Joe Henry Jr. is back on the show. Joe shares the core values and fundamentals of J. Henry & Sons by explaining how their family farm transforms their hybrid corn into Bourbon. We also have a long conversation about how their company chose their contract distiller and hired consultants that match their principles as a family/distillery. And, finally, the last hour we discuss, ponder and brainstorm how whiskey collectives might save the craft whiskey industry during/after the pandemic.
Read MoreJourneyman Distillers Tom Balich and Matt McClan join the show. Tom and Matt speak on how their Michigan craft distillery felt the responsibility to aid their community by producing hand sanitizer. The distillery initially thought small, but their impact has largely impacted COVID-19 frontline workers across America. They also share how the distillery is raising money for their furloughed employees, the future of the distillery’s second facility in Valparaiso, IN and the potential impact the pandemic will have on craft distilling.
Read MoreWhen I first created the podcast he wrote down 10 names to join the show as guests. Today one of the top names on that list gets crossed off. Mike Hoffman KOVAL Distillery Manager shares his personal accounts of beginning with the distillery as a graphic designer intern to leading the production of one of the top American craft distilleries.
Read MoreA couple bottles of the Champaign of Beers and bottle of Hancock’s President’s Reserve Single Barrel join Jake, Wilson and Callum O’Donnell for a quarantine chat. Callum declares his love for Key In The Lake by announcing he’ll be getting a KITL tattoo post quarantine; Wilson shares how Union Horse Distilling Co. has developed hand sanitizer for their community; and Jake goes a rant about virtue signalers. The guys also chat about the current condition of the whiskey industry—as retailers’ sales sore and distilleries pivot to social media marketing.
Read MoreSagamore's President Brian Treacy and Central Sales Director Brett Bauer join Jake today. The Sagamore men discuss their partnership with Johns Hopkins to provide hand sanitizer to the healthcare workers on the frontlines of COVID-19. Like many distilleries around the world, Sagamore has stepped up to serve their community in the midst of the pandemic; and Treacy shares how they readjusted their approach from crafting Maryland Style Rye Whiskey to producing ethanol based alcohol for hand sanitizer. We also taste through their new expression: Calvados Finish, a blend of Straight Rye Whiskies.
Read MoreAberlour’s Chicago brand ambassador joins Jake for a conversation about life under quarantine. The two brand ambassadors chat about how they’re adapting to their new shelter-in-place lives, while having a few laughs, a few drinks and finding the positives in this new reality.
Read MoreDornoch Distillery returns to the show, but this time we have both Thompson brothers. Phil and Simon Thompson sit down with Jake via Zoom to discuss how their distillery has transitioned from a single malt and gin distillery to hand sanitizer operation. The brothers share great insight how distilleries around the UK had laws amended to supply their community heroes, and how COVID-19 is impacting their part of the world.
Read MoreOn the front lines of the coronavirus are heroes; doctors, nurses and first responders are protecting the world, and behind the scenes more great people are contributing. Matt and Mike Blaum and their distillery Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. are those great folks behind the scenes. The Blaum Bros. have dedicated their American whiskey operation to make hand sanitizer for hospitals, firehouses and their community. This is an insightful conversation because of Matt and Mike.
Read MoreJake and Callum sit-down in front of Jake’s fireplace to chat about our new global-life of self distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. They also deviate from the reality that surrounds us by sharing whiskey stories and laughs, and picking which whiskey legend they could choose to be quarantined with.
Read MoreDr. Justin Steggerda, MD of Cedars-Sinai joins Jake to deliver a through message about the affects and effects of the COVID-19. Dr. Justin shares the best practices and the precautions to take during this epoch of social distancing, and the detailed measures that our medical teams are demonstrating to fight off the virus and return life to normalcy.
Read MoreIan Hosack of Uncle Nearest and Callum O’Donnell of Aberlour join Jake for a conversation about the effects of coronavirus in the spirits industry. As of March 17, Chicago bars and restaurants will shut down for two weeks based on a government mandate. The policy is an attempt to social distance the community to prevent the widespread pandemic of the coronavirus. The fellas chat about the immediate impact, and how we can build community from this dire, unprecedented situation.
Read MoreOur dear friend from Aberlour Callum O’Donnell joins Jake and Wilson to discuss the responsibilities and the hustle as a whiskey ambassador.
Read MoreOne 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 MoreOne 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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