Not Another Whisky Podcast

A Mitch & Daz Production
  • 5.0 (13)
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Not Another Whisky Podcast is your gateway to the whisky world, hosted by industry veterans Mitch Bechard and Daryl Haldane. With four decades of combined experience within the whisky industry for giants like Highland Park, Glenfiddich, Macallan, Johnnie Walker, Talisker, and Lagavulin, these guys know their stuff - and they're ready to share the insider secrets and stories that don't make it onto the distillery tours. ​ This is an informal show where you can learn about whisky without the stuffy attitude. Expect whisky facts, the latest news, terrible whisky jokes, and candid conversations with industry guests. No pretence, just a good chat about great whisky! Do you have a story to share, or are you curious about sponsoring the show? Drop us a line at whiskypodcast@gmail.com. And don't forget to peek into our mischievous antics on Instagram @notanotherwhiskypodcast or swing by www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY IS GIVING AWAY A CASK OF WHISKY!

    18 HR AGO

    THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY IS GIVING AWAY A CASK OF WHISKY!

    Mitch is joined by Ria McAdam, European Marketing Manager at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, for a dive into the world of SMWS — who chats about the current chance for members to win an entire Distillery 10 Islay cask. They get into the origins of the Society, from Pip Hills sharing cask-strength whisky with friends in the 1970s to the founding of SMWS at The Vaults in Leith in 1983, before moving into how it has grown into a global whisky membership community. Ria talks through the monthly outturn model, the coded bottles, the flavour-led approach, and the gloriously odd names that have become part of SMWS folklore. There’s also plenty on what membership actually gives you, from access to exclusive bottlings and Members’ Rooms to tastings, guest access, content and whisky education. Ria explains the crazy current May promotion where buying a festival bottle or activating a membership gets you into the draw to win a full Distillery 10 cask. The episode also touches on SMWS’s Scotland football-inspired release, A Belter for America, a 10-year-old Highland single cask bottled to celebrate Scotland’s return to the World Cup. Links SMWS website Join SMWS Win a cask / festival bottles Buy A Belter for America (28.118) 00:00 Welcome to SMWS 01:45 Origin story: Pip Hills 03:38 Global membership today 05:06 Ria’s role in marketing 06:27 How outturns work 10:11 Wild bottle names 11:52 What membership offers 13:19 Members’ Rooms and perks 15:14 Staff training and whisky culture 17:59 Ria’s own whisky journey 23:00 Events, outreach and content 25:36 Win a cask giveaway 29:03 A Belter for America 30:42 How to join and buy 33:24 Wrap up and thanks Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
  2. LIVE FROM THE SPEYBURN DISTILLERY AND SIPPING THEIR NEW 50 YEAR OLD

    3 MAY

    LIVE FROM THE SPEYBURN DISTILLERY AND SIPPING THEIR NEW 50 YEAR OLD

    Mitch takes Not Another Whisky Podcast on the road for a live recording at Speyburn, joined by distillery manager Euan Henderson and head of whisky creation Sarah Burgess—two people quietly shaping one of Speyside’s most underrated distilleries. They dig into Speyburn’s “hidden gem” reputation, what’s changed with the new visitor centre, and how the team balances consistency in new make with the creative chaos of building a modern whisky portfolio. There’s proper whisky chat too—none of that vague “notes of happiness” nonsense. The lineup starts with the Speyburn 10 Year Old (refill ex-bourbon, 40%), before moving through the range, touching on the 15 and 18 with their increasing sherry influence, plus experiments with rum casks and the slightly geeky (but very cool) world of dechar/rechar cask rejuvenation. Euan breaks down the distillery’s unusual setup—worm tubs, mixed condensers, and a blend of wooden and stainless steel washbacks—and how those choices shape Speyburn’s crisp, green-apple-driven spirit. There’s also a look at real-world challenges, including water supply issues that actually forced production cuts (because whisky isn’t always as romantic as we pretend it is). They nose fresh, fruity new make, chat about early peated runs now quietly maturing away, and then… land on something ridiculous: A 1975 vintage (53.4%), distilled in 1975 and re-vatted in 2017 into sherry-seasoned European oak butts—packed with rich, balanced old-whisky character and, somehow, still talked about as “good value” (which feels illegal). It’s part distillery deep-dive, part live tasting, part organised chaos—with a proper crowd in the room. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome & warm-up 00:40 Meet the hosts 02:10 Speyburn: the “hidden gem” conversation 04:07 Who actually does what behind the whisky 08:03 First dram: Speyburn 10 09:12 Range breakdown & cask strategy 12:04 Distillery DNA explained 15:15 Inside Speyburn 16:18 Worm tubs, condensers & water realities 17:18 Drum maltings heritage 18:45 Old stock & shifting flavour profiles 19:56 Expansion vs consistency 20:47 Life as a distillery manager 22:05 Sustainability & water challenges 24:48 New make: green apple and freshness 26:19 Peated experiments & terroir chat 28:51 The 1975 edition story 31:06 Tasting notes & balance 33:46 Age vs flavour debate 36:24 Audience Q&A & wrap Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min
  3. MITCH & DAZ CATCH UP

    26 APR

    MITCH & DAZ CATCH UP

    Daz and Mitch are back—slightly dusty, fully loaded with stories, and picking up where they left off. They kick things off by chatting about the now-legendary two-part Thomson Brothers live episodes (and the ongoing failure to actually sit down and have a proper dram with them like normal human beings). Then it takes a turn… Mitch’s back garden goes full disaster movie. A neighbour’s shed fire spreads, wipes out half his own setup, melts the hot tub (yes, melted), and leaves about £10k worth of gear gone. It’s equal parts chaos and a public service announcement: check your insurance before your hot tub becomes modern art. From there, it’s straight back into work mode—hosting guests around Speyside and running Wildmoor experiences at the Fife Arms alongside Aldo Kane and a crew of Taiwanese influencers. Meanwhile, Daz has been living a completely different life—heading stateside from Savannah to Augusta for the Masters. Think whisky tastings, cigars, house parties, and somehow ending up in rooms with Dave Grohl and Brett Young. Casual. Back on home turf, there’s Islay, Jura, and a deep dive into the ever-divisive world of wine cask finishes—sweet wines, orange wines, weird experiments… and the occasional accidental success. They round things out with a look ahead at a stacked Spirit of Speyside lineup—live podcasts, events, questionable decisions—plus plans for Fèis Ìle and the gloriously named “Burning of the Bear” at Lindores Abbey. Standard service resumes. Timestamps: 00:00 – Cold open (slightly chaotic, obviously) 00:09 – Back after a month: where have we been? 00:21 – Thomson Brothers live episode recap 01:36 – Mitch’s shed fire disaster (RIP hot tub) 04:08 – Hosting in Speyside & Five Arms Wildmoor experience 05:55 – Daz does the Masters (no phones, all vibes) 08:51 – Augusta afterparty madness 10:48 – Islay, Jura & battling the weather 11:51 – The great wine cask debate begins 14:46 – Weird casks & when port actually works 15:56 – Orange wine casks… seriously 16:20 – Listener poll on wine finishes 16:57 – Recent whisky highlights 18:02 – Highlander side-by-side tasting 18:45 – Listener shoutout (Roy 👏) 19:15 – Spirit of Speyside week preview 19:53 – Live events lineup 22:50 – Opening dinner plans 23:54 – Fèis Ìle plans 24:47 – Laggan Bay milestone 25:07 – Burning of the Bear (yes, really) 26:29 – Laphroaig celebrity collab chat 28:21 – Bottle chat & whisky gifts 29:29 – Wrap up Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  4. THE THOMPSON BROS. LIVE - PART 2

    19 APR

    THE THOMPSON BROS. LIVE - PART 2

    Part two of our live Not Another Whisky Podcast recording with the Thompson Bros at the Craigellachie Hotel picks things up mid-tasting — and it only gets better from here. We start with a chat on label design, working with artists, and the reality of constant releases, before getting into what life actually looks like running a distillery, a hotel, and everything else… in a whisky market that’s not exactly flying right now. From there, we get stuck into Sideburn — a 35-year-old Burnside — and unpack some of the wonderfully confusing, slightly ridiculous naming rules that still exist in Scotch whisky. The conversation drifts (as it should) into world whisky, market pressures, and then lands on the Mystery Malt concept — one of the most talked-about things the Thompson Bros are doing right now. Think scratch-card whisky, full transparency on the breakdown, and bottles that can massively overdeliver on the £65 price point — with a fan credited for the original idea. Across the episode, we taste: North British 33, Clynelish 12, Sideburn 35, Glenrothes 20, Glengoyne 27, and a Mystery Malt — before opening it up to the room for a proper audience Q&A. We cover everything from marketing and ballots to future bottlings and what the Thompson Bros distillery style is really aiming to become. If you enjoyed part one… this is where it really opens up. 00:00 Part Two Kickoff 00:47 Label Art Pressure 02:52 Busy Life Fundraising 04:31 Dram Four Sideburn 05:02 Teaspoon Naming Games 06:39 Burnside Trademark Lore 09:52 Tasting Notes Distillery Style 11:31 World Whisky Reality Check 14:51 Top Picks And Value 16:56 Dram Five Mystery Malt 19:41 How Mystery Malt Works 23:52 Scaling The Series 24:53 Live Guessing Game 26:44 Breaking Shelf Bias 27:29 Consumer Feedback Wins 28:17 Distilleries Get Competitive 30:29 Big Brands Buy In 32:27 Pricing Proof of Concept 34:34 Final Dram Glenrothes 36:03 Audience Q&A Bourbon Plans 38:15 Organic Marketing Approach 42:13 Favorites and Ballots Return 46:54 Future Spirits and Collabs 52:57 New Make Style Strategy 56:28 Wrap Up and Thanks Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min
  5. THE THOMSON BROS. LIVE - PART 1

    12 APR

    THE THOMSON BROS. LIVE - PART 1

    Recorded live at the Craigellachie Hotel, this one’s exactly what you’d hope for from a Not Another Whisky Podcast live show, six drams, zero filter, and the Thomson Brothers in full flow. Mitch sits down with Phil and Simon for part 1 of a six-dram tasting that quickly turns into a deep dive on value, volatility, and what’s actually going on behind the scenes in whisky right now. On the tasting table: North British 33 (…which turns out to be 34 — classic)A mystery maltClynelish Distillery 12“Sideburn” 35Glenrothes Distillery 20Glengoyne Distillery 27 Early doors, the conversation gets into why older grain whisky like North British is suddenly everywhere, and how the Thomson Brothers are managing to put out bottles that don’t require a small bank loan (the North British sits at 40.1% and around £65, make of that what you will). From there, it opens up into a proper industry chat: The reality of building a distillery in 2026 (spoiler: it’s not cheap)Budget overruns, tough decisions, and phased builds in DornochWhy margins across the supply chain are under pressureAnd how independent bottlers are navigating a cooling market There’s also a no-holds-barred discussion on whisky tourism — including the impact of decisions by Diageo, the closure of Clynelish’s visitor centre, and the wider shift toward high-end, limited-access experiences. Somewhere in the middle, there’s a quick detour into upcoming Spirit of Speyside shows (because even in the middle of a tasting, you’ve still got tickets to sell…). By the final dram, the conversation lands on sherry casks, long-aged whisky, and the realities of keeping things interesting — before cutting off mid-flow with a Glen Garioch 27 discussion and a neat little cliffhanger for Part Two. TICKETS FOR OUR SHOWS: THREE BLENDERS WALK INTO A BAR WITH BRIAN KINSMAN, OLVER CHILTON AND SARAH BURGESS A CLASH OF THE STILLS - THE RETURN OF THE DISTILLERS SHOWDOWN ⏱️ Chapters00:00 Band Banter 00:28 Live Show Kickoff 01:17 Meet Thomson Brothers 02:05 Six Drams Lineup 02:53 Tasting Format 03:12 North British Grain 04:15 Label Age Mixup 04:41 Pricing And Value 05:16 Yearly Catch Up 05:35 New Distillery Build 06:40 Budget Control Lessons 08:20 Phased Build Plan 09:52 Business Wins And Events 11:36 Blending Approach 13:44 Dram Two And Tourism 16:15 Diageo Decisions Debate 19:03 Tourism At Dornoch 20:18 Value Over Hype 20:54 Castle Bottle Strategy 21:35 Speyside Events Plug 23:14 Clynelish Cask Breakdown 25:50 Closures Hit Communities 27:42 Whisky Boom Bust Math 32:05 Planning For Downturns 33:43 Indie Festival Buzz 38:05 Sherry Cask Debate 38:53 How Many Releases 42:54 Subscribe And Wrap Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  6. MITCH & DAZ MARCH CATCH UP

    5 APR

    MITCH & DAZ MARCH CATCH UP

    Mitch and Daz kick off their first proper catch-up of the year (with zero planning and maximum hair compliments), swapping updates on travel and work: Daz recaps a Dublin weekend that somehow involved more Guinness than Irish whiskey, while Mitch recounts a hectic run of podcast recordings, a corporate tasting, a long drive to see Bladnoch and the new Galloway Distillery, visits with Charlie MacLean , and his first festival since 2017, the Independent Whisky Festival. They then rip through whisky news: InchDairnie becomes a certified B Corp; Denmark’s Stauning starts making gin; GlenAllachie releases a 35-year-old; two Karuizawa casks sell for £4.25m; The Dalmore reopens to guests April 27; Bruichladdich marks 25 years since reopening with Old Skool 10-year-old; Glenrothes launches a 56-year-old; Ricky Gervais-backed Ellers Farm debuts Three Ridings (sold via a pricey Evolution Collection); Glen Moray releases Forbidden Fruit Calvados finish; and World Whiskies Awards nod to winners Joel Harrison, Gary Mills, and Bowmore 21 as best whisky in the world, plus talk of a potential live Edinburgh “battle” vs Whisky Stories. 00:00 Cold Open Banter 00:05 First Catch Up Of Year 00:52 DA Updates And Travel 01:02 Dublin Weekend Recap 02:18 Busy Week In Scotland 03:15 Indie Spirits Festival Highlights 05:34 Whiskey News Roundup Begins 05:55 InchDairnie B Corp Milestone 07:16 Denmark Distillery Goes Gin 08:11 Martinis And Bar Legends 09:02 GlenAllachie 35 Year Release 10:34 Karuizawa Casks Auction Shock 11:52 Auction Buzz and Banter 12:15 Ollie Stories and Podcast Tease 13:34 Dalmore Reopens Visitor Experience 16:10 Bruichladdich Old School Release 17:46 Glenrothes 56 Year Decanter 19:13 Ricky Gervais Celebrity Whisky 24:17 Glen Moray Calvados Finish 25:53 Awards Season Shoutouts 27:13 Live Podcast Battle Plans 28:41 Wrap Up and Listener Thanks Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min
  7. LITTLE BROWN DOG - A CHAT WITH DR. ANDREW SMITH

    31 MAR

    LITTLE BROWN DOG - A CHAT WITH DR. ANDREW SMITH

    Mitch heads up to the Little Brown Dog HQ to sit down with Managing Director, DR. Andrew Smith for a properly relaxed, no-BS chat about independent bottling—and everything around it. They get into how Andrew went from hospitality (with a brief detour towards becoming a vet) to co-running one of Scotland’s more quietly interesting bottlers, what actually makes a cask worth bottling in today’s market, and why they’re not just sticking to whisky. From Scotch to rum to Calvados, this is a conversation about flavour over category—and whether whisky drinkers might need to start looking beyond their own glass. Andrew also shares the story behind starting Little Brown Dog, where they want to take it next, and how he sees the current state of the industry—especially the realities facing independent bottlers right now. There’s also an unsuccessful attempt to drag Chris onto the podcast, some rally driving chat, and a crash story that definitely wasn’t meant to be funny… but absolutely is. A loose, honest conversation with one of the good guys in the industry. Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min
  8. WHISKY TALES WITH ARTHUR MOTLEY: FROM BUYING TO CONSULTING

    23 MAR

    WHISKY TALES WITH ARTHUR MOTLEY: FROM BUYING TO CONSULTING

    Arthur Motley on Cask Backrooms, Whisky Identity, and the Liquid Antiquarian Arthur Motley joins Mitch & Daz in Bennet’s Bar for a cracking conversation on cask buying, whisky identity, and what happens when one of the industry’s most experienced retailers decides to go it alone. From his early days at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society to 21 years at Royal Mile Whiskies — where he worked his way from cask buyer to managing director — Arthur has seen whisky from just about every angle. He talks about the wild early-2000s cask market, when buying stock was a very different game, and how things gradually shifted from open sampling and relationship-led deals to tighter supply and buying “off paper.” The chat also dives into why he left Royal Mile, what his consultancy work looks like now, and why brand identity and route-to-market matter more than ever. There’s plenty of whisky geekery too, including early Japanese SMWS bottlings, the rise of world whisky, and Arthur’s brilliant historical project The Liquid Antiquarian with Dave Broom. Expect big thoughts on the 1823 Excise Act, the speed of Scotch’s evolution, and the stories behind the liquid we all bang on about. 00:00 Rolling and intro 00:07 Meet Arthur Motley 02:14 Bennet’s Bar and pubs 02:40 Cornwall pub story 04:38 Joining Royal Mile 05:44 Early whisky scene 08:20 Whisky passion sparked 10:05 Cask buying then 14:19 Single malt boom 18:37 Leaving Royal Mile 22:15 Consultancy focus now 24:53 Identity and history work 27:27 Whisky History Needs Stories 29:50 Brand Identity Done Right 30:43 Bruichladdich Under Remy 34:37 First Japanese Bottlings 36:55 World Whisky Boom 39:36 Scotch as Global Style 42:19 Birth of Liquid Antiquarian 44:38 1823 vs 1494 Debate 47:38 Biggest Research Revelations 51:08 Patreon Plans and Community 56:09 Closing Thoughts and Farewell Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min
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About

Not Another Whisky Podcast is your gateway to the whisky world, hosted by industry veterans Mitch Bechard and Daryl Haldane. With four decades of combined experience within the whisky industry for giants like Highland Park, Glenfiddich, Macallan, Johnnie Walker, Talisker, and Lagavulin, these guys know their stuff - and they're ready to share the insider secrets and stories that don't make it onto the distillery tours. ​ This is an informal show where you can learn about whisky without the stuffy attitude. Expect whisky facts, the latest news, terrible whisky jokes, and candid conversations with industry guests. No pretence, just a good chat about great whisky! Do you have a story to share, or are you curious about sponsoring the show? Drop us a line at whiskypodcast@gmail.com. And don't forget to peek into our mischievous antics on Instagram @notanotherwhiskypodcast or swing by www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    A Mitch & Daz Production
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    209
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © A Mitch & Daz Production
  • Show Website
    Not Another Whisky Podcast

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