Heaven Hill Expands Into Canada with $266 Million Black Velvet Acquisition20190813115555
Heaven Hill Expands Into Canada with $266 Million Black Velvet Acquisition
Mark GillespieAugust 13, 2019acquisition, Admiral Nelson's Rum, Alberta, Alberta Liquor & Gaming Commission, Alexandre Ricard, Bill Newlands, Black Velvet, blender, Canadian Whisky, Canadian Whisky Awards, Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert, CanadianWhisky.org, Carolans, Christian Brothers Brandy, Constellation Brands, Danfield's, Davin de Kergommeaux, deal, Deep Eddy Vodka, Diageo, Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, Firestone & Robertson, Grand Metropolitan, Gruppo Campari, Guinness, Heaven Hill, Josh Hafer, Kentucky, Lethbridge, Lunazul Tequila, OFC, Palliser, Pernod Ricard, Pikesville Rye, Quebec, Rabbit Hole Distilling, regulatory approval, Schenley, Schenley's Golden Wedding, Texas, transaction, Valleyfield, Vicky Miller, whiskey, whisky, Wild Turkey0 comments
August 13, 2019 – Heaven Hill Brands has agreed to acquire Black Velvet, the #2 selling Canadian Whisky brand, from Constellation Brands. The de...
Catching Up with Forty Creek Whisky Founder John Hall20190126195632
Catching Up with Forty Creek Whisky Founder John Hall
Mark GillespieJanuary 26, 2019Bill Ashburn, Campari, Canada, Canadian Whisky, Canadian Whisky Awards, Davin de Kergommeaux, Forty Creek, Grimsby, John Hall, non-compete, Ontario, retirement, Speaker, Victoria, Victoria Whisky Festival, whiskey, whisky0 comments
Forty Creek Whisky founder John K. Hall has kept a low profile since selling his distillery to Campari five years ago. He won dozens of awards for his...
British Columbia’s Whisky Controversy Enters Year Two (Episode 751: January 20, 2019)20190121022653
British Columbia’s Whisky Controversy Enters Year Two (Episode 751: January 20, 2019)
Mark GillespieJanuary 21, 2019@BrandZ77, 1948, ABV, Alasdair Stevenson, alcohol by volume, Allura Fergie, Arran, attorney general, BC Liquor Distribution Branch, Billy Walker, book, boyfriend, Brandi, British Columbia, British Proof, Brown-Forman, Bruichladdich, Cabernet Sauvignon, Canada, Canadian, cannabis, Chapel Gate Whiskey Company, commissioning, Competition Bureau, Concept No. 1, David Eby, David Ferguson, David Marra, Davin de Kergommeaux, Deanston, duty free, Eric Fergie, expedition, Fets Whisky Kitchen, fire, France, Glen Grant, Glen Moray, Glenallachie, Gordon & MacPhail, Graham Stevenson, Grand Hotel Nanaimo, Great Islay Swim, Hicken Report, Hotel Grand Pacific, Ireland, Islay, Isle of Arran, James MacTaggart, Johnnie Mundell, labor union, labour, Lagg Distillery, Leila Wright, lifeboats, liquor inspectors, Little Jumbo, London, Louise McGuane, Mark Reynier, Marsala, Matt Hofmann, MC-01 2009, Mendy Berkowitz, Ministry of the Attorney General, Normandy Rye, Old Forester, Old Forester Rye, Ontario, Peat Week, Port Charlotte, Private Collection, proof, raid, RNLI, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Rye, Seattle, seizure, Sicilian, Single Cask Nation, Spanish Oak, Speyside, Spirit of Speyside Festival, taxes, terroir, The Macallan, tickets, tourism, travel retail, Tricia Savage, Trillium, Union Club, Vancouver, Victoria, Victoria Whisky Festival, visitors center, visitors centre, Waterford Distillery, Westland, whiskey, whisky, Yves Cosentino0 comments
In our second of two episodes from this week’s Victoria Whisky Festival in Victoria, British Columbia, we’ll talk with Eric and Allura Fer...
Pour Me a Spot of Whiskey, Please! (Episode 740: November 18, 2018)20181118002710
Pour Me a Spot of Whiskey, Please! (Episode 740: November 18, 2018)
Mark GillespieNovember 18, 2018@mikeyjoedrum, @whiskeryturnip, A Fine Christmas Dram 2018, Aerstone, Ailsa Bay, Alan Winchester, apology, auction, Australia, Australia Distillers Association, backstop, Bardstown, Barley Batch Limited Edition, bidding, Blue Spot, Bobby Parnell, Bonhams, border, bottling, Bowmore, brands, Brexit, Canada, Canadian, Canadian Club, Canadian Whisky, cask, Cedar Creek Quarry, Christmas cake, Chronicles, closed distilleries, Conor McGregor, Customs, Davin de Kergommeaux, Delta Hotel Fredericton, Democratic Unionist Party, Diageo, Distiller of the Year, Dmitry Efimov, election, Elixir Distillers, EU, European Union, excise tax, Fistful of Bourbon, flavor, Frank Scott, Fredericton, Fredericton Whisky Society, fruitcake, Girvan, Glenfiddich, Great Britain, Green Spot, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, HIAS, history, Hong Kong, Ian Millar, International Wine & Spirits Competition, Ireland, Irish Distillers, Irish Whiskey, Jackie Scott, John Begg, Jonathan Mitchell, Kentucky, Kentucky Owl Park, Kevin O'Gorman, Kirsten Grant Meikle, Knob Creek, Ladyburn, Lorraine Winchester, Marsala, Mitchell & Son, mixed martial arts, MMA, Montreal, My Old Kentucky Dinner Train, New Brunswick, New Brunswick Department of Tourism, New Brunswick Spirits Festival, No. #1 Vaults, Northern Ireland, peat, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Whiskey Friends, prank, Prime Minister, projections, Proper No. Twelve, Red Spot, rent, Sazerac, Seagram's, Seagram's 5 Star, Seagram's 83, Seagram's VO, Shigeru Ban Architects, shooting, Sicily, Sukhinder Singh, supply shortage, tasting note, The Glenlivet, The Glenrothes, The IWSC, The Macallan, The Shout, The Stoli Group, The Whisky Exchange, Theresa May, Tish Harcus, Tom Diana, trade, Tree of Life Synagogue, Tuthilltown Spirits, Vaults Collection, whiskey, whisky, William Grant & Sons, Yellow Spot0 comments
Back on the road again, and this episode comes from the New Brunswick Spirits Festival in Fredericton, New Brunswick! We’ll have highlights from...
To Whisky…And Beyond! (Episode 737: November 1, 2018)20181101223250
To Whisky…And Beyond! (Episode 737: November 1, 2018)
Mark GillespieNovember 1, 2018@thatsdramgood, 1910 Old Fine Whisky, Alumni Series, anniversary, auction, Australia, beer, Belfour Spirits, Bill Lark, blend, blending, blending kit, Bourbon, budget, Buffalo Trace, Canada, Canadian Whisky, Chancellor, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Chapel Gate Whiskey Company, Chivas, Chivas Regal, cold, Colin Scott, Colorado, Cork, Craigellachie, Dallas, David Stewart, David Vitale, Davin de Kergommeaux, Dayn Belfour, decanter, Denmark, Dewar's, Diageo, Distill Ventures, distilling, Don Livermore, Doublewood, duties, duty, duty freeze, Ed Belfour, Flintlock, Galway, George T. Stagg, goalie, Graeme Littlejohn, Great Britain, Guy LaFleur, Hall of Fame, hockey, House of Commons, Ireland, Irish Distillers, Irish Whiskey, Islay, J.P. Wiser's, John Walker & Sons, Johnnie Walker, Just-Drinks.com, Kentucky, lab, Lanny McDonald, Laphroaig, London, Louise McGuane, Louisville, Marc Pagani, master blender, Melbourne, memorabilia, Midnight Blend, Milroy's of Soho, New Orleans, NHL, NHL Alumni, nose, noser, Nova, Old Forester Distillery, Omar Fitzell, Parliament, Philip Hammond, Private Collection, pub, Quantas, Rebecca Jago, Redbreast, Sazerac, Scotch Whisky, Scotch Whisky Association, Scotland, Solera, Sonny Malloy's Bar, spirits, Stanley Cup, Starward, Stauning, Stephanie Macleod, SWA, Tasmania, taxation, taxes, Texas, The Balvenie, The IWSR, The Last Drop Distillers, Tom's Blend No. 1, trade, transparency, Two-Fold, VAT, video, Wendell Clark, Westland, whiskey, Whiskey Live Dublin, Whiskey Row Series, whisky, wine, Woody Creek Distillers0 comments
This time around, we’re blasting off with the crew of the USS Starward! OK, we’re talking with David Vitale, the founder of Australia̵...
On the Road at Tales of the Cocktail (Episode 715: July 22, 2018)20180722191742
On the Road at Tales of the Cocktail (Episode 715: July 22, 2018)
Mark GillespieJuly 22, 2018@drmattdreamboat, #onewhiskyfamily, 2001, ABV, aluminum, American Craft Spirits Association, Ardbeg, Australia, bar, Barrel Proof, bartender, bartenders, Ben Capdevielle, Best Buddies New Hampshire, Big Gin, Bladnoch, boat punta, Bottled in Bond, Bourbon, Brett Jefferies, Brett Nolinskie, Bruce Russell, Canada, Caroline Rosen, charity, China, Chris Fletcher, classic malts, cocktail, construction, Contradiction, cooperage, Culinary, David Laird, David Stewart, David Wondrich, Davin de Kergommeaux, Diageo, Distilled Spirits Council, Distillers Showcase, Doublewood, drinks, DYC, Eddie Russell, education, Eric Gregory, European Union, export, Frazier History Museum, Game of Thrones, Gary Solomon, gin, Heaven Hill, Hendrick's Gin, Holly Robinson, hospitality, Hotel Monteleone, Ian Millar, import, Irish Whiskey Association, Jack Daniel's, James Beard Foundation, Japan, Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Producers Makers Association, Jimmy Russell, John Lermayer, John Little, Johnnie Walker, Joseph Mortera, KDA, Kentucky Distillers Association, Life Behind Bars, Lifetime Achievement Award, London, Louisiana, Louisville, Manchester, Matt Baglole, Maverick Drinks, Mexico, Miami, Ministry of Relaxation, Navazos Palazzi, Neal Bodenheimer, New Hampshire, New Hampshire Liquor Commission, New Orleans, New York, Noah Rothbaum, Oloroso, Pappy Van Winkle, Peat Week, peated gin, Prairieville, raffle, Robert Lighthizer, Savoy, Scotch, Scotch Whisky Association, Seattle, Smooth Ambler, Spain, Speyside Cooperage, Spirited Awards, Spirits Canada, SpiritsEUROPE, stave mill, steel, Sullivan's Cove, summit, SWA, Sweet Liberty, Tales of the Cocktail, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, tariffs, Tasmania, Taste America, Tennessee Whiskey, The American Bar, The Balvenie, The Daily Beast, The Presidents' Forum, Tomatin, trade, trade war, travel retail, Trump Administration, turkey, US Trade Representative, Vince Oleson, Virginia, West Virginia, Westland, whiskey, whisky, White Walker, Widow Jane, Wild Turkey, Woodford Reserve, World Trade Organization, WTO0 comments
This time around, we’re in New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail, the annual gathering of bartenders and drinks industry leaders for a week of e...
How Young Can a Whisky Be?20180516203917
How Young Can a Whisky Be?
Mark GillespieMay 16, 2018age statements, Bottled in Bond, Canada, Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert, Charles Maclean, Davin de Kergommeaux, Immature Spirits Act of 1915, law, Maclean's Miscellany of Whisky, regulations, straight0 comments
May 6, 2018 – Age statements can tell us how old a whisky is, and in some cases, how young it is. Let’s start with the easy part. If a whi...
Sip, Sip, Sippin’ On Heaven’s Door… (Episode 695: May 6, 2018)20180505233924
Sip, Sip, Sippin’ On Heaven’s Door… (Episode 695: May 6, 2018)
Mark GillespieMay 5, 2018@Mike_W_Williams, age, Alan Winchester, alcohol abuse, Angel's Envy, author, Barry Crockett, Bob Dylan, book, Bottled in Bond, Brexit, British Columbia, Canada, Canadian Whisky, Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert, Captain's Reserve, Charles Maclean, cigar barrels, Clan Fraser, Cork, Dave Broom, Davin de Kergommeaux, Deborah Stewart, Diageo, distillery, duty free, English Whisky Company, EU, European Union, exports, Glenfarclas, Graeme Littlejohn, Great Britain, Haneda Airport, Heaven Hill, Hibiki, Howick, Immature Spirits Act of 1915, Ireland, Irish Distillers, Japan, Japanese Whisky, Lower East Side, Maclean's Miscellany of Whisky, Marc Bushala, Meghan Markle, Mike Williams, minimum unit pricing, music, Nashville, Nikkei, Nobel, Old Fitzgerald, Omar Fitzell, Orphan Barrel, Peat Week, Prime Minister, Prince Harry, Rhetoric, Royal, Ryan Perry, Scotch Whisky Association, ScotchWhisky.com, Scotland, Scottish Borders, singer, songwriter, Speyside, Spirit of Speyside Festival, Spirits Investment Partnership, Strath, Stuart Nickerson, Suntory, SWA, tariffs, Tennessee, The Balvenie, The Borders Distillery, The Glenlivet, The Way of Whisky, Theresa May, Tim Carton, trade, travel retail, Two Brewers, Victoria, wedding, whiskey, whisky, Yamazaki, Yukon Spirits0 comments
Bob Dylan is known for many things, but slapping his name onto a product to make a quick buck is definitely not one of them. In fact, the new Heaven...
Whisky is Too Important to be Taken Seriously (Episode 687: April 1, 2018)20180331230237
Whisky is Too Important to be Taken Seriously (Episode 687: April 1, 2018)
Mark GillespieMarch 31, 2018"The Amber Light", "The Angel's Share", @Omar_Fitz, @potstillwhiskey, #fridaynightdram, 1824 Collection, 1824 Series, Adam Park, ADI, Amber, American Distilling Institute, April Fool's, Arctic Circle, Ardnahoe, Ardor, Australia, author, awards, Big Peat, Billy Walker, blending, blind tasting, Bloody Butcher Red Corn Whiskey, blowback, Bluebell Forest, book, book tour, bottling, Bourbon, Box Distillery, British Isles, Buffalo Trace, California, Canada, Cara Laing, Charles Maclean, Chivas Brothers, Chris Leggett, Cornwall, Craft Your Perfect Bourbon, crime, crowdsourcing, CYPB Edition, Dair Ghaelach, Danish, Dave Broom, Davin de Kergommeaux, degenerate, Denmark, Destillerie Nyborg, Detroit, distillery, documentary, Double Cask Range, Douglas Laing & Co., Edrington, film, Fleurieu Distillery, Frank McDonald, Fred Douglas Laing, Fred Laing, fuckers, G.R. Andrews & Son, gang, Glasgow, Glenallachie, gold, Gotemba, Halewood, Ireland, Irish Whiskey, Islay, Isle of Fionia, Jamie Johnson, Japan, Japanese Whisky, Karuizawa, Kentucky, Kickstarter, Kim Møller-Elshøj, Kyoto, Mark Bylok, Matt Hofmann, Mayor Pingree Blue Label, Midleton, movie, Myken Arctic Single Malt, Myken Island, Norway, Norwegian, Nyborg Distillery, Old Malt Cask, Old Particular, Ontario, Peaky Blinder, Peaky Blinders, podcast, Port Ellen, Portland, Pot Still Will, prank, Quercus II, Quest Collection, Remarkable Regional Malts, Roar Larsen, Rock Oyster, Ruby, Sadler's, San Diego, Scallywag, Scandinavian, Scotch Whisky, Scotland, Seattle, Shyamal Ramachandran, Sienna, Speyside, Sport Dram, Stewart Laing, Suntory, Sweden, That's Dram Good, The Gauldrons, The Macallan, The Way of Whisky, The Whisky Topic, Timorous Beastie, Tokyo, Travel, travel retail, Triple Cask Matured Range, Valentine Distilling, Virginia Distillery Company, W.L. Weller, Westland, whiskey, whisky, Wonderful World of Whisky Show, Wood Hat Spirits, workout, Xtra Old Particular0 comments
Scotland’s Douglas Laing & Co. is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2018, and for many of those years, the Laing family has taken a light-...
A Blind Whisky Tasting Leads to Surprises20180326143221
A Blind Whisky Tasting Leads to Surprises
Mark GillespieMarch 26, 2018Adam Hannett, blind tasting, Bruichladdich, Canada, CanadianWhisky.org, Companions of the Quaich, Cornwall, Davin de Kergommeaux, Frank McDonald, Ian Bentley, Jim McEwan, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Mark Bylok, Mark Reynier, NAV Centre, Octomore, Ontario, peated, podcast, Scotch Whisky, Scotland, single malt, The Whisky Cabinet, The Whisky Topic, whiskey, whisky, Wonderful World of Whisky Show0 comments
This month, we put our panel to the test and had them taste three whiskies blind. The only thing Davin de Kergommeaux, Mark Bylok, and Frank McDonald ...