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It's been a big week for Barry Crockett. Midleton Distillery's Master Distiller was named this year's Lifetime Achievement Award winner by The Whisky Advocate, and just a couple of days later, announced his plans to retire next month after 47 years at Midleton. We'll catch up with Barry on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Maker's Mark makes the first major change in its whisky in five decades to meet demand, the Distilled Spirits Council releases 2012 economic data on whisky sales, and there are new whiskies ranging from a case full of Bourbons to single casks.

It's hard to keep things quiet in the close-knit Scotch Whisky industry, but that's exactly what the owners of the new Wolfburn Distillery in Thurso managed to do until construction began last fall. The distillery went into production this week when manager Shane Fraser hammered in the bung on the first barrel of Wolfburn, which has a history that dates back to 1821. Shane joins us for this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. We'll have sad news from Heaven Hill as Parker Beam is diagnosed with ALS, and word of new whiskies from An Cnoc, Master of Malt, and The Balvenie.

Georgina Bell is part of a new generation of whisky connoisseurs, and is already making her place in the whisky industry as an ambassador for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. She'll explain how one goes from studying whisky in college to traveling the world promoting it two and a half years later during WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, there's word that the Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville may be reopening after 22 years in mothballs, another proposed Scotch distillery gets government assistance, and there are new whiskies from Glenfiddich and The Balvenie.

Time for our second episode of the weekend with highlights from this weekend's Victoria Whisky Festival! We'll get the latest on new whiskies from Tullibardine, Springbank, and Duncan Taylor, along with word on expansion plans for Benromach and a new program for Scotch Malt Whisky Society members in the U.S. In the news, Shackleton's whisky has been returned to Antarctica for reburial in the ice at Cape Royds, and we'll answer a listener question about the two types of mash tuns in use at most distilleries.

It's time for one of the world's top whisky festivals...the Victoria Whisky Festival in British Columbia. The festival kicked off with the presentation of the annual Canadian Whisky Awards, and we'll hear from founder Davin de Kergommeaux and the distiller behind the 2012 Canadian Whisky of the Year, Forty Creek's John Hall. We'll also get an update on the progress of British Columbia's largest whisky distillery from Shelter Point owner Patrick Evans, and update the week's news in the first of two episodes from Victoria this weekend!

Dreamers abound in the whisky business. In the case of the Kingsbarns Distillery project planned near St. Andrews in Scotland, two dreamers had to join forces to achieve their goal. Doug Clement had everything needed to make Kingsbarns work...except money. William Wemyss wanted to build a distillery in the area where his family has lived for centuries. Now, Wemyss Malts has acquired Kingsbarns, and Doug Clement might just wind up as the distillery manager when it opens in 2014. In the news, Indian regulators are raising issues with Diageo's acquisition of United Spirits, whiskies, designer, and celebrity chefs join forces, and a Detroit bartender wins Woodford Reserve's annual Manhattan cocktail competition.

Most of us spend a lifetime working in the shadows, wondering if anyone notices. Then, one day, a letter comes in the mail with news that you're being honored for that work. Douglas Campbell of Tomatin got a letter like that, with news that he's being honored by Queen Elizabeth as a Member of the Order of the British Empire. The honor's not only for his work at Tomatin, but his work in the community of Tomatin as well. Douglas tells us what it was like to open that letter on this week's episode.

There are plenty of ideas for entrepreneurs seeking a place in the world of whisky, but as always, getting the funding is the hard part. This week, we'll hear about some entrepreneurs who have taken advantage of the Web to raise money for their projects using Kickstarter.com. It's a light week news-wide because of the holidays, but there's word that Shackleton's whisky is about to be returned to Antarctica, Penderyn's planning an expansion, and a new report on Scotch Whisky's economic impact.

Bruichladdich's $90 million acquisition by Remy Cointreau was one of the biggest whisky stories of the year, and CEO Simon Coughlin joins us for this week's "In-Depth" segment to discuss what's changed...and what hasn't since the deal. In the news, Maker's Mark faces a controversy over allegations of discrimination at a downtown Louisville lounge that licenses the Maker's Mark name, Bulleit unveils a new 10-year-old Bourbon in Kansas, Suntory's ready to go shopping, and Scotland's Isle of Harris will be getting its first legal whisky distillery.

John McDougall's years of experience as a distillery manager in all five of Scotland's whisky regions have made him a sought-after consultant for new distilleries. His latest project is the Dingle Distillery in Ireland, which started producing its first spirit this month. We'll catch up with John for the first time in a few years to learn more about Dingle, along with his line of single-cask bottlings and his upcoming US tour with the Wild Scotsman, Jeffrey Topping. In the news, the list of potential suitors for Beam gets even longer and more complicated, Springbank spins Glengyle off, and the final bottle of Glenfiddich's 55-year-old Janet Sheed Roberts Reserve malt goes on the auction block.

For the 10th year, the Malt Maniacs are honoring some of the world's best whiskies with the Malt Maniacs Awards. Maniacs Keith Wood of Germany and Krishna Nukala of India join us to discuss this year's competition, which was dominated once again by GlenDronach with three gold medals. In the news, new whiskies from Evan Williams, Aberfeldy, and Kavalan...Johnnie Walker expands in China and brings the House of Walker back to New York City...and an update on last weekend's Hurricane Sandy benefit whisky auction and tasting.

We're marking one milestone with another...this week's episode was recorded on location in Kirby, Wyoming, the home of Wyoming's first legal whiskey since Prohibition. Wyoming Whiskey made its official debut today at the distillery in Kirby, and the little town of 92 people was swarmed with around 4,000 whiskey lovers from as far away as Australia for the launch party. In the news, whisky events postponed by Hurricane Sandy return to the East Coast, Laphroaig tries to balance supply with demand, and Lidl fires back in its whisky war with discount competitor Aldi.

Most whisky lovers dream of making their own whiskies, but that's easier said than done, since building a distillery takes a lot of time and even more money. But...what if you could rent time at a craft distillery, complete with consultants and professionals to help you? The Distilled Spirits Epicenter in Louisville is just that place, and we'll talk about the possibilities with Colleen Rice on WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, New York whisky lovers are hoping to raise money for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, Angel's Envy goes cask-strength, new whiskies from Douglas Laing, Arran, and Aldi...yes, Aldi.

Edwin Foote started his distilling career in the old Henry McKenna Distillery, and wound up as the Master Distiller at the legendary Stitzel-Weller and Old Fitzgerald Distillery in Louisville. This Bourbon Hall of Famer sits down with us for WhiskyCast In-Depth to discuss his career and how the whiskey business has changed over the years...both good and bad. In the news, an updates on the Balblair 1969 and other new whiskies, water bottled specially to be mixed with whisky, and more!

Kentucky is synonymous with Bourbon, but few places maintain the history of Bourbon in the Bluegrass State like the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History in Bardstown. Mary Ellyn Hamilton is the museum's curator, and tells us about the collection's early days in the mansion of Barton Brands founder Oscar Getz to its current home in Bardstown's Spalding Hall. In the news, Diageo agrees to take a majority stake in India's United Spirits, Beam expands its presence in Louisville, and I'll explain why this week's episode comes from Thermopolis, Wyoming.

This week, we promise a politics-free episode! We'll look at the history and future of India's Amrut Distillery with third-generation Amrut executive director Rick Jagdale and learn how graduate school helped bring Amrut to the world. In the news, Hurricane Sandy had an impact on the whisky community, trapping a number of distillery representatives in New York as their post-WhiskyFest flights were cancelled. We'll also get an update on the latest Bonhams auction in New York, and in non-hurricane news, word of new whiskies from Glenmorangie, Balblair, Buffalo Trace, and more!

Lots to talk about this week, with new whiskies and a new version of a very old whisky. Whyte & Mackay is producing a new release of MacKinlay's to help raise money for the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust, which maintains the historic sites from Sir Ernest Shackleton's expeditions to Antarctica. In the news, Nikka whiskies are on their way to the US, Woodford Reserve unveils this year's Masters Collection Bourbon, and we'll get an update on Wiser's plans to increase its profile worldwide. Dr. Nick Morgan of Diageo joins us for WhiskyCast In-Depth to discuss distillery expansions, this year's Special Releases from the Classic Malts, and the global impact of Blended Scotches.

The pre-holiday rush of new whiskies is in full swing, and we'll sit down with Iain MacCallum of Morrison Bowmore to taste and talk about new single malts from Bowmore, Auchentoshan, and Glen Garioch. In the news, Gable Erenzo of Tuthilltown Distillery updates us on repairs following last month's fire, Alyssa Henley of George Dickel explains the new Dickel Rye, and the latest on distillery expansions in Scotland.

Italians are known for their wine, but one Italian firm helped pioneer the concept of single cask whiskies. Silvano Samaroli started bottling his own casks in 1968, and while his bottlings are hard to find, they're well worth the extra effort. Samaroli's Francesco Binetti explains the company's unique philosophy in this week's episode, and I'll have tasting notes for some of the Samaroli whiskies. In the news, we'll get updates on recent whisky auctions, George Dickel jumps on the Rye bandwagon, and the 2010 Water of Life Drive brings clean water to two Ethiopian villages!

Jack Daniel's has operated with one simple whiskey recipe for 100 years...until now. The distillery started quietly working on a rye whiskey recipe a couple of years ago, and has now unveiled what's being called "Jack Daniel's Unaged Rye." Master Distiller Jeff Arnett explains how his new whiskey fits into the Jack Daniel's tradition, and why an unaged spirit is being released years before a fully mature version will be available. We'll also have highlights from the Glenfiddich 125th Anniversary Party in Dallas this week, the latest on Scotch whisky exports, and reaction to last week's interview with "Midwest Whisky Olympics" organizer Greg Ramsay.