Key In The Lake Whiskey Podcast

John Chesney and Matt Brown join me for a recap of 300 episodes. We look back on the landscape of whiskey when I first began the podcast seven years ago and to where whiskey and consumer are heading now.Hosts: Jake Hukee, Matt Brown and John ChesneyListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

After 298 episodes, we drop whiskey and talk tequila with Suerte… kind of. Our good buddies are here to hang to talk about the successes and failures in hospitality; the plethora of great stock of whiskey sitting in American distilleries and now hitting the shelves; and a bit on the online culture in the whiskey space.Guest: Eric Rosentreter & Chris BlatterHost: Jake Hukee and John ChesneyListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Eric Mersch and Sam Bergren of Still Austin are back. Eric hasn’t been on in couple years and the last time Sam appeared on the show he was representing Mississippi River Distilling Co. Now, the duo kills it in the Illinois market for this great, emerging Texas Distillery. They share the ethos and how the distillery has adapted in the past decade to become very recognizable American distillery.Guest: Eric Mersch & Sam BergrenHost: Jake Hukee and John ChesneyListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Wilson Returns! The man who started the podcast with me seven years ago. Wilson Torres is back to tell us about everything Whistle Pig. Wilson shares the purpose behind this exceptional Rye Whiskey brand and how they’ve grown into one the major players in American Whiskey. Hey, young world…Guest: Wilson TorresHost: Jake Hukee and John ChesneyListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Stephen and I catch up. We’ve both moved on from our Australian spirits companies. After more than six year, Stephen resigned from being the National Brand Ambassador of Mr. Black. He’s now venturing out on his own, creating his a production for the industry, As Is Productions. Listen to what his creative mind and skillset can do for spirits companies, restaurants, bars and coffeeshops. Guest: Stephen KurpinskyHost: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Live from Slightly Toasted for The Battle of The Bastards: the battle for well whiskey supremacy. Forty-five whiskey enthusiasts joined for a bracket challenge of blind tasting eight different work horses that fill our shot glasses, our house cocktails and are always available. Head-to-head the eight whiskeys went until one bastard was left standing. Listen to find out which whiskey it was.Host: Jake Hukee, Matt Brown and John ChesneyListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Live from Slightly Toasted, John Chesney and I sit down to discuss our lord and savior AI. We analyze how it’s an adaptable and functional tool for both distilleries and bars to better understand their customers. We also chat how distilleries could adapt to the craft brewery model to survive as hundreds of distilleries close and consolidate across the US.Hosts: Jake Hukee & John ChesneyListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Chris joins the show to discuss the current status of whiskey social media. We chat on how the algorithm has morphed from promoting fun, critical discussions of whiskey to a division through “hot takes” has enveloped social media platforms in the whiskey space. We also discuss the lawsuit against Bardstown Bourbon Company. We look at the nuanced angles from journalistic coverage, to social responsibility, and why opinions of the company don’t have to be decided at this very juncture. I think we all agree, let’s just treat everyone with dignity and respect.

Our first podcast of 2026. We recap the industry shakeups from large brand houses downsizing, giant distributors taking a hit, and how brands and consumers are sifting their ways through the rye of it all. We also find logic and purpose for whiskey brands to succeed this year. Hosts: Jake Hukee, Matt Brown & John ChesneyListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Kojin Tashiro, founder of Mugen Spirit, shares his Japanese heritage and American identity in the form of whiskey. Kojin was burnin in Japan but moved to America as a child. He blends both worlds together by sourcing Bourbon and using Japanese history, folklore, and art to tell a story of both countries inside and outside of the bottle.Guest: Kojin TashiroHost: Jake Hukee and John ChesneyListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Co-Founder at Clonakilty Distillery, Sean Scully joins us to share his family’s story of transforming their family farm to an Irish Whiskey Distillery. Sean also highlights the vast history of Irish whiskey, and pays homage to the large Irish brands that have established themselves across the world, paving the road for the smaller distilleries that are emerging.Guest: Sean ScullyHost: Jake Hukee, John Chesney & Brett BauerListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Chris and Sammy share the truly unique method of blending whisky at Found North. Their independent approach has caught the attention of consumers from across the country in a short time since they opened their doors just five years ago. Found North’s individualistic and eccentric approach to sourcing and blending Canadian whisky is truly the intertwining of art, science and business.Guests: Sammy Karachi & Chris RiesbeckHost: Jake Hukee & John Chesney Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Kevin, founder of The Beautiful and The Damned, returns. Kevin provides his industry insights on the financial side of whiskey; the price drop in barrels, the rising amount of inventory in the US, the growing number of US distilleries, etc. These are the factors that equate to the drop in whiskey sales and the plethora of unsold cases we have sitting in the millions waiting to be sold, purchased and consumed. Host: Jake HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

An East Meets West conversation, translated through our love of whiskey. Ken Matsuyama proprietor of famed Tokyo whiskey bar Ken’s Bar and Kojin Tashiro of Mugen Spirit share their love of spreading bourbon across the world. Kojin explains how his unique background of immigrating from Japan to America’s Bourbon Capital has created his opportunity to bridge bourbon in America and Japan. Ken stands on the other side of said bridge by visiting America, developing a great friendship with Kojin and bringing his bourbon experiences back to Japan. Guest: Ken Matsuyama and Kojin TashiroHost: Jake Hukee and John ChesneyListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

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.Guest: KevinHost: Jake HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

After six years between appearances, Jared Savocchi is back. We visit his Logan Square tavern, The Native to converse on a myriad of subjects surrounding bar culture. We hit on running/operating a neighborhood establishment post covid, creating trust with employees, adapting to drinking trends and how relationships are everything in this industry.Guests: Jared Savocchi, Chris Blatner, Matt Brown & Eric RosentreterHost: Jake HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

To celebrate International Whisky Day, we go to a 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.Guests: Noah Rothbaum, David Vitale & Stuart MorrisonListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Angela is the director of all things sales and representing her hometown distillery of KOVAL. She entered the industry three years ago, but she holds herself as an industry vet with great charm, personality and a real sense of hospitality. Her background in the theater built a foundation of approaching whiskey as an art, which has allowed her authentic passion for whiskey to shine.Guest: Angela SalinasHost: Jake Hukee & Hannah ThomasListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

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 ThomasHost: Jake HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey 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 BauerHosts: Jake Hukee, Chris Blatner and Matthew BrownListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey 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 MathiesonHost: Jake Hukee & Brett BauerListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey 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 RosentreterHost: Jake HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey 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 BrownHost: Jake HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey 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 HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey 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 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

Matthew Brown returns. He no longer works in the whiskey industry, however, he’s looking for a way back in, and what better way than to re-proclaim his love for whiskey here! We chat about entrepreneurs and their relationship to the spirit’s industry; the hierarchy of alcohol distributor; the Premier League, and the most notorious bands with numbers in their names.Guest: Matt BrownHost: Jake HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Bruce Perry, Global Head of Brand Advocacy of Mossburn Distillers joins the show. Bruce’s decades of experience in the whisky industry is an expiring career. He’s investing in brands, like Torabhaig, that walk down the road laid by the whisky/spirits legends. He shares the infancy of this Isle of Skye Scotch, the plan of their elegant releases, and the journey they’re on to capture Skye in a bottle of 10 and 12-year-old Scotch.Guests: Bruce PerryHost: Jake Hukee & Brett BauerListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Wilson Torres, Whistle Pig, and Eric Rosentreter, Old Elk, are back to finish off our discussion of who pulls the strings to the modern whiskey industry, and how brands of all sizes dangle and move with each squeeze of the finger of the puppeteers.Guests: Eric Rosentreter & Wilson TorresHost: Jake HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Wilson Torres, Whistle Pig, and Eric Rosentreter, Old Elk, join me to breakdown my current dilemma of: The corporate structure, perhaps, the corporate stranglehold on the whiskey industry is killing the soul of the spirit distilled from grain. Noncreative charlatans are the current gatekeepers, while the artists, the teachers, the culture-keepers are sidelined by capitalistic greed. The boys have their own thoughts and guide me through this predicament.Guests: Eric Rosentreter & Wilson TorresHost: Jake HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

On Saturday, May 18, we were live at Slightly Toasted recording our annual World Whisky Day event. in Part 2, we spoke with The Lakes’ new US representative Marcus Reidy, Still Austin’s IL Manager Eric Mersch, and Director of Bourbon Operations Tyrus Yamagiwa of Jeppsons Bourbon. Guests: Marcus Reidy, Eric Mersch & Tyrus YamagiwaHost: Jake Hukee, Matt Brown, & John ChesneyListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

On Saturday, May 18, we were live at Slightly Toasted recording our annual World Whisky Day event. in Part 1, we spoke with Brett Bauer of Marussia Beverages about Hatozaki Japanese Whisky. Then Hannah Thomas and Ali Reynolds of Stauning Whisky dropped by to educate us on this great Danish whisky, and to wrap up, Kelli Nakagama, President of Women Who Whiskey Chicago, shares the first ever Jack Daniels Barrel Proof Rye Single Barrel to market.Guests: Brett Bauer, Ali Reynolds, Hannah Thomas & Kelli Nakagama Host: Jake Hukee, Matt Brown, & John ChesneyListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Pinhook founder Sean Josephs joins at The Stockroom (GNS Market) in Uptown, Chicago to select a 9-Year Single Barrel. Sean explains the backstory of his vertical-single barrel series with the distillery and how he implements his sommelier background into crafting whiskey. Sean, Chris Blatner, Z from The Stockroom and I sip through three different barrel samples to find the best fit for the Northside retailer. Wait for the end when Sean drops some big news on their annual Big Horse release. Guests: Sean Josephs, Chris Blatner & Zalman GoldbloomHost: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Chris Blatner & Eric Rosentreter pop back on for a 360 conversation on the whiskey industry. We discuss the decline of whiskey sales in this young year, the rise of layoffs, and where the category of the luxury products is heading. We also chat about the Beam’s continued method of innovation with excellent products, and large brands like Four Roses remaining firm on what they do best versus “trend chasing.”Guests: Chris Blatner,& Eric RosentreterHost: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Live from Delilah’s in Chicago, I am joined by Brett Bauer, Chris Blatner, Alex Brick, Eric Rosentreter and Wilson Torres. I leave the show about 24 mins into the episode, and let the inmates run the asylum. We chat about what whiskey means to us, we all share our origin stories into the industry and the rising momentum of international whiskies growing across the world. Guests: Brett Bauer, Chris Blatner, Alex Brick, Eric Rosentreter & Wilson TorresHost: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Cameron George, Ardbeg National Brand Ambassador , joins me for an enlightening and inspiring conversation on life and whisky. We explore the wanderous perks and loneliness of working on the road. Cameron shares how the beauty of Scotland was ingrained in him as a child and built a foundation for his pursuit of scotch and whisky as an adult. We also chat about how the nature of whisky is parallel with the growth and nature of a human beings life.Guest: Cameron GeorgeHost: Jake HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com

Zak Rye and Eric Rosentreter join me upstairs at Warehouse liquors in downtown Chicago. We discuss how bars are missing the mark on providing innovative experiences, and why the secondary market place driving up retails prices across the country.Guests: Zak Rye & Eric RosentreterHost: Jake HukeeShop at Warehouse Liquors hereListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.com

Brett Bauer and Steve Malloy join the show. We talk through the emergence of celebrity-backed spirits and the lack of integrity involved with such brands. We also forecast the trends of ’24; will premium priced bottles continue to sell? And, while sipping on single barrels, we build a Key In The LaKe whiskey portfolio. Guests: Brett Bauer & Steve MalloyHost: Jake Hukee Listen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Chris Blatner, The UrbanBourbonist and Executive Director of Bourbon Charity, joins me for a conversation on the current climate of single barrels and LTO’s. We discuss how the market will respond to these higher-lined items in 2024, and the brands were looking forward to seeing innovations from this year.Guest: Chris BlatnerHost: Jake HukeeListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

A one of a kind single barrel from Starward Whisky Is discussed. I’m an ambassador of Starward, and I sit down with friend and colleague Steve Malloy of Malloy’s Finest to chat about his Starward single malt single barrel aged in a Tawny cask for five years. Deal with this moment of self-indulgence.Host: Jake Hukee Steve MalloyListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

Guest: Alex BrickHosts: Jake Hukee & Matt BrownListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake

We finally got the whiskey power couple. The Rosentreters, Eric and Susan, joined us at Delilah’s to chat about a variety of topics. They reminisce about working and meeting at Delilah’s, and how working at such a coveted whiskey bar developed their skillsets of educating and developing brands. Susan shares her 20 years of working in a male-dominated industry, and how she’s earned the respect of buyers, consumers with her passion and commitment to whiskey. And we get into Old Elk’s Wheat Whiskey single barrel available at Slightly Toasted.Guests: Susan Rosentreter & Eric RosentreterHosts: Jake Hukee & Matt BrownListen to more episodes and read stories at keyinthelake.comKey In The Lake