Whisky, Words and Wine

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

Excited about a few things – firstly, we are in the same place for the first time in our podcast (we are normally a few hundred kilometres apart), and we have our new theme song – written and performed by Jack,
Jack gets a whisky-related recommendation from an Italian waiter called Hamish, and finds out the reason for the size of whisky hipflasks – which prompts a reframed drinking game.
Meanwhile, Graham strays into Belgian Trappist beers on the pretence of a cycling journey, so does this mean rebranding the pod?.
Graham actually scurryfunged this week prior to a visitor, and both reflected briefly on recent World cup results (hint: flights back to Scotland from the USA are fully booked).
Graham goes all la-de-da with some poetry, but has started a more mainstream novel, while Jack is still reading “John of John” – which is set in, you guessed it, a far flung Scottish island.
The rabbit hole this week is more  of wombat hole as Graham goes deep (and wide) on the “survivalist reality” genre of TV. This may have unexpected consequences in Graham’s upcoming wilderness ski trip.
Jack goes into true crime, but  throws cold water on another steaming show as being too dark and violent, and is now seeking solace in Patience.
To offset his poncy poetry, Graham watches “Office Romance” which is a schmaltzy American romcom, which is spiced up (and rescued) by the fabulously funny Brett Goldstein (ex Ted Lasso). Worth watching when you have had a busy day and have run out of functioning neurons.
We listen to Book podcasts, and the Rockonteurs podcast featuring Deep Purple.
Email  mailto:whiskywordswine@gmail.com
Restaurants useful for planning podcast – Hojiak. Melbourne
Whisky – A Whisky Affogato (go figure)
Beer – Belgian Trappist beers (see “Holy Week film – available on Mitch Docker’s YouTube channel
Reading: “Land” by Maggie O’Farrell
“The Lovesong of J Alfred Prufrock” and “Portrait of a Woman – TS Elliott
Listening: The Book Club podcast – TS Elliott episodes
Rockonteurs podcast – Deep Purple edition
Watching – The Witness – Netflix
Cup Fever – SBS TV – Santo Cilauro, Ed Kavalee
Office Romance – Netflix – Brett Goldstein, Jay Lo
Alone – SBS TV, Stan TV (Australia) – Seasons 12 and 13
Outlast – Netflix – Seasons 1,2,and 3
Cold Water – ITV; SBS on Demand
 
#Hojiak #SBSTV #Outlast #Alone #officeromancemovie #Coldwater #Rockonteurs #deeppurple #maggieofarrell #tseliot #witness #mitchdocker

Scurryfungeing around
The Scotsman goes Irish (Whiskey) while the Australian drinks a Jack Rabbit.  Word of the week: Scurryfunge - both have admitted to doing this at various times.
Jack reads John (not of the Bible, but of John), Graham finishes Norwegian Wood (though didn't sleep in the bath to do so).
***Exciting News!!! – we have our own Theme song, “Whisky, Words and Wine” which is played in full at the end of this episode - written by Jack Crumlin, produced and engineered by the talented Shane Pacey (whose new album Heart of the Cross can be found at:https://open.spotify.com/album/4Y4d8tZbmikPKIkByct2d3). 
We mention the World Cup, (but move on quickly given recent results for Australia and Scotland), but go much deeper into War of the Worlds (starting in 1938…..)
And for the purposes of full Disclosure, Graham’s favourite colour is (Deep) Purple, and Jack’s is whisky.  
Email us at: whiskywordswine@gmail.com
Wine: Jack Rabbit Pinot Noir 2024, Bellarine, Victoria 
Whisky: Jamieson Irish Whiskey
Reading: Norwegian Wood – Haruki Murakami
- Any Ordinary Day – Leigh Sales, Penguin Books. @leigh sales 
Watching: World Cup Football (SBS in Australia)
-Disclosure Day – Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Steven Spielberg http://disclosuredaymovie.com/
-Criminal Record, Peter Capaldi, Apple TV
Listening: “Whisky, words and wine” – Written and performed by Jack Crumlin, produced by Shane Pacey
Rockonteurs podcast – Deep Purple episode https://deeppurple.com/; Apple podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/rockonteurs-with-gary-kemp-and-guy-pratt/id1530701242?i=1000773557592
War of the Worlds – album, Jeff Wayne
War of the Worlds radio play (1938 – Orson Wells) https://open.spotify.com/album/4xjeZCHjYEQyFWu74K56K5?flow_ctx=47738280-9390-4cbc-ba11-411d31be8ed2%3A1782390984
 
#fifaworldcup #football #worldcupfootball #australiaworldcup2026 #scotlandworldcup2026 #disclosuredayfilm #deeppurple #whiskywordsandwine

World Cup Fever is afflicting both Jack and Graham - great starts by both Australia and Scotland buoying the spirits – hope lives eternal and already they are looking forward to the knockout rounds. So many great individual and team performances and it is only the first week of the greatest show on Earth. And the antics of the fans always entertain. Lots of TV and podcasts fill in the small gaps between games – it is going to be a big few weeks for Football, - and Jack gets a mention on one particularly entertaining nightly TV analysis.
And Graham names the winner!! ….of Australian Rieslings while Jack names the third place getter ….of Arran Distillery whiskies.
And who knew razor blades and tape could get Graham so excited?! In the absence of a word of the week Graham tries to engage Jack in a “mine is bigger than yours” contest but Jack won't play so instead a discussion on early experimental electronica music ensues which hinged on the use of spliced together reel to reel tape.
More on music, Jack has been getting a cultural fix at the Sydney Opera House courtesy of a trumpeter and friends (although  they seemed to have left their tech crew behind in Beijing)  and has been listening to a Kiwi soul singer #teeks
Jack loved the film Disclosure Day in the cinema, and Revenge Club on TV, while Graham enjoys a raunchy 1980’s-themed series based on TV rivalry, but is disappointed in Gary Oldman in The Woman in the Window film.  
Now, back to the football……..
Email us at:  whiskywordswine@gmail.com
Whisky:  Arran Distillery Single Malt Barley 10YO http://www.arranwhisky.com/
Wine: John Gehrig “The Growler” Cabernet/Durif/Shiraz – King Valley, Victoria https://johngehrigwines.com.au/
Pauletts “Antonina” Reisling, 2024, Clare Valley, Australia. http://www.paulettwines.com.au/
Reading:  Any Ordinary Day – Leigh Sales, Penguin Books @leigh sales 
Watching: -Cup Fever, SBS TV
-Disclosure Day – Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Steven Spielberg http://disclosuredaymovie.com/
Rivals, - Disney TV, David Tennant #rivalstvseries
The Revenge Club – Netflix #therevengeclubtvseries
The Woman in the Window, Amy Adams and (briefly) Gary Oldman, Netflix
Listening: -The Book Club – Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett 
@TheBookClubPodHQ
-Teeks (Spotify) #teeks
#fifaworldcup #football #worldcupfootball #australiaworldcup2026 #scotlandworldcup2026

Graham likes bubbles – who knew? (actually several wineries in the King Valley now know).
Two words of the week – Galloway (relating to the height of horses), and Aptronym – a name which accords with the profession or other attribute of the named person.
Both are getting through their respective books but are not fast readers. Jack recommends a movie that teaches you  the difference  between a falcon and a goshawk (and which strangely doesn't involve Sir David Attenborough narrating) and  a couple of TV series about pianos, and (an English) House of Cards.
For Graham it has been a long time between series 1 and series 2 of one of his favourite shows (23 years in fact!)  – even if it is a show which would not have taken Graham as a contestant…..
Graham listens to a  podcast about the CIA nobbling Engalnds 1970 World Cup campaign  while Jack sees through it as an excuse for the perennial failure of the English football team.
Jack is on the “50-years-since….”  train and has been listening to "Frampton Comes Alive" . He also recommends a new (to us) artist - Sienna Spiro and boasts of an upcoming night at the Sydney Opera House attending a Chris Botti concert.
Going forward both will be spending hours in front of the TV watching the Football World Cup, and Graham will be cataloguing all his recent wine purchases.
Email us at:  mailto:whiskywordswine@gmail.com
Whisky: Arran 10yo Machriemoor Single Malt whisky
Wine: King Valley Estate Prosecco  (Methode Champenoise). King Valley, Victoria
Reading: Norwegian Wood, Haruki Murakami
-Dracula – Bram Stoker
Watching:  H is for Hawk (film) – Claire Foy, Brendan Gleeson
-Race Around the World – ABC TV Australia
-Legends – BBC TV – Steve Coogan
-The Piano (UK) – Season 3
Heard – The Rest Is Classified – Episode on spying and sports (podcast)
-Frampton Comes Alive – Peter Frampton
-Sienna Spiro “Material Lover”
 
#hisforhawkfilm #racearoundtheworld2026 #thepiano #siennaspiro #therestisclassified

Graham may (or may not) have been wrong about where Aran knitwear comes from, but Jack is certain that the whisky he is drinking this week is from Lochranza on The Isle of Arran.
Jack has stopped taking his phone on walks - not because he forgets where he has put it but it is actually a life choice (Mennonites rejoice!). 
As usual, each go down a couple of rabbit holes – Graham’s involves railway maps, Jack’s is curling….
Lots of music listening this week including a new (to us) Neo-Soul singer/songwriter from Melbourne - Felivand -  and some rock classics from wayyyyy too long ago. 
Jack’s Dad joke involving The Vapors’ #1 hit from 1980 goes straight over Graham’s head, but both wet themselves laughing over a particular scene in BBC's music dramedy Riot Women.
And in other-worldly news, both the Devil and Dracula get an airing, albeit in different media. 
Email us: whiskywordswine@gmail.com  send us your comments, requests and recommendations
Whisky: Arran 10YO Single Malt  
Wine: Zema Estate Coonawarra Cabernet Merlot, 2018
Reading: Dracula – Bram Stoker
-The Meaning of Your Life – Albert Brooks
-Norwegian Wood – Haruki Murakami
-Any Ordinary Day – Leigh Sales
Watching: Legends – Steve Coogan, Netflix
Riot Women – BBC (SBS TV in Australia)
The Devil Wears Prada 2 – Meryl Streep Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci
Lance Armstrong Doco – ESPN Sports
“How Melbourne Solved a Problem Britain STILL has”; YouTube – Gareth Dennis and Railway Maps
Listening:  Felivand "Ties" (Album - 2022)
Raye – “This may contain hope “ (album - 2026)
Steve Miller Band – Book of Dreams (Album - 1976)
Hotel California – The Eagles (Album - 1976)
I Think I’m Turning Japanese – The Vapors (single - 1980)
#felivand  #raye #whisky #isleofarrandistillery #zemaestate #leigh_ sales #legendsnetflix #riot_women @zemaestate #thedevilwearsprada2 

Graham and Jack are  in the same country again, and we cut through the whisky haze to round off Jack’s travels, while plutons and googlewhacking make an appearance.
Graham is recovering for the devasting spygate scandal (only a true football fan will understand the depths of despair this creates). Jack is reading about London Falling, while for Graham it is Moscow. Graham has found a new favourite TV show – and its a riot - while also on a musical note Jack watches a  song sung blue.
And the Isles of Arran/Aran are in dispute (a woolly issue).
-------------
Wine: Henry Frost Sangiovese 202
Whisky: Bunnahabhain  (really!)
 
Reading: -Moscow X – David McKlosky
London Falling
Any Ordinary Day – Leigh Sales
Watching:  -Riot Women (BBC/SBS)
-Kylie (Netflix)
-Jamie Vardy (Netflix)
-Song Sung Blue
Listening:  - Raye “And this may contain hope” Album
-Adrift – Apple podcast

Tonight is the second of this week’s podcasts featuring a cautionary tale about not drinking wine soon enough, childhood clothing trauma, and large sweaty men grappling with each other.
Please listen to the Sumomainichi podcast – it is a blast - hosted by Dave and Amy, (and one episode this week by Graham), and go onto Youtube and watch some bouts – it is an awesome sport.  
  Send us feedback and recommendations to WhiskyWordsWine@gmail.com