Not Another Whisky Podcast

A Mitch & Daz Production
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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. SOMEHOW WE'VE DONE 200 EPISODES OF THESE!!

    3D AGO

    SOMEHOW WE'VE DONE 200 EPISODES OF THESE!!

    Nicholas Pollacchi joins Mitch and Daz for the 200th episode of Not Another Whisky Podcast — which feels equal parts milestone and minor miracle. We rewind to April 2021 when the audio was ropey, the format was loose, and Mitch decided he’d edit every episode himself (questionable life choice). From there, listener questions take over — which means things escalate quickly. We relive: A VIP bourbon night in New YorkTequila egg-white cocktails (don’t ask)A celebrity moment at The EditionCar-crash tastings in Campbeltown and Las VegasHecklers in VegasFestival highs in Chicago, Seattle, and TaiwanAnd tastings in Moscow… and a Siberian banya There’s debate on single grain, whether Fife counts as a region, innovation vs regulation, collecting vs opening bottles, dream guests, dream casks, and the ultimate “last bottle” gift. Mostly though, this one’s about the listeners. The people who’ve turned up, sent questions, bought tickets, and backed two Speyside lads talking whisky for far longer than anyone expected. 200 episodes down. Still serious about whisky. Still not taking ourselves too seriously. Timestamps 00:00 Cold Open Bar Banter 00:33 Episode 200 Kickoff 01:37 Roasting the Fits 03:29 How We Got Here 04:15 New York VIP Night 05:52 Tequila Egg White Cocktail 08:21 Afterparty & 30 Rock Cameo 11:19 Catching Up With Mitch 11:56 Early Podcast Days 14:18 Fan Questions Begin 17:58 Car Crash Tasting Stories 20:35 Vegas Heckler Showdown 24:42 Best Whisky Festivals 30:31 Is Fife a Region? 31:53 Rethinking Grain Categories 33:10 Innovation vs Regulations 35:22 Favourite Bottles 37:01 Snow Phoenix Alcatraz Story 39:54 Dream Distillery Manager Year 42:43 Celebrity Dream Guests 46:05 Last Dram Gift Picks 49:03 Tariffs & The US Market 50:23 Weirdest Tasting Locations 52:17 Siberia Banya Adventure 56:17 Owning a Dream Cask 01:00:49 Closing the 200th Episode Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 3m
  2. ARDNAHOE - A CHAT WITH DISTILLERY MANAGER DAVID LIVINGSTONE

    FEB 22

    ARDNAHOE - A CHAT WITH DISTILLERY MANAGER DAVID LIVINGSTONE

    This week we welcome Ardnahoe distillery manager David Livingston to discuss the Islay distillery’s location, origins, and whisky style. Livingston explains Hunter Laing’s long-held ambition to create their own distillery, Ardnahoe’s opening in 2018, and his own third-generation Islay whisky background. He reflects on how Islay has changed with tourism and the rise of single malts, and why whisky is vital to the island’s economy as farming and fishing decline. The conversation covers Fèis Ìle’s growth and 40th anniversary, Ardnahoe’s early production moments, and the distillery’s approach to making spirit—slow mashing, fermentations over 70 hours, slow distillation, and worm tubs aimed at a sweet, heavy-bodied, fruity spirit with peat on the finish. We also discuss Ardnahoe’s core range (including Infinite Loch), cask strength releases, future aging ambitions, the visitor experience and staff, and how Ardnahoe benefits from Hunter Laing’s independent bottling heritage and bar selection, including the Kinship range. 00:00 Welcome to Islay: Introducing Ardnahoe & Distillery Manager David Livingston 00:49 That View (and the Coffee): Why Ardnahoe’s Location Is So Special 01:35 How Ardnahoe Happened: Hunter Laing’s Dream Becomes a Distillery (2018–Now) 03:26 Born & Bred Islay: David’s Whisky Upbringing and Peat-Bog Memories 04:43 Islay Then vs Now: Tourism, Single Malts, and the Island Economy 07:25 Fèis Ìle at 40: Music, Whisky, Culture—and 2026 Plans 10:40 From Banter to Build: David’s Role, Arran Detour, and the First Spirit Run 14:35 Making the Spirit: Slow Mashing, Long Ferments, Worm Tubs & Flavor Goals 16:19 Tasting Notes & Core Range: Infinite Loch, Cask Strength, and Smoke Level (40 PPM) 20:58 Production Split & Switching Styles: Peated vs Unpeated Campaigns 23:23 Looking Ahead: Quality Over Quantity, Visitor-Centre Vibes, and Independent Bottlings 27:40 Wrap-Up & Invitations: Ferry Logistics, Twin Rooms, and Final Thanks Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min
  3. CHATTING ABOUT THE WHISKY WORLD WITH DAVID STIRK

    FEB 15

    CHATTING ABOUT THE WHISKY WORLD WITH DAVID STIRK

    This week Mitch sits down with David Stirk — whisky writer, independent bottler, whisky historian — for a wide-ranging conversation on Campbeltown, the rise (and early struggles) of indie bottlers, and where the Scotch industry is and might actually be heading. From his first life-changing dram of Glenlivet 21 in 1996 to building Creative Whisky, rewriting the history of Campbeltown, and diving into a Master’s in History to sharpen his research, this episode covers David's graft, controversy, and some properly strong opinions about surplus production and the future of Scotch. Before all that, though… Daz and Mitch chat about existential dread about Scotland’s rugby chances. Standard start to the week and kick of with with winter vibes, whisky chat, and a public service announcement about the pies at Glasgow’s Pot Still (worth the train fare alone). LIVE TASTING ALERT We’re hosting the Thompson Brothers (Phil & Simon) at the Craigellachie Hotel on March 26th at 7pm. It will be loud, it will be chaotic, it will sell out. Tickets at notanotherwhiskypodcast.com or via the Instagram link. BUY TICKETS HERE We also get into Spirit of Speyside prep — nine events hosted by us this year, four live podcast tastings, and listings landing mid-February. If last year’s sell-outs taught us anything… move fast. 00:00 Snowy Speyside Catch-Up: Whisky, Fire & Winter Vibes 00:23 Rugby Reality Check: Dreading the England Match 00:43 Glasgow’s Pot Still Love-In: Pies, Beans & Whisky Bar Chat 02:00 Valentine’s Weekend Welcome + A Pink Port-Cask Promise 02:36 Big News: Thompson Brothers Live Tasting (Craigellachie, Mar 26) 03:52 Spirit of Speyside Prep: Uploading Events & Hosting Nine Tastings 04:47 Meet the Guest: David Stirk Returns to the Podcast 06:32 How It Started: A Glenlivet 21 Dram That Changed Everything 09:35 Breaking In: Speyside Festival Tastings to Whisky Magazine Days 11:28 Detours & Turning Points: America, 9/11, Cadenhead’s & Campbeltown 14:14 Writing Whisky Books: Campbeltown, Publishing Realities & Archives 19:16 Where He’s At Now: Master’s in History & The Drive to Carve Your Path 21:33 Next Up: What Exactly Is Creative Whisky? 21:49 The cask sample that sparked the idea to create whisky 22:22 Early indie bottling struggles: price pushback & skeptical drinkers 23:48 Why indie bottlers are booming now (and how big brands see them) 27:20 Back to uni: the whisky history books David wants to write 29:57 State of the industry: SWA numbers, India, and the next-gen drinking shift 34:15 Book plug: David Stirk’s whisky library (and what each one covers) 36:41 What’s next: festivals, Little Brown Dog, and a Glasgow distilling dissertation 39:47 Wrap-up & host banter: upcoming trips, Islay stories, and next episode tease Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min
  4. INSIDE WHISKY CAST: A CHAT WITH MARK GILLESPIE

    FEB 3

    INSIDE WHISKY CAST: A CHAT WITH MARK GILLESPIE

    This week on Not Another Whisky Podcast, Mitch & Daz do something dangerously self-indulgent: they look back at how this whole thing started. From a shared love of whisky (and questionable decision-making) to accidentally building a podcast people actually listen to, they dig into the origins of NAWP, the friendships that fuel it, and why they’ve never quite followed the “normal” whisky podcast rulebook. They chat inspiration, format, and how their approach stacks up against other whisky pods — including why they’ve always leaned into conversation over catechism, curiosity over credentials, and fun over faux-seriousness. Then things get properly nerdy (in a good way) as they’re joined by Mark Gillespie, the man behind WhiskyCast, who’s been podcasting about whisky longer than most of us have been arguing about chill filtration online. Mark shares what it’s been like documenting the whisky world for over two decades — how the industry has evolved, what’s genuinely changed, what hasn’t, and which trends he finds exciting… or mildly terrifying. Expect plenty of side-quests into favourite drams, legendary whisky characters, industry myths, and a few moments of “how did we end up here?” reflection. 00:00 Introduction and Banter 00:21 Discussing the Podcast's Unique Approach 01:03 Origins of the Podcast 03:36 Whisky Podcast Landscape 04:53 Personal Podcast Preferences 08:31 Interview with Mark Gillespie Begins 20:42 Vegas Toga Party and Whisky Adventures 21:32 Current State of the Whisky Industry 24:35 Future of Whisky Cask and Industry Reflections 25:07 Whisky Festivals and Podcasting Insights 29:12 Global Whisky Trends and Innovations 34:20 Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min
  5. NEW YEAR....SEASON 6

    JAN 25

    NEW YEAR....SEASON 6

    A lively kick-off of Season 6, the Mitch & Daz welcome listeners with a post-holiday catch-up. They contemplate the ideal cutoff for New Year greetings, and share their plans for revealing their weights in the next episode (maybe not!) They get into their festive adventures, from drinking boutique whiskies to escaping to sunny Portugal. The duo previews exciting plans for 2026, including 45 episodes, live shows, and their participation in the Spirit of Speyside Festival with industry heavyweights. They touch on Whisky news, including a trademark battle involving James Martin, changes in Whisky tourism with Clynelish's closure, and exciting new releases like Lochlea's 7-year-old and Highland Park's vibrant Heather. Additionally, they lament Meta's impact on Whisky communities, discuss the potential of aluminum Whisky bottles, and celebrate Rita Greenwood as the first female chair of the Scotch Whisky Association. 00:00 Introduction and New Year Greetings 00:37 Holiday Recap and Personal Updates 01:38 Whisky Talk and Festive Spirits 03:15 Travel Tales and Whisky Prices 06:25 Plans for the New Season 10:53 Dry January and Burns Night 15:32 Whisky World News 17:31 Trademark Maintenance and Brand Transfers 18:37 Whisky Tourism and Visitor Centers 21:04 New Whisky Releases and Distillery Updates 22:36 Meta's Alcohol Policy Changes 25:34 Innovations in Whisky Packaging 26:54 First Female Chair of the SWA 28:28 Elixir's Trail Series and Global Spirits 31:33 Highland Park's New Release 33:46 Positive Outlook for the Whisky Industry 34:37 Burns Night Celebrations and Farewell Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    36 min
  6. THE FINAL EPISODE...OF 2025

    12/22/2025

    THE FINAL EPISODE...OF 2025

    Mitch & Daz sit down and look back on the year that was 2025. Thanks to all of you who listened to us this year and have a great festive season, we will be back 1st Feb 2026 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min
  7. THE GLENLIVETS CASK MASTERS A CHAT WITH THEIR NEW MASTER BLENDER, KEVIN BALMFORTH

    12/14/2025

    THE GLENLIVETS CASK MASTERS A CHAT WITH THEIR NEW MASTER BLENDER, KEVIN BALMFORTH

    Exploring Glenlivet's New Cask Masters Collection with Andrew Bardsley and Kevin Balmforth In this episode, we dive into the Glenlivet's new Cask Masters collection with special guests and Kevin Balmforth, Glenlivet’s newly appointed Master Blender and Andrew Bardsley, the Global Brand Director of Prestige at Pernod Ricard, The discussion touches on their personal experiences, motivations, and approaches to crafting these unique whiskies. We taste and evaluates three new expressions: the 14-year-old, 16-year-old, and 19-year-old, highlighting the distinct flavours, casks, and innovations involved. Kevin also shares insights into the creation of the Glenlivet 56-year-old special release, and there are discussions on the balance between innovation and consistency in maintaining Glenlivet's storied legacy. The episode wraps up with information on where to find these exclusive whiskies in travel retail. 00:00 Introduction to Glenlivet's Cask Masters Collection 00:10 Meet the Experts: Andrew Bardsley and Kevin Balmforth 01:40 Setting the Scene: Quake Bar and Festive Vibes 02:14 Andrew's Busy Year and New Releases 04:16 Kevin's Journey in the Whisky Industry 07:53 The 14-Year-Old Glenlivet: Tasting and Insights 16:08 Exploring the 16-Year-Old Glenlivet 18:02 Exploring Whisky Styles 18:49 The Surprising 16-Year-Old 20:36 Innovation and Consistency at Glenlivet 23:09 The Unique Scottish Oak 30:19 The 56-Year-Old Glenlivet 33:38 Cask Masters Series and Pricing 35:54 Final Thoughts and Farewell Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
  8. A CATCH UP WITH MARK THOMSON

    12/07/2025

    A CATCH UP WITH MARK THOMSON

    In this episode, Mitch welcomes back Mark Thomson, to the Pod. They chat about Mark's recent departure from Duncan Taylor. Mark discusses his transition to freelance work, selling his house, and moving to the countryside. They delve into the current state of the whisky industry, including trends, pricing, and the future of brand ambassadorship. Mark also shares his top picks for value whiskies under £100 : -https://www.inchdairniedistillery.com/ -https://www.glenscotia.com/products/12-year-old-single-malt-whisky https://www.arranwhisky.com/shop-whiskies/arran-single-malts/14-arran-quarter-cask-whisky-the-bothy https://www.bowmore.com/en-gb/whiskies/15-year-old-sherry-oak-cask 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene 00:47 Catching Up with Mark Thomson 01:26 Life Changes and New Beginnings 03:07 Whisky Industry Insights 05:27 Market Trends and Predictions 14:41 Brand Ambassadorship Challenges 17:30 Value Whiskies Discussion 18:09 Reviewing the Limited Edition Arran Whiskey 19:37 Exploring Glen Scotia's Offerings 20:53 Discovering InchDairnie Distillery 23:40 Tasting Notes on Tormore and Bunnahabhain 27:59 Reflecting on Whisky Preferences and Trends 32:00 Whisky Predictions for 2026 35:47 Closing Remarks and Future Plans Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 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
    199
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © A Mitch & Daz Production
  • Show Website
    Not Another Whisky Podcast

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