Whiskey Lore: Stories

In a rugged corner of Northern Ireland, the hills of Inishowen whisper tales of rebellion and moonlit mischief. We'll meet Patrick, a humble tailor thrust into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse with excise officers. Then learn about the defiant distillers of Inishowen use any means at their disposal to preserve their livelihood. Join me on a journey back to the 19th century, where secret stills and hidden valleys echo with the spirit of rebellion. And after a day off on my own historic journey around Ireland, I set out for Baoilleach Distillery in Donegal. I'll meet with Michael O'Boyle, the proprietor and see first hand, his commitment to using local grains and peat, along with his unique approach to distilling. Welcome back to the countinued journey through Ireland's storied whiskey past, present, and future.

It's hard to imagine what the whiskey industry would look like today, if a certain excise man had succumbed to the wounds he received in Donegal in 1810. The early 19th century was a critical time for Irish whiskey. The Acts of Union had united the country with an empire and new markets were open for spirits. But growing pains were the rule of the day. Large distillers and the Parliament were crushing small distillers and becoming jealous of those who were making higher profits off of their illicit poitín. A war was brewing out west and something was going to give. Also in this episode, we'll rejoin Alfred Barnard as he travels from Galway to Limerick and I'll be stopping off at the Old Bushmills Distillery in Northern Ireland.

In a world where branding has become paramount in the promotion of people and products, certain brands have slipped from our vernacular, or have taken on new roles. Long ago, the saloon was much more than just the domain of cowboys and gunfighters in the Old West. But for some reason, the name disappeared. It's time to delve into the history of the concept and find out...whatever happened to the old time saloon? For more Whiskey Lore Stories, check out the new book The Lost History of Tennessee Whiskey by Drew Hannush. It's available at your favorite online bookseller or at Whiskey-Lore.com/audio

While traveling in Scotland and Ireland, I'm surprised at how many distilleries tell the story of a mighty cooper's union that lobbied for American's single use barrel rule. I've never heard a single American distillery even mention it. And when I ask them about it, I get blank stares. Let's dive into the history of coopers, find out more about their craft, take a ride on a flatboat covered in barrel staves, and find out if some magical cooper's union is the reason for all of those lovely caramel and vanilla notes in our American whiskies.

Think you know the story behind the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897? Well, if you listened to the episode in Season 1 or have read any modern literature on it, prepare to be shocked. During my research for my new book The Lost History of Tennessee Whiskey, I bumped into an obscure piece of information from 1895 that turns the entire narrative around Colonel E.H. Taylor and the Bottled-in-Bond Act on its head. In this episode, things will start as they did when I created this episode in 2019, along with some subtle changes. Then, the episode will take a wild turn and you'll hear a story hasn't been told in over 125 years. Prepare to "re-learn" history.

So, where has Whiskey Lore Stories been all summer? I'll give you the lowdown. In reality, I've been working on 30 new episodes, but they will be in a different format than you're used to. As I break the century mark on Whiskey Lore: The Interviews episodes and complete a summer of writing stories that I have yet to share, it is time to look at how I've done things with Whiskey Lore and where I can make it even better. I give the update as I reveal some of my findings during my research for the upcoming book The Lost History of Tennessee Whiskey. Enjoy this episode, which is also available on the Whiskey Lore: The Interviews podcast.

It seems appropriate that an episode featuring me taking a walking tour of Belfast with McConnell's Sarah Kennedy would sync up with the story of the Irish Rebellion of 1798. It was a pivital time in Irish history, when a last ditch effort was made to separate from the control of Great Britain. Its an event that would echo down through Irish history - especially in Belfast and Northern Ireland. Hear the story of one of the rebellion's central figures and how one of the United Irishmen's own came to haunt one of Ireland's most historic distilleries. And enjoy a cruise around Belfast, where - dare I say, I tasted the greatest beer I've ever tasted. Cheers and Slainte mhaith!

The names of Jameson, Roe, and Powers all have a special place in the history of the success of the Irish whiskey industry. But none of them had the power and influence in the 18th century to take their whiskey around the world. It took an Undertaker. This week, we'll meet that man who almost ruined Irish whiskey's reputation, while also setting it on a path to the massive success it would enjoy in the 19th century. Plus, I'll share my experience on my first day in Belfast at the McConnell's Sherry Cask whiskey launch.

For distillers in the 18th Century, the challenge was not getting crushed by tax revenuers because of a lack of quality devices or understanding of what makes a gallon, something that changed often over the centuries. Listen as I dig into the history of proof and measuring volume, while we get visits from Alfred Barnard, John Quincy Adams, and I continue my historic journey to all of Ireland and Northern Ireland's active distilleries (save Cooley) and reach the home of Shortcross Gin and Irish Whiskey.

When it comes to firsts and oldests in whiskey, finding a clear answer is a challenge. This week, I'll take a look at some of the criteria around determining the oldest distillery and we'll see why finding an answer is so tough. Plus, I'll continue my journey around Northern Ireland with a visit to Hinch Distillery and Alfred Barnard and his mates will visit one of the challengers for the title oldest distillery in Ireland.

No one likes to pay taxes, especially distillers. And in the early days, when the government first started reaching into the pockets of farmer-distillers in Ireland, they put a serious face on tax avoidance. Yet distillers found creative ways to avoid these taxes. It's time to take a deep dive into how Ireland ended up with whiskey taxes and the growing pains and wars that led to more and more government intrusion into the still house.

History is fascinating. It becomes even more interesting when you look at it through more than one lens. That is what I'll be doing this week - as I look at a complicated man whose first two potential victories in the North Channel were apparently snatched away by drink. His reputation on one side was as a pirate and the other as a patriot. We'll jump into that story. And then I'll do a tasting of a gin named in his honor at Copeland Distillery. I hear what you're saying "Drew drinking gin?" Well, let's just say, this one has a nice whiskey twist.

First, thank you for helping Whiskey Lore Stories reach 100k downloads and helping this show reach the Top 5 percent of podcasts worldwide! This week, I'm going to go deeper into the background of the Scots-Irish. They are often credited with being the foundation of the Kentucky bourbon and Tennessee whiskey industries. It is something I've heard over and over at American distilleries - it is time to see if this statement holds water. Plus, I'm on my way to Echlinville Distillery and will share my tasting adventure there as I continue my way through Northern Ireland and visit my 7th distillery on this epic journey.

Join me as I leave Ireland for my first trip to Northern Ireland and go from one of the largest distilleries to one of the smallest. Yet, even though it is small, its head distiller Brendan Carty is earning a stellar reputation as the leader of what he calls Ireland's protest distillery...Killowen. And meanwhile, Alfred Barnard leaves Dublin and heads west across 19th century Ireland.

Why is there an "e" in Irish Whiskey? The popular belief is that four Dublin distillers, fed up with "silent spirit" made from column stills added the "e" to the word whiskey to separate their spirit from lesser quality spirits. Say something enough times and it becomes everyone's truth. But is this really how whiskey got an "e?" I decided to dig through some 18th and 19th century newspapers to get the answer. I also stopped off to visit John Teeling's Great Northern Distillery and had 2 amazing sips of whiskey - one from the 20th century, the other from the 19th! Join me for the experience.

While traveling to over 40 distilleries in Ireland, there was one story I heard more than any other - about how a malt tax in 1785 created a tax avoidance scheme that resulted in the creation of Old Irish Pure Pot Still whiskey as a style. Is it true? Well, what I find is quite unexpected. Apparently there was a malt tax that led to two great whisky empires. I'll tell the full story as well as share Alfred Barnard's 1886 trip to John's Road Distillery in Dublin and my trip to Boann Distillery and encounter with a 140 year old bottle of whisky.

In my quest to dig into Irish whiskey history, this may be one of my favorite episodes yet. We start off with one of the great legends of Ireland - a legend tied to the area I was traveling through, the Boyne River Valley. I get to visit Slane Distillery, taste their whiskey and head over to Boann to learn the experimental side of that distillery and more legends. Meanwhile, I dig deep into the 17th century, when Irish uisce beatha was gaining a great reputation in London, until a Dutch upstart stole the show. All this and a beheading and rebellion - this week on Whiskey Lore.

For centuries, the British royal crown and parliament have had a say over the distilling habits of the Irish. Where did it all start? I'll dive deep into the history to find an inception point for the control over distilling in Ireland. Meanwhile, Alfred Barnard will find his way to the largest distillery in the world and I'll make two stops on my visit, including one involving two kinds of unforgettable fires. Enjoy episode 4 of this Irish Whiskey journey.

As Sinatra said, "come fly with me" as we head to Foynes Airport in Ireland and learn how a stormy night and cold wet passengers led to one of the most iconic drinks in Irish Whiskey. We'll also follow along with Alfred Barnard and join him at the home of Powers Whiskey. And I'll continue my journey through the modern distilleries of Ireland with a trip to Tullamore DEW.

Time for episode 2 of my journey through Ireland, along with Alfred Barnard's historic trip to John Jameson & Son's famous Bow Street Distillery, and the story of a man who will turn your impression of the Irish and their love affair with drink on its head.