Mitch & Daz sit down and look back on the year that was 2025. Thanks to all of you who listened to us this year and have a great festive season, we will be back 1st Feb 2026

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Exploring Glenlivet's New Cask Masters Collection with Andrew Bardsley and Kevin Balmforth

In this episode, we dive into the Glenlivet's new Cask Masters collection with special guests and Kevin Balmforth, Glenlivet’s newly appointed Master Blender and Andrew Bardsley, the Global Brand Director of Prestige at Pernod Ricard, The discussion touches on their personal experiences, motivations, and approaches to crafting these unique whiskies. We taste and evaluates three new expressions: the 14-year-old, 16-year-old, and 19-year-old, highlighting the distinct flavours, casks, and innovations involved. Kevin also shares insights into the creation of the Glenlivet 56-year-old special release, and there are discussions on the balance between innovation and consistency in maintaining Glenlivet's storied legacy. The episode wraps up with information on where to find these exclusive whiskies in travel retail.

00:00 Introduction to Glenlivet's Cask Masters Collection

00:10 Meet the Experts: Andrew Bardsley and Kevin Balmforth

01:40 Setting the Scene: Quake Bar and Festive Vibes

02:14 Andrew's Busy Year and New Releases

04:16 Kevin's Journey in the Whisky Industry

07:53 The 14-Year-Old Glenlivet: Tasting and Insights

16:08 Exploring the 16-Year-Old Glenlivet

18:02 Exploring Whisky Styles

18:49 The Surprising 16-Year-Old

20:36 Innovation and Consistency at Glenlivet

23:09 The Unique Scottish Oak

30:19 The 56-Year-Old Glenlivet

33:38 Cask Masters Series and Pricing

35:54 Final Thoughts and Farewell

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In this episode, Mitch welcomes back Mark Thomson, to the Pod. They chat about Mark's recent departure from Duncan Taylor. Mark discusses his transition to freelance work, selling his house, and moving to the countryside. They delve into the current state of the whisky industry, including trends, pricing, and the future of brand ambassadorship.

Mark also shares his top picks for value whiskies under £100 :

-https://www.inchdairniedistillery.com/

-https://www.glenscotia.com/products/12-year-old-single-malt-whisky

https://www.arranwhisky.com/shop-whiskies/arran-single-malts/14-arran-quarter-cask-whisky-the-bothy

https://www.bowmore.com/en-gb/whiskies/15-year-old-sherry-oak-cask

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene

00:47 Catching Up with Mark Thomson

01:26 Life Changes and New Beginnings

03:07 Whisky Industry Insights

05:27 Market Trends and Predictions

14:41 Brand Ambassadorship Challenges

17:30 Value Whiskies Discussion

18:09 Reviewing the Limited Edition Arran Whiskey

19:37 Exploring Glen Scotia's Offerings

20:53 Discovering InchDairnie Distillery

23:40 Tasting Notes on Tormore and Bunnahabhain

27:59 Reflecting on Whisky Preferences and Trends

32:00 Whisky Predictions for 2026

35:47 Closing Remarks and Future Plans

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