Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

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Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

Kurt Maitland and Sarah Jeltema

31 episodes

2 months ago

Send us a text As we close out Season Three of Decades Distilled, Kurt and Sarah step behind the scenes of the whiskey world in the 1970s—a decade defined not by taste trends but by seismic shifts in business and technology. Corporate shakeups, industry consolidations, and major advances in production reshaped the landscape of whiskey, setting the stage for the modern era. Tune in as we explore how the machinery of big business and bold infrastructure decisions quietly transformed the spirit ...

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Send us a text As we close out Season Three of Decades Distilled, Kurt and Sarah step behind the scenes of the whiskey world in the 1970s—a decade defined not by taste trends but by seismic shifts in business and technology. Corporate shakeups, industry consolidations, and major advances in production reshaped the landscape of whiskey, setting the stage for the modern era. Tune in as we explore how the machinery of big business and bold infrastructure decisions quietly transformed the spirit ...

Show more...

Episodes (20/31)

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

The Business Side of the 1970’s // Behind the Scenes of the Whiskey Industry

Send us a text As we close out Season Three of Decades Distilled, Kurt and Sarah step behind the scenes of the whiskey world in the 1970s—a decade defined not by taste trends but by seismic shifts in business and technology. Corporate shakeups, industry consolidations, and major advances in production reshaped the landscape of whiskey, setting the stage for the modern era. Tune in as we explore how the machinery of big business and bold infrastructure decisions quietly transformed the spirit ...

2 months ago

21 minutes

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

A Story of Survival for Irish Whiskey // The Trials and Turning Points

Send us a text Irish whiskey entered the 1970s as a spirit with a proud legacy, once the global standard for quality. Yet this decade marked one of its darkest chapters—distilleries closed, the home market shrank, and the industry teetered on the brink of collapse. And still, Irish whiskey endured. In this episode, Kurt and Sarah explore how the pivotal decisions of the 1970s not only kept the tradition alive but also set the stage for an extraordinary revival that would reshape its future.

2 months ago

9 minutes

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

Bourbon in the 1970's // A Moment of Identity Crisis

Send us a text The 1970’s were a time when bourbon faced one of its most uncertain chapters. Once the backbone of American spirits, bourbon found itself losing favor as vodka and clear spirits dominated the cultural moment. Tune in as Kurt and Sarah explore how economic shifts, changing consumer tastes, and a decline in domestic demand nearly brought the industry to its knees. But even in the downturn, seeds of revival were planted.

2 months ago

15 minutes

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

The 1976 Judgement of Paris // The Aftershocks on the Whiskey Industry

Send us a text In this episode of Decades Distilled, Kurt and Sarh rewind to 1976 and the legendary Judgment of Paris, a moment that forever changed the wine world. But what about whiskey? While California wines stole the spotlight, the ripple effects of this event traveled far beyond the vineyards. We explore how the Judgment of Paris sparked a global rethinking of taste, terroir, and tradition—fueling a renaissance in whiskey making, especially outside Scotland and Ireland.

2 months ago

18 minutes

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

The Canadian Whiskey Boom // The Story of Crown Royal

Send us a text This week we journey North to our neighbor, Canada, and learn about the history of their version of rye whiskey. Kurt and Sarah take you on the journey of how the smoothness of Canadian whiskey, including Crown Royal, took hold in the United States.

2 months ago

12 minutes

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

Scotch's Struggles and Successes // As Lighter Spirits Gained Traction in the 1970’s

Send us a text The 1970s were a decade of high highs and sobering lows for Scotch whisky. In this episode Kurt and Sarah unpack the boom of scotch in Italy, specifically the rise of Glen Grant thanks to the importer Armando Giovinetti. They also return to the story of DCL, Distillers Company Limited, as they begin to lose their large footprint across Europe.

3 months ago

13 minutes

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

Nikka and Yamazaki // Japan’s Quiet Revolution of the 1970s

Send us a text Before Japanese whisky became a global sensation, a quiet revolution was brewing in the distilleries of Nikka and Yamazaki. In this episode, Kurt and Sarah take a deep dive into the transformative decade of the 1970s — a pivotal era when Japanese whisky began to come into its own.Join us as we uncover how economic shifts, cultural pride, and quiet ambition helped shape a legacy that would eventually take the whisky world by storm.

3 months ago

16 minutes

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

The Queen of Peat // Bessie Williamson and the Legacy of Laphroaig

Send us a text We journey to the windswept shores of Islay to uncover the story of a woman who defied expectations and helped shape the world of Scotch whisky — Bessie Williamson. As the first female distillery manager in the 20th century and a pioneer in the male-dominated whisky industry, Bessie’s tenure at Laphroaig is the stuff of legend. Pour yourself a glass, sit back, and let’s raise a toast to the woman who put the “spirit” in spirited leadership.

3 months ago

12 minutes

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

Glenfiddich in the 1970’s // The Rise of Single Malt as a Global Phenomenon

Send us a text We all know, and have likely tasted, a single malt. But it was the 1970’s where the idea of single malt was first marketed and brought to the wider world by a now iconic distiller, Glenfiddich. So tune in as Kurt and Sarah share this decision would fully reshape the story of whisky.

3 months ago

9 minutes

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

The End of the Whisky Galore Era // The Story of a Shipwreck with 22,000 Cases of Scotch Whisky

Send us a text We’re detouring a few decades earlier to 1941, when the SS Politician shipwrecked off the coast of a Hebridean island with over 24,000 cases of Scotch whisky. It was the local islanders who recovered most of the barrels—to the dismay of the government. This tale was brought to the world through Compton Mackenzie’s novel Whisky Galore. The early 20th century was indeed an era of whisky galore, but that would begin to change as Kurt and Sarah set the tone for whisky in the 1970s....

4 months ago

10 minutes

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

Welcome to Whisky in the 1970's // A Period of Transition

Send us a text We return with a new season of Decades Distilled, and this time we’re traveling to the disco era of the 1970’s. Join Kurt and Sarah as they set the stage for whiskey in the transformative and turbulent decade. --- Thank you for listening to the latest season of Decades Distilled! Sarah and I would like your help in picking what Decades we will cover in our upcoming seasons and would love for you to vote in the poll below. The Decade with the most votes will be Season 4 and the ...

4 months ago

9 minutes

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

Birth of Glenfiddich, Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich // The New Distilleries of the 1880's

Send us a text 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!

7 months ago

19 minutes

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

The Rise of the Scions // Alexander Walker and Tommy Dewar

Send us a text 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.

7 months ago

13 minutes

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

The Growth of Blends // Industry, Technology and Pioneers Lead Scotch to the World Stage

Send us a text 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.

8 months ago

9 minutes

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

The Era of Peoria // Once the Alcohol Distilling Capital of the World

Send us a text Did you know that in the 1880's a little riverside town in Illinois was supposedly the whiskey capital of the world? And people claim that in the 1880's, Peroria made more whiskey than ever before. They had the standard elements--good water, plenty of corn and barley, and the railroads--along with the rise of the Whiskey Trust. So, tune in as Kurt and Sarah explore the rise and fall of Peoria, the original hub of whiskey in the United States.

8 months ago

15 minutes

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

The Birth of DCL // Distillers Company Limited

Send us a text 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.

8 months ago

12 minutes

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

Scottish Distilleries in the 1880's // Continuing the Story of Alfred Barnard

Send us a text 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!

8 months ago

19 minutes

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

Journey Through 1880's Ireland // With Whisky Historian Alfred Barnard

Send us a text This week we are diving into the story of Alfred Barnard, a whisky historian, who journeyed throughout the 1880's British distilleries. And Alfred may be one the most important men in whisky history--as his notes from his visits to many now iconic, or even lost to time, distilleries helps tell their stories more then a hundred years later. Tune in as Sarah and Kurt walk you through Alfred's importance and his visit to Ireland!

9 months ago

18 minutes

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

The Growth of Speyside // Blended Scotch, Railroads and Regulation

Send us a text For this week's episode we are returning to Scotland as we embark on the growth of the whiskey region, Speyside, in the 1880's. It would be this decade that would put Speyside on the map and become the dominant region for whiskey in the country. Located in Northeastern Scotland, the region is located around the River Spey. So tune in as Kurt and Sarah take you back in time for another episode of Decades Distilled!

9 months ago

16 minutes

Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

French Wine and Phylloxera // The Little Pest that Changed the Wine Industry

Send us a text This week we're continuing the conversation around the history of whiskey in the 1880's. And yes, today's episode will lean more on wine, but it was phylloxera, a little insect that would set the stage for the story we'll tell this season. As you'll learn, it was this plaque that would vastly change the wine industry, and thus help grow the whiskey industry into what it is today.

9 months ago

20 minutes