Living The Dram

Ardbeg Day 2022 - Special Rickus & Hursty celebrate another back Saturday of Fèis Ìle with several Ardbegs in hand. The boys recap the year that was Ardbeg and discuss their marketing moments coupled with their sweet & smoky relases from the past twelve months. Sampling last year's Fèis Ìle release along with the committe releases for the past 12 months, they discuss all things Ardbeg related and delve into the murky waters of NFT whisky. Sit back and relax with a glass of neat Ardbeg with a dash of controversy and kick out the drams! For show notes head over to Living The Dram.

Aberlour: A'Bunadh (054) & A'Bunadh Alba (003) Rickus and Hursty take another trip up the Spey. Charlestown? Never heard of it... The lads are going big with two cask-strentgh monsters; one an absolute sherry bomb, and the other being created in entirely the same fashion but with a twist. Aberlour Distillery and the township itself has an amazing history, owing almost all of its prosperity to philanthropic ninja James Fleming. Hursty breaks the masonic code and divulges a huge secret in the bridge building/time capsule department and afterward Rickus regales us with a tale of how the fourth Laird of Elchies wouldn't allow construction of a bridge across the Spey. Pour yourself up a dram of Aberlour, listen in and be very entertained. For show notes head over to Living The Dram.

Cardhu: 12yo, 15yo & 18yo 'Iso', as most Aussies call it, has given Rickus & Hursty a little bit of extra time to revisit the long format and figuratively dive deep into Cardhu's mash tun. Another feather in Diageo's cap and the first distillery to be acquired by Johnnie Walker & Sons; Cardhu has a rich and interesting history chequered with deceit, triumph and controversy - but you knew that at the mention of Diageo, didn't you? Rickus & Hursty recount the tale of two of the most brazen and tenacious women in the history of distilling and also discuss the ethics of completely changing your product but not the packaging, all while comparing and reviewing the 12, 15 and 18 year-old offerings. Pour yourself up a dram of Cardhu and listen in! For show notes head over to Living The Dram.

Aerstone 10yo Land & Sea Casks Rickus & Hursty try an NKOTB ('new kid on the block', for those born after 1990...), the latest offering in JW Grant's portfolio; the Aerstone Land & Sea Cask 10yo's. The boys are back in isolation but that hasn't impacted their ability to dram on and talk shit about it (or over each other), quite the contrary. They're getting in plenty of practice. They talk the usual distillery history and whisky information as well as tackling pressing issues such as: does it really matter where your whisky matures? Does terroir exist in whisky as it does in wine? Grab your favourite supermarket whisky, pour up a dram and listen in. For show notes head over to Living The Dram.

Ardbeg Day 2021 - Special Rickus & Hursty celebrate the back Saturday of Fèis Ìle with an Ardbeg in hand. The boys crap on about festival releases and events whilst sampling the youngest age statement they've ever seen on a single-malt. They tell you how Ardbeg and Rickus tandemly initiated the vaping trend, then they go on to taste two previous Ardbeg Day festival releases. Rickus also surprises Hursty with a bonus heavyweight dram. But the real scandal lies within whether Rickus deserves to maintain office as a Committee Member... pour yourself your favourite Ardbeg and see if you agree. For show notes head over to Living The Dram.

Classic Malts™ Pt. 4: Oban 14yo - Wee Dram Rickus & Hursty embark on the fourth leg of their journey through the Classic Malts™ range, taking matters over to the west coast. Oban, the O.G. in the line-up, is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland and the second smallest in Diageo's portfolio. Did somebody mention llamas? The boys talk supermarket checkout protocol and more mispronunciations, as well as the usual history and tasting opinions. Pour up an Oban 14yo and see if you agree. For show notes head over to Living The Dram.

Classic Malts™ Pt. 3: Cragganmore 12yo - Wee Dram Rickus & Hursty turn left at Albuquerque and make a beeline for the garden of Scotland. The third installment of the voyage through the Classic Malts™ series see the boys crack a fresh bottle of Cragganmore 12 year old, in what coincidentally is a first impression for them both. The boys discuss A1 blending specifactions and Hursty channels his inner Shania. To finish it of, they leave you with a positive contribution Diageo have made to the region. Pour up a dram of Craggers and see if you agree. For show notes head over to Living The Dram.

Classic Malts™ Pt. 2: Dalwhinnie 15yo - Wee Dram Rickus & Hursty continue their exploration of the Classic Malts™ series with Dalwhinnie 15 yo. From curry etiquette to the qualification requirements for "life coaches", there's some solid life advice to be found here. The boys discuss a wee bit of the history of a distillery in a wee town, over a wee dram. Pour a dram yourself and see whether you agree with them. For show notes head over to Living The Dram.

Classic Malts™ Pt. 1: Glenkinchie 12yo - Wee Dram Rickus & Hursty embark on part one of their journey through the Classic Malts™ series by figuratively diving into a fresh bottle of Glenkinchie 12yo. From canned whipped cream to Milo to chicken flavouring to cannibalism... that escalated quickly. The lads discuss why visitors centres are a must, the sustainability of Glenkinchie and as always, compare their impressions with Reverend Murray. For show notes head over to Living The Dram.

Classic Malts™ Intro: Diageo - Wee DramRickus & Hursty commence a series of Wee Drams devoted to perhaps the greatest marketing scam in the whisky industry - the Classic Malts™ collection. The boys kick it off with an introduction on the global powerhouse brand that is Diageo, they discuss the whiskies in the range (and why they're in there) as well as reveal some of Diageo's more controversial escapades. Soulless multinational corporation or tall poppy? A bit of both perhaps. Pour yourself a single malt and see if you can still stomach it after what you're about to hear... For show notes head over to Living The Dram.

St Patrick's Day Special - Pt 2Rickus & Hursty get down to brass tacks and sample three Irish single malts for the second installment of their St. Patrick's Day Special. Put on your greens, pick a shamrock and pour yourself a dram of your favourite Irish malt for the ride. For show notes head over to Living The Dram.

St Patrick's Day - Special - Pt 1In the first episode of a two part series celebrating St. Patrick's Day, Rickus & Hursty dive deep into the golden history of Irish whiskey. Pour yourself a dram of pot still single malt and learn a thing or two about the origins of uisce beatha. Rickus & Hursty discuss the pitfalls of voluntary taxation, the reasons for the decline of the popularity of Irish whiskey and its subsequent resurgence, and the saint who wasn't a saint. Happy St. Paddy's Day! For show notes head over to Living The Dram.

Glen Grant 18yo - Wee DramRickus & Hursty review "The Reverend" Jim Murray's 2021 Single Malt Scotch Whisky of The Year; The Glen Grant 18yo Rare Edition. Controversy may abound with this first impression, which won't surprise you. Does it deserve top spot? Is Murray being paid off? Will Rickus & Hursty believe the hype? Hit play to find out. Rickus & Hursty discuss freedom of speech regarding the controversy sorrounding Murray's 'sexist' and 'objectifying' comments, if only briefly; and the boys also delve into how social media has given people a metaphoric soapbox to spout their opinions from. Pour yourself a dram of this award winning whisky and see if you agree with the boys or the rev. For show notes head over to Living The Dram.

Johnnie Walker Double Black - Wee Dram Rickus & Hursty give their first impression on a dram they've never tried before, Jonnie Walker's 'smokiest' offering; the Double Black. We all know they have a staunch disdain for blends but a love for all things smoke... could this change their mind? Pour yourself a dram of the smokiest NAS blend you can find and see if you agree! To learn more about the history of Johnnie Walker, check out Living The Dram Podcast - Episode 011 - Battle of The Blends: Johnnie Walker Blue vs Chivas Regal Ultis For show notes, head over to Living The Dram

Xmas Special 2020Rickus & Hursty create a tradition by gifting each other a bottle while recapping the absolute fizzer of a year that was 2020. Joy to the world, 2020 is nearly over. Rickus & Hursty gift each other a surprise bottle and also reveal their best ofs and most memorable in entertainment and news. For show notes head over to Living The Dram. This episode is proudly sponsored by Rupert's Pet Cremation & Transport

Glenfiddich 12yo - Wee DramRickus & Hursty try their hands at something a little more bite sized, introducing their Wee Dram series. Why does Rickus believe Glenfiddich 12 such amazing value for money and possibly the best bang-for-your buck single malt in the world? Will Hursty come around? In this wee episode, Rickus & Hursty delve into that as well as touch on a little bit of recent controversy surrounding the brand and its 'affiliates'. Is using sexual metaphor a sexist way to describe a whisky? Inclusivity = Good.Tokenism = Bad. Pour yourself a wee dram of Glenfiddich 12 and see if you agree! For show notes head over to Living The Dram.

Halloween Special 2020 Rickus and Hursty share stories to make your knees knock and mouth water whilst savouring a Halloween inspired dram or three. A Halloween inspired episode that delves into whiskies from Glenrothes, Jura and Bowmore distilleries, and the ghostly stories that go with them. Rickus and Hursty also share their own ghostly stories and experiences for good measure. Pour yourself a dram to ward off the chill of the tales and settle in for a little Halloween fun! For show notes head over to Living The Dram. This episode is proudly sponsored by Rupert's Pet Cremation & Transport

Glenfarclas: 15yo, 21yo & 25yo Rickus & Hursty try to tame the Spirit of Independence. More Johns and Georges than you can poke a stick at. Maybe a couple of Pauls too, but alas; no Ringos. If you know of a distillery with a more impressive core range, we’d like to see it! One of the oldest family run distilleries takes us on a sherry influenced journey of whiskies that have spent more time in wood. The boys dive in to some superbly aged sherry cask finished whiskies, and Hursty educates us on the process of ageing sherry; how it may be a bit different than what you think it is and how it's nothing like whisky. So pour a well-aged glass of something special and settle in! For show notes head over to Living The Dram. This episode is proudly sponsored by Rupert's Pet Cremation & Transport

Australia Day Special Rickus & Hursty celebrate Straya Day by keeping it local. Whether you're at the cricket, smashing tinnies and BBQing with mates, lazing by the pool listening to Triple J's hottest 100 or celebrating in any other way you see fit; we hope you're doing it with a dram in hand (as it's worth two in the bush). Rickus & Hursty fly south (metaphorically) for the summer to sample a few of Tasmania's finest, as well as discussing some distillery history and interesting aspects of our fledgling industry.

Battle of The Blends - Johnnie Walker Blue Vs Chivas Regal Ultis Rickus & Hursty get ready to rumble in this iso showdown. The ultimate battle of the blends, Chivas Regal Ultis goes head to head with Johnny Walker Blue Label. An atypical episode in line with the atypical nature of a global pandemic and lockdown, Rickus & Hursty explore two of the world's most popular blends as well as waxing lyrical about the times we find ourselves in. The boys also share some 'Rona related stories, discuss Mizunara casks and why they're a shit idea, and read some very bizarre mail. So grab a glass, pour a healthy measure of your favourite blend and enjoy! For show notes head over to Living The Dram. This episode is proudly sponsored by Rupert's Pet Cremation & Transport

Benromach: 10yo, Organic & Peat Smoke Rickus & Hursty visit the smallest distillery in Speyside. Rickus & Hursty are back in Speyside discussing what it takes to achieve a Certified Organic status, as well as sharing the awkward story of "Cecil" and his grossly misinterpreted Tinder invitation. They also muse on what dating apps would be like with a comment section and touch on viruses before viruses were cool, all while sampling drams they've not sampled before. So grab a generously filled Glencairn and join them!

Xmas Special Rickus & Hursty gift each other a bottle and recap the year that was 2020. Come all ye faithful and lend an ear; for this be a Living The Dram Xmas Special. Complete with our first bout of technical difficulties.

Ardbeg: Uigedail, Corryvreckan & An Oa Rickus & Hursty head back to their beloved Islay for an exploration of part of the Ardbeg core range. Nestled on the the small, remote Scottish island of Islay, Islay has been declared by some as the greatest distillery on Earth. Rickus & Hursty explore some of the history of one of their favourite distilleries. They also discuss contemporary whisky experiments in the name of science, and discover the latest developments in the alcohol space race. So kick back and relax with a dram in hand, and explore a gem of a distillery and some of what makes them so good! For show notes head over to Living The Dram. This episode is proudly sponsored by Rupert's Pet Cremation & Transport

Campbeltown: Glen Scotia 15yo, Kilkerran 12yo & Springbank 10yo Rickus & Hursty get excited about the smallest official whisky producing region in Scotland. This episode the boys celebrate viscosity, dissecting the rise and fall of the historical region of Campbeltown. This is the first time they've explored more than one distillery, so pour yourself an oily dram and settle in to chew on the rich history of this unique town!

Australia Day Special Rickus & Hursty celebrate Straya Day by keeping it local. Whether you're at the cricket, smashing tinnies and BBQing with mates, lazing by the pool listening to Triple J's hottest 100 or celebrating in any other way you see fit; we hope you're doing it with a dram in hand (as it's worth two in the bush). Rickus & Hursty fly south (metaphorically) for the summer to sample a few of Tasmania's finest, as well as discussing some distillery history and interesting aspects of our fledgling industry. For show notes head over to Living The Dram. This episode is proudly sponsored by Rupert's Pet Cremation & Transport & The Doof Bus

Benromach: 10yo, Organic & Peat Smoke Rickus & Hursty visit the smallest distillery in Speyside. Rickus & Hursty are back in Speyside discussing what it takes to achieve a Certified Organic status, as well as sharing the awkward story of "Cecil" and his grossly misinterpreted Tinder invitation. They also muse on what dating apps would be like with a comment section and touch on viruses before viruses were cool, all while sampling drams they've not sampled before. So grab a generously filled Glencairn and join them! For show notes head over to Living The Dram. This episode is proudly sponsored by Rupert's Pet Cremation & Transport & The Doof Bus

Xmas Special 2019 Rickus & Hursty gift each other a bottle and recap the year that was 2019. Come all ye faithful and lend an ear; for this be a Living The Dram Xmas Special. Complete with our first bout of technical difficulties. For show notes head over to Living The Dram. This episode is proudly sponsored by Rupert's Pet Cremation & Transport & The Doof Bus

Campbeltown: Glen Scotia 15yo, Kilkerran 12yo & Springbank 10yo Rickus & Hursty get excited about the smallest official whisky producing region in Scotland. This episode the boys celebrate viscosity, dissecting the rise and fall of the historical region of Campbeltown. This is the first time they've explored more than one distillery, so pour yourself an oily dram and settle in to chew on the rich history of this unique town! Read the show notes.

The GlenDronach Revival vs Revival with Cameron McNeill Rickus & Hursty decide to experiment with a battle royale! This episode they bring a special guest, fellow whisky enthusiast and back-country snowboarder Cameron McNeill on the show. In a broad ranging and entertaining conversation, they explore some of Camo's snowboarding experiences in the Kashmir province of India as well as the usual whisky and non-whisky related banter. So sit back with a sherry cask dram and enjoy! For show notes head over to Living The Dram.

The GlenDronach Revival vs Revival with Cameron McNeill Rickus & Hursty decide to experiment with a battle royale! This episode they bring a special guest, fellow whisky enthusiast and back-country snowboarder Cameron McNeill on the show. In a broad ranging and entertaining conversation, they explore some of Camo’s snowboarding experiences in the Kashmir province of India as well as the usual whisky and non-whisky related banter. So sit back with a sherry cask dram and enjoy!

The BenRiach: 15yo Tawny, 15yo PX & 17yo Septendecim Rickus & Hursty head back to Speyside to discover the amazingly rich history of BenRiach. The boys are slowly finding their feet with this podcasting thing, blending banter and research to create an entertaining and informative exploration of this unconventional distillery. Grab a glass and fill it with some well-aged whisky and enjoy some expletive filled musings on the sampled drams as well as the Pattison crash. For show notes head over to Living The Dram.

The BenRiach: 15yo Tawny, 15yo PX & 17yo Septendecim Rickus & Hursty head back to Speyside to discover the amazingly rich history of BenRiach. The boys are slowly finding their feet with this podcasting thing, blending banter and research to create an entertaining and informative exploration of this unconventional distillery. Grab a glass and fill it with some well-aged whisky and enjoy some expletive filled musings on the sampled drams as well as the Pattison crash.

Laphroaig: The 1815, Triple Wood & PX Cask Islay at last! Fresh off the back of a Laphroaig tasting evening hosted by Dan Woolley at Webster's in Newtown, Rickus & Hursty decide to delve deeper into Laphroaig's history and range. For show notes head over to Living The Dram.

Loch Lomond: Original, 12yo & 18yoRickus and Hursty are back, and the podcast now has a name! This episode the boys explore the Highlands via a Loch Lomond gift pack Hursty received (possibly from Rickus, but neither of them are quite sure). Still rough, still irreverent, and still enjoying themselves over a dram or three, settle in with a dram and be entertained! For show notes head over to Living The Dram.

The Glenlivet Master Distiller's Reserve Amateur whisky enthusiasts, Rickus and Hursty have been talking about doing a podcast about their love of single malt whisky for a few years. They finally pull the trigger and record their first episode, beginning with exploring a Glenlivet gift pack Rickus received. This is the pilot, recorded before they'd even thought of a name for the podcast, and the beginning of their podcast journey. It's rough, and irreverent, but they are clearly enjoying themselves so join them for a dram or two! For show notes head over to Living The Dram.