Mitch and Daz kick off their first proper catch-up of the year (with zero planning and maximum hair compliments), swapping updates on travel and work: Daz recaps a Dublin weekend that somehow involved more Guinness than Irish whiskey, while Mitch recounts a hectic run of podcast recordings, a corporate tasting, a long drive to see Bladnoch and the new Galloway Distillery, visits with Charlie MacLean , and his first festival since 2017, the Independent Whisky Festival.

They then rip through whisky news: InchDairnie becomes a certified B Corp; Denmark’s Stauning starts making gin; GlenAllachie releases a 35-year-old; two Karuizawa casks sell for £4.25m; The Dalmore reopens to guests April 27; Bruichladdich marks 25 years since reopening with Old Skool 10-year-old; Glenrothes launches a 56-year-old; Ricky Gervais-backed Ellers Farm debuts Three Ridings (sold via a pricey Evolution Collection); Glen Moray releases Forbidden Fruit Calvados finish; and World Whiskies Awards nod to winners Joel Harrison, Gary Mills, and Bowmore 21 as best whisky in the world, plus talk of a potential live Edinburgh “battle” vs Whisky Stories.

00:00 Cold Open Banter

00:05 First Catch Up Of Year

00:52 DA Updates And Travel

01:02 Dublin Weekend Recap

02:18 Busy Week In Scotland

03:15 Indie Spirits Festival Highlights

05:34 Whiskey News Roundup Begins

05:55 InchDairnie B Corp Milestone

07:16 Denmark Distillery Goes Gin

08:11 Martinis And Bar Legends

09:02 GlenAllachie 35 Year Release

10:34 Karuizawa Casks Auction Shock

11:52 Auction Buzz and Banter

12:15 Ollie Stories and Podcast Tease

13:34 Dalmore Reopens Visitor Experience

16:10 Bruichladdich Old School Release

17:46 Glenrothes 56 Year Decanter

19:13 Ricky Gervais Celebrity Whisky

24:17 Glen Moray Calvados Finish

25:53 Awards Season Shoutouts

27:13 Live Podcast Battle Plans

28:41 Wrap Up and Listener Thanks

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 up to the Little Brown Dog HQ to sit down with Managing Director, DR. Andrew Smith for a properly relaxed, no-BS chat about independent bottling—and everything around it.

They get into how Andrew went from hospitality (with a brief detour towards becoming a vet) to co-running one of Scotland’s more quietly interesting bottlers, what actually makes a cask worth bottling in today’s market, and why they’re not just sticking to whisky.

From Scotch to rum to Calvados, this is a conversation about flavour over category—and whether whisky drinkers might need to start looking beyond their own glass.

Andrew also shares the story behind starting Little Brown Dog, where they want to take it next, and how he sees the current state of the industry—especially the realities facing independent bottlers right now.

There’s also an unsuccessful attempt to drag Chris onto the podcast, some rally driving chat, and a crash story that definitely wasn’t meant to be funny… but absolutely is.

A loose, honest conversation with one of the good guys in the industry.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arthur Motley on Cask Backrooms, Whisky Identity, and the Liquid Antiquarian

Arthur Motley joins Mitch & Daz in Bennet’s Bar for a cracking conversation on cask buying, whisky identity, and what happens when one of the industry’s most experienced retailers decides to go it alone.

From his early days at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society to 21 years at Royal Mile Whiskies — where he worked his way from cask buyer to managing director — Arthur has seen whisky from just about every angle.

He talks about the wild early-2000s cask market, when buying stock was a very different game, and how things gradually shifted from open sampling and relationship-led deals to tighter supply and buying “off paper.” The chat also dives into why he left Royal Mile, what his consultancy work looks like now, and why brand identity and route-to-market matter more than ever.

There’s plenty of whisky geekery too, including early Japanese SMWS bottlings, the rise of world whisky, and Arthur’s brilliant historical project The Liquid Antiquarian with Dave Broom. Expect big thoughts on the 1823 Excise Act, the speed of Scotch’s evolution, and the stories behind the liquid we all bang on about.

00:00 Rolling and intro

00:07 Meet Arthur Motley

02:14 Bennet’s Bar and pubs

02:40 Cornwall pub story

04:38 Joining Royal Mile

05:44 Early whisky scene

08:20 Whisky passion sparked

10:05 Cask buying then

14:19 Single malt boom

18:37 Leaving Royal Mile

22:15 Consultancy focus now

24:53 Identity and history work

27:27 Whisky History Needs Stories

29:50 Brand Identity Done Right

30:43 Bruichladdich Under Remy

34:37 First Japanese Bottlings

36:55 World Whisky Boom

39:36 Scotch as Global Style

42:19 Birth of Liquid Antiquarian

44:38 1823 vs 1494 Debate

47:38 Biggest Research Revelations

51:08 Patreon Plans and Community

56:09 Closing Thoughts and Farewell

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.

Time For Whisky’s Martin Eber on Hong Kong’s Generosity, Japan’s Bar Magic, and Keeping Whiskey Blogs Alive

Daz welcomes Martin Eber of Time For Whisky, an Australian whisky blogger he has known for about 11 years, to discuss his journey from collecting travel-retail bottles in 2008–2009 to starting the Time For Whisky blog in 2012 and moving to Hong Kong in 2014 as the scene rapidly expanded. They highlight Hong Kong’s uniquely generous whisky culture, where rare bottles are opened and shared, and discuss the decline of long-form whisky blogs amid social media and AI-generated content, with Martin aiming to keep authentic writing going. Martin recalls standout moments including a 2018 media trip for The Macallan’s new distillery launch, and hosting an early international Starward tasting. He names Japan as the best place to drink whisky for vintage selections and pricing, then shares updates on returning to Australia, growing Time For Whisky with contributors, and observations on Australia’s booming but crowded distilling scene.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:37 Whiskey Beginnings in Australia

02:37 Starting the Time for Whiskey Blog

03:51 Moving to Hong Kong Scene

05:17 Hong Kong Generosity and Rare Drams

06:48 Why Blogs Still Matter

09:32 Standout Whiskey Moments

14:37 Japan the Best Place to Drink

17:56 Back in Australia Whats Next

20:21 Australian Whiskey Boom and Challenges

22:58 Tasmanian Highlights and Wrap Up

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.

India is the largest whisky market in the world , yet Scottish whisky still represents only a tiny slice of what’s actually being drunk. In this episode, Mitch and Daz unpack the reality behind the headlines and explore how the Indian whisky ecosystem really works.

From IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor) and the role Scottish Whisky plays inside local blends, to changing consumer trends, tariffs, cocktail culture, and the rise of Indian single malts, this episode dives into one of the most complex — and fascinating — whisky markets on the planet.

To get a proper on-the-ground perspective, Mitch speaks with two industry insiders working directly in the Indian drinks scene.

First up is Angad Singh Gandhi, former Glenfiddich ambassador turned drinks consultant and founder of Drams With Drama, who explains how Indian drinkers are becoming more adventurous and how bars, whisky experiences, and local producers are reshaping the market.

Then Fraser Morrison joins the show from just outside Delhi to discuss the reality of selling Scotch in India — from state-by-state regulations and pricing differences to the aspirational role single malt still plays for many drinkers.

Along the way Mitch and Daz break down:

• What IMFL actually is and why it dominates the Indian whisky market
• Why India imports huge amounts of bulk Scotch for blending
• The impact of the UK–India tariff changes
• How the middle class and travel culture are driving premium whisky demand
• The rise of Indian single malts like Amrut, Paul John and Rampur
• Why India might become the most important whisky market of the next decade

If you’ve ever wondered why India drinks so much whisky — and what that means for Scotch — this episode explains it all.

• Angad Singh Gandhi – Founder of Drams With Drama
• Fraser Morrison – Whisky ambassador working in India

Join Mitch & Daz in person at one of our upcoming live whisky tastings.

🎟️ Tickets & upcoming events:

https://www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com/live-events

Instagram: @notanotherwhiskypodcast

Website: https://www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com

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.

Nicholas Pollacchi joins Mitch and Daz for the 200th episode of Not Another Whisky Podcast — which feels equal parts milestone and minor miracle.

We rewind to April 2021 when the audio was ropey, the format was loose, and Mitch decided he’d edit every episode himself (questionable life choice). From there, listener questions take over — which means things escalate quickly.

We relive:

• A VIP bourbon night in New York
• Tequila egg-white cocktails (don’t ask)
• A celebrity moment at The Edition
• Car-crash tastings in Campbeltown and Las Vegas
• Hecklers in Vegas
• Festival highs in Chicago, Seattle, and Taiwan
• And tastings in Moscow… and a Siberian banya

There’s debate on single grain, whether Fife counts as a region, innovation vs regulation, collecting vs opening bottles, dream guests, dream casks, and the ultimate “last bottle” gift.

Mostly though, this one’s about the listeners. The people who’ve turned up, sent questions, bought tickets, and backed two Speyside lads talking whisky for far longer than anyone expected.

200 episodes down.

Still serious about whisky.

Still not taking ourselves too seriously.

00:00 Cold Open Bar Banter

00:33 Episode 200 Kickoff

01:37 Roasting the Fits

03:29 How We Got Here

04:15 New York VIP Night

05:52 Tequila Egg White Cocktail

08:21 Afterparty & 30 Rock Cameo

11:19 Catching Up With Mitch

11:56 Early Podcast Days

14:18 Fan Questions Begin

17:58 Car Crash Tasting Stories

20:35 Vegas Heckler Showdown

24:42 Best Whisky Festivals

30:31 Is Fife a Region?

31:53 Rethinking Grain Categories

33:10 Innovation vs Regulations

35:22 Favourite Bottles

37:01 Snow Phoenix Alcatraz Story

39:54 Dream Distillery Manager Year

42:43 Celebrity Dream Guests

46:05 Last Dram Gift Picks

49:03 Tariffs & The US Market

50:23 Weirdest Tasting Locations

52:17 Siberia Banya Adventure

56:17 Owning a Dream Cask

01:00:49 Closing the 200th Episode

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 we welcome Ardnahoe distillery manager David Livingston to discuss the Islay distillery’s location, origins, and whisky style. Livingston explains Hunter Laing’s long-held ambition to create their own distillery, Ardnahoe’s opening in 2018, and his own third-generation Islay whisky background. He reflects on how Islay has changed with tourism and the rise of single malts, and why whisky is vital to the island’s economy as farming and fishing decline. The conversation covers Fèis Ìle’s growth and 40th anniversary, Ardnahoe’s early production moments, and the distillery’s approach to making spirit—slow mashing, fermentations over 70 hours, slow distillation, and worm tubs aimed at a sweet, heavy-bodied, fruity spirit with peat on the finish. We also discuss Ardnahoe’s core range (including Infinite Loch), cask strength releases, future aging ambitions, the visitor experience and staff, and how Ardnahoe benefits from Hunter Laing’s independent bottling heritage and bar selection, including the Kinship range.

00:00 Welcome to Islay: Introducing Ardnahoe & Distillery Manager David Livingston

00:49 That View (and the Coffee): Why Ardnahoe’s Location Is So Special

01:35 How Ardnahoe Happened: Hunter Laing’s Dream Becomes a Distillery (2018–Now)

03:26 Born & Bred Islay: David’s Whisky Upbringing and Peat-Bog Memories

04:43 Islay Then vs Now: Tourism, Single Malts, and the Island Economy

07:25 Fèis Ìle at 40: Music, Whisky, Culture—and 2026 Plans

10:40 From Banter to Build: David’s Role, Arran Detour, and the First Spirit Run

14:35 Making the Spirit: Slow Mashing, Long Ferments, Worm Tubs & Flavor Goals

16:19 Tasting Notes & Core Range: Infinite Loch, Cask Strength, and Smoke Level (40 PPM)

20:58 Production Split & Switching Styles: Peated vs Unpeated Campaigns

23:23 Looking Ahead: Quality Over Quantity, Visitor-Centre Vibes, and Independent Bottlings

27:40 Wrap-Up & Invitations: Ferry Logistics, Twin Rooms, and Final Thanks

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 David Stirk — whisky writer, independent bottler, whisky historian — for a wide-ranging conversation on Campbeltown, the rise (and early struggles) of indie bottlers, and where the Scotch industry is and might actually be heading.

From his first life-changing dram of Glenlivet 21 in 1996 to building Creative Whisky, rewriting the history of Campbeltown, and diving into a Master’s in History to sharpen his research, this episode covers David's graft, controversy, and some properly strong opinions about surplus production and the future of Scotch.

Before all that, though…

Daz and Mitch chat about existential dread about Scotland’s rugby chances. Standard start to the week and kick of with with winter vibes, whisky chat, and a public service announcement about the pies at Glasgow’s Pot Still (worth the train fare alone).

LIVE TASTING ALERT

We’re hosting the Thompson Brothers (Phil & Simon) at the Craigellachie Hotel on March 26th at 7pm. It will be loud, it will be chaotic, it will sell out. Tickets at notanotherwhiskypodcast.com or via the Instagram link.

BUY TICKETS HERE

We also get into Spirit of Speyside prep — nine events hosted by us this year, four live podcast tastings, and listings landing mid-February. If last year’s sell-outs taught us anything… move fast.

00:00 Snowy Speyside Catch-Up: Whisky, Fire & Winter Vibes

00:23 Rugby Reality Check: Dreading the England Match

00:43 Glasgow’s Pot Still Love-In: Pies, Beans & Whisky Bar Chat

02:00 Valentine’s Weekend Welcome + A Pink Port-Cask Promise

02:36 Big News: Thompson Brothers Live Tasting (Craigellachie, Mar 26)

03:52 Spirit of Speyside Prep: Uploading Events & Hosting Nine Tastings

04:47 Meet the Guest: David Stirk Returns to the Podcast

06:32 How It Started: A Glenlivet 21 Dram That Changed Everything

09:35 Breaking In: Speyside Festival Tastings to Whisky Magazine Days

11:28 Detours & Turning Points: America, 9/11, Cadenhead’s & Campbeltown

14:14 Writing Whisky Books: Campbeltown, Publishing Realities & Archives

19:16 Where He’s At Now: Master’s in History & The Drive to Carve Your Path

21:33 Next Up: What Exactly Is Creative Whisky?

21:49 The cask sample that sparked the idea to create whisky

22:22 Early indie bottling struggles: price pushback & skeptical drinkers

23:48 Why indie bottlers are booming now (and how big brands see them)

27:20 Back to uni: the whisky history books David wants to write

29:57 State of the industry: SWA numbers, India, and the next-gen drinking shift

34:15 Book plug: David Stirk’s whisky library (and what each one covers)

36:41 What’s next: festivals, Little Brown Dog, and a Glasgow distilling dissertation

39:47 Wrap-up & host banter: upcoming trips, Islay stories, and next episode tease

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.