If you've been around the vPub for long enough you'll occasionally hear me suggest that, despite some challenges happening in whisky, we've never had it so good.

You may also hear me moan about prices, cynicism and availability, while I weep tears of pure nostalgia over long-lost bottles that I can't afford or no longer exist.

So which is it?

Well, I could of course blether on like I usually do and attempt to share my own opinions, but there's plenty of vPubs where I do just that. How about a fresh perspective? How about I reach out to someone who's pretty interested in such things and ask for their take?

If you've been around whisky for long enough, you've likely heard of Angus MacRaild. Perhaps you know him as The Whisky Sponge, or perhaps the other fella who writes for WhiskyFun when Serge doesn't. I've been a follower of Angus for as long as I’ve been serious about whisky and attending tastings hosted by him were very unique experiences indeed.
 
Not tied to any producer or brand (well, except the independent bottler that he runs I suppose) and with a wealth of knowledge in malts, blends and bottlings of decades past, he possesses a pretty broad view of whisky in general; where it's come from and where it's at. If we're lucky he might even touch upon where he thinks it's going.
 
We'll use our time to cover as many topics as possible and there will be no reigns placed on opinion. However I hope, despite the lofty title of this session, we'll be reflective of some of the magic of whisky and everything it brings.
 
So, pour something you love and join us as we try to keep it appropriate to the season and fathom where we are, in whisky, at the end of 2022.
 
We'd love to welcome you there.

Some tech failures. I only need four things to be solid for a live stream; camera, audio, lights and data connection. Ah well, one out of four ain't bad. 😒
Anyway, despite it we unpack a lot. Here goes:

0:00 - Opening (wrong mic!)
2:54 - Intro to topic
4:44 - Welcoming in the lounge
11:00 - Welcoming in Angus
19:12 - An accidental career
27:57 - The beginnings of The Sponge
41:28 - An 'antique' Glenlivet 12
44:00 - A moment with a 1884 whisky
46:50 - Whisky is better today?
1:01:59 - Prices will slow?
1:09:48 - Cynical pricing in 2022
1:11:58 - Cask investment
1:17:54 - The 'ocean' of stock
1:31:28 - Reviewing samples
1:41:48 - Remaining independent
1:46:16 - Whisky changing in the bottle
1:51:15 - Remembering dad
1:54:20 - Serge vs. Angus
1:59:05 - Malt vs Blends
2:03:14 - New distilleries!
2:11:29 - The threat to scotch
2:24:38 - Quiz at the End
Links:
The Whisky Sponge : [ Ссылка ]
Decadent Drinks: [ Ссылка ]

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