Key In The Lake Whiskey Podcast

John Chesney of Slightly Toasted helps preview this new year of whiskey. We run over the qualifications to be classified as a top whiskey bar; how we curate our home bars and handle our coveted bottles. We also discuss the new classification of American Single Malt; how brands overledergaed themselves by purchasing excess whiskey barrels and the impact of the healthy supply chain of American whiskey.Guest: John ChesneyHost: Jake HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Matt Brown and I wrap-up the year. Was 2024 the judgement year for the whiskey industry that we anticipated it to be? Who survived? Who consolidated? Who expanded, and why do we have over 3,000 distilleries in America? We also slightly rip Whisky Advocate’s Best Bars List, especially, the Chicago section of the article. So, we build our own list.Guest: Matt BrownHost: Jake HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

American Single Malt Whiskey is a real, big-boy category defined by the TTB. For the first time in 52 years the U.S. Government is adding a new Type of whiskey, and beloved distiller, whiskey-maker and brother Nick Brady Maas of Dancing Goat Distillery is here to weigh the pros and cons.Guest: Nick Brady MaasHost: Jake HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Director of Beverage for Bourbon Belly Hospitality, Garrett Turnquist returns. Garrett talks about starting his great podcast Sipping Social and shares great insight to running a bar program. We chat about how their group’s five bars are making money on whiskey, while sales in the off-premise are down. We also chat about brands losing their footing after the people that built the brand leave, how to sell what’s on your back bar, and consumers are staying with familiar whiskeys other than exploring new ones.Guest: Garrett TurnquistHost: Jake Hukee & Eric RosentreterListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Bruce Perry, Global Head of Brand Advocacy of Mossburn Distillers is back. Bruce’s decades of experience in the whisky industry is an expiring career, and he explains how his connections from across the world helped build Mossburn’s 12 Year Old whisky finished in Foursquare Rum casks.Guests: Bruce Perry & Brett BauerHost: Jake HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Hannah Thomas joins the show to share her road of representing whiskey brands in Denver to New York and now in Chicago. Hannah was one of the first US employees for Stauning, and she’s done an incredible job building this stylish Danish Whisky in the States. Listen to her and Stauning’s story here.Guest: Hannah ThomasHost: Jake HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Steve Malloy of Malloy’s Finest and Eric Rosentreter of Old Elk are back to discuss the financial side of whiskey and to drink some American spirits. While sipping on Virginia Distilling Co.’s collaboration with Goose Island and Old Grand Dad 16, we discuss how legacy brands are releasing more LTO’s and earlier than usual; and is building a brand on LTO’s a viable option. We also hit on the small batch blenders and their importance, retailers coming to realization that they’re not the whiskey account that thought they were, and the current glut of whiskey that producers are in.Guests: Steve Malloy & Eric RosentreterHost: Jake HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

I sit down solo on this one to chat about my recent move to The Macallan, and my last act at Starward with a collaboration project with Pinhook Bourbon.Host: Jake HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Live from Slightly Toasted, John Chesney, Matthew Brown and Eric Rosentreter join the show. We dive into who are the whiskey illuminati and why they stole our idea of brands releasing city-wide single barrel picks. We also talk a little soccer, the game plan for small distilleries to build a whiskey brand, Slightly Toasted’s upcoming events, and my new scotch gig.Guests: Matthew Brown, John Chesney and Eric RosentreterHost: Jake HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

We examine the positive outlook of the whiskey industry on this episode. Chris Blatner, Matthew Brown, John Chesney and Eric Rosentreter all bring their individual, professional perspectives of what’s new and what’s next in whiskey.
Guests: Chris Blatner, Matthew Brown, John Chesney and Eric Rosentreter
Host: Jake Hukee
Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com
Key In The Lake