Thank you Roy! Whisky MUST be Fun! I am 53 and live in Dallas Texas. I’ve watched every video (on replay) you’ve ever posted. Thank you for the wealth of information! I drank a Manhattan in August of 20. It knocked my socks off and I started making them at home. I used Tin Cup rye($11) my favorite part was the Luxordo Cherries. eventually a friend suggested I step up to Bulleit, I said sure, as Long as I can still have the lux cherry’s. later he suggested I drink the Bulleit alone with ice. As long as I still got the lux cherries. Loved it! Then he said try without ice, amazing! Then on to Crown Reserve then Jamison. Then we went to a scotch bar and tried Mac, Livet, Fiddich and HP. Bam! This blew the back of my head right off! Hooked! Fiddich was my favorite. Then Balvenie Then Bunnahabhain. Then I was off on a search for flavor! Soon I had a lagavulin 16 and entered the world of Peat. Within 6 months I had 60 open bottles. 4 years later I feel like Caesar. “He sat down and wept, for there were no more bottles to chase”. Oh, of course I didn’t try all of them but the thrill is gone. Those first 6 months were magic! No more surprises. I’ve spent the last 4 years unsuccessfully trying to rekindle the excitement of those first 6 months. You and Ralfy are right. The deeper we get into whisky, the more we experience diminishing returns. On top of this cruel fact, as you point out, whisky is less and less rewarding. Thirty years from now I’m sure I’ll be just as frustrated? The industry makes less and less good stuff. I guess the only solution is a time machine? Regardless, thank you for your contribution!
Happy Anniversary Roy! You deserve to celebrate what you have accomplished because so many of us are grateful. There’s no self-indulgence here at all. Thank you for my favorite channel and videos on UA-cam.
A great comment from you Roy .... "Whisky needs to come back to us", I think in the next year or so, it will begin to do so. Thankyou for the last 7 years, I've learned so much just simply listening to the channel. And that's without the huge bonus of the people I've come into contact with, through yourself. Many of whom I consider to now be my friends.
Was unable to make it to the vPub live due to it being Thanksgiving, but made it to the replay, and very glad I did. Absolutely loved Roy’s spot-on takes on all that makes this such a worthy avocation (or might I say, obsession?). Congrats on 7 great years. May there be many more!
Another great vPub Roy & always happy to sip along with your replay. Congratz on your 7 years !!! Although drinking whisky well over 35 years, it wasn't until more recently, few years ago with the onset of Covid lockdowns that I begun diving down the rabbithole. Until then whisky was just whisky flavoured spirit & although I knew they varied a little, it wasn't until I really begun 'tasing & smelling' difdferently, and found 'value' that it has become the hobby I have now today. I share the comment @32:10 where because of whisky I also too a thinking more when I eat, drink & smell.
A belated watch on catch-up. Of course congrats on your anniversary. Thanks for your weekly discussion and themes . Always on point and relevant to everyone however experienced they are on their whisky journey. Slainte.
First and foremost: congrats on 7 years of Aqvavitae wonderfulness! We are all the better for it 🙏🥃. Replay tends to be ‘forced ‘ upon me these days, and I really miss hanging out on Thursday evenings. Luckily it’s looking better soon. Occasionally I host a ‘whisky 101’ intro to whisky curious folk, and picking the right bottles for them to taste is one thing, but the real challenge lies in finding the right balance between giving them a general but in-depth idea of what whisky is, can be and shouldn’t be while keeping it light and entertaining without bombarding them with facts, info and all things geeky. So this is indeed a welcomed topic! Thanks Roy
Fun Vpub, fine blether, gr wee at chat as always! Looking forward to a wee break in Edinburgh and maybe catching up with an odd barfly or two Much love as always from the two of us Congrats on the 7th anniversary too
5/10 ... I'll take it ! Well... another work colleague has asked to go down the rabbit hole earlier this week. He has seen the enjoyment we get from it. As with the first one from a few years ago , I've passed on some samples. Your timing on this subject couldn't be any more perfect Roy ! thanks . I need to re-evaluate a few things I've already chatted with him about. Some of the barriers... etc. Hope he doesn't spend too much on his holiday down in Tasmania. P.S: Happy Anniversary Mate. Thanks again, AL
Congrats on 7 years of vPub, Roy! I've certainly accumulated whisky, getting close to 100 bottles now, and if I include my rums, just over 100 bottles. I can pour a dram of higher strength whisky or rum and sit on it anywhere from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on the whisky, so it can take ages to finish a bottle. It is certainly a different mindset, and the whisky enthusiast community is definitely a benefit. Got 8/10 on the quiz. Cheers!
@1:13:00 In Australia Roy, although there might be the odd exception, most 40%ers are not chill filtered and even fewer are coloured. The rapid aging gives the colour sooner as you'd suspect & the craft makers know better than to chill filter, hence most at cask strength, and watered down in the cask if necessary beacuse its a 'hot' spirit in maturation.
Catching the reply on St Andrew's Day, so Happ Celebration to the scottish bar flies. And Happy 7th to Roy. I am also in a period of frustration with the price increase. In Sweden the new swedish release all (it seems) are 500ml bottles and cost 70+ eur. I seldom talk about my whisky intrerest with other not into whisky. The question about which is the best whisky always comes up and I can never give them an answer as it changes all the time depending situation and how you feel. ☺ I also think they have a difficult time to understand the excitment when you find all good flavors in a dram and you feel the connection. That is my favourite part.
You chose a nice way to mark the vPub's seventh anniversary, Roy. Good topic, full of rich material that connects directly with efforts to enjoy whisky in ever-widening circles. I chose an Old Pulteney 21yo as my accompanying dram for this vPub and was, as always, very enamoured of this wonderful but unfortunately long discontinued expression from Wick. Managed to get a 9/10 on the quiz without the help of the lounge, which is the best I've ever done, so that was definitely something to celebrate (bombed out on the question about the biggest Islay whisky by volume before Laphroaig). Found your comments about upping the ante on the ABV for people just getting interested in whisky a tad challenging, mainly due to the price, but I get your drift on putting more emphasis on the boldness of flavour that comes from the 46% benchmark. I'd still say, though, that a Balvenie 12 (at 40%) is going to tickle the fancy of many folk enjoying their first drams - despite the low ABV. I'd also say that Benromach's standard 10yo (at 43%) is likely to arouse interest in peated whiskies, and the Deanston Virgin Oak (which I think comes in at 46.3%) will cover the ex-bourbon category quite nicely - and relatively cheaply, so as not to scare people off. Like you, I'm thoroughly enjoying my bottle of Glengoyne White Oak (48%) but I do think the price is a tad prohibitive for newcomers. Lots of food for thought after watching this on replay - and I still can't believe it's already 7 years that have flown by since I first started watching. Keep up the great work! Cheers.
An excellent session in "The Lounge" as always. Your story about the builder was spot on. I'm happy to talk Whisky with anyone, almost any time, but it's rare to encounter a "Whisky lover" that has much knowledge beyond the Livets and the Fiddichs, and other big names in Whisky. I'm always willing to help further their Whisky education 😂 if they have time to listen. Slainte Mhath
Congrats on 7 years. Totally impressed by your almost unswerving enthusiasm. We don't agree on quite a few facets of whisky but I anticipate and enjoy your content after the event every time immensely. Good question about introducing new people to toxic ethanol. I was very impressed by two female asian Heriot Watt distilling students at a Dornoch Festival tasting this year who tasted then (like I have at many wine tastings but at no whisky tasting) spat. My normal practice is now to take empty sample bottles, labels etc. nose sip then store most to enjoy later after a live event. Is some variant of these a possible model for clubs, tasting venues, and festivals in the future? It's a good idea to de-couple nosing, tasting and intoxication.
You make a really good point about the price comparison. Even drinking at home a can of good quality locally made beer typically goes for at least $2-3 a can and when you compare that to buying whisky bottles that ends up being per serving $60-90 a bottle of whisky.
Thanks to years of viewing the vPub I can now smell and taste my friends and family under the table. I would thank and congratulate you Roy but, unfortunately, my friends and family smell and taste terrible.
In a world where everything becomes artificial, soulless, fast and cost-efficient, whisky is one of the few products that are remain natural and true, made by people, with hard work and great patience. Therefore, it deserves support. 🥃🥃
Minute 44:00 I wish I would have Ralfys channel at my beginning, I would have spared many starter mistakes. My first one was a Glenfiddich 15 Yo Solera, now atm Im enjoying an Ardmore 21yo from SV for 🇩🇪 market, wonderful stuff, 138€ bargain instead of 168€ and I’m happy for every drop of it. Beginners are not aware of the Marketing traps and spend too much money for average stuff.
Geeze Roy, if you think you’re prices are going up, don’t come to OZ, if we can find a decent single malt under $100aus that would be amazing. Most OZ made whisky cost well over the ton.
Thank you Roy! Whisky MUST be Fun!
I am 53 and live in Dallas Texas. I’ve watched every video (on replay) you’ve ever posted. Thank you for the wealth of information!
I drank a Manhattan in August of 20. It knocked my socks off and I started making them at home. I used Tin Cup rye($11) my favorite part was the Luxordo Cherries. eventually a friend suggested I step up to Bulleit, I said sure, as Long as I can still have the lux cherry’s. later he suggested I drink the Bulleit alone with ice. As long as I still got the lux cherries. Loved it! Then he said try without ice, amazing!
Then on to Crown Reserve then Jamison. Then we went to a scotch bar and tried Mac, Livet, Fiddich and HP. Bam! This blew the back of my head right off! Hooked! Fiddich was my favorite. Then Balvenie Then Bunnahabhain. Then I was off on a search for flavor! Soon I had a lagavulin 16 and entered the world of Peat. Within 6 months I had 60 open bottles.
4 years later I feel like Caesar. “He sat down and wept, for there were no more bottles to chase”. Oh, of course I didn’t try all of them but the thrill is gone. Those first 6 months were magic! No more surprises. I’ve spent the last 4 years unsuccessfully trying to rekindle the excitement of those first 6 months.
You and Ralfy are right. The deeper we get into whisky, the more we experience diminishing returns. On top of this cruel fact, as you point out, whisky is less and less rewarding. Thirty years from now I’m sure I’ll be just as frustrated? The industry makes less and less good stuff. I guess the only solution is a time machine? Regardless, thank you for your contribution!
I echo Jimmy Legg's comment at the end.....thanks to you, Ralfy and several other UA-camrs for the past 3 years for aiding my new hobby. Slainte 👍
Happy Anniversary Roy! You deserve to celebrate what you have accomplished because so many of us are grateful. There’s no self-indulgence here at all. Thank you for my favorite channel and videos on UA-cam.
A great comment from you Roy .... "Whisky needs to come back to us", I think in the next year or so, it will begin to do so.
Thankyou for the last 7 years, I've learned so much just simply listening to the channel.
And that's without the huge bonus of the people I've come into contact with, through yourself. Many of whom I consider to now be my friends.
Was unable to make it to the vPub live due to it being Thanksgiving, but made it to the replay, and very glad I did. Absolutely loved Roy’s spot-on takes on all that makes this such a worthy avocation (or might I say, obsession?). Congrats on 7 great years. May there be many more!
Another great vPub Roy & always happy to sip along with your replay. Congratz on your 7 years !!! Although drinking whisky well over 35 years, it wasn't until more recently, few years ago with the onset of Covid lockdowns that I begun diving down the rabbithole. Until then whisky was just whisky flavoured spirit & although I knew they varied a little, it wasn't until I really begun 'tasing & smelling' difdferently, and found 'value' that it has become the hobby I have now today. I share the comment @32:10 where because of whisky I also too a thinking more when I eat, drink & smell.
A belated watch on catch-up. Of course congrats on your anniversary. Thanks for your weekly discussion and themes . Always on point and relevant to everyone however experienced they are on their whisky journey. Slainte.
Congratulations on your 7th anniversary!! Great vpub on replay!! I love using Aaran 10 and Glencadam 10 as a beginner intro
First and foremost: congrats on 7 years of Aqvavitae wonderfulness! We are all the better for it 🙏🥃. Replay tends to be ‘forced ‘ upon me these days, and I really miss hanging out on Thursday evenings. Luckily it’s looking better soon. Occasionally I host a ‘whisky 101’ intro to whisky curious folk, and picking the right bottles for them to taste is one thing, but the real challenge lies in finding the right balance between giving them a general but in-depth idea of what whisky is, can be and shouldn’t be while keeping it light and entertaining without bombarding them with facts, info and all things geeky. So this is indeed a welcomed topic! Thanks Roy
Hello Roy, just caught up on the replay, and excellent topic as always. Also, congrats and Happy 7th anniversary! Wow, time flies by so fast!
Thanks Roy, good live stream!👍
Fun Vpub, fine blether, gr wee at chat as always! Looking forward to a wee break in Edinburgh and maybe catching up with an odd barfly or two
Much love as always from the two of us
Congrats on the 7th anniversary too
5/10 ... I'll take it ! Well... another work colleague has asked to go down the rabbit hole earlier this week. He has seen the enjoyment we get from it. As with the first one from a few years ago , I've passed on some samples. Your timing on this subject couldn't be any more perfect Roy ! thanks . I need to re-evaluate a few things I've already chatted with him about. Some of the barriers... etc. Hope he doesn't spend too much on his holiday down in Tasmania.
P.S: Happy Anniversary Mate.
Thanks again,
AL
Happy 7th anniversary of the VPub!
Congrats on seven years of VPub Roy even though I watch more on replay (up really early week days) than I do live. Slàinte Roy
Congrats on 7 years of vPub, Roy! I've certainly accumulated whisky, getting close to 100 bottles now, and if I include my rums, just over 100 bottles. I can pour a dram of higher strength whisky or rum and sit on it anywhere from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on the whisky, so it can take ages to finish a bottle. It is certainly a different mindset, and the whisky enthusiast community is definitely a benefit. Got 8/10 on the quiz. Cheers!
@1:13:00 In Australia Roy, although there might be the odd exception, most 40%ers are not chill filtered and even fewer are coloured. The rapid aging gives the colour sooner as you'd suspect & the craft makers know better than to chill filter, hence most at cask strength, and watered down in the cask if necessary beacuse its a 'hot' spirit in maturation.
I started by buying a bottle of old pulteney 12 from the supermarket. I still drink 40% whiskies to this day nearly a decade later.
Catching the reply on St Andrew's Day, so Happ Celebration to the scottish bar flies. And Happy 7th to Roy. I am also in a period of frustration with the price increase. In Sweden the new swedish release all (it seems) are 500ml bottles and cost 70+ eur. I seldom talk about my whisky intrerest with other not into whisky. The question about which is the best whisky always comes up and I can never give them an answer as it changes all the time depending situation and how you feel. ☺ I also think they have a difficult time to understand the excitment when you find all good flavors in a dram and you feel the connection. That is my favourite part.
Thanks Roy and all the
You chose a nice way to mark the vPub's seventh anniversary, Roy. Good topic, full of rich material that connects directly with efforts to enjoy whisky in ever-widening circles. I chose an Old Pulteney 21yo as my accompanying dram for this vPub and was, as always, very enamoured of this wonderful but unfortunately long discontinued expression from Wick. Managed to get a 9/10 on the quiz without the help of the lounge, which is the best I've ever done, so that was definitely something to celebrate (bombed out on the question about the biggest Islay whisky by volume before Laphroaig). Found your comments about upping the ante on the ABV for people just getting interested in whisky a tad challenging, mainly due to the price, but I get your drift on putting more emphasis on the boldness of flavour that comes from the 46% benchmark. I'd still say, though, that a Balvenie 12 (at 40%) is going to tickle the fancy of many folk enjoying their first drams - despite the low ABV. I'd also say that Benromach's standard 10yo (at 43%) is likely to arouse interest in peated whiskies, and the Deanston Virgin Oak (which I think comes in at 46.3%) will cover the ex-bourbon category quite nicely - and relatively cheaply, so as not to scare people off. Like you, I'm thoroughly enjoying my bottle of Glengoyne White Oak (48%) but I do think the price is a tad prohibitive for newcomers. Lots of food for thought after watching this on replay - and I still can't believe it's already 7 years that have flown by since I first started watching. Keep up the great work! Cheers.
Loved the vPub on catch up and chuffed to bits I got 9/10 in the quiz... with some barfly help!!!!
An excellent session in "The Lounge" as always. Your story about the builder was spot on. I'm happy to talk Whisky with anyone, almost any time,
but it's rare to encounter a "Whisky lover" that has much knowledge beyond the Livets and the Fiddichs, and other big names in Whisky.
I'm always willing to help further their Whisky education 😂 if they have time to listen. Slainte Mhath
Congrats on 7 years. Totally impressed by your almost unswerving enthusiasm.
We don't agree on quite a few facets of whisky but I anticipate and enjoy your content after the event every time immensely.
Good question about introducing new people to toxic ethanol.
I was very impressed by two female asian Heriot Watt distilling students at a Dornoch Festival tasting this year who tasted then (like I have at many wine tastings but at no whisky tasting) spat.
My normal practice is now to take empty sample bottles, labels etc. nose sip then store most to enjoy later after a live event.
Is some variant of these a possible model for clubs, tasting venues, and festivals in the future?
It's a good idea to de-couple nosing, tasting and intoxication.
You make a really good point about the price comparison. Even drinking at home a can of good quality locally made beer typically goes for at least $2-3 a can and when you compare that to buying whisky bottles that ends up being per serving $60-90 a bottle of whisky.
Thanks to years of viewing the vPub I can now smell and taste my friends and family under the table.
I would thank and congratulate you Roy but, unfortunately, my friends and family smell and taste terrible.
In a world where everything becomes artificial, soulless, fast and cost-efficient, whisky is one of the few products that are remain natural and true, made by people, with hard work and great patience. Therefore, it deserves support. 🥃🥃
Minute 44:00 I wish I would have Ralfys channel at my beginning, I would have spared many starter mistakes. My first one was a Glenfiddich 15 Yo Solera, now atm Im enjoying an Ardmore 21yo from SV for 🇩🇪 market, wonderful stuff, 138€ bargain instead of 168€ and I’m happy for every drop of it. Beginners are not aware of the Marketing traps and spend too much money for average stuff.
Happy 7 year anniversary, great on replay
6/10 on replay. Tough to make it when not live to avail of crowd expertise!
Minute 24:00 yes, but not drinking, enjoying, and this comes with older age and experience.
Geeze Roy, if you think you’re prices are going up, don’t come to OZ, if we can find a decent single malt under $100aus that would be amazing. Most OZ made whisky cost well over the ton.
Minute 56:00 I agree, I would not touch these whiskies