Key In The Lake Whiskey Podcast

From lying about his resume to get his first bar job to now operating one of the best whiskey bars in America, John shares his story of bartending. John stirs a delicious barrel-aged old-fashioned for this episode and highlights his curiosity for barrel-aging cocktails and blending whiskey.

Kevin, the founder of The Beautiful and The Damned, shares his adventurous decision to start a whiskey brand in 2023. He patiently approached building an American whiskey brand with quality of construction with sourced whiskey from MGP and steadily expanding in various markets across the country. We also discuss the economics of whiskey and the confidence and the intelligence it takes to construct a brand in the current climate of the industry.

To celebrate International Whisky Day, we go to New York with a live studio audience at Martiny’s for the launch of the collaboration between Starward X Lagavulin. Last March, I recorded a conversation with Starward founder David Vitale, Diego Master Blender Stuart Morrison and Whiskey Expert Noah Rothbaum. The three share the story of how this unprecedented collaboration developed over years of exploration to make a very special whisky.

Monica Casillas-Rios runs the bar program at the Michelin Star restaurant Elske. In 2023, she was awarded her own Star by winning the Michelin Guide Chicago, Exceptional Cocktail Award Winner. At her six-seat bar she strives to foster a home-like atmosphere for her guests. She’ll chit-chat about your personal life, guide you through the menu and find the best cocktail/other beverage to pair with your evening.

Hannah and I are launching a series of episodes highlighting women in the whiskey industry. We kick off this series by Hannah briefly sharing her experience of working for local and international distilleries in various markets; and introducing our future guests’ diverse backgrounds in spirits and whiskey. Guest: Hannah Thomas Host: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com Key In The Lake

Last week, we hosted a charity bottle raffle to donate money to Another Round Another Rally for their aid to the LA bars/restaurants affected by the LA fires. Brands from around the world donated bottles to be raffled at our live event with 50 guests at Slightly Toasted in Chicago. We interviewed master distillers, brand reps, retailers and whiskey clubs who donated products to raise more than $3,000. Guests: Hannah Thomas, Steve Malloy, Zalman Goldbloom, Eric Rosentreter, Kimio Yonezawa and Brett Bauer Hosts: Jake Hukee, Chris Blatner and Matthew Brown Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com Key In The Lake

Neil Macleod Mathieson is the whisky maker for Torabhaig Distillery and Mossurn Distillers & Blenders. He has 40 years of experience in the spirits industry. Neil began his career by writing to Champagne houses, in a gentlemanly way, to become a blender. A couple of houses accepted him onto their estates and from there whisky was the next step. Blending and distilling of spirits has been Neil’s only job. On this episode, he breaks down the process of collecting barrels for blending Mossburn’s projects, along with the purpose of bringing together the elements of space, culture and tradition to create Torabhaig. Guests: Neil Macleod Mathieson Host: Jake Hukee & Brett Bauer Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com Key In The Lake

John Chesney of Slightly Toasted and Matthew Brown of La Crosse Distilling are back. John shares how his bar’s recent Pappy Van Winkle event revealed that the one percent of American whiskey drinkers are jaded by our overabundant amount of great American offerings. We also discuss how bars and retailers are surviving during the slow months of January and February; and how marketing departments of distilleries are in their “Bell-Bottom” phase. Guests: Matthew Brown, John Chesney and Eric Rosentreter Host: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com Key In The Lake

Matthew Brown is back with a new game called Hot, Not, Thought. The game turned into an expertise for us to discuss new brands and marques coming soon to the market. We gage our levels of anticipation and excitement for these new whiskeys, and discuss how they’ll adjust into the current climate of this fading whiskey industry. Guest: Matt Brown Host: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com Key In The Lake

For the last six months I’ve worked for The Macallan. My previous employer was Starward Distillery from Melbourne, AU. I worked for the Aussie outfit for over five years, and on this episode I talk about the pros of working for one of the biggest single malt distilleries in the world versus a smaller single malt distillery. Host: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com Key In The Lake

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 Chesney Host: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com Key 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 Brown Host: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com Key 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 Maas Host: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com Key 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 Turnquist Host: Jake Hukee & Eric Rosentreter Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com Key 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 Bauer Host: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com Key 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 Thomas Host: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com Key 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 Rosentreter Host: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com Key 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 Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com Key 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 Rosentreter Host: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com Key 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