Shows / Cask to Glass
Cask to Glass
How do you take your whisky?
Neat? Splash of water? Block of ice? Or even a mixer?
However you take it, join John Beattie, former Scotland rugby international and semi-retired BBC radio and TV news presenter, as he celebrates the heritage and flavour of Scotland's national drink and the world's favourite spirit.
Whether you call it whisky, whiskey, uisge beatha, aqua vitae, or the water of life... there's a story behind every dram; a craftsman behind every drop; an aroma with every nose; and a…
Episodes
- Cask to Glass
A Rugged Spirit: Connal Mackenzie from Ardnamurchan Distillery
What are the 3 whiskies you MUST try before you die? John speaks to Ardnamurchan Distillery’s Connal Mackenzie to uncover his ultimate bucket-list drams &…
- Cask to Glass
Continuity & Innovation: Marc Watson on Becoming Master Whisky Maker at Highland Park
How do you take over an iconic whisky brand like Highland Park from a “Hall of Famer”, who’s shaped and directed its flavour and style of nearly 30 years? And…
- Cask to Glass
Bang for Buck Whiskies: 9 Value for Money Whiskies You Should be Drinking
“Whiskies are made to be opened; to be enjoyed; and to be shared about,” insists Hamish Malcolm, aka The Dram Caddy, who provides whisky and golfing tours…
- Cask to Glass
The Science of the Cask: Master Distiller Billy Walker on What Makes Great Whisky
Up to 70% of a whisky’s flavour comes from the wood. But what actually happens inside the barrel to create world-class whisky? Legendary Master Distiller Billy…
- Cask to Glass
The Tax Trap: Mark Kent on the "Unfair" Duty on Scotch Whisky
Is Scotch Whisky "unfairly" taxed in the UK compared to other drinks? Yes, says Mark Kent, CEO of the Scotch Whisky Association. "72% of the cost of an average…
- Cask to Glass
Inside the Cooperage with Ray Prosser from Oakwood Cooperage
"If you take away the cooper, you take away the cooperage, you take away the barrels, then you don't get whisky," says Ray Prosser, Sales & Operations Manager…
- Cask to Glass
Sun, Scotch & Coconut Water: Andre de Almeida on Cracking the Brazilian Whisky Market
How do you take your whisky? On a Brazilian beach, with coconut water obviously. Or better still coconut water ice. In 2025 Brazil was the joint-fifth largest…
- Cask to Glass
On the Nose: Richard Paterson on 60 Years in the Whisky Industry
Legendary master blender Richard Paterson OBE began his career in whisky on 5 September 1966. Sixty years on, he's still passionate about Scotland's national…
- Cask to Glass
GlenWyvis on the Brink: Why this community distillery could go bust without immediate investment
Can a community-owned distillery survive the current whisky market? GlenWyvis Distillery, founded in 2015 with 4,000 community investors, began production in…
- Cask to Glass
The Sleeping Giant: Tomatin's Jamie Muir reveals Scotch Whisky's best kept secrets
“I really enjoy my whisky,” Jamie Muir says. He ought to. Raised on Jura, schooled on Islay and now Distillery Manager at Tomatin Distillery near Inverness…
- Cask to Glass
Indpendent Spirits: Fred & Cara Laing from Douglas Laing & Co.
Go behind the scenes of Douglas Laing & Co. with Fred and Cara Laing as they share 75 years of whisky history, blending secrets, and a few drams along the way…
- Cask to Glass
Making Whisky Fun: Dawn Davies on the "Smoky Cokey" & Other Geeky Secrets
Whisky should be fun, declares Dawn Davies, outgoing commercial buying director for global whisky retailer The Whisky Exchange. She wants to shatter many of…
- Cask to Glass
DrinkAbility: Nicola McRedmond & the State of the Whisky Job Market
Ever wondered what it actually takes to break into the whisky industry? John sits down with recruitment specialist Nicola McRedmond, founder of DrinkAbility…
- Cask to Glass
Let Us Dram You: Susan Morrison & the Scotch Whisky Experience
Step into "Scotland's greatest story" and discover one of the 7 Wonders of the Scotch Whisky World - the Diageo Claive Vidiz Scotch Whisky Collection - curtesy…
- Cask to Glass
Liquid on Lips: How to Market Whisky with Nick Morgan
How do you market whisky in the 21st century? Or as ex-Diageo marketing guru, Nick Morgan, puts it: How do you get "liquid on lips"? A Keeper of the Quaich and…
- Cask to Glass
Mythical Beasts & Tangible Assets: Spiritfield's Ross Archer & Russell Spratley
Is whisky ownership the ultimate tangible asset? In this episode of Cask to Glass, we go behind the scenes of the whisky industry with Russell Spratley and…
- Cask to Glass
The Swallows' Tale: John Johnstone & the Spirit of Glenkinchie
What does a 6,000-mile journey from Africa to a Scottish distillery have to do with a rare 30-year-old whisky? John Johnstone shares "The Swallows' Tale", a…
- Cask to Glass
The Dram Queen: Ann Miller & the Demysification of Enjoying Whisky
There are a lot of supposed "rules" when it comes to whisky. But for Ann Miller "rules are meant to be broken". AKA The Dram Queen, Ann's been demystifying the…
- Cask to Glass
The Art of the Dram: Tom Addy from the Fife Arms
Would you pay £9,000 for a single nip of whisky? Today, we’re inside the legendary Fife Arms Hotel in Braemar, home to one of the world's most exclusive whisky…
- Cask to Glass
Hebridean Spirit: Angus MacMillan from Benbecula Distillery
“If you’re looking to get a quick return on your investment, you don’t do whisky,” chuckles Angus MacMillan founder of Benbecula Distillery. "You don’t do…
- Cask to Glass
Whisky's for Stories; Tequila's for Jail: Chris Greta's Still Life Stories
"Whisky is for stories. Tequila is for jail,” jokes Chris Greta a Texan story hunter and advertising copywriter, who travels the world helping distilleries…
- Cask to Glass
Painting the Spirit: On the Whisk(e)y Trail with Artist Ian Gray
Founding US President George Washington once said alcohol was a business for "scoundrels." So how'd he end up owning the largest whiskey distillery in the…
- Cask to Glass
Beyond the Glens: Georgie Bell from The Heart Cut
If you love whisky, there are hundreds of distilleries across the world pursuing flavour based on passion, provenance and a “taste of place”. Just look "beyond…
- Cask to Glass
Scotland's Smallest Whisky Distillery: Cameron McCann on Heritage and Innovation
Most Scottish whisky distilleries produce millions of litres every year. But Stirling Distillery? They produce what their owner, Cameron McCann, calls a…
- Cask to Glass
Aussie Drams with That Whisky Girl Sarah Russell
By day, Sarah Russell is “Miss Sarah”, an Australian primary school teacher in Adelaide. The rest of the time, she’s “That Whisky Girl”, an Instagram…
- Cask to Glass
The Whisky Algorithm: David Thomson of Annandale Distillery
If you want to get David Thomson, co-founder of Annandale Distillery, started, just tell him, “You don’t make peated whisky in the south of Scotland.” “Yes, we…
- Cask to Glass
Supertasters: How Women Taste Whisky Differently with Téa Nicolae
Two months ago, in Episode 48 with Paul Bock and David Reid, they mentioned one of the regulars at their whisky and cheese gatherings brought along two bottles…
- Cask to Glass
No Rules Attached: Whisky on Your Own Terms with Annabel Meikle
There’s only one way to drink whisky properly, insists Annabel Meikle, whisky consultant and educator, and that’s on your own terms and without regard for any…
- Cask to Glass
Every Whisky Has a Story: Jason Waddleton of The Haven Scots Bar in Boston
Imagine a Scottish bar that didn’t sell Scotch whisky. Kinda defeats the purpose, doesn’t it? But for almost seven years that’s exactly what Jason Waddleton…
- Cask to Glass
All about Place: John Moore & Adrishaig Distillery
“If you’re looking to create a whisky,” says John Moore of Stirling Whisky Company, “you need two things. You need the body to be fit and healthy. So the…
- Cask to Glass
Beauty of the Blend: Ally Stevenson of Turntable Spirits
“There’s no scientific reason that a blend should be inferior to a single malt,” insists Alasdair Stevenson of blending house Turntable Spirits. “In ways you…
- Cask to Glass
Knockout Whisky & Food Pairings from MasterChef Finalist Sarah Rankin
How do you take your oysters? Yes oysters. Straight up? A splash of Tabasco? Or a couple of drops of whisky? Yes. Whisky! “I’d always have oysters with whisky…
- Cask to Glass
Fraser Campbell: Whisky Polymath
“My palate has seen a lot of action,” confesses Fraser Campbell, whisky educator, brand consultant, drinks strategist. “I started off working in pubs in…
- Cask to Glass
Do Whisky & Cheese Go Together? Paul Bock & David Reid
Whisky and cheese? It’s a simple question really: Do they pair well together? Does a Gorgonzola go well with a smoky Bowmore? Or is it better with a…
- Cask to Glass
Headwinds & Choppy Seas: Mark Kent CEO of the Scotch Whisky Association
“We’re going through a period of short-term volatility,” admits Mark Kent, CEO of the Scotch Whisky Association. “Volatility which,” he says, “is partly to do…
- Cask to Glass
Red Flags to Investing in Whisky Casks with Ryan Grant
Back in Series 1 Episode 5, Martin McAdam of Ardgowan Distillery joked that “the best thing you can do with whisky is put it in a cask, put it in a warehouse…
- Cask to Glass
The Most Collectible Rugby Malt Piece on the Planet?
Word of Richie Gray’s First Fifteen has been getting around, “to the point where,” the Scottish rugby and American football coach says, “I never even thought…
- Cask to Glass
Caithness Spirit: Martin Murray, Dunnet Bay Distillers
The quickest way to get to Dunnet Bay Distillery by road from almost anywhere in Scotland is to take the A9 north about as far as it can go. Just before…
- Cask to Glass
Sip Seekers: Victoria Miller's "Skyscanner" for Whisky Tours
What if there was Skyscanner for whisky and distillery tours? A one-stop-shop where you could find, compare and book your next whisky or other alcohol tourism…
- Cask to Glass
Trouble Brewing? Ian Fraser on the State of the Whisky Industry
Welcome to Series 2 of Cask to Glass the Whisky Podcast with John Beattie. We're back after a break because of illness and then Christmas and New Year. And…
- Cask to Glass
Apologies: No Episode This Week
Unfortunately, John's had a seasonal bug. Nothing serious. But it's taken it's toll on his voice. We're very sorry we're unable to bring you this week's…
- Cask to Glass
Jam to Dram: Kim Cameron of Bothy Distillery
"I'm often called an accidental distiller," says Kim Cameron, founder of the Bothy Distillery in Glen Prosen in the Scottish Highlands. Kim started off running…
- Cask to Glass
Cracking the Chinese Whisky Market: 威士忌酒 with Chen Li
As we've heard several times in previous episodes of Cask to Glass, China is one of the great untapped markets for Scotch whisky. With a populaton of 1.4…
- Cask to Glass
The World's Oldest Single Malt: Gordon & MacPhail's 85 Year Old Whisky from Glenlivet Distillery
Eighty five years in the making. One hundred and 25 decanters produced. £125,000 a pop. Released on the 2 October, and already almost entirely sold out…
- Cask to Glass
The Accidental Bottlists: Phil & Simon Thompson of Dornoch Distillery
"You have to offer value at every level" declares Simon Thompson, one half of Thompson Brothers distillers, independent bottlers and founders of Dornoch…
- Cask to Glass
A Hauf an' a Hauf: Scott Sneddon from InchDairnie Distillery
"I'm very fluid with how I take my whisky," admits Scott Sneddon, the Managing Director of InchDairnie Distillery in Fife in this episode of Cask to Glass. So…
- Cask to Glass
Cask 'n' Time: Russell Bradley from One Cask at a Time
"Whisky is distilled and matured to be enjoyed," declares Russell Bradley, Head of Brand Development at newly launched independent bottlers One Cask at a Time…
- Cask to Glass
Safe Space Whisky with Kristiane Westray
"Whisky is for everyone," declares Kristiane Westray, whisky writer, educator and judge. Her book Savour: A guide to tasting and exploring whiskies of the…
- Cask to Glass
Here's A Deal: Scottish First Minister John Swinney on talks with US President Donald J Trump
Could Scotch whisky be exempted from US tariffs? In this episode, after his whirlwind visit last week to meet US President Donald J Trump at the White House…
- Cask to Glass
Reset Required? Martin Purvis of Commercial Spirits Intelligence
How much whisky is stored in warehouses across Scotland? "Nobody really knows," says Martin Purvis of Commercial Spirits Intelligence. He tried to find out…
- Cask to Glass
Cask Explorers: Stephen Woodcock from Glen Turner
"You'll know the game, John," admits Stephen Woodcock, head of Whisky Creation and Stocks for Glen Turner, makers of Glen Moray, Cutty Sark and many other fine…
- Cask to Glass
Hidden Gems: Neill Murphy "A Scot on Scotch"
When you think of whisky - Scotch whisky - where do you think of? Islay? Campbeltown? Speyside? Or, if you want to be more specific, Dufftown? Or Aberlour? But…
- Cask to Glass
Dràm Mòr with Kenny & Viktorija Macdonald
Kenny and Viktorija Macdonald like the word "mòr", Scots Gaelic for "big". Growing up, Kenny was known as Coinneach Mòr ("Big Kenny"). He and Viktorija met in…
- Cask to Glass
John Swinney: First Minister of Scotland
Three weeks ago, US President Donald Trump came to Scotland on a private visit. During the trip he met Scottish First Minister John Swinney at his golf course…
- Cask to Glass
Nose Your Off Notes: Cheesy Vomit with Max McFarlane
"Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!" Remember Episode 14, when master blender Max McFarlane gave John what he calls "an off note whisky"? "Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Max!" It took John a…
- Cask to Glass
It's Not Unusual: Sean Williams & Whisgi Cymreig
In 1887, when Alfred Barnard published his seminal guide to the The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom, he catalogued 129 Scottish distilleries, 28…
- Cask to Glass
Drams Less Travelled: Hamish Malcolm - The Dram Caddy
Golf and whisky. Two of Scotland's great exports. They've gone around the world. Now the world rounds on Scotland to experience them both. And Hamish Malcolm…
- Cask to Glass
Scotchland: Dave Broom & the Joy of Whisky
"It's an extraordinary time in whisky's history," says Dave Bloom author of The World Atlas of Whisky; now in its 3rd edition but completely rewritten. Over…
- Cask to Glass
Organic & Sustainable: Annabel Thomas of Nc'Nean Distillery
"I didn't set Nc'Nean up to appeal to women," admits Annabel Thomas, founder of Nc'Nean Distillery, "but you know, I think maybe because my story ends up being…
- Cask to Glass
Time, Place & Company: Gordon Dundas of Ian Macleod Distillers
Whisky's about time and place and company for Gordon Dundas, Brand Development and Advocacy Director of Ian Macleod Distillers. One of Gordon's best whisky…