Uploaded October 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Serge Valentin was one of the first online whisky nerds. He began his ‘blog’ (before he even knew that’s what it was) in 2002 and today has an archive of digital whisky covering two full decades.
Over those 22 years he's accumulated many thousands of whisky reviews and countless tasting notes in his world famous Whiskyfun.com website, as well as the admiration of whisky botherers around the world.
Back in the early days of my own whisky exploration, long before any whisky pals existed, Serge’s site was one of the few places I could attempt to unravel all the things I was discovering in the glass. By that time, everyone who cared about whisky knew who Serge was.
Still, in 2024, the real prize that every dram seeks is a high score and some irreverent words of praise from whisky’s instantly recognisable, moustachio'd frenchman.
Yet, after all these years it remains a hobby for him; something that he uses to relax, he believes that it should always be fun.
Well, this week the fun is mine. Serge steps behind the bar at the vPub and I get to spend a little time talking through the years that have passed and contemplating the years ahead.
I really hope you’ll join us there!
Timestamps:
0:00 - Opening
2:35 - Brief intro to Serge
3:55 - Welcoming in the lounge
10:39 - The Independent Spirits Festival
14:38 - OSWAs vote closes Sunday
18:26 - vPun next week - pop up vPub at @JeffWhisky
19:31 - Welcoming in Serge
22:40 - The beginnings for Serge & Whisky
27:03 - Whisky before the internet?
34:29 - The motivation for Whiskyfun
40:33 - The consequences of scoring whisky
52:02 - The rise of digital whisky opionistas
59:00 - Chasing the Holy Grail
1:16:07 - Quick Fire questions from the community
1:45:36 - Quiz at the End
vPub next week over here: youtube.com/@UChSPQQ4v5h89je_B0Mvus2g
Serge Valentin was one of the first online whisky nerds. He began his ‘blog’ (before he even knew that’s what it was) in 2002 and today has an archive of digital whisky covering two full decades.
Over those 22 years he's accumulated many thousands of whisky reviews and countless tasting notes in his world famous Whiskyfun.com website, as well as the admiration of whisky botherers around the world.
Back in the early days of my own whisky exploration, long before any whisky pals existed, Serge’s site was one of the few places I could attempt to unravel all the things I was discovering in the glass. By that time, everyone who cared about whisky knew who Serge was.
Still, in 2024, the real prize that every dram seeks is a high score and some irreverent words of praise from whisky’s instantly recognisable, moustachio'd frenchman.
Yet, after all these years it remains a hobby for him; something that he uses to relax, he believes that it should always be fun.
Well, this week the fun is mine. Serge steps behind the bar at the vPub and I get to spend a little time talking through the years that have passed and contemplating the years ahead.
I really hope you’ll join us there!
Timestamps:
0:00 - Opening
2:35 - Brief intro to Serge
3:55 - Welcoming in the lounge
10:39 - The Independent Spirits Festival
14:38 - OSWAs vote closes Sunday
18:26 - vPun next week - pop up vPub at @JeffWhisky
19:31 - Welcoming in Serge
22:40 - The beginnings for Serge & Whisky
27:03 - Whisky before the internet?
34:29 - The motivation for Whiskyfun
40:33 - The consequences of scoring whisky
52:02 - The rise of digital whisky opionistas
59:00 - Chasing the Holy Grail
1:16:07 - Quick Fire questions from the community
1:45:36 - Quiz at the End
vPub next week over here: youtube.com/@UChSPQQ4v5h89je_B0Mvus2g
