WhiskyCast

Wild Turkey Master Distiller Eddie Russell celebrated his 45th anniversary at the distillery the other night with the premiere of a short film about his career in New York City. "Eddie Russell: His Own Way" covers Eddie's career from pushing barrels as the new guy to the success that got him into the Bourbon Hall of Fame. The premiere came with the release of a Russell's Reserve Bourbon created to commemorate the anniversary by Bruce Russell, Eddie's son and Wild Turkey's Associate Master Blender - the same way Eddie originated Russell's Reserve to honor his father Jimmy's 45th anniversary at Wild Turkey years ago. We'll talk with Eddie and Bruce Russell on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, job cuts could be coming this week at Diageo, and the International Wine & Spirits Competition announces its North American winners for 2026.

Kentucky's Jeptha Creed Distillery grows all of its corn on the Nethery family's farm nearby, including heirloom grains like Bloody Butcher (red corn) and Bruce's Blue, a strain of blue corn developed on the farm by Bruce Nethery and the inspiration for the new Bruce's Blue Bourbon. The mother and daughter team of Joyce and Autumn Nethery run the distillery, which attracts thousands of visitors every year. We'll talk with Joyce Nethery on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, an unnamed buyer has been found for Uncle Nearest, while layoffs and lawsuits spread around Bourbon Country. We'll have details on the week's new whiskies, including the return of Bruichladdich's legendary Yellow Submarine Scotch.

This week, we're joined by Carey Bringle, the pit master and whisky maker for Peg Leg Porker. Carey owns a barbecue restaurant by the same name in Nashville, Tennessee, and says there's a lot in common between being a pit master and a whisky maker — but he'll never call himself a master distiller. Bringle has just released a "Spirit of America" Tennessee Bourbon to celebrate America's 250th anniversary, and we'll have tasting notes for it, too. In the news, the American Distilling Institute has announced the winners of its 2026 spirits competition, with Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye taking home the title of "America's Best Whiskey."

Craft distillers have been searching for years for ways to differentiate their whiskies from the large brands on the market. Now, the American Craft Spirits Association has created the "Certified Craft" program to meet the need. ACSA members will be able to use the Certified Craft logo on their products and marketing materials, and the seal gives consumers an easy way to tell what is and isn't craft. We'll talk with new ACSA CEO Emily Pennington and Colin Spoelman of Brooklyn's Kings County Distillery about the program on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, another discrimination lawsuit has been filed against Bardstown Bourbon Company, while a gain in Diageo third-quarter sales beat analyst estimates.

When the Ballindalloch Estate has been in your family for more than 450 years, what's a few years to wait to bottle your own single malt Scotch whisky. The McPherson-Grant family waited nine years to bottle their first single malt after opening their distillery in 2014, and have now entered the U.S. market with the Ballindalloch Family Heritage Selection. We'll talk with Guy McPherson-Grant, the lord of Ballindalloch Castle, and the distillery's international sales director, Aidan Dunn, on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. We'll also have tasting notes for the Family Heritage Selection, along with the Ardbeg Dolce Feis Ile single malt. In the news, we have details on layoffs in the whisky industry in England and the U.S., along with the week's new releases and much more.

This week, we're joined by Woody Creek Distillers' "spokesdude", William H. Macy. Known for his roles in Shameless, Fargo, and other films, the award-winning actor is about to release the third edition of his William H. Macy Reserve Rye whiskey. Woody Creek's National Brand Ambassador, bartending guru Sean Kenyon, joins us as well to talk about the Colorado distillery and its whiskies. In the news, Sazerac has reportedly entered the bidding for Brown-Forman, while MGP is shutting down production at its two distilleries in Kentucky because of oversupply…

Jefferson's Ocean Bourbon is known for being aged at sea, and now, a new partnership between Jefferson's and Holland America cruises will see 11 cruise ships carrying barrels of Jefferson's on board during their voyages around the world. After the whiskey is bottled, it'll be sold on board each ship. We'll talk with Jefferson's co-founder Trey Zoeller about the partnership on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman are discussing a potential merger that could see Jack Daniel's and Jameson under the same ownership. We'll have all of the details on this week's WhiskyCast.

Nine years ago, John Lunn and Allisa Henley set out to make the Tennessee Whiskey of their dreams at Sazerac's A.J. Bond Distillery. That plan was shattered when John Lunn died suddenly three years ago this month, but Allisa forged on with the backing of Sazerac. The first A.J. Bond whiskey will be released this summer, and Allisa Henley joins us with a preview on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news…a federal judge is expected to rule soon on the Uncle Nearest receivership case as the debt piles up, and a pair of rare casks of Karuizawa single malt set a new record for spirits sales at Christie's.

Kentucky Artisan Distillery was one of the state's first distilleries to specialize in contract distilling for clients when it opened in 2012. Over the years, it's been laying down whiskies for its own brand as well, and has now released two Bourbons in its Artisan Series: a high-rye Bourbon and a four-grain Bourbon. We'll talk with master distiller Jade Peterson about the new whiskies and his own creation, Trackside Bourbon, which features "chocolate" malt in the mashbill, on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, distilling stocks took a tumble on Wall Street after Diageo reported disappointing sales and forecast more declines over the second half of the year.

The Scotch Whisky Association released new export data this week showing a second straight year of global sales declines, with a softening economy and tariffs getting much of the blame. We'll go through the numbers with SWA chief executive Mark Kent on WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, another new report this week says one in five Scotch Whisky distilleries is in financial distress. Crown Royal avoids a boycott in Ontario, and there's no change in the receivership at Uncle Nearest.

Starward Whisky founder David Vitale stepped back from the Australian whisky maker's day-to-day operations several years ago, but after Diageo's Distill Ventures incubator unit pulled its support for Starward and other distillers last year, Vitale was faced with a dilemma. With his board wanting to seek a buyer for Starward, Vitale decided he was the best potential buyer for the business. Vitale has now bought out Diageo and his former partners, and is charting a new course for the distillery that involves slower, steadier growth. We'll talk with David Vitale on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, whisky makers in the U-K have been hit with an excise tax increase that will drive up the price of a dram, while China has agreed to reduce its import tariffs on Scotch Whisky.

This week, we're on location at the Victoria Whisky Festival in Victoria, British Columbia, where it was unofficially Bill Ashburn Weekend. The retired Forty Creek master blender was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Canadian Whisky Awards and guest of honor at a reception on Friday. We'll talk with Bill on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth, and have complete coverage of the Canadian Whisky Awards. In the news, President Donald Trump is threatening a new round of tariffs over Greenland that could affect Scotch Whisky, and we'll see how Canadian retailers are being affected by the Bourbon boycott.

The second annual Canadian Whisky Week runs from January 11th through the 18th, with events all over Canada. We'll talk with co-founders Reece Sims and Andrea Fujarczuk about all things Canadian Whisky on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Uncle Nearest founder Fawn Weaver says the company's receivership is bad for business, and has asked a federal court judge to return control of Uncle Nearest back to its directors.