Episode 520: February 7, 2015

Ian MacMillan has been overseeing the whiskies from Deanston, Tobermory, and Bunnahabhain for years…but Cognac cask finishes were one thing he hadn’t experimented much with until the opportunity presented itself several years ago. The result is the new Deanston 18 Cognac Matured single malt that’s being released in the US this month. We’ll discuss Cognac casks with Ian on WhiskyCast In-Depth, along with his other single malts and his new take on the Black Bottle blend.  In the news, there’s word that The Glenlivet may be replacing its flagship 12-year-old expression with the no-age-statement Founder’s Reserve in some markets, old stills from Islay will be getting a new life in Ireland, and whisky sales keep growing in the US. We’ll also kick off the #28DramsIn28Days series of tasting notes, too.

Links: Deanston | Bunnahabhain | The Glenlivet | Words of Whisky | Angel’s Envy | Templeton Rye | Distilled Spirits Council of the US | Bruichladdich | The Whisky Exchange | Single Pot Still Whiskies of Ireland | The Glenrothes | Kilbeggan | Single Oak Project | Maker’s Mark | Huffington Post | Woodford Reserve | Classic Malts