5 whisky podcasts to start listening to right now
The internet isn’t short of podcasts about WHISKY. We’ve picked out some of our favourites – led by women, featuring women or designed to build an inclusive community.
The world of podcasts has grown exponentially in recent years and, thankfully, the whisky industry has delivered. From brand ambassadors to enthusiasts, journalists to consultants, people from across the industry (and the world) have been creating content for people who want to learn more about the spirits category, and audibly meeting the people working within it.
Whether you want to discover new drams, hear from distillers, blenders and bartenders, or find some inspiration to further your knowledge on the category, we’ve selected five whisky podcasts that take an inclusive approach to the spirit. Forget armchairs and cigars - think whisky cocktails, rock music and women in whisky.
Whisky Sisters
Finnish spirits writer Inka Larissa and Glasgow-based whisky lover Jennifer Rose are the women behind Whisky Sisters. The weekly podcast, which launched at the beginning of this year, sees the duo delve into the latest news in the industry, their favourite drams of the moment and some of the industry’s most iconic distilleries. They also cover some of the basics of whisky too, like nosing and tasting whisky, as well as whisky facts for listeners to go away with. As well as whisky they also share a passion for Guns ‘n’ Roses – so expect some rock with your whisky.
Not Another Whisky Podcast
Not Another Whisky Podcast brings together whisky ambassadors Daz Haldane and Mitch Bechard with other professionals from the world of whisky. As well as chatting to some of the people behind the brands (like Ardbeg’s Colin Gordon) and others bringing whisky to the masses, like influencer Moa Nilsson (aka Swedish Whisky Girl), they have also dedicated whole episodes to discuss wider themes such as sustainability and inclusion, the latter of which has seen Tracie Franklin, distillery apprentice for the Nearest and Jack Advancement Initiative, and OurWhisky founder Becky Paskin interviewed.
dram fine
Pamela Dobbin and Chelsey Belec’s lighthearted and humourous approach to talking about whisky earns them a spot on this list. Covering everything from Scotch whisky regions to germination, and even pairing whisky to Twin Peaks characters, the episodes are a refreshing mix of fact-based chat and some fun. They also tell the stories of some of the industry’s most illustrious female figures, such as Ann Matheson (who co-founded the Glenmorangie distillery) and Laphroaig’s Bessie Williamson. The pair recently launched ‘Wee Drams’, a series of six-minute episodes introducing single drams - small, but perfectly formed.
The Whisky Book, Book Club
If you want to combine a love of reading about whisky while listening about it, then Blair Bowman’s new The Whisky Book, Book Club podcast does just that. The whisky consultant and broker set the book club up to bring whisky lovers together during Covid-19 and now, he records interviews from the meetings so that even those who can’t join in with the discussions can still come away with some new-found knowledge. “The first rule of Whisky Book, Book Club is that everyone is welcome,” said Blair on Twitter.
The Cocktail Lovers
It might not be specific to whisky, but The Cocktail Lovers Podcast, from the minds behind the UK-based magazine of the same name, regularly covers the category in a thoughtful and approachable way. As well dedicating a whole episode to whisky, Sandrae Lawrence and Gary Sharpen have included the spirit across all of their regular features. From their favourite new releases, to cocktail recipes and book reviews, each episode is interesting to people working in the industry as well as consumers.
