Podcasts · 60 Minutes

12/28/2025: Wood to Whiskey, The Tequila Heist, The Mezcaleros

29 Dec 2025 · 42 min

With a history spanning 2,000 years and still playing a vital role in global commerce, the oak barrel, as correspondent Bill Whitaker discovers, is much more than just a container. Barrels are a vital ingredient, especially in the production of Bourbon whiskey – giving it all of its distinctive color and much of its taste. Whitaker takes us inside the largest maker of wooden barrels to glimpse the magic and mystique of this essential tradition.

International crime groups are finding new, sophisticated ways to infiltrate the global supply chain online, stealing hundreds of millions of dollars of goods per year. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi reports on the growing threat of cargo theft and how 24,000 bottles of Guy Fieri’s tequila vanished on their way to the warehouse.

Mezcal is having its moment. This handcrafted Mexican spirit, made from agave, has seen exponential growth in popularity and production. Correspondent Cecilia Vega travels to Oaxaca’s countryside and meets the mezcaleros laboring to quench the world’s thirst for mezcal.