Whisky, Words and Wine

An indulgent week with great food, great wine and whisky, and a lot of fun. A little bit of reading, a little bit of listening , and a lot of watching – a mixed bag this week – some very good, others … well….meh.  Recommendations for The Whisper Man film (De Nero), Jam Café in Sydney and Zareh restaurant in Fitzroy, Melbourne.
And the Slow Horses obsession continues with Mick Herron at the Sydney Writers’ Festival, and the Heron obsession continues with another book by Robbie Arnott.
Email us: mailto:whiskywordswine@gmail.com
 
Whisky:  Tullamore DEW Flagship Blend Irish Whiskey
Wine:  Rothbury Estate Hunter Valley Chardonnay - 1999
 
Reading:  The Rain Heron – Robbie Arnott
 “What you are looking for is in the library” Michiko Aoyama
Watching:  Costa Concordia doco - Netflix
-Without Sin – Britbox series
- The Whisper Man – Netflix movie – De Niro, Michael Keaton
-Spider Man Brand New Day film
-Tampa The Turning Point (ABC TV)
-My Brilliant Career  (series – Netflix)
Listening: Big Ideas podcast (ABC) – Sydney Writers festival – Mick Herron (Slow Horses) and Suzie Miller (Prima Facie)
Fleetwood Mac – Fleetwood Mac (1975)
Restaurants and Venues: Jam – George Street Sydney (Vinyl Café)
Zareh – Fitzroy, Melbourne (Lebanese/Armenian great food – great vibe
The Cherry Tree – pub, Cremorne, Melbourne – fabulous steak
Theme Song:  “Whisky Words and Wine” – Written and performed by Jack Crumlin; music arranged, performed and engineered by Shane Pacey. 

A favourite pod – Strangers on a Bench – comes to an end at its 100th episode – we are almost half way to that – will we put up with each other for another year?
We have both started new books – one an Australian mystery, the other a whimsical Japanese reflection on how to make good decisions at the right time by reading (very) random books – (sort of like what we are doing in the pod….). Neither are  finished yet but these are very promising.
The Crow Girl gets a recommendation on TV, while Graham reviews the Australian Traitors. 
And Anthony LaPaglia and Allison Whyte in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” is astonishingly good theatre.
Send in your recommendations, comments, and requests to us by email:
Email us: mailto:whiskywordswine@gmail.com
 
Whisky:  Dalwhinnie blend 
Wine: Moss Bros Chenin Blanc  (Margaret River)
 
Reading: Limberlost – Robbie Arnott
The Last Voice You Hear – Mick Herron
 “What you are looking for is in the library” Michiko Aoyama
Watching: The Rumour – (not recommended) – TV Series
The Crow Girl – Series - Channel 7 (Aust) – Eve Miles, Dougray Scott, Victoria Hamilton
Death of a Salesman – Arthur Miller (Theatre), starring Anthony LaPaglia, Allison Whyte
Pan Am 103 – Netflix Docudrama.
Listening: Got Somme podcast
Strangers on a Bench - 100th (and final) edition - Tom Rosenthal
Richie Blackmore – Deep Purple, Rainbow Rising
 
Theme Song:  “Whisky Words and Wine” – Written and performed by Jack Crumlin; music arranged, performed and engineered by Shane Pacey. 

Graham and three friends head off on their annual cross country ski trip, - chaos ensues! Hear about their trip and their recommendations for things they have seen, read and heard.
Seen:  Lucky (TV), Wellington Paranormal (TV) The Tudors (TV) The Sheep Detective (Film - Hugh Jackman).
Read: "The Cake and the Rain" (Jimmy Webb Biography); Romantasy (Fantasy Porn), My life as a fake (Peter Carey)
Heard: Podcasts - The Rest is Politics US; The Company We Keep
Email: Whiskywordswine@gmail.com

Graham beat the elements and has returned from his backcountry ski trip but has saved the stories for a bonus episode to be published later. Meanwhile Jack has successfully returned from the wilds of the Southern Highlands and an extended visit to a distillery.
It didn't stop him falling down a rabbit hole though and he has spent much of the week researching the aftermath of the 1980’s Live Aid concerts (which is surprisingly interesting).
Books have been finished, and new books started, covering topics as diverse as timetravel from a Tokyo café, bookshops, and private detectives.
We return to the TV equivalent of a comfortable pair of slippers, and mix it up with sci-fi and terrorists.
Email us: mailto:whiskywordswine@gmail.com
 
Whisky: Joadya- Southern Highlands, Australia
Wine: Redman’s Coonawarra Shiraz 2016 
Reading:
“Bookshop of Buried Pasts” – Sarah Clutton finished
Live Aid 40year history – Paul Valleli
 
 “Before the Coffee gets cold” – Toshikazu Kawaguchi - finished
“The Last Voice You Hear – A Zoe Boehm Thriller” – Mick Herron
Watching:
Ted Lasso
Bombing of Pan Am 103
The Dish - Cinema
Project Hail Mary – Film – Ryan Gosling
Listening:
Triple J – House Party – Latifa Tee – DJ
Live Aid music
Theme Song:  “Whisky Words and Wine” – Written and performed by Jack Crumlin; music arranged, performed and engineered by Shane Pacey. 

Jack is sampling another Scotland/France combination – distilled in Scotland, aged in France (although this is but a juvenile so doesn't qualify as whisky…).
We plan a “research” trip to Tasmania – home of the world’s best whisky, spectacular pinot noir, and a nude swim at the winter solstice. As part of the research Jack is reading about a killer big cat in the wilds of Tasmania.
Graham is watching Traitors, Jack is underground in outback Australia.
Reading-wise we are in Japan and the NSW Southern Highlands on new books, while both have gone back to listening classics with Elton John and the Blues Brothers soundtrack.
We discuss our civic duties in completing the quadrennial census – and what old-fashioned questions they ask – we will send our suggestions to the Chief Statistician.  The last one was during the longest lockdown on Earth.
However Graham will be doing his man-against-nature cross-country trip somewhere in the backcountry snowfields of the Australian Alps – what address will the tent or hut he will be staying in be?
Email us: mailto:whiskywordswine@gmail.com
Whisky: Michel Couvreur Cleararch  (Scotland/France)
Wine: Leura Park Estate 2022 Shiraz, Bellarine Victoria
Other spirits: Cointreau in hot chocolate
Reading: Before the Coffee Gets Cold – Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Dusk – Robbie Arnott
Bookshop of Buried Pasts – Sarah Clutton
Watching: - Treasure and Dirt – ABC/BBC TV series
Traitors Australia – Series 3
Listening: - Blues Brothers Soundtrack
“What Went Wrong” podcast – Blues Brothers episode
Tumbleweed Connection – Elton John
Lyves – Australian chanteuse
Theme Song:  “Whisky Words and Wine” – Written and performed by Jack Crumlin; music arranged, performed and engineered by Shane Pacey. 

A bit of follow up from last week’s pod regarding Sam Neill (from whom we borrowed the title for this episode) and more on the Odyssey film and its amazing production (no CGI!). And somehow Jack slips in his one impression – this being - Connery, Sean Connery - (who always sounds like Sean Connery - even when playing a 13century Italian monk).
We watch way too much this week, but have to recommend “The Piano” (both Australian and UK versions) which is an absolute tear jerker and a wonderful piece of television. Another wonderful, but gruelling, watch is “Believe Me” – about the ineptitude of police investigating a serial rapist – not for the feint-hearted but worth watching. 
Meanwhile - for pure escapism Hannah Waddingham (of Ted Lasso and Eurovision fame) is killing people, and Matt Damon is in a Ripping cop movie.
A couple of new Chanteuses catch our ear – worth a listen.
Ann gives us a book recommendation “Dusk” (see show notes); and we get some good feedback on the theme tune – soon to be released as a single…..
Email us: mailto:whiskywordswine@gmail.com
 
Whisky: Suntory Toki Blended Japanese Whisky
Wine: Journey Wines Pinot Noir 2018, Yarra Valley
 
Reading:
Did I Ever Tell You This; A Memoir;-  Sam Neill
The Firm – John Gresham
Slough House - Mick Herron
The Name of the Rose – Umberto Eco
Dusk – Robbie Arnott (thanks Ann for the recommendation)
Watching: Ride or Die (Apple TV Series) Hannah Waddingham, Octavia Spencer, Bill Nighy
Believe Me (BBC/ABC TV) series
The Piano - Series 1, and 2 (ABC TV, Australia)
The Rip – film – Matt Damon, Ben Afleck
Listening: - Jadu Jadu – soundscape artist
-Lyve – excellent female vocalist
- Samara Joy –female jazz vocalist
-Veronica Swift – female jazz vocalist
 
Theme Song:  “Whisky Words and Wine” – Written and performed by Jack Crumlin; music arranged, performed and engineered by Shane Pacey. 

The Odyssey - What a film!
But that has to wait until we have got the World Cup Football off our mind and Jack justifies drinking French Whisky
While we discuss the cinematic sword and sandals phenomen that is The Odyssey which has been at the forefront of our minds since we each saw it, but we have also read and listened to other stuff. Graham is revisiting Slough House and a fearsome Tchiakovsky concerto while Jack is thinking of Sam Neill but otherwise keeping Bad Company.
Email us: mailto:whiskywordswine@gmail.com
 
Whisky:  J. Damangin & Fils 16YO Single Malt Scotch  (Champagne, France)
Wine:  Pizzini Verduzzo 2024, King Valley, Victoria
 
Reading:  Slough House – Mick Herron
-Did I Ever Tell You This: A Memoir  – Sam Neill
Watching:
The Odyssey Film – Christopher Nolan, Director, Matt Damon etc.
The Conviction (TV)
-The Drama – film, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson
Listening:  Tchaikovsky – Piano Concerto #1 – Andrea Lam and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
-Run with the Pack (Album) – Bad Company
Theme Song:  “Whisky Words and Wine” – written and sung by Jack Crumlin; music arranged, performed and engineered by Shane Pacey. 

The pod starts well with the usual dip into a whisky and a wine, but Graham gets apoplectic about restaurant wine-list  cheating and thereafter loses the plot completely when he talks about the TV series called Beef, but really means the series called The Bear, which, just to add to confusion, runs a lunch shop called “The Beef”. Who can blame him – the first two letters are the same after all…….ANYWAY, the important thing is that the BEST single episode of TV EVER is Episode 7, Series 5, of The Bear (….or was it Beef?)
Jack gets it back on an even keel by not confusing The Woman in the Wall with The Woman in the Window.
 There is more World Cup, but its thinning out with only the semi-finals to come (spoiler alert – neither Scotland or Australia are still in it).
We listen to new releases from two groups who are old enough to know better, and a podcast about someone whose career success we are claiming.
Email us at-   mailto:whiskywordswine@gmail.com
 
Whisky:  Irish Hot Toddy (sorry people)
Wine: John Duval “Plexus” SGM 2022 – Barossa Valley
Restaurant: Three Blue Ducks Burradoo, Bowral, NSW
Reading: The Chain – Sir Bradley Wiggins
-Ironwood – Michael Connolly
Watching: The Woman in the Wall  (Britbox)
The Bear – Series 5 – Episode 7
Listening: Splat! – Deep Purple
Foreign Tongues – The Rolling Stones
The Company We Keep podcast – David Lock episode
What Went Wrong podcast – Episode on Independence Day movie

Half the title of this episode is a whisky and the other a wine – but don't mix the two. Words follow.
The Football World Cup rolls on, with or without political interference, but that didn't stop Graham actually finishing reading a book and delivering a big recommendation for it. Meanwhile, we wait for the verdict on the book about Johns.
Graham loves a good Beef (and a good Capture) while Jack likes a tennis doco worth watching.
We listen to a new business podcast, and Jack plays with AI music (heresy!!)
Email: mailto:whiskywordswine@gmail.com
Wine: Leura Park Estate Cat out of the Bag Pinot Noir 2024, Bellarine, Victoria Leura Estate winery
Whisky: Writer’s Tears Single Pot Still Blend Irish Whiskey, Walsh Whiskey
https://www.walshwhiskey.com/age-gate/?redirect=/our-whiskeys/our-whiskeys-writers-tears/
Watching: Chris and Martina: The Final Set– Netflix  #chrisandmartinathefinalset
-Beef (Season 2) Netflix – Carey Mulligan  #Beefseason2
-The Capture – BBC/ABC iView
Not Watching: Your Friends and Neighbours – John Hamm, Apple TV
Reading: Land – Maggie O’Farrell  #Maggieofarrellofficial
John of John – Douglas Stuart  #douglasstuart
Listening: Ocean Alley band – various albums #oceanalley
“The Company We Keep” podcast by Vector Advisors
Suno AI music creator

This week an Italian waiter called Hamish upsold Jack on a whisky that he poured over ice-cream (he was having a tough day). And Jack claims a different whiskey as his own.
Meanwhile Graham goes to a friend’s coronation.
Nothing cerebral on the watch list this week - World cup football has been occupying our minds and viewing times but Graham still had time to watch a loooong list of films and TV courtesy of nine hours on a plane (flying to the aforementioned coronation) - however Jack limits him to discussing just one – and it's the Smoking Gun remake. Jack’s contribution is a dud and does not recommend an 8 episode series of a so-called thriller.
And back to the world cup - Jack was spotted in the audience of a TV show – Cup Fever - and loved that experience.
We have been listening Lorde and a podcast on an Australian electronic music sampler, which leads to the listing of several other unexpected Australian inventions.
And we are still slow-reading our novels, with a recommendation from Graham.
Now, back to some more scurryfungeing before the next visitor.
Email: mailto:whiskywordswine@gmail
Whisky: MacCallan 18YO single malt whisky,
Irish Proper No. 12 Irish Blended Whiskey, (Crumlin district)
Wine: Lindemans Limestone Coast Trio 2014
Word of the Week : Canon
Watched: Run Away – (Harlen Coben) – Netflix
Smoking Gun – Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson
Listening:  Lorde – Solar Energy album
-ABC Rewind Podcast – episode on the Fairlight CMI Digital Sampler/Sequencer
(Still) Reading: Land – Maggie O’Farrell
John of John – Douglas Stuart