Whisky Pilgrims

An Irishman and a Yorkshireman meet up in the epicentre of Scotland for a few drams to celebrate 2025.

On location at Benriach distillery, we chat to Stewart Buchanan, their Global Brand Ambassador and one of the friendliest, straight talking, whisky experts you’ll ever meet. He started out hands-on in the distillery, learning every part of the process. He knows what makes Benriach tick because he’s lived it. No fluff or flannel just passion and pizzazz.Now, as the face of Benriach around the world, Stewart shares that same enthusiasm wherever he goes. He’s all about keeping whisky fun and approachable, whether he’s pouring drams in Speyside or hosting tastings in Singapore.

A marriage, a vatting, a blend — call it what you will.Some folks still turn their noses up at them. Maybe they had a rough encounter once, or maybe someone told them “real whisky” has to be single malt.But here’s the thing — there are millions who adore blends. Don’t let an old prejudice keep you from a new discovery. Not all blends are equal — and that’s the beauty of it. When the right whiskies come together, they can create something far greater than the sum of their parts.

Pilgrims can find themselves in unexpected places. Stay with us in this episode, as we discover what's behind Bogincur, a Wonderland in Moray; exploring water, coffee and whisky. We chat with Warren (aka The Wizard), a water engineer with many passions. He takes us on an adventure down the rabbit hole as we experience, among other things, a whisky that escapes the confines of time!

There’s no doubt that living in Speyside is whisky heaven but this time, Andrew and Josh take a detour to explore the rich, world of Irish whiskey.They meet up for a blether and uncork three bottles; one from the oldest licensed distillery in the world, another of the iconic John’s Lane release and a newcomer from the current whiskey renaissanceIn just two decades, Ireland has gone from three distilleries to nearly fifty. It’s not just a revival — it’s a revolution. And while Whisky Pilgrims usually seek out affordable, accessible drams for everyday enjoyment, this episode is a celebration, and one particular dram makes an exception. This isn’t Scotch versus Irish. It’s Scotch and Irish. Two traditions, two cultures, one shared love for whisk(e)y, so, whether your glass holds single malt or pot still, grain or blend, raise it high.Sláinte mhaith.

A deep dive into independent bottling, as Andrew Smith (co-founder and director) shares his in-depth geekery of distilling and cask maturation. He is one half of Little Brown Dog in Aberdeenshire, which takes its name from his beloved dog, who was his constant companion, following him everywhere.In January, they won two major accolades at the highly esteemed Scottish Whisky Awards; gold medal for the best blended Scotch and the title of Independent Bottler of the Year.As we continue the whisky pilgrimage, join us in Andrew’s home to listen to the story and discover the how’s and whys of this rapidly growing whisky sector. These guys are amongst the ones who really know their craft and wizardry as they bring exceptional drams to the punters.

Your patience has been rewarded! Part Two of the conversation with Juliette and Callum Buchan recorded at the taproom, Against The Grain, in Elgin.Andrew and Josh introduce Part Two with GlenAllachie 10 year old, (Cask Strength Batch 59.4%) and the big hitter GlenAllachie 15 year old, (46%). We toast Juliette, celebrating her time at the giant of the Speyside region, The GlenAlachie distillery.In this second half, over more hauf an' haufs, we get personal, sharing stories worth sharing.

GlenAllachie is one of our favourites for its complex adventurous drams and it's on our doorstep. One of their big personalities is European renowned Juliettte Buchan, French from birth, Scottish from heart. She has been European Sales Manager for 5 years, before becoming Brand Home Manager over a year ago.In this episode, we chat with Juliette and her husband Callum about another one of their loves; Against The Grain, a beer and whisky emporium in Elgin.We are introduced to hauf an' hauf with a GlenAllachie 9 Fino sherry cask, Benriach Smoky 12 and GlenAllachie 15. We had no agenda, just hit Record and let the conversation and pairings flow.In this first half, we also cover independent bottlers and maturation. Rather than cutting it short, you will need to wait for a couple of weeks for Part Two.