The W Club Decanted

In the last episode of Decanted we caught up with the famous Dr. Rachel Barrie. Dr. Barrie is the Master Distiller at  The Glendronach, Glenglassaugh, and Benriach. Her ability to blend rare and exceptional casks has earned her recognition as one of the industry's leading experts. Benriach distillery was established by John Duff in 1898 on the site of Riach farm in the north of Speyside. Closed for most of the 20th century, the distillery has only been releasing bottlings since 1994. Despite this relatively short period of production, Benriach remained true to its experimental heritage and has grown dramatically in the last 20 years. For everything Benriach: https://www.whiskyshop.com/single-malt-scotch-whisky/distilleries/benriach  Glenglassaugh's slogan is "A whisky shaped by land and sea," on account of the distillery enjoying a picturesque location at Sandend Bay on the Moray Firth coast, not far from Portsoy. For everything Glenglassaugh: https://www.whiskyshop.com/single-malt-scotch-whisky/distilleries/glenglassaugh  The Highland whisky has continued its traditional processes, with a fondness for maturing a heavy and robust spirit in sherry casks for long periods of time. The GlenDronach distillery was founded in 1826 in the Forgue valley near Aberdeenshire. It specialises in creating whiskies with an elegant and complex taste, with a large depth of flavour. For everything The Glendronach: https://www.whiskyshop.com/single-malt-scotch-whisky/distilleries/glendronach  If you're enjoying the podcast, please review and share it so we can keep delivering the biggest names in whisky into your podcast app of choice.  

In the last episode of Decanted we visited the Luss Distillery, Luss Distillery is the home of Ben Lomond Scottish Gin and a dedicated Loch Lomond Whiskies experience. Luke Crowley Holland is joined by Head of Marketing, Aly Bayne, for the first half of the podcast and Brand Home manager, Tony MacLean, for the second. Nestled in one of Scotland's most picturesque villages, right on the scenic shores of Loch Lomond, Luss Distillery is well worth a visit. While Loch Lomond Whisky is a brand truly like no other in Scotland. Eight whiskies are produced at the distillery in Alexandria, and each expression in the award-winning Loch Lomond range is matured in casks crafted and maintained at the on-site cooperage. The signature malt is its Loch Lomond whisky, but the distillery produces vast amounts of grain whisky as well as malt whisky. If you're enjoying the podcast, please review and share it so we can keep delivering the biggest names in whisky into your podcast app of choice. For everything Loch Lomond:  https://www.whiskyshop.com/single-malt-scotch-whisky/distilleries/loch-lomond 

In the last episode of our mini series on The Macallan, Luke Crowley Holland is joined by The Macallan's Master Whisky Maker, Kirsteen Campbell. Given the central role she plays in delivering the World's most iconic whisky brand, Kirsteen was the perfect guest to end the series on. The chat is insightful and humorous as Luke and Kirsteen discuss the latter's career to date and the process of bringing a bottle of the Macallan to life. If you're enjoying the podcast, please review and share it so we can keep delivering the biggest names in whisky into your podcast app of choice. For everything Macallan: www.whiskyshop.com/single-malt-scotch-whisky/distilleries/macallan  

In this episode, we meet Rebecca Grant, Head of Maturation, and hear her story on how a background in Science helped her become the master of maturation at The Macallan. Rebecca sheds more light on the 'acorn-to-glass' philosophy, describing the minutia of the process from identifying the best cask-making oak trees through to the rigorous quality checks that take place throughout maturation to ensure that each and every drop has The Macallan seal of approval.

The next episode in the W Club's insightful miniseries giving listeners the inside scoop on what life is like at The Macallan estate. Each of the podcast episodes were recorded inside the estate's beautiful open-sided marquee on the banks of the River Spey – the perfect spot for reflecting on The Macallan's magnificent drams. In this episode, we find W Club Manager, Luke Crowley-Holland, in conversation with The Macallan Operations Director, Rachel Walters, talking about how Rachel has risen through the ranks of The Macallan over her 26-year career with the brand, from bottling in Glasgow, to leading the engineering team, working with their cask suppliers in Jerez, and beyond. They discuss The Macallan's barley-to-bar (or acorn-to-glass!) method of viewing the creation and production of its world-renowned liquids, discussing how in spite of having some of the smallest spirit stills in the industry, their brand has become such a vast empire.

The first instalment in an exciting miniseries focusing on The W Club's team visit to The Macallan estate. Each of the podcast episodes were recorded inside the estate's beautiful open-sided marquee on the banks of the River Spey – the perfect spot for reflecting on The Macallan's magnificent drams. In this episode, we sit down with W Club Manager, Luke Crowley-Holland, and The Macallan Estate Experience Manager, Gillian Swan, as they explore Gillian's journey into her current role and how the estate has developed since navigating the tricky waters of Covid-19, balancing The Macallan's rich history with enticing modern experiences.

On this episode we caught up with Stephen Rankin — Director of Prestige at Gordon & MacPhail. It was an extensive deep dive into G&M, the two distilleries under their umbrella — Benromach and the Cairn — and the recent release of the world's oldest whisky. If you're enjoying the podcast, please do share with your whisky loving friends and leave us a review. Make sure to visit www.whiskyshop.com for all your whisky needs! Enjoy the show.

Hello folks! Welcome back to the W Club Decanted. On this episode we sat down with the excellent Scott Sneddon, Managing Director of InchDairnie Distillery. It was a wide ranging chat, with specific focus on their two recent new releases — Kinglassie RAW and Double Matured — and the upcoming new Ryelaw vintage. If you're enjoying the podcast, please do share with your whisky loving friends and leave us a review. Enjoy the show.

A bumper month for the W Club Decanted, we present you another fantastic episode - this time in collaboration with Dr. Blake Layfield, Master Distiller and Head of Innovation & Blending at Maker's Mark. Layfield's connection to whiskey runs deep with a PhD in food science and a decade of experience in the spirits industry, he's a man driven by flavour and science in equal measure. He has been instrumental in the creation of Maker's latest release - Star Hill Farm. More than just the name of their release, Star Hill Farm is the 1,100-acre birthplace of Maker's Mark - a hub of innovation in regenerative agriculture. Star Hill Farm Whiskey marks a number of firsts: the first new mash bill from Maker's Mark, the first whiskey from the distillery not bearing the Maker's name, and the first without the iconic red wax seal. Instead of corn, the mash bill is made from 70% wheat and 30% malted barley, resulting in a delicate, floral spirit quite distinct from traditional bourbon. A second mash bill of 100% malted wheat adds further complexity. To enhance this innovation, Maker's used five different barrel types, from classic American oak to experimental hybrids. And with cask rotation (a rare technique in bourbon production), the maturation was carefully controlled to achieve a balanced, expressive flavour. The result? A vibrant wheat whiskey with notes of pear, apple, candied ginger, and bitter orange, layered over a rich, complex mouthfeel. Find out more about what went into this fascinating new release by listening to the podcast now! Find W Club Decanted on your favourite podcast app Want to be first to hear about new releases like Star Hill Farm? Join the W Club for exclusive bottlings, tastings, and insider whisky content.  

Following hot on the heels of a Whisky Shop distillery visit to the remarkable home of The Glenrothes, this instalment of the W Club Decanted sees Luke Crowley-Holland sit down with Guide Brand and Education Manager, Kat Robertson and Private Client Relationship Manager, Georgia Porteous from The Glenrothes to discuss all things past, present and future. If you want to get the inside scoop on this incredible distillery, be sure to pick up a copy of the Whiskeria Summer 2025, which has just landed in stores today!