The Whiskey Ring Podcast

Ep. 197: John Angus and Spirit Chemistry

Get In The Spirit!
Show Notes
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John Angus & The Distilled Edit
John Angus on LinkedIn
The Distilled Edit

Ep. 196: Kevin Aslan talks Hotaling & Co, Old Potrero, Hirsch American Whiskey, and Junipero Gin

Spirits of San Francisco: Inside Hotaling & Co with Kevin Aslan
Have you tried or heard of Old Potrero Rye? What about Junipero Gin? Surely you've heard of Hirsch American Whiskey, right? If not, Kevin Aslan, head distiller for Hotaling & Co. in San Francisco, is here to re-introduce these under-the-radar giants of American craft whiskey. 
Old Potrero, when it first arrived in 1996 (distilled in 1993) was the first fully pot distilled whiskey in America since Prohibition. Add to that, it was 100% malted rye, no exogenous enzymes and no other grains. The brainchild of Fritz Maytag and Bruce Joseph, Old Potrero gave rise to a new generation of craft whiskey and continues to be a sensational product - if you can find it. 
Hirsch likely needs no introduction, though I will say Hotaling has turned it on its head. Rather than trying to recreate "The Best Bourbon You'll Never Taste" as Chuck Cowdery has called it, Bruce and now Kevin are using Hirsch as their more experimental line, debuting bourbons, ryes, and American Single Malts. The release I tried - Departure - was 6 years 9 months and had all the ASM and funky barnyard you could want. 
When a distillery that grew out of a brewery (Anchor) has 30+ years in craft whiskey, there's a lot to talk about. We cover the history, the products, the thoughts, and the transitions, with an eye to the future of this venerable brand. 
Thank you to Kevin for entering the whiskey ring! 
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Hotaling & Co.
Hotaling & Co. Website
Hotaling & Co. on Instagram
Hotaling & Co. on Facebook
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Hotaling & Co. on LinkedIn

Ep. 195: Ki One Distillery with Founder Bryan Do

The First South Korean Single Malt, or, An Eagle, a Unicorn, and a Tiger Walk Into a Bar
Ki One (formerly known as Three Societies) was founded in 2020 with a simple goal: be the first Korean single malt distillery and set a benchmark for what Korean single malt could be. Given the reaction to their releases, one can only say well done. They are the first Korean single malt on the market, with three core expressions (the Eagle, Unicorn, and Tiger) and special releases exploring different parts of their components or playing with finishes. 
What could Korean single malt be? Nestled on the north face of the mountains 30 minutes from Seoul, this distillery gets no direct sunlight in the winter and can swing between -4C and 36C throughout the year. Bryan came from a brewing background, Andrew Shand from a distilling family. Together, they've set a Korean "profile" that hearkens back to their heritage while highlighting something synonymous with Korea: spice. 
Make no mistake: whether at 6 months or 5 years, this is a spice-forward single malt, evoking kimchi and gochujang pepper alongside the classic single malt by which they were inspired. 
As the first, they had to chart a path, and we get into an unusually detailed description of how taxation and regulation can lag behind industry growth and, if unchanged, hamper it. This was Bryan's first longform English interview for Ki One - I hope you enjoy!
Thank you to Bryan for entering the whiskey ring! 
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The Bottle Share Club - the $25/month Patreon level - is SOLD OUT! You can still support the podcast for as little as $1/month, and $5/month patrons will have first dibs if a $25/month member retires. 
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Ki One Distillery
Ki One Distillery Website
Ki One Distillery on Instagram
Ki One Distillery on Facebook

Ep. 194: The London Distillery Company with Matt McKay

Heritage, Grain, and Grit: Matt McKay Revives the London Distillery Company
The London Distillery Company - TLDC - has, TLDR, had a rather rough two centuries. Two failed ventures, one in the early 1800s and one in the 2010s, the last ending in 2020 with a few dozen casks remaining, sitting in a warehouse for several years unloved. 
Enter Matt McKay, a Whiskey Ring Podcast guest way back in Episode 70. Having recently departed Bimber and Dunphail Distilleries, Matt was looking for a project, something that would expand his already extensive whisky knowledge and give him a new challenge in the production space where he felt most at home. Those few dozen casks held some rye, a lot of single malt, and, more than anything, opportunities. 
In his "distillery without walls," Matt is slowly and methodically rebuilding TLDC into a respectable company known for its own product (which remains quite limited but also nicely aged) and for blending. The Renascence was a release of their own stock, while the just-released Golden Union blends and celebrates English whisky from multiple distilleries into a harmonious expression. 
Matt is unabashedly nerdy (seriously, listen to our previous episode, we got deep in the weeds), and he loves what he does. I can't wait to taste these releases and see what he does. Let's check back in a few years when they're farther down the runway....
Thank you to Matt for entering the whiskey ring! 
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The London Distillery Company
The London Distillery Company Website
The London Distillery Company on Instagram
The London Distillery Company on Facebook
 

Ep. 193: All About French Whisky with Marion Attardi (LM&V) and Matthieu Acar (LMDW)

La Maison du Whisky, Version Française, and Everything About French Whisky
I love "visiting" new countries through the podcast. Granted, France we had technically touched before through Brenne, but I'd heard that there was so much more to learn about the French culture of drinking and spirit production - so who better to talk to than Marion Attardi and Matthieu Acar, of La Maison & Velier and La Maison du Whisky, respectively. 
Marion and Matthieu are subject matter giants in whiskies generally, but both bring a special expertise to French whisky. While long a top market for Scotch single malt (drinking more per capita than any other nation), France has only recently begun distilling its own whiskies and single malts (~1983 is a general starting point). Yet despite starting domestic production around the same time as the earliest American craft distillers, French producers have remained mostly small and independent. Only the oldest and largest - Armorik, for example) have made it to the US market, and many haven't made it outside of France or the EU at most. 
So, why do an episode about French whisky if you can't taste much of it? Because soon enough you'll be able to - and I guarantee you're going to love it. Whether it's a distillery that grew out of a brewery, one doing their own take on peat, one using local wine casks from Bordeaux or calvados from Normandy, the variety is astounding and delicious. 
Three Version Française expressions are available in the US, with more on the way. You can also shop through La Maison du Whisky, The Whisky Exchange, and many other international retailers to find gems from all over France. 
This was just the opening conversation - there will be many more! Especially if Matthieu's compendium on the first 40 years of French whisky gets an English translation...
Thank you to Marion and Matthieu for entering the Whiskey Ring!
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Version Française & La Maison du Whisky
Version Française Website
Version Française on Instagram
La Maison du Whisky Website

Ep. 192: Boulder Spirits with Founder Alastair Brogan

Scottish Born, Colorodo Bred
Show Notes and Reviews
Colorado was long a bastion of the craft beer scene, and out of that grew a now-booming craft whiskey industry. Among the first of those whiskeymakers was Boulder Spirits (part of Vapor Distillery), who imported Alastair Brogan in 2012. His vision was clear: to create the best American single malt whiskey possible, while honoring traditional methods and embracing the distinctive Colorado environment. The Colorado microclimate plays a crucial role in Boulder Spirits' unique flavor profile. With significant temperature and humidity swings, whiskey ages differently here than in Scotland or Kentucky, experiencing higher evaporation rates that concentrate flavors more rapidly.
While their American Single Malt garners the headlines, they also make a fantastic bourbon, one that despite its relatively low proof (88) was full-bodied and flavorful. It confirmed my suspicions (piqued after chatting with Chattanooga) that I love malted bourbons, where malt is the secondary grain rather than rye or wheat. It holds up at a lower proof so much better than the other two.
Education remains the greatest barrier to growth - while we whiskey nerds love American Single Malts and different mashbills, the wider audience isn't always aware that ASM is even a thing, let alone a malted bourbon. That education is helped by collaborating with folks like Lost Lantern (that's how I first heard about Boulder) and putting out high-powered releases like hazmat single malt in armagnac casks. 
I missed them by just a day while in Denver, but won't miss them the next time. Thank you to Alastair for entering the whiskey ring! 
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Boulder Spirits
Boulder Spirits Website
Boulder Spirits on Instagram
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Ep. 191: Georgie Bell and The Heart Cut

Why Not, What If?
Georgie Bell and husband Fabrizio Leoni co-founded The Heart Cut, an independent bottler, with an eye towards the world. The question is relatively simple: how can we connect whisky enthusiasts with some of the most exciting, innovative, and deserving-of-attention distilleries? More than half of which - in a telling coincidence - have been Whiskey Ring Podcast guests?
Georgie and Fab are globe-trotting whiskey hunters, pulling 16 exceptional casks/releases from distilleries across eight countries in just their first 20-ish months. From Finnish rye to Israeli single malts, they're telling stories through spirits that most drinkers have never encountered. Their approach: direct partnerships, total transparency, and a commitment to showcasing the "why not, what if" spirit of craft distillers around the world.
But this isn't just about selling bottles. The Heart Cut is building a whiskey community, breaking down barriers with accessible tasting notes, virtual tastings (starting with the last few releases), and a mission to educate. Bell and Leoni's vision inspires exploration, giving us nerds a healthy mix of whiskies that both represent the heart of what a distillery can do while also pushing its boundaries.
If you're new to whisky, you'll be able to enjoy the pours. If you're deep in the fandom, every bit of information they can possibly provide is either on the label or the website. This is an IB built on the knowledge, passion, experience, and wisdom of two people who know their spirits. We spend a few minutes just on Georgie's resume simply to highlight how extensive her knowledge base is - it's that impressive. 
Finally, I want to acknowledge the introductions Georgie made after the interview was over. The best IBs don't work as firewalls but as gateways. If a bottling makes me want to know more about a distillery, that's the best job an IB can do, and The Heart Cut does it in spades. Who knows - within a few months, I may have completed the collection, having all The Heart Cut partners on the podcast...
Being smaller releases, these won't usually be available in the US, but they are through both Master of Malt and The Whisky Exchange. I'm picking up a bottle of the M&H (the pomegranate wine cask and Dead Sea Apex release are my two favorites, and The Heart Cut combined them!) and probably 2-5 others given the chance. 
Thank you to Georgie for entering the Whiskey Ring, and for the multiple introductions she made after the interview!
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The Bottle Share Club - the $25/month Patreon level - is SOLD OUT! You can still support the podcast for as little as $1/month, and $5/month patrons will have first dibs if a $25/month member retires. 
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The Heart Cut
The Heart Cut Website
The Heart Cut on Instagram
The Heart Cut on Facebook
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Ep. 190: Sagamore Spirit with Ryan Norwood

Leading the Revival of Maryland Rye
This week on the Whiskey Ring Podcast, I got to cross off another long-awaited guest: Sagamore Spirit. Situated harborside in downtown Baltimore, Sagamore's campus is among the more beautiful I've visited. The 5-acre plot centers around Penny, their 40' copper column still, which has (almost) single-handedly managed their transition from MGP-sourced rye to 100% Maryland-distilled rye, which now fills the vast majority of their bottles. 
Few brands have moved from sourcing to their own distillate as seamlessly or as transparently. Along the way, Sagamore Spirit (no "s" because they'll only ever make one) has played with numerous finishes, including award-winning port cask and unique mead and beer finishes from nearby partners. Not to mention their one-off Calvados-finished Rye, which I still rank as one of the best pours I've ever had. 
Sagamore is no longer alone in their promotion of Maryland Rye, with previous guests like Baltimore Spirits Co. also flying the banner, but it's hard to argue that Sagamore isn't leading the way, whether by volume, shelf space, or distribution reach. Ryan Norwood has been with Sagamore for several years and joins me to talk hospitality, building a rye brand for Maryland starting with Indiana distillate, and how their ongoing connection to the Vanderbilt-owned Sagamore Farm informs their branding, bottles, and their surprising decision to leave horses off the label. 
Thank you to Ryan for entering the Whiskey Ring!
Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, BAXUS
Baxus is the world's leading collectible spirits marketplace, with user-friendly options for buyers, sellers, and collectors looking to vault their collections. Use my link below to visit the BAXUS.CO website and sign up! 
BAXUS Website
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If you haven’t joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so at patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring
The Bottle Share Club - the $25/month Patreon level - is SOLD OUT! You can still support the podcast for as little as $1/month, and $5/month patrons will have first dibs if a $25/month member retires. 
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Sagamore Spirit
Sagamore Spirit Website
Sagamore Spirit on Instagram
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Sagamore Spirit on YouTube
Sagamore Spirit on X