Whiskey Media Awakens in the 1990's // Building Culture, Community, and Conversation
Send us a textIn this week's episode, Sarah and Kurt crack open the decade when whiskey stopped being just a drink...and became a culture. The 1990s introduced tasting magazines, global whiskey festivals, independent bottlers, rare malts, and the rise of an entirely new species: the whiskey nerd.From the groundbreaking launch of Malt Advocate in 1990 to the glossy international flair of Whisky Magazine, we trace how whiskey finally got its own media ecosystem. We dig into the birth of WhiskeyFest, the rise of shared tasting language, the early days of collecting, and the massive influence of legendary writer Michael Jackson—whose books and tasting style shaped an entire generation.If you love whiskey, this is the story of how your fandom was born.
--------
32:02
--------
32:02
Single Malt Moves the Needle // Scotch in the 1990's
Send us a textSarah and Kurt keep the ’90s momentum rolling in this second episode of the season. After opening the decade’s story last week, they turn their attention to the moment single malts truly hit their stride. This time, they dig into how Scotch stepped beyond blends, with Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Macallan, and Glenmorangie leading the charge. From smarter storytelling to bottles that finally demanded space on the shelf, Sarah and Kurt explore how these brands shaped a new era of whisky marketing—and set the tone for the decade to come.
--------
21:43
--------
21:43
Setting the Stage for Whiskey for the 1990s // Season Four is Here
Send us a textTune in as Kurt and Sarah kick off season four of Decades Distilled and dive into what’s happening in the world outside of whiskey. From the end of the Cold War and the rise of globalization to pop-culture shifts and new consumer habits, they’ll walk you through how it all made the 1990s such a pivotal decade for whiskey.
--------
12:23
--------
12:23
The Decade That Shaped Modern Whiskey: Closing the 1970s and Pouring Into What’s Next
Send us a textWe are wrapping up season three of Decades Distilled! Tune in as Kurt and Sarah raise one last glass to the 1970s, a decade that quietly but powerfully transformed the whiskey world. From distillery closures and market crashes to the rise of single malts and the seeds of today’s global whiskey boom, the ‘70s proved that change isn’t optional, it’s inevitable. The duo reflect on the stories, trends, and turning points that defined this transformative time, and also look ahead to what’s coming next: Season 4, exploring the 1990s, when whiskey’s revival truly took flight. Cheers to the past that shaped our pour—and the future that’s still aging in the cask.
--------
12:46
--------
12:46
The Business Side of the 1970’s // Behind the Scenes of the Whiskey Industry
Send us a textAs we close out Season Three of Decades Distilled, Kurt and Sarah step behind the scenes of the whiskey world in the 1970s—a decade defined not by taste trends but by seismic shifts in business and technology. Corporate shakeups, industry consolidations, and major advances in production reshaped the landscape of whiskey, setting the stage for the modern era. Tune in as we explore how the machinery of big business and bold infrastructure decisions quietly transformed the spirit we know today. And stay tuned as we’re hard at work for our next season, coming this fall!
Bourbon, Scotch, Rye, Japanese, Irish. The history of whisky runs deep. On Decades Distilled, join authors and educators Sarah Jeltema, aka the WhiskyNomad, and Kurt Maitland as they explore the years and cultural moments that helped shape its path. This journey will take us around the world and back again as we roam from Scotland to the United States, Japan and beyond. New episodes each Wednesday!
New Zealand