A bit of Irish distilling history is being brought back to life this weekend, if only for one day. Commercial shipping along Ireland's Grand Canal ended 50 years ago this year...shortly after the closing of the Locke's Distillery in Kilbeggan. Cooley brought the Old Kilbeggan Distillery back to life two years ago, and now, whisky and history buffs are recreating the shipping of whiskey casks from Kilbeggan to Dublin to honor the surviving men who sailed up and down the Canal. In the news, more political problems for Diageo, an anniversary bottling for Johnnie Walker, new whiskies from Connemara and Bruichladdich...and much more!

Last time around, I mentioned the Laing Brothers and their vatting of casks from Laphroaig and Macallan to create the "Double Barrel." It was so intriguing that I decided to get Stewart Laing on the phone to explain it...and their plans to bring together casks from other distilleries with opposing taste profiles. In the news, the results of this week's Bonhams whisky auction, Arran names a whisky after the distillery peacock...who promptly takes off, Jefferson's Bourbon goes Presidential, and tasting notes on the new 25-year-old Rittenhouse Rye coming soon from Heaven Hill!

Today marks the birthday of a legend in the bourbon business. Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Emeritus Elmer T. Lee turns 90 today, and his friends marked the milestone with a party at the distillery. I had the chance to interview Elmer in the fall of 2006, and he'll share some of his stories with us in that interview. In the news, Buffalo Trace unveils this year's Antique Collection, Chris Morris tells us about this year's Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, The Whisky Exchange unveils a new line of single cask bottlings, and the Laing Brothers put Macallan and Laphroaig together.

This time around, we'll focus on two upcoming whisky festivals in Europe. Maltstock will bring together whisky clubs and individuals from around Europe for a weekend in the Netherlands, and Teun van Wel will tell us how the event came together. Chris Maybin of La Maison du Whisky will preview next month's Whisky Live Paris for us as well. In the news, the whisky world is mourning the death of longtime Jack Daniel's master distiller Jimmy Bedford, Four Roses unveils the second release in its Mariage Collection series of bourbons...and more layoffs in Scotland.

If you've never had a chance to attend a master class with Whyte & MacKay's Richard Paterson, you're missing out on an education...and a great time. In this week's episode, you'll get to listen in as the master blender teaches a group of New York City bartenders about The Dalmore. In the news, Glenfiddich confirms its new 50-year-old single malt, Suntory does the same with Hibiki and surprises the U.S. with a rare Yamazaki release, Park Avenue Liquors has a bunch of new single cask releases coming in...and Parker Beam's done it again!