#10: Smoke Wars - Episode I: Mrs. Beast vs Big Wood

Let The Smoke Wars Begin...  Enter Mrs. Smoky Beast & Big Wood.  May the peat be with you.

These two gladiators have been called to search ceaselessly throughout Caledonian moors, crags, islands and bogs, accepting no limits and yielding to no obstacle placed in their path, all for the glory of a sacred mission - to find the best smoky malts in the world and bring them back to the Beast Lair in the hopes of becoming CHAMPION of the Smoke Wars.  Few have been chosen, but only one will prevail…
In our first battle of the Smoke Wars, Mrs. Smoky Beast faces off against Joshua “Big Wood" Hatton of Single Cask Nation and Whiskey Jewbilee.  In this contest each will present two smoky malts each to the Beast Masters for judgement.  The first round will be a malt under £100, the second round a malt over £100 with no price limit.
Who will claim the title of first Smoke Wars Champion? Listen and all shall be revealed.

In Mrs. Beast's Corner
Kilchoman 2016 US Tour Machir Bay (Cask Strength)
6 Years Old | 116.8 Proof | Bottled 2016

Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Port Ellen
Distilled 1982 | Bottled 2001
18 Years Old | 100 Proof

In Big Wood's Corner
Kilchoman 10th Anniversary Release
3-10 Years Old | 116.4 Proof | Bottled 2016

Lagavulin Feis Ile 2015
Distilled 1991 | Bottled 2015
24 Years Old | 119.8 Proof

#9: Top 5 Special Releases of 2016 - Hot or Hype?

Hot or Hype?  That's the question... The Beast Masters review five of this year's most sought after limited release whiskeys. 

Steve and Ben once again welcome Jake, "Whiskey Warrior" Cahill, to sip through five of this year's most heavily hyped whiskeys. The lineup includes Parker's Heritage 24 Year Bourbon, Booker's Rye, Four Roses Small Batch LE, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, and Rebel Yell 10 Year. Were these expensive and highly allocated bottles worth the hype? We get to the bottom of this essential question and let you know where to look for your next acquisition.  Treats or tricks?  Worth hunting or paying up for? We'll sort you out.

Also covered in the episode are Jake's most pompous sommelier terms, "Karate Kid-&-Play", and Steve's latest exploits rolling whiskey barrels across the streets of Manhattan.  

#8: Clear the Shelves!!! Top 5 Whiskeys that Won't Be Around Next Year.

The Smoky Beast combines forces with The Whiskey Warrior (Jake Cahill) to bring you the Top 5 Whiskeys that won't be around next year.

We'll school you up on all the bottles you'll want to grab now to stock up your bunker before they go away for good.  Trust us, if you happen find any of these beauties you'll want to CLEAR THE SHELVES!!!

#7: Josh Hatton - Single Cask Nation Retail Preview

Beast Masters Ben and Steve sit down with Josh Hatton from Single Cask Nation.  

Josh is about to launch a new line of single barrel malts, the first Single Cask Nation bottles available in liquor stores. Josh specializes in finding special casks, often from distilleries that would normally only produce products used in blends. By showcasing some of these hidden gems in his single barrel SCN bottlings, Josh is bringing a fresh perspective to scotch whisky.

FEATURING THE SCN RETAIL LINE:
Girvan Single Grain Scotch Whisky 2006  10 Year (57.7%)
Glentauchers Single Malt Whisky 2008 8 Year (58.1%)
The Glenrothes Single Malt Whisky 2007 8 Year (56.3%)
Ardmore Single Malt Whisky 2008 8 Year

#6: Signatory Vintage

Steve, Ben, and the Beast Masters sit down with Tricia Chimento and taste through a superb line of their single cask malts. 

Signatory Vintage is one of our favorite independent bottlers. We taste this month's club selection, an 11-year old Caol Ila from their Unchillfiltered collection, as well as some of their rare Cask Strength Decanter Collection, starting with a 1973 33-Year malt!