Advertise on podcast: Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

Send us Fan Mail We're traveling back to the 1920s for another Decades Distilled Deeper Dive, as Kurt Maitland welcomes whisky historian and author Leon Kuebler to explore one of the most transformative decades in whisky history. Leon helped bring a forgotten piece of whisky history back to life with The Distilleries of Great Britain & Ireland, 1922–1929, a remarkable collection of historical distillery profiles and photographs offering a rare glimpse into the industry a century ago. Together, Kurt and Leon explore how the aftermath of World War I, economic pressures, and industry consolidation reshaped Scotch whisky, leading to the closure of countless distilleries and the rise of the major producers we know today. They also dig into the evolution of whisky-making, from heritage barley and traditional yeast to modern production methods, and how Leon's Project 1927 set out to recreate the flavors of the past. Along the way, they uncover fascinating stories of forgotten distilleries, surprising innovations, and the people who helped shape the whisky industry. It's a journey through a pivotal chapter of whisky history, and a reminder that understanding the past can change the way we appreciate what's in our glass today.

Send us Fan Mail We're heading back to the 1990s for another Decades Distilled Deeper Dive, and this time, Kurt Maitland is joined by whisky historian and rare spirits expert Isabel Graham-Yooll for a nostalgic look at the drinks, trends, and experiences that defined the decade. From their early drinking adventures and questionable cocktail choices to the rise of single malts and the growing appreciation for whisky, Kurt and Isabel reflect on a decade that helped shape their careers and the spirits industry as we know it today. Along the way, they revisit the popularity of vodka cocktails, Sea Breezes, and Manhattans, the excitement of discovering rare malts on store shelves, and the role of whisky education in introducing a new generation of enthusiasts to the spirit. It's a lively conversation filled with personal stories, plenty of laughs, and a look at how the drinking culture of the 1990s continues to influence what we enjoy today.

Send us Fan Mail We’re back with another Decades Distilled: Deeper Dive, our bonus series where we revisit some of the stories that have surfaced throughout our journey through whisky history and give ourselves a little more time to explore them. This time, we’re heading to Campbeltown. Once known as “Whiskyopolis,” Campbeltown was one of the great centers of the whisky world, home to more than 20 distilleries at its height. But within a remarkably short period, that booming industry nearly disappeared. So what actually happened? Kurt is joined by whisky writer, historian and Campbeltown expert David Stirk, whose upcoming book, Whiskyopolis, explores the rise, fall and resurgence of the region’s whisky industry. Together, they unpack the complicated forces behind Campbeltown’s decline, from changing demand and overproduction to transportation challenges, the aftermath of World War I and an industry built around supplying whisky for blends. They also explore what life was actually like in a town built around whisky, how close Campbeltown came to disappearing from the whisky map altogether, and the people and distilleries that eventually helped bring it back. Pour yourself a dram and join us for another Decades Distilled: Deeper Dive into the remarkable story of Campbeltown.

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Decades Distilled: Deeper Dives, a new bonus series where we revisit some of the decades we’ve explored and take a closer look at the stories, trends and ideas we didn’t have time to fully unpack the first time around. For our first Deeper Dive, Kurt is joined by historian, writer and broadcaster Colin Hampden White to revisit the whisky world of the 1990s. It was a fascinating turning point for whisky. Blended Scotch still ruled the shelves, but single malts were finding a wider audience, independent bottlers were introducing drinkers to entirely new flavors, and years of oversupply meant there was some remarkable whisky waiting to be discovered. Drawing on Colin’s own experiences drinking across Germany, Kenya and Scotland, he and Kurt explore how whisky culture evolved throughout the decade, from discovering single malts in Edinburgh and Glasgow bars to the rise of independent and cask-strength bottlings. They also look at why the blends of the era tasted so different, how the whisky industry has changed since, and what today’s market might be able to learn from the 1990s. Pour yourself a dram and join us for our first Decades Distilled: Deeper Dive.

Send us Fan Mail We’ve been quiet, but we definitely haven’t been sitting still. Sarah and Kurt are back with a quick update on everything happening behind the scenes at Decades Distilled and a first taste of what’s coming next. Starting this week, we’re introducing Decades Distilled Deeper Dives, a new series of bonus episodes that goes beyond the original seasons with historians, writers, industry experts and people who lived through the decades themselves. First up: conversations exploring Campbeltown’s rise and fall, the whisky world of the 1990s, the distilleries of the 1920s and plenty more. Sarah also shares what she’s been building with Whiskey Confidence, her new whiskey course and community, while Kurt gives a preview of what’s ahead for Decades Distilled, including Patreon and even more bonus content. And, of course, there’s Season 5. We’re heading to the 1940s, a decade of rationed grain, silent stills, wartime production and changes to the whiskey industry that are still being felt today. Pour yourself a dram. There’s a lot more Decades Distilled on the way.

Send us Fan Mail Single malts rise. Bourbon rebounds. Rye disappears, and then roars back. Japan prepares its quiet takeover. Ireland and Canada fight uphill battles. Bartenders rediscover technique. Writers give whiskey a new language.  In our season finale, Sarah and Kurt unpack how the chaos of the 1990s laid the groundwork for everything we drink today. The decade didn’t just change what was in the bottle....it changed who told the story.

Send us Fan Mail Cocktails in the 1990's were messy. Neon cocktails. Sour mix. Vodka everything. Appletinis in up glasses pretending to be martinis. But then, that chaos gave birth to the modern craft cocktail movement. This week, join Kurt and Sarah as they dive into the quiet moment when bartenders quietly started caring again. Fresh citrus came back. Forgotten recipes resurfaced. Rye whiskey clawed its way into relevance. And was bars like Rainbow Room to Milk & Honey that help change the way we experience going out for a drink. This is the story of how we learned to drink again. Pour something classic. Or something fresh. And join us.

Send us Fan Mail In the 1990s, Canadian whisky had everything. Global dominance, legendary brands, and decades of loyalty. And then… it stalled. This week, Sarah and Kurt explore the Canadian paradox, of how brands like Seagrams, which had been an iconic brand in the industry lost the momentum in the 1990's.   Pour a dram and join us as we unpack one of whisky history’s most fascinating “what if” moments.

Send us Fan Mail Continuing our deep dive into the 1990s, Kurt and Sarah return to Japan, where the economy collapsed, nightlife slowed, and whiskey sales fell… hard. Instead of cutting corners, Japanese distilleries doubled down on quality. They refined techniques, experimented with casks, and quietly defined what Japanese whiskey should taste like. From Yamazaki and Hibiki to Nikka’s survival story, this episode explores how a decade of low demand created some of the most respected whiskey in the world. The ’90s were quiet—but the barrels were busy.

Send us Fan Mail As part of our deep dive into the ’90s, this week, Sarah and Kurt explores how Irish whiskey went from a one-flavor, one-company category to something far more interesting. We talk smooth blends, smoky curveballs, revived distilleries, and the unlikely balance between a global powerhouse (hello, Jameson) and a rebellious challenger that changed everything. If the ’90s were about breaking rules and finding your identity, Irish whiskey was right on theme.

Send us Fan Mail Once the backbone of American whiskey, rye all but disappeared from bars and back shelves for decades. Then, quietly—and then suddenly—it came roaring back. On this episode of Decades Distilled, Kurt and Sarah dive into the surprising rise of rye whiskey in America, tracing its journey from pre-Prohibition staple to near extinction, and back again as a favorite of bartenders, collectors, and modern whiskey drinkers. They unpack what makes rye different from bourbon, why its bold, spicy profile resonates today, and how shifting tastes, craft distilling, and cocktail culture helped fuel its revival. Along the way, they share the key moments, brands, and cultural shifts that turned rye from an afterthought into a star. Pour something with a little spice and join the conversation — this one’s all about rediscovering a classic.

Send us Fan Mail This week on Decades Distilled, Kurt and Sarah welcome Chris Perugini, a longtime bourbon writer and contributor to Forbes, for a spirited look back at the decade that changed bourbon forever — the 1990s. Together, they revisit a time when bourbon was nearly written off, only to make a surprising comeback fueled by shifting tastes, smart brand moves, and a renewed love for American whiskey. From dusty bottles and early collectors to the first signs of today’s bourbon boom, this episode explores how the ’90s helped bourbon find its swagger again — and why it still matters every time you pour a glass.

Send us Fan Mail In the 1990s, Scotch whisky didn’t just change flavors—it changed hands. For this week's episode, Kurt and Sarah dive into the business side of Scotch’s comeback, from the rise of Diageo to the releases that shaped modern whisky culture. We unpack how the Classic Malts taught a generation how to drink Scotch, how the Rare Malts turned forgotten distilleries into legends, and why closures like Rosebank still stir strong emotions today. It’s a story of big money, bold bets, nerdy treasures, and tough choices—where progress and loss often came hand in hand. Pour a dram and join us as we follow the money behind the magic of 1990s Scotch.

Send us Fan Mail This week, Sarah and Kurt explore the 1990s—the decade when whiskey quietly shifted from something you drank into something you collected. As independent bottlers like Gordon & MacPhail, Signatory, and Douglas Laing released transparent, single-cask malts from obscure and closed distilleries, scarcity and storytelling took center stage. From dusty bar finds to bottles now worth thousands, this episode reveals how the foundations of modern whiskey collecting were born. Pour a dram and join us as we explore how indie bottlers bottled history before the world realized it was history.

Send us Fan Mail Before Michael Jackson (yes, that Michael Jackson—but a different one), whiskey was described with words like smooth, strong, or fine. Then he came along and changed everything. Thanks to him, we now talk about whiskey the way we do wine, using terms like honeyed, leathery, coastal, peaty, and Sherry-rich, and debating whether something leans more Islay than Speyside. This week, Sarah and Kurt dive into how Jackson created the shared vocabulary, tasting structure, and 0–100 rating system that shaped whiskey culture as we know it. They explore how he turned distilleries into characters, helped elevate single malts globally, and even put Japanese whisky on the map long before it became a collector’s craze. Pour a dram and tune in as Sarah and Kurt reveal how one writer’s words rewired the whiskey world.