Guest: Andrei
Expression 1: Inchmurrin 18yr
Expression 2: Balvenie 14yr Peat Week
Guest: Shannan Custer
Co-Host: Meredith McLinn
Expression 1: Kamet
Expression 2: Royal Tiger
Guests: Sam Landman and Derek Lee Miller
Expression 1: Glenmorangie Malaga Cask 12yr
Expression 2: Wemyss “A Matter of Smoke” 15yr
Guests: Sam Landman and Derek Lee Miller
Expression 1: Nantou Omar
Expression 2: Kaiyo The Peated 2nd Edition Mizunara Oak
Guests: Angela Fox and Michael Bloom
Expression 1: Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest
Expression 2: Laphroaig Cairdeas 2020 Port and Wine Casks
Guests: Angela Fox and Michael Bloom
Theme: MN Single Malts
Expression 1: Brother Justus Cold-Peated
Expression 2: Dampfwerk Batch 1
Guest: Nicole
Expression 1: Tomatin Pedro Ximenez 12yr
Expression 2: Ballechin Manzanilla 11yr
Guest: Nicole
Expression 1: Aerstone Land Cask
Expression 2: Aberlour Casg Annomh
Guest: Ken
Expression 1: Glenmorangie 13yr Cognac
Expression 2: Lagavulin Offerman Edition
Guests: Kirsten Erickson and Robin Rayfield
Expression 1: Method and Madness
Expression 2: Teeling Black Pitts
Guests: Kirsten Erickson and Robin Rayfield (aka Syd Thunder)
Expression 1: Glenmorangie Cadboll Estate 15yr
Expression 2: Islay Gold Orla
Also, if you want Girl Scout Cookies, this link should work (until it doesn’t):
Guest: Dani
Expression 1: Shieldaig Olorosso
Expression 2: Cooper’s Choice Laggan Mill Single Cask Secret Islay
Guest: Dani
Expression 1: Kaiyo Sherry
Expression 2: Glenlivet Enigma
Guest: James
Expression 1: Kilchoman 11yr Single Cask
Expression 2: Laphroaig Cairdeas Triple Wood (2019)
Guest: James
Expression 1: Glen Allachie 12 yr
Expression 2: Aerstone Sea Cask
Guest: Anna
Expression 1: Kilbrin 10yr
Expression 2: West Cork 10yr
Friend, photographer, and former Rocky Horror shadowcast performer Anna Eveslage join the full group to taste Glengoyne 15yr and Ardbeg An Oa.
We let Nicole out of the basement and sample Glengyle Kilkerran 12yr and Tomintoul Tlath.
Local actor Nicole joins myself, Perrin, and guest host Meredith to taste Johnnie Walker Gold Label and Glen Fohdry Aiteal an Oir 12yr.
Apologies for the extremely late posting–I recently bought several Assassin’s Creed games and have been letting them rule my time.
Erin and Joe return to sample Glenglassugh Torfa and Angels’ Nectar 5yr Islay Edition.
Local improvisers and entertainers Erin Sheppard and Joe Bozic join the full crew of hosts to sample The Macallan #4 and The Glenlivet Code.
Barry returns and joins us for Highland Queen Majesty rum cask finish and Jura Seven Wood.
Friend of the show and former podcaster Barry Khardter joins us to taste the Johnny Walker Songs of Fire and Ice blended scotches.
We let Kyle out of the basement to join us in sampling Glenlivet 14yr Cognac and Laphroaig Lore
Fearless Comedy Productions member Kyle Dekker joins us to talk about his new staged work, Action Movie: the Play, and sample Glenmorangie Spios and Glen Scotia Double Cask.
Boo’s back and we taste Hazelburn 10yr and Glenrothes Whisky Makers Cut.
Twin Cities actor Boo Segersin joins us to sample Glenfiddich XX and Grangestone Bourbon finish.
Meredith stunts for Dave while Kirsten and TJ guest and we taste Ardbeg Drum and Dalmore Port Wood.
We sip some Swift and Whiskey Del Bac Dorado with returning guest Brynn.
Brynn stops by for our American single malts show and we sample Pine Barrens Cherrywood and Rogue’s Chatoe 3mth.
Nate returns for Glen Moray Peated and Mortlach 12yr.
Die Laughing auction winner Nate joins us for Glenlivet 12yr First Fill and Tamdu 10yr.
We sample Vicomte 8yr (finished in cognac barrels) and Brenne 10yr with Bre and Matt
I’m flying solo with my guests, Breanna Cecile and Matt Allex, today as we sample yet another Game of Thrones bottle, Oban Bay Reserve, as well as an oddity I found tucked away in a small liquor store near me, Beinn Dubh The Black.
Steve returns to join myself and Perrin in sampling two more of Diagio’s Game of Thrones series: Royal Lochnagar 12yr and Dalwhinnie Winter’s Frost.
Previous guest Meredith and new guest Steve join us to sample Trader Joe’s Alexander Murray Polly’s Casks Tullibardine and Scott’s Selection Aberlour 1989 Cast Strength.
It’s our annual single malt Irish whiskey episode, this year with The Irishman 12yr and Trader Joe’s 15yr, sampled by two hosts, stunt host Peter, and guest Luna.
Here’s another (late) Special Edition filling in for a regular episode, again from CONvergence 2018. Enjoy!
Josh and Amanda return, Perrin shows up, and we sample Highland Park Full Volume and Benriach Septendecim (17yr peated).
Fellow Fearless member Josh Thelen and his friend Amanda Kern join me for a show free of co-hosts to same more of Diageo’s Game of Thrones line–Cardhu Gold Reserve and Talisker Select Reserve.
Meredith returns and joins us for The Macallan #3 and Glencadam 21yr.
We are joined by returning guest Meredith and sample two bottles from Diageo’s Game of Thrones single malt collection: the Singleton of Glendullan Select and the Lagavulin 9.
Pete and James return for Glenfiddich’s Fire and Cane and Suntory’s The Chita.
James and Pete, performers in A Christmas Carol Radio Play, join us this month for the Highland Park Voyage of the Raven and Talisker Dark Storm.
As we were only able to record one episode with our guest this month, for the even numbered show, we offer up one of our recordings from CONvergence 2018 with several Guests and Former Guests of Honor, along with a few other scotch-loving attendees.
Local actor and improv performer Michael Rogers joins me (yup, just me) for the Aultmore 12yr and Machrie Moor Peated Arran Single Malt.
Becci and Paul are back and we sample Glenlivet Founders Reserve and Port Charlotte An Turas Mor.
Paul von Stoetzel and Becci Schmidt are back and together again, this time with Dave (holy crap, he’s back)! We sample the Glen Scotia 15yr and Glenrothes Vintage.
Better late than never!
Kyrie’s back and we sample the Glendullan Singleton 12yr and Bowmore Dorus Mor Small Batch 10yr.
Long-time friend and former roommate Kyrie joins us for McClelland’s Islay and Gordon & MacPhail’s Linkwood 15yr.
Sam returns and we sample Single Grain whiskies from The Girvan Patent Still (No. 4 Apps) and Loch Lomond.
Long-time friend Sam joins us for the Johnnie Walker Blender’s Batch Wine Cask Blend and Springback 17 Sherry Wood.
Late posting with our returning guest Carly, Bailey, and Puck with the Macallan #2 and Glenglassaugh Revival
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Die Laughing Silent Auction winner Puck and returning guest Carly, with her roommate Bailey, join us for a celebration of American single malts.
The full trio is here, along with our friend Meredith McLinn, to sample a couple bottles from Dave’s private collection: the Highland Park Einar and the Tamnavulin Double Cask.
Due to unfortunate circumstances, we were unable to record shows for May. As it turns out, we also failed to post the second April show, so that will have to tide you over until June.
Paul von Stoetzel and Becci Schmidt return!
More Seth and more single malt Irish whisky in this episode, this time with Teeling and the Sexton.
Fellow OmegaCon attendee Seth Sweep joins us for an all-Irish single malt month, which start with Jack Ryan Beggar’s Bush 12yr and The Quiet Man 8yr.
Carly and Josh and out of the basement and help us discuss Benromach Sassicaia and Benriach Solstice 17yr 2nd Edition
Returning guest Carly and her friend Josh join us for a Dave-free episode where we sample Springbank Green and Tomatin French Oak
Sorry for the extremely late posting–February is kicking my ass.
More Shea and more scotch, this time around it’s Two Brewers Peated and Glen Breton ICE 10yr.
Our friend Shea Roberts returns and helps us sample the Highland Park Magnus and Laphroaig’s Cairdeas 2016 (Madeira Cask).
Merry Belated Xmas–here’s a late episode for you!
Die Laughing 2017 winners Michael MacDonald and Cara White make their third appearance on the show and sample Trader Joe’s Highland 12yr and Tomatin Dualchas in our latest installment of “Scotch on the Cheap”.
Andrea returns to sample Balnellan Peated 8yr and Glen Morey Elgin Classic Chardonnay.
Sorry this was so ridiculously late. Cetius takes complete and total blame, as there was no reason it should have been late at all, let alone this late.
Fearless Comedy Productions member Andrea joins Perrin and Cetius to sample the Hakushu 12yr and Amrut Intermediate Sherry.
Sorry this is so late folks, and that it’s being posted well after Twin Cities Horror Festival ended (contrary to the episode’s content). We also failed to mention that Top Valu Liquor in Columbia Heights is again running their 15% off all single malts sale, so if you’re a local, please swing by and purchase some tasty whisky.
The Lyritics are back and we sample Highland Park Valkyrie and Benromach Peat Smoke.
For October, we’re joined by The Lyritics to sample some independent bottles: Chieftain’s Dalmore 14yr and Gordan MacPhail’s Glen Grant 10yr.
Ken’s back for a short episode wherein we sample Grangestone Rum and Ardbeg Kelpie.
Dave and I are joined by our old friend Ken Merriman to sample the Wolfburn and Loch Lomond’s Inchmurrin Medeira.
Paul and Steffen return for the mid-August episode and sample the Benriach 12yr and the Laphroaig Select. Just guess which one we like more.
Returning guest Paul von Stoetzel and first-time guest Steffen Moeller join us for an independent bottlers episode wherein we sample a Signatory Edradour 11yr and a Battlehill Bladnoch 22yr.
Carly returns and suffers through the Highland Park Ice and Fire with us. Seriously folks, none of us liked these and with their price point, unless you 1) are a huge HP fan, 2) really want the bottles for display, or 3) have more money than taste, we advise you to steer clear.
Our friend Carly joins us to sample some American single malts (Westland Peat and Defiant) in honor of July 4th.
Sorry we’re late with the show posting, but we’ve been preparing for CONvergence!
Ian returns and we sample the Longrow Red and Tomatin Manzanilla.
Ian Bryan, the “crappy genie” spoken of on the High Five Guys podcast, joins us to sample the Edradour distillery’s Ballechin Bordeaux and Glenfiddich’s Experimental Series #1, an IPA finished single malt.
Fearless Comedy Productions member and producer of the new original show, Anxiety! The Musical, Becci Schimdt, joins us for Mortlach Rare Old and Benromach 22yr Port.
Ryan Alexander joins us at OmegaCon for Glen Scotia Victoriana and Highland Park Sigurd.
May the Fourth be with you!
Aaron and Scott return to sample some single malts Perrin brought in from some duty-free stores: Laphroaig PX and Kininvie 17.
Reminder–Scott has this to say about his upcoming show:
On Friday, April 28th, the Cedar Cultural Center will host a very special event: Michael David Matheny, a well-known figure in the Twin Cities Irish Music community, is releasing his long-awaited solo album, “El Dorado.” Unfortunately, Michael won’t be performing at the show, because he died of cancer in 2012 at the age of 45.
Over the course of a 25-year career, Michael David Matheny performed as a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with bands including Gallowglass Irish Trio and The Long Straight Forever. When he was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, he began cataloging his original songs, “while undergoing chemotherapy and taking advantage of good days and nights as they came” as he wrote in a letter to his family. In late 2015, after more than two years of heartbreaking work combing through Michael’s music, his family brought in producer Scott Keever to complete the task of finishing Michael’s album.
“El Dorado” features 16 tracks, some completed by Michael before he died, and the remainder finished by Scott, with additional performances by Michael’s friends and former bandmates. The songs showcase Michael’s ability as a songwriter, singer and performer in the Celtic tradition, on guitar, mandolin and mandola, and the album is both an emotional farewell to the man and a fitting tribute to his skills.
In celebration of the release of the album, there will be a concert at the Cedar Cultural Center on Friday, April 28th, This concert was made possible by contributors to an Indiegogo campaign launched in November 2016 which raised over $6,000. Although Michael himself won’t be there, the performers from the album will. The set list will include most of the songs from the album as well as songs from Michael’s back catalog. The performers will be Lojo Russo, Raymond Yates, Scott Keever, Dayna Jean Wolter, Ken Larson, Eric Pedrotty, Matt Ogden and Matt Miller. It promises to be an evening of tears, laughter and really great music.
Doors will open at 7pm, with the show starting at 8pm. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.
Musician Scott Keever and podcaster Aaron Coker join us to taste Macallan Gold and Kilchoman Sanaig.
We’d also like to invite you to watch Die Laughing 4, a fundraiser for Fearless Comedy Productions. Those who can appear in person have a chance to win a Silent Auction entry for a guest appearance on this show.
Scott would like to promote the following:
Michael Matheny CD Release/Tribute Show – Friday April 28th at the Cedar Cultural Center
Sweet Colleens CD Release – Sunday June 4th at the Parkway Theater
(OBI) Orkestar Bez Ime – Balkan Party band
The Sweet Colleens
Aaron would like to promote the following:
Just Enough Trope
Enterprising Individuals
Kirsten Erickson of the Alein’ Whalers joins us for the 2017 St. Paddy’s show where we sample the Michael Collins 10yr Slightly Peated (again, by accident) and Kinahan’s 10yr. If you’d like to see her and her band play, and are in the St. Cloud, MN area on the 17th, you can find them at Keller’s Bar form 6-9pm.
Long-time friend of Cetius and Dave and member of the Alelin’ Whalers, Kirsten Erickson, joins us to sample two Single Malts from Around the World–Fukikai 10yr and Wieser 7yr Pinor Noir.
Phillip Andrew Bennett Low, host of the Not So Silent Podcast, returns to sample the Montgomerie’s Caol Ila 18yr Single Cask and the Lagavulin 8yr.
Philip Andrew Bennett Low returns to promote his new(ish) podcast, Not So Silent Planet, a speculative fiction show. We drink Loch Lomond 18yr and Deveron 12yr.
Cara and Michael are back for the second January episode and the final one of Season 4.
Fearless Comedy Productions member Cara White and her husband, Michael MacDonald, join us for The Glenrothes Peated and Edradour’s Ballechin 10yr.
Happy holidays to everyone!
It just occurred to me that I hadn’t yet posted the second episode this month, so here’s our X-mas episode 🙂
Jessi returns to help us taste the Auchroisk 20yr and Bunnahabhain Darach Ur.
Improv comedian Jessi Goins joins us while we taste Macallan 12yr Double Cask and Bowmore 15yr Darkest.
Also, please check out former guest phillip andrew bennett low’s new podcast, Not So Silent Planet and like it on Facebook.
Oh my goodness–Dave’s back! We go guest-less for the first time ever but we’re still doing our thing, this time tasting the Glenmorangie Milsean and Glenfiddich 14yr Bourbon Barrel Reserve, a U.S. exclusive bottling.
Die Laughing 3 auction winner Jaime Mcclellan joins us for a “scotch on the cheap” show featuring Trader Joe’s Speyside 8yr and The Torran. Again, Dave was unable to attend the recording, but we swear he’s still part of the show, though he’s less of a running gag this time.
Sorry for the late posting. I’ve been worse than usual with time management lately.
Rob Callahan and Shea Roberts return for Gordan MacPhail bottlings of Glenlivet 15 and Mortlach.
Author and sometime columnist Rob Callahan and improv comedian Shea Roberts join us for Ardbeg Dark Cove (graciously provided by Shea) and Highland Park Dark Origins.
P.S. Due to my being a poor time manager, this is post both late and unedited. Blame Blizzard 😀
Special guest Lauren Haven returns, along with guest host Eric Thompson, to taste the Amrut Portonova and Connemara Cask Strength.
For those that don’t want to skip to the end of Episode 85, here’s the complete listing of all Fearless, Fearless member, and former guests of this show’s Fringe shows.
New guest Lauren Haven and returning guest Eric Thompson–both of The High Five Guys, News From Honeytown, and Redshift podcasts–join us for the Lismore 15yr and the Grangestone Master’s Selection.
Kelly McCullough is back, Dave’s still gone, and we sample Isle of Jura 21yr and Glenfarclas 25yr.
Author Kelly McCullough joins us to taste Highland Park 15yr and Bruichladdich Rockside. Sadly, we are without Dave again.
Apologies for the lateness on posting and light editing, but CONvergence was early this year.
Q returns for two more pours.
Sorry for the lack of editing, but my schedule is extremely busy this week.
We had a special treat this month–our guest is a native Glaswegian! Perrin’s friend Brian, aka Q, joins us to taste expressions we weren’t sure how to pronounce from Tomatin (Cù Bòcan) and Ardbeg (Uigeadail).
Robb Hollyday of the Late 2 The Party and Best 3some Ever podcasts is let out of the basement to taste the Ledaig 10yr and Balmenach Deerstalker 10yr with myself, Dave, and stunt Perrin Peter Buckholtz.
Robb Hollyday of the Late to the Party podcast joins us to taste Trader Joe’s Speyside 13yr and McClelland’s Lowland for this month’s “scotch on the cheap” episode. Perrin couldn’t make it, so we have guest host Peter Buckholtz pinch hitting for him.
The Stitelers return and we sample Ardbeg Perpetuum and Laphroaig 15yr Limited Edition.
Author, beekeeper, and bird-watcher Sharon “Birdchick” Stiteler and her writer/director/entertainer husband Bill join us for our tasting of the Benromach 10yr and Ainsley Brae Oak Cask.
In case you see this right away, Bill will be hosting Powerpoint Karaoke, an improv comedy show, tonight at the Fantasy Flight Gaming Center in Roseville and again at Fearless Comedy Production’s Die Laughing 3, which is coming up April 8-10. Bill and Sharon will also perform in a few events–check the schedule on the website for details. I (Cetius) will be performing & volunteering here and there throughout the weekend and also auctioned off for a date Friday evening (probably). You can also bid on a guest spot on this show during our Silent Auction, so do please come out to see us.
Jonathan Ford returns for our fourth annual Irish single malts show! This year’s pours come from Hyde 10yr and Slieve Foy 8yr.
Local musician Jonathan Ford joins us this show to taste Glengoyne 17yr and The Dalmore 1263 King Alexander III. Sadly, we are again without Perrin, but we still find plenty to talk about.
Tyler and Skot of True Stone Coffee Roasters return to taste the Tomatin Cuatro Oloroso and the Glen Grant 16yr, but we start tasting a new coffee they are selling. Good times were had by all.
Reminder:
If you go to their website and use code “scotch” during checkout, you’ll get 10% off your entire order.
We’re super excited to have Skot and Tyler from True Stone Coffee Roasters with us to taste the Glenmorangie Tusail and the Tullibardine 228 Burgandy. We spend time talking about how similar the tasting process is between what we do and what they do when researching a new blend. They were also kind enough to bring a sample of their immersion brew cold coffee beverage, which we taste just before the closing toast.
True Stone Coffee Roasters have also given us–and you–a special treat. If you go to their web site to order any of their amazing blends and use the coupon code “scotch”, you’ll get 10% off your order–no limit, no end date (or so I’m led to believe). Our thanks to them and happy roasting!
We run a little long again because we’re still joined by James Fairbairn from The Awfulcopter (huey huey huey huey huey), who has passionate reactions to this episode’s pours and tells us a couple stories, one of which I actually ask for. We taste the Kilchoman 2nd Edition and the Ardbeg Auriverdes. Oh, and Dave’s still gone, the loser.
We’re a man down yet we run a bit longer than usual. Why is this, you might ask. It’s because we have fellow podcaster James Fairbairn with us to taste the Craigellachie 13yr and the Glen Moray Elgin Classic.
We pitch a show idea for Jena, Perrin borrows from Mickey Rooney’s playbook, Phillip reminds us there are still two performances of his show “Get Thee Behind Me, Santa” for you to see, and Bob talks a little more about “Hard Wired”, his new show co-written with Suzy Becker and playing at the Bryant Lake Bowl next month. All this while we taste Kavalan Classic and Nikka Yoichi 15yr.
Also, the Minneapolis distiller I was thinking of was indeed Du Nord.
Bob Alberti returns and Phillip Andrew Bennett Low joins him and us for another round of not scotch scotch. Because it’s Episode 69 and we’re immature idiots, we’ve decided to French you Down Under by tasting Brenne from Cognac in France and Lark from Tasmania in Australia.
Duck Washington returns and gives us his origin story–well, his name’s origin story anyway. Dave’s nose makes several vocal appearances as well and we’re all sorry about that. Pours this go around are the Balvenie Peated 17yr and Glenkinchie 2010 20yr.
Even though this show is posting a bit late, there’s still time to see Caucasian-Aggressive Pandas and Other Mulatto Tales at the Bryant Lake Bowl this weekend. If you are a Twin Cities local, you really should check it out. This is the final weekend.
Duck Washington of Fearless Comedy Productions joins us this month to promote his upcoming show “Caucasian Aggressive Pandas and Other Mulatto Tales”, playing at the Bryant Lake Bowl theatre November 13, 14, 20, and 21 at 7pm. The play is an original work based on Duck’s life as an individual of mixed race and we at Xtreme Tasting League: Scotch are looking forward to seeing it (during the second weekend, as we’re all three of us going to OmegaCon on the show’s opening weekend).
As for the drams this show, we’re doing another independent bottlers episode, this time featuring Montgomerie’s (an Angus Dundee label) Ben Nevis 18yr and Scott’s Selection Glen Mhor 1978.
Mona returns and we taste the Isle of Jura Brooklyn and Bruichladdich Octomore.
Dave’s back, Perrin’s gone, and burlesque performer Mona Montague joins us for the first of our October shows, a “scotch on the cheap” episode, where we taste the Auchentoshan Classic and Glen Ness 12yr. Mona will performing this weekend in the Minneapolis Burlesque Festival and we do hope you’ll go check out the shows.
Perrin makes a visual joke and then talks about his wife’s love of mushes, after which I regale the group with a mush story not my own. One of my cats proves he’s a little shit by playing with some, causing a mild distraction. We also talk some shit about the actors in the Star Wars prequels, mostly Hayden, because why not. It’s XTL story hour!
Oh yeah, there’s some scotch tasting too–Tomatin 25yr and Ardbeg Supernova.
Di returns, Dave’s gone (again), and we’re still not drinking blends! Instead we have the Glenmorangie Companta and the Old Puteney 12yr.
Natalie Wass returns and brings Bombshell La Belle, a burlesque performer (on stilts!), with her. We drink a couple of independent bottlings this episode, a Cadenhead Caol Ila 22yr and a Gordon & MacPhail Lochside 12yr.
Do you like theater? We sure do, and that’s why we’ve invited two participants in this year’s Minnesota Fringe Festival to join us. Natalie Rae Wass is dancing in Bollywood Dance Scene’s “Spicy Masala Chai” at the Rarig Proscenium while Matthew Kessen acts in Comedy Suitcase’s “The Averagers” at Theatre in the Round. Both shows still have tickets available for select dates but reserve yours now as they may very well sell out!
We also talk about the Encyclopedia Show, a monthly collection of performances based around a single topic, to which both Matt and Natalie are frequent contributors. He also tells us briefly of his monster presentation archive Rev. Matt’s Monster Science. Both of our guests are also members of Green T Productions, who will be at this year’s MN State Fair (on certain days anyway).
But this is our show, Xtreme Tasting League: Scotch, and so we also need some special guest star whiskeys. This month, that means Cragganmore Distiller’s Edition (2011) and Glenfiddich Age of Discovery.
I’d also like to apologize for how quickly we wrap our show this month. We had to rush the ending somewhat as Natalie needed to get Matthew to a rehearsal. This is what happens when you schedule actors during one of the busiest performance week’s of the year.
Kirsten Wade returns and tastes the Glengoyne 16yr Shiraz finished and Bowmore Small Batch.
Kirsten Wade, newly minted Fearless Comedy Productions member and Vilification Tennis Amateur Show champion, joins us for our next round of Scotch on the Cheap!
Melissa Kaercher returns for our next edition of Scotch Around the World (…world…world)! This time we sample Kavalan’s Concerto Port from Taiwan and Glenora’s Glen Breton Rare 10yr from Canada. Melissa also talks about her recent vacation to England where she walked Hadrian’s Wall and drank at the super secret bar within a bar in London. For more details, press play.
Movie maven Melissa Kaercher recently invited Cetius over to record for one of her podcasts, Xanadu Cinema Pleasure Dome, and so we’re having her on (again!) with us. She’s joined us for a Special Edition, but we give her the full episode treatment this time while we taste the last of Highland Park’s Valhalla series, Odin, and the Glen Deveron 16yr.
We’re back with our Die Laughing 2 winner, Cicely Robin Laing, to talk about all her improv troupes and we welcome her (formerly) sober cab, Roger, while we taste Auchentoshan 12yr and Glen Dronach 14yr finished in Sauternes barrels.
Cicely Robin Laing, winner of our Die Laughing 2 auction and performer in a few Die Laughing events, joins us to drink Aberlour 12yr and Springback CV.
Tim Uren returns and talks about Ghoulish Delights and the Twin Cities Horror Fest and I ask him to talk about stepping onto the dance floor in a Fringe show last year. We make some D&D references while we add water to the second pour, for reasons that are evident when you listen, and we toast out on a story in praise of large chocolate malts.
We taste the Glenfiddich Cask of Dreams (2nd American edition) and Glen Garioch 21yr.
Theatrical renaissance-man Tim Uren joins us and discusses the many hats he’s worn in his career, his desire to be a monsterologist, and speaks daggers at mezcal. We also discuss the need to invent the fuck-off apple and put out a request for a graphic artist to make us a banner and new audio file avatar, payment in an appearance on the show and scotch (if local).
This months expressions: Clynelish 14yr and Tomatin 18yr
Ghoulish Delights is the theater troupe Tim works with.
Twin Cities Horror Festival is an annual series of horror plays that Tim helps organize.
Chad Dutton returns for our annual Irish single malts show! This year it’s the Michael Collins 10yr and the Knappogue Castle 14yr Twin Wood. Between pours, we ask Chad to talk about his RenFest experiences with the Dregs and he jumps in on the running gag about apples.
Chad Dutton of The Dregs joins us for our tasting of the Mortlach 1980 and The Macallan 18yr.
Holy crap, it’s Episode 50!
St. Manna the Destroyer returns and tells us a couple of stories: one with a bunny, one with garlic farts. Then she talks a bit about burlesque because burlesque. We also sidebar briefly to discuss how awesome all of our guests have been while we taste the Old Pulteney 17yr and the Longrow Peated.
Update to the update in the podcast:
Fully Believable! is actually Feb. 18, a week earlier than we say in the show. There was a double-booking hence it moving to be sooner.
It’s Season 3! Fearless Comedy Productions member and frequent Apropos of Nothing Fast 5 contributor St. Manna the Destroyer joins us to taste the Edradour Caladonia 12yr and Smokehead. We poke some good fun at AON and it’s hosts and talk about a couple of Scotch hotspots in Chicago.
JOsh Nite returns to discuss Kingdom of Loathing, child murder, and we remember to mention in-show the BBC Radio 4 Good Omens (still free to listen for a very limited time). The scotches we taste this show are the Glenfiddich Distillers Edition and the Glenfarclas 17yr.
Josh Nite of the Horror Show Hotdog podcast joins us, talks about writing Fearless Comedy Productions’ first full-length show, The Secret of Gravethwait Manor, and tastes the Deanston 12yr and Isle of Jura 16yr.
We forgot to mention it during the show, but Josh has a YouTube channel where he sings:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl0lTWhO2DxydRcj_NAoJrg
Also, BBC Radio 4 did an audio-dramatization of “Good Omens” which is worth a listen. It’s only live on the site for free until mid-January, so listen soon:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04knt4h/episodes/guide
A Christmas bonus for everyone, here’s the show we recorded at OmegaCon 2014. Have a happy New Year!
Eric and Jason return, Eric talks about his Fearless Comedy Productions show, Double Blind Improv, and we drink some Auchentoshan American Oak and Glenmorangie Finealta.
Sorry this was posted late.
Eric and Jason of the High Five Guys podcast join us for cheap scotch I got at Trader Joe’s, their Highland Single Malt and the Islay Storm.
Porter’s back and shares a bit about his podcast, Burn and Brew, while we drink the Glendronach 15yr Revival and the Balvenie 14yr Caribbean Cask.
Porter from the Burn and Brew podcast joins us for this month’s recordings and graciously brought the Laphroaig Triple Wood to pair up with the Macallan 10yr Fine Oak. We talk about Fearless shows, as Porter’s a founding member, and joke around a bit.
Peter’s back and we talk about the scotch and not much else. Why? Because of what we tasted, which was the Mackmyra and Scott’s Selection’s Bruichladdich 90.
Our first-ever guest taster, Peter Buckholtz, returns to talk about custom leather tooling, his job during the 2014 RenFest season; the trials and tribulations of buying and selling one’s house; and, of course, scotch. This time around, we sample some independent bottlers, which means that while they are responsible for the finished product, they did not distill the whiskey themselves and craft the expression from the casks they were sold by a distiller. This time around, we taste a Gordon & MacPhail bottling of Macallan and a Murray McDavid Highland Park. Confused? Listen to the episode for clarification.
Megan Culverhouse returns and shares a dream, and I was there, and Bob was there, and Molly was there…and you get the drill. Then there’s the tale about a puppet ass. She also throws down a gauntlet, but at who and for what, you’ll just have to listen.
We also drink the Bunnahabhain Toiteach and The Dalmore Cigar Malt.
Megan Culverhouse of the Ridiculous Puppet Company joins us (last minute) for the Bruichladdich 98 Olorosso and Longrow 14yr.
David Traylor returns and we drink Laphroaig Cairdeas Port and Glenfiddich Solera 15yr.
Sorry this was a day late, but I’m still on vacation.
We at Xtreme Tasting League: Scotch had the privilege of being able to sit down with some of the Guests of Honor and other notables of Convergence 2014 before the convention actually started. We recorded three separate episodes due to the time constraints these folks were under, though two people were able to attend all three recordings, one of whom was CVG 2014 Musical Guest, Matthew Ebel, who was kind enough to donate a couple of tracks to the second episode.
Episode 3
Guests: Andrew McKay, Matthew Ebel, Joseph Scrimshaw
We at Xtreme Tasting League: Scotch had the privilege of being able to sit down with some of the Guests of Honor and other notables of Convergence 2014 before the convention actually started. We recorded three separate episodes due to the time constraints these folks were under, though two people were able to attend all three recordings, one of whom was CVG 2014 Musical Guest, Matthew Ebel, who was kind enough to donate a couple of tracks to the second episode.
Episode 2
Guests: Andrew McKay, Matthew Ebel
Music: I Wish I Were & Everybody Needs A Ninja by Matthew Ebel
We at Xtreme Tasting League: Scotch had the privilege of being able to sit down with some of the Guests of Honor and other notables of Convergence 2014 before the convention actually started. We recorded three separate episodes due to the time constraints these folks were under, though two people were able to attend all three recordings, one of whom was CVG 2014 Musical Guest, Matthew Ebel, who was kind enough to donate a couple of tracks to the second episode.
Episode 1:
Guests: Andrew McKay, Jim Kakalios, Matthew Ebel, Scott Lynch, Elizabeth Bear, Emma Bull, Will Shetterly
Fearless Comedy Productions member David “Captain America” Traylor joins us for the first of his two podcasts and we talk about the local Fringe Festival, which started yesterday and runs through August 10 (visit www.fringefestival.org for more details). The pours this round are Knockdu’s Ancnoc 16yr and Glengoyne 1996, a 14yr limited edition.
It’s another mid-month episode! Dan Schlissel returns and drinks Bunnahabhain 12yr and Benrinnes Stronachie 12yr with us.
This month, we are happy to be joined by the owner and founder of Stand-Up Records, Dan Schlissel, who talks about how the label came about while we drink the Balvenie 12yr Double Wood and Glendronach 12yr.
Paul returns and we drink The Dalmore 12yr and Talisker Storm.
It’s another first for us here at Xtreme Tasting League: Scotch, as we are joined by our first referral guest, Paul von Stoetzel, who was suggested to us by previous guest Charles Hubbell, and we’re very glad he did. We had a great time talking about various projects of Paul’s while we tasted our two drams–the Bruichladdich Peat and the Aberfeldy 21yr.
In a predictable display of our usual pattern, Brianne Bilyeu, winner of the Die Laughing silent auction to record with us, makes her triumphant return. The drams up for discussion this go-around are the Isle of Jura Prophecy and the Glen Grant 10yr.
Brianne Bilyeu, winner of our donation of a guest spot to be auctioned at Die Laughing 2014, joins us for the first of her two shows. Not only that, but she brought us a present, the Deanston Virgin Oak, which we taste along side the Glen Scotia, our first trip to the Campbeltown region on the podcast. As it was the end of April, we again recorded at OmegaSpring, the relax-a-con where we drink, play board games, and lounge in the hot tub.
Eric Knight returns to time-travel into the past to start a running gag and drink some scotch with us, including one of his go-to drams.
“Pedantic Eric” Knight and Windy “Bossy Nova” Bowlsby join us for some podcast time traveling to discuss our mutual new job as the Fearless Comedy Productions‘ Board of Directors (only Cetius is on the Board from XTL, just to be clear) and to promote the company’s fundraiser, Die Laughing, which happens this weekend, April 4-6, 2014. We also discuss Fifth of Fringe, juicy lucies, the North Star Roller Girls, and rape jokes that are actually funny.
As if that weren’t enough (although it does explain the runtime), we also drink some scotch…go figure, right? This time, we sample the Caol Ila and Lagavulin Distillers Editions.
This is a long one, folks, but well worth the listen. And seriously, if you’re local to the Twin Cities area and are free at all this weekend, come check out Die Laughing at the Airport Hilton–Cetius will be there all weekend.
In keeping with the St. Patrick’s Day tradition we started last year, this show has us again tasting Irish distilleries’ single malt expressions. This year, we taste the Tullamore Dew 10yr and Bushmills 16yr. Returning guest Charles Hubbell asks us why these can’t be called scotch, talks about TVTV a bit as well as his recent projects of Fritz’s Funporium and Walking With The Enemy, we all mock Avatar a bit, and Perrin has us recount how we all got into malt whiskey.
We are pleased to be joined by Charles Hubbell–actor, puppeteer, and all-around great guy. He and I reminisce about how we met and the show we worked on together (two shows, if you count shouting callbacks during the Rocky Horror Show) and discuss a bunch of random things while we taste the Laphroaig Cairdeas Origin and Balblair 91. Charles also has a Kickstarter running for a new puppet-related comedy project that will be live for a couple days after this goes live; here’s the link.
Also to note, I pimp a few shows in the post-script:
Former guest of the show Jena Young’s “Memoirs of a Welfare Queen” will run March 7-8 at 7pm at the Bryant Lake Bowl.
Fearless Comedy Productions “Big Fun Radio Funtime” will run March 7 at 10pm (after Jena’s show–I’m doing the double feature).
Finally, I will be performing stand-up at Fearless Lab at Honey on March 11 at 7:30pm.
Do atheists believe in alcohol? Well, that depends on the pour, as we find out in this, the second show with the crew of the Geeks Without God podcast. Perrin and I (Dave was still out due to injury) taste the Glenmorangie and Laphroaig cask strength pours with our guests and no one was thrilled with either one.
Welcome to Season 2!
In this episode, we introduce our third permanent co-host, previous guest Perrin Klump. Joining us are the hosts of the Geeks Without God podcast–Nick Glover, Molly Glover, and Tim Wick (who takes a unique approach to score the scotch, as he’s not a drinker). Sadly, Dave’s injury from his ski trip keeps him from enjoying the Aberlour A’bunadh and The Arran Limited Edition Cognac Single Cask, both of which are cask strengths.
Guest: Bill Young
Drams: Scotch on the Cheap, Part 2
Speyburn 10yr
Glen Moray Classic
Guest: Bill Young
Drams: Scotch on the Cheap, Part 1
Speyside’s Drumguish
Lismore (no age statement or distillery listed)
Lana’s back!
I’m going to apologize yet again for the lack of show notes and editing. No one’s commented to complain about the lack of either, but I feel I’ve been slacking off, and not just with the podcast. My New Year’s Resolution for you folks–I’ll start editing the show again, which will improve the show notes as well.
We’ll also be having a contest in the first show of Season 2 of the podcast, so keep your ears open for details in the next couple of episodes.
Our friend Lana joins us for our episodes tastings.
Aaron joins us for another two drams. [more show notes pending]
OmegaCon 2013 was this last weekend and I was actually able to record a show with a number of new and returning guests. The show runs surprisingly fast considering the number of voices we have discussing the two bottles we tasted: the Laphroaig Quarter Cask and, in honor of Thor 2’s opening weekend, the Highland Park Loki. My thanks to returning guest Perrin Klumpp, who stepped in for Dave as he was unable to attend the convention, for reading the tasting notes so wonderfully.
We have a great Halloween-themed episode for you, both in the guests and the scotch. Practicing witches (members of the local Blue Star coven) Aaron and Jean-Robert join us while we taste the Isle of Jura Superstition and Bruichladdich Black Art 2.
As mentioned in the episode, there will be a single malt scotch-tasting at Top Valu Liquor at 50th and Central in Columbia Heights, MN on November 6, from 5-8pm. I will be present from 6:15pm on and Dave will try to make it. From that day until the 30th, that store will have 15% off on scotch, so do make a point to stop in and say we sent you.
Also, I will be doing some stand-up comedy with our friends at Fearless Comedy Productions at their Lab show on November 12 at Honey in Minneapolis. This is only the second time I’ve done stand-up and should prove to be entertaining.
Kelvin returns and we drink scotch. (Seriously, I will be putting more effort into the episodes again soon–work’s finally calming down)
Comedian and actor Kelvin Hatle joins us for our first tasting of October. We discuss his involvement with the Minnesota Fringe Festival and my cats, interestingly enough. It seems they want to be internet famous, too!
Sorry this is a day late, folks. Believe me when I say I wish my schedule allowed for it to be on time.
Adam Dunn returns! (I will elaborate further upon this later, but I’m already a day late posting and 30 minutes past the end of my lunch break.)
Adam Dunn of the Horror Show Hot Dog Podcast joins us for the Tobermory 10yr and Glenfiddich Malt Masters. We had a great time recording this one and we talked to Adam about his work, both with HSHD and his cinematic forays, which include Transformers 3 and Man of Steel, as well as a number of music videos for local hip-hop artists. This is also the first time we’ve had a guest that neither Dave nor I had met previously, though I was familiar with him from the podcast enough that you can’t really tell.
This episode was a special treat for me to record (yes, we are again without Dave), as it was done on my summer vacation to Las Vegas back in June and has several of my World of Warcraft guild mates as the guests. That’s right, several–there are WAY more voices on this show than the norm. It’s a bit short of the length we’ve been hitting, but that’s only because we only tasted one bottle, the Glenmorangie 10yr. Enjoy!
Long-time friends Diana McCleery and Dan Stiglich join me for a Dave-free episode, in which we savor both The Macallan and Caol Ila 12yrs and talk bus driving, snow days, and submarines.
Ian and Jeremy return to taste the Dalwhinnie 95 Distillers Edition and the Bowmore 18yr while talking about The Wonder Years, cradle robbing, accidental fermentation and Halloween costumes. Yep, it’s about as silly as it sounds and we had a lot of fun.
We’re back with another exciting episode, this time with local event hosts/commentators Ian Rans and Jeremy Stomberg. We talk about all kinds of random things while we taste the Edradour 10yr and Glenfiddich 18yr–so many things in fact that we’ve set a new record for episode length. Was it entertaining? We thought so, and expect you will to!
Bob and Dawn make their hilarious return and we taste the Tomatin 12yr and Laphroaig 18yr.
Fearless Comedy Productions co-founder Bob Alberti and Big Fun Radio Funtime voice actress Dawn Krosnowski join us for a very entertaining hour. We bust Bob’s scotch cherry, learn a bit about the second-ever published RPG (after D&D), and are given some spontaneous intro and bumper themes. The scotches this episode were the Glenkinchie 12 year and The Balvenie 21 year Portwood.
Bob was a somewhat recent guest on the Apropos of Nothing podcast and talked about Tékumel there as well. They are more adept at the show notes thing and actually have pictures: check it out!
In our second recording at OmegaSpring, Perrin returns and donates two Amruts to the cause, pilot attendee Jesse Aubart graces us with his presence, and we share our pain concerning sci-fi series that died too soon.
Perrin Klump and Doug Yoder join us for the first of two recordings at the first ever OmegaSpring convention. Doug was kind enough to bring the Tomintoul 27yr that he purchased for the con and Dave brought his Glenrothes ’94. Good times were had, packaging mocked, and we discuss our first and favorite concerts.
Episode 6 heralds the triumphant return of the hosts of Apropos of Nothing. On the business end, we taste The Speyside 12yr and Ardbeg 10yr, talk about the Deadly Sins as they apply to us, and Salsa takes us out with a toast.
It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for–the first of two crossover episodes with Apropos of Nothing! We had a lot of fun recording this, as I’m sure you’ll gather. Not only do we discuss the Dalmore Gran Reserva and The Balvenie 15yr Single Barrel, but also fruitcake, coopering, the dangers of single barrel expressions, and the AON podcast origin story.
We also launch our first official segment and decide to make a tradition of the closing toast.
Enjoy!
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, we at Xtreme Tasting League: Scotch bring you an episode filled with Irish single malts and musicians! That’s right, our guests this episode are John Sjogren and Neil Jonhston from the band The Tim Malloys and we taste the Knappogue Castle and Connemara 12yrs. Sláinte!
Ishmael Williams, President of the Convergence Board of Directors, welcomes us at Convergence HQ to taste the Glenlivet and Glenfiddich 12yrs.
Guest Peter Buckholtz returns while we taste the Yamazaki 18yr and Cragganmore 12yr.
Guest Peter Buckholtz joins us on our first official recording, where we taste the Cardhu 12yr and the Bruichladdich Rocks.
So, here’s the pilot recording Dave and I did with the other friends with whom we were doing an informal Scotch club. What you’ll hear is a completely unedited recording, and it’s pretty obvious we had no clue what we were doing at first, but found our feet relatively quickly. Having Matt from AONPodcast present was a blessing, as he helped us minimize the dead air and provided an excellent interview such that we hope you get a good idea of where we are coming from and what we hope this podcast will be.
Enjoy.
Note: this was recorded in October 2012, so the November 30 steak and Scotch dinner Dave speaks of has come and gone–sorry. It’s likely the sponsoring group will do something similar again next year, and we’ll try to keep you posted.
Clarification:
Which Glenmorangie is which? We couldn’t remember, so here’s the list of what is finished in the varied casks.
La Santa – Sherry
Quinta Ruban – Port
Nectar d’Or – Sauternes
Dave, Perrin, and I would like to thank you for checking out our podcast and website.
As the name suggests, we will be tasting Scotch whiskeys and giving you our opinions of them. We aren’t professional tasters but have been sampling Scotches seriously for a number of years and would like to share our experiences with you, the listener.
The original idea for this podcast was spitballed at a regular event we attended with some other friends, and the pilot episode was recorded with that group to see if we could step up our game, as it were. The other two members of our informal club declined further participation in the podcast, but Dave and I have pressed on, and we hope you enjoy what is to come.
What we plan to bring to you is greater knowledge so that you can make an informed purchasing decision. When we first started out, we had no idea what to expect out of many of the bottles we purchased, and while that’s still often true, we have a much better guess as to the likely flavors of the bottle before we even open it, based on our experiences. Hopefully you’ll come to know us well enough that you’ll be able to take us shopping with you, and having listened to our taste tests, be able to buy Scotch whiskey that you know you’ll enjoy.
But don’t think that we’re going to be complete snobs about our tastings. Oh, no. Don’t get me wrong, we’ll be pretentious now and again, but what we hope to bring is a bit of humor to the proceedings, at least enough to make our show fun to listen to.
We’re also hoping that some of you will play along with us, as we’ll be letting you know what bottles will be in our next show. Please feel free to buy a pour of one or both Scotches at your local pub and see if you agree with us and post your own findings in the comments section of each show.
Weclome to the Xtreme Tasting League!