About Tony

“Whisky making is an act of cooperation between the blessings of nature and the wisdom of man” Masataka Taketsuru

This saying really resonates with me as a whisky lover as it perfectly describes that whisky truly is one of the greatest drinks known to man!

My name is Tony and if you’re reading this or visiting this website then you too, must be a lover of whisky.

How I began drinking whisky

Growing up I experimented with lots of different alcoholic drinks. From swigging out of 2 litre bottles of strongbow with friends at the park to drinking pints of lager at the pub. Having a few glasses (or bottles) of wine at dinner parties or social gatherings to the old faithful of Jack and Coke. The taste for alcohol grew but, lager became my drink of choice.

Now this may not be a surprise to many of you, after all, lager is the drink of choice for the majority of male drinkers (and plenty of female ones too). I didn’t drink every day as that would have been stupid and I didn’t want to become an alcoholic, but I did go out most weekends.

When I became a Father, the drinking sessions changed and It became more of a social event or a few beers at home on a Saturday night. As I got older I noticed that my ability to drink a lot of lager was fading. The gassiness of it was making me bloated and I felt lethargic. I felt it was time to change what I was drinking. I didn’t want to give up entirely as I enjoy the odd pint but I didn’t want the gassy feeling all the time.

Whisky to the rescue

I enjoyed a Jack and Coke now and then (Jack Daniels to those in the know!) and the occasional rum, usually Captain Morgans Spiced. However, I wanted to cut out the fizzy stuff as the bloating was just as bad as when I was drinking lager. That’s when I decided to try a single malt whisky and the rest is history!

I had tried whisky when I was younger, tipples like Teachers (I know, I know) and other blended monstrosities that were cheap. Now, before anyone shouts “What’s wrong with blended whisky?” the answer is nothing. At least, not if it is a quality blended whisky of which there are plenty.

Obviously I had gone down the bourbon route and I will always have a bottle or two in the house as I do enjoy the Kentucky goodness but, when I tried my first single malt I was hooked. Not in a way that made me crave it every day but it was just divine.

That single malt was Glenfiddich 12yo and it is still one of my favourite whiskies to this day. I have tried many different varieties of the true golden nectar and this is why I am here today.

My current collection of whiskies

Why I decided to write about my experiences

As my love for whisky grows (and my collection too, much to the annoyance of my better half!), my thirst for knowledge has also grown and I have learnt a lot but not enough about this delightful drink.

I love the first taste of a new whisky, feeling the burn in my throat as it goes down and the warmth that follows shortly after. For me, it is the anticipation of how the taste will change as the whisky slowly makes its way over the tongue, tickling the palette and flowing down the throat.

I want to share with you my whisky experiences, my opinions (which are changing with each new bottle!) and my growing knowledge (I’m not an expert………yet!).

Blogs and reviews to delight and inspire.

This is my main aim and my ethos if you will. I want to educate and inspire both experienced whisky lovers and those who are just dipping their toes into the wonderful world of whisky.

Where did whisky come from? How is it made? Is single malt better then blended? What’s the difference between Scotch whisky and Irish whisky? The list of questions to be answered is long but I will do my best to give you these answers.

That’s all from me for know, I hope you join me on this journey of discovery as we find out all about whisky, the greatest drink known to man!

Thanks for reading

Tony