Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky
Kurt Maitland and Sarah Jeltema
Bourbon, Scotch, Rye, Japanese, Irish. The history of whisky runs deep. On Decades Distilled, join authors and educators Sarah Jeltema, aka the WhiskyNomad, and Kurt Maitland as they explore the years and cultural moments that helped shape its path. This journey will take us around the world and back again as we roam from Scotland to the United States, Japan and beyond. New episodes each Wednesday!
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Top 10 Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
The Growth of Blends // Industry, Technology and Pioneers Lead Scotch to the World Stage
Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky
02/06/25 • 9 min
Scotch whisky didn't stumble onto the world stage, it was the story of pioneers who knew how to blend innovation with tradition that took advantage of the market. Pioneers like James Buchanan, who leaned on the advancement of large scale glass bottle production to allow for whisky to be shipped to all corners of the British empire. So, tune in as Kurt and Sarah start you on the journey of how scotch whisky began its path to worldwide love.
The Rise of the Scions // Alexander Walker and Tommy Dewar
Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky
02/19/25 • 13 min
Whisky lovers around the world know the names of John Dewar and Johnnie Walker. Founded in the 19th century, it would be during the 1880's, when the sons, Tommy Dewar and Alexander Walker, would expand its reach. So, tune in as Kurt and Sarah share how these sons used the elements of the era to spread the word of scotch whisky.
Bourbon's Tales // Ingenuity & Defiance during Prohibition
Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky
08/28/24 • 38 min
This week is all about American Whiskey, aka Bourbon, during the 1920's! Prohibition was a rocky time for the bourbon industry, but it also sparked some cool tales of ingenuity and defiance which we are excited to talk about today.
Plus we welcome our first guest, friend, author and Editor in Chief of the Whiskey Reviewer, Richard Thomas. He'll join us later on to speak to the winners--and losers--of prohibition.
The "Appeal" of Prohibition // Setting the Stage for Whisky in the 1920's
Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky
07/10/24 • 50 min
For season one, we explore the story of whisky in the 1920's. And no conversation about the history of whiskey in 1920s America can skip Prohibition so let's dive right in.
In this, our first episode of the first season of Decades Distilled, Kurt and Sarah discuss the events that led the United States to try and go "cold turkey" and step away from its complicated relationship with alcohol.
Scotch Life // Blended Whisky Becomes the Staple
Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky
07/31/24 • 30 min
We continue our story of whisky in the 1920's from across the pond. And for Scotch, there were advantages to be gained by the struggles of Irish and American whiskies. This week, Sarah and Kurt dive into the story of how Scotch distillers managed to benefit from the turmoil of the 1920s.
The Irish Struggle // One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky
07/24/24 • 30 min
Prohibition's effects were felt far from America's shores. Irish whiskey took a hard hit from a combination of domestic troubles and America's new status as a teetotaler. Tune in this week as Sarah and Kurt discuss why the 1920s were so rough on the Emerald Isle and her whiskey business.
Birth of Glenfiddich, Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich // The New Distilleries of the 1880's
Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky
02/26/25 • 19 min
We wrap up season two with the history of the most iconic Scottish distilleries of the 1880's, from Glenfiddich, Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich, Scapa and more! So join Kurt and Sarah for one more episode as they explore the era where whisky expanded around the globe!
Scottish Distilleries in the 1880's // Continuing the Story of Alfred Barnard
Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky
01/15/25 • 19 min
On this week's episode, we are continuing the story of Alfred Barnard, a whisky historian, who journeyed throughout the 1880's British distilleries. As Sarah and Kurt discussed last week, Alfred is considered one the most important men in whisky history, who toured iconic distilleries during the late 19th century. Tune in as Sarah and Kurt take you back in time to the expanding Scottish whisky industry!
The Birth of DCL // Distillers Company Limited
Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky
01/22/25 • 12 min
For this week's episode, we are exploring the origin story of the DCL, or the Distillers Company Limited. Formed in 1877 of six Scottish distilleries, it would grow to become a controlling giant during the 19th century, leading into the 20th. Tune in as Sarah and Kurt go back to the origins of the DCL and how it impacted the Scottish whisky industry in the 1880's.
Japanese Whisky // The Rise of Japan's Liquid Gold
Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky
08/07/24 • 31 min
So far our episodes have focused on what was happening with whiskies in the West. That changes today.
Our next two episodes will focus on Japan and how it became a major whisky producer in its own right. Join us as we journey with a young Japanese engineer and how his travels changed the world of whisky.
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FAQ
How many episodes does Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky have?
Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky currently has 20 episodes available.
What topics does Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky cover?
The podcast is about Culture, Leisure, Alcohol, History, Podcasts, Whiskey and Distilling.
What is the most popular episode on Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky?
The episode title 'Introduction to the 1880’s // Season Two Now Live!' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky?
The average episode length on Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky is 24 minutes.
How often are episodes of Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky released?
Episodes of Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky?
The first episode of Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky was released on Jul 8, 2024.
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