Not Another Whisky Podcast

After more than 200 episodes, we have finally given Irish whiskey the proper attention it deserves. Mitch and Daz are joined by Barry Chandler, better known as Irish Whiskey Barry, an independent educator, community builder and three-time Whisky Magazine Ireland Communicator of the Year.

Barry guides us through Irish whiskey’s past, present and future using three pot still whiskeys. We begin with Redbreast 12 and uncover the story of Gilbey’s, Dublin’s historic whiskey bonders, the “priest’s tipple” and the surprising connection between Redbreast and the original Baileys bottle.

For the present, Barry chooses Boann Legacy, an accessible modern pot still whiskey that represents Ireland’s extraordinary growth from just four working distilleries to more than 50.

Finally, we head to the Mourne Mountains and Killowen, a tiny direct-fired distillery Barry describes as “Ireland’s Springbank,” where historic mash bills, radical transparency and hands-on production point towards the future.

Along the way, we discuss the Dingle effect, the myths surrounding the malt tax, oats in Irish whiskey, triple distillation, Jameson’s dominance, the current review of the Irish whiskey technical file and the commercial pressures facing the country’s newer distilleries.

Plus, Barry explains why “smooth” might be one of whiskey’s most useless compliments.

Follow Barry on Instagram and TikTok at @irishwhiskeybarry, and discover Stories & Sips, Three Drams and Irish Whiskey Experiences through his channels.
Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)
🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland
🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com
📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com
📲 Follow us on Instagram
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mitch heads to Fife for Lindores Abbey Distillery’s annual Bear Burning ceremony, where an enormous bear and ragged staff carved into the hillside is set alight.

First, Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Donaldson discusses her journey through the whisky industry, joining Lindores at a pivotal moment, the challenges the business has faced and her plans for building a sustainable future.
Then Distillery Manager Gary Haggart takes us into the stillhouse. Gary discusses developing the Lindores spirit character, why good whisky doesn’t necessarily need to be old, the different personalities of two supposedly identical spirit stills and his ambition for drinkers to recognise Lindores simply by its aroma.

There’s whisky, history, business, Angel Delight, Star Trek and the crucial importance of not fucking up the wash still.

A huge thank you to everyone at Lindores Abbey Distillery for the invitation, accommodation and excellent hospitality.

Find out more about Lindores Abbey Distillery:
https://lindoresabbeydistillery.com

Listen to more episodes and find out what we’re up to:
https://www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow the podcast and leave us a rating or review. It genuinely helps more whisky lovers find the show.
Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)
🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland
🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com
📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com
📲 Follow us on Instagram
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎙️ NOT ANOTHER WHISKY PODCAST IS GOING LIVE

On Thursday 6 August, we are taking on the guys from Whisky Stories in a live podcast battle at Uno Mas in Edinburgh.
There will be six whiskies, with three chosen by each podcast, plenty of questionable competitive behaviour.

Tickets are £20, with every penny going to The BEN, the charity supporting people working within Scotland’s hospitality industry.

The show starts at 7pm and capacity is limited, so grab your tickets before they disappear:

👉 BUY TICKETS FOR THE LIVE SHOW

Back to the episode…

Mitch and Daz are finally back together for another catch-up, covering everything from sherry-soaked holidays and Islay building sites to whisky in a can and one of the worst distillery tours Mitch has ever experienced.

Mitch reports back from Portugal and Jerez, where a private visit to the new Sherry Museum provided a much deeper dive into the history, culture and casks behind one of Scotch whisky’s most important influences.

Then it is over to Islay, including warehouse tastings, dinner at Bowmore, a visit to Ardbeg House and a hard-hat preview of the new Portintruan Distillery with Georgie Crawford. They discuss its automated floor maltings, multiple spirit styles and what another major distillery could mean for the future of the island.

There is also news of two upcoming Turas Mòr bottlings and the usual run through some of the latest whisky news.
Along the way, they get into:

• The whisky opportunity in Portugal
• Why whisky lovers should visit Jerez
• Whether Islay can retain its character as the island grows
• Port of Leith’s whisky in a can
• The new permanent release from Isle of Harris
• Four Roses being sold to Gallo
• A truly questionable distillery tasting involving plastic cups and someone else’s water bottle
• The best whiskies Mitch and Daz have tasted recently

The episode finishes with Mitch naming the GlenAllachie 19 Year Old Solera Cask as his whisky of the year so far.
Apart from his own whisky, obviously.

Follow Not Another Whisky Podcast on Instagram and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)
🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland
🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com
📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com
📲 Follow us on Instagram
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Mitch sits down with whisky industry veteran Kenny Mackay at Ballindalloch Distillery in Speyside.
Kenny has spent nearly 50 years in Scotch whisky, working with names including Peter Thompson’s, Bowmore, Macallan, Carn Mor, Lindores Abbey and Ballindalloch. In this episode, he shares stories from across his career, from missing out on becoming a helicopter pilot to helping launch Black Bowmore and shaping some of Scotland’s best known whisky brands.
We talk about the early days of malt whisky marketing, growing Macallan in Scotland, the birth of whisky collecting, the changing world of independent bottling, and why Ballindalloch’s slow, estate led approach makes it such a special distillery.
Kenny also gives his take on where the Scotch whisky industry is right now, why downturns are nothing new, and why he still sees plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
Expect brilliant stories, sharp industry insight, a few legendary bottles, and one very committed fire alarm.

Timestamps
00:00 Welcome to Ballindalloch Distillery
01:10 Introducing Kenny Mackay
02:20 The Navy’s loss and whisky’s gain
03:00 Starting out at Peter Thompson’s of Perth
04:20 Glen Grant, Macallan and early whisky distribution
06:20 How the industry has changed over 50 years
09:40 The story behind Black Bowmore
12:00 Bowmore 40 Year Old and early luxury whisky
13:50 Independent bottling then and now
14:30 Building Carn Mor
19:40 One of One and raising millions for charity
23:00 Ballindalloch Distillery and the single estate approach
29:00 Vintage releases and the long term family vision
31:30 Kenny’s take on the current Scotch whisky market
38:00 The cashflow reality of growing a single malt brand
39:10 Quick fire questions
44:20 Desert island drams

Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)
🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland
🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com
📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com
📲 Follow us on Instagram
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live from Spirit of Speyside, host Daz welcomes three blenders—Brian Kinsman (William Grant & Sons), Ollie Chilton (Elixir/ Tormore), and Sarah Burgess (Head of Whisky Creation at International Beverage, jokingly “banned” from other sessions)—to taste four whiskies and talk careers, process, and mischief. Brian explains his science-to-apprentice path under David Stewart and taking over in 2009; Ollie traces retail-to-cask-buying and acquiring Tormore in 2022; Sarah recounts starting as a Cardhu tour guide, moving through Diageo, becoming a Macallan blender via a sensory/blending interview, then returning to Scotland. They taste a 2023 Tormore “plain spirit”, a 2006–2018 Speyburn single cask, and a Glenfiddich 30 22-year with oloroso and a palo cortado finish, discuss water’s role in blending, sensory blind spots, grain’s value, stock legacy, cask strategy, innovation limits, and shifting whisky audiences toward flavor over age.
Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way.

🥃 New episodes every week(ish)
🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland
🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com
📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com
📲 Follow us on Instagram
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.