Bourbon, Scotch, Rye, Japanese, Irish. The history of whisky runs deep. On Decades Distilled, join authors and educators Sarah Jeltema, aka the WhiskyNomad, and Kurt Maitland as they explore the years and cultural moments that helped shape its path. This journey will take us around the world and back again as we roam from Scotland to the United States, Japan and beyond. New episodes each Wednesday!
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Bottling History // The Rise of Whiskey Collecting in the 1990's (00:42:35)
Send us a text 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 ...
The Influence of Michael Jackson // The Whiskey Writer of the 1990's (00:31:30)
Send us a text 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 rat...
Whiskey Media Awakens in the 1990's // Building Culture, Community, and Conversation (00:32:02)
Send us a text In this week's episode, Sarah and Kurt crack open the decade when whiskey stopped being just a drink...and became a culture. The 1990s introduced tasting magazines, global whiskey festivals, independent bottlers, rare malts, and the rise of an entirely new species: the whiskey nerd. From the groundbreaking launch of Malt Advocate in 1990 to the glossy international flair of Whisky Magazine, we trace how whiskey finally got its own media ecosystem. We dig into the birth of Whisk...
Single Malt Moves the Needle // Scotch in the 1990's (00:21:43)
Send us a text Sarah and Kurt keep the ’90s momentum rolling in this second episode of the season. After opening the decade’s story last week, they turn their attention to the moment single malts truly hit their stride. This time, they dig into how Scotch stepped beyond blends, with Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Macallan, and Glenmorangie leading the charge. From smarter storytelling to bottles that finally demanded space on the shelf, Sarah and Kurt explore how these brands shaped a new era of whi...
Setting the Stage for Whiskey for the 1990s // Season Four is Here (00:12:23)
Send us a text Tune in as Kurt and Sarah kick off season four of Decades Distilled and dive into what’s happening in the world outside of whiskey. From the end of the Cold War and the rise of globalization to pop-culture shifts and new consumer habits, they’ll walk you through how it all made the 1990s such a pivotal decade for whiskey.
The Decade That Shaped Modern Whiskey: Closing the 1970s and Pouring Into What’s Next (00:12:46)
Send us a text We are wrapping up season three of Decades Distilled! Tune in as Kurt and Sarah raise one last glass to the 1970s, a decade that quietly but powerfully transformed the whiskey world. From distillery closures and market crashes to the rise of single malts and the seeds of today’s global whiskey boom, the ‘70s proved that change isn’t optional, it’s inevitable. The duo reflect on the stories, trends, and turning points that defined this transformative time, and also look ah...
The Business Side of the 1970’s // Behind the Scenes of the Whiskey Industry (00:21:11)
Send us a text As we close out Season Three of Decades Distilled, Kurt and Sarah step behind the scenes of the whiskey world in the 1970s—a decade defined not by taste trends but by seismic shifts in business and technology. Corporate shakeups, industry consolidations, and major advances in production reshaped the landscape of whiskey, setting the stage for the modern era. Tune in as we explore how the machinery of big business and bold infrastructure decisions quietly transformed the spirit ...
A Story of Survival for Irish Whiskey // The Trials and Turning Points (00:09:01)
Send us a text Irish whiskey entered the 1970s as a spirit with a proud legacy, once the global standard for quality. Yet this decade marked one of its darkest chapters—distilleries closed, the home market shrank, and the industry teetered on the brink of collapse. And still, Irish whiskey endured. In this episode, Kurt and Sarah explore how the pivotal decisions of the 1970s not only kept the tradition alive but also set the stage for an extraordinary revival that would reshape its future.
Bourbon in the 1970's // A Moment of Identity Crisis (00:15:04)
Send us a text The 1970’s were a time when bourbon faced one of its most uncertain chapters. Once the backbone of American spirits, bourbon found itself losing favor as vodka and clear spirits dominated the cultural moment. Tune in as Kurt and Sarah explore how economic shifts, changing consumer tastes, and a decline in domestic demand nearly brought the industry to its knees. But even in the downturn, seeds of revival were planted.
The 1976 Judgement of Paris // The Aftershocks on the Whiskey Industry (00:18:00)
Send us a text In this episode of Decades Distilled, Kurt and Sarh rewind to 1976 and the legendary Judgment of Paris, a moment that forever changed the wine world. But what about whiskey? While California wines stole the spotlight, the ripple effects of this event traveled far beyond the vineyards. We explore how the Judgment of Paris sparked a global rethinking of taste, terroir, and tradition—fueling a renaissance in whiskey making, especially outside Scotland and Ireland.
The Canadian Whiskey Boom // The Story of Crown Royal (00:12:51)
Send us a text This week we journey North to our neighbor, Canada, and learn about the history of their version of rye whiskey. Kurt and Sarah take you on the journey of how the smoothness of Canadian whiskey, including Crown Royal, took hold in the United States.
Scotch's Struggles and Successes // As Lighter Spirits Gained Traction in the 1970’s (00:13:01)
Send us a text The 1970s were a decade of high highs and sobering lows for Scotch whisky. In this episode Kurt and Sarah unpack the boom of scotch in Italy, specifically the rise of Glen Grant thanks to the importer Armando Giovinetti. They also return to the story of DCL, Distillers Company Limited, as they begin to lose their large footprint across Europe.
Nikka and Yamazaki // Japan’s Quiet Revolution of the 1970s (00:16:48)
Send us a text Before Japanese whisky became a global sensation, a quiet revolution was brewing in the distilleries of Nikka and Yamazaki. In this episode, Kurt and Sarah take a deep dive into the transformative decade of the 1970s — a pivotal era when Japanese whisky began to come into its own.Join us as we uncover how economic shifts, cultural pride, and quiet ambition helped shape a legacy that would eventually take the whisky world by storm.
The Queen of Peat // Bessie Williamson and the Legacy of Laphroaig (00:12:30)
Send us a text We journey to the windswept shores of Islay to uncover the story of a woman who defied expectations and helped shape the world of Scotch whisky — Bessie Williamson. As the first female distillery manager in the 20th century and a pioneer in the male-dominated whisky industry, Bessie’s tenure at Laphroaig is the stuff of legend. Pour yourself a glass, sit back, and let’s raise a toast to the woman who put the “spirit” in spirited leadership.
Glenfiddich in the 1970’s // The Rise of Single Malt as a Global Phenomenon (00:09:48)
Send us a text We all know, and have likely tasted, a single malt. But it was the 1970’s where the idea of single malt was first marketed and brought to the wider world by a now iconic distiller, Glenfiddich. So tune in as Kurt and Sarah share this decision would fully reshape the story of whisky.
The End of the Whisky Galore Era // The Story of a Shipwreck with 22,000 Cases of Scotch Whisky (00:10:56)
Send us a text We’re detouring a few decades earlier to 1941, when the SS Politician shipwrecked off the coast of a Hebridean island with over 24,000 cases of Scotch whisky. It was the local islanders who recovered most of the barrels—to the dismay of the government. This tale was brought to the world through Compton Mackenzie’s novel Whisky Galore. The early 20th century was indeed an era of whisky galore, but that would begin to change as Kurt and Sarah set the tone for whisky in the 1970s....
Welcome to Whisky in the 1970's // A Period of Transition (00:09:06)
Send us a text We return with a new season of Decades Distilled, and this time we’re traveling to the disco era of the 1970’s. Join Kurt and Sarah as they set the stage for whiskey in the transformative and turbulent decade. --- Thank you for listening to the latest season of Decades Distilled! Sarah and I would like your help in picking what Decades we will cover in our upcoming seasons and would love for you to vote in the poll below. The Decade with the most votes will be Season 4 and the ...
Birth of Glenfiddich, Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich // The New Distilleries of the 1880's (00:19:17)
Send us a text We wrap up season two with the history of the most iconic Scottish distilleries of the 1880's, from Glenfiddich, Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich, Scapa and more! So join Kurt and Sarah for one more episode as they explore the era where whisky expanded around the globe!
The Rise of the Scions // Alexander Walker and Tommy Dewar (00:13:11)
Send us a text Whisky lovers around the world know the names of John Dewar and Johnnie Walker. Founded in the 19th century, it would be during the 1880's, when the sons, Tommy Dewar and Alexander Walker, would expand its reach. So, tune in as Kurt and Sarah share how these sons used the elements of the era to spread the word of scotch whisky.
The Growth of Blends // Industry, Technology and Pioneers Lead Scotch to the World Stage (00:09:23)
Send us a text Scotch whisky didn't stumble onto the world stage, it was the story of pioneers who knew how to blend innovation with tradition that took advantage of the market. Pioneers like James Buchanan, who leaned on the advancement of large scale glass bottle production to allow for whisky to be shipped to all corners of the British empire. So, tune in as Kurt and Sarah start you on the journey of how scotch whisky began its path to worldwide love.
The Era of Peoria // Once the Alcohol Distilling Capital of the World (00:15:41)
Send us a text Did you know that in the 1880's a little riverside town in Illinois was supposedly the whiskey capital of the world? And people claim that in the 1880's, Peroria made more whiskey than ever before. They had the standard elements--good water, plenty of corn and barley, and the railroads--along with the rise of the Whiskey Trust. So, tune in as Kurt and Sarah explore the rise and fall of Peoria, the original hub of whiskey in the United States.
The Birth of DCL // Distillers Company Limited (00:12:37)
Send us a text For this week's episode, we are exploring the origin story of the DCL, or the Distillers Company Limited. Formed in 1877 of six Scottish distilleries, it would grow to become a controlling giant during the 19th century, leading into the 20th. Tune in as Sarah and Kurt go back to the origins of the DCL and how it impacted the Scottish whisky industry in the 1880's.
Scottish Distilleries in the 1880's // Continuing the Story of Alfred Barnard (00:19:21)
Send us a text On this week's episode, we are continuing the story of Alfred Barnard, a whisky historian, who journeyed throughout the 1880's British distilleries. As Sarah and Kurt discussed last week, Alfred is considered one the most important men in whisky history, who toured iconic distilleries during the late 19th century. Tune in as Sarah and Kurt take you back in time to the expanding Scottish whisky industry!
Journey Through 1880's Ireland // With Whisky Historian Alfred Barnard (00:18:40)
Send us a text This week we are diving into the story of Alfred Barnard, a whisky historian, who journeyed throughout the 1880's British distilleries. And Alfred may be one the most important men in whisky history--as his notes from his visits to many now iconic, or even lost to time, distilleries helps tell their stories more then a hundred years later. Tune in as Sarah and Kurt walk you through Alfred's importance and his visit to Ireland!
The Growth of Speyside // Blended Scotch, Railroads and Regulation (00:16:49)
Send us a text For this week's episode we are returning to Scotland as we embark on the growth of the whiskey region, Speyside, in the 1880's. It would be this decade that would put Speyside on the map and become the dominant region for whiskey in the country. Located in Northeastern Scotland, the region is located around the River Spey. So tune in as Kurt and Sarah take you back in time for another episode of Decades Distilled!
