One year ago today, we released our first podcast, and on today’s episode our friends join us to celebrate a year of Key In The Lake. Our goal was to share the stories behind the whiskey bottle and to foster a community inside of this industry. Our dear friends help us highlight the future stories that need to be shared and the direction of whiskey in 2020.
Read MoreChris Blatner returns to share some amazing rye whiskeys. Chris shares some of his new favorite whiskey spots in the city, while curating a discussion/tasting between New Riff Straight Rye and Colonel E.H. Taylor Bottled In Bond Straight Rye. The guys also rave over a couple tastes of Pinhook’s Rye Humor. They also discuss how new/craft brands like New Riff and Pinhook can succeed in this modern epoch of allocated whiskeys gleaming in the collective eye of collectors, consumers and greedy secondary market purveyors.
Read MoreJoe Z. Henry joins Jake and Wilson to share the story of his family building a legacy Bourbon brand with integrity. The Henry family began J. Henry and Sons more than 10 years ago, with a plan to produce the best possible Native Spirit with grains from their family farm. The fellas revel in a bottle of J. Henry 10th Anniversary Limited Edition Blend, while enjoying a few laughs over a recent trip to Galena, IL, and the forthcoming Chicago Whisky Week.
Read MoreJake is joined by Callum O’Donnell to celebrate the life of Kobe Bryant by discussing their favorite memories of the Black Mamba and how the legend influenced their own lives.
Read MoreMatt Brown of Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. fills in for Wilson to host this episode with Jake. Once the guys get past Jake’s dog, Remi, disrupting with a few barks; they breakdown Galena Whiskey weekend and the cult following Blaum Bros. (The Blaum Bros.’ Bros) has developed. Matt and Jake also dive into the mindset of whiskey collectors, and how the newly established Illinois craft distillers’ laws will effect the future of craft whiskey. They also have a soccer breakdown in three, two, one… the two football clubs in Liverpool.
Read MoreShe’s been a tough get, but we finally had the privilege of sitting down with Kelli Nakagama. Kelli is truly one of the online game-changers in whiskey. On the internet she’s known as Whiskied Wanderlust, providing in-depth articles about her travels across the world as she’s enjoying her greatest pleasures; whiskey, wine and opera. Her travels helped her develop a fine palate for the whiskeys of the world, and with that, her opinions and insights have earned the trust of thousands; including Women Who Whiskey. Kelli is the president of the Chicago chapter of Women Who Whiskey. Her enthusiasm for whiskey, travel, no matter the subject of her writings, always comes through, and that vigor for exploration is present during this conversation.
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Taylor joins the podcast to chat about his personal journey with whiskey, which is currently on display with the MALT-Review. Taylor shares his opinions on the mutual responsibility that distilleries and industry writers have with transparency to their consumers. We discuss how to legitimately review whiskeys by thoroughly researching brands and the flavors of their individual spirits; and the dubious impact brands can have on consumers with marketing that wavers between folklore, history and truth. Please read Taylor’s articles at malt-review.com.
Read MoreChrist Blatner returns to the show. Chris shares his new role with Bourbon Charity–a nonprofit organization of over 2,000 supporters that raise money for charity through whiskey. Chris the nonprofit’s new Director of Bourbon Reviews. Chris is using his ever-growing knowledge and passion from his personal platform Urban Bourbonist to provide a intellectual opinions and creative content in the whiskey world. We also go deep on the impact whiskey can positively have in this cynical world. We focus our conversation on the amazing unity the whiskey world is demonstrating by raising money for the devastating effects that Australian bushfire has had on the country.
Read MoreWhat a way to begin the new year. Ajay Bhoja joins the show to shed light on India, spirits of the world and conservation in the spirits industry. Ajay is the Midwest Market Manager for High Road Spirits. He’s traversed the world to become connected with his family’s roots in India, with the noble intent to better the underprivileged lives of India and world by practicing professional safeguards in the whiskey industry. This is our favorite conversation of 2020… for sure.
Read More2019 ends tomorrow, so listen to Jake and Wilson wrap-up the year by celebrating all their great whiskey experiences of the year. The hosts rundown their favorite bars, new bars, cocktails, personal experiences and the new friends they made along.
We loved 2019, but let’s raise a glass to 2020 and live the shit out of the year.
Read MoreA Merry Christmas from Key In The Lake—even though we really don’t talk Christmas. Matt Brown joins Jake and Wilson to discuss the new tax reform on craft distillers; and the impact taxes will have on the future of distilling. The guys also chat about their mutual disgust for Campari, Matt’s short-lived folk singing career, the future plans for their respective distilleries, all while drinking four barrel samples that Jake provided from Starward Whisky.
Read MoreMike Moreno returns to the podcast to celebrate the launch of Osito’s Tap. Mike’s new Little Village bar is not just an innovative cocktail bar—preserving the past while celebrating modern flair—Osito’s is an emblem of transformation. We discuss the history of Little Village and how a lifted moratorium on bars in this Chicago neighborhood adds tremendous value to an already vibrant locale. Over a glass of Deadwood Tumbling Dice, We also chat about the history of bars in Chicago, and how small business owners and their customers share a mutual loyalty.
Read MoreMarty Duffy, Glencairn US Representative, returns to the show. We discuss the false narrative of The Irishman and Marty’s background of formerly bartending for the remnants of Chicago mafia in the 90s. Marty also shares his tales of representing Glencairn, and how location effects whisky making. And, most importantly, Marty sets the record clear of what happened on Black Friday when Glencairn’s website crashed during the release of the Black Glencairn Glass.
Read MoreJake Hukee and Wilson Torres sit down to reflect and give appreciation to the past 10 months. Jake shares the story behind creating Key In The Lake, and how the podcast has changed his life.
Read MoreMatt Brown’s two-month red card is lifted. Matt joins Jake and Wilson for a full-range conversation. The boys begin with the new craft laws for Illinois distilleries, Matt’s family lineage; all while discussing Compass Box’s The Story of The Spaniard, Bardstown Bourbon, New Riff and the opening of Osito’s Tap. Wilson also shares his entire calendar during a discussion of the industry’s most busy time of the year… and Jake impromptus a poem about the holiday blues of selling whiskey.
Read MoreIn-between the Irish walls of Wilde in Chicago, Aberlour’s Master Distiller Graeme Cruickshank and Chicago BA Callum O’Donnell return. We chat about the release of A’bunadh Alba, the wise drinking culture of Chicago and the rise of Scotch cocktails.
Read MoreLive from The Longroom in Chicago, Begyle Brewing and friends join Jake for breakfast podcast. We break bread, pop some bottles and sip on coffee to celebrate the 2019 Barrel-Aged Imperial Pajamas Bottle Release at Begyle. Bob Zacharias of Fountainhead Chicago and Kevin Cary, Begyle’s owner, co-host this episode as brewers, retailers and friends join the conversation on barrel-aged brews, and the impact award winning beers–like Begyle’s 2018 Barrel-Aged Imperial Pajamas–have on the local community. Chicago is the city to drink in. Cheers.
Read MoreHarrison Pious is back. We begin with Bourbon talk, including the news out of Texas craft juggernaut Balacones, and the projection of booze in the media. Then, well, then we fall down a ‘90s/Aughts movies rabbit hole, before returning to whiskey. The second half of the pod, we discuss how to create the perfect whiskey festival for both event runners and festival consumers.
Read MoreCallum O’Donnell returns to the show. He tangentially shares insights on WWll; reminisces about his drinking exploits while stints in Canada, the Caribbean and Spain; all while sharing his top 5 adult beverages. Callum brought the stories and we brought the laughs.
Read MoreFrom the Begyle International Recording Studios (Begyle Brewing), comes the second half of our conversation with Marty Duffy. Marty delightfully shares more stories on his development of becoming a global ambassador of whisky; along with the true meaning of being a representative of a brand. Marty walks us through his time in Europe working on universal projects to narrower/local developments such as; sitting in Chicago’s own Delilah’s and buying a round of Green Label for the entire bar.
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