Whiskey Chats

My Irish Sea Boat Chat with Darryl McNally, Master Distiller

Join me for My Irish Sea Boat Chat with Darryl McNally, Master Distiller. I was invited for a trip to the legendary Scottish Dsitilling town of Campbeltown, as part of a group from the Harbourview Hotel, on their hotel RHIB boat. As Ireland's first whiskey hotel, this is just one of their experiences that they offer. As well as being Master Distiller at Bushmills Distillery for years, being integral seeting up Dublin Liberties Distillery and founding Limavaddy Irish Whiskey, Darryl is also involved in the Harbourview Hotel whiskey project. On our way over to Campbeltown on the RHIB, as our group were having the craic all around us, we recorded a chat about his journey so far. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.theharbourviewhotel.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast Laurie

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My Pub Chat with Benny McCabe

Join me for My Pub Chat with Benny McCabe. Benny is a legendary Publican in Cork city who owns and operates the Cork Heritage Pub group of pubs, plus The Rising Sons Brewery and is also involved with the new puublicn driven Changing Times Brewery. Benny's passion for Cork heritage, pub culture, people and his staff have created some of the most iconic pubs in Cork city - The Mutton Lane, Crane Lane Theatre, The Pavillion, The Vicarstown, Canty's, Sin É, Arthur Maynes.... the list goes on.... I met up with Benny in his old family home.... upstairs in his Sin É pub. We then walked across the city to visit The Mutton Lane Inn, one of the oldest watering holes in the city. I can honestly say it was a pleasure to spend a bit of time with Benny and I know you'll enjoy our chat as much as I did.. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.theharbourviewhotel.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast Laurie

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My Ahascragh Distillery Chat with Gareth McAllister

Join me for My Ahascragh Distillery Chat with Gareth McAllister. I visited Garreth's Distillery in Ahascragh village, just east of Galway. What a little gem in this hidden heartland of canals, rivers and rolling hills. Garreth and Michelle McAllister started production in their meticulously renovated mill buildings, that are again the beating heart of Ahascragh village. They take immense pride in running the distillery on renewable energies and no expense has been spared in this project. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.theharbourviewhotel.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

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My illicit Poitín Chat with Al Poitíno

Join me for My illicit Poitín Chat with Al Poitíno. I visited Al (pseudonym) deep in the high bogs of the mountains of the North West of Ireland..... to discover his amazing hidden still. We chatted about his homebrew supply business - Hooley Homebrew - and we went through his still set-up and practices in making Ireland's native spirit - Poitín.... pronounced Potcheen... Al Poitíno has garnered a devout following on social media due to his highly entertaining and instructional videos on homebrewing and how to use the supplies he is selling on his site. Check it out: https://hooleyhomebrew.ie/ This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.theharbourviewhotel.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

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My Irish Whiskey Technical File Chat with Dr Fionnán O'Connor

Join me for My Irish Whiskey Technical File Chat with Dr Fionnán O'Connor. The legislation governing how Irish whiskey can be made is going through a review process at the moment. The consensus amongst every producer on the island is that it needs to change and is not historically accurate. This will allow distilleries to produce and market Pot Still Irish Whiskey and Grain Irish Whiskey to alter their methods and recipes for the better. Fionnán's Doctural Thesis research into historic Irish Whiskey Mashbills or recipes, has made a huge contribution to this momentum and is foundational to the questions currently being asked by the Dept of Agriculture in Ireland, who hold responsibilty, as part of a Public Consultaion process. I encourage you to follow the link below and engage with this process. https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/consultations/public-consultation-on-proposed-amendments-to-the-irish-whiskey-technical-file/ This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.theharbourviewhotel.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

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My Ballina Distillery Chat with Stacey Longworth

Join me for My Ballina Distillery Chat with Blending Manager Stacey Longworth. I visited Stacey in what used to be called Connacht Distillery in Co Mayo. Terroir Distillers, a French drinks company, bought Connacht Distillery in 2024 and it is now rebranded as Ballina Distillery. They have double and triple Distilled Single Malt releases as their first releases. All of this liquid was distilled at the distillery .......... and a little birdie told me it's roughly 6yr old whiskeys. I was always impressed with the whiskey that came out of that distillery and really enjoyed my access all areas guided tour with Stacey. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.theharbourviewhotel.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

My Irish Distillers History Chat with Archivist Carol Quinn

Join me for My Irish Distillers History Chat with Archivist Carol Quinn. This is my third Chat with Carol and they always seem to be better than the last. Carol is so knowledgeable on the history of Cork Distilleries Company, the precursor to Irish Distillers. I joined Carol in her archive, at The Distillers Cottage in Midleton Distillery and we had a great chat about how Irish Distillers evolved from CDC and she dispelled a few myths about Irish whiskey along the way aswell, that I put to her. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.theharbourviewhotel.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

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My State of the Industry Chat with John Teeling

Join me for My State of the Industry Chat with John Teeling.. John Teeling is the current owner of Great Northern Distillery, founder of Cooley Distillery in 1988 and has also been involved in precious minerals and metal exploration and mining for most of his life. He was a lecturer in economics back in the day and his insight into world markts, especially as they pertain to whiskey, is nearly unrivalled. He has been there and seen it..... This was an extremely insightful chat for me and I hope you learn as much as I did from it, from this very special fella.... This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.theharbourviewhotel.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

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My Belfast Whiskey Week Chat 2026 with Paul Kane

Join me for My Belfast Whiskey Week Chat 2026 with Paul Kane. Paul Kane founded Belfast Whiskey Week in 2019. This will be it's 9th year running over 9 days from 24th July - 01st August 2026. This year's festival have an amazing array of events, including 3 sub-festivals, all running in the amazing bars and areas of Belfast city centre. Tickets are now Live for most events and, again, it's a crazy list of experiences to choose from.... https://www.belfastwhiskeyweek.com/ This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.theharbourviewhotel.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

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My Dingle Distillery Chat with Elliot Hughes

Join me for My Dingle Distillery Chat with Elliot Hughes. Elliot is carrying on the family legacy at the head of Dingle Distillery and The Porterhouse Group. I sat with Elliot ...... and his 2 doggies..... in his kitchen and had a fantastic chat about his journey with 'The Family Business'. Dingle Distillery and it's whiskey, gin and vodka is known worldwide and it was great to get a behind the brand chat with someone so involved in the 14yr journey... This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.theharbourviewhotel.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

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My Irish Whiskey Association Chat with Director Eoin O'Catháin

Join me for My Irish Whiskey Association Chat with Director Eoin O'Catháin. Eoin has been Director of the IWA for over 2.5 years. We sat for a chat in a busy Doheny & Nesbitt pub on Dublin's Baggot St, a real charming boozer in the heart of Dublin city. Eoin and I chatted about how the IWA advocates for and protects the Irish Whiskey category internationally and went down many other rabbit-holes... This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com www.theharbourviewhotel.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

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My Harbourview Whiskey Hotel Chat with Adrian McLaughlin

Join me for My Harbourview Whiskey Hotel Chat with Adrian McLaughlin. Adrian, along with a few other lads, has created Ireland's first whiskey hotel, above in Co Antrim. The hotel has an amazing Wee Bar, to chill out in. A hugely diverse selection of whiskeys to choose from, a cask room where you can bottle your own whiskey straight from the cask, a rhib boat that can bring you the short trip across the Irish Sea to Islay or Campbeltown, two Scottish whisky meccas..... It has it all.... and I got to experience it first hand. Have a listen in as Adrian gives me the grand tour and we have a bit of craic chatting whiskey. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

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My Bushmills Chat with Master Distiller Colum Egan

Join me for My Bushmills Chat with Master Distiller Colum Egan. Colum has worked at Bushmills Distillery since the 90's, before becoming Master Distiller in 2002. He grew up in Portarlington, Co Laois, but a local Antrim girl drew him North, where he has enjoyed an illustrious career in Bushmills Distillery. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

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My Bushmills Cooper Chat with Alastair Kane

Join me for My Bushmills Cooper Chat with Alastair Kane. Alastair has worked in Bushmills Distillery for nearly 50yrs..!! He grew up in Bushmills village, a mere stone's throw from Bushmills Distillery, where he played as a kid. In 2012 he apprenticed his son Chris, who now works alongside his dad in the cooperage, completing a 5th generation coopering legacy in the Kane family. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

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My Bushmills Chat with 92yr old Les Duthie

Join me for My Bushmills Chat with Les Duthie. Les Duthie was the Bushmills Distillery manager from the early 70's until the mid-90's. He is 92 yrs young and has a memory like an elephant. I went and sat with Les at his home in Bushmills village, a mere stone's throw from Bushmills Distillery. He grew up in Glasgow and entered into the drinks industry in the 1950's, where he spent his entire career, ending up as Distillery Manager in Bushmills during a pivotal point in Irish history - The Troubles. This was a privilege to sit and chat with Les and I expect you will learn as much from him as I did. Thank you to his daughter Shirley and also to Adrian McLoughlin from The Harbourview Whiskey Hotel in Carnlough for facilitating this chat. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

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My Pub Chat with Stephen Magennis from Echlinville Distillery

Join me for My Pub Chat with Stephen Magennis from Echlinville Distillery. I met up with Steve in The Duke of York pub in Belfast city centre, truly one of the best decorated pubs on the island. Just amazing place to sit. We took up residence in the wee snug, down the back, an chatted about Stephen's time working in the whiskey industry for nearly 20yrs. Steve has a really good perspective of where we were before the resurgance of Irish Whiskey and where we are now. He is not afraid to speak the hard truths too and it made this chat all the more interesting. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

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My Killowen Distillery Chat with Patrick Grey Sloan

Join me for My Killowen Distillery Chat with Patrick Grey Sloan, Killowen's newest distiller. I called up to Killowen Distillery, a you do, on a typically cold, wintry day, but still got a warm welcome as always. Patrick showed me around the new still room and we chatted about how an Estimator ended up distilling potcheen and whiskey up the side of the Mourne Mountains. I really enjoyed getting to know Patrick, who is already proving himself to be another passionate flavour maker at Killowen Distillery This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

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My Garden Chat with JP, Dan & Paulie

Join me for My Garden Chat with JP O'Riordan, Dan Pennington & Paulie Costello. We met up in my back garden at Xmas time 2025 and cracked open a lash of amazing liquids to chat and banter about. We got a few things right, I got a few things wrong......!!.... but the main thing is we had a ball doing it, as usual. Thanks to the lads for calling up and to Dan for cooking some amazing pizza on the pizza oven after we finished recording. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

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My Church of Oak Distillery Chat with Greg McEntee, Head Distiller

Join me for My Church of Oak Distillery Chat with Greg McEntee, Head Distiller. The Church of Oak distillery in Monasterevin, Co Kildare started operations in 2022 and they have been quietly producing multigrain whiskey and maturing it in the best of cask from the Casknolia Cooperage in Spain. The distillery was built around the old Ballykelly mills, which is alongside the Royal Canal. They predominantly use local grain grown in Kildare, supporting local farmers and the economy. I was honoured to be one of the first people allowed in to record at the distillery. This was facilitated and arranged by Ger Garland. I met up with Head Distiller Greg McEntee who showed me every inch of the place and I was highly impressed with the quality being produced using highly innovative methods and materials. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

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My Cooperage Chat with Mark Quick

Join me for My Cooperage Chat with Mark Quick. Mark is the Managing Sales Director for Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Cooperage in Newbridge, Co Kildare. KBB is one of two commercial cooperages in the Republic that services the drinks industry with barrels, advice and repair works. Mark and the team of coopers and technicians deliver seriously quality wood into the Irish and international drinks industries. I have an unending fascination with wood, so getting to wander around a working cooperage with Mark was a real treat. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by: www.boanndistillery.ie www.killowendistillery.com Don't forget to sign up to my Patreon channel for early access episodes and more, for a few euros a month and help me deliver the best podcasts to you. https://www.patreon.com/whiskeychatspodcast I really hope you enjoy listening in to our chat. Laurie

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