Whiskey Chats

Join me for My Snug Chat with Jim Arnoldt. I met up with Jim at Belfast Whiskey Week 2025 in the popular food market, the Common Market, at the Cocktail Takeover event. We sat outside the packed event, on the roadside tables and I had a ball chatting to Jim. Jim is one of the founders of the fabulous Irish bar, The Snug, in Irvington, Indianapolis. At The Snug, the whole team strive to deliver an authentic Irish experience and they have over 120 Irish whiskeys behind the bar. Rumor has it, you'll get a savage pint of The Black Stuff aswell.... This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

Join me for My Midleton Cooper Chat with Derek Cronin. This is my second Chat with Derek, but the first since he qualified as a Cooper..! Derek is now a Cooper, a barrel maker, in Midleton Distillery. He can now proudly say he apprenticed under the legendary Master Cooper Ger Buckley. I joined Derek in Midleton Cooperage, where I caught up on how he has been going since I spoke to last, at the start of his coopering journey, nearly 4 yrs ago..! This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

Join me for My Garden Chat with Dean Fitzgerald & Cathal O'Brien part 2. Dean Fitzgerald runs the Whiskey Appreciation Society pages on Social Media platforms. He does a great job bringing people along his whiskey journey and helping to promote Irish brands. I urge you to check out his profiles and give him a follow. Cathal O'Brien has been repping West Cork Distillers for a decade now. Cathal originally hails from Galway, but you wouldn't know it with the pride that he has for West Cork. This is part 2 of our chat where I invited the 2 lads up to my garden and I had a ball talking all things spirits and sharing stories. We ended up cracking open and sharing some really fabulous bottles on part 2 of our Garden Chat. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

Join me for My Stonewell Chat with Diarmuid Madden. Diarmuid is a Production Operator at Stonewell Cidery in Carrigaline, Cork. They produce an amzing array of quality ciders. Orr Apple Brandy is their new venture, their own cider distilled by a local distillery and Diarmuid has been spearheading this project since the start of 2025. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

Join me for My Garden Chat with Dean & Cathal pt 1. Dean Fitzgerald runs the Whiskey Appreciation Society pages on Social Media platforms. He does a great job bringing people along hi journey with him and helping to promote Irish brands. I urge you to check out his profiles and give him a follow. Cathal O'Brien has been repping West Cork Distillers for a decade now. Cathal originally hails from Galway, but you wouldn't know it with the pride that he has for West Cork. I invited the 2 lads up to my garden and I had a ball talking all things spirits and sharing stories, with 2 great buddies of mine. And best of all, this is only part 1 of or chat....!!! This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie  

Join me for My Midleton Micro Distillery Chat with Barrett Stapleton - Head Distiller in the Micro. Barrett originally hails from the US and has beat a really interesting path to his current position in Midleton Distillery. He came back to Ireland at the end of Covid, after studying in UCC in the early 00's, to start work distilling in Clonakilty Distillery.  From Electrician to Scuba Instructor, from Hawaii to Antarctica, I am so glad that none of those things dissuaded Barrett from joining the Irish Whiskey fraternity, because he is a genuine, passionate, bubbly character whose passion is infectious. He's my kinda guy and I think after listening to this chat, you'll understand why it's so important to have people like this in the Irish Whiskey Industry. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

Join me for My Stonewell Cidery Chat with Daniel Emerson. Founded by Daniel and Geraldine Emerson in 2009, Stonewell is a small family-run cider producer. Their story began with an old French press and apple mill from Geraldine’s Loire Valley family before upgrading to a modern press at their Carrigaline Production facility. I joined Daniel in Carrigaline and we walked amongst their fermenters and chatted about how Stonewell have always used apples that are sourced from orchards across Waterford, Kilkenny, Laois, Tipperary, and Cork. They use traditional cider apples like Dabinett and Michelin, blended with eating varieties such as Jonagored, Elstar, and Falstaff Stonewell cider always stood out to me as one of the better cider offerings in bars. This trip down to them confirmed that. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

Join me for My Spot Whiskey Chat with Robert Mitchell. Robert Mitchell is the 7th generation of his family to run Mitchell & Son Wine and Spirits Merchants in Dublin city centre. Mitchell's have left a huge legacy in their wake on Irish whiskey, as at one point in the late 20th century, the only shop in the world to sell Pot Still Irish whiskey was Mitchell's, as they were the only retailers for their Green Spot whiskey, in the world. Robert and I get into the story behind the Spot range of whiskeys in this chat and it was an honour to sit with Robert for this chat. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

Join me for My Mourne Dew Distillery Chat with Donal Farrell. Mourne Dew was founded in 2017 by Donal Farrell, a former barrister and chartered accountant. His inspiration came from an unexpected place—a court case involving cold distillation for forensic DNA extraction. This sparked an idea: what if the same technology could be used to create ultra-pure, high-quality spirits? He is doing extremely interesting things, extracting and distilling flavours in a vacuum chamber, in order to retain freshness that may be 'cooked' out in a traditional still. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

Join me for My Hinch Distillery Chat with Emma Millar. Emma Millar is a senior distiller since 2020, at the beautiful Hinch Distillery in Co. Down, founded by Dr Terry Cross in 2019. It is clearly a labour of love. The detail and scale of Hinch Distillery really impressed me as Emma showed me around. But all the shiny things don't really matter, unless the spirit they produce is good...... and it really is. Emma showed me the only bonded warehouse onsite, behind the distillery and I'm very happy to report that we won't be running out of Hinch's wonderful whiskey any time soon. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

Join me for My Ardara Distillery Chat with James Doherty. James and Moira O'Doherty founded Sliabh Liag Distillers and began releasing their Silkie range of sourced smoky whiskeys, just as the covid lockdown hit, as well as An Dúlamán Irish Maritime gins. James and Moira returned to Ireland from their last pit-stop in Hong Kong, to pick up James's family legacy of distilling 'Inishowen' style or smoky whiskeys again, in his family's native Donegal. Inishowen whiskey was once a by-word for smoky whiskeys, throughout the British Empire and the world. Their 'recently' commissioned Ardara Distillery is sight to behold, resonating with Islay's distillery's style and I had a fantastic return visit with Jim to see the operation in full swing. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

Join me for My Chat with Tara Clarke from Dair Nua Cooperage. Tara is the National Sales Manager at the cooperage. She is the conduit between the barrels they source, import, fix, care for and distribute to most of our favourite distilleries and brands throughout the island of Ireland. It is a very important and interesting role in the whiskey industry. Before working at Dair Nua Cooperage, she worked with Grace O'Malley Spirits. She is also currently involved in the recently formed Women in Irish Whiskey advocacy group. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

Join me for My Master Cooper Chat with Darren Leonard. Darren is a Master Cooper, not Head Cooper, above in Dair Nua Cooperage in Foxford, Co Mayo. He is a Master Cooper because he has successfully qualified an apprentice underneath him. He is passionate about the craft of coopering and retaining the Irish traditions of coopering that Ger Buckley, Midleton Master Cooper, has "legacied" into the small band of coopers and trainees in Ireland. The whole cooper community in Ireland leaves me in awe at their skill and passion for the heritage of the craft. Darren himself apprenticed under John Neely, a famous Scottish cooper who plied his trade in Ireland, up until his untimely passing in 2018. It's so great to see Darren continuing on and building a legacy in Irish Coopering. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

Join me for My Palace Bar Chat with Stephen Randles, Michael Cowman & Micháel O'Flaherty. We met up in The Palace Bar on Fleet St in Dublin city centre. Owner and publican Willie Ahern kindly allowed us to use the private Power's whiskey room, on the top floor, to record the podcast. He even dropped in at the start of the chat to say hello and find out what we thought of the new Clockwork Velvet Stout from Changing Times Brewery, that was launched the day we were in the bar. Michael Cowman now works in the Good Spirits Company and also co-owns Redacted Indy Bottlers. Micháel O' Flaherty works for Micil Distillery and Stephen Randles works with Boann Distillery. All 3 lads have worked deeply in the Irish Whiskey for many years and have an amazing perspective on the whole whiskey industry and enthusiast scene. We chatted about and shared many drops over the evening..... good and bad....... I love sitting around a table with lads who get it.... This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

Join me for My Boann Distillery Chat with Pat Cooney. Pat Cooney is the Patriarch of Boann Distillery, having founded it in 2019, alongside his family. Pat has been in the drinks industry in Ireland since the 1970's. We discuss on the episode his previous companies and his path to Boann, very interesting. Boann Distillery have been innovating and ambitious in the Irish Pot Still whiskey since Pat and co turned a Celtic Tiger era car sales-room into a thriving distillery. It must be the only marble tiled still-room on the island! A real pleasure to visit, I highly recommend. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

Join me for My Achill Island Distillery Chat with Seán & Michael McKay. I recently visited this picturesque island distillery in beautiful county Mayo, just off the west coast of Ireland, by bridge. Seán and Michael McKay are brothers. They are carrying on the legacy of their father who founded the distillery originally and they are genuinely doing their father's legacy a massive justice. They have an amazing operation at Achill Island Distillery. 2 x 5000ltr pot stills, fed by 7 fermenters, keep this a 7 day operating distillery. They have vast warehouses with 5yr old whiskey stock, that tastes amazing. This is a little gem of a distillery that will be a major part of the Irish whiskey landscape going forward. I was very impressed....... This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

Join me for My Lough Mask Distillery Chat with Andrew Bourke-Hastings, Head Distiller. I recently visited this picturesque, yet industrial, distillery in beautiful county Mayo, surrounded on all sides by gorgeous lakes and mountains. Andrew started in Lough Mask as a brewer and is now their Head Distiller. They are nearing the point in their journey where they will be releasing their very own whiskey. They have a very innovative cask program going where you can jump on with a 20/30 litre cask of their own new make spirit. They are concentrating on single malt Irish whiskey and are producing amazing products, from what I saw. Well worth checking out. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

Join me for My Micil Distillery Chat with Pádraic Ó'Griallais. I visited Micil Distillery, based out the back of the Oslo Bar, in the heart of Salthill just outside Galway city, in January 2024. This is a really charming, boutique distillery that I wanted to see for a long time. I wasn't disappointed. What couldn't come across on the podcast was the amazing smell of turf that hits you as you open the front door. It was a real feast for the senses. The Ó'Griallaises are a 6th generation distilling family, all their previous generations were proud illicit Poteen (Poitín) men. Micil are well worth a visit. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

Join me for My Midleton Distillery Garden Chat with Barry Chandler, Dan Pennington, Paul Costello and Mark Lonergan. I set up a marquee out my back garden over Xmas 2024. The lads called up, Dan was on BBQ duty, I made Belfast Coffees, we had a ball. I asked Midleton Master Blender Dave McCabe for a sample set from the Midleton blending lab. He very graciously sent me an amazing array of aged whiskeys, that he was working on at the time. Midleton Distillery have vast depths of amazing liquids maturing quietly. It was amazing to get a little peak behind the curtain, of what whiskeys they have in store for the future. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

Join me for My Eimverk Distillery Chat with Eva Sigurbjornsdottir, in Reykjavik, Iceland. Eimverk produce Floki Whisky, which is famous for their sheep dung smoked whisky and many other amazing spirits. My wife Sonya and I recently visited Eva for a look around their innovative distillery, where we discovered just how much effort that they put into their production and raw materials. For a distillery located on a volcanic island, its very impressive. What a trip it was...... This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com  Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie