Podcast appearances and mentions of william grant sons

Tune in as we chat with Charlotte Voisey, the new Executive Director of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation! A seasoned bartender, educator, and former Global Head of Ambassadors for William Grant & Sons, Charlotte brings a rare blend of hands-on experience and industry leadership to the role. She's been a driving force behind the Spirited Awards and TOTCF's education programs—and now she's stepping up to guide the Foundation's daily operations. Don't miss this conversation with one of the industry's most respected voices.  Perfect Purée:  https://perfectpuree.com/foodservice/complimentary-samples/?utm_source=bartenderatlarge&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=sampling202 ____________________________________ Join us every Monday as acclaimed bartender, Erick Castro, interviews some of the bar industry's top talents from around the world, including bartenders, distillers & authors. If you love cocktails & spirits then this award-winning podcast is just for you. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: Get early access to episodes, exclusive bonus episodes, special content and more: https://www.patreon.com/BartenderAtLarge WATCH OUR VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/bartenderatlarge FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Erick Castro: www.instagram.com/HungryBartender Bartender at Large: www.instagram.com/BartenderAtLarge FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK: Erick Castro: https://www.tiktok.com/@hungrybartender?_t=ZT-8uBekAKOGwU&_r=1 Bartender at Large: www.tiktok.com/BartenderAtLarge FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: Erick Castro: www.twitter.com/HungryBartender Bartender at Large: www.twitter.com/BartendAtLarge

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Andrew Geoghegan, CMO at William Grant & Sons and author of the new book "Effective Brand Building," shares frameworks for brand growth. Andrew explains why consumers don't care about brands, the importance of organizational awareness, his 6C's audit approach, and strategies for different brand stages. Using case studies, he illustrates principles for balancing short-term results with long-term brand equity while navigating measurement challenges and media consolidation.

In this episode of The Speed of Culture, Matt Britton sits down with Paul Basford, US President and Managing Director of William Grant & Sons. Paul shares insights into driving growth, navigating shifts in consumer behavior, and embracing premiumization across William Grant's portfolio of high-end spirits.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Paul Basford on LinkedInSubscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform.And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A recent study by CGA by NIQ reveals that South Africans enjoy dining out, with 87% of those surveyed visiting bars or restaurants at least once a month. The study also highlights a growing preference for cocktails, with 60% of drinkers choosing them, and an increasing demand for premium beverages. Lifa Bakana, the senior brand manager of William Grant & Sons, says South Africans have developed a taste for premium brands like their Glenfiddich single malt whiskey. These customers, referred to as the “greatest showman” or “greatest show woman,” are the target market for Glenfiddich, according to Bakana. It is typically a 35-year-old and older consumer who enjoys premium whiskey. To tap into this market, Glenfiddich has released its 31-year-old Grand Chateau in South Africa, which has been aged in Bordeaux red wine casks. There are only 474 bottles available priced at R40,000 and Bakana says they are selling fast if you want to get your hands on something rare.

Paul Basford of William Grant & Sons discusses marketing strategies and industry trends

Few people know the whisky industry as well as Sukhinder Singh. He's a renowned collector of rare whiskies, founded The Whisky Exchange with his brother Rajbir, and is now building a distillery on Islay. We'll talk with Sukhinder about the coming whisky loch, progress on his new Portintruan distillery, and much more on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Scotch whisky exports fell significantly during the first half of 2024. William Grant & Sons plans a major expansion at its Girvan complex in Ayrshire, and Pernod Ricard's new North American Distillers unit plans to build a hub around its Rabbit Hole distillery in Louisville. 

For 41 years, the Port Ellen Distillery on Scotland's Isle of Islay sat silent. Last month, a multi-million dollar restoration of the distillery was completed when the first spirit flowed at Port Ellen since 1983. While it'll be years before we see new bottlings of Port Ellen, the distillery will be open to Islay visitors from around the world. Diageo's Ewan Gunn was on hand when that first spirit flowed. He's been part of the revival since it was announced in 2017, and joins us on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, The Demeter Collection auction raised £49,000 for the Our Whisky Foundation, while William Grant & Sons is expanding its Blended Scotch portfolio with a new range of whiskies. 

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today's edition features highlights from last week's gathering of the audio industry's commercial players for the Heard conference in Sydney.Marketing mastery and audio nirvanaLast week saw Australia's audio trade body, Commercial Radio & Audio invite agency executives to its Heard event.Across the day, panels explored the emotional and rational sides of radio advertising, and put the case that radio deserves a reassessment of its place in the media mix.Today's podcast features two of the panels, both moderated by Unmade's Tim Burrowes.The first featured a conversation on understanding radio's role within the media marketing mix. Paul Sinkinson, managing director of Analytic Partners, whose speciality is the ROI of marketing, shared details of a study the industry is conducting on whether marketers can find a price edge by investing more in brand building rather than performance activity.He was joined by marketer Nathan James, from drinks owner William Grant & Sons, who shared the results of a brand building radio experiment featuring Hendricks gin. Lauren Joyce, chief strategy & connections officer at Australian Radio Network rounded off the panel.The second panel focused on the trading relationship between the audio companies and media agencies, and how it needs to evolve to achieve audio nirvana.It featured Venessa Hunt, Director of Commercial Strategy & Growth, at ARN; Olly Newton, Executive Head, LiSTNR, Commercial, SCA; Nicole Bence, Chief Commercial Officer at Nova and Ash Earnshaw, Director of Sales, Total Audio at Nine. * Tim Burrowes' travel to Sydney and accommodation was funded by CRAEditing was courtesy of Abe's Audio, the people to talk to about voiceovers, sound design and podcast production.Message us: letters@unmade.mediaTim BurrowesPublisher - Unmade This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

On this episode we sample and review all five of the Batch and Bottle lineup of ready to drink cocktails. We sample the Milagro Margarita, Hendrick's Gin Martini, Reyka Rhubarb Cosmopolitan, Monkey Shoulder Lazy Old Fashioned, and Glenfiddich Scotch Manhattan all while discussing free range gyms, chromatic puppy dogs, winning the lottery, getting REAL fancy real quick, and the RTD concept.  Thanks to William Grant & Sons for the opportunity to sample and review the Batch and Bottle lineup.  Support Us On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DrepandStone We'd love to hear from you! https://linktr.ee/DrepandStone Don't forget to subscribe! Music by @joakimkarudmusic Episode #203

Our guest today is Tim Pitts, the Senior District Manager for Kentucky and Tennessee for William Grant & Sons Inc.  Working in the land of Kentucky Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey, Tim is up for the challenge of bringing some of the world's best Scotch Whisky to consumers in the area.  William Grant & Sons is an independent, family owned premium spirits company. Their core lineup includes some of the most well-known brands in spirits: Glenfiddich, Grant's, The Balvenie, Tullamore D.E.W., Drambuie, Hendrick's Gin, Sailor Jerry Rum and Monkey Shoulder.  Editor's Note:  Please excuse the brief audio issue with our guest's audio during 1:17 - 2:50 Timestamp.  The audio returns to normal for the remainder of the episode. About William Grant & Sons: William Grant & Sons is an independent, family owned premium spirits company.  When our founder William Grant established our company in 1887, he had a vision to make the best dram in the valley, and that vision stands true today as we build brands that are loved the world over. These include our eight core brands: Glenfiddich, Grant's, The Balvenie, Tullamore D.E.W., Drambuie, Hendrick's Gin, Sailor Jerry Rum and Monkey Shoulder.  We have distilling and bottling operations in Scotland, Ireland, Iceland, India, the US and Mexico and a team of over 2,600 people at 48 global locations.  We consistently win the industry's top accolades, which are testament to the quality of our liquid, our dedication to our craft and the talent of our people.  One hundred and thirty four years on, we are leaders in the international spirits industry and have ambitious plans for growth to ensure our business is sustainable for the long term.  William Grant was a true pioneer. He worked with a close-knit team of talented and passionate people to create a legacy that endures and their spirit is very much at the heart of our culture today. Learn more on their website: http://www.williamgrant.com  Stream this episode on your favorite podcast app and be sure to drop us a review while you're there.   We are thankful for everyone who has supported us. A huge shoutout goes to our growing Patreon Community as well! We'd appreciate it if you can take the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show. Follow  us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support our endeavors, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com. Check out our freshly redesigned website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, whiskey news, and details on our upcoming single barrel picks. Cheers,Scott and JakeBourbon Lens   William Grant & Sons In The News: William Grant lifts profit despite supply chain woes | Scotland | The Times William Grant & Sons launches Glenfiddich Perpetual Collection Thirstie Launches William Grant & Sons First U.S. Branded E-Commerce Sites With The Balvenie And Glenfiddich Online Shops Glenfiddich-maker William Grant & Sons sees sales rebound but warns of 'challenges and unrest' | The Scotsman William Grant & Sons sees turnover and profit increase - DRAM Scotland William Grant & Sons Hendrick's Neptunia Gin - Product Launch - Just Drinks William Grant & Sons bolsters travel retail team

Dick Durbin's plan to tax tobacco even harder, Kelsey McKechnie, famed William Grant & Sons blender, and her new blend of whiskey. They smoke an Espinosa Especial and drink a Fistful of Bourbon. They talk a little bit about Fist Full of Dollars because it reminds them of it. They talk a little about how they don't understand that India is blowing up now rather than last year.

Nothing says “Happy Holidays” and “kiss my ass, 2020” like the judgement-free comfort of a wonderful spirit. Sebastien Durbomay, brand ambassador at William Grant & Sons, returns to Car Con Carne to make liquor suggestions for your gift-buying needs. Milagro Añejo, anyone? From Balvenie Carribean Cask 14 year old to Hendricks Gin, we cover gift ideas for all tastes and budgets. You could win a 50 dollar gift card to Byron’s Hot Dogs, with two locations in Chicago (Irving Park & Lawrence). Sign up for the Car Con Carne newsletter from the link on the front page of carconcarne.com for your shot to win.

On this week's episode of Ad Lib, E.J. Schultz is joined by Harvey Purchese, senior VP of marketing at liquor marketer William Grant & Sons. We get behind Hendrick's quirky ad approach, which has included stunts like the "Hendrick’s High Wheel,” a decidedly old-fashioned exercise bike. It's part of the brand’s Luddite marketing shtick, which has included the Horatio, a “somewhat smart” speaker and the Hendrick’s Streaming Service, which consists of videos of actual streams—yes, running water. 

"It ain’t just a bourbon. It’s a damn fistful."  We had a great time with Anthony Bohlinger, National Brand Ambassador for Fistful of Bourbon. Fistful of Bourbon is a new, national release bourbon from William Grant & Sons. You may be more familiar with the company known for Scotch brands like Glenfiddich and The Balvenie (as well as Hendrick’s Gin and  Sailor Jerry rum), but this is the company’s first new American Whiskey. Fistful is a blend of five straight American bourbons (five fingers … fist ... fistful, it all makes sense now) that are all aged at least two years.  The blending is a joint effort by Master Blender Brian Kinsman and Kelsey McKechnie, both from William Grant & Sons. The bottle design is a unique one, evoking the Spaghetti Western theme. Learn more about the lifestyle this brand is trying to reflect, one that’s full of fun if you follow Anthony’s Instagram feed. The whiskey recently won a Double Gold at the 2019 International Spirits Challenge.  Find out our thoughts on this 90 proof, $25 bottle of straight bourbon in this week’s episode.  We had a great time with Anthony and appreciate him sharing this whiskey with us.  Fistful of Bourbon will have nationwide distribution and is currently available for about $25 on Drizly.  Learn more about Fistful on their website.  We would appreciate you giving us a 5 star rating on your podcast app and please leave us a written review. This will help others discover our podcast and will help us expand our reach. Also, be sure to follow us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at TheBourbonLens@Gmail.com. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts and see what we are up to. Cheers,  Scott, Jake, and MichaelThe Bourbon Lens

Father’s Day is a week and a half away… why not give the gift of spirits? William Grant & Sons brand ambassador Seb Derbomez is here with gift suggestions! Car Con Carne is sponsored by C&H Financial Services.

One of the longest-standing brand ambassadors in the game, Charlotte has helped shape the way brand ambassadors are trained and respected. With a huge and diverse portfolio to work with William Grant & Sons, she gives insight into Hendrick's and how to make the transition and stay balanced as a brand ambassador. Join us every Tuesday & Friday as award winning industry stalwart, Shawn Soole interviews some of the hospitality industries top talents from around the world including bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry supporters. Get points of view, advice and the backstories every week. Brought to you by www.soolehospitality.com FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM – Shawn Soole https://www.instagram.com/shawnsoole/ Soole Hospitality Concepts https://www.instagram.com/soolehospitalityconcepts/ FOLLOW US ON TWITTER - https://twitter.com/ShawnSoole --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/post-shift/message

Pour 'n Tell adds a pairing component as we are joined by George Grant from Glenfarclas, Kirsten Grant Meikle from William Grant & Sons and Jeff Borysiewicz from Corona Cigar Company and Florida Sun Grown. We will be pairing various expressions of Glenfarclas, Balvenie and Glenfiddich with various cigars that utilize Florida Sun Grown tobacco. Join us as we talk to George, Kirsten and Jeff about their respective brands and the pairings we are experiencing from their offerings. If you can create a similar pairing while watching or listening, all the better.

The folks at Rosen Centre's Harry's Poolside Bar & Grille are at it again with 2020's Sip & Savor series! Chef Tello Luna joins Jim to talk about the dishes he's prepared and paired with the spirits of William Grant & Sons! Book your spot NOW for the event happening Friday March 20th.

Rosemary McGinness cut her teeth as a leader in a line management role in hospitality, where she discovered a passion for leading people and seeing them grow. She has since held several global positions as HR Director across a range of sectors. In this episode Rosemary reflects on the experiences and people who have shaped her as a leader. She also shares her personal story of dealing with breast cancer after being diagnosed when she was Group HR Director of William Grant & Sons.

Ian Millar has seen it all and has the stories and knowledge to prove it. Ian and Kirstin Grant of William Grant & Sons join the Barrel to Bottle Crew for a conversation about the past, present and future of Glenfiddich. It wouldn't be a Barrel to Bottle podcast without sampling some of their fine Scotch, including the Glenfiddich 12-year-old, Glenfiddich 14-year-old and Fire & Cane, a blend of peated and unpeated Scotch, aged in Rum barrels. Plus, Ian and the team revisit the legendary Annasach Reserve 25 Year blend.

130 year old liquor company uses blockchain to track whiskey. William Grant & Sons been around for a minute 1887 and they have been making luxury whiskey since then. Due to counterfeiting they decided to enlist the help of blockchain. https://cointelegraph.com/news/over-130-year-old-liquor-company-william-grant-sons-to-track-whiskey-on-blockchain Check out our sponsors as well https://coinseed.app.link/cryptocentz Please click, suscribe and review us on itunes, google play music, iheart radio and now youtube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnWo--PtvI5-WRfxYjhLTLg Encrypted Apparel as one of our show sponsors. Encrypted Apparel is an amazing fashionable line of shirts that are inspired by cryptocurrency. Use the link wearencrypted.com and the coupon code CRYPTOCENTZ to receive 10% off your purchase. To purchase the book, please go over to the links below. Check out B is for Bitcoin Book that is changing the game on the education of crypto for kids and adults Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/B-Bitcoin-Graeme-Moore/dp/1999411102 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/cryptocentzpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cryptocentzpodcast/support

For Steve Grasse, the founder of Philadelphia-based creative agency Quaker City Mercantile, inspiration often comes from the music business. In an interview included in this episode, Grasse, who created iconic spirit brands Sailor Jerry Rum and Hendrick’s Gin, explained that he’s “always approached brands like bands.” “Bands create passion and excitement; and they’re not always trying to sell you something,” he said. “The content is what you’re excited about… and you become part of their circle and their lives. They created an identity that was visual, that was audible and that was also visceral. And then they toured to get you to sign up and be part of their group. They didn’t buy a TV commercial and say ‘Van Halen!’” That perspective led the strategy for Sailor Jerry Rum, which upended traditional marketing for spirit brands and has since become a standard on back bars and liquor store shelves. Sailor Jerry netted Grasse a fortune when it was acquired by spirits conglomerate William Grant & Sons in 2008, and, not content to sail off into the sunset, he used the proceeds to launch boutique distilling projects Art in the Age and Tamworth Distilling. As part of our conversation, Grasse discussed the roots of his career in branding and design and how he built Sailor Jerry Rum and Hendrick’s from concepts into best-selling brands. He also discussed how Quaker City Mercantile, which he described as a “spirits company that does corporate gigs to pay for experimentation" took on a project to revitalize Guinness beer and why he identifies himself as a “filmmaker that makes booze.” Show notes: 3:16: Interview: Steve Grasse, Founder, Quaker City Mercantile: In an interview at Quaker City Mercantile (QCM) headquarters in Philadelphia, Grasse discussed how the firm creates both spirit brands and “the worlds around those brands.” He also explained why constant experimentation, frugality and a sneaker deal with Converse were keys to the development of Sailor Jerry Rum, why a focus group that panned the idea for Hendrick’s Gin was a good thing. He also spoke about QCM’s work with Guinness and why he urged executives to “stop thinking like a marketer and start thinking about the beer,” and revisited one of his most infamous projects, “Bikini Bandits.” Brands in this episode: Glenfiddich, Sailor Jerry Rum, Captain Morgan Rum, Hendrick’s Gin, Guinness, Tamworth Distilling

Tweet LIVE this Sunday, January 14th at 635pm Small Bites with Glenn Gross and Derek Timm of Bluejeanfood.com on Wildfire Radio returns with more foodie fun. We welcome Michael Ungaro the Vice President of San Pedro Fish Market and Restaurant and one of the stars of Kings of FI$H that has had over 40 million viewers and just premiered Season 4 of the show. San Pedro Fish Market is California's Largest Restaurant; declared one of the Top 10 Most Instragramed restaurant in America a few years in a row, has been awarded 4 Guinness World Records, and with millions served making it literally California's busiest dining destination annually. "Kings of Fi$h" is based on three generations of the San Pedro Fish Market family who have been in the fish business since 1956, and the hilarious series highlights the entrepreneurial family spirit and frames the strong characters that make up this booming family run business. Featured on Foodbeast for the restaurant's world famous mouthwatering "Super Tray," the San Pedro Fish Market and the Ungaro family attract not only LA locals, but people from around the world, including celebrities such as Sofia Vergara lookalike Tati Polo spotlight on a show.The San Pedro Fish Market began their journey 60 years ago in the water front section of the Los Angeles Harbor. The founder Tommy was put in charge of the fish market when he was a teenager along with his cousin Henry. A live seafood section was developed where customers could pick their own Lobster and Crab and have it steamed fresh. Additionally, they developed their own smoked-fish recipe and garnered quite a following for Smoked Halibut, Salmon, Tuna, Cod, Swordfish, and many others. These were the first moves towards selling a cooked, ready-to-eat product and would eventually lead to their "World-Famous Shrimp Tray." We also welcome Erik Andersson the Brand Ambassador for Hendrick's Ginproduced by William Grant & Sons out of VisitScotland. Founded in 1999, in addition to the traditional juniper infusion, Hendrick's uses Bulgarian rose and cucumber to add flavour. Hendrick's gin is bottled in a dark brown apothecary-style bottle. The Wall Street Journal described Hendrick's as the "Best Gin in the World" and other spirit ratings organizations have been very complimentary as well with San Francisco World Spirits Competitionawarding Hendrick's Gin two double gold, two gold, and three silver medals and The Beverage Testing Institute giving the gin well-above-average scores of 93, 94 and 95. Sounds Ginrifick to us! Joining us in studio as well will be Vernon Rochester the owner of Rochester's Barbecue & Grill in Borough of Lawnside, New Jersey. They are a BYOB and Wine Bar featuring wines from Sharrott Winery expertly paired with each meal, Wednesday Nights - All You Can Eat BBQ, and also locals love their Saturday Night Jazz sessions from 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm featuring Michael J Corman, an amazing Keyboardist/Vocalist. They focus on soul food, barbecue, and southern cooking, but with locally sourced products as much as possible with a focus on dietary diversity. They do traditionally prepared items on the menu such as their amazing Ollie's Triple beans, made with ground beef, sausage and bacon and simmered with “secret spices” all the way to a variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes to choose from. You heard right, they also focus on vegetarian and vegan dishes. They were also recently highlighted in the Courier Post by Lisa Howard-Fusco. You can read the article here: http://www.courierpostonline.com/…/lawnside-roch…/813594001/ To top it all off and spice things up we also have coming on Christophe Hervieu the Founder and CEO of Simply Beyond. Simply Beyond products are inspired by and created for passionate cooks and real families. Because of their love of cooking with their children, and their appreciation for flavorful herbs, founders Christophe and Katia chose to share their passion with other families and food lovers. Everything their family believes in, and has experienced in their own kitchen, has gone into creating the unique Simply Beyond line of products. Christophe and Katia's sincere desire to share quality ingredients, delicious recipes, and life-improving convenience is evident in every ounce, in every taste, of Simply Beyond. Their motto is EVERYDAY FOOD MADE BETTER IS OUR DRIVING FORCE. They believe deeply in uncompromising, consistent standards every day – in everyday recipes, in everyday meals, and accessible to everyday cooks and families. Any day, anytime of the year, their convenience, quality and taste will always deliver easily, reliably and flavorfully. With no chemicals or preservatives, their organic, Non-GMO Project products are simply better – they are purer, more natural, more flavorful, more affordable, and more practical. They have better ingredients to better suit personal tastes, and to elevate every meal you make. Wow, we can't wait. Small Bites Radio correspondent Actor John DiRenzo will also be helping in studio with his valuable insight and experience in the culinary world and also be sure to catch him on QVC selling the high quality Copper Chef products. You say you STILL NEED MORE!!! Don't forget we still have our regular weekly segments from Courier-Post nightlife correspondent and The New York Times recognized John Howard-Fusco for his news of the week and please remember that John's book "A Culinary History of Cape May: Salt Oysters, Beach Plums & Cabernet Franc" from Arcadia Publishing The History Press is now available to buy, Chef Barbie Marshall who is a Chef Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen Season 10 finalist and appeared on Season 17 of FOX Hell's Kitchen #AllStars, and Chef Barbie was named Pennsylvania's most influential chef by Cooking Light will delight us with her tip of the week, and a joke of the week from legendary joke teller Jackie Martling of The Howard Stern Show fame and Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling with his autobiography "The Joke Man: Bow to Stern" from Post Hill Press with foreword by Artie Lange available to order on Amazon.com. Fat Jack's BBQ and Bluejeanfood.com hope you will TuneIn worldwide or catch the following day on iTunes or Player FM. http://wildfireradio.com/small-bites/ The post Small Bites – Episode 73 appeared first on Wildfire Radio.

Rye Week It is officially New York Rye Week as declared by the Governor and State Legislature of New York. In honor of this, there are many events happening in NY, especially New York City including two special industry events from Allen Katz at the New York Distilling Company. (As you may recall, we interviewed Allen on Episode No.225.)   The Bartender Journey team was fortunate enough to attend The Renaissance of Rye, the trade day kickoff event on Thursday, October 19th. This event not only featured one-of-a-kind discussion and tasting with agriculture experts in the field of grain science who specialize in so-called, 'Small Grains'.   In addition to the Rye panel, a batch of their own Horton Rye seven years in the making from an initial planting of 10 seeds was fermented and distilled. Additionally, every guest that attended was given the opportunity to sign the barrel, post it on social media and then return to claim a bottle of the whiskey from the barrel in 4-5 years. Friday, October 20th will be the trade tasting event from 2-4 pm featuring 20 great rye whiskies from North America.   On Saturday, October 21st is the Wild Rye Rumpus event that will feature the world premiere of Empire Rye, a new category of rye whiskey, a project began a few years ago as an homage to New York State’s pre-Prohibition rye whiskey-making heritage. To be considered an Empire Rye, the whiskey requires New York state grain and a minimum age statement of two years as mentioned in this week's New York Times article. The nine New York founding distilleries that will be releasing expressions at the event are Black Button Distilling (Albany), Coppersea Distilling (New Paltz), Finger Lakes Distilling (Seneca Lake), Kings County Distilling (Brooklyn), New York Distilling (Brooklyn) , Tuthilltown Distilling (Gardiner), Van Brunt Stillhouse (Brooklyn) and Yankee Distillers (Saratoga County).     Author's Table Event featuring Jim Meehan in Brooklyn - Thursday, October 26th The Author's Table is a monthly literary series featuring authors with a passion for spirits and food that share through writing. Jim will be discussing his new book, Meehan's Bartender Manual. $5 fee includes admission, $7 all night cocktails and happy hour specials. It’ll be held at The Shanty 79 Richardson St, Brooklyn. Proceeds will benefit the Brooklyn Public Library.   Industry Kickball Tournament The Bartender Journey team is participating in the annual Industry Kickball Tourney sponsored by William Grant & Sons. Our host will be New York's own, Jen Marshall of Momentum, the brand agency for William Grant and former Beverage Director of Butter & Scotch. This all day field trip to MCU Park (Home of the Coney Island Cyclones) will include the bus ride, kickball, corn hole, cocktails and food. Monies raised goes towards disaster relief.  Bartender Journey wants YOU to come with us so we are hosting an Instagram cocktail contest to kick off the holidays. Rules are as follows:  Follow the Bartender Journey on Instagram. Create a holiday (e.g. Thanksgiving, Hanukah, Christmas, etc.) cocktail featuring a William Grant & Sons brand.   Take a beauty pic and post on YOUR Instagram account with #bartenderjourneycocktail by Monday, October 30th, midnight EST.  We will reach out to you directly by November 1st to let you know that you've won and get your details to send you your ticket. Your cocktail will be featured as the Cocktail of the Week.   Further details will be available on the Bartender Journey site!   A few days left to enter the USBG Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Competition!  

Get the featured cocktail recipe: Always A Lady On this episode of the Designated Drinker Show, we chat with Charlotte Voisey about living and breathing the hospitality life for more than a decade. Originally starting out as a bartender, this British native quickly climbed the ladder where she eventually became the Director of Brand Advocacy and Mixologist for William Grant & Sons where she looks after the spirits and the brand ambassador team. She's a two times Golden Spirit Award winner at Tales of the Cocktail, host of The Proper Pour with Charlotte Voisey, was named  Mixologist of the Year for Wine Enthusiast Magazine, and was recognized by the James Beard foundation. Don't forget to subscribe!

The end of April has grain farmers in North America and Europe poised to get into the fields and start planting this year's crops - and some of that grain will eventually wind up as whisky. Historically, many farmers distilled some of their grain into whiskey - both to prevent it from spoiling and to create something that could be sold or bartered. While those days are many decades in the past, a number of farmers have jumped back into distilling as a way to cultivate more profits than they get from selling grain to commodities brokers. We'll meet the farmers behind the Whiskey Acres Distilling Company in Illinois and Far North Spirits in Minnesota on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, one of the pioneers in craft distilling has been sold, as William Grant & Sons acquired New York's Tuthilltown Spirits this week. Tuthilltown co-founder Ralph Erenzo and Grant's Jonathan Yusen join us to explain a deal seven years in the making. We'll also try to answer a listener's question about whether it's safe to drink Bourbon from vintage ceramic decanters because of the possibility of lead contamination.   

This week, we'll talk with two people who have turned their passion for whisky into careers. Tracie Franklin is one of the newest brand ambassadors for Glenfiddich, but worked her way up through the ranks for many years before joining William Grant & Sons several months ago. Blair Bowman started a whisky club at his Scottish university, then founded World Whisky Day before becoming a writer and whisky consultant. Next month, he'll try to set a world record by visiting 60 Scotch Whisky distilleries in a single day...just a few days before his first whisky book is published. We'll meet them both on WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Lagavulin's 200th anniversary charity bottling raised more than $730,000 for Islay charities, while 200 bottles of Buffalo Trace's O.F.C Vintage Bourbons raised almost $1.2 million dollars for non-profit groups in the U.S. We'll also have details on the week's new whiskies and an update on construction work at The Macallan's new $245 million distillery in Scotland.

What we think of today as the boom in craft distilling started 20 years ago this year, when San Francisco brewer Fritz Maytag bottled the first batch of Old Potrero Single Malt Straight Rye Whiskey at Anchor Brewing in the city's Potrero Hill neighborhood. In 1993, Maytag and his staff cobbled together parts to build a distillery inside the brewery, long known for its Anchor Steam beer, and Bruce Joseph was put in charge of running the still. Today, Bruce Joseph is still Anchor's head distiller, and he'll join us for this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, the results of this year's International Wine & Spirits Competition are in, with William Grant & Sons taking top honors. Two more estate distilleries are being proposed in Scotland, and while North Dakota is known for its barley...it's never been known for its whiskey...until now. Glen Fargo American Malt Whiskey was unveiled this week in Fargo, and we'll find out how its creator avoided a costly legal battle over the name. We'll also have details on this week's new whiskies, along with a way to count down the days - or drams - until Christmas. 

There was once a time when Ireland's single pot still whiskies were among the world's most popular drams, but a combination of changing tastes, politics, and other factors nearly destroyed the Irish Whiskey industry decades ago. Now, whisky lovers are rediscovering the heavier, oilier flavor of single pot still Irish whiskies, and one Irish historian has researched the origins and development of those whiskies. We'll talk with Fionnán O'Connor on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth, along with a look at one of Ireland's newest distilleries, the William Grant & Sons-owned Tullamore Distillery. In the news, Scotch Whisky Association lawyers have won a battle in India, while Indian banks and opposition politicians are trying to keep Vijay Mallya from collecting his $75 million exit package from United Spirits. We'll also look at the week's new whiskies and a new place for tourists to learn more about Irish Whiskey in Killarney.

Nick Pelis has worked for some of the most recognizable distilled spirits industry brands and distributors in the U.S., including Diageo, Moët Hennessy, William Grant & Sons and SKYY Spirits. He founded Citizen Spirits with its flagship artisan rum, Denizen. Denizen's first product was a white rum that blended flavors from Trinidad and Jamaica, and it hit the ground running, earning praise from Forbes, iVillage, and the Beverage Testing Institute. Rum is the second-largest spirits category in the U.S., but Denizen got noticed in a hurry, with 90+ ratings and a number of awards. The Cocktail Enthusiast raved that "Denizen is a game changer for white rums." Denizen introduced its amber 8 Year Aged Merchant's Reserve in 2014, a blend of flavors from Jamaica and Martinique. Denizen's Merchant's Reserve has been praised for capturing the essence of Trader Vic Bergeron's legendary Mai Tai rum. Nick lives in New York, but has seen distribution for Denizen explode beyond New York all over the US. Recently, Time Out Seattle and the Rum Collective celebrated the arrival of Denizen rum in Washington State. Notes from the show: Nick's father, as a sales manager for a high-end Greek food importing company, gave him the opportunity to see how things operate in a business, and Nick saw firsthand how people got excited to receive products. "If you're going to be successful, you have to deliver something different." "You need to value other people's feedback." Nick noticed early on that there was a void in distilled spirits products connecting emotionally with consumer. Rum was a category that was "a mess." Nick saw a big opportunity in the "tweener" market - post-college graduates still trying to find themselves. The concept of a denizen matched Nick's goal of creating a brand around the "liberated spirit." Nick's first goal was to create a brand that transcends the category. Nick spent a considerable amount of money developing the brand before developing the product. Pricing was a barrier to entry; white rums over $20 don't sell. Offering in-store tasting mitigated risk to retailers. "On premise"--in bars, restaurants, etc.--cost per ounce matters more. Nick ended up at Diageo after his boss at DC Comics moved to Diageo. Nick got an MBA in marketing, because he already had a background in finance, strategy, and operations. "Very few big companies give people the opportunity to get outside of their comfort zone." Very few people deliver on promises, especially if you can't offer something of value immediately. Denizen was not Nick's first entrepreneurial endeavor: he decide to pivot from an online liquor delivery service after 6 months. Owning a house and renting it out provided greater financial flexibility. "You can't have your cake and eat it, too. Put your own money in." A SWOT analysis is everything. A marketing plan is not just based on messaging. It was a mistake to hire a PR firm. Email info[at]citizenspirits.com - Nick takes the time to get back in touch with you. This podcast hosted by New York attorney Michael Prywes was sponsored by Prywes Schwartz, PLLC, a law firm devoted to artists and entrepreneurs. This podcast may contain attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.

David Stewart will need new business cards soon, though the longtime master blender at William Grant & Sons is far too modest to ask for them. That's because he'll soon be able to add the initials "MBE" to his name, now that he's been named a Member of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth. Stewart was included on the Queen's New Year's Honours List released by Buckingham Palace this week, and he'll tell us how he found out about the honor on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, holiday flooding has hit Scotland and Ireland, a trademark lawsuit has been settled in Bourbon Country, and whiskey lovers found a bargain on Pappy Van Winkle whiskies this week in an unusual place. We'll also hear about some of your New Year's drams and more on the year's first episode of WhiskyCast!

This week, we'll look at the business behind the whiskies we drink - and investors hope to profit from. More investors are looking seriously at the whisky business...they're not just looking to invest in rare bottles, but something even rarer...the distilleries that make whisky. We'll talk with Frank Lampen, one of the co-founders of Diageo's in-house venture capital unit, Distill Ventures. This week, Distill made its second major whisky investment of the month by taking a minority stake in Australia's Starward Whisky after doing the same thing with Denmark's Stauning Whisky. We'll also hear from Bardstown Bourbon Company CEO David Mandel, who's not only looking for new brands to make whiskey at his distillery when it opens in 2016, but has figured out a way to help them finance the cost of distilling and maturing their whisky. In the news, Islay is mourning the loss of one of Bruichladdich's legendary leaders, the head of William Grant & Sons is stepping down, and we'll look at one of the few places where you can get a university degree in whisky distilling.

Ambassador, Gaston Martinez, from William Grant & Sons and Mixologist, Brian Summers, from The Black Market talk about May Mix Off in Los Angeles.

Irish Whiskey has been the fastest-growing segment of the whisky business for the last several years. William Grant & Sons acquired Tullamore Dew last year, and has been investing millions of Euros to build the brand. A new "Irish True" marketing campaign for Tullamore Dew debuted this week in New York City, and we'll hear more from John Quinn and Shane Hoyne about the brand's heritage and its future...which may include a new Tullamore Dew distillery at some point. In the news, the Kentucky Distillers Association and Sazerac settle their legal dispute over the Bourbon Trail, new whiskies from The Glenlivet, Kilchoman, and The Whisky Exchange, and WhiskyCast gets a boost from Hollywood!

Every master has an apprentice learning the tricks of the trade and preparing to fill the master's shoes one day. Brian Kinsman served as David Stewart's protege at William Grant & Sons, and has now taken on David's role as Master Blender for Grant's and Glenfiddich Malt Master. David continues as Malt Master for The Balvenie, and we'll hear from both men in this episode. In the news, Dewar's completes the first phase of its expansion plans, two bottles of George Washington's Rye go on the auction block, and Woodford Reserve searches for the perfect Manhattan recipe.

Glenfiddich will be releasing just 50 bottles of its 50-year-old single malt a year for the next 10 years, and opened one of the first 5 U.S. bottles Thursday at New York City's Mandarin Oriental Hotel. We'll hear from Caspar MacRae of William Grant & Sons, along with a Seattle whisky lover who won a trip to New York to taste the Glenfiddich 50. I'll have my tasting notes for this one of a kind whisky, too.

Time for another trip inside the blending lab, and Iain McCallum of Morrison Bowmore is our host. He'll take us through some old Auchentoshans and Glen Gariochs, along with a special surprise at the end. In the news, William Grant & Sons teams up with one of the top U.S. microdistillers, Glen Breton rubs it in, Glenmorangie's team of bloggers picks this year's Vintage Cask, and Glenmorangie says "L'Chaim."

There's a locked door at the Glenrothes Distillery, which normally is not open to visitors. The sign above the door reads "I.S." -- and stands for "Inner Sanctum." Ronnie Cox has the key to that door, and his inner sanctum has samples of every Glenrothes single malt expression ever released. We'll go through a couple of very rare Glenrothes whiskies during a chat with Ronnie on this episode. In the news, William Grant & Sons buys the Tullamore Dew range of Irish whiskies and the results of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Awards.

This week, I'm on the road at Proof on Main in Louisville! Heaven Hill is celebrating Parker Beam's 50th anniversary as a distiller this weekend, and you'll share in the fun as we hear from Parker and some of his many friends and colleagues. In the news, David Stewart scales back his duties at William Grant & Sons, new travel retail releases, and tasting notes for the Gold Bowmore! We'll also hear from noted chef Charlie Palmer and more about one of Louisville's best bourbon bars.

John Ramsay has turned over the duties of Master Blender for The Glenrothes and the Edrington Group's other whiskies to Gordon Motion after 43 years in the whisky business. He'll share his insights with us in this episode, along with the plans for one final malt that he's working on. In the news, William Grant & Sons gets a new CEO, a 1919 Springbank sells for nearly $2500 (for a mini!), and Knob Creek runs dry for a few months.

This is a special episode of WhiskyCast with highlights from Tuesday night's Malt Advocate WhiskyFest in New York City. It's the 10th anniversary of WhiskyFest New York, and we'll hear from the winners of this year's Malt Advocate Whisky Awards, including Alastair Walker of Distillery of the Year BenRiach, along with Lifetime Achievement Award winners David Stewart of William Grant & Sons and Jim Rutledge of Four Rosesr. We'll also get updates on several new whiskies, including a couple of powerhouse ryes and a single grain from Ireland.

This is one of the biggest weeks for whisky lovers in the United States, with three major whisky festivals in three different cities over a 10-day period. Whisky Magazine's Whisky Live New York started off the fun this past Wednesday night, and I'll have the details in this episode, including interviews with experts from Bowmore, Black Bottle, Four Roses, and Old Pulteney. In the news, Scotch whisky exports set a new record, William Grant & Sons plans for a new malt distillery, and Ulf Buxrud has the best spirits book of the year for 2006.

Scotland celebrates the 248th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns this week...and the world celebrates with Scotland. Burns Suppers are held all over the world...for just a few people or a few hundred people. We'll get the details on hosting your own Burns Supper, as well as a look at the life and legacy of Robert Burns. In the news, there's word of new distribution deals for William Grant & Sons and Blackadder, a new web site for the Scotch Whisky Association, and the latest issue of Whisky Magazine is in the mail.