The Whiskey Ring Podcast

Ep. 28: MGP with David Whitmer, Master Blender

If you're into whiskey and haven't heard of MGP (Midwestern Grain Products), what have you been drinking?!?! 
Today's episode brings David Whitmer, Master Blender (among other titles) for this distilling behemoth. David may be a VP, but as I found out he spends more time on the floor than he does behind a desk.
If you do know about MGP, your first thought might be "sourcing", and you wouldn't be wrong. The major thing to consider - and something David and I talk about for some time - is that to have so many companies source from you is a compliment and a testament to MGP's consistency, business model, and plain old doing it right mentality. 
There's a lot more to MGP than just whiskey - heck, there's a lot more to it than just distilling, including a food division that, while smaller than its beverage arm, is by no means tiny. 
Of course, there were topics we couldn't discuss, but David was about as honest and forthcoming as possible, something I truly appreciate both as a host and as a fan. NDAs or no NDAs, one thing is clear: MGP is putting out some of the best distillate on the market, and with the acquisition of Luxco and promotion of its own brands under Ross & Squibb, the sky is the limit for this already-great giant. 
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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 $5 a month tier 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 David Whitmer, Master Blender for MGP.

Ep. 27: Pam Heilmann, Master Distiller Emerita @ Michter’s

The Whiskey Ring Podcast returns Michter's Master Distiller Emerita Pam Heilmann. It was a thrill to talk with Pam and explore her history before whiskey, at Beam, and at Michter's, including overseeing the transition from contract distillaton to Michter's own equipment, managing the largest bourbon plant in the world for Beam, and what her favorite of all these jobs was - I promise, you'll want to listen through...the answer might surprise you. 
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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 $5 a month tier 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 Pam Heilmann, Master Distiller Emerita at Michter's Distillery.

Ep. 26: Honkaku Spirits with Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

After 1300 tastings, it's so rare to come across something truly new and exciting at the same time. Enter Takamine 8-year-old whiskey, a koji-fermented and double distilled spirit from Fukuoka in southern Japan. 
Named after Jokichi Takamine, one of the most influential and under-known men in both Japanese and American history, this whiskey with an "e" is unlike anything I've had before and something I urge you to try. Christopher Pellegrini, founder, and Stephen Lyman, ambassador, for Honkaku Spirits join me to talk about Takamine, give me an introduction to shochu, awamori, and other koji-fermented products. 
Trust me - like it or not, this will be something you'll remember trying for a long time. 
Also, take a listen to Japan Distilled (linked below), Christopher and Stephen's podcast on all things Japanese alcohol related. It's informative, fun, and the episodes are short enough to binge. I enjoyed them thoroughly and will probably listen again before the new season comes out!
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If you haven’t joined the Patreon community, please do! You can now support the site and podcast for as little as $1 a month, plus new and improved benefits for the $5 a month tier 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. 
Thank you for listening and for supporting, and please enjoy my chat with Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman of Honkaku Spirits. 
Honkaku Spirits Website
Honkaku Spirits Facebook
Honkaku Spirits Instagram
Honkaku Spirits Twitter
Japan Distilled Podcast

Ep. 25: M&H Distillery’s Oded Weiss

Welcome to Season 2! 
The Whiskey Ring Podcast returns with Oded Weiss of M&H Distillery in Tel Aviv, Israel. This distillery - another project of the late Dr. Jim Swan - is creating new and exciting single malts in the land of milk and honey (hence the M&H). Perhaps even more exciting than the malt itself are the finishings, including peated casks, Israeli wine, and pomegranate wine, plus unique agings (as this goes live, the Dead Sea APEX Series release is also being distributed). 
It was a thrill to talk with Oded and I can't wait to taste even more from M&H!
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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 $5 a month tier 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 Oded Weiss and M&H Distillery.

Ep. 23.2: Travel Bar with Owner Mike Vacchrese, Part 2

Part 2 of our Season 1 and 2021 finale! Owner Mike Vacchrese and I continue our talk about his establishment, Travel Bar, in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. 
Mike generously gave over three hours to our interview, so I've broken it into two parts - make sure to listen to both! 
Travel Bar Brooklyn, 520 Court Street, Brooklyn, 11231
Travel Bar Instagram
Travel Bar Facebook
Travel Bar Twitter
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 Mike Vacchrese of Travel Bar Brooklyn. 

Ep. 23.1: Travel Bar with Owner Mike Vacchrese, Part 1

Season 1 and 2021 finale! Owner Mike Vacchrese and I talk about his establishment, Travel Bar, in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. 
Mike generously gave over three hours to our interview, so I've broken it into two parts - make sure to listen to both! 
Travel Bar Brooklyn, 520 Court Street, Brooklyn, 11231
Travel Bar Instagram
Travel Bar Facebook
Travel Bar Twitter
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 Mike Vacchrese of Travel Bar Brooklyn. 
 

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