The Whiskey Ring Podcast

Ep. 22: Tennessee Tasters with WhiskeyFellow

A crossover! On this week's episode, I'm joined by Jeff Schwartz, AKA Whiskeyfellow. He's been writing about whiskey for several years on his blog and Facebook page - both of which you should definitely like and follow (Instagram too!). We're tasting the Tennessee Tasters, a 7-bottle series from Jack Daniel's that's all experimental (until they aren't, of course). 
If you haven’t joined the Patreon community, now is the time: you can now support the site and podcast for as little as $1 a month, plus new and improved benefits for the $2.50 and $5 a month tiers including exclusive content, free glassware after 6 months, and more benefits as the group grows such as barrel picks, live events, and more.
If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 
Finally, please subscribe to the Whiskey Ring Podcast on your favorite podcast platform today! We're on Podbean, Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and most other major podcast platforms. Every subscription and listen helps us get sponsors, secure guests, and ultimately get more content to you.
Thank you for listening and for supporting, and please enjoy my chat with Jeff the Whiskeyfellow.
 

Ep. 21: Clay Risen

Hey folks, welcome to Episode 21 of the Whiskey Ring Podcast. My guest is whiskey writer and historian Clay Risen, whose new book Bourbon: The Story of Kentucky Whiskey is available today. It’s a table-top book that you will go back to again and again, and I’m thrilled to have my own copy on my table now.
If you haven’t joined the Patreon community, now is the time: you can now support the site and podcast for as little as $1 a month, plus new and improved benefits for the $2.50 and $5 a month tiers including exclusive content, free glassware after 6 months, and more benefits as the group grows such as barrel picks, live events, and more.
If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website. 
Finally, please subscribe to the Whiskey Ring Podcast on your favorite podcast platform today! We're on Podbean, Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and most other major podcast platforms. Every subscription and listen helps us get sponsors, secure guests, and ultimately get more content to you.
Thank you for listening and for supporting, and please enjoy my chat with Clay Risen.
Order Bourbon: The Story of Kentucky Whiskey

Ep. 20: Raj Bhakta, Bhakta Spirits

This is one for the record books – I taste through four high-end brandies from Bhakta Spirits with none other than Raj Bhakta himself.
This is a different type of episode right from the start. Bhakta Spirits’ story comes out through the conversation, but it’s really about the spirits themselves. From a decades-old Armagnac and Calvados blend to a pair of century-and-a-half-old brandies, a single word emerges: quality. To put it bluntly, this shit is the real deal.
Bhakta Brandy
Bhakta Spirits
Bhakta Farms
Here’s the fun part: that decades-old Armagnac and Calvados blend? 80 bucks. 80 BUCKS. Can you imagine a 40-ish year old whiskey being less than 80 bucks per ounce, let alone for the full bottle? Come on now.
The brandies? Really, Armagnacs, but for ease of labeling they’re listed as brandies. Each batch is a single barrel with various vintages in it ranging from 1970 – already fifty-plus years old – to 1868. The first vintages in these bottles were distilled when Andrew Johnson was president and Ulysses S. Grant was elected. A few other things from that year:
The Meiji Restoration begins in Japan, opening the country after centuries of insular policy.
The first parade with floats occurs at Mardi Gras in New Orleans
The first cro-magnon skeletons are identified
The first Memorial Day is observed in the US
The 14th Amendment is ratified
Wyoming becomes a US territory
Edison files his first patent
Ok you get the point. ITS OLD. And it’s fucking fantastic.
Raj? He was a blast to taste through these with. You can tell how he relaxes through the episode and by the end we’re swapping tasting notes and ideas for finished American whiskies. I look forward to having him back on the pod in the future.
Finally – if you are in the financial position to become an investor in Bhakta Spirits or are interested in the Bhakta Spirits set mentioned in the episode, reach out at the links in the shownotes. There are only 30 or so spots left in the Revivalist Society, so don’t hesitate.
If you haven’t joined the Patreon community, now is the time: you can now support the site and podcast for as little as $1 a month, plus new and improved benefits for the $2.50 and $5 a month tiers including exclusive content, free glassware after 6 months, and more benefits as the group grows such as barrel picks, live events, and other things – the possibilities are endless. The first exclusive episode with Michter’s Master Distiller Emeritus Pam Heilmann is live now. Patreon subscribers will have access to the audio and video of this episode a full TWO MONTHS before the episode is released to the public.
Next up: The Whiskey Ring Podcast is looking for sponsors! If you’re a whiskey company, an accessory company, or subscription service, reach out to see how you can be a sponsor. There are only two more spots being opened for sponsors, so if you’re interested reach out asap.
If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram and Facebook and follow @whiskeyring on Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on whiskeyinmyweddingring.com. 
Finally, please subscribe to the Whiskey Ring Podcast on your favorite podcast platform today! We're on Podbean, Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and most other major podcast platforms. Every subscription and listen helps us get sponsors, secure guests, and ultimately get more content to you.
Thank you for listening and for supporting, and please enjoy my tasting session with Raj Bhakta of Bhakta Spirits.
Bhakta 27-07 Review
Bhakta 50 #14 "Theobold" Review
Bhakta 50 #16 "Ulysses" Review

Ep. 19: Jesse Parker, Doc Swinson‘s

This is a turning point episode! Starting with Ep. 19, we're moving to an every week format, so tune in to this episode and be ready every Wednesday morning for a new drop!
This week I'm joined by Jesse Parker from Doc Swinson's and Distiller's Way. He and I talk through the entire Doc Swinson's line, including the 15 year, the Alter Ego releases, the core Blender's Cut, and the Exploratory Series - Mind, Body, and Soul. 
**GIVEAWAY ALERT**
Join the giveaway from Doc Swinson's and the Whiskey Ring Podcast! Click here for your chance to win two bottles of their whiskey, two branded glencairns, two branded hats, and some WRP swag, too. 
https://kingsumo.com/g/48cg1q/doc-swinsons-giveaway
Tasting notes to all the Doc Swinson's they were generous enough to send are below! (Give it a day if the links don't work for some reason...). As always, editorial control remains with me.
Blender's Cut Bourbon Review 
Doc Swinson’s Exploratory Cask Series: Mind, Body, And Soul
Socials:
Doc Swinson's Website
Doc Swinson's Facebook
Doc Swinson's Instagram

Ep. 18: Wigle Whiskey

Hey folks, welcome to episode 18 of the Whiskey Ring Podcast! My guest for this episode is Michael Foglia from Wigle Whiskey in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  
This is a fun one – Wigle is another off-the-wall distillery that loves to try something different. Go to their website and see how many expressions they have (or if you’re a Patreon subscriber and watching the video, see the wall behind Michael as we talk) then consider they’re only producing about 26,000 proof gallons a year.
A few quick notes: If you haven’t joined the Patreon community, now is the time: you can now support the site and podcast for as little as $1 a month. If you’re a distillery, an accessories company, or want to get your name out there, The Whiskey Ring Podcast has slots for two remaining sponsors – reach out today if you are interested!You can find the podcast and website on all social media platforms AND you’ll want to follow, like, and subscribe now – there’s a big giveaway coming up for the holidays in partnership with Doc Swinson’s, an upcoming guest on the show.
Thank you for listening, supporting, and subscribing, and please enjoy my chat with Michael Foglia of Wigle Whiskey.

Ep. 17: Stefan van Eycken, Whisky Rising

Hey folks, welcome to episode 17 of the Whiskey Ring Podcast! My guest for this episode is Stefan van Eycken, author of Whisky Rising: The Definitive Guide to the Finest Whiskies and Distillers of Japan.
The Nonjatta Blog
Stefan’s Whisky Magazine Profile
Stefan is simultaneously one of the most important writers on Japanese whisky and perhaps one of the most unknown on this side of the Pacific. He’s been in Japan since 2000, when you could find a bottle of Karuizawa on the shelf for pittance compared to today’s prices. For years, he wrote for and then took over the Nonjatta Japanese whisky blog.
I should note that Stefan doesn’t just write about Japanese whisky – he also writes for publications in Japan (and in Japanese) about other world whiskies including Scotch. Japanese whisky is just the point at which our mutual interests met. And trust me – if you like what you hear during this episode, please support Stefan by purchasing a copy of his book and by looking into his other writings. You won’t be disappointed.
Next up: The Whiskey Ring Podcast is looking for sponsors! If you’re a whiskey company, an accessory company, or subscription service, reach out to see how you can be a sponsor. There are only two more spots being opened for sponsors, so if you’re interested reach out asap.
If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram and Facebook and follow @whiskeyring on Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on whiskeyinmyweddingring.com. 
If you like what you hear, please consider supporting the site and the podcast. You can help out for as little as $1 a month on Patreon. Thank you also to our sponsors, Mash and Grape and Cairn Craft, who are providing discount codes for Whiskey in my Wedding Ring followers and Whiskey Ring Podcast listeners.
Subscribe to the Whiskey Ring Podcast on your favorite podcast platform today! We're on Podbean, Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and most other major podcast platforms. Every subscription and listen helps us get sponsors, secure guests, and ultimately get more content to you.
Thank you for listening and for supporting, and please enjoy my chat with Stefan van Eycken.
Whisky Rising: The Definitive Guide to the Finest Whiskies and Distillers of Japan
The Nonjatta Blog
Stefan’s Whisky Magazine Profile

Ep. 16: Kelvin Cooperage

Hey folks, welcome to episode 16 of the Whiskey Ring Podcast! My guests for this episode are Paul McLaughlin, Martin Purvis, and William Hornaday of Kelvin Cooperage.
If you’ve listened to earlier episodes, you know I’ve been excited to bring on a cooperage – so much of what we all love about whiskey and other aged spirits comes from the barrel, up to 80% depending on who you listen to. But how often do you really think about how that barrel is made? Who’s making them? How are people trained to raise a barrel in just a few minutes that will last potentially decades of re-use? Is toasting a barrel a trend in whiskey or is it here to stay? All of these questions are asked in this fantastic episode.
I left the episode thinking my questions had been answered – a few weeks later, I’ve got another page full of them. So, Kelvin is the first cooperage on the podcast but likely not the last.
Big announcement via Patreon: you can now support the site and podcast for as little as $1 a month, plus new and improved benefits for the $2.50 and $5 a month tiers including exclusive content, free glassware after 6 months, and more benefits as the group grows such as barrel picks, live events, and other things – the possibilities are endless.
Next up: The Whiskey Ring Podcast is looking for sponsors! If you’re a whiskey company, an accessory company, or subscription service, reach out to see how you can be a sponsor. There are only two more spots being opened for sponsors, so if you’re interested reach out asap.
You can find Kelvin Cooperage online at kelvincooperage.com and in Louisville, Kentucky. Their socials are also included in the show notes so you can follow them and see the new things happening in the barrel-making world.
If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram and Facebook and follow @whiskeyring on Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on whiskeyinmyweddingring.com. 
If you like what you hear, please consider supporting the site and the podcast. You can help out for as little as $1 a month on Patreon. Thank you also to our sponsors, Mash and Grape and Cairn Craft, who are providing discount codes for Whiskey in my Wedding Ring followers and Whiskey Ring Podcast listeners.
Subscribe to the Whiskey Ring Podcast on your favorite podcast platform today! We're on Podbean, Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts,Google Podcasts, and most other major podcast platforms. Every subscription and listen helps us get sponsors, secure guests, and ultimately get more content to you.
Thank you for listening and for supporting, and please enjoy my chat with Paul McLaughlin, Martin Purvis, and William Hornaday of Kelvin Cooperage.
Kelvin Cooperage Youtube: https://youtu.be/fF38BxIqxL0
Kelvin Cooperage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelvin_cooperage/
Kelvin Cooperage Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelvincooperage1/

Ep. 15: Westward Whiskey and Miles Munroe

Hey folks, welcome to episode 15 of the Whiskey Ring Podcast! My guest for this episode is Miles Munroe of Westward Whiskey, based in Portland, Oregon.
This podcast marks a big turning point for the podcast and the site. First off, Westward is the first American Single Malt producer I’ve had on…I think…might have to check through the little notes but I’m pretty sure that’s right. Second, Westward sent a full bottle of their new cask strength single malt to taste and review before the episode. Take a look at the site or the shownotes for the full review – it’s a banger of a bottle.
Big announcement via Patreon: I’ve added a $1 a month option if you just want to help the site and podcast continue, plus new and improved benefits for the $2.50 and $5 a month tiers including exclusive content, free glassware after 6 months, and hopefully more benefits as the group grows.
Next up: The Whiskey Ring Podcast is looking for sponsors! If you’re a whiskey company, an accessory company, or subscription service, reach out to see how you can be a sponsor. Thank you to our current sponsors, Cairn Craft and Mash and Grape. There are only two more spots being opened for sponsors, so if you’re interested reach out asap.
You can find Westward Whiskey online at westwardwhiskey.com and in Portland, Oregon. Their socials are also included in the show notes so you can follow them and see when they’re coming to a retailer near you. The Cask Strength is dropping as this episode comes out, so grab one before they’re gone and thank me later.  
If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram and Facebook and follow @whiskeyring on Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on whiskeyinmyweddingring.com. 
If you like what you hear, please consider supporting the site and the podcast. You can help out for as little as $1 a month on Patreon. Thank you also to our sponsors, Mash and Grape and Cairn Craft, who are providing discount codes for Whiskey in my Wedding Ring followers and Whiskey Ring Podcast listeners.
Subscribe to the Whiskey Ring Podcast on your favorite podcast platform today! We're on Podbean, Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and most other major podcast platforms. Every subscription and listen helps us get sponsors, secure guests, and ultimately get more content to you.
Thank you for listening and for supporting, and please enjoy my chat with Miles Munroe of Westward Whiskey.
Westward Cask Strength Single Malt Review: https://www.whiskeyinmyweddingring.com/reviews/westward-cask-strength-american-single-malt-whiskey
Westward Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westwardwhiskey
Westward Twitter: https://twitter.com/westwardwhiskey
Westward Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WestwardWhiskey/