A storied barrel: the Canlis brothers share personal tales of a very special whiskey

Photo: Tracey Salazar

Mark and Brian Canlis are brothers and the third generation of their family to run Canlis, a nearly 70-year-old restaurant in Seattle and a true landmark. But even beyond the restaurant, what’s extraordinary about the Canlis family is how thoughtful they are at helping people to connect. And for years, in the basement of the restaurant, they had a very special barrel of whiskey. But, you couldn't buy yourself a taste of it - not with money, anyway. Francis Lam talked with Mark and Brian in a peaceful basement room to hear the stories of that unique whiskey.

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Francis Lam

Francis Lam is the host of The Splendid Table. He is the former Eat columnist for The New York Times Magazine and is Vice President and Editor-in-Chief at Clarkson Potter. He graduated first in his class at the Culinary Institute of America and has written for numerous publications. Lam lives with his family in New York City.