Not Another Whisky Podcast

About Not Another Whisky Podcast

Not Another Whisky Podcast is your gateway to the whisky world, hosted by industry veterans Mitch Bechard and Daryl Haldane. With four decades of combined experience within the whisky industry for giants like Highland Park, Glenfiddich, Macallan, Johnnie Walker, Talisker, and Lagavulin, these guys know their stuff - and they're ready to share the insider secrets and stories that don't make it onto the distillery tours. This is an informal show where you can learn about whisky without the stuffy attitude. Expect whisky facts, the latest news, terrible whisky jokes, and candid conversations with industry guests. No pretence, just a good chat about great whisky! Do you have a story to share, or are you curious about sponsoring the show? Drop us a line at whiskypodcast@gmail.com (mailto:whiskypodcast@gmail.com). And don't forget to peek into our mischievous antics on Instagram @notanotherwhiskypodcast or swing by www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com (http://www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com/) Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast (http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

A Mitch & Daz Production

Category

arts · fiction · leisure

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 Apr 2021

Latest episode

13 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

227 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Sept 2026

   RAASAY REVISITED: ALASDAIR DAY ON WHISKY, WATER AND WHAT COMES NEXT

   We’re back on the Isle of Raasay, three years after our last proper sit down with Alasdair Day, co founder and master blender at the Isle of Raasay Distillery. Recorded at the distillery, the conversation is less about introducing Raasay and much more about how it is growing up. With the spirit now approaching nine years old, Alasdair talks us through how the original six cask recipe is developing, what they’ve learned from ex rye, Bordeaux and Chinkapin oak, and why lower filling strengths could be having a significant effect on maturation. We also get into one of the more interesting whisky debates we’ve had for a while. How much does water really contribute to the character of a whisky? While the industry often talks about a figure around 2%, Alasdair believes Raasay’s mineral rich water could be responsible for considerably more, particularly because they use it throughout cask reduction on the island. Away from the liquid, we talk about what the distillery has done for Raasay itself. New jobs, a growing population, people moving to the island to build their lives there, community energy projects and the relationship between the distillery and the people around it. And, of course, we look ahead. Ten and fifteen year old Raasay, another warehouse, ideas for a whisky school, the currently paused Campbeltown distillery project, and why Alasdair isn’t exactly rushing out to fill Raasay spirit into tequila and mezcal casks just because the rules now allow it. A proper catch up with one of whisky’s busiest men, from one of Scotland’s most remarkable wee islands. Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com (www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com) 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com (mailto:whiskypodcast@gmail.com) 📲 Follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/notanotherwhiskypodcast/) Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast (http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   6 Sept 2026

   SMWS, CALUM LAWSON, CASKMASTERS & COPPERCAIRN HEAD TO SPEYSIDE

   Mitch heads to The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s Queen Street Members’ Room in Edinburgh to sit down with Calum Lawson, SMWS Member Experience Manager and co-host of the Society’s Whisky Talk podcast. Calum’s route into whisky wasn’t exactly mapped out from the beginning. From years in Glasgow hospitality and running a bar and restaurant, he moved into the Society as manager of the Bath Street Members’ Room, spent time on the whisky buying team, and now finds himself helping shape everything from member experiences and international tastings to podcasts and new releases. We get into the wonderfully terrifying world of blind tasting and SMWS’s new Caskmaster competition: eight mystery drams, nine possible answers and absolutely nowhere to hide. Mitch recalls Charlie MacLean’s advice never to blind taste Scotch whisky, while Calum explains why the Society decided to ignore that advice entirely. There’s also plenty of Society chat: how those mysterious distillery numbers work, how single casks are selected, why ridiculous bottle names such as “Beware of the Lurking Gherkin” are part of the fun, and what actually goes into creating memorable whisky experiences for members around the world. But there’s also a bit of news. CopperCairn (https://open.acast.com/networks/6220dd59c3e4f90013768d58/shows/621dee1b81750b001367a032/episodes/www.coppercairn.com) and The Scotch Malt Whisky Society are teaming up for a Speyside adventure from 12–15 March 2027, bringing Society members north for a few days of behind-the-scenes distillery access, whisky dinners, tastings, blending sessions and a few distinctly CopperCairn additions along the way. There is even talk of a dip in the River Spey. Speedos remain optional. Probably. And there’s another twist: the 2026 Caskmaster Champion will win a place on the CopperCairn Speyside trip, making the stakes in the Society’s blind tasting championship considerably higher than bragging rights over your mates. Caskmaster 2026 The Caskmaster Grand Final takes place at The Vaults in Leith on 12 November 2026. The overall champion receives lifetime membership of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society as well as a place on the CopperCairn Speyside adventure from 12–15 March 2027. Find out more The Scotch Malt Whisky Society: smws.com (https://open.acast.com/networks/6220dd59c3e4f90013768d58/shows/621dee1b81750b001367a032/episodes/www.smws.com) SMWS Whisky Talk: www.smws.com/podcast (https://open.acast.com/networks/6220dd59c3e4f90013768d58/shows/621dee1b81750b001367a032/episodes/smws.com/podcast) CopperCairn: coppercairn.com (https://open.acast.com/networks/6220dd59c3e4f90013768d58/shows/621dee1b81750b001367a032/episodes/www.coppercairn.com) Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com (www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com) 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com (mailto:whiskypodcast@gmail.com) 📲 Follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/notanotherwhiskypodcast/) Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast (http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   31 Aug 2026

   THE YEASTIE BOYS WITH BRENDAN MCCARRON

   This week we welcome whisky maker, consultant and long-time friend of the podcast Brendan McCarron back to Not Another Whisky Podcast. And this time, we’re talking yeast. It might not sound like the sexiest part of whisky making, but the deeper you go, the more fascinating it gets. We chat about how yeast was viewed when Brendan first started making whisky at Diageo, whether Scotch became a little too focused on yield and consistency, and why distillers are now starting to look at yeast as a genuine tool for creating flavour. From Glenmorangie and Holyrood to InchDairnie, Loch Lomond, The Lakes and what American whiskey producers have been doing for decades, we get into different strains, longer fermentations, wild yeast, wine yeast and just how much influence the little buggers can actually have. We also talk about Brendan’s work with new distilleries, how the conversation around yeast has changed during his career, working alongside Dr Bill Lumsden, and whether Scotch whisky has been a little bit behind the curve. It gets geeky. But in a good way. Welcome to The Yeastie Boys. Hosted by Mitch Bechard and Daz Haldane, this is where the whisky world gets pulled apart properly, with stories, insights, and the occasional bit of chaos along the way. 🥃 New episodes every week(ish) 🎤 Live shows & tastings across Scotland 🎟️ Web: www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com (www.notanotherwhiskypodcast.com) 📩 Enquiries & partnerships: whiskypodcast@gmail.com (mailto:whiskypodcast@gmail.com) 📲 Follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/notanotherwhiskypodcast/) Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast (http://supporter.acast.com/not-another-whisky-podcast). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Who has been a guest on Not Another Whisky Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dave Broom
• James Bunton
• Nick Hammond
• Peter Maclellan
• Sarah Bures

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

3,279

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

61 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 60 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

73

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

51

Contact Not Another Whisky Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Shows with a similar audience

• 

  Whisky Stories Podcast

• 

  Whisky Sisters Podcast

• 

  Honest to a Malt

• 

  Dramface Podcast

• 

  WhiskyCast

• 

  Whisky Talk

Questions about Not Another Whisky Podcast