig family and their Seggie Distillery, but after it closed in 1850, the whisky industry largely moved away from St. Andrews. Paul Miller brought it back when his Eden Mill Brewery started distilling whisky in 2014, and now, the first Eden Mill single malts are reaching the market. Miller and his team led by head distiller Scott Ferguson have been challenging the traditions of Scotch Whisky while respecting the heritage, and they'll join us on WhiskyCast In-Depth. We'll also have news on another music icon's entry into the world of whiskies, details on a one-of-a-kind Glenfarclas rescued from the back of a cupboard, and since it's Kentucky Derby week, we'll look at the history of horse racing's favorite cocktail, the Mint Julep.

Oxford, Mississippi is known for many things, but Bourbon isn't usually the first thing you think of. Chef John Currence and his friends might just convince you otherwise, though. They've turned their annual fundraising weekend for Move On Up Mississippi into a full-blown whiskey weekend, with the first Oxford Bourbon Festival and Auction coming up the weekend of May 18-20. Chef John Currence owns four restaurants in Oxford, and the James Beard Award-winning chef and author counts whiskey among his favorite food groups. He'll join us on WhiskyCast In-Depth to discuss the festival, along with his love for Bourbon - and his disdain for pairing Bourbons with specific foods. We'll also have more details on the latest distillery planned for Islay, along with new whiskies, the week's tasting notes, and explain why you might get a pickle-like note in some Rye whiskies in our new "Behind the Label" segment.

This time around, we’re on the road in Dublin for the launch of the first cask-strength Jameson Irish Whiskey, the new Jameson Bow Street 18. It’s also the first Jameson expression in many years with a direct link to the Jameson family’s old distillery on Bow Street in Dublin, since the casks used for Bow Street 18 spent their final year of maturation in the new mini-warehouse at the Jameson Distillery Bow Street visitor experience. We’ll have that story in the news, along with late-breaking news on another new distillery planned for Islay. On WhiskyCast In-Depth, we’ll talk with Benromach Distillery manager Keith Cruickshank about the Speyside distillery’s dual anniversaries this year: Benromach’s 120th anniversary and the 20th anniversary of its reopening by Gordon & MacPhail. We’ll also have some of your comments, the week’s tasting notes, and much more!

  The Bible says "The Lord works in mysterious ways." As proof, we have the story this week of Father Jim Sichko, a Kentucky-based Catholic priest heading to Rome for an audience at the Vatican with Pope Francis. He admits to not knowing much about Bourbon, but whether you want to call it providence or luck, he was able to get his hands on some of the much-sought-after Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon for the Pope, along with enough whiskey to start a new collection at the Vatican. He'll share his story with us on WhiskyCast In-Depth, and we'll also preview the upcoming Spirit of Speyside Festival. In the news, the world's largest brewer is dipping its toes into the Scotch Whisky business, while construction will begin next month on Edinburgh's first malt whisky distillery in 90 years and Canada's Supreme Court has dealt a legal setback to whisky lovers,. We're also kicking off a new segment this week, as "Behind the Label" looks at things you may have wondered about when it comes to learning more about whisky.

Billy Walker could have walked away from the Scotch Whisky business last year after he and his partners sold the BenRiach, GlenDronach, and Glenglassaugh distilleries to Brown-Forman for more than $400 million. However, he decided to jump back in with his "dream team" of industry leaders and buy the Glenallachie distillery from Chivas Brothers, and will launch the distillery's first range of single malts in June. We'll talk with Billy about building that team and giving new life to a long-underrrated distillery on WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Anheuser-Busch InBev has acquired Atom Group, the UK-based drinks company that owns Master of Malt, while Diageo has announced plans to invest £150 million to upgrade the visitors centers at 12 of its distilleries in Scotland and create a new "brand home" for Johnnie Walker in Edinburgh. We'll also have details on Gordon & MacPhail's move to consolidate its 12 lines of single malt whiskies into just five starting this month with the Connoisseurs Choice range, an

  Every distillery opens as a dream, with the backers hoping to become the next Heaven Hill, Wild Turkey, or one of countless other mainstays of the whisky business. During Friday night's American Whiskey Convention in Philadelphia, many startup distilleries showed off their whiskies next to those mainstays. A couple of miles away, James Yoakum was pouring drinks in his tasting room at Cooper River Distillers, days after making the decision to close the distillery after one last Kentucky Derby party May 5th. He'll share some of the lessons he learned over the last four years, and we'll meet some of the distillers still full of optimism - yet tempered with reality - on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, four Kentucky distilleries celebrated milestones this week, while Wild Turkey's partnership with actor Matthew McConaughey has led to a new Bourbon and Diageo has given us a preview of this year's Special Releases single malts...with no Port Ellens or Broras in the mix.

  Whisky makers have tried for decades to come up with ways of making young whiskies taste like older ones, but whisky purists will argue that there is no substitute for time in a barrel when it comes to making a quality whisky. O.Z. Tyler created the TerrePURE process, which uses ultrasonic sound waves to break up some of the undesirable byproducts of the distilling process that are left behind after a whisky reaches the barrel. South Carolina-based Terressentia has been using that process on bulk and private-label Bourbons for the last ten years, and revived the old Medley Distillery in Owensboro, Kentucky in 2016. Now, the renamed O.Z. Tyler Distillery will release its first Kentucky Bourbon using that process this week, and we'll talk with Terressentia CEO Earl Hewlette on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, it could soon be legal for the first time to have a Kentucky distillery ship whiskies home for visitors. We'll look at the impact of the just-passed House Bill 400 on distillers, tourists, a

Scotland's Douglas Laing and Co. is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2018, and for many of those years, the Laing family has taken a light-hearted approach to Scotch Whisky - at least, when it comes to what's on the outside of the bottle. With brands like Big Peat, Scallywag, Timorous Beastie, and the like, Fred Laing has given us many reasons to smile as we pour a dram. Fred has turned over much of the day-to-day operations of the company over to his daughter Cara and son-in-law Chris Leggett, but took the title of Chairman of the Board because "Chief Mischief Maker" wasn't an option. He'll join us on WhiskyCast In-Depth to talk about this year's anniversary releases, the progress of their new distillery in Glasgow, and their newest whisky...the bacon-infused "Big Meat. We'll also have the details on a complete makeover for The Macallan's single malts, a upcoming "crowdsourced" Bourbon from Buffalo Trace, April Fool's fun from Westland, and Dave Broom's future as a film star, along with tasting notes for

Rachel Barrie is known on Twitter as @TheLadyBlender, and she's just winding up her first year as the master blender for Brown-Forman's BenRiach, GlenDronach, and Glenglassaugh distilleries in Scotland. Over the years, she's worked on some of Scotch Whisky's most iconic brands, and joins us to discuss her career and her plans for those distilleries. This week, we're on the road in Cornwall, Ontario at the Wonderful World of Whisky Show to catch up with old friends and make some new ones. Back in 2006, we first met Barry Bernstein and Barry Stein shortly after they left their jobs to form Premium Bottlers and import casks of Scotch Whisky into Canada. That led to their opening Still Waters Distillery in the Toronto suburbs a few years later, and this week, their Stalk & Barrel Single Malt was named the "Best Canadian Single Cask Single Malt" in Whisky Magazine's World Whiskies Awards. We'll talk with "The Barrys" - as they're affectionately known, and hear a tale of one brand ambassador's airport security