The Whiskey Lore® Podcast

From out of the wilds of Kentucke country a frontier region develops into a community. Little do these residents know, but their area will become famous for the whiskey it creates. Enjoy this special event as I continue to release the rough draft of my book The Lost History of Bourbon. Welcome to Chapter 2.

GUEST: Jeremy Buchanan (Owner & Distiller, Hartfield & Co.) What does it mean to make Bourbon in Bourbon County? For Jeremy Buchanan, it means more than putting whiskey in a bottle, it means reconnecting with a forgotten distilling tradition that helped give Bourbon its name. In this episode, Drew Hannush sits down with the owner of Hartfield & Co. Distillery to explore the county's lost whiskey legacy, the philosophy behind Hartfield's pre-Prohibition approach to distilling, and why local grain may be just as important as the limestone beneath it. In This Episode Bringing bourbon back to Bourbon County Why the county forgot its own whiskey history The story behind Hartfield's "pre-Prohibition" bourbon Does grain matter more than the barrel? Sourcing every grain close to home Why six-gallon barrels became an advantage Rethinking modern distilling techniques Gravity-fed whiskey making in a historic building How small distilleries preserve big ideas Reclaiming Bourbon County's forgotten legacy JOIN THE SPEAKEASY: patreon.com/whiskeylore

GUESTS: John Kelly (CEO) & Graeme Millar (Master Distiller), Belfast Distillery Company Belfast was once one of the world's great whiskey capitals, but for decades its distilling heritage lay dormant. In this episode, Drew Hannush reunites with Belfast Distillery Company CEO John Kelly and Master Distiller Graeme Millar to explore the rebirth of McConnell's Irish Whiskey, the remarkable transformation of Belfast's historic Crumlin Road Jail into a working distillery, and the philosophy guiding one of Northern Ireland's most ambitious whiskey projects. Along the way, they discuss McConnell's rich past, the future of Irish single malt, and why Belfast is once again becoming a destination for whiskey lovers. In This Episode The revival of Belfast's legendary McConnell's brand Why Crumlin Road Jail became a distillery Restoring a prison while preserving its history Belfast's forgotten role in Irish whiskey The rise and fall of McConnell's in the 1800s Graeme Millar's vision for triple-distilled single malt Creating a distinctive Northern Irish whiskey style Building flavor through careful distillation and maturation Behind the scenes of McConnell's visitor experience Belfast's growing reputation as a whiskey destination SHOW NOTES: whiskeylore.org/interviews JOIN THE SPEAKEASY (AND GET THE COUPON CODE): https://www.patreon.com/whiskeylore/posts/ep-141-irish-new-164366456

It's time to get past the marketing and historical redirects and get down to the business of discovering the true origins Bourbon. It's a story you might think you know. But do you really? It's time to toss out 90% of the myths and lore and starting fresh, looking for the people who made America notice this thing we call Bourbon. And like the story of Tennessee whiskey, this reveal of the story will be part of a book. That book is not yet written, but you have the unique opportunity to hear it AS it is being written. I've outlined the chapters, completed most of the research, and all that's left are a few interviews and the crafting of the prose. What you're going to hear over the next few months is a rough draft of the book. Items may be added and subtracted. But doing this as a release to you, my podcast family, helps me keep you satisfied with new historical content, while it keeps me motivated to provide the next chapter. This preface will explain the scope and why I think this book is so important in correcting our understanding of the origins of Bourbon. Enjoy listening and return for our next Monday episode, when you'll hear Chapter 1 of The Lost History of Bourbon. And to catch any bonus content and supplemental information, become a member of the Whiskey Lore Speakeasy or Club 1897. https://patreon.com/whiskeylore Cheers and slainte mhath, Drew © 2026 Travel Fuels Life, LLC

GUEST: John Pawluk (Twisted Cow Distillery Founder and Distiller) Some distillers master tradition. Others ask why the tradition exists in the first place. In this episode, Drew Hannush sits down with Twisted Cow founder and distiller John Pawluk, whose gift of curiosity has led him to challenge long-held assumptions about fermentation, copper, grain, barrel aging, and flavor development. There is plenty of discussion around one of John's favorite tools for stretching his abilities-the iStill. Enjoy this return to long-form discussions about why and how whiskey is made. It's a fascinating look inside the mind of a whiskey maker who refuses to accept "because that's how it's always been done." In This Episode Why curiosity drives better whiskey Building flavor before the barrel Rethinking copper's role The science of fermentation Why grain origin matters Stone mills versus hammer mills Barrel proof and flavor evolution Learning from tradition, not following it Experimenting with blue corn and heirloom grains Creating a distillery built for discovery TRANSCRIPTS: whiskeylore.org/interviews JOIN THE SPEAKEASY: patreon.com/whiskeylore

Drew Hannush heads to Florida's Treasure Coast for a virtual visit to Indian River Distillery in Vero Beach. Founded by Ray Hooker and his family, the distillery combines Florida history with a passion for rum, bourbon, gin, and American single malt. Along the way, Ray shares stories of pirates, the infamous Ashley Gang, and the unique challenges of making whiskey in a subtropical climate. In This Episode • Visiting Indian River Distillery in Vero Beach, Florida • The Treasure Coast Spirits Festival • Building a family-owned distillery from the ground up • Florida whiskey and tropical maturation • Malted wheat bourbon and American single malt production • The story of the Ashley Gang and Florida's outlaw history • Pirates, treasure ships, and legends of the Treasure Coast • Things to see and experience around Vero Beach My three reasons to visit 📍 Indian River Distillery Vero Beach, Florida Travel maps, distillery information, and trip-planning tools for more than 1,000 whiskey destinations can be found at WhiskeyLore.org/flights.

Southern Georgia isn't the first place most whiskey travelers think of, which makes 13th Colony Distillery one of those discoveries that feels like you've stumbled onto something special. In this episode, Drew Hannush heads to Americus, Georgia, to visit one of the state's oldest operating whiskey distilleries and sit down with president Maxwell Darby. Along the way, they explore how a hobby project turned into one of Georgia's most respected whiskey brands, why heat changes the aging process, and how a forgotten experiment led to one of the distillery's most sought-after releases. In This Episode • The unlikely beginnings of 13th Colony Distillery • How a family hobby became one of Georgia's oldest whiskey distilleries • Aging whiskey in the South and managing Georgia's climate • The story behind the iconic 13th Colony bottle • Double Oak bourbon and the accidental discovery that created it • Why 13th Colony moves barrels around the warehouse • In-house distillation and experimenting with barrel entry proof • The Southern Rye and using French oak spirals • The connection between 13th Colony and Georgia history • Things to see around Americus, Plains, and Andersonville • Plus, Drew shares his three reasons why 13th Colony deserves a spot on your Whiskey Lore Wish List 📍 13th Colony Distillery Americus, Georgia Travel maps, distillery information, and trip-planning tools for more than 1,000 whiskey destinations can be found at WhiskeyLore.org/flights. 🌟Enjoy a deep dive into the what the tree in 13th Colony's logo represents, how to taste their white whiskey, places to eat in Americus and more in this episode as a member of Whiskey Lore's Patreon (a 7-day free trial is available for new listeners).

For decades, the name Clyde May has been synonymous with Alabama whiskey, even though the brand hasn't had an Alabama home. In this episode, Drew Hannush travels to Troy, Alabama, to visit Conecuh Ridge Distillery and sit down with Clyde May's grandson, L.C. May. Together, they explore the story of a World War II veteran turned moonshiner, the family's decades-long journey to bring the brand back home, and what visitors can expect from one of the South's newest whiskey destinations. In This Episode • Meeting L.C. May, grandson of legendary moonshiner Clyde May • Clyde May's service during World War II and his Purple Heart legacy • Moonshining in rural Alabama and life on the run from revenuers • The original still that survived and found its way back to the May family • Growing up around a moonshine tradition that remained alive into the 21st century • Why the brand spent decades producing whiskey outside Alabama • Bringing Clyde May's legacy home to the new Conecuh Ridge Distillery • The meaning behind the Conecuh name and the waters that shaped the region • Things to do around Troy, Alabama, from golf and hunting to Southern cooking and Gulf Coast road trips • Plus, Drew shares his three reasons why Conecuh Ridge Distillery deserves a spot on your Whiskey Lore Wish List 📍 Conecuh Ridge Distillery Troy, Alabama Travel maps, distillery information, and trip-planning tools for more than 1,000 whiskey destinations can be found at WhiskeyLore.org/flights. 🌟Enjoy an extended premium dive into the Alabama "style" of whiskey, how Clyde May's became the state spirit and more in this episode as a member of Whiskey Lore's Patreon (a 7-day free trial is available for new listeners) patreon.com/whiskeylore

What began with a desire to spend more time with family led Jimmy Sharp and his father to transform an old cotton warehouse beside the railroad tracks in Opelika, Alabama, into one of the state's most distinctive distilleries. In this episode, Drew Hannush visits John Emerald Distilling Company to explore the Scottish roots behind Alabama's first post-Prohibition whiskey, the challenges of making spirits in Southern heat, and why rum, brandy, and American single malt all have a place under one roof. In This Episode • How a family dream became one of Alabama's pioneering craft distilleries • Why an old cotton warehouse in Opelika became the perfect home for John Emerald • Jimmy Sharp's apprenticeship at Springbank Distillery in Scotland • Alabama's first post-Prohibition whiskey and the rise of American single malt • Smoking malt with peach and pecan wood • The influence of barrel size and char levels in Southern aging conditions • Making rum from local sugar cane syrup and harvesting cane for rum agricole • Muscadine brandy and spirits inspired by family history • Grain-to-glass production and sourcing ingredients from Alabama farmers • The stories behind the names and animals found on every bottle • Cocktails, tours, and things to do around Opelika and Auburn • Plus, Drew shares his three reasons why John Emerald Distilling Company deserves a spot on your Whiskey Lore Wish List 📍 John Emerald Distilling Company Opelika, Alabama Travel maps, distillery information, and trip-planning tools for more than 1,000 whiskey destinations can be found at WhiskeyLore.org/flights. 🌟Enjoy a few more minutes of in-depth conversation as a member of Whiskey Lore's Patreon (a 7-day free trial is available for new listeners)

When it comes to Scottish distilleries with whiskies that match the landscape, Talisker is one of my favorite examples: sea and smoke. For the longest time, as the sole distillery on the Isle of Skye, it served as the perfect punctuation mark on any trip to the island. Seemingly isolated along the shore of Loch Harport in the small village of Carbost, it built quite a reputation around the world as early as the 1800s. Today, I'll dive into Talisker's history with Diageo's Head of Rare & Luxury Whisky, Ewan Morgan. We'll start at the distillery's origins, and you'll be among the first to hear about a distilling technique once used at the distillery, but forgotten by time. We'll talk about the influence of the distillery's worm tubs on the whisky and find out what special ingredient they use inside those worm tubs. Then I get a special treat. We'll dive into the world of long-aged whisky and discuss how to nose, taste, collect, and preserve rare bottles. Along the way, we taste Talisker's remarkable 30-year-old, 45-year-old, and 47-year-old whiskies and talk about what happens to a spirit after decades inside a cask. If you're a fan of Scotch, this is a deep dive you won't want to miss. Catch an extended version of the episode as a member of the Whiskey Lore family at patreon.com/whiskeylore

For generations, whiskey fans have repeated one simple rule: Ireland and America spell whiskey with an "e," while Scotland, Canada, and Japan spell whisky without one. But where did that rule actually come from—and does this formula hold up historically? Today I'll revisit one of the show's earliest topics to dive deeper, separate fact from fiction and uncover the surprising history behind one of whiskey's most debated letters. Along the way, we'll see what the government and the Father of American English, Noah Webster, has to say. I'll look at the cultural confusion of regional language differences, and the myths that have grown around the spelling of whiskey itself. Was the "e" really invented by Irish distillers in the 1800s to distinguish their spirit from Scotch blends? Did Scotland always reject the spelling whiskey? And have Americans always embraced whiskey with an e? Using newspaper archives spanning England, Scotland, Ireland, and the United States, I'll traces how the spellings evolved from the early 1700s through Prohibition and into the modern craft whiskey era. The results challenge many of the stories commonly repeated in whiskey circles today. This is a thoroughly researched, updated, and expanded version of Season 2 Episode 8.

Join me as I welcome back Jerry Daniels of Stone Fences Tours for a step beyond distillery visits and into the heart of Bourbon history. We'll tackle the question who truly belongs in the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame that has been left behind? We go back and forth in a snake draft, each bringing our own list of seven candidates, building a case for the overlooked figures who shaped the industry. From early pioneers and 19th-century power players to scientific minds and modern innovators, this discussion uncovers the foundations of Bourbon that often get overshadowed. If you think you know the names that define the industry, this episode might make you rethink the list, and have you guessing who we believe deserves a place among the greats. Want to offer your own suggestions of who is missing? Post your choices on my Instagram feed at instagram.com/whiskeylore or on the episode post at patreon.com/whiskeylore