Deeper Dives #4: Inside the Lost Distilleries of the 1920s with Leon Kuebler

Send us Fan Mail We're traveling back to the 1920s for another Decades Distilled Deeper Dive, as Kurt Maitland welcomes whisky historian and author Leon Kuebler to explore one of the most transformative decades in whisky history. Leon helped bring a forgotten piece of whisky history back to life with The Distilleries of Great Britain & Ireland, 1922–1929, a remarkable collection of historical distillery profiles and photographs offering a rare glimpse into the industry a century ago. Together, Kurt and Leon explore how the aftermath of World War I, economic pressures, and industry consolidation reshaped Scotch whisky, leading to the closure of countless distilleries and the rise of the major producers we know today. They also dig into the evolution of whisky-making, from heritage barley and traditional yeast to modern production methods, and how Leon's Project 1927 set out to recreate the flavors of the past. Along the way, they uncover fascinating stories of forgotten distilleries, surprising innovations, and the people who helped shape the whisky industry. It's a journey through a pivotal chapter of whisky history, and a reminder that understanding the past can change the way we appreciate what's in our glass today.