📙 S7:15 - The Four Roses Story: Seagram's Years, the Fall, and Grand Return (1943-Present)

When you talk about a roller-coaster history, Four Roses is the poster child brand. In today's episode, we'll relive the glory years of Four Roses in the post-World War II era, when Madison Avenue carved out a Four Roses lifestyle. Then, I'll dig into how Seagram's took the brand from straight Bourbon blend to "Premium Light Whiskey." Then, I'll be joined by Four Roses legendary Brand Ambassador Al Young, as we watch the grand return of the brand, with a few surprises along the way. Enjoy this fascinating conclusion to this three-part series covering the history of Four Roses.

Thirteenth Colony Distillery (Americus, GA) WF092 Join me today as I chat with Maxwell Darby, the president of 13th Colony distillery as he discussed the distillery's origins, its status as Georgia's oldest operating whiskey distillery, and the unique challenges and benefits of aging whiskey in Georgia's climate. He'll explained the creation of their products, including the "accidental" discovery of their popular Double Oak bourbon, the story behind their distinctive decanter-style bottle, and their increasing focus on in-house distilled products. We finish with information about visiting the distillery and its location near other historical sites. Also, if you're ready to start planning your distillery adventures for this summer, make sure to grab a copy of Whiskey Lore's Travel Guide to Experiencing American Whiskey - signed copies available for Father's Day at whiskeylore.org/shop (US only) 🌟Enjoy a deep dive into the what the tree in 13th Colony's logo represents, how to taste their white whiskey, places to eat in Americus and more in this episode as a member of Whiskey Lore's Patreon (a 7-day free trial is available for new listeners). 

When it comes to the stories of whiskey brands, the tale is often told of passionate distillers, willing markets, and a quick and easy rise built off of a quality product and reputation. But foundation stories are rarely that simple. In the case of Four Roses, an American brand with some mythic qualities, a deeper investigation shows a brand that wasn't entirely embraced by the family that originated it. At times it was the odd man out. But eventually it became one of the most popular whiskies in America. Join me as we travel through the years after the founders passed, to see how the next generation handled the family's legacy. Along the way, we'll hear of struggles with overproduction, a fist thrown when the company's integrity was challenged, the creative ways the brand survived Prohibition, and the company executive that may have set the table for the way whiskey was made for the next 80 years. Enjoy this second episode in a series of three on the history of Four Roses.

Clyde May's Conecuh Ridge Distillery (Troy, AL) WF091 It's time to visit with L.C. May, Brand Ambassador and grandson of the brand's namesake Clyde May. L.C. will reveal the story of who Clyde was, how he went from World War II to becoming a local moonshiner, the laws that held back legal distilling for the brand, the new 78-acre facility in Troy, and what to expect from a visit.  🌟Enjoy an extended premium dive into the Alabama "style" of whiskey, how Clyde May's became the state spirit and more in this episode as a member of Whiskey Lore's Patreon (a 7-day free trial is available for new listeners) patreon.com/whiskeylore Also, if you're ready to start planning your distillery adventures for this summer, make sure to grab a copy of Whiskey Lore's Travel Guide to Experiencing American Whiskey - signed copies available for Father's Day at whiskeylore.org/shop (US only)

In 1864, a family of Virginians found themselves in war torn Atlanta with a decision to make - head home or plant roots. This was the birth of what would become known as Paul Jones & Company. Over the years, there have been several stories floating around about how the flagship whiskey they later established in Louisville got its name. Was it because of a dance and proposal to a Southern Belle? Was it lifted from an Atlanta competitor's name? Or was it simply a name that came from the imagination of Paul Jones? Today, I'll look to answer that question while taking you beyond the Season One episode to the very origins of Four Roses Bourbon.

John Emerald Distilling Co (Opalika, AL) WF090 Let's cross the border, into the Central Time Zone, where we may or may not switch our clocks! Yup, that is how I roll sometimes. It's time to visit with Jimmy Sharp, co-founder of the John Emerald Distillery to talk about his journey from Montgomery to Scotland and back to the Alabama/Georgia border, where he brought American Single Malt to the area. We'll also talk about how he harvests his own sugarcane for his rum. Plus, there are travel tips, we'll taste several expressions, and talk about the distillery's Barrel Club and the source for some of those whiskeys. Also, if you're ready to start planning your distillery adventures for this summer, make sure to grab a copy of Whiskey Lore's Travel Guide to Experiencing American Whiskey - signed copies available for Father's Day at whiskeylore.org/shop (US only) 🌟Enjoy a few more minutes of in-depth conversation as a member of Whiskey Lore's Patreon (a 7-day free trial is available for new listeners) 

Chattanooga Whiskey's Experimental Distillery (Chattanooga, TN) WF089 Whiskey Flights are back and today we head to the banks of the Tennessee River and the town of Chattanooga, where a certain distillery is pushing the boundaries of what Bourbon can be. Join me as I chat with Chattanooga Whiskey Co-Founder Tim Piersant about the rebirth of Chattanooga distilling, the focus on barley, what kinds of projects are going on at the Experimental Distillery, and we'll go beyond their Tennessee High Malt and taste an Islay inspired whiskey and a pot-still whiskey made with Ireland in mind. Plus, I'll give you some food for thought on things to pair with your trip to the distillery. Enjoy the first stop on a 4 distillery Deep South tour. And if you're ready to start planning your distillery adventures for this summer, make sure to grab a copy of Whiskey Lore's Travel Guide to Experiencing American Whiskey - signed copies available for Father's Day at whiskeylore.org/shop (US only) 🌟Enjoy 25 more minutes of in-depth conversation as a member of Whiskey Lore's Patreon (a 7-day free trial is available for new listeners) 

When it comes to Scottish distilleries with whiskies that match the landscape, Talisker is one of my favorite examples: sea and smoke. For the longest time, as the sole distillery on the Isle of Skye, it served as the perfect punctuation mark on any trip to the island. Seemingly isolated along the shore of Loch Harport in the small village of Carbost, it built quite a reputation around the world as early as the 1800s. Today, I'll dive into Talisker's history with Diageo's Head of Rare & Luxury Whisky, Ewan Morgan. We'll start at the distillery's origins, and you'll be among the first to hear about a distilling technique once used at the distillery, but forgotten by time. We'll talk about the influence of the distillery's worm tubs on the whisky and find out what special ingredient they use inside those worm tubs. Then I get a special treat. We'll dive into the world of long-aged whisky and discuss how to nose, taste, collect, and preserve rare bottles. Along the way, we taste Talisker's remarkable 30-year-old, 45-year-old, and 47-year-old whiskies and talk about what happens to a spirit after decades inside a cask. If you're a fan of Scotch, this is a deep dive you won't want to miss. Catch an extended version of the episode as a member of the Whiskey Lore family at patreon.com/whiskeylore

Scotland has long been one of the great whiskey pilgrimage destinations, but planning the perfect whisky journey across the Highlands, Islands, Speyside, Campbeltown, and beyond can feel overwhelming. In this bonus episode of Whiskey Lore's Whiskey Flights, I sit down with travel writer and author Angela Youngman to explore the people, places, legends, and distilleries that make Scotland such a magical destination for whiskey lovers. Angela's new book, The Whiskey and Gin Lover's Guide to Scotland, inspired a conversation that ranges from iconic experiences like The Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh to hidden gems, Scotland's growing gin scene, whisky festivals, island travel, and the realities of navigating Scotland's winding roads, ferries, and remote distillery regions. If Scotland has been sitting on your whiskey travel bucket list, this episode is the ticket to inspiration and practical advice that will help you start planning your own adventure. And for members of the Whiskey Lore family, the extended episode includes deeper discussions on whisky history, ghost distilleries, movie connections like The Angels' Share, travel recommendations, and more Scotch whisky lore. Find it at patreon.com/whiskeylore and ride along for the full experience.

For generations, whiskey fans have repeated one simple rule: Ireland and America spell whiskey with an "e," while Scotland, Canada, and Japan spell whisky without one. But where did that rule actually come from—and does this formula hold up historically? Today I'll revisit one of the show's earliest topics to dive deeper, separate fact from fiction and uncover the surprising history behind one of whiskey's most debated letters. Along the way, we'll see what the government and the Father of American English, Noah Webster, has to say. I'll look at the cultural confusion of regional language differences, and the myths that have grown around the spelling of whiskey itself. Was the "e" really invented by Irish distillers in the 1800s to distinguish their spirit from Scotch blends? Did Scotland always reject the spelling whiskey? And have Americans always embraced whiskey with an e? Using newspaper archives spanning England, Scotland, Ireland, and the United States, I'll traces how the spellings evolved from the early 1700s through Prohibition and into the modern craft whiskey era. The results challenge many of the stories commonly repeated in whiskey circles today. This is a thoroughly researched, updated, and expanded version of Season 2 Episode 8.