Podcast appearances and mentions of jim mcewan

Say hello to Dan Szor. He's the founder of the Cotswolds Distillery, a pioneering whisky distillery that has learned the rules like a pro, only to break them like an artist. Working with master distillers Jim McEwan from Bruichladdich and whisky veteran Harry Cockburn from Bowmore, the Cotswolds Distillery was one of only 4 English whisky distilleries when it was founded in 2014. Now there are 55.  Working with the next generation of distilling talent, Dan was eager to hire talent but rent experience, supplemented by locals who helped with operations like bottling and peeling fruit for the gin, their first market-ready product. A cloudy gin that shrugged off negative aspersions from the gin world, turning it into a distinguishable brand asset for what has now become a go-to for Cotswold folk and visitors, alike.  For the distillery, the gin was only a stop-gap before the real work on the whisky could begin. His ‘barley epiphany' in the early 2010's saw him imagine a new way of making whisky. One that didn't have to be a heavy hitting whisky from the peaty terroir and harsh water of Scotland but could instead be a softer, younger, fruit-forward liquid made from locally sourced Cotswolds barley, enhanced by a range of carefully sourced barrels that give it the ‘real' flavour.  They now have a wonderful range of whiskies on offer from their legendary ‘Founders Choice', my personal favourites of the ‘Sherry Casks' and ‘Bourbon Casks' as well as more experimental, limited editions and liqueurs. In this episode we talk about whether a healthy dose of naivety or his American chutzpah inspired him to re-write the rules of whisky making, whether it's best to learn an industry from the top or the bottom, and where following a passion can take you. So pour yourself a ‘contemplative dram', take a sip and tune in.   

What if you could capture the essence of a rugged Scottish island in a bottle? Join us as we journey to Islay, Scotland, with Adam Hannett, the head distiller at Bruichladdich Distillery, to explore the bold new expression of The Botanist gin—Distiller's Strength. By increasing the alcohol content to 50%, this limited edition gin accentuates its juniper core while preserving the fine balance of 22 native botanicals. Hannett highlights the importance of exploration and innovation in cocktail creation, inspiring bartenders and gin enthusiasts to push the boundaries of their craft with Islay's finest.Step into the enchanting world of Islay's botanicals with us as we uncover the nostalgic ties to plants and honor the legacy of master distiller Jim McEwan through the artistry involved in bottling Islay's unique aromas and flavors. This episode is not just a celebration of tradition but a testament to the endless possibilities of gin crafting, showcasing The Botanist's commitment to innovation and respect for the timeless beauty of Islay's landscapes. Whether you're a gin aficionado or new to the spirit, this conversation with Adam Hannett, Head Distiller at Bruichladdich Distillery, where the Botanist is made, promises a taste of something truly special.To find out more go to thebotanist.com/Or buy a bottle with our affiliate link 

An Expat, Jim Swan, and Outstanding Natural Beauty Dan Szor is an expat, a native of New York City who has found a permanent home in the Cotswolds of England, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with rolling hills, flowers, and fruits. With a background in finance, Dan found whisky as a side passion, one he converted into a full-time role in the early 2010s by starting the Cotswolds Distillery.  In Part 1 of our conversation, Dan and I discuss his inspirations - the hedonistic time in Paris getting exposed to whisky through the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and La Maison du Whisky, the barley revelation, and meeting Jim McEwan, that wizard of whisky whose time at Bruichladdich inspired Dan long before a distillery was in the cards.  There's a lot to talk about on the Cotswolds, so we'll have a part two coming out next week to talk more about the distillery itself and the truly excellent single malts coming out.  Thanks everyone for listening, and thank you to Dan for entering the Whiskey Ring! _________________________________________________________ If you haven't joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so at patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring There are 2-3 more spots available at the $25/month bottle share club level.  If you haven't yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website.  Cotswolds Distillery Cotswolds Distillery Website Cotswolds Distillery Instagram Cotswolds Distillery Facebook Cotswolds Distillery on Twitter/X Cotswolds Distillery on YouTube Cotswolds Distillery on LinkedIn Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, BAXUS BAXUS Website BAXUS on Instagram BAXUS on Facebook BAXUS on Twitter/X BAXUS on LinkedIn Thanks to our Lead Sponsor, Black Button Distillery  Black Button Distilling Website Black Button Distilling on Facebook Black Button Distilling on Instagram

A Master Distiller Who's Earned His Stripes Brian Sprance is New Riff's new master distiller! Aside from some good-natured ribbing from his colleagues, though, you would never know it.  New Riff named Brian Master Distiller after getting the blessing from Ebersold and co-founders Ken Lewis and Jay Erisman. Ten years after he started, he is now at the top.  Brian has been with New Riff since before they started producing, joining in 2013 during the final phase of installation. He's been mentored by some of the best in the industry, including Larry Ebersold of Seagram's/LDI/MGP. His story is exactly what you want in a master distiller - start at the bottom, learn every nook and cranny of the distillery, go through the expansions and changes, ultimately learning the ropes on the job at a single place.  His title is a recognition of the work he's put in - remember, this is a guy who ended up at a distillery because he had a non-compete that blocked him from joining a brewery, and had never distilled before. We as consumers are fortunate that we don't have to wait to taste his mark on the product - it's been there all along.  Whether it's playing with different grains, different malting levels, using peated casks, or sharing those whiskies with legends of the industry (Jim McEwan and John Glaser, anyone?), Brian knows how the New Riff plant will react. He shares his story, how he's grown, and - in my favorite question of the interview - whether he would accept the title of Master Distiller if he joined another distillery.  Thanks everyone for listening, and thank you to Brian for entering the Whiskey Ring! _________________________________________________________ If you haven't joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so at patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring If you haven't yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website.  New Riff Distillery New Riff Distillery Website New Riff Distillery on Instagram New Riff Distillery on Facebook New Riff Distillery on Twitter New Riff Distillery on YouTube Thanks to our Lead Sponsor, Black Button Distillery  Black Button Distilling Website Black Button Distilling on Facebook Black Button Distilling on Instagram

This week, we're back to whisky! Still without an E, but whisky nonetheless!  We're going to the farthest east coast of Australia, the Gold Coast and Cape Byron to visit Cape Byron Distillery.  Founded by Eddie Brook and nurtured by whisky legend Jim McEwan, Cape Byron is putting out whiskies, gins, and liqueurs that celebrate the land from which they come. The Brookie's gin has 25 botanicals, with 17 native species. The single malt is excellent, boasting the creamy, buttery notes of a great malt whisky in half or a third of the time it would take in Scotland.  After the whisky and gin, they've got a macadamia-based liqueur, a slow gin (their version of a sloe using native Davidson plums in place of sloe berries), and many more products. Not all are available in the US, but I certainly hope they will be soon.  And if you're a fan of Jim McEwan, you'll find some of his signature touches, from the still design to the fermentation, all customized to reflect the unique environment of Australia's east coast. It's halfway across the world, and you should be paying attention to it.  ______________________________________________________ Before we jump into the interview just a few quick notes: Ad-free listening is now available to $5/month patrons and above! Sign up or raise your pledge at the link below.  The first WRP barrel pick is coming! I'm back from Tennessee after picking two barrels - that's right, two! - of Jack Daniel's Barrel Proof Rye. Our Spirits of French Lick barrel pick is done! I won't spoil the surprise, only saying it is one of only 9 or 10 barrels ever made of this whiskey (and ours will be the first to come out!) Our Barrell Rye pick done with Perry and Eric of This Is My Bourbon Podcast is just about ready, too, so keep an eye out on social media and on the mailing list for updates.  $25 members get the chance to join me on picks: one of your fellow Patreon members joined me in Lynchburg, one was on the Spirits of French Lick team, and I'll be picking one or more for the KO pick once samples come in! Join the Patreon now for early access to the barrels! If you haven't joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so! Only 1 Spot Remains in the Barrel Club. The $5 tier has access to the Patreon-only segment called “Under the Influencer”, where some of your favorite YouTubers/Instagrammers/Podcasters and more join me to talk whiskey, life, and influencing. This tier will also have priority access to upcoming barrel picks and shortly will have access to ad-free episodes.  The $25 tier - for people who really want to propel the pod and website forward - will have the same benefits as the $5 tier plus right of first refusal to join me on future barrel picks, access to bottles I'm sent to taste and review, and more. Only 1 spot remains!  You can still support for as little as $1 a month if you'd like to stay up to date with these changes and news about what we've got coming up.  Finally, please do like and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening - it really helps the Whiskey Ring Podcast move up the rankings.  If you haven't yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website.  Cape Byron Distillery Cape Byron Distillery Website Cape Byron Distillery on Instagram Cape Byron Distillery on Facebook Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, ImpEx Beverages https://impexbev.com ImpEx on Instagram ImpEx on Facebook ImpEx on Twitter

Eddie Brook, Founder of Cape Byron Distillery & creator of Brookie's Gin, joins us this week to tell us why you need more Gin-based slushies and hammocks in your life, pronto! Why this pairing works:  This slushie is summer incarnate. It will slay the heat of the day and transport you to the Australian rainforest where Eddie & co. source 17 of the 25 botanicals used for this Gin. Travel somewhere tropical whilst never leaving your backyard hammock. What makes this Gin Special: Eddie Brook and his parents have been regenerating a large swath of farmland and turning it back into a rainforest since 1988 Legendary distiller Jim McEwan and Eddie Brook teamed up to make something truly special: a Gin focusing on the fruits and botanicals of this rainforest Drink in botanicals like Lillypilly Berries, Riperry, and Bottle Brush. They are as fun to say as they are to taste! Brookie's Cucumber-Watermelon-Mint Slushee (makes 4 servings) 1 Small Watermelon About a quarter of a cucumber 4 glugs of Brookie's Gin 2 large scoops of ice Mint for garnish Directions: Add 4 glugs of Brookie's Gin (it's a technical term), watermelon, cucumber, and ice to a blender. Blend, pour, and garnish with mint. Take it to the hammock! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brookiesgin/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/what2drink/message

We're celebrating a major milestone this week with the 1000th episode of WhiskyCast! To mark the occasion, Mark went back through the archives to pick some memorable moments and interviews from the past 18 years for this special episode. You'll hear from legends like the late Parker Beam and Michael Jackson, along with Jimmy Russell, Jim McEwan, Maureen Robinson, Fawn Weaver, and Richard Paterson...just to name a few. This episode is a lot longer than usual, and there's plenty more that we could have included. In the news, Scotch Whisky Association leaders are hoping to persuade Parliament to reject a tax increase on whiskies and other distilled spirits, while local officials in Kentucky are looking at moratoriums on new distillery construction following the phaseout of the state's barrel tax.

Distillers are known for helping each other out, but the team at the Bardstown Bourbon Company is taking that collaborative spirit to new levels. The distillery not only makes its own whiskies, but works with more than 30 other brands to produce their whiskies using 54 different mashbills. Now, Bardstown Bourbon is releasing its own mature Bourbon and Rye whiskies for the first time with the Origin Series. We'll talk with VP of Product Development Dan Callaway about the new whiskies and that collaborative process on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Britain's King Charles is honoring Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes and Islay's Jim McEwan on the New Year's Honours List, Buffalo Trace celebrates a milestone, and we'll have some of your final drams of 2022 and first drams of 2023, too!

Cape Byron Single Malt Whisky is undoubtedly one of the highest profile Australian whisky launches of 2022.This is in no small part due to the involvement of an absolute legend of Scotch whisky, Jim McEwan, previously of the Bowmore, Bruichladdich and Ardnahoe distilleries on Islay.Coming up, you're going to hear how Jim connected with Australian Eddie Brook, who founded Cape Byron Distillery on his family's farm in the Byron Bay hinterland in 2016.You might have already come across the Brookie's Byron Dry Gin that's been on the market a few years now.And you're about to be hearing a lot more about its whiskies. Distilled by Eddie with oversight from Jim, the first batch was released in September, and the duo have big plans for their unique expression of Australian single malt.Click here to open episode in your podcast player.

This episode of “The Barrel Talk” is slightly different than what you are used to. Michael and Andrea Gradl of Gradl's Wiskyfässla in Nuremberg, who are the co-founders and co-organisers of The Village Whisky Fair invited us to come to the fair and “present The Village to an international audience”. Of course, we couldn't say no and subsequently spent three fabulous days in Nuremberg, working quite a lot, meeting lots of wonderful people, recording this special episode and enjoying a very special moment with Jim McEwan, who we invited to join us virtually for the big Masterclass to sing his favourite song “Sweet Caroline” for him. The recording of the song is the background music for the initial quotes and can be found, once more, at the very end of the episode. If you would also like to see the video along with the song, go check out @inside_whisky on Instagram.Of course, all the background noise didn't make it easy recording but we tried our very best to provide you with the high sound-quality you are usually used to – for those (rare) cases when it did not always work perfectly, we sincerely apologise. For you not to get lost during this long episode of almost 2 hours and 12 minutes, here's a list of our guests with the indicated times of where to find the specific interviews: 1. 00:03:29 Ben Curtis (The Single Cask) 2. 00:09:04 Matthew Hastings (Nc'Nean Distillery) 3. 00:20:08 David Ferguson (Lochlea Distillery) 4. 00:26:13 Udo Sonntag (author) 5. 00:34:24 David Thompson (Spirits of Yorkshire / Filey Bay) 6. 00:40:29 Alexander Tichy (Whisky Club of Austria) 7. 00:46:43 Torsten Zimmerman (The Single Cask / Scotch & Tattoos) 8. 00:52:12 Scott A. Fraser (Isle of Raasay Distillery) 9. 00:58:48 Thomas Ewers (Malts of Scotland) 10. 01:05:51 Kenny Macdonald (Dràm Mòr) 11. 01:12:19 Max Engel (Ayrer's Destille) 12. 01:18:54 Dr. Janne Savolainen (SAVU Glass) 13. 01:23:41 Eva Maria Sigurbjörnsdóttir (Flóki Whisky) 14. 01:29:19 Laurentius Michielse (exhibitor) 15. 01:33:06 Scott Martin (Distell Group / Bunnahabhain, Tobermory, Deanston) 16. 01:40:05 Andreas Kreser (St. Kilian Distillers) 17. 01:46:02 Michael Hupe & Christian Albrecht (Airport Nürnberg) 18. 01:50:52 Greg Urquhart (Gleann Mór / Rare Find) 19. 01:57:38 Roxy @roxylinn (bartender Provocateur Berlin / The Glenlivet) 20. 02:03:15 Kwek Yi Xian & Teo Spy (The Single Cask) 21. 02:11:57 Sweet Caroline (Masterclass surprise for Jim McEwan) Tune in and enjoy The Village Whisky Fair with us.

Neil joins Andrew for a chat after his dramatic comeback against Jim McEwan in the semi-finals of the WDF World Championships. The pair discuss Neil's fighting spirit, working with Stephen McKibben on hypnotherapy, getting a pep talk at 3-1 from his manager Gareth Chambers, being underrated by the bookies and looking ahead to producing even more in the semi-finals.

Jim McEwan joined Andrew for a brief chat after his victory over Aaron Turner on Monday afternoon to discuss his performance, his last 16 meeting with Mike Warburton, the significance of his walk-on scarf and his potential title chances. 

Welcome to the kbbreview Podcast,  this is the first of two special episodes of the show coming to you live from the NEC and kbb Birmingham 2022.Your host as always is Andy Davies and we're looking at the state of the market, supply chain issues, and whether you can possibly predict or forecast what happens next.In this episode we have Jim McEwan from Haier, Rashpal Sidhu from Roca, Jonathan Hartley from Samsung, and retailers Darren Morgan and Darren Taylor.

In this week's episode, Andrew is joined by three recent Scottish WDF ranking event winners - Jim McEwan, Lorraine Hyde and Mark Barilli.   First, Jim (0:52) discusses his British Classic victory in Bridlington, winning the title with a 160 finish, getting the chance to play in five of the PDC's Super Series events this year, hitting a nine-darter against Barney, success on the Challenge Tour, crossing his fingers for a Lakeside place and targeting a spot in the World Seniors.   Then Lorraine (24:14) calls in to talk about winning the women's British Classic about 30 minutes before Jim, the improvements to her game in the last two years, her darting family, counting for John Henderson as a teenager, going to Ireland and Italy to boost her standing in the WDF rankings and what it'd mean to make her Lakeside debut in January.   Finally, Hungarian Classic champion Mark (39:23) breaks down his maiden WDF title win, getting back out playing again after COVID, why he's never previously produced his best at Lakeside, wanting a return - and a win - at the Home of World Darts, how a shoulder injury affected him during his time in the PDC, the importance of the Riley's qualifiers and why he wears long sleeved shirts when playing.   Enjoy!

We're going into the #HappyHourLive webcast archives for this episode! Legendary distiller Jim McEwan joined us last February on the webcast, shortly before he announced his retirement from the Scotch Whisky industry, and this was one of his final interviews. He shared stories and answered your questions for nearly two hours that night, and we thought it was worth sharing with more of you. 

Director of "The Water of Life" film Greg Swartz and co-author of Jim McEwan's biography "A Journeyman's Journey" Udo Sonntag join the crew this week to continue our conversation about the great Jim McEwan!

The one and only Jim McEwan joins the Cask Chasers Podcast crew for one last call before his official and final retirement.  The man may have stepped away, but his legacy remains. Show notes here: http://caskchasers.org/episode-48

Es sind keine Fakten, die du in einem x-beliebigen Whisky-Buch findest, es sind Details von einem, der die Whisky-Branche kennt, wie kaum ein anderer. Wovon ich spreche ist Jim McEwan und dessen Autobiographie, die er zusammen mit dem Autor Udo Sonntag veröffentlichte. Ich unterhalte mich im Interview mit Udo darüber, warum die Qualität einiger Whiskys früher schlechter war als heute. Wir sprechen auch darüber wie sich Islay Whisky in den letzten Jahrzehnten verändert hat und wie du das erkennen kannst. Zu dieser Episode: https://www.jimsbiography.com Mehr über Eye for Spirits: - www.eyeforspirits.com/whiskyclub - www.eyeforspirits.com/whisky - Whisky High Volume: https://spoti.fi/3eZs16v

In this week's bonus episode, Andrew speaks with Scotland international 'Chucky', Jim McEwan. The pair discuss how Jim initially got into darts, using the lockdowns to improve his throw, not taking darts seriously until 2011, making his Scotland debut at the age of 51, entering Q-School this year for the first time, his experience of 'the bubble', playing through a dental injury suffered on the first day, missing out on a Tour Card by one leg, missing his friends from the BDO circuit, the support he gets from his wife, his remaining ambitions in darts and much more. Enjoy!

News und Informationen finden Sie in unserem Shop auf https://www.whisky.de/whisky/aktuelles/nachrichten.html 00:00 Whisky.de News 00:28 Ardbeg stellt neues Brennhaus vor 01:57 GlenAllachie bringt White Heather Blend zurück 03:08 Jura bringt Whisky mit Rum Finish 03:53 Autobiografie von Jim McEwan kommt 04:20 Glen Moray ernennt neuen Whisky-Chef

Words on Whiskey got a behind the scenes insight into the production of the 'The Water of Life - A Whisky Film' with Director, Greg Swartz and legendary Master Distiller, Jim McEwan.#wordsonwhiskey________________________________________________________________________More informationOur websiteWords on WhiskeyShare our podcast with friendsFacebook Twitter LinkedInYoutube LiveOur show goes out live every Wednesday at 7:30pm IST. If you want to join us then please subscribe to our YouTube channel.Show: Words on WhiskeyDate: January 27th 2021

THE FILM IN A SNAPSHOT The Water of Life is a feature documentary that focuses on the craftsmen, chemists, and renegades at the heart of the whisky revolution that turned the stagnant scotch whisky industry of the 1980s into the titan it is today. Starting behind the locked gates of an abandoned distillery, Jim McEwan and Mark Reynier share their personal experiences of the risk-taking and wild experimentation they used to turn Bruichladdich into what it is today. The film takes you on the journeys of other early visionaries like Gordon & MacPhail, Billy Walker, Dr. Rachel Barrie and David Stewart, whose mixture of talent, chemistry, hard work, grit, and a little sprinkle of magic paved the way for the next generation of innovators like Adam Hannett, Kelsey McKechnie, Liam Hughes, Iain Croucher, and Eddie Brook. https://wateroflifefilm.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/irishwhiskeyreview/message

What's it like to build a new distillery on Islay? Port Ellen vs. Bowmore - How did Jim McEwan and Stewart Laing get to know each other and what does football have to do with it? In how far are Scott and Andrew Laing - the next generation - involved in the family business and what does roasted meat have to do with their relationship to whisky? Find out more in this episode of "The Barrel Talk".

Another comparison episode, but I am a wee bit more prepared for this one. The Octomore Masterclass 8.2 (167ppm @ 58.4) vs. the Octomore 10.1 (107ppm @ 59.8). The brain child of Jim McEwan and Mark Reynier, Octomore rounded out the triple threat from Bruichladdich. Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore would give the distillery a wide reach in single malt expressions. Octomore being the HEAVILY peated offerings, would ignite a cult following of legendary status. Don't let the PPM's scare you. I was afraid and now I believe. The 8.2 is a fruity dessert of complex flavors with a delightful twist of smoke within, likely a result of the wine casks used in the maturation. The 10.1 is a delightful blend of bourbon notes and classic Bruichladdich, sweet vanilla caramel with a smokey oak giving way to a delectable dark chocolate, toffee salty seaweed. Both bottles are high proof, yet easy to drink. I am now a believer.

Stories of spirit, stories of characters, stories of community with Islay whisky heavyweights - Billy Stitchell (Caol Ila), Simon Coughlin (Bruichladdich), Jim McEwan (Bowmore and Bruichladdich) and James Donaldson (The Botanist)

A Negroni is one of the great cocktail classics. In fact, it’s celebrating its 100th birthday this year, when, as legend would have it, Count Camillo Negroni asked his bartender to add a drop of gin to his Americano.   Folks are changing up ingredients all the time and the negroni has been tinkered with by creative bartenders trying their hand at redefining the basic recipe of vermouth, campari, and gin. Our guest today knew the native flavors he had in his backyard were crying out for attention and he was going to be the one who answered their call!  I can’t say his original m.o. was to rework the Negroni per se, but the outcome of his pursuits have provided bartenders with a new spirit to play with. I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time by the best in the industry.  Eddie Brook’s family had macadamia nuts on their mind when purchasing an old dairy farm in Byron Bay ,an eight hour drive north of Sydney. They discovered they had landed in the region’s largest subtropical rainforest, home to hundreds of Australia’s native  botanicals. After a childhood spent enjoying literally the fruits of his parents labor and a chance meeting with his idol, Jim McEwan of Bruichladdich fame, Eddie established Cape Byron Distillery and the awards keep pouring in, especially for that one ingredient that gives his take on the negroni a particularly Australian character.   Our cocktail of the week is the Slowgroni! It has the best of both worlds - the old and the new. It starts with the traditional Gin, Campari and Vermouth recipe, but this time the gin is Brookies and the additional ingredient is the Byron Slow Gin that Eddie described!   INGREDIENTS 30ml Brookie’s Byron Dry Gin 15ml Brookie’s Byron Slow Gin 30ml Campari 15ml Premium vermouth Garnish: Orange slice or zest. METHOD Stir over ice in mixing glass until chilled.  Strain over ice-filled glass. Garnish with an Orange slice or zest.   You’ll find this recipe and more Negroni recipes, plus all the cocktails of the week at ALushLifeManual.com, where you’ll also find all the ingredients in our shop.    Full Episode Details: http://bit.ly/2LF7hEo ----- Join the conversation on your IOS or Android at flick.group/lushlife where we can talk cocktails until the sun rises! Become a supporter of A Lush Life Manual for as little as $5 - all you have to do is go to buymeacoffee.com/lushlife Lush Life Merchandise is here - we’re talking t-shirts, mugs, iPhone covers, duvet covers, iPad covers and more covers for everything!  and more!    Produced by Simpler Media Follow us on Twitter and Instagram Get great cocktail ideas on Pinterest New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

My guest today is one of the best known distillers in the world.  Beginning as an apprentice cooper in 1963, Jim McEwan eventually came to manage the Bowmore distillery and then travel the world for another 33 years, as a judge, ambassador and distiller for Bruichladdich and The Botanist as well. He was inducted into Whisky Magazine's ‘Hall of Fame' in 2014 and in the same year, founded Cape Byron Distillery with Eddie Brook (who you might recall from way back on Episode 16).  They've been known best for their award-winning ‘Brookie's Gin' but are now beginning to produce whisky. I was invited to the distillery to taste the first drop, straight from the still. This interview takes place on the balcony overlooking the famous Brook Farm and regenerated rainforest, so there's a bit of ambient noise to note, but it worked as inspiration for the last interview Jim will have in Australia.

Eddie Brook is co-founder and CEO of Cape Byron Distillery, which launched near Australia’s Byron Bay in 2016. Legendary whiskey distiller Jim McEwan invested in the venture and agreed to mentor Brook after learning about his family’s 96-acre farm. A wasteland 30 years ago, Brook’s parents planted 35,000 subtropical rainforest trees, regenerating the land and – it turns out – creating an incredible climate for making spirits.

  As if special/personalized treatment at Caol Ila wasn't cool enough, just a few miles away, Jim McEwan sets aside some time for us to show us the Ardnahoe Distillery site, and gives us an amazing tasting (thanks be to the wonderful Bryony Boyd for the hook up), and provides us with an interesting take on misconceptions. Finally our swimmers successfully complete their 8 day swim around Islay and Jackie Thomson gives us and our swimmers the most royal of treatments.So, as usual, have a seat, have a pour, and listen in. Unless you're driving. If you're driving, be smart and stay sober but be sure to listen into the conversation! Special thanks to: - Weigh Down for allowing us to use their song "Wooden Monsters" as our theme song- Moana McAuliffe for designing our Podcast Logo- Blue Yeti for making great microphones- RØDE for making *really* great microphones- Olympus and Tascam for making fine mobile recording devices- Joshua Hatton for producing and editing- Leaves of Lothlorien, Joshua's old band from the 90's, for allowing us to use their cover of Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas' "Brothers"

It's hard for some people to retire. Jim McEwan says he was pacing around his home on Islay "like a tiger" after retiring from Bruichladdich a year and a half ago...so when Stewart Laing offered him the chance to help build his family's new Ardnahoe Distillery on Islay from the ground up, Jim pounced on the offer. Stewart and his sons recently broke ground on the Hunter Laing & Co.-owned distillery overlooking Port Askaig, with plans to start distilling whisky next year. Jim shares the reasons behind his decision with us on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. We'll also get some historical perspective from Irish Whiskey historian Fionnán O'Connor on Diageo's plans to revive the legendary Roe & Co. whiskey brand and build a new distillery at its Guinness St. James's Gate complex in Dublin. In the news, Distell plans to spend the next two years reworking its Tobermory Distillery and single malt brand, while another distillery project has been approved in Northern Ireland...and we'll also take a look at the week's new whiskies.

Adam Hannett has a tough job, though he wouldn't trade places with anyone for the world! He took over for the legendary Jim McEwan as head distiller at Bruichladdich following Jim's retirement last summer, and has just released his first bottling: Octomore 7.4 Virgin Oak. We'll talk with Adam about the future at Bruichladdich, what it's like to have your mentor living right next door to the distillery, and Bruichladdich's plans to make its recipes for the "Classic Laddie" more transparent starting next month. In the news, the Scotch Whisky Association has warned Bruichladdich to run those plans by UK regulators first, while nearby Lagavulin has unveiled its 200th anniversary bottling with a nod to the distant past. Teeling Whiskey is sending 12 different single barrel Irish whiskies to the US in time for St. Patrick's Day, Scotland's northernmost mainland distillery is releasing its first whisky, and we now know the new name for the restored Old Taylor Distillery in Kentucky.

It's been a busy week in the whisky world, and there's a lot to talk about on this episode. We'll have the latest on Friday's explosion at the Silver Trail Distillery in Hardin, Kentucky that left distillers Jay Rogers and Kyle Rogers critically burned, along with the outpouring of support for them following the accident. Nine people were indicted in the theft of thousands of dollars worth of Pappy Van Winkle, Buffalo Trace, and Wild Turkey Bourbon in Kentucky, but there's a viral campaign seeking a pardon...for the whiskey. Finally, Bruichladdich's Jim McEwan suddenly announced his plan to retire in July after 52 years in the whisky business...so he really can spend more time with his family. We'll have all that, plus more of the week's news and tasting notes for one of Jim McEwan's favorite whiskies along with two single malts from 1975.

The last time we heard from Jim McEwan, he was leading a toast at the end of his master class at Bruichladdich during Feis Ile in May. Jim's been a busy man since then, but he agreed to sit down for a few minutes and discuss his dalliance with distilling gin, the future of Bruichladdich as the 10th anniversay of its reopening nears, and his own approaching retirement to spend time with his grandchildren. In the news, repair work is underway at Springbank, auction results from Glasgow and Hong Kong, and the debut of the WhiskyCast Glencairn nosing glass!  

Day two of the Islay Festival of Malt and Music is Bruichladdich's turn to shine, and the sun was shining once again as Ileachs and whisky lovers from all over the world gathered at the distillery. Distillery manager Duncan McGillivray joins me in this episode, along with highlights from Jim McEwan's master class, Islay beers, and a song from Robin Laing.

This week...the winner of the "Pick the Interview" poll on the WhiskyCast Facebook page! We'll hear from Fred Laing of Douglas Laing & Co. about working with both blends and single cask bottlings, his family's history in the whisky business...his stories about Richard Paterson and Jim McEwan...and how he was almost traded for a distillery! In the news, Diageo and Pernod Ricard cope with the recession, Kentucky distillers protest a tax increase by dumping bourbon on the steps of the State Capitol...and Mount Vernon marks Presidents' Day by firing up the stills at George Washington's Distillery...

What distillery produces so many different expressions of whisky that one could probably drink a different one each day for a month with no repeats? The answer is simple...Bruichladdich. Jim McEwan and his team come up with a malt for every occasion, and he'll bring us up to date in this episode. In the news, Glengoyne celebrates a special anniversary with a special malt, Tullamore Dew comes up with a 10-year-old Irish whiskey, and Glenfiddich picks a vintage cask.

It's festival week on Islay, and we'll hear about the plans for this week's Islay Festival of Malt and Music from Laphroaig's John Campbell, Ardbeg's Michael Heads, and Jim McEwan of Bruichladdich. Every distillery on Islay and Jura has a special bottling for this week's festival, and the guys will give us details on theirs. In the news, skyrocketing prices for crops and energy mean we'll be paying more for whisky in the future, Constellation Brands sells a Quebec distillery to Diageo, and updates on new whiskies planned for later this year.

Jim McEwan and the guys at Bruichladdich don't really care what the rest of the whisky industry thinks of them. They do care greatly what whisky drinkers think, though...and the passion they share for great whisky leads them to try the unusual. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't...but there's no denying the passion in each bottle. Jim shares his outspoken views with us in this episode, and in the news, Whyte & Mackay buys back The Dalmore's US rights, Euan Shand gets the permits for his new distillery in Huntly, and we get a lesson on how not to beat the airport security guards.

It's a milestone episode for WhiskyCast, and to mark the occasion, I've selected a few of my favorite moments from the first 99 episodes. You'll hear from Jim McEwan, John MacDougall, Jim Cryle, Jim Murray, Tom Bulleit, and others during this special episode. In the news, the other shoe has dropped in India's whisky tax war, there are new releases from Whyte & Mackay and Bruichladdich, and the Classic Malts Cruise gets underway in Oban.

Jim McEwan is one of whisky's most outspoken ambassadors. As production manager at Bruichladdich, he's been responsible for bringing a silent distillery back to life, and creating some of the more unusual single malts around. He'll share some of his stories with us in this episode. In the news...one of Jim's proteges gets a promotion, there's a new production manager at Glenfarclas, and Bunnahabhain opens the doors to its online store.

On December 10th, the Wall Street Journal looked at the controversy over "finishing" whisky, with this question in the headline: "What's in that bottle?" In this episode, we'll look at the debate over finishing whiskies with Jim McEwan of Bruichladdich, Simon Brooking of The Dalmore, and Malt Advocate Magazine editor and publisher John Hansell.