Name: vPub Live - What are Blended Malts - and why should we pay attention? @Aqvavitae
Uploaded: 2026-09-19T08:17:00-05:00
Duration: 8 min 17 s
Description: vPub Live - What are Blended Malts - and why should we pay attention?

vPub Live - What are Blended Malts - and why should we pay attention?

Aqvavitae 2026-09-19 | vPub Live - What are Blended Malts - and why should we pay attention?

vPub Live - All the FREE WHISKY!

Aqvavitae 2024-05-09 | If you've been around the vPub long enough you'll have heard me talk about how I choose to buy all my own whisky, that I never request any free bottles - or even samples - and that's how I prefer to run things. And it's true. It's fundamental, even.

Yet that's not the whole story. To say I don't have whisky on hand that I haven't paid for myself would be disingenuous. It wouldn't be true. So what to do about it? What is it? Why do I have it and what does it mean to you? Can I be trusted to give advice and opinion about whisky I have received for free?

While we're at it - how do I even manage to buy my own whisky? Where does the money come from and how does it all work?

This'll be the discussion for this week's vPub. Don't do the transparency walk without the transparency talk. It's about time I 'fessed up, and while we're at it, I'll drink some free whiskies!

You can make your mind up from there. See you at the bar, or in the lounge, beautiful whisky folk!

Time stamps:

0:00 - Opening
2:45 - Brief intro
8:40 - Save the date: Glasgow; September 28th 2024
19:45 - What's a Barfly?
24:24 - How the channel 'works'
30:04 - Do people care about independence?
41:26 - What is the YouTube "Barflies" Membership?
57:02 - How much does YouTube take?
1:05:52 - The quiet folk and more free whisky
1:08:34 - What is Patreon (What is a patron?)
1:22:24 - What does Patreon take as a cut?
1:42:27 - Opening a Barfly freebie - Longrow 16yo Cage
1:47:44 - This is my job now -money is part of it, not free whisky
2:07:00 - Quiz at the End

vPub Live - The Ignored Pt.6

Aqvavitae 2024-05-03 | First things first - yes, I know I promised you a Roddy session. Unfortunately our favourite whisky guru is currently laid up nursing himself back to health. He was sure he'd be fine for a remote dial-in this week, but we decided best to get him back to full health and have him here live. We'll raise a wee glass to him Thursday.

So, a quick glance ahead to see what I could quickly pull forward and this was closest. We last covered this in September and we're slowly ticking through the list of distilleries that, for whatever reason, seems to get next to no airtime on the vPub, despite having releases available - sometimes lots of them. They're not hidden gems, they're not under-the-radar, they are simply walked past.

So, while I'm still deciding what the final bottle line-up will be, have a think about the distilleries out there, despite plenty of offerings available, you choose to ignore.

Looking forward to seeing you then!

0:00 - Opening
2:00 - No Roddy?
3:18 - Overview of The Ignored topic
5:02 - Limburg was okay
6:36 - Welcoming in the Lounge
26:43 - Ignored Auchentoshan
30:00 - "Better off with the indies"?
32:29 - Auchentoshan Sauvignon Blanc
40:23 - Freezing the Auchie
49:42 - Ignored Balblair
54:03 - Balblair 15yo
1:05:17 - Ignored Benrinnes
1:26:23 - Ignored Strathisla
1:28:24 - G&M Distillery Labels Strathisla 2009/2022
1:41:16 - Ignored Annandale
1:58:58 - Whisky clubs!
2:07:43 - Quiz at the End

vPub Live - (Almost) New Whiskies

Aqvavitae 2024-04-25 | What do you call a whisky that's only new for some people?

In other words; what might you call a whisky that's calling itself new, but isn't, really? Or, what do you call a whisky that's only new in the sense it's the first time it's been made available? Well, I'm calling the slightly oddball whiskies I have this week 'Almost New'. It makes sense to me. I'll do my best to make it sound sensible to you too.

One of these has been sitting on the side for a few weeks and I've been desperate to open it and give it a try, but also to share it with you, live. It's just that there hasn't been a suitable moment or theme to do so. So I've basically contrived a vPub session to do just that, because (as is these things tend to do) along came one or two other bottles that seem to fit that similar theme; something that's very new to me, or certainly very new to the vPub, but in the big scope of the ever turning wheel of whisky, not entirely 'new' at all.

So, this week I have;
A whisky that's new because they took a long time to release it
A whisky that's new because I've never been lucky enough to get any
A whisky that's new because we're told it is, but it isn't
A whisky that's new because I've never seen it for sale before
A whisky that's new because it's the latest in my favourite series of geek whiskies and therefore, by definition, isn't new either

And who would bet against me stumbling upon another new thing that isn’t really before Thursday?

Anyway, all of these bottles have prompted me to contrive a whisky topic, but also to once more think about another shifting dynamic in whisky, something that I think will continue to change the way we enjoy and share whisky in general. In itself, it isn't anything bad, overall I'd say it's a good change, but I'll share this much now; it’s not good news for Whiskytube.

As always, I look forward to welcoming you there.

Time stamps:
0:00 - Opening
3:18 - Overview of topic
5:32 - Welcoming in the Barflies
20:44 - What are (Almost) New Whiskies?
22:40 - What's in the glass...
23:20 - Uncorking The Strathearn & Caveats
53:01 - Uncorking Circumstance English Whisky
1:13:48 - Integrity, independence & Dornoch
1:28:44 - Uncorking The Ballindalloch Sherry cask
1:42:14 - The polarisation of scotch whisky
1:53:15 - How to bridge the polarised gap
1:57:00 - Uncorking Loch Lomond DE5
2:10:00 - Quiz at the End

PS: I found this line up to be one of the finest ever on any vPub uncorking session. The future is bright.

vPub Live on Location - Dornoch & The Thompson Bros

Aqvavitae 2024-04-18 | In the first Live on Location vPub of 2024 I'll be heading up North to Sutherland to meet the Thompson Brothers and the team behind Dornoch Distillery (soon to be plural) and independent label releases.

With most of the things they do in high demand these days, I wanted to dig a little deeper to understand what the secret ingredients in their magic sauce are. Over a couple of short meetings in recent years, I'd spoken with them about potentially doing something together; certainly welcoming them behind the bar in the vPub sometime.

Because, while we know most of it is founded in pure curiosity and passion, I think we also know there has to be a little more to the ingredient list: be it opportunity, knowledge, skill, talent or maybe a little good fortune too. It all builds to give this absolutely tiny distillery and the Thompson Bros brand an aura of something special; enthusiastic whisky for enthusiastic whisky folk.

But most of you will have probably already worked out that I'm after some of the good stuff for myself - even if it means a jaunt up the A9. So if that’s the remit, why not take you all along with me? Rumour has it The Alchemist is running roadie on this one, so we know it’s gonna be a good trip.

Would love to welcome you there!

0:00 - Opening at Dornoch Castle
1:48 - Welcoming you to the Dungeon at Dornoch Castle
4:26 - Welcoming in the travelling lounge
11:04 - A 'tour' of Dornoch Distillery
13:05 - Welcoming in Phil & Simon Thompson
15:03 - Finding their own way & who was first?
54:19 - Uncorking the 'new' Strathearn
57:18 - How Strathearn helped inspire proto-Dornoch
1:17:14 - Adding E150a - declare or ban?
1:21:20 - Are there too many distilleries?
1:29:28 - Chill-filtration & its impact
1:41:00 - Welcoming in Seve The Alchemist
1:50:44 - Packaging in whisky - trash or treasure?
2:05:16 - Opening a very special Port Ellen
2:09:15 - Quiz at the End

vPub Live - Phil & Deepa: A Whiskytube Journey

Aqvavitae 2024-04-04 | Back in 2018 when the vPub was still figuring out what it was all about, we welcomed Phil & Deepa from their channel called, at that time, Captain 3D. It wasn't a whisky channel, instead it was an invitation from me based on a one-off, single video project documenting their exploration of twenty four whiskies, all at once.

It's become something of a legendary video and, as debuts go at least, one of the most impactful. I'll link it below. It’s well worth your time, even today, six years later.

It also was their springboard into further whisky exploration and from there they built an entire channel around whisky, documenting their experiences, blow-by-blow: the cost, the value, the experience, the flavours, the shopping trips, everything was shared. But incredibly - especially for the time - everything was tried blind.

From their early days until now, they have completed their arc of blind exploration that started with a £25 bottle of Ardmore Legacy and finished with a vintage Diageo Special Releases Brora. They shared, they catalogued, they recorded, they streamed, they stumbled, tripped and fell and - every now and again, with whisky's permission - they emerged victorious.

I'd like to spend a night with them both here, in the vPub, we'll challenge each other, of course - but more than anything I want to ask; what next?

I hope you’ll join me to welcome two of whisky’s most beautiful people.

Catch their debut here:
youtu.be/wW6FHsAIj3g?si=EIDAPhXPvZowm1E7

Timestamps:
0:00 - Opening
3:17 - Introducing the Whisky Mystery story
8:10 - Taking a short break!
9:38 - Welcoming in the lounge
13:32 - Whisky Mystery debut video teaser
16:12 - Welcoming in Phil & Deepa
31:47 - Blind tasting & what it's about
42:10 - The bubble test
55:18 - Blind tasting Springbank 18
1:15:52 -Blind tasting Craigellachie
1:29:33- Thoughts on chill-filtration?
1:38:58 - Blind tasting Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2008
1:57:07 - Deepa spots the Brora
2:11:51 - Welcoming in Menno
2:16:44 - Quiz at the End

vPub Live - Sleepers: Whiskies waiting to be discovered?

Aqvavitae 2024-03-29 | It seems like every week we talk about how we don't need to kowtow to price hikes and chase bottles that are sparse or in demand; we reassure ourselves that “there's plenty of whisky out there!” I reassure you of the same. A lot.

So, where is it? Well, I suppose someone needs to go looking. I suppose that someone, sometimes, should be me. Well, maybe more than sometimes; it's what I do. Often, I'll happen upon a bottle that really gets the curiosity juices flowing, for various reasons, triggering me to look into things, or inspiring a topic for the vPub.

However, despite searching and asking around, there's often not a lot said about some bottles I happen upon, they seem to be a little lost in the fray; trees hidden by the wood, so to speak. Quietly waiting; sleeping.

All that there is to do then is… 'take a punt'. But that's costly, so what to do?

Well, the first, and always the best thing is to work as a community to help unearth the good stuff and share it with each other. I'll step up this week with stuff I think might be worth talking about, and others that look good 'on paper' but need a little investigation first. But I'll make a rule; for every pricey ‘sleeper’ bottle I gamble upon - I must find a really great value or inexpensive linked 'sleeper' bottle and investigate them both; side-by-side, always keeping the value square in the centre of the frame. It's the vPub after all.

One or two of these this week will be quirky, and others will be obscure. In fact, all they have in common is somehow, they've piqued my curiosity as potential 'sleepers'. But regardless if they’re cheap, expensive, obscure, limited, familiar or different, they’ll all offer good discussion points and help nudge us along our trajectory of exploration while avoiding exploitation.

At least, that’s the plan; we just need to whisky to wake up and do its thing.

Why don't you have a think and bring yours along too?

0:00 - Opening
2:40 - Framing the topic
4:50 - Welcoming in the lounge
19:28 - A busy week - no pre-uncorking
22:54 - What is a "sleeper"?
27:12 - Something different from Benriach
50:34 - Alt-sherry casks: Tomintoul & MM Cask Craft Madeira
1:09:10 - Sneak peek at Palo Cortado & Fino picks
1:13:55 - The 'strangeness' of Palo Cortado
1:17:17 - A 'Talisker' theme: Siren Bay 18yo & X Parley
1:51:44 - Uncorking Tomatin Fino 2006 & Old Perth Palo Cortado
2:16:38 - Quiz at the End

vPub Live - You Only Need Five Whiskies: Gamified

Aqvavitae 2024-03-22 | Not only should I apologise for not doing anything with this when I was nominated, but I can't even remember who nominated me. It might have been more than one nomination. Still, I didn't do it. Apologies. Things can take time around these parts.

So why come around to it now? Surely it's been done to death? Well, yes, and no.

Firstly, this week was supposed to be another visit to the Emerald Isle, but I couldn't get excited for it. I reached out to an Irish pal to help get the juices flowing, and he couldn't get excited for it. So, in line with normal vPub practice, I'll ditch it and weave Irish into the discussion in general, rather than dedicate a single vPub just because it's close to the 17th March.

Next, I think in 2024 I'm going to need to get creative with topics that can make use of the whisky we already have on hand, rather than focus on promotion of the new and exciting every week. Many of us already have a lot of whisky and, while the topic this week might do a bit of that, it's stuff I already have covered or already purchased. Saving our pennies is a good thing. Saving my pennies is even gooder.

Lastly, why reinvent something that's already understood? The five categories (at least amongst the scotch whisky channels that took part) followed five clear categories: A Daily Sipper (we need a better name for this), an Impress Your Guests, a Favourite Mixer, a Friday Night Sipper and a Special Occasion Pour.

So, the gamification of it, how will that work?

That's where you come in. For each of the categories the participants on screen (contestants?) will proffer their choices and build a case for each. YOU decide - as you join in live - who the winner of each category will be. Points are awarded. While all the whiskies win, there can be only one game winner. And believe me, I'll be wearing my game-face and trying my best.

Remember, if you'd like to play along, you'll need to join live via YouTube. I'd love to welcome you there!

0:00 - Opening
1:52 - Framing the idea
4:34 - Welcoming in new Barflies
5:50 - Welcoming in the lounge
12:00 - The 5 Whisky Challenge - Why & how.
18:26 - Welcoming in The Whiskey Novice
25:32 - Welcoming in Julie & Jeff
35:49 - Round 1 - The Daily Sipper
55:00 - Round 2 - Impress Your Guests
1:15:35 - Round 3 - The Best Mixer
1:34:15 - Round 4 - The Friday Night Sipper
1:52:14 - Round 5 - Special Occasion Pour
2:11:30 - Should value be considered?
2:15:40 - Value bonus points
2:24:45 - Results!
2:30:36 - Quiz at the End (cookie-trail style)

Links:
Julie: decadent-drinks.com
Jim: youtube.com/c/WhiskeyNovice
Jeff: youtube.com/c/JeffWhisky

vPub Live - Peatfest 2024 Islay Edition

Aqvavitae 2024-03-15 | This will be the third year where, during the cooler months, we've dedicated a vPub to the theme of that seductive and aromatic element that makes scotch whisky stand out; peat. After a general visit in 2022 and a look around the world of peat in 2023, this time we'll focus on the island that, today, is associated with peaty production more than any other; the magical isle of Islay.

If I'm honest though, I've fallen away from many of the island's malts in recent years. While this, in no way, makes me feel any differently about the fantastic distilleries or the amazing island itself, I do tend to be drinking less of the official bottlings. We all know the reasons why, for the most part, but does it have to be this way?

In this Peatfest I'll get very focused. Keeping it fully on Islay, I'll look at the offerings from each of the (currently available) distilleries and work out where we might want to focus our flavour chase in 2024 - especially with an eye on value. That "Islay Single Malt" is a kudos-laden appellation these days and we're being asked to pay for it. What's to be done to dig out some tasty treats that have us purring but not poor?

I have a suggestion or two. I'd love to share them with you there!

vPub Live - Rising Stars; Malt Distilleries to Look Out For - 2024

Aqvavitae 2024-03-08 | Is it trite to say things change quickly in whisky? Probably. We know it does.
But to pause and take note of what's changing and how it’s changing is pretty interesting to me. For example; thinking about those distilleries we might, individually, consider Rising Stars.
Back in 2021 we covered this angle and I put forward four producers I felt were deserving of more of my own personal time. By extension, I suppose, as host of the vPub I was saying they deserved more of your personal time too. Many of you, of course, were already there - ahead of me as always. But it's fun to look at who those four were back then and consider where they are now.
They were:
Loch Lomond
Glenturret
Glencadam
Benromach
Wow. Not too shabby. I'd say all four of these are today, in 2024, very much part of the whisky botherer's lexicon. Perhaps with the exception of those that have been priced too highly, they all remain very much celebrated. Harking back to the dark days over the first year or two of the pandemic they were perhaps only playing in the periphery of our exploration field. Maybe I’m just speaking about myself again, but on we trudge.
These days, I have a healthy selection of Glenturret, but Glencadam, Benromach and certainly Loch Lomond have the shelves sagging, and it delights me. They’re some of my most reached-for treats.
Now, please don't read this as any kind of prediction skills or that I have an ability to sense the next cool thing, it's not that and you know it isn't. What it is is shedding light on the distilleries that are just starting to ‘catch’, those that are setting the heather alight and bringing us the things that can keep our road ahead lit with excitement as other brands traipse down the luxury goods aisle after some of that sweet, sweet, frivolous and plentiful seam of endless deep pockets.
As usual, as they abandon the invested drinker-thinker, in steps another sure-footed and impassioned player to take up the space they leave in their wake.
Be it a renaissance story, a new distillery or a completely new country, there are always new things appearing to keep us excited and engaged.
It's been over two years since we touched this, I guarantee what we'll discuss is very different from back then, just as it'll likely be very different in another two years from now.
Who are your Rising Stars?
I really hope to welcome you there!

The Dramface Top 40 Vote : dramface.com/dramface-top-40

0:00 - Opening
2:07 - Brief Intro to topic
5:50 - Too much booze (at times?)
8:35 - Welcoming in the lounge
20:12 - How I committed
21:46 - The Echo-chamber
25:12 - The Rise of Ardnamurchan
34:34 - The 2021 List
44:05 - A Sassenach - White Peak (Wireworks)
50:42 - The global 'Rising Star' effect
55:32 - The 'Ignored' Local - Glasgow 1770
1:09:20 - A Shout out for Clydeside
1:16:38 - The 'rejuvenation' of Fettercairn
1:39:23 - Lagg - Completely different!
1:59:05 - The Steady Climber - Kingsbarns
2:16:28 - In summary - Other Rising Stars?
2:22:28 - Quiz at the End

Doug Clement's Channel : Dream to Dram youtube.com/@DreamtoDram

vPub Live - How To Pick An Indie

Aqvavitae 2024-03-01 | Walk into a whisky shop. Ask for advice. Pay, leave, drink. Easy.

But joking aside, we reach a point in whisky exploration and naturally want to move beyond the official bottles, stretch our palates a little, right? Surely, at some point, Independent Bottlers will become of real interest.

It's different for everyone, of course. Some are introduced to independent bottlings immediately, while others wonder why they even exist. Some have a plentiful supply and selection, while others rarely see an indie appear local to them. Yet, someday, we'll all happen across an indie and it'd probably be nice to understand the whats and the whys when we do.

Now, I'm not the person to say what you should and shouldn't choose, but I've had my fair share of scuffs and scratches along the way, as well as some truly memorable delights, purely from taking a gamble on a non-distillery bottling. Very often, especially with evermore illusive single casks, they can often be the pinnacle of that single, laser-focused, one-off and utterly transient experience.

So, what should we be looking out for? Which indies handle transparency well? Who has kept prices fair and selection canny? More than anything, and completely regardless of whose bottling you're holding in your hands; how can you make an informed and mitigated decision in advance of handing over your cash on something that you have little experience of? It’s worse because often your peers and the community around you is likely to be in the dark too.

That'll be the scope of this vPub and, for us flavour chasers in the vPub, it's about time we switched over to celebrating that these bottlers, and bottlings, even exist.

Really hope to welcome you there!

Link to the Dramface session over at The Inverurie Whisky shop: youtube.com/live/hkeUfsqEcnc?si=reWbc1HmW9UfBRuW

0:00 - Opening
2:19 - Brief intro to topic
6:13 - Welcoming in the lounge
12:45 - Intimidating Indies(?)
22:28 - The Pale Whisky in the glass
24:19 - Confessing: why no indies on the vPub?
27:37 - Framing the session & updates
34:15 - The 'Big 4' Indies
44:56 - So many indies!
49:03 - Official vs Indie Definitions
53:45 - Indies & age statements
1:02:38 - Indies & Value (SMWS & Sig Vintage 100º)
1:27:30 - Indies as champions
1:31:18 - ABV Natural CS vs Reduced
1:55:13 - Indies & colour
2:04:00 - Personality and summary
2:12:44 - Quiz at the End (somewhat botched)
1:42:22 - Finishing - too much? Sometimes., yep.

vPub Live - Six Nations Whisky 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇮🇹 🇫🇷 🇮🇪 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Aqvavitae 2024-02-23 | Disclosure: I don't really know much about rugby.

Also disclosure: I always avoided the idea of forcing English, Scotch, Irish and Welsh whiskies to compete against each other, eschewing nationalism in whisky and preferring to see them as different entities instead. But hearing about tastings arranged recently around the annual Six Nations Rugby Union Championship not only gave me a great excuse to realise exactly that, but add some European flavour into the mix too.

So here's what we'll do: invite six representatives in, one for each of the six nations of Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, Italy and France. We'll select six whiskies, one from each nation, share them out, blind, and ask them to compete on the night.

We very quickly lose the rugby theme, but that's not important. What is important is that we play as simply and fairly as possible. So the whiskies all have to fit to the following: no extreme flavour differentials such as peat or active casks, no dosing, no doping, keep it simple. Pricing should be between £45 and £60 for all bottles, keep it accessible, keep it fair.

Of course, I'll reveal to you throughout the night what they're drinking. Each 'player' will award 6 points to their favourite, reducing to a single point for their 'least' favourite. Through points, we'll determine which nation will claim the win.

This will not be an easy task for the scotch entry. With epic releases coming from everywhere right now, it's by no means a foregone conclusion. Add in some tactical selections and national pride and anything could happen.

Wear colours. Join in! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇮🇹 🇫🇷 🇮🇪 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Time stamps
0:00 - Opening
2:07 - Intro to topic
6:39 - Welcoming in the lounge
14:03 - Framing the structure
17:36 - Ireland - The Whiskey Novice
23:38 - Italy - Dramming Around
29:50 - France - Martin (La Prohibition)
39:06 - Wales - Andy (WhiskyPad)
45:49 - England - David Stirk
55:00 - Scotland - Roddy
1:11:10 - Gathering the whisky scores
1:29:46 - Revealing the scores
1:31:14 - Revealing the bottles
1:48:55 - Update on the Top 40
1:54:43 - Grand Slam & reveal
2:16:22 - Grand Slam points?
2:24:54 - Quiz at the End

Thanks to:
🇮🇹 Italy - Gianluigi & Teresa drammingaround.com
🇮🇪 Ireland - Jim The Whiskey Novice youtube.com/c/WhiskeyNovice
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England - David Stirk, Stirk Bros stirkbrothers.com
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales - Andy PadWhisky whiskypad.com
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland - Roddy, Good Spirits Co. thegoodspiritsco.com
🇫🇷 France - Martin La Prohibition la-prohibition.com/en

vPub Live - Our Top 40 Distilleries

Aqvavitae 2024-02-16 | Do you remember this? Back when it was a Top 10? Well, it's time to bring it back and then immediately pass it on. Lots of reasons why...

When I presented this, I'd only collected a few days of respondents worth, and they had mostly been collected form my community. Immediately struck by how interesting it was, I realised I'd happened upon something that, as far as I'm aware, doesn't currently exist. Something that could be brutal, but very valuable, interesting but revealing.

In the end, we took the short snapshot of 707 respondents and I shared the Top 25. As soon as it had gone out I was asked: What was number 26?

One of the issues with a concept like this is that I don't think I can keep it. Believe me, I'd like it - The Aqvavitae Top 25 or whatever, but it's not the right thing to do. It doesn't work, not on the Aqvavitae channel, for reasons I'll cover. But this will go ahead and it will get life, hopefully a bigger breath of life than I can give it on the channel here.

More to share this week; my own take on why the selections are as they are - and what's missing. Let's boost it to a Top 40 and then hand it over to a capable team, rather than an individual.

I really hope it can become something. Hope to see you Thursday!

youtube.com/live/K8EXAybUBy4?si=KK0oyWsUjCEwHz4k

Dramface Top 40 Vote & Results: dramface.com/dramface-top-40

Timestamps:
0:00 - Opening
2:47 - Why Dramface?
5:38 - Benromach Organic 2014 Update
6:54 - Welcoming in the lounge
13:24 - Why a Top 40?
18:30 - Why pass it to Dramface?
28:15 - 141 distilleries at launch, how to pick?
37:35 - Top 10 Distilleries (2023 data)
47:20 Bruichladdich18yo 2024 Re/Define
54:24 - Top 3 Distilleries
1:02:23 - Top 10 Takeaways
1:11:05 - Top 11 - 25 Distilleries
1:25:28 - Top 26 - 40 Distilleries
1:40:44 - Macaloney's Washington Peat
1:45:49 - Takeaways from The Top 40
1:54:00 - Those just outside the Top 40
2:05:29 - Deanston Organic 2000 21yo
2:14:10 - Quiz at the End

vPub Live - Organic Whiskies - flavourful or vanity purchase?

Aqvavitae 2024-02-09 | It won't be possible for me to cover all the organic whiskies that are available, but I've been carefully picking up those that I think will give a nice breadth, inside and outside of scotch.
We have a Bruichladdich (the 2012/2023 10yo), A Deanston (2000 21yo), Benromach (2014/2023) and a core release NAS Nc'Nean from Scotland alongside a revisit to Waterford's 1.1 Gaia (I didn't buy the new batch - more on that) as well as a hop over to France to try their Hautes Glaces Indigene.
Clearly, this is the vPub, so I'll try to be mindful not to make my ignorance of organic definitions and practices obvious, rather I'll try to focus on what interests me in the close context of a whisky botherer; flavour.
And of course, cost.

Time stamps
0:00 - Opening
2:22 - Framing the topic
5:28 - Welcoming in the lounge
13:10 - Organic intro
16:42 - Beginning with Nc'Nean
24:24 - Heading to Waterford & Gaia 1.1
41:00 - Bruichladdich's Organic Release 2012
1:03:08 - Benromach Organic 2014 - A belter 😳
1:18:52 - Deanston Organic 2000 21yo
1:37:15 - Hautes Glaces Organic French Malt
1:56:44 - Quiz at the End

vPub Live - The Permashelf 2024 (It only holds 10 bottles)

Aqvavitae 2024-02-02 | I'm not against lists. Arguably, this topic could be viewed as a Top 10, but I maintain it's not.
If I listed my Top 10 right now they would inevitably include things a little pricier, perhaps a little rarer and a little more special - even if they may not all be easy to replace. They would also be very dependent on variable moods and transient moments.
The Permashelf idea is different; they have to be ten solid, reliable friends that you're guaranteed - or at least tempted - to replace as soon as they've given up their last few drops and are finally rinsed. They should be good value and available and - above all else - the easiest of recommendations to make to friends and curious entrants into the scene.
Arguably, these lists of the staples we enjoy most, could be the foundation that, if forced, we could pare back everything and still be content with a small allocation of the most celebrated everyday pours - on an imaginary 'shelf' that can only hold ten bottles.
What would you pick? I'll share what I've picked this week.
PS: I first covered this topic back in summer 2022, let's see what's changed since then!
Link: youtube.com/live/qOppEDAsLms?si=lKEhyFqU7DddKW3s

Time stamps:

0:00 - Opening
1:53 - Intro to theme
5:08 - Welcoming in the lounge
18:15 - Framing the Permashelf
24:08 - 2022 List: Deanston 12yo
27:50 - 2022 List - Glencadam 10yo
29:48 - 2022 List - Ledaig 10yo
34:07 - 2022 List - Ardbeg 10yo
36:32 - 2022 List - Loch Lomond 12yo Inchmurrin
38:48 - 2022 List - Craigellachie 13yo
40:25 - 2022 List - Glendronach 12yo
48:40 - 2022 List - CB Orchard House
49:25 - 2022 List - Ardnamurchan AD/
52:51 - 2022 List - Glasshouse Blend (100% malt)
59:30 - Listing off the 2024 challengers
1:00:44 - The Guardian of Islay 2024?
1:12:45 - 2024 entrant - Kilchoman Sanaig
1:21:09 - Replacing the sherry bomb
1:26:24 - 2024 entrant - Thompson Bros. TB/BSW 6yo
1:34:31 - 2024 entrant? - Kilkerran 12yo
1:46:30 - Bonus - a 25yo for £75?
1:50:16 - 2024 entrant - Benromach 10yo vs Glen Garioch 12yo
2:00:32 - Our attitude toward price (as a community)
2:18:05 - The quiz vs chimpanzees 🙈
2:20:04 - Quiz at the End

vPub Live - The Glass Loch (So much whisky) 2024

Aqvavitae 2024-01-26 | The first utterance from me talking about the "Glass Loch" was in a March 2019 vPub and a reflection on my own habits of over-accumulation at the time. An almost inevitable consequence of chasing bottles and flavour, it comes with the territory of being a whisky botherer.

But recent years have exacerbated things beyond what anyone was expecting, this led to extensions on the topic such as the "Are We Hoarding" confessional-style vPub in November 2022, where all my guests stated clearly and loudly - "We have too much, we're becoming more discerning, and we will buy less!".

Despite continuing to visit these topics and drawing further awareness, still, into 2023, we ploughed on. Then, for many of us, the penny dropped. We all have too much.

Over the summer and onto the close out of 2023 we slowed down on our whisky buying, a lot it would seem. To the point it led many retailers to offer incredible discounts and special offers during the Christmas run-up; a time of year where you'd typically expect the opposite. Much implication ensued. To the point one German YouTuber in particular caused something of a splash when he answered "Warum die Scotch Whisky Blase schon geplatzt ist" or "Why the Scotch whiskey bubble has already burst".

This is remarkable because this was from Andre, from Whisky Tales, who happens to also work within whisky and has a very specific perspective of how things are.
I spoke with Andre at the time and we agreed that, after the Christmas and New Year holidays had settled and played out, we'd get together and revisit things and try to draw some conclusions on this, as well as the general health of scotch whisky sales, especially those pointed toward enthusiasts.

Andre will join me this week as we see how things played out over the busy winter break. We'll also cover prices, strategies and the general status of where we, as a community, have declared we are in 2024.

Get involved with this one by answering this short 1-2 minute poll on how much whisky you think is out there - https://forms.gle/47csTaVMZLZG9UVZ7

We hope to welcome you there!

This video was supported by a community poll. We closed the poll after the live broadcast with 905 participants. The poll covered five areas for tonight's topic: Scale, Intent, Motivations, Price and Feelings. The responses are shared throughout with time-stamps available below.

Link to poll participant feedback:
View as a web page - docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vStveZBAwp7gn6EimlT8mtJS4PdyzZlrxnVbrCm7y5UXAFtoL5mJELW6iQO8SkzDcYhcuvEpEbiZKVF/pubhtml?gid=1825124663&single=true
Download as PDF - docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vStveZBAwp7gn6EimlT8mtJS4PdyzZlrxnVbrCm7y5UXAFtoL5mJELW6iQO8SkzDcYhcuvEpEbiZKVF/pub?gid=1825124663&single=true&output=pdf

Link to Andre's Channel - Whisky Tales - youtube.com/@Whisky_Tales

Timestamps:
0:00 - Opening
3:35 - What is The Glass Loch?
8:50 - Welcoming in the lounge
17:40 - Intro to topic
24:25 - Welcoming in Andre from Whisky Tales
41:42 - Scale of The Glass Loch vs Pandemic
47:07 - Poll - Scale (closed after 905 responses)
1:01:49 - Poll - Intent: Why are we buying?
1:05:05 - Feelings - Do you have too many?
1:07:23 - What is happening to your purchase habits?
1:17:40 - Motivations for buying whisky
1:19:50 - How much are you willing to spend?
1:34:21 - How do you feel about the choice available today?
1:40:16 - Huge and impassioned feedback
2:00:21 - Quiz at the End

vPub Live - 2024 Whisky Predictions

Aqvavitae 2024-01-19 | I'm excited to get back behind the bar and kick the doors open on 2024. I should've been back last week, truth be told, but I was glad of the break and I hear it's a healthy thing. Still, I missed it and I'm now desperate to get the vPub back on usual service.

This week we'll kick off our first vPub of the year tradition with a look ahead at what lies in store for us as whisky enthusiasts, and I'll attempt to make some predictions of what we might see.

However, for any of you that might be fooled into considering my words to be wise, we'll have a look back at what I've predicted before and see how many I actually got right.

There's always so much to talk about, but especially right now. There's a general feeling of sea change in whisky and whether that's right or not remains to be seen. There are developments though.

Can't wait to welcome you all there, it's only been three weeks, but already feels too long.

Happy New Year!

vPub Live - The Best of 2023

Aqvavitae 2023-12-29 | Of course, when I say 'Best’ I really mean best according to no one other than me. Isn't that always the way of these things? But don't worry, we'll be able to focus on things much bigger than just one opinion.

I do, however, believe it's been yet another great whisky year. Always different, always interesting and always something new, but we can't take it for granted. When it's good it should be celebrated. It might not always be there and when it's gone, our brain plays nostalgia tricks on us to make us believe it was better than it actually was. There's a lot of pressure on new things to level up to what we believe they should be, often based on nothing more than warm and fuzzy memories. Despite that, 2023 has brought us some really interesting new things.

From there we'll look at my Whisky of the Year, my Producer of the Year and also take a wee wander around the events and moments of 2023 that made it what it was. Not everything was pretty, not everything was something to celebrate, but much of it very much was.

And before I disappear for a few days respite from everything whisky in early January, I'll also bring back, for one session only, Is it a Speyside? Yes, it’s in response to relentless requests and pressure from you, but isn’t that the power of a combined voice?

It'd be a pleasure to welcome you there!

0:00 - Opening
1:22 - Intro to topic
6:04 - Welcoming in the lounge
15:03 - January - Indri Trini - Promiscuity
22:07 - February - Speyburn - Loyalty
27:47 - March - Ardbeg - Islay
38:11 - April - Maclean's Nose - Limburg
49:10 - May - Turntable - Blends
56:16 - June - Loch Lomond - Adaptable producers
1:05:18 - Producer of 2023
1:14:55 - Is it a Speyside? - InWhiskyVeritas
1:26:38 - Is it a Speyside? - Rob Smith
1:32:55 - Is it a Speyside? - Alastair McPhail
1:43:32 - Is it a Speyside? Sniper King Kresimir
1:54:10 - July - Armorik - Mature world malts
2:02:40 - vPub summary of 2023
2:04:32 - August - Glen Garioch - Ignored whiskies
2:09:25 - September - Ardnavitaes - Privilege
2:15:08 - October - Port Charlotte - OSWAs/Legfest
2:23:18 - November - Kilchoman - GWF
2:28:47 - December - Benromach - Community
2:34:55 - Whisky of the Year 2023
2:49:10 - Quiz at the End (of the year)

vPub Live - Christmas Party & Blind Challenge 2023

Aqvavitae 2023-12-22 | On the face of it, this is an easy one for me to tee up. Simply send out a few drams and ask folk to rock up and boom - a vPub. But wow, it's been tough to pull this one together and I'm not fully confident it'll happen. Sickness, trips and the usual postal delays will all have their say in trying to deny our end-of-year fun.

But I say nah! We'll go ahead with it anyway, because while we'll have fun with this like we always do - I have some serious work invested in this flight. This time around, I'll be listening to the feedback very intently. It could directly impact my Whisky of the Year choice on the 28th.

I've selected five well-regarded and often spoken of scotch whiskies, with a view to discovering value for money, surprising flavour and fun sipping. It's up to a team of three pals from WhiskyTube, alongside three from Dramface and a further three in the community lounge, to determine what's what.

As usual, I'll share with you what's in front of them along the way. I really hope you'll don your Christmas jumper and join us there!

Key to tonight's session (and results!) docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vS0xalP7O-7r_XYgVPNhanRTev_eWf5uuLoYpOsfJ3V08uY2fXUhzT3dqiKb0IYP1GWD9mN6yZOIybu/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=10000

0:00 - Opening
1:30 - Intro
4:32 - Welcoming in the lounge
10:05 - Structure & how it works
15:22 - Edinburgh's Ensign Ewart
20:40 - Welcoming Team YouTube
30:04 - Welcoming Team Dramface
38:59 - Welcoming Menno 🇧🇪🍑🎩
44:00 - Sharing the favourites
49:10 - Reading the Challenges
56:52 - Why is blind tasting important?
1:03:47 - Starting local whisky clubs
1:05:54 - Revealing the bottles
1:27:56 - Committing to final placements
1:43:59 - Moment of victory
1:49:06 - Menno's Quiz at the End

vPub Live - Whiskys Prices Crisis - Whats Going On?

Aqvavitae 2023-12-15 | Everywhere we look in our bubble of whisky enjoyment or whisky friends, we read, watch or hear stories of ever-increasing and difficult to understand pricing. Statements of "I've had enough" and "Well, I'm out" in exasperated tones seem to be commonplace. It's easy to see why. I'm often one of those voices.

Many producers are opportunistic, it's true. The more cynical players will see a present demand and they feel like they can charge higher prices while it's there. Who can blame them? They run businesses after all. Some get it right and make lucrative margins while their stock sells fast, while others stumble and fumble. When it's done badly, decent decent liquid is left languishing on shelves due to over-estimation of demand, poor positioning or perhaps a consumer perception of just straight out greed. But there are other factors at play here.

There are current forces driving costs higher for everyone. Challenges such as material shortages, rising material costs, energy costs, higher wages required to attract or retain vital staff, increased taxes, tariffs or duty and of course straight up inflation. It's obvious everywhere, not just in whisky. We hear these claims from producers regularly these days and they’re very real. Often they're used to explain a rise in the costs of the whisky. But, in the end, how does that affect us as whisky botherers? Can we still enjoy things as we once did? Are we about to be priced out? Are we already?

To understand what's happening and to what extent, I decided to delve back into the vPub archive, back to the 'good old days' when things weren't nearly as crazy as they are in 2023. I'll take examples from back then and apply them to today. I’ll consider things from the perspective of a typical whisky botherer and how they might forge forward today - and at what cost.

Together, we can check to see where we are and - as much as possible - compare apples for apples.

For those worried about this being all moaning and drudgery - have faith. It's the vPub and it's December. Let's keep it light, pragmatic and - as always - find the positives. Because, believe it or not, they are there.

Timestamps:
0:00 - Opening
2:40 - Intro to topic
11:44 - Fundraiser in memory of Big Al
13:36 - Welcoming in the lounge
23:40 - Price vs cost of whisky in 2023
28:50 - Recent years in the Whiskyverse
36:20 - A beginners six for £250 - 2020
41:39 - £250 in 2023
48:36 - An overview of the original six
57:25 - Updates for 2023?
1:02:00 - Adapt to save in 2023
1:13:12 - Jarring examples of price hikes
1:29:42 - Anticipating the effects of The Glass Loch
1:43:35 - Quiz at the End

Fundraiser link in memory of Whisky Straight Al / Big Al alanmcveigh.muchloved.com

vPub Live - What the Industry Drinks w/ Connal Mackenzie

Aqvavitae 2023-12-08 | First up, apologies for the slow cadence of this series. This is only the third spin and I did suggest I'd try to do more, but so much whisky stuff to talk about, so few vPubs. Anyway, hopefully this one will be worth waiting for.

Our third guest for this topic will be Adelphi Selection and Ardnamurchan Distillery's Sales Director, Connal Mackenzie. If you've met any of the team at events and hosted tastings across the globe in recent years, there's a good chance it's Connal. While the team at Ardnamurchan continues to grow, Connal has been the main customer-facing face of the Adelphi portfolio since 2018. He's also an unapologetic whisky geek, Barfly and a pal.

He's been in whisky for a while and, like so many of the front line folk, is very aware that his job is often seen as something of a dream role. However it's also a role that can weigh heavy on commitment levels. With pressure to grow brands and product awareness through relentless travel cycles, it's something that can only be enjoyed if there's passion and genuine pride in the product.

Through our usual series of probing questions and examples of what drams he may choose to enjoy in those oh-so-rare moments of downtime, we'll hopefully get to dig a little into what makes him tick. To prompt my thoughts, I'll be drinking from my own wee collection of Ardnamurchans and Adelphis on the night, but Connal can bring along anything he likes, as can you. Expect a wide and varied flight of whisky to match the meandering whisky topics.

As usual with this series; anything goes.

We really look forward to welcoming you there!

Please consider donating in memory of our friend, Big Al : alanmcveigh.muchloved.com

0:00 - Opening
3:32 - Tonight
6:26 - A tribute to Big Al
10:32 - Welcoming in the lounge
14:44 - Welcoming in Connal
20:50 - The road to Ardna
28:36 - The Ardna team & the 'best job'
38:43 - Dram 1: The Permashelf Bottle
45:14 - Added colour in whisky
53:48 - Dram 2: The Crowd Pleaser
1:04:30 - The rising prices in whisky
1:19:32 - vPub scoop #1 Sauternes
1:27:20 - Dram 3: The Decadent Pour
1:37:28 - vPub scoop #2 floor malting at Ardna
1:46:21 - Dram 4: The VIP Pour
1:57:36 - Dram 5: The Attention Grabber
2:07:18 - Pouring for each other
2:08:50 - vPub scoop #3 A Clynelish
2:11:26 - The can be only one
2:17:20 - Quiz at the End

vPub Live - What we taste in whisky with Mark Watt

Aqvavitae 2023-12-01 | Everyone tastes everything in whisky. Or, with an open mind, they eventually will. In my experience, the main reason for whisky's rise in popularity in recent decades has everything to do with that one thing - the pursuit of delicious flavour. The problem is, only some of us get enjoyment from attempting to articulate it. Why is that?

So many folk just accept that they don't get all the things they hear other folk picking out and parsing from their glasses of whisky. Maybe they're happy just to enjoy the flavour, rather than put it into thoughts or words. That's fine. But just like discovering a new whisky, discovering new ways to enjoy whisky is something you can do, right now, without spending a penny more on it.

It really is great fun. When I'm in a group and we're sitting in a pub somewhere, we'll have a laugh at ourselves as we tease out fruit, food and tree bark from our drams. We'll often get the side-eye from other folks sitting close by, but that, to me, is just an invite to evangelise. You see, I remember what it was like to hear these tasting notes and I always thought it was pretentious as hell. It often was.

That vision of a gentlemanly type in a tweed waistcoat swirling a glass of liquid and pulling out scalpel-sharp notes of this and that really is a wee bit off-putting. It leaves you with the sense that it requires training, know-how and an exclusive skill set. Without those, don't bother, just listen. That's a barrier to enjoyment. That's not how it should be and I don't think that's how it is today.

We're becoming far more relaxed about saying what we find; whether it's an aroma, a memory, foodstuffs, chemicals or anything at all that helps us put the experience into shareable words. Truly, there are no rules and if we genuinely taste it, we should be able to say it. You truly can taste anything in whisky.

But what about shapes? What about frequencies? What about textures? Specifically, for this week - what about colours?

This week I'll be joined by the charismatic Mark Watt for a relaxed whisky chat. After an illustrious career here and there, most notably years at Cadenhead's, Mark is today at the helm of The Campbeltown Whisky Co. and Watt Whisky with his wife Kate. We'd spoken about an appearance a wee while back and all that was needed was a topic to bite into. Then I remembered the reason for all the different colours of Watt Whisky bottlings - one of Mark's descriptors is usually always a colour. He tastes… colour.

Now, I'm not saying that he has a diagnosed case of synesthesia, but it sounds a lot like that to me. I myself often find a whisky present as a certain colour, I know of others who feel the same way, specifically Dougie Crystal of Dramface fame. All of this made me think, let's run a wee test - for fun.

I've sent out some samples for this week. The Alchemists team did an amazing job at this year's Blind Challenge in Glasgow, blowing everyone away with a score that'll be tough to beat, ever. As a reward I sent them all a set of four samples for a play-along-sip-along. Mark has a set too. All I'm going to ask is that they taste through four random drams and, if possible, assign a colour to each. I'll do the same.

Will we find consensus? Of course not, but it's a fun way to draw attention to tasting notes, relax a bit and have fun with them as we hear from Mark and his whisky trials over the years.

If you like, bring along a dram and as you consider what's in the glass, don't just describe what colour it is - ask yourself if it tastes like a colour. I really hope to welcome you there!

0:00 - Opening
2:01 - Focus for tonight
8:32 - Welcoming in the lounge
14:12 - Consumption & Awareness
16:40 - Welcoming in Mark Watt
33:12 - Watt Whisky thus far
37:00 - Kate & Mark the team
41:55 - Macallan broke my house
47:56 - Sipping unicorns
55:05 - Marketing flannel?
1:03:52 - Blind set from Mark
1:23:16 - Synesthesia vs reference
1:37:01 - Blind 1 - Indri Drú
1:40:07 - Blind 2 - Tomatin 18yo
1:43:33 - Blind 3 - Port Charlotte 10yo
1:48:33 - Blind 4 - Glasgow PX/Peated CS
1:51:23 - Slowing down and tasting
2:05:58 - Any consensus?
2:20:40 - Quiz at the End

Link to slides and key: docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSjt9Gi1dBZPY_EIjTs1XH93T8Ckdd7guUk4kfActBH5JHnHjXD_1Rk6Eizp3VZLUwGVCA2TvPqCy7Z/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=5000

vPub Live - Premium Pours & 6 Years of the vPub

Aqvavitae 2023-11-24 | Over the last six years, the vPub has been focused on where the value lies in whisky. It's great when we find a bargain and there's nothing better to share. However, as we often remind ourselves, 'value' doesn't mean cheap. That's never been truer than today.

As we approach that time of year where we'll maybe consider indulging ourselves or pushing the boat out a little for something with a venerable age statement or perhaps a loved distillery, and maybe we'll consider spending a little more for a 'treat' whisky. Yet, as we browse the bricks and mortar shelves and the online search engines, we discover our money doesn't really go very far these days.

What we once paid for a nice twenty-plus year age statement distillery bottling is now only able to bring something closer to 16, 17 or perhaps 18 years old. We heave a sigh but try to settle ourselves that it's scotch whisky's 'sweet spot'. So what to buy?

Well, to celebrate six years of whatever this is, I've been adding bottles to a 'nice stuff' stash. The most recent arrival to the bunch is Arran's 17 year old limited edition. I'll slide it alongside two other 17 year olds in the shape of Craigellachie's official release and a limited Balvenie "Week of Peat" that's still floating around. I'll also have a go at two official 18 year releases to see if any of these are able to compete or budge my WOTY Ledaig 18yo off the permashelf.

Why? Well, if you are going to treat yourself this year, I'll do my best to determine where I think the value lies. All the while I get to indulge myself and give thanks for six years of amazing hang outs with all of you beautiful whisky folk and dedicated Barflies.

And this won't be an uncorking. I'm getting to know these beauties now, ahead of time. This’ll be a review. I'll share all on Thursday. If you're in the mood to celebrate with me, bring something treat-worthy along too. It would be amazing to celebrate with you. Thank you all.

0:00 - Opening
3:21 - The vPub - Six years in
4:56 - Tonight's topic
8:21 -Welcoming in the lounge
21:32 - Tonight's bottles & benchmarks
27:12 - Visualising 18yo prices in 2023
39:07 - Whyte & Mackay's strategy
42:26 - Arran's new 17yo
53:32 - Craigellachie 17yo
59:56 - A word on Dramface.com
1:04:43 - Tomatin 18yo
1:10:03 - A word on Kilchoman 16yo
1:20:00 - Old Pulteney 18yo
1:28:08 - Balvenie Peat Week 17yo
1:36:40 - Longmorn 18yo (again!)
1:53:04 - Some vPub stats
2:06:59 - Quiz at the End

vPub Live - Cask Strength 2023 - New Releases and Growth

Aqvavitae 2023-11-17 | With December just around the corner maybe we're looking forward to settling down with something warming for winter? Looking at the shelves of what's new and what's interesting, perhaps we'll therefor be tempted by something with a little oomph

Once the preserve of independents, specialists or single casks, official distillery releases of fully dialled-up expressions are becoming commonplace. These days, it seems, if you're range doesn't have an amped-up, full-strength version - it's not really a 'range', is it?

Well, yes, and no.

You see, with retail shelves struggling to cope with the sheer variety of bottlings available at this time of year one of the questions we need to ask is - do we really need it? Surely the distilleries know the best ABV for their whiskies and that's what they offer us? Yes? Well...

I think, as enthusiasts, we very quickly discover the magic of a higher ABV and it's potency for bringing flavour and, almost ironically, helping us to slow down and ponder. Sip, by tiny sip, we can decide where we're getting the most fun and set the 'temperature' just right.

So, with the perceived demand of these higher ABV releases, we're seeing more and more available. So much so that, as predicted, this has become an annual November vPub fixture. And, truth be told, I have more bottles than is appropriate to uncork in a single sitting. We're spoilt for choice and, in recent weeks, it's been too easy to roll into my local retailer and take my pick. Let's see if any of them are worthy of that shelf space and - more importantly - the similarly amped up price.

I'll work out what's what and share the final bottles on the night, we'll still be able to get through a few!

Hope to welcome you there!

0:00 - Opening
3:20 - Almost recovered from GWF
5:30 - Welcoming in the lounge
17:08 - Coming next year?
18:26 - A Thank you to the GWF team
20:04 - Bunnahabhain CS 2022/2023
29:55 - A run through of tonight's whiskies
32:48 - Benromach Cask Strength
43:38 - The growth of Cask Strength
53:02 - Kilkerran CS 2023 Bourbon
1:02:19 - Clydeside - saved for another day
1:02:56 - Indri Drú Cask Strength
1:23:21 - Ardnamurchan CS 2023
1:34:34 - Torabhaig Allt Gleann CS
1:45:20 - Arran's Quarter Cask
1:53:25 - Summarising
1:57:17 - My Wish List for CS Releases
2:08:12 - Quiz at the End

Dramface GWF article: dramface.com/features/2023/glasgow-whisky-festival-2023

vPub Live - Post OSWAs Reflections and Confessions

Aqvavitae 2023-11-10 | I'm really hoping you're not all 'OSWA'd out'. I almost ditched this topic - even though I teased it last week - because I was feeling it's time the OSWAs were tidied up and placed in a holding pattern once more, at least until next year that is. But, of course, I can't.

Throughout the OSWAs we generate so much data and get so much feedback, that to not place some focus on it now would be wasteful. We need to use the moment to improve and refine - especially while it's fresh in the mind.

Separating the Aqvavitae channel and the OSWAs is difficult, so I hope you'll indulge me in this final session on the topic before we pack things up until next year, however I will add an Aqvavitae spin on things.

Ralfy and I enjoyed a debrief yesterday, and overall we're very happy with how things went this year - at least the things we could control. There were bloopers, but they were small or difficult to spot and the feedback has been unanimously super supportive. But I think we can continue to reflect and tweak, which I'll touch upon, but I'm also thinking about the scope of the thing, holistically.

What is it trying to achieve? What's it actually achieving and how has that affected me, my whisky and the Aqvavitae channel? Because it has.

Even to the point it has encouraged me to buy additional whisky this year which I didn't think I needed. But, according to thousands of you, I do. At the very least I need to be aware of them. And, for the folk who care about my take, investigate and consider them. So, three bottles snagged. See if you can guess which three nominees I went for.

Time to share. Yes, I do think 'confess' is too strong a word, but I'll bet it's more effective on that YouTube thumbnail!

0:00 - Opening
2:01 - Scope of topic
5:33 - Welcoming in the lounge
16:08 - Festival weekend
20:18 - The OSWAs are there to drive sales?
22:22 - The OSWAs are not for you
32:52 - The effect on me
35:55 - Uncorking - James Eadie Trade Mark X
42:45 - Motivation & FOMO
48:54 - It's so predictable(?)
57:28 - Uncorking - WT Rare Breed
1:08:28 - The 'secret' core contributors?
1:17:38 - Uncorking - Blue Spot 7yo
1:26:55 - Improvements for 2024?
1:29:15 - The 'lost' OSWA vignette
1:34:24 - Adding to the contributor pool
1:40:58 - Uncorking - Kilchoman Sanaig
1:56:34 - Change nothing(?)
1:59:40 - A sneek peak at the submissions
2:08:42 - Quiz at the End

Link to OSWA vignette compilation: youtu.be/ZxP9AJPNQbE?si=rqGT5IGJyJn9C9qm

Join the initiative here: oswa.co.uk/contributors

Link to Two Whisky Bothers Aqvavitae Ardnamurchan Review: twowhiskybros.co.uk/blogs/blog/ardnamurchan-ad-04-16-ck-411-ardnamurchan-ad-04-16-ck-413 as mentioned by @Lowlander

All OSWA Vignettes 2023 Plus Lost, Plus Bonus, Plus Links

Aqvavitae 2023-11-06 | Due to a sudden gust of stupidity - on Roy's part, one of the vignette segments was lost in Saturday's OSWAs Winners Ceremony broadcast. This is bad. Lots of effort goes into this from everyone and when time is taken to record and submit these, they should be shared. So all 32 vignettes from this year's ceremony are shared here. Including the missing vignettes form First Phil Whisky, The Bon Accord and The Single Malt Review. To make it up to everyone, we have also included a bonus vignette by the master of whisky fun Jim Ingram from Whiskey Novice, which was considered too naughty for the livestream 😉

Catch the full ceremony here (dram recommended) youtube.com/live/46KFN53c18g?si=_EvQDvsaYhM6Oh2a

Links to all:
The Whisky Vault youtube.com/@UCElm866_W5r1eg8VjhFNARw
Honest to a Malt Podcast honesttoamalt.com
Malt Reviews youtube.com/@maltreviews/videos
Cultura Del Whisky youtube.com/@UC-leINDWeOfxiwGHOGrhWbg
Just Whisky youtube.com/channel/UCazQp27Ati5O_T9i6sT9Log
Todo Whisky todowhisky.es
Drams on Deck youtube.com/@UCYr-EBiH_dfqgo4SDULatkQ
No Nonsense Whisky youtube.com/@UCjYHDKONtK2YfrSEIGJ6qdA
Kanpai Planet youtube.com/c/KanpaiPlanet/featured
Whisky Sisters Podcast whiskysisterspodcast.com
Killco Whiskey Musings youtube.com/c/KillCoWhiskeyMusings/videos
The Whisky Enthusiast youtube.com/@UCAISx7ycB3BkPOsgYwqOyUQ
First Phil Whisky youtube.com/c/FirstPhilWhisky
The Bon Accord bonaccordpub.com
The Single Malt Review youtube.com/c/TheSingleMaltReview
Me, My Wife & Whisky memywifeandwhisky.com
Tito Whisky youtube.com/@UC7n-l9qU6ELecBxZDgOS7Zw
Malt Daddy youtube.com/@UCCyWM8dnd7QXio0_xzBT88g
WhiskyJason youtube.com/@UCHGSDNjDyhBBO6XpF3SqYOA
Whisky on the West Coast youtube.com/@UCD2RA_O7pvfmUKSR8F1qiaw
Whisky is a Journey youtube.com/@UC21ilgVY_DjaRA6QGm3wK8Q
Whisky Shared youtube.com/@UCPKQ2omKPiJIwh_yS_mmxfg
Menno's Malty Mission maltymission.wixsite.com/whiskyblog
Jeff Whisky youtube.com/c/JeffWhisky
Whisky Lock youtube.com/@WhiskyLock
McIntyre's Malts youtube.com/@McIntyresMalts/about
Sippers Social Club youtube.com/@SippersSocialClub
The Whiskey Novice youtube.com/@WhiskeyNovice
Whisky Lover's Society youtube.com/@WhiskyLoversSociety
Malt Review malt-review.com

OSWAs 2023 - The Online Scotch Whisky Awards Winners Ceremony 2023

Aqvavitae 2023-11-04 | Join Roy and Ralfy as we gather to reveal the winners of the 2023 Online Scotch Whisky Awards.

We share the winners for each of the nine categories in 2023 as well as the Top 10 People's Choice.

See you there! 6pm UK time, 4th November, 2023.

Here's the missing vignette - with apologies to Phil at First Phil, Thomas at The Bon Accord and Tim & Dave at the Single Malt Review!
youtu.be/hcAmfShjTyI

0:00 - Opening
1:11 - Welcome & structure
4:48 - Welcoming in Ralfy
9:05 - Refinements for 2023
12:48 - Who voted?
20:44 - Best Value Whisky
34:24 - People's Choice & vote split
43:21 - Best Blended Whisky
50:14 - People's Choice & vote split
1:01:44 - Best Blended Malt
1:14:31 - People's Choice and vote split
1:21:10 - Best Non-Malt Whisky
1:28:44 - People's Choice & vote split
1:34:52 - Best Distillery
1:46:50 - People's Choice & vote split
1:54:55 - Best New Distillery
2:13:34 - Late visit from Thompson Bros
2:23:25 - People's Choice & vote split
2:31:12 - Best Independent Bottler
2:45:00 - People's Choice & vote split
2:52:38 - Best World Whisky
2:59:10 - People's Choice & vote split
3:07:10 - Best Scotch Whisky
3:24:18 - People's Choice & vote split
3:30:34 - Participant survey responses

vPub Live - The State of Whisky w/ Ingvar Ronde

Aqvavitae 2023-11-03 | This will be Ingvar's third appearance behind the bar at the vPub. Each time he appears it's a treat for me. His wide view of whisky and its evolution over the last twenty or so years always makes his viewpoints interesting.

That's the thing about guests who are whisky enthusiasts at heart; they can discuss anything in whisky. I'll also go one further with Ingvar, his work over nineteen editions of his Malt Whisky Yearbook gives him an insight that I believe must be pretty unique. When you think about it, you may consider him an archivist, an author, a data collator and perhaps even a content creator. Whatever you consider him, in my view he's created the best serial publication in whisky and one I can't be without. And over the last two decades, incidentally, it has catalogued shifts in whisky that would have been impossible to predict.

Yet, I think there's something missing. We don't really get much details about the author himself, or indeed, his own personal opinions. It seems it's his place to deliver information on behalf of others. I hope to focus on that: What's Ingvar's take?

In the 2024 Yearbook, just released a month or so ago, he posed a set of questions to six whisky Hall of Fame inductees entitled The State of Whisky. In this vPub I'll use those very questions and point them at Ingvar to discover what he thinks about the state of whisky in 2023.

As always, I look forward to welcoming you there!

0:00 - Opening
2:55 - Intro to topic
4:10 - Welcoming in the lounge
16:55 - Welcoming Ingvar & the MWYB
31:17 - MWYB Qs: The State of Whisky
36:35 - Why whisky?
42:57 - How to bring in new whisky fans?
59:46 - Good whisky, and bad?
1:05:58 - Enough innovation?
1:14:33 - Is whisky investment good?
1:22:59 - Do enthusiasts matter?
1:36:48 - World whisky's effect
1:48:59 - Ingvar the Barfly
1:52:32 - Quiz at the End

vPub Live - Completely NEW Whiskies

Aqvavitae 2023-10-19 | These are not new releases, that's something I rarely do. I think what we have in the line-up for this vPub is something a little more thought provoking, a little more compelling.

The six whiskies lined up for uncorking this week are all on the theme of something more than just new releases, they are the first releases of a completely new whisky, each and every one of them. That is, before these releases, they previously didn't exist.

We have the first release from Harris (optimistically named batch 00003), Billy Walker's new Glenallachie sourced Meikle Tòir; all three of the standard 48% ABV releases of The Sherry, The Chinkapin and The Original. We also have the brand new and very interesting ‘Arrival’ from Holyrood Distillery in Edinburgh alongside the interesting and premiumised-at-birth Ryelaw from Inchdairnie.

This will be an interesting uncorking and first impression session, because I feel like these are more than new releases and new whiskies, I think they could be harbingers of scotch whisky's future.

I hope to welcome you there!

0:00 - Opening
1:57 - Brief intro to topic
4:28 - Last chance to vote in the OSWAs
7:08 - Welcoming in the lounge
14:23 - Some OSWA points
34:33 - The Hearach - Isle of Harris
54:45 - Meikle Tòir Trio
1:27:48 - Holyrood Arrival
1:44:40 - Inchdairnie's Ryelaw
2:04:00 - Brand and choice fatigue
2:12:33 - Quiz at the end

OSWA Vote: oswa.co.uk/publicpoll2023

vPub Live - The 2023 OSWAs - Whats Missing + Q&A

Aqvavitae 2023-10-13 | It's the time of year where much of the typical vPub content is scratched, pushed-out and off-limits.
While we're mid-vote for the 2023 public OSWA nominations, I can hardly be seen to be favouring any brands or bottles.

I really doubt if anyone is naive enough to fall for such things and even if they were, I think we sometimes overestimate the influence of an individual. However I'd prefer that it's not even a consideration.

So, for these few weeks, I'll avoid vPub content that discusses topics or bottles relating to nominees. There are only two sessions left anyway; the vote closes on the 22nd October, so I should be able to manage that. But I will take the opportunity to talk about the OSWAs themselves.

In the past, I've used Q&A sessions to get across the concept and how it works, so no need for such a session again this year, after all, not much has changed. However, with each new vote entrant, there's the option for anyone to ask questions or give feedback. A great believer in not generating data unless you're going to use it, I'll tackle some of that during this session, but I'd also like to highlight some of the possibilities I personally feel have been missed.

We all can't have it our way, the nominations represent more than any one voice, channel or commenter, they are sourced from many. Through this sometimes brutal process, I think some things inevitably fall through the cracks.

So, given that they have been missed - they're fair game. I can mention them. I'll pick a few and share. I bet you have your own surprise omissions. Why not bring them along and share them too?

Really looking forward to seeing you there!

Timestamps:
0:00 - Opening
2:44 - Scope of topic
8:02 - Welcoming in the Barflies
13:48 - Let's speak loudly about the OSWAs
19:50 - GWF gathering deets
23:30 - The trouble with the OSWAs
27:33 - Best Value Missing
45:05 - Best Blended Missing
54:46 - Best Blended Malt Missing
1:06:55 - OSWA Trifecta
1:15:30 - Best Non-malt Missing
1:21:58 - YouTube Echo-chamber
1:24:12 - Best Distillery missing
1:30:25 - Best Indy Bottler Missing
1:38:35 - Best World Whisky Missing
1:49:19 - Best New Distillery Missing
1:57:07 - Brand saturation
2:02:05 - Best Scotch Whisky Missing
2:20:41 - Quiz at the End

Please head over and participate in the vote! oswa.co.uk/publicpoll2023

Glasgow Whisky Festival. Link for your bus fares: pay.collctiv.com/gwf-bus-to-akbars-11-nov-2023-67596?utm_source=collctiv&utm_medium=app&fbclid=IwAR2nHUtfbA-od_BbABx1taBQ56HUUol9A-yypga3zkPzepU8kZINN-pJsv8

vPub Live - An Independent Mindset, with David Stirk

Aqvavitae 2023-10-05 | This isn't a vPub about independent bottling. Well, a little, but when we have a guest like David available, we need to big-picture things a bit.

With over two decades working in various roles within whisky, David has a rare ability to be able to pivot and discuss so many facets of whisky's changing outlook and challenges that to simply have him as a guest for a focused topic, I think would be wasteful.

Rather than considering a single angle or issue, I'd rather use David's experience to cover many things relevant to us and whisky in 2023 and how it's changing. We can do this by considering an adaptable, open and wide-ranging mindset instead.

The independence angle can cover entrepreneurial independent thinking as well as interesting independent businesses in whisky, and we'll use it as such. However, if it's a fixed mindset, it can also be limiting. Sometimes, we need to be able to spot where independence can be restrictive and imagine where openness and collaboration could be more potent.

In 2023, when whisky has more stocks, brands and distilleries than at any other time, things might seem exciting. But with this diversity comes fragmentation and complexity, and when so many brands are trying to become established and vie for mindshare, things can get confusing, even for invested enthusiasts.

I'll be asking David for his thoughts on how we navigate the choice and increased cost of entry we see today, as well as consider how we might manage our whisky choices in the future. I'll also explore whisky's general health, the risks ahead and ask if there's anyone with meaningful authority out there who actually cares?

0:00 - Opening
2:28 - LegFest gratitude
8:48 - Welcoming in the lounge
15:53 - The Bastard's Ball - my apologies
17:00 - The OSWAs - time to vote
21:21 - Welcoming in David Stirk
25:15 - Does David even like whisky?
26:30 - That first dram
28:33 - David's whisky life to date
34:10 - Whisky is the world's best spirit?
41:25 - Book - Independent Scotch
46:15 - The end of independent bottling?
1:00:00 - Too many brands!
1:13:00 - Premiumisation is the way to go?
1:31:00 - Is collaboration the answer?
1:54:28 - Quiz at the End

David's Book: thegoodspiritsco.com/books/42692-independent-scotch---the-history-of-independent-bottlers-by-david-stirk.html
Vote in the OSWAS: oswa.co.uk/publicpoll2023

vPub Live - An Evening with Francis Cuthbert & Daftmill

Aqvavitae 2023-09-28 | Once upon a time there was a farmer who liked whisky...

You know how the story goes... or do you? For many, the difficulty in finding or even seeing a bottle of Daftmill makes it a story of diminished interest; what's the point if you can't ever try the whisky, right? Well, these things were never designed. They are a product of whisky in 2023.

This barley-growing farmer started his project over two decades ago when the current whisky boom was barely a green shoot. With only two, and occasionally three, distilleries in the Lowlands he decided to build something pretty brave. A farm distillery in Fife.

This potentially crazy idea took hold and Daftmill started to lay down spirit in 2005, what has followed since has produced, in whisky circles, and enigmatic legend.

Do I mean the malt, or the farmer. I think both. Let's see. I hope you'll join myself and Francis, to discuss all things Daftmill and whisky this week, usual time, 21:45.

0:00 - Opening
2:08 - Why the Oldest New Distillery?
4:10 - Welcoming in the lounge
11:43 - Legfest details - 30th September, Glasgow
13:27 - OSWAs encouragement
17:04 - Welcoming in Francis
20:03 - Francis the Barfly
21:42 - Daftmill's founding & scarcity
25:28 - Francis the hard-working whisky fan
28:20 - The farming year vs barley
35:44 - Golden promise and in-house malting?
40:14 - New 2023/24 Summer 2011 Batch Release
42:00 - Cask play at Daftmill
46:44 - The estery side and fermentation
48:32 - Increasing capacity
51:44 - Continued demand & Anti-marketing
1:00:00 - Which bourbon casks?
1:03:06 - Peated Daftmill?
1:07:10 - Unofficial Facebook Group Single Cask
1:13:40 - Daftmill 18yo?
1:17:27 - Daftmill 2006 Winter/2018 uncorking
1:20:44 - Francis' favourites & the 15yo release
1:32:28 - Finishes for Daftmill?
1:37:04 - No visitor centre
1:39:38 - Should he have built Daftmill?
1:44:32 - Daftmill Quiz at the End

The Online Scotch Whisky Awards 2023 - Live Nominations Show

Aqvavitae 2023-09-23 | The votes are in. The nominations for the 2023 OSWAs are locked in.

There are nine categories all celebrating the best in whisky from the perspective of the global online scotch whisky community.

Each category will showcase six nominations selected by over sixty collaborative contributors.

Join Roy & Ralfy this coming Saturday 23rd September at 18:00 U.K. time to discover what will be put forward to public voting in 2023.

After this, it's over to you...

oswa.co.uk/publicpoll2023

Apologies for audio - it wasn't at our side this time. We think it's a software issue, hope it's not too distracting.

0:00 - Opening
18:42 - A summary of how the OSWAs work
24:10 - Some details and changes for 2023
32:38 - 1. Best Value Whisky
40:41 - 2. Best Blended Whisky
50:22 - 3. Best Blended Malt
1:00:00 - 4. Best Non-malt
1:04:50 - 5. Best Distillery
1:15:10 - 6. Best New Distillery
1:20:27 - 7. Best Independent Bottler
1:28:51 - 8. Best World Whisky
1:39:15 - 9. Best Scotch Whisky

vPub Live - More Than Just Scotch. 5 Serious Pretenders.

Aqvavitae 2023-09-21 | We're in that tricky period where so much of the vPub topic content is wiped off the table due to the Online Scotch Whisky Awards. As co-host, it just wouldn't do to have anything that could see me potentially 'lead' any voting in any direction in these now annual OSWAs, so best to avoid for a bit and get creative elsewhere.

Occasionally, as you may know, my flavour-chasing and general whisky promiscuity sees me dabble outside of the Scottish scene. Despite being widely accepted as the star atop the whisky tree, scotch is under ever-increasing competition from other whisky producing nations and the days of new and naive whiskies being scoffed at are long, long gone. Some of the 'world' whiskies - as we like to clumsily refer to them from our scotch perch - are proving that they know their way around a whisky still. The funny thing is, in 2023, a lot of them are mature, very mature.

So, while it might not be your first pick as a vPub topic, know that these are serious whiskies, either due to their long-established history or their building reputation in the eyes of the global whisky botherer. And anyway, isn't it interesting if someone is keeping an occasional eye on the pretenders to the tree-top in global whisky?

Because, every once in a while, we either reassure ourselves that scotch is still got what it takes, or - worst case scenario - we find some serious alternatives to keep our glasses charged with the good stuff. In 2023 that's ever more important.

Wherever it comes from.

0:00 - Opening & overview
3:55 - Where tonight's whiskies are from
6:51 - The OSWAs Nominations
9:20 - Welcoming in the lounge
18:48 - Starting with a scotch 13yo
26:01 - Starting in Tasmania
28:30 - 1. Lark Classic Cask 43% AUD$200
43:20 - Heading to Japan - Yoichi
46:26 - 2. Nikka Miyagikyo 45% £79
59:43 - Ireland's Single Pot Still
1:02:20 - 3. Method & Madness French Chestnut
1:14:10 - 4. Canada time - Macaloney's Glenloy CS
1:32:02 - 5. New Zealand - Cardrona Growing Wings
1:46:30 - 6. Mature Brazilian malt whisky?
2:06:10 - Quiz at the End 🍑🎩

OSWAs Nominations Show - Saturday 23rd September 6pm UK
youtube.com/live/ZyhiIwl9X3I?si=rolwf_qQf_Tj-X9W

OSWAs Q&A with First Phil youtube.com/live/vOhRcXQdEoA?si=fLc57LG_05RR4lqR

vPub Live - Whisky Innovators - These Things Are New

Aqvavitae 2023-09-15 | Innovation is a thrown around term, I know, but I hope in this context I mean it in the true sense of the word.

"Innovation" in whisky has always been around, but we're seeing a quickening; often born from necessity but sometimes from pure playfulness and whimsy. All with a serious, and often very interesting, outcome.

It's happening everywhere, but this is the vPub. It would be best to focus, for this session at least, on what things are happening inside the scotch realm and what it means for us as chasers of flavour and new experiences.

You can play with literally anything in whisky and push things to the extreme, while still working within the definitions that keep scotch whisky "scotch". Think barley types, think malting, fermentation, distillation and certainly every way to slice maturation. Even then, think about when it's time for the whisky to be put together. With skilled hands it can be amazing, add a little innovation and it can be interesting too.

This week, I've saved up a few really quite different takes on some of the processes listed above to share with you. I believe it's only in the current whisky climate that these things can come to be. These are more than just new expressions, these are new takes on whisky. Innovative takes, and very interesting too.

I'd love to welcome you there.

Timestamps:
0:00 - Opening
0:21 - Brief
2:11 - Overview of topic
5:18 - Welcoming in the lounge
13:41 - The Legfest Gathering Sept 30th
20:15 - Knowledgeable whisky folk
26:40 - Blends facing positive disruption?
31:30 - Turntable Blending House
51:52 - Loch Lomond's experiments
1:07:32 - Getting geekier - Wireworks
1:28:40 - Geekier still - Benromach Contrasts
1:59:10 - The Quiz at the End

vPub Live - Whiskies I Ignore Pt. 5

Aqvavitae 2023-09-07 | The Ignored. Part 5? I know. It seems as if I must ignore a lot.
Way back at the beginning of this series, in early 2021, I read out a list of distilleries I felt I'd been ignoring and pledged to get through them. Well, it's taken five episodes and two and a half years, but we're getting there.
To be clear, these are not distilleries that fly under-the-radar due to a lack of official releases, nor are they hidden gems that are loved but not shared. They are well-known and very famous releases that somehow don't get a lot or vPub airtime. I'd also suggest they're not high on the list of most other creators and commenters out there.
Regardless, this is my list and my reasons and you may be surprised by this batch.
What if I told you one of them was once my absolute favourite scotch malt distillery? Or what if I told you another soundly beat a Springbank for Dram of the Night at our local Glasgow Whisky Club? These two sit alongside the UK's best selling malt whisky, a fully natural eastern highlander and an expression from one of the most traditional and unique distilleries in Scotland - yet all are, thus far, left in the vPub shadows.
We'll explore what and why this week.
Really hope to welcome you there!

Timestamps:
0:00 - Opening
0:18 - Brief
6:10 - Welcoming in the lounge
15:18 - Legfest 30th September
17:12 - Ardnamurchan Release
20:05 - Highland Park
26:48 - Highland Park 15yo
48:05 - Working at Springbank
52:53 - Jura & thier 18yo
1:12:48 - Glenfarclas & their 15yo
1:23:43 - Glenrothes & the Whisky Maker's Cut
1:38:38 - Glen Garioch & their 12yo
1:46:45 - The ABV barrier?
1:57:00 - About the quiz thing
1:59:28 - Quiz at the end

vPub Live - Live from Springbank

Aqvavitae 2023-08-31 | Live from the Washback Bar at Springbank with tales of missing whisky and a far more long-term minded view of whisky making.

vPub Live - New Season with Ralfy & 2023 OSWAs Announcement

Aqvavitae 2023-08-25 | How many years before something becomes a tradition?

I'll suggest three is enough. Ralfy joins once more to help us kick off the vPub Thursday sessions once more with your questions, my questions and the announcement of the Online Scotch Whisky Awards 2023 - also in its third year!

Needless to say I've missed you all and I'm very much looking forward to getting back behind the bar again!

0:00 - Opening
4:50 - Welcoming in the lounge
7:36 - Glasgow Whisky Festival
9:04 - LegFest September 30th Glasgow
10:58 - What I've been up to Ardnamurchan
13:50 - Springbank next week
18:14 - Tonight's format
20:59 - Welcoming Ralfy
33:08 - Regional Favourites?
48:02 - Madeira casks for whisky?
53:26 - Ralfy's plans for 1000th review?
56:50 - More taxes in the UK?
1:00:16 - What's Ralfy drinking and home 'maturation' and blending
1:09:02 - Does the industry watch us?
1:22:56 - Ralfy has dropped his scoring?
1:32:05 - Pick a good £40 - £50 for everyone?
1:35:16 - Are we seeing cooling of prices?
1:42:01 - Building towards the OSWAs 2023
1:51:43 - OSWA 2023 dates
1:57:02 - Ralfy in a tux?
2:05:22 - Quiz at the End & lots more chat!

oswa.co.uk

Recycled Reviews 17 - 15 (or so) Whiskies reviewed in 30 minutes

Aqvavitae 2023-08-10 | This will be the shortest Recycled Review wait ever. I made the most of amassing 30 bottles, so attempted two back-to-back. Let's see how it goes!

Since you all waited so long for RR16, I tried to be efficient this summer and record two back-to-back. Now back from my summer slumber, I've knocked this scrappy effort together as best I can in order to bring some additional content during the channel's quiet summer weeks. It might not be technically polished, but these reviews rarely are and I hope, as usual, you can roll with the messy symptoms of recording outside and being bereft of videography skills.
Remember, it's always only one man's opinion.

See below for a list of links to other reviewers for extra opinion on the bottles shared here. Here's the link to the spreadsheet with all the scores and links included: https://rb.gy/hz735

If you're enjoying the lack of ads on this video, please say thanks to, or consider joining, the Barflies who clicked the "JOIN" button on this video to access the cool whisky-themed channel exclusive emojis and badges, as well as keeping this video ad-free.

The Aqvavitae channel is community funded and fully independent. My patrons are amazing. You can support this content and encourage it to thrive by joining my Patreon community here - this is how I exist: patreon.com/aqvavitae

Like independent whisky opinion? Here's the other link you're looking for: dramface.com

Timestamps:
0:00 - Opening
1:13 - Glasgow 1770 Peated
3:22 - High Coast Älv
5:29 - Speyburn 15yo
7:23 - Port Charlotte 10yo
8:58 - Daftmill 2008 Summer Release (2019)
11:37 - Glen Moray Madeira Cask Project
13:13 - Kilkerran 16yo
14:33 - Old Perth Cask Strength Sherry Cask
16:03 - Kilchoman Sanaig
17:41 - Ardbeg Corryvreckan
19:40 - Balcones Mirador 23mths
21:25 - A word on scoring
23:03 - Bulleit Bourbon
24:03 - Teaninich Flora & Fauna 10yo
26:32 - Arran 14yo
28:32 - Yoichi NAS32:48 - Bonus bottles

Other opinions in WhiskyTube and beyond:

Glasgow 1770 Peated
No Nonsense Whisky - youtu.be/JOCVglWFir8
John's Drams - youtu.be/dXajVwFAOI8
Whisky Lover's Society. - youtu.be/0Y-Hic8Ew8oMalt - malt-review.com/2022/11/08/glasgow-1770-peated

High Coast Älv
Whisky Shared - youtu.be/Bs9ZYIZgEl8

Speyburn 15yo
GWhisky - youtu.be/9f13ksvGP6M
Ralfy - youtu.be/fKWPJ7OWVqg
The Whisky Friend - youtu.be/dqzK782HS00
No Nonsense Whisky - youtu.be/kFf-hoOQFAg
Dramface - dramface.com/all-reviews/2022/speyburn-15yoMalt (2017) - malt-review.com/2017/12/03/speyburn-15-year-old

Port Charlotte 10yo
Ralfy - youtu.be/DCVmHaV079M
Malt (2018) - malt-review.com/2018/06/17/port-charlotte-10-years-old-2018
GWhisky - youtu.be/TmwWnc3uRHo
Dramface - dramface.com/all-reviews/port-charlotte-comparison

Daftmill
Whisky Whims - youtu.be/ClO2llITnb0

Glen Moray Madeira Project
WhiskyJason - youtu.be/OdGj9YX3HjoRalfy - youtu.be/MqU6Va_pfuA

Kilkerran 16yo
Dramface - dramface.com/all-reviews/2022/kilkerran-16yo-2021
Ralfy - youtu.be/PQEMx7GX3es
The Whisky Friend - youtu.be/-o1s7CMt5ok
Whisky in the 6 - youtu.be/VOAWLOOsT9I
The Malt Activist - youtu.be/2mTpEpdttRM
Sippers Social Club - youtu.be/bH2aLhanSGU

Old Perth CS Sherry
Whisky Neighbour - youtu.be/J79F7IIpUJw
KevinGrantOnWhisky - youtu.be/ARjcj58sElk & youtu.be/jESHMGi-Ro4
Malt - malt-review.com/2021/04/22/old-perth-and-mac-talla

Kilchoman Sanaig
Ralfy - youtu.be/3Vb35iUuL2U
Malt (2016) - malt-review.com/2016/05/02/kilchoman-sanaig
GWhisky - youtu.be/IjJ3u5WJYtc
The Whiskey Novice - youtu.be/I5UFVuoyCjw
Scotch Test Dummies - youtu.be/nPpRnIjs30Q

Ardbeg Corryvreckan
GWhisky - youtu.be/nPpRnIjs30Q
Scotch 4 Dummies - youtu.be/JcLSZkpw5ek

Balcones Morador
Malt - malt-review.com/2022/05/13/balcones-mirador
Scotch Test Dummies - youtu.be/wNMCAxaXabA
Drams on Deck - youtu.be/sM8mP5Xr99M

Bulleit BourbonWhisky Central - youtu.be/Yf5UsLxQRwg

Teaninich 10yo Flora & Fauna
The Whiskey Novice - youtu.be/eRJJmKXPfrM

Arran 14yo
GWhisky - youtu.be/Rs9xpKeLoTcRalfy - youtu.be/mHijxefgwaI
Scotch on the Bayou - youtu.be/r2salbvCw7w
Whisky in the 6 - youtu.be/QvZTzZE0v9E

Yoichi NAS
Whisky is a Journey - youtu.be/PRk0_X55ZH8
The Whiskey Novice - youtu.be/eZfPtnpxYrs
Kanpai Planet (Head-to-Head) - youtu.be/PiYRt9JPR0Q
The Dramble - thedramble.com/tastings/yoichi/yoichi-single-malt

Recycled Reviews #16 - 15 (or so) Whiskies in 30 minutes

Aqvavitae 2023-07-13 | Still challenged by a lack of skills when it comes to filming outside; dodgy audio, dodgy video, dodgier thoughts and opinions. Still, I share them all in earnest with best intention. These are my thoughts and as always - one man's opinion..

Enjoy the lack of ads on this video? Please say thanks to the Barflies who clicked the "JOIN" button on this video to access the cool whisky-themed channel exclusive emojis and badges, as well as keeping this video ad-free.

Here's the link to the spreadsheet with all the scores and links included:
https://rb.gy/hz735

The Aqvavitae channel is community funded and fully independent. My patrons are amazing. You can help support it by joining the community here - this is how I exist: patreon.com/aqvavitae

Here's the other link you're looking for: dramface.com

Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening
0:50 - Recycled Reviews
1:40 -Indri Trini Three Wood
3:12 - Royal Brackla 12yo 2021 Release
4:55 - Springbank 18yo 2021
6:36 - Thompson Bros 6yo TB/BSW
8:19 - Wild Turkey 101
10:02 - Scoring Recycled Reviews
11:02 - Longmorn 18yo
13:16 - Noble Rebel Orchard Outburst
14:45 - Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 2017
16:42 - Glen Wyvis 2018
19:00 - GlenAllachie 15yo 2020
21:13 - Ledaig 18yo
23:04 - North Star Vega 33yo
24:56 - Lagavulin 8yo
27:50 - Ardnamurchan AD/09.20:01
29:43 - Loch Lomond Single Grain
31:22 - Benromach Contrasts Peat Smoke Sherry Cask

Since it's only ever one man's opinion, links to other trusted reviews will be listed here:

Indri Trini Three Wood
The Dramble: thedramble.com/tastings/indri/indri-trini-three-wood
No Nonsense Whisky: youtu.be/5H3lPS_7hJ4
Whiskey Crusaders: youtu.be/Fo5gbucQlps
Scotch 4 Dummies: youtube.com/live/Xo-NtclZ7fY?feature=share

Royal Brackla 12yo 2021 Release
Ralfy: youtu.be/G2t9Ldn8LrE
GWhisky: youtu.be/vZMdoDgbJLI
Malt Reviews: youtu.be/XrucIZouZSQ

Springbank 18yo 2021
Top Shelf Whisky: youtu.be/sh81eoubMXs
The Single Malt Review: youtu.be/5DbTeqJoZ0c
Dramface: dramface.com/all-reviews/springbank-18

Thompson Bros 6yo TB/BSW
GWhisky: youtu.be/YL03WaYRqOo
KevinGrantOnWhisky: youtu.be/1A1FCFTVQ9o
The Whisky Pad: whiskypad.com/thompson-brothers-blended-scotch-whisky-aged-over-6-years
Whisky Lifestyle: whiskylifestyle.com/tb-bsw-thompson-bros
Dramface: dramface.com/all-reviews/2022/thompson-bros-srv5-blended-malt

Wild Turkey 101
The Mash & Drum: youtu.be/1k2lR-0tpP0
Dramface: dramface.com/all-reviews/wild-turkey-101
Malt: malt-review.com/2021/09/29/wild-turkey-101

Longmorn 18yo
GWhisky: youtu.be/eNjlPtteQZM

Noble Rebel Orchard Outburst
Dramface: dramface.com/all-reviews/noble-rebel-hazelnut-harmony-smoke-symphony-orchard-outburst

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 2020
Whiskybase: whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/83927/elijah-craig-barrel-proof-release-11#whisky-note-holder

Glen Wyvis 2018
Malt Box: youtu.be/CuQacZ565EE
Malt: malt-review.com/2022/09/29/glenwyvis-distillery

GlenAllachie 15yo 2020
Dramface: dramface.com/all-reviews/glenallachie-15
Ralfy: youtu.be/00lOEAXk2Aw
GWhisky: youtu.be/OXQgdkYe9Mg

Ledaig 18yo
Dramface: dramface.com/all-reviews/ledaig-10-18
Ralfy: 2020 youtu.be/5lyHRt38-wk
Ralfy: 2022 youtu.be/pCN0-I4rbgw
The Whiskey Novice: youtu.be/UTTD-P8933I

North Star Vega 33yo
Aqvavitae(!): 2020 youtu.be/C-MGLQmxYAs?t=1335

Lagavulin 8yo
GWhisky: youtu.be/I9FyWvPeZxA
Dramface: dramface.com/all-reviews/2022/lagavulin-8yo

Ardnamurchan AD/09.20:01
KevinGrantOnWhisky: youtu.be/CRSpP4-P8c4
The Dramble: thedramble.com/tastings/ardnamurchan-/ardnamurchan-ad-092001-inaugural-release-

Loch Lomond Single Grain
The Single Malt Review: youtu.be/eOUbRhVHkHE
KevinGrantOnWhisky: youtu.be/TiBFyKROjZ8

Benromach Contrasts Peat Smoke Sherry Cask
Malt: malt-review.com/2021/12/06/benromach-contrasts-peat-smoke-sherry-cask-matured
Dramface: dramface.com/all-reviews/2022/benromach-contrasts-series
GWhisky:youtu.be/UlFUJ6370vY

vPub Live - End of Season Blind Challenge

Aqvavitae 2023-07-06 | I know 'End of Season' sounds pretentious, but I still don't know a better way to say it. I'll be disappearing from the whisky airspace for a few weeks, for my regular summer break, returning August 24th. I always look forward to the break, but I always end up missing the vPub and everyone who makes it so enjoyable. I suppose that's the idea of a healthy break, it's supposed to be a good thing.

Anyway, over the six weeks there will be a few Thursdays where other channels have stepped into the breach to give you a safe place to head on occasional Thursday nights, more to follow this week. In the meantime, we go out with a relaxed session challenging a few friends of the vPub.

Of course, it's not just a random blind selection, there's alway method to the madness and I really hope to raise an eyebrow or two on this one. I'll share what our tasting panel is sipping with everyone so you know what's involved and enjoy the comments while you're in the know.

Joining me will be two cool YouTube whisky Channels; Shane from Whisky Lock and Jeff from Jeff Whisky, both pitting their wits against five whiskies of my choosing alongside Angus Dundee's Master Blender Iain Forteath and Ardnamurchan's Jenny Karlsson. These sessions always turn up a surprise or two. Isn't that what blind tasting is all about?

Really excited to welcome you all there!

Timestamps & links:

0:00 - Opening
2:59 - This session
5:14 -Welcoming in the Barflies
9:09 - Live Blind Tasting - the takeaway
11:43 - The structure of tonight's challenge
14:15 - Welcoming in Jeff Whisky
23:00 - Welcoming in Jenny Karlsson
32:52 - Welcoming in The Whisky Lock
41:23 - Welcoming in Iain Forteath
56:00 - All participants' favourites
59:10 - The 5 challenges
1:09:18 - Revealing the selection
1:29:30 - Panellists committing to their semi-blind match up
1:44:24 - Menno's Quiz at the End

Thursday 13th July 21:45 UK - Recycled Review #16 Premiere (turn up, watch live, chat along!)
youtube.com/watch?v=mtG3pcxDotA&ab_channel=Aqvavitae
Thursday 3rd August 21:45 UK - Jeff Whisky's Live
youtube.com/c/JeffWhisky?app=desktop
Thursday 10th August 21:45 UK - Recycled Review #17 Premiere
youtube.com/@Aqvavitae/videos
Thursday 17th August 21:45 UK - No Nonsense Whisky VinPub Live
youtube.com/c/NoNonsenseWhisky

Link to public document & key
https://rb.gy/ia6j1

vPub Live - Best of 2023 (So far)

Aqvavitae 2023-06-29 | Just like last year, as we sail past the half-way point of the year, it's time to look and see what bottles have rocked the excitement boat. In my experience, most of the goodies tend to come out in the second half of the year, especially towards the 'whisky season' of October through Christmas, but there have been some notable releases in the first half or 2023.

Given we've softened the ground in recent vPubs on price and availability issues, we'll try not to dwell too much there and I'll instead simply share what's making me curious in the hope that some of it will resonate with you, but I'll share a confession; I almost ditched this one this year. I need a little more help than usual from you.

Last year I remember feeling genuine excitement over a few bottles, but this year I was picking through the releases and either thinking "been done" or "not good enough". But I sat with a couple last night and I think we now have a worthy session. All the while we need to remember, one liver is never enough.

I can't keep up. Can you? I simply can't try them all, no one can. But as a community, we can genuinely come together and suggest bottles, available now, that have genuinely surprised us. They don't need to be released in the first half of the year, but I am especially keen to find things that may have slipped us (me) by.

I also have another two genuine bottles of brand-new excitement to uncork in the hope they deliver.

So I'll trade you, I'll share my favourites of 2023 so far, just like last year, and you bring along and share yours.

0:00 - Opening (usual odd sound drops)
6:54 - Welcoming in the Barflies
13:43 - The vPub is too long
16:33 - Topic outline & categories
23:45 - Value picks: MNose, Ledaig Rioja, CS Prohibition
44:44 - Interesting: LL Single Blend, Turntable
1:07:35 - World: Indri Trini
1:12:18 - Uncorking Wire Works Alter Ego
1:28:41 - New Whisky: Lagg Kilmory, Lochlea Our Barley
1:44:39 - Premium pick
1:52:36 - Uncorking Cù Bocan 12 Rum Cask
2:01:50 - Summary
2:09:27 - Quiz at the End

Aqvavitae, the channel and the vPubs are funded by Patrons. patreon.com/aqvavitae

The vPubs are kept ad free by the fantastic Barflies, you can by becoming a member via YouTube for 1.99 per month (£, €, or $)

Thank you for supporting independent opinion in whisky.

vPub Live - The Amber Rush #2 - How Huge Growth Affects Enthusiasts

Aqvavitae 2023-06-22 | Back in 2020 we enjoyed a session looking at the sudden rise in prices, mature stock and general global demand for whisky. Focussing on scotch we reassured ourselves things looked bright for us as enthusiasts.

Taking inspiration from Mark Twain's quote: "Too much of anything is bad, too much good whisky is barely enough" we considered the effects on the global boom and what it might mean to our choice and ability to continue to afford good whisky. After all was said and done, the TL;DR was, everything's going to be fine. There's millions of whisky.

Well, it's three years on and things continue to change.

Cask investment continues, bottle collectors and investors drive the headline-grabbing prices ever higher while rising costs and strains on resources remain a concern for everyone. Looking at things in a certain way, things can look bleak for the drinker. This is against a backdrop of global thirst for whisky like nothing we’ve seen before.

The Spirits Business just released some interesting data. As a category, Scotch (all scotch) broke the £6b mark for the first time and marches onwards, with huge growth reported in the blend and premium sectors. This puts huge strain on current stocks as the industry builds towards the future.

So what of us? What of those who want good quality, integrity bottlings at fair prices? What do we do? Where do we look? What's actually happening out there? Well, being no expert on any of these things I tried to process and check on things, in a general sense. Meaning I poured a larger measure than usual and fell into the glass, my thoughts and a rabbit hole. It gave me a look-through-the-letterbox at the future of whisky for the geek, if you like, and I think what I found is interesting.

I'd like to share it with you, because if we want to continue following our passion for the stuff, the way we look at whisky is going to have to change.

I really hope to see you there!

thespiritsbusiness.com/issue/the-brand-champions-2023

0:00 - Opening
2:28 - The reason for tonight's 'tiredness'
4:28 - Welcoming in the lounge
11:28 - What's in the glass? Clynelish 14yo
15:03 - What's the 'Amber Rush'?
21:18 - 15 years of increase in scale
37:47 - A neat summary from Barfly Jim Morse
41:00 - Bottle 1: Lagg Kilmory
52:20 - Playing with ice to check filtration
56:46 - Bottle 2: Glenglassaugh 12yo 2023 release
1:09:28 - Brand loyalty will cost you money & summary
1:16:41 - The price of whisky in 2023 and what it should be
1:31:50 - Bottle 3: Lochlea Cask Strength
1:45:08 - Quiz at the End

Aqvavitae, the channel and the vPubs are funded by Patrons. patreon.com/aqvavitae

The vPubs are kept ad free by the fantastic Barflies, you can by becoming a member via YouTube for 1.99 per month (£, €, or $)

Thank you for supporting independent opinion in whisky.

vPub Live - Is 2023 The Year of The Blend?

Aqvavitae 2023-06-15 | Blended scotch whiskies have been around forever. They've driven the global reputation of scotch whisky and were wildly successful long before anyone really understood what a single malt was.

Bottled at minimum whisky strengths and sold based on consistency and branding, it's this formula that has brought them their success. However, as a category it remains, in my opinion, a little dull and boring.

As whisky fans we care less about consistency and revel more in the interesting and exciting. It seems to me there have been few attempts to inject energy into the category in order to engage enthusiasts. Strange, because, in theory at least, and in the right hands, a blend can be anything we desire.

Let me be honest though, while I'm a fan of all whisky, my heart is in malt. It's rare for a blend to attract my interest and get the blood pumping. That is, until very recently.

In the last couple of years we've seen some cracking releases from producers daring to take the category in a different direction. Either through an interesting take on things or perhaps something with a little more flavour and experience-fuelled oomph about it.

I've collected a few of interest to me with the intention to build upon the fan favourites that have recently been discovered and loved. Some are fantastically priced and others are priced fantastically. I've been cautious. But, nothing ventured, nothing gained. What if these experimental and fresh ideas are the fuel to the next flavour chase?

Let's pop a few and share if any deserve to be the next new shiny thing on our whisky shelf.

I hope to see you there, if you fancy it, bring along your favourite blend.

0:00 - Opening
1:24 - Topic overview
4:20 - Welcoming in the lounge
7:09 - Plug for Jim's Blind Challenge next week (link below)
8:50 - The concept of a blend
12:57 - Blend vs Blended Malt
15:44 - The majority of blends in 2023
21:44 - Isle of Skye 8yo 40%
25:30 - The role of 40% ABV
30:03 - LegFest, Glasgow 30th Sept.
33:26 - Thompson Bros. TB/BSW 6yo 46%
38:53 - The Glasshouse Blend 46%
44:00 - Bailie Nicol Jarvie 40%
46:50 - Té Bheag Unchilfiltered 40%
48:46 - Maclean's Nose 46%
56:07 - North Star 10yo 46.1%
1:08:06 - Cutty Sark Prohibition 50%
1:25:50 - White Heather 15yo
1:41:13 - Turntable Purple Haze 46%
1:55:37 - Summary
2:04:00 - Quiz at the End

The Whiskey Novice youtube.com/@WhiskeyNovice/streams

vPub Live - The Whisky Time Machine

Aqvavitae 2023-06-08 | One of my favourite things to do as I sip a pour of whisky is to consider what was going on when it was made. It's one of the true privileges of the drink that we love; its inherent stability, allowing us to enjoy it for many years. It allows a literal window into the past, the liquid's own past, yes, but also ours.

First, there's the age statement or vintage. In imagining what we were up to at the point it was created makes us realise we've grown older together. Sometimes, when we're really lucky, we can even go beyond our years and enjoy something older than us, a true 'time machine' experience.

Then, there's also the sensory indulgence at play, where aromas and flavours can quite compellingly take us to a certain memory, moment or place, almost as if we've travelled through the glass.

But, for this vPub, I'd like to focus on a third layer; that of the vintage bottling itself. Some are dusties; long-ignored but eventually discovered languishing on a retail shelf, or perhaps in a relative's cabinet, patiently waiting to be found. Some are deliberately sought out at auctions or through trade, either because they are loved or because they are legendary. Sometimes though, just for the pure sake of curiosity.

I've been lucky over the years and collected a few curious, long-discontinued bottles, some antique and others a little more contemporary. These, while not particularly valuable, can be considered possessing some of the properties we might imagine in a time machine; the ability to let us see a little of the past, specifically whisky's past. This won't be a better-then-or-now comparison, we've had fun with that before, instead I hope it will help us look at the landscape of whisky, past and present, its health, aesthetic and its general evolution.

I'll uncork (carefully!) some old, affordable, patient bottles and try to tap into any clues they're willing to give us about their past and see what it tells us about the present.

As always, it would be great to welcome you there.

Timestamps:
0:00 - Opening
1:11 - Intro to topic
2:38 - Welcoming in the lounge
11:55 - Three ways of tasting the past
18:45 - Vintage Glenfiddich 12yo & 18yo
20:55 - Abusive low-level storage
39:55 - Vintage Aberlour
47:20 - Vintage Glenmorangie
53:33 - Vintage Tomatin
1:01:10 - Discovering dusties on my doorstep
1:10:46 - Vintage Highland Park
1:34:08 - Summarising and vintage Longrow
1:51:36 - Quiz at the End

vPub Live - Pouring My Best Whisky

Aqvavitae 2023-06-01 | I know that sometimes the channel feels like it's built around trying to find the best value whiskies, for me and everyone else. But, truthfully, it's not. It's built around the love of whisky. That means, occasionally, celebrating the absolute best we can.

It's different for everyone. Some of us have been around whisky for long enough that we've collected a few amazing bottles over the years, while others are enjoying amazing experiences with more modest or recent discoveries. One thing unites all though; the sheer pleasure of it.

If we're honest, we all have favourites and bottles we'd consider our 'best'. It's certainly the case with me, and I'm trying to think of a topic that better suits wheeling out these 'best bottles' than sharing with a friend. With the topics we like to focus on in the vPub, it'll be rare that these kinds of bottles will ever be seen behind the bar. So, let's make an exception.

Lee Ann, from Louisiana's Scotch on the Bayou YouTube channel, has travelled all the way across the Atlantic, her third time now, and will spend one of her precious evenings in Scotland hanging out with us. In return, I'll dig out and pour those that I currently consider my ‘best’ and hopefully get to enjoy some of that amazing vicarious reaction that makes up so much of our whisky fun.

However, this is still the vPub, and we have to keep some things practical. So I'll also drop in a fantastic budget pour and keep Lee Ann guessing as she makes her way around the vPub's top picks.

Why not crack your own favourite, bring it along and tell us about what makes it your best? We look forward to seeing you there!

vPub Live - Discovering Scotch in Scotland w/ Its Bourbon Night

Aqvavitae 2023-05-25 | How many of you are travelling to or around Scotland this year for whisky? Even if you're not, there's a good chance you're toying with future plans.

This is the time of year when the messages asking for tips and guidance flood in as folk are looking to plan things carefully and make the most of their time. There is a constant stream of whisky lovers visiting and discovering whisky spots all over Scotland. Some of them, believe it or not, are Bourbon drinkers.

You may remember a vPub a while back where the team from It's Bourbon Night had me drinking bourbon. We suggested at the time we should do the same, but I'd have them drinking and exploring scotch. Well, like everything here, it's taken a while but I feel like the wait will be worth it, because Chad & Sara have just completed a whistle-stop tour of Scotland. They seemed to like it. As we hear all about it from them, we'll discover if they finally found a love of scotch.

We can also ask them about their time here, if they'd come back, and if so, what they'd do next time.

Also, they were kind enough to leave me some bourbon unicorns, it seems like the perfect opportunity for me to sip 'em, don't you think?

We really hope to welcome you there.

vPub Live - Hero Whiskies in 2023

Aqvavitae 2023-05-18 | Remember this idea? I started Hero Whiskies in 2020 and managed a single video. Pathetic. But why?

It was a pretty easy thing to make and it's not like we were particularly short of bottles to propose were "heroes" of their time.

Well, I'll touch upon why I didn't continue it. Instead, I added it to the list of vPub topics (yes, back in 2020!) and it's been there ever since. Why dig it out now?

I was just about to delete it from the list of topics when I noticed I'd made some notes about my list of whiskies back then and a few things occurred to me. What would I choose now? What's Changed? How much would they cost and can we actually still get them? If we can't, what can we get in their place? Does all of that support my eternally optimistic outlook of "there's always more whisky"?

I know I suggested a session with Chad & Sara of It's Bourbon Night this week, looking into their discoveries of visiting Scotland (which is a perfect topic at this time of year ahead of so many planners and travellers!). However, as I suspected could happen, they're feeling a little fatigued and need some time to recover. Fingers crossed for that to hopefully happen next week. So, the perfect opportunity to tackle one of the longest items on the vPub topic list. What has happened to Hero Whiskies in the space of three years?

The TL;DR is "A lot" and also " Not very much" all at the same time. As usual, the devil (and the fascination) hides in the details.

Interestingly, it might help us imagine what could happen in the next three years too.

I look forward to welcoming you there!

Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening
4:18 - Welcoming in the lounge
8:38 - Challenges in 2023
12:18 - What happened to the Hero Whiskies series?
22:20 - The set up for tonight
25:14 - The original Hero list & PRICE!
35:24 - Springbank & Kilkerran
37:53 - Bunnahabhain 12yo
39:43 - Deanston 12yo
42:26 - Ledaig 10yo
45:04 - Glenfarclas 15yo
47:35 - Loch Lomond on the horizon
51:16 - Arran 10yo
53:00 - Craigellachie 13yo
54:40 - Port Charlotte 10yo
56:32 - Let's talk about subjectivity
59:22 - A plug for Dramface
1:02:05 - New developments & Wolfburn 10yo
1:12:55 - In 2023, not all heroes are malt, or age-stated
1:16:26 - Kilchoman Machir Bay
1:20:58 - Uncorking Maclean's Nose Blended Scotch
1:24:46 - Vocabulary in whisky tasting
1:30:34 - Top 6 - glencadam 10yo
1:32:12 - Top 6 - Ardbeg 10yo
1:37:00 - Top 6 - Speyburn 15yo
1:39:38 - Top 6 - Glenturret 12yo
1:46:18 - Top 6 - Ardnamurchan AD/
1:50:22 - Top 6 - Glenallachie 12yo
1:58:44 - The echo-chamber
2:00:30 - What about price in 2023?
2:08:15 - Quiz at the End

vPub Live - What the Industry Drinks #2 with Scott Adamson

Aqvavitae 2023-05-11 | This isn't a first - we did this a year ago with Stuart Baxter of Inver House. Which is odd, because for every other industry collaboration I've done, Scott Adamson has been the first. I'll need to apologise when I welcome him this week.

But hopefully, having brought a session last year that you seemed to enjoy means you'll know the drill here. I'm often struck as I interact with those tasked with promoting and developing whisky and its image throughout domestic and international markets how many of them are actually really into it. They are often proper, legitimate whisky geeks who are genuinely passionate about their roles and what they do.

Through their insight and tenacious curiosity they dig into whisky and its treasures in a way that goes beyond what's required for their own brand or role (I think this actually makes them more valuable in their role). They are able to communicate in a way that relies far less on corporate dogma and much more on genuine insight and educational reasoning. Hence the thinking for this series; apologies I've only managed two in a year. Must try harder.

Now, I will not miss the opportunity to talk about the continued renaissance at Tomatin (and the just as stunning developments from their Cù Bòcan series) and of course Scott's role within that focus, but generally this will be a relaxed session where we once more get to uncover some insight about someone's life working in the industry they love.

It's not an easy job, especially with pressures to constantly travel while juggling a young family. Despite whisky's continued and epic rise during this golden era it remains a competitive place and the 'dream job' is not an easy one. Yet, for so many of us whisky botherers it remains fascinating.

All the while, we'll pour some whiskies that interest our guest and perhaps those that best illustrate his journey and what fuelled his love for this liquid. That should take our chat happily in any direction it would like to go.

As always, I'd love to welcome you there.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening & What's the vPub?
3:18 - What's the topic
4:04 - Welcoming in the lounge
8:48 - 30th September, Glasgow. Save the date.
13:24 - Welcoming in Scott Adamson
16:30 - Scott was the first
21:22 - Is it the dream job?
26:16 - Dram 1: The Permashelf Bottle
33:15 - Being honest around the job
46:40 - Setting a precedent 🥃
47:50 - Dram 2 : The Crowd Pleaser
1:00:08 - Cù Bòcan: We need more of this style
1:07:21 - Dram 3: The Decadent Pour, uncorking a unicorn
1:15:38 - The ghost from nowhere -Cù Bòcan 15yo
1:45:38 - Dram 4 : The VIP Pour
1:57:08 - Dram 5 : The Attention Grabber
2:05:00 - In summary; sharing the passion
2:07:07 - A final word on wine casks
2:16:47 - Quiz at the End

Apologies to Kiwigor for missing their generous dram!

vPub Live - The Age Statement in 2023

Aqvavitae 2023-05-04 | Despite whisky's long history and traditional appeal, it's actually a dynamic and constantly evolving thing. Usually directly relating to demand, supply and profit.

Despite the glorious warm amber hues of today's single malt golden era, the woes of the past are within the memory of many. And yet, things are moving in a way that would suggest that whisky has never faced a fall in demand, and never will.

I've always reassured myself and said that, as drinkers, come boom or bust, we can all the while stay engaged and spectate. We work together as a community to find the gems in times of high demand, and continue to buy as impassioned followers during the quieter times. That's the theory at least.

Because what has also followed whisky's oscillation over the years is availability and price, especially when it comes to age statements. Post-war and throughout the boom of the 1950s and 1960s, a ten year age statement was the mark of a mature bottle of whisky. In fact, there were some who feared whisky being spoiled, or over-oaked, if left in wood beyond its teenage years. Then came the slump of the 1980s and as the stock matured and increased, we saw the age statements increase; 15yo, 18yo, 21yo and beyond became much more common. The industry message was clear - older was better! Well...

That was then. This is now. As those stocks depleted, they were not replaced. The whisky industry's crystal ball remained stubbornly opaque and supply couldn't keep up with the demand that was created from often undersold whisky. We lost age statements and we experienced the rise of the non-age statement in its place, or ‘NAS’. Many felt this was cynical, and it sometimes was. Truth be told, most of the time the stock just wasn't there. Cue mass expansion in the years that followed. More than a beat too late, but I’m sure it’s not only whisky that is stubbornly reactionary. Short-termism is the language of the shareholder, after all.

These days we're seeing the fruits of these expansions; more maturing stock in Scotland than we have ever witnessed and familiar forecasts of new markets and ever-increasing demand. In parallel we witness a new development; dozens upon dozens of new distilleries offering their artisanal, flavour-led approach direct to enthusiasts and drinkers alike, eschewing the eager bulk market for malt to bolster blends. All of this at a time where every other country - including our valued export markets - are growing their own whisky reputations. This will, inevitably, have an effect on future demand and perception. It will also evolve how our whisky is presented to us. In particular, those age statements and how much can be charged for them, as well as their relevance and reputation.

I'm inviting Roddy along for this one. We'll consider how whisky has changed in these recent years and ask how relevant the age statement is these days. Especially when we're being asked to pay increasingly so much more for anything remotely ‘well-aged’ from the incumbent brands with mature stock.

Expect a little blind sipping along the way. Play along if you like, choose something young, old and something either NAS or 'interesting' for its age and swap with a buddy. Ask them to do the same for you.

How easy is it to taste that oh-so-alluring and venerable age? And is it worth it?

We hope to welcome you there!

vPub Live - The Best Whisky Books

Aqvavitae 2023-04-27 | If I hosted a vPub to list the Best Whisky, I'm pretty sure you'd all smell a rat. There's no such thing, not objectively so. It doesn't seem to stop us talking about them every week though does it?
It's the same for the books out there covering the many angles on the topic; everyone will have a different favourite and perhaps a different need. Yet, when I look back over my whisky journey, while my tastes and preferences have changed, my need for, and reliance upon, good guidance from books have not.
Whatever your stage, whatever your preferences, reader, watcher or listener, we could all amplify our whisky life with a good book to go along with the dram. This week, I'll focus on generalised categories and bring my picks for each. Without a doubt, the live chat will be full of barflies and whisky folk sharing their favourites too. Why not start by listing yours here?
This topic has been put off for long enough, it's time we dedicated a vPub to a good book or two.
Don't worry - for those who prefer the language of whisky to be spoken in liquid form, I'll bring a couple of interesting bottles along too!

I'd love to welcome you there.