Nine years ago, former Scotland rugby international Chris Cusiter retired from the professional game and moved out west.

Way out west... California west.

He bought a specialist liquor store in Los Angeles to follow his newfound dream, building bridges between Scotland and California with whisky.

A few years later, after selling his store, Chris became a partner in Alexander Murray & Co importers of Scotch whisky into the United States.

In this episode he talks to John about his love of whisky; the challenges facing the global whisky market; the dangers of "premiumisation" in a market where anything over US$25 is "ultra-premium"; how his sweet tooth draws him to big, heavily sherried whiskies like Glendronach or Glenfarclas; how a thief with "custom-designed trousers" stole thousands of dollars worth of stock from under his nose; the most commonly mispronounced Scotch names; and the best place in the world to drink whisky...

So pour yourself a wee dram and listen in.

Slàinte!

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Socials:

@C2GWhisky

@JohnRossBeattie

Creator & producer: David Holmes

Art work & design: Jess Robertson

Music: Water of Life (Never Going Home)

Vocals: Andrea Cunningham

Guitars: John Beattie

Bass: Alasdair Vann

Drums: Alan Hamilton

Bagpipes: Calum McColl

Accordion: Gary Innes

Music & Lyrics: Andrea Cunningham & John Beattie

Recorded & mixed by Murray Collier at La Chunky Studios, Glasgow, Scotland

Special thanks: The Piper Whisky Bar, 57 Cochrane Street, Glasgow, Scotland

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