Episodes

On this last episode of the season, we introduce our new Whiskey Business segment where I report on new releases and other current events in the world of whiskey. Then in our Tales from the Still segment, I speak with Ryan Friesen about how he got in to distilling and how that took him from the Midwest, then down to Southern California before crossing the pond.

On this episode of the Barrel Room Chronicles I speak with Alex Conyngham, Earl of MountCharles about the Slane Irish whiskey and the estate it made on.  Barrel Room Chronicles is a production of 1st Reel Entertainment and is distributed by Anchor.FM and is available on Spotify, Apple, Google, iHeartRadio, Amazon, YouTube and wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

This being Christmas week, I chose a very special guest to talk to in our Tales from the Still segment. Paul Tuell of Ballotin Chocolate Whiskey, joins me to go over his festive flavored portfolio. Then later in the show we hear from Chef Louise Leonard about what she cooks up with one of Paul’s expressions. Lastly, I’ll share what holiday teat I came up with using Ballotin.

This week on Barrel Room Chronicles, I speak with Adrian Covert about his book Taverns of The American Revolution and will find out about some very interesting history including how the term “Bar” came to be. Then later in the show we’ll see what new releases are hitting the market. To see the full show notes visit this episode's show page . Have questions for Adrian about his book or research? Ask them on our socials or leave us a voice message on our website or Anchor page and your recording...

This week on Barrel Room Chronicles, I speak with Shelley Sackier about her spirits journey and how it led her to writing her new book, Make it a Double in our new segment Reading on the Rocks . Then in Whiskey whereabouts , returning guest Lynn House of Heaven Hill is here to tell us all about Old Fashioned Week and the charity it is helping. Have questions for Shelly or Lynn? Ask them on our socials or leave us a voice message on our Anchor page and your recording might be played on our Speak ...

On this episode of Barrel Room Chronicles, I speak with Lia Niskanen, founder of Barrel Strength Talent about how her whiskey journey inspired her to start her own company. Then later in the show I’ll speak with Teeling’s Master Distiller Alex Chasko about his new wonders of wood series in whiskey whereabouts. Introducing our new Speak Easy Q&A segment, you ask questions of our guests, and we get you the answers! Have questions for Alex or Lia? Ask them on our socials @1stReelEnt or better yet,...

This week on Barrel Room Chronicles , I speak with Jesse Parker about his spirits journey and how it led him to becoming the master blender at Doc Swinson’s Whiskey . Then in World of Weezy , Chef Louise Leonard talks about Dorothy Parker and pineapple juicing hacks. Introducing our new Speak Easy Q&A segment, you ask questions of our guests, and we get you the answers! Have questions for Jesse or Chef Louise? Ask them on our socials @1stReelEnt or better yet, leave us a voice message on our An...

This week on a special whiskey Wednesday edition of Barrel Room Chronicles, I speak with Jonathan Egan about his family’s Irish Whiskey legacy. Next, in our World of Weezy segment, we learn all about plums? Then later in the show I’ll speak with returning guest Director / producer Greg Swartz about the latest news on his whiskey documentary, The Water of life in this week’s Whiskey Whereabouts. Visit Barrel Room Chronicles for this episode's show notes and to learn more about our guests. Barrel ...

This week on Barrel Room Chronicles I discover The Bitter Housewife and chat with Co-founder Genevieve Brazelton about her award-winning, all-natural cocktail bitters and ready-to-drink beverages. Then later in the show I catch up with my old friend Andy Smith, founder of The Scotch Club and discuss the history and growth of its chapters. Barrel Room Chronicles is a production of 1st Reel Entertainment and can be seen or heard on Anchor, Spotify, Apple, Google, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Breaker...

In this episode of Barrel Room Chronicles, I speak with Kirsty Black and Lauren Oliver of Arbikie Highland Distillery about the Scottish Highland’s 1st commercial Rye whiskey in over 100 years AND the opening of their new visitor’s experience center. Then later in the show Chef Louise Leonard joins me to talk Patty Melts in today’s World of Weezy. Barrel Room Chronicles is a production of 1st Reel Entertainment and is available on Spotify, Apple, Google, iHeartRadio, Amazon and wherever you list...

In this episode of Barrel Room Chronicles, I speak with silicon valley engineers and Bespoken Spirits founders Stu Aaron and Martin Janousek. We chat about their proprietary ACTivation technology which completed spirit maturation in only 3 days. Plus, Chef Louise Leonard tells me about a cookie recipe that might surprise you. Barrel Room Chronicles is a production of 1st Reel Entertainment and is available on Spotify, Apple, Google, iHeartRadio, Amazon and wherever you listen to your favorite p...

On this episode of Barrel Room Chronicles I speak with John Ralph about his Double Gold award winning Poitin, and the history of the Irish Spirit. Then later in the show I speak with Chef Louise Leonard, about a redheaded Mary. About Mad March Hare: First distilled by monks (God bless you lads), the Irish enjoyed their poitín for a thousand years before it was banned by the Brits in 1661. But we’re resilient feckers and poitín never really went away. It remained part of Irish drinking culture...

On this episode of Barrel Room Chronicles we speak with Sanjeev Banga about Rampur Indian Single Malt Whisky. Then Chef Louise Leonard creates a special dessert with it! Guest Bio Sanjeev Banga has been spearheading global reach for Radico Khaitan brands since 2008 as President – International Business. Radico brands are available in over 85 countries. He has been instrumental in the growth and premiumization journey of the company through the creation of luxury brands, such as Rampur Indi...

On this episode of Barrel Room Chronicles I speak with Steve Akley, founder of the ABV network about his whiskey journey and how his hobby grew into the network he has today. Then later in the show I speak with Bob White, founder of Kentucky Guides LLC, on how he went from local newspaper reporter to small business tour guide and entrepreneur. Guest Bios Steve Akley is the owner of the ABV Network, LLC . We are a bourbon media company that got started in 2016. Our mission is to provide quality c...

In this episode of Barrel Room Chronicles you’ll get a glimpse of 291 Colorado Distillery when I speak to Michael Myers in Tales from the Still . 291 Colorado Whiskey is a uniquely American story – honoring the Western whiskey of a bygone era, 291 is the passion project of a former New York City fashion photographer and was first created in a small basement from a one-of-a-kind still constructed from old copper photographic plates. 291 is made the Colorado Way®, grain to barrel to bottle, and th...

On this episode of Barrel Room Chronicles, you’ll get a behind the scenes look at Mrs. Robinson’s Irish Pub in Toluca Lake California in today’s Tavern Talk . I’ll catch up with owner Brett Robinson and talk about how he became the proprietor of the pub and how he has weathered the pandemic. But first, I’ll chat with whiskey filmmaker Bo Cumberland in Tales from the Still . Bo Cumberland is a video editor/independent filmmaker with over fifteen years of video editing experience, ten of those yea...

On this week's episode of Barrel Room Chronicles, I visit Frey Ranch in Fallen NV. So if you are watching this on www.BarrelRoomChronicles.com, YouTube or Spotify, you are in for a treat! After our in person interview, Colby takes us on a private tour of the distillery and later in the show Chef Louise Leonard dishes out some good cooking ideas with the Frey's Single Grain Oat Whiskey! Barrel Room Chronicles is a production of 1st Reel Entertainment and is distributed by Anchor.FM and is availab...

On this episode of Barrel Room Chronicles, we discover the long lost  whiskey history of Peoria, Illinois. Andy Faris and Jeff Murphy join me  in a conversation about how they are working to bring back one of the  cities greatest distilleries from pre-prohibition era. Plus, Chef Louise  Leonard chats with me about her cooking creation using the wheat  whiskey expression from JK Williams Distilling.

On this episode of Barrel Room Chronicles, A Glass Apart Author Fionnán O’Connor, shares how his academic career collided with the water of life. As an undergrad at UC Berkeley, he taught a one unit class in the  Celtic Studies department about the amber spirit. This experience helped lead him into his post graduate work on the history of lost Irish  Whiskeys. With a grant from the Irish government and the cooperation of Boann Distillery, O’Connor will be the first person to have a PHD in “Ghost Whiskey.”

On this premiere episode of Barrel Room Chronicles, Bernard Walsh shares his whiskey journey, while tasting through several expressions from his brand, Writers Tears. Bernard also talks about his involvement with Left Bank, a documentary about four remarkable women who made the first publication of Ulysses (by author James Joyce) possible in 1922—and lastly, he tells us about the recent acquisition of the Walsh Whiskey company by the Amber Beverage Group. To see the full article click on the...