vPub Live - Rising Stars: Malt Distilleries to Look Out For

* Time stamps below*

Not everything is going to Hell-in-a-handcart, in fact that’s rarely the case. I think it’s a natural human perspective to think that’s true about so many things, when it isn’t. It’s certainly not true about whisky.
I often argue that we’ve never had it better in whisky; in terms of variation, availability and choice with more and more focus on natural releases and enthusiast-focused bottlings. Some may argue it’s closer to "premiumised" but it’s always a choice, and choice is what we’re after. We will have rising prices to contend with as well as unexpected bumps in the road (take a bow Glendronach) because not everything plays out as we might expect (or dream) but encouraging things do come along, and sometimes from unexpected places. There are distilleries moving to release products that are better than they once were. These are the focus of this vPub because they’re gradually getting deserved traction.
Now, the vPubs (and social posts in general) have been tricky recently because I’m actively avoiding, if at all possible, speaking about whiskies which are currently being voted for as part of the OSWA initiative (link below). I’ve had to be careful about topics and selections. Not that I am sure to change any outcomes, but I just think it’s the canny thing to do while the poll is still live. So the subjects of tonight’s discussions will be those that have been bringing interesting bottles but haven’t managed to capture the spotlight enough to bask in any Online Scotch Whisky Award love. Yet. However in the future I predict we will see these being celebrated as I think, personally, they could be seen as rising stars.

I hope to welcome you there. I’ll promise to not dwell too much on my couldn’t-get-to-Texas woes.

Love scotch whisky? Go vote in the inaugural Online Scotch Whisky Awards - live until the 24th October - https://www.oswa.co.uk/nominations

Intro to topic: 3:22
Why would you use the Like/Dislike button? : 12:52
Why I’m not in Texas : 17:17
So much whisky in the last 15 years : 22:58
The Malt Whisky Yearbook - the unintentional marker of time : 24:08
Buy the Yearbook : https://www.maltwhiskyyearbook.com/
Uncorking a very different Tomatin : 28:32
Thinking about the unique offering from Loch Lomond : 38:25
Moving on - what’s good (and not so good) about Glenturret : 1:07:12
My relief at finding the wonderful Glencadam : 1:26:02
Let’s talk about some very personal experiences with Benromach : 1:42:16
Up for another whinge about natural vs. not so natural? Wanna see how terrible that caramel is again? : 1:59:49
Quiz at the End : 2:14:21