Whisky Posts & Articles

19 rules for how to survive and get along in an online whisky group

You’ve probably been part of an online whisky forum or a Facebook whisky group when the conversation suddenly turned south and things got ugly.  Whisky people are generally all a great and friendly bunch but, occasionally, it doesn’t take much to trigger some keyboard warriors and to bring out their dark side.  Accordingly, here’s a list of rules, tips, and pointers on how to get along and play nicely in an online whisky group…

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The whisky lover’s travel guide to Whistler

Like whisky?  Like skiing or snowboarding?  Travelling to Whistler anytime soon?   Here’s your helpful and comprehensive Whistler travel guide for combining whisky and Whistler, as well as a whisky guide book for skiers transiting through Vancouver…

(If you’re an Australian reader, there’s a slightly different version of this article written specifically for Aussie skiers which you can read here.  If you’re from anywhere else in the world, read on…)

Whilst planning your skiing holiday to Canada, any whisky lover who heads overseas always has the same questions: Where are the best whisky bars? Is there a distillery I can visit?  What are the best local whiskies?

So, with all that to set the scene, this article is specifically aimed at that small niche of people who (i) love skiing; (ii) love whisky, and (iii) are heading to Whistler!

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The whisky lover’s skiing guide to Whistler (Aussie version)

Like whisky?  Like skiing or snowboarding?  Travelling to Whistler anytime soon?   Here’s your helpful and comprehensive Whistler travel guide for combining whisky and Whistler, as well as a whisky guide book for skiers heading through Vancouver…

(This version of the article is adapted specifically for Australian readers.  If you’re from elsewhere around the planet, read the international version here).

If you’re a keen Australian skier or snowboarder, it won’t be too long until the constraints and limitations of the Australian snow fields catch up with you and the lure of the overseas skiing resorts beckons. Some head to New Zealand; an increasing number are heading to Japan, but it seems the vast majority of Aussie skiers head to Whistler, Canada.  Indeed, so many Aussies work the ski resort over the winter, the place is affectionately known as Whistralia.

At the same time, any whisky lover who heads overseas always has the same questions: Where are the best whisky bars? Is there a distillery I can visit? What are the best local whiskies?

So, with all that to set the scene, this article is specifically aimed at that small niche of people who (i) love skiing; (ii) love whisky, and (iii) are heading to Whistler!

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Some flak for whisky flipping

Whisky flipping.  It’s the ultimate physical response to that vexatious question, “How much is this whisky worth?”  Nevertheless, the answer to the question is pretty simple: A whisky is worth whatever someone is prepared to pay for it.

One of the most contentious and ire-inducing phenomena to appear in whisky circles in the last 15 years has been the rise of the whisky flipper.   Not familiar with the term? It’s applied to someone who obtains a whisky at retail price (typically when the product is first launched or made available) and then, within a short timeframe, re-sells it on the secondary market at a significantly higher price. More often than not, the re-selling occurs once the original retailer’s or supplier’s stock is sold out, thus cashing in on a product that is no longer available through the original channels.

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105 distilleries in 60 seconds

A bit of fun for all the distillery nerds out there, particularly the ones who like to play “Guess the distillery”.

This video features 105 Scotch whisky distilleries in 60 seconds.  Can you recognise and name them all?   They’re in alphabetical order, just to make it easy for you…..

For more video content by Whisky & Wisdom, you can check out our YouTube channel here

If you like whisky trivia and want to test your whisky knowledge, you might also like our Whisky Quiz

Cheers,
AD

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Chivas ‘The Blend’ Experience

Have you ever tried your hand at blending? Think you’ve got what it takes to come up with a delicious whisky?   Would you like to be a Master Blender for a day? The Blend by Chivas is giving you that very opportunity!

Chivas ‘The Blend’ Experience is a fantastic event to not just learn a bit about Scotch whisky and the story behind one of Scotland’s most famous blends, but to also have a crack at blending and putting together your own blended Scotch. Best of all, you get to take home a 200ml bottle of your own creation at the end of the session!

Chivas ‘The Blend’ Experience is coming to four cities across Australia over the next five months and whisky drinkers are able to sign up and register for their own session. Full details on this a little lower below but, first of all, what’s involved?

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Glenfarclas 105 versus Aberlour a’Bunadh

Glenfarclas 105 versus Aberlour a’Bunadh. Do you have a favourite? Have you already decided on a winner? Did you actually taste the two back-to-back to arrive at your conclusion? Does any comparison of the two simply come down to brand loyalty, or is there something objective we can measure?

If there’s a rivalry amongst the whisky producers, it would best be described as “friendly”. While the likes of William Grant & Sons and Pernod Ricard duke it out for the biggest selling single malt in the world (i.e. Glenfiddich and Glenlivet respectively), both companies know that, firstly, sales need to be considered across their full portfolios, and that their blends (e.g. Grants, Chivas, and Ballantines) are where the real volume is. Secondly, that what’s good for the category is good for everyone in the category. In other words, as long as the rising tide is floating all boats, then things are pretty rosy.

If there are rivalries amongst the brands, they’re being driven by consumers and punters, and they have their origins in the chatter on social media and in whisky forums. And so, in the Speyside stakes, we have Glenfiddich 12 versus Glenlivet 12. Over on Islay, we have Lagavulin versus Laphroaig. And for those who love their cask-strength sherry monsters, we have Glenfarclas 105 versus Aberlour a’Bunadh.

Both whiskies are cask-strength; both are natural colour; both are heavily sherried; and – in Australia, at least – both carry the same price tag of $140. (Equates to US$96 / 87 Euros / £75).  That’s what they have in common, so let’s look in detail at how and where they differ….

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Icons of Whisky 2020 – The Australian Awards

The Icons of Whisky 2020, Australia awards were held in Sydney on October 21st this year.   The Icons of Whisky is an awards program convened by Whisky Magazine and its international agents to recognise the people, places, and products that strive for excellence in the whisk(e)y industry.

Originating in the UK back in 2007, the awards have since grown to recognise the local players in many international markets, with countries/regions such as America, India, Australia, Scotland, Ireland, and Rest of the World now holding annual awards.  The winners in each category in their local awards go forward to be part of the Global Icons of Whisky Awards, held in London.

The Australian awards were a fun (if slightly boisterous) affair, with the room filled with distillers, distributors, brand ambassadors, bartenders, hospitality managers, whisky tourism and visitor attraction personnel, accounts managers, sales teams and, yes, even the occasional whisky writer.  James Buntin, a long-time whisky ambassador who’s worked with many of the brands over the years, was an appropriate MC for the evening.

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Islay – Its distilleries and its whiskies

[Updated 2024] With Islay’s smoky, pungent, peaty whiskies gaining increasing popularity and traction around the globe, and with whisky tourism to Islay growing, now is a great time to come to terms with the island and its whiskies. Here’s a unique and new way of presenting Islay’s critical information….

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10 fun whisky facts that are often misunderstood

New to the world of Scotch whisky?  Confused about the language or etiquette?  Did you post something about whisky online and the grammar police arrested you?  Or are you looking for the crib notes on whisky facts and some whisky trivia?

At Whisky & Wisdom, we see and hear lots of misunderstandings and malapropisms, so here’s a list of 10 Scotch whisky facts, concepts and tips to get your head around…

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