THE THOMSON BROS. LIVE - PART 1

Recorded live at the Craigellachie Hotel, this one’s exactly what you’d hope for from a Not Another Whisky Podcast live show, six drams, zero filter, and the Thomson Brothers in full flow.Mitch sits down with Phil and Simon for part 1 of a six-dram tasting that quickly turns into a deep dive on value, volatility, and what’s actually going on behind the scenes in whisky right now.On the tasting table:North British 33 (…which turns out to be 34 — classic)A mystery maltClynelish Distillery 12“Sideburn” 35Glenrothes Distillery 20Glengoyne Distillery 27Early doors, the conversation gets into why older grain whisky like North British is suddenly everywhere, and how the Thomson Brothers are managing to put out bottles that don’t require a small bank loan (the North British sits at 40.1% and around £65, make of that what you will).From there, it opens up into a proper industry chat:The reality of building a distillery in 2026 (spoiler: it’s not cheap)Budget overruns, tough decisions, and phased builds in DornochWhy margins across the supply chain are under pressureAnd how independent bottlers are navigating a cooling marketThere’s also a no-holds-barred discussion on whisky tourism — including the impact of decisions by Diageo, the closure of Clynelish’s visitor centre, and the wider shift toward high-end, limited-access experiences.Somewhere in the middle, there’s a quick detour into upcoming Spirit of Speyside shows (because even in the middle of a tasting, you’ve still got tickets to sell…).By the final dram, the conversation lands on sherry casks, long-aged whisky, and the realities of keeping things interesting — before cutting off mid-flow with a Glen Garioch 27 discussion and a neat little cliffhanger for Part Two.TICKETS FOR OUR SHOWS:THREE BLENDERS WALK INTO A BAR WITH BRIAN KINSMAN, OLVER CHILTON AND SARAH BURGESSA CLASH OF THE STILLS - THE RETURN OF THE DISTILLERS SHOWDOWN⏱️ Chapters00:00 Band Banter00:28 Live Show Kickoff01:17 Meet Thomson Brothers02:05 Six Drams Lineup02:53 Tasting Format03:12 North British Grain04:15 Label Age Mixup04:41 Pricing And Value05:16 Yearly Catch Up05:35 New Distillery Build06:40 Budget Control Lessons08:20 Phased Build Plan09:52 Business Wins And Events11:36 Blending Approach13:44 Dram Two And Tourism16:15 Diageo Decisions Debate19:03 Tourism At Dornoch20:18 Value Over Hype20:54 Castle Bottle Strategy21:35 Speyside Events Plug23:14 Clynelish Cask Breakdown25:50 Closures Hit Communities27:42 Whisky Boom Bust Math32:05 Planning For Downturns33:43 Indie Festival Buzz38:05 Sherry Cask Debate38:53 How Many Releases42:54 Subscribe And WrapHosted 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: [email protected]📲 Follow us on InstagramSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Banter00:05 First Catch Up Of Year00:52 DA Updates And Travel01:02 Dublin Weekend Recap02:18 Busy Week In Scotland03:15 Indie Spirits Festival Highlights05:34 Whiskey News Roundup Begins05:55 InchDairnie B Corp Milestone07:16 Denmark Distillery Goes Gin08:11 Martinis And Bar Legends09:02 GlenAllachie 35 Year Release10:34 Karuizawa Casks Auction Shock11:52 Auction Buzz and Banter12:15 Ollie Stories and Podcast Tease13:34 Dalmore Reopens Visitor Experience16:10 Bruichladdich Old School Release17:46 Glenrothes 56 Year Decanter19:13 Ricky Gervais Celebrity Whisky24:17 Glen Moray Calvados Finish25:53 Awards Season Shoutouts27:13 Live Podcast Battle Plans28:41 Wrap Up and Listener ThanksHosted 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: [email protected]📲 Follow us on InstagramSupport 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.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: [email protected]📲 Follow us on InstagramSupport 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 AntiquarianArthur 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 intro00:07 Meet Arthur Motley02:14 Bennet’s Bar and pubs02:40 Cornwall pub story04:38 Joining Royal Mile05:44 Early whisky scene08:20 Whisky passion sparked10:05 Cask buying then14:19 Single malt boom18:37 Leaving Royal Mile22:15 Consultancy focus now24:53 Identity and history work27:27 Whisky History Needs Stories29:50 Brand Identity Done Right30:43 Bruichladdich Under Remy34:37 First Japanese Bottlings36:55 World Whisky Boom39:36 Scotch as Global Style42:19 Birth of Liquid Antiquarian44:38 1823 vs 1494 Debate47:38 Biggest Research Revelations51:08 Patreon Plans and Community56:09 Closing Thoughts and FarewellHosted 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: [email protected]📲 Follow us on InstagramSupport 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 AliveDaz 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 Intro01:37 Whiskey Beginnings in Australia02:37 Starting the Time for Whiskey Blog03:51 Moving to Hong Kong Scene05:17 Hong Kong Generosity and Rare Drams06:48 Why Blogs Still Matter09:32 Standout Whiskey Moments14:37 Japan the Best Place to Drink17:56 Back in Australia Whats Next20:21 Australian Whiskey Boom and Challenges22:58 Tasmanian Highlights and Wrap UpHosted 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: [email protected]📲 Follow us on InstagramSupport 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 marketWhy India imports huge amounts of bulk Scotch for blendingThe impact of the UK–India tariff changesHow the middle class and travel culture are driving premium whisky demandThe rise of Indian single malts like Amrut, Paul John and RampurWhy India might become the most important whisky market of the next decadeIf you’ve ever wondered why India drinks so much whisky — and what that means for Scotch — this episode explains it all.GuestsAngad Singh Gandhi – Founder of Drams With DramaFraser Morrison – Whisky ambassador working in IndiaLive Podcast EventsJoin Mitch & Daz in person at one of our upcoming live whisky tastings.🎟️ Tickets & upcoming events:https://www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com/live-eventsFollow the PodcastInstagram: @notanotherwhiskypodcastWebsite: https://www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.comHosted 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: [email protected]📲 Follow us on InstagramSupport 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 YorkTequila egg-white cocktails (don’t ask)A celebrity moment at The EditionCar-crash tastings in Campbeltown and Las VegasHecklers in VegasFestival highs in Chicago, Seattle, and TaiwanAnd tastings in Moscow… and a Siberian banyaThere’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.Timestamps00:00 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 EpisodeHosted 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: [email protected]📲 Follow us on InstagramSupport 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 Livingston00:49 That View (and the Coffee): Why Ardnahoe’s Location Is So Special01:35 How Ardnahoe Happened: Hunter Laing’s Dream Becomes a Distillery (2018–Now)03:26 Born & Bred Islay: David’s Whisky Upbringing and Peat-Bog Memories04:43 Islay Then vs Now: Tourism, Single Malts, and the Island Economy07:25 Fèis Ìle at 40: Music, Whisky, Culture—and 2026 Plans10:40 From Banter to Build: David’s Role, Arran Detour, and the First Spirit Run14:35 Making the Spirit: Slow Mashing, Long Ferments, Worm Tubs & Flavor Goals16:19 Tasting Notes & Core Range: Infinite Loch, Cask Strength, and Smoke Level (40 PPM)20:58 Production Split & Switching Styles: Peated vs Unpeated Campaigns23:23 Looking Ahead: Quality Over Quantity, Visitor-Centre Vibes, and Independent Bottlings27:40 Wrap-Up & Invitations: Ferry Logistics, Twin Rooms, and Final ThanksHosted 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: [email protected]📲 Follow us on InstagramSupport 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 ALERTWe’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 HEREWe 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 Vibes00:23 Rugby Reality Check: Dreading the England Match00:43 Glasgow’s Pot Still Love-In: Pies, Beans & Whisky Bar Chat02:00 Valentine’s Weekend Welcome + A Pink Port-Cask Promise02:36 Big News: Thompson Brothers Live Tasting (Craigellachie, Mar 26)03:52 Spirit of Speyside Prep: Uploading Events & Hosting Nine Tastings04:47 Meet the Guest: David Stirk Returns to the Podcast06:32 How It Started: A Glenlivet 21 Dram That Changed Everything09:35 Breaking In: Speyside Festival Tastings to Whisky Magazine Days11:28 Detours & Turning Points: America, 9/11, Cadenhead’s & Campbeltown14:14 Writing Whisky Books: Campbeltown, Publishing Realities & Archives19:16 Where He’s At Now: Master’s in History & The Drive to Carve Your Path21:33 Next Up: What Exactly Is Creative Whisky?21:49 The cask sample that sparked the idea to create whisky22:22 Early indie bottling struggles: price pushback & skeptical drinkers23:48 Why indie bottlers are booming now (and how big brands see them)27:20 Back to uni: the whisky history books David wants to write29:57 State of the industry: SWA numbers, India, and the next-gen drinking shift34:15 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 dissertation39:47 Wrap-up & host banter: upcoming trips, Islay stories, and next episode teaseHosted 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: [email protected]📲 Follow us on InstagramSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Not Another Whisky Podcast, Mitch & Daz do something dangerously self-indulgent: they look back at how this whole thing started. From a shared love of whisky (and questionable decision-making) to accidentally building a podcast people actually listen to, they dig into the origins of NAWP, the friendships that fuel it, and why they’ve never quite followed the “normal” whisky podcast rulebook.They chat inspiration, format, and how their approach stacks up against other whisky pods — including why they’ve always leaned into conversation over catechism, curiosity over credentials, and fun over faux-seriousness.Then things get properly nerdy (in a good way) as they’re joined by Mark Gillespie, the man behind WhiskyCast, who’s been podcasting about whisky longer than most of us have been arguing about chill filtration online. Mark shares what it’s been like documenting the whisky world for over two decades — how the industry has evolved, what’s genuinely changed, what hasn’t, and which trends he finds exciting… or mildly terrifying.Expect plenty of side-quests into favourite drams, legendary whisky characters, industry myths, and a few moments of “how did we end up here?” reflection.00:00 Introduction and Banter00:21 Discussing the Podcast's Unique Approach01:03 Origins of the Podcast03:36 Whisky Podcast Landscape04:53 Personal Podcast Preferences08:31 Interview with Mark Gillespie Begins20:42 Vegas Toga Party and Whisky Adventures21:32 Current State of the Whisky Industry24:35 Future of Whisky Cask and Industry Reflections25:07 Whisky Festivals and Podcasting Insights29:12 Global Whisky Trends and Innovations34:20 Concluding Thoughts and Future PlansHosted 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: [email protected]📲 Follow us on InstagramSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.