Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky

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Welcome to Season 5 of Decades Distilled! Sarah Jeltema (Whiskey Nomad) and Kurt Maitland are heading into the 1940s, a decade that would change the world and reshape the whiskey industry for generations.

In our season premiere, "When Barley Vanished," we explore the early impact of World War II on whiskey production. As barley was redirected to food supplies, fuel and labor became scarce, and governments tightened restrictions, distilleries faced challenges that would extend far beyond the war itself.

From Scotland to the United States, we uncover why whiskey remained...

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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 Sc...

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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...

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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 w...

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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, inde...

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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...

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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. 

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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...

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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.

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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. 

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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. 

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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 dist...

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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 i...

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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 tr...

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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.

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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...

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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 WhiskeyFest, the rise of shared tasting language, the early days of collecting, and the...

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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 whisky marketing—and set the tone for the decade to come.

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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.

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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 ahead to what’s coming next: Season 4, exploring the 1990s, when whi...

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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 we know today. And stay tuned as we’re hard at work for our next seas...

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 S...

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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.

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Thank you for li...

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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! 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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!

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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! 

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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! 

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This week we're continuing the conversation around the history of whiskey in the 1880's. And yes, today's episode will lean more on wine, but it was phylloxera, a little insect that would set the stage for the story we'll tell this season. As you'll learn, it was this plaque that would vastly change the wine industry, and thus help grow the whiskey industry into what it is today.