Houston native Stephen Caronna has worked in every conceivable role in the hospitality industry. A king of content and service, his career trajectory has led him to a gig of a lifetime as Texas market manager for Compass Box whisky. The exploratory and supremely cerebral whisky brand pairs the best of art and flavor in each bottling. There is a catch though, sometimes the perfect marriage of whiskies is only as accessible as a few hundred cases. Stephen never faces a closed door with Compass Box whisky in hand, but how do you have those intricate conversations about blending and scarcity, simply? It takes Stephen’s creativity and kindness to start.…
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Ep 287 – John Glaser: Guided by Myths and Legends
Without the efforts of Compass Box creator John Glaser, the world of Whisky wouldn’t be quite the same. A lover of literature and wine, John Glaser has challenged assertions about flavor and providence in Whisky. He’s continued to fight for transparency in the wake of much controversy. And now, with the latest release of Myth’s and Legends, he takes almost a textbook approach, but not exactly. We chat R.E.M., art, and influence.
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Ep 267 – Dr. Bill Lumsden: The Soul of Ardbeg & Glenmorangie
Sometimes you never realize where an advanced degree in fermentation might take you. Now decades later, it’s easy to say, you get to create the best Scotches in the world with creative carte blanc. Dr. Bill Lumsden is one of the most insightful and humorous figures in Scotch whiskey. A fan of music, art, and dream journaling, his creative output is unparalleled. So much so, that in the last Glenmorangie Private Edition series Allta, he found a yeast never before used and made a Scotch out of it. We chat Prince, writing, inspiration, and age.
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Ep 260 – Georgie Bell: Around the World in 80 Ways
Bacardi Malts international ambassador Georgie Bell has trekked far from her original geography studies in Scotland. A fan of culture, travel, and flavor, Georgie traverses the world sharing drams of the finest Scotches: Aberfeldy, Craigellachie, Deveron, Aultmore, and others. Her keen interest in making Scotch accessible in terms of discussion and flavor keep elevating the narrative of whisky. We chat females in whisky, Marsala, Austin, and more….
