A Revolutionary War spy network, a family-owned Long Island distillery, and a Bourbon steeped with black tea.

This week, I'm joined by Mark and Ben Grindel of Spy Trail Distillery to explore the history behind their name and the business they've built around it.

Mark explains how a casual visit to a distillery in North Carolina eventually led him to sell his manufacturing business and pursue distilling. We discuss his Holstein still, sourcing and blending Bourbon while their own whiskey matures, using Hungarian oak barrels, and producing vodka from Long Island wine.

Ben introduces The Cipher Room, their separate cocktail lounge, where drinks inspired by the Culper Spy Ring incorporate local ingredients and historical stories.

We also discuss AMC's TURN: Washington's Spies, the mystery of Agent 355, the role of ordinary Long Islanders in George Washington's intelligence network, and ways to explore the history in person.

Plus, I taste Spy Trail's Black Tea Bourbon and discover how an experiment intended for a summer drink became a regular part of the lineup.

For show notes and more Whiskey Lore Interviews, visit whiskeylore.org/interviews.

What does it take to capture the flavors of Scotland in a bottle? In this episode, Drew Hannush sits down with Highland Park's Martin Markvardsen, who is celebrating 20 years with the Orkney distillery, to explore the history, people, place, and process behind one of Scotland's most complex single malts. From heather-rich Orkney peat and island maturation to the stories of illicit distillers and Martin's own unlikely journey into whisky, discover what makes Highland Park taste unmistakably like Highland Park.

• Why Orkney peat tastes different
• Peaty versus smoky: is there a difference?
• Why PPM doesn't tell the whole story
• Does sea air really affect aging whisky?
• How Orkney dramatically reduces the angel's share
• The illicit distiller behind Highland Park
• Why Highland Park still floor malts
• Can stainless steel replace wooden washbacks?
• Tasting whisky through memories, not flavor notes
• The best time to visit Orkney

SHOW NOTES: whiskeylore.org/interviews

JOIN THE SPEAKEASY: patreon.com/whiskeylore

Who was it that came up with the 51% rule and the modern rules for straight whiskey in America?

Meet today's legend on the latest episode of Whiskey Lore's Hall of Legends.