S3 Episode - 8 Leonard Russell

It’s a Rosebank Special and we are live at the opening night event featuring Managing Director and owner of Ian Macleod Distillers, Leonard Russell, Head of International Business Development Tom Russell, Gordon Dundas, and Distillery Manager Malcolm Rennie with a host of local Distillery Ambassadors giving us their take on the rebirth of this iconic distillery.  Stephen Arnott and Rosie Murray in charge of delivering Tours and Experiences at Rosebank explain how after just one-week VisitScotland came calling and awarded them a Five-Star Grading.  Local whisky collector Scott Jackson takes Gordon Dallas on a tour his hugely impressive Rosebank collection, one of the biggest private collections there is, before visiting the distillery for the very first time.  Distillery Manager Malcolm Rennie and Assistant Distillery Manager Jason McCabe sum up a year since Cask 01 was filled and join in some election fun in Malt Manifesto.  Best enjoyed with a large dram.  Slainte`

The 2 Gordon's welcome you to Dalbeallie station in the heart of the Tamdhu Distillery for a behind the scenes look at the SOSF 2024.  Chairman of the Festival, George McNeil gives the podcast an exclusive interview from The Macallan who, celebrating their 200th anniversary were the official hosts of this years festival, themselves celebrating 25 years!  Sandy McIntyre, Tamdhu Distillery Manager gives us an insight into opening up a 'closed' to the public once a year.  We join him on tour.  Assistant Ian Macleod blender, Jake Adcook explains the art of blending single malts together and describes his special decades festival blend involving Tamdhu from every decade from the 1960's, as well as a 3-year-old!  Plus, we get a taste of other events from some festival goers.  It's a busy episode, best borrow a second dog!  Slainte` 

The 2 Gordons welcome Ian Palmer of Inchdairnie, referenced in the last podcast.  Ian talks about the wording on Scotch whisky labels and talks about his own journey in establishing this wonderful Fife distillery.  Roland Grain is the man behind Ardgowan distillery in Inverkip who also hosted the Potstill Masterclass Festival in Vienna where Gordon Dallas caught up with him and Ian.  The 2 Gordons talk about the Keepers of The Quaich Spring Banquet, finishing in whisky, the calorific value of a dram v a banana and lots more while sampling Tamdhu Dalbeallie 3 and Loch Lomond 12.  Best enjoyed with a dram or three.  Slainte`

This episode is released on International Women’s Day 2024 and the 2 Gordon’s celebrate with interviews with Juliette Buchan of Glenallachie and Emma Anderson, Editor-in-Chief at Allt om Whisky, Sweden’s premier whisky magazine.  The Gordons look at whether it is within the rules to put a geographical region on a Scotch whisky label that is not one of the official five regions.  They look forward to the Speyside and Islay festivals and ahead of Glengoyne’s Casks Unlocked event, talk about the beauty of dunnage warehouses.  Of course it wouldn’t be Whisky Unscripted without the usual challenges; You Have Arrived At Your Whisky Destination and for one week only, the Fife Distillery Challenge.  Drams sampled are Bowmore 15 Darkest and a 9yr Caol Ila Octave.  Slainte`

The 2 Gordons start a New Year with a new series bringing interviews from a very snowy Baden in Switzerland which would have made a wonderful Christmas Special – all will be explained.  Then it’s off to the capital of Scotland to visit Edinburgh’s newest whisky visitor attraction at the Scottish Whisky Experience and hear from the Chief Executive Susan Morrison.  In between all that Gordon and Gordon debate the idea of a new whisky region for the Scottish Islands, have a quick ‘Mystillery’ challenge, and give a Rosebank update all while sampling a Glengoyne 6-year-old and a Lagavulin 16.  Slainte`

The 2 Gordon’s welcome scientist turned author, Mike Billet who has spent more than 20 years working and researching as a peatland scientist.  He gives a fascinating insight into his highly acclaimed new book which Charles Maclean is quoted on the front cover as saying, “I believe this to be amongst the most important books about whisky ever written”.   Gordon and Gordon delve into the world of peated whisky and while tasting, Inchdairnie’s Ryelaw and Thompson Brothers Caol Ila 9-year Octave.  This episode is all about peat including The Year That Changed Whisky, so sit back and smell the smoke!  Slainte`

Hold on to your hats!  This is a specially extended installment of Whisky Unscripted and has what you might call a world exclusive as we were the only podcast at Whiskey on the Rocks drinks spectacular at Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas.  We hear from the Rabbit Hole Distillery, The Oregon Spirit Distillers, Cody Van Dussen of Total Wine and More and some of the locals!  Gordon Dundas is challenged to come up with an increasingly popular phenomenon in bars – whisky flights and has to choose 3 whiskies to showcase Ian Macleod Distillers, the Island of Islay and the category that is Blended whisky.  We then travel to the Netherlands to capture some of the action from The Art of Drinks Wine and Spirit Festival including an interview with Stephen Cameron of the International Beverage Group, Joel de Kock of IMD and Guisi from Utrecht’s Malt Vault.  Gordon Dundas lists what the best whisky festivals to visit in Europe are. We then travel to the north of Scotland for an impromptu interview with legendary barmaid Meg, inside Aberdeen’s legendary whisky bar, The Grill.  Although its near midnight she talks about its long history, the regulars, and the changes she has seen in The Granite City after working for over 50 years as a barmaid.  Plus, the whisky gameshow almost no-one is talking about, ‘You Have Arrived at Your Whisky Destination’: whiskies tasted are the Tamdhu 18 Cask Strength Special Release, and West Bottoms Kansas City Whisky.  It’s a double length episode and you will certainly need a dram for this one.  It's a biggie!  Slainte`.

Join us for another Whisky Unscripted podcast hosted by the dynamic duo, the two Gordons! In this episode, we take you on a journey through the Kirsch House Fair in Bremen, where we've got a lineup of fascinating interviews lined up for you. Our guests include none other than the event's organizer and proprietor, Christoph Kirsch. We'll also be chatting with Paul Dempsey from Brave New Spirits, Gabriella representing Duncan Taylor, Kevin Madden hailing from West Cork Distillery, Anna Buchholz, the Head of Distilling at Hercynian Distillery, and last but certainly not least, Dave King, the Sales Director at Gordon and MacPhail. In addition to these engaging conversations, we delve into the intriguing world of the One of One Charity auction and challenge Gordon Dundas with the Real or Fake Distillery Name Game. Plus, we savor a fine whisky tasting experience with the Timorous Beasty 18 years. So, pour yourself a dram, and let's embark on this spirited journey together. Slàinte!

It's a bumper (which means longer than usual) episode featuring 'The Water of Life' director, Greg Swartz in conversation with roving reporter Mike Brown.  The 2 Gordon's are at Clydeside Distillery in Glasgow chatting to Alistair McDonald ex-Auchentoshan manager now Clydeside Distillery manager before heading back to the studio to cover a whole range of whisky topics from China, Gordon and Macphail, Billy Walker, old whisky and new releases.  Dallas pitches movie ideas to 'commissioning editor' Dundas while both enjoy a Glengoyne Teapot Dram and a Glengoyne Scottish Oak 15.  This is one for that long dog walk.  Enjoy!

In this episode Gordon Dundas is off to China and talks about this emerging market and the latest whisky news.  Independent bottling features throughout this episode and is just one of the topics Kenny McDonald of Dram Mor group talks about in a fascinating interview conducted at Cameron House on the banks of Loch Lomond.  This butcher turned ambassador, turned Independent Bottler talks about his whisky journey and the ins and outs of acquiring casks, bottling, and then selling them under his own label.  It’s a real insight into the front line of indie bottling.  There is of course a challenge and Gordon Dallas launches the Whisky Unscripted Summer Book Club.  Slainte`