It would have been rude not too. However they were trying to push me to more expensive bottles. £50 for 57%.

Will US tariffs on UK over support for Denmark and Greenland spell further misery for the Scotch whisky industry?

The Cairn - the official story is that the 3 year old release was made because they tasted it at 3 y.o and felt it was worth a sneak peak of 1,000 bottles. However their first official release of core range will still be at 12 years old.

Shaping up to be a solo tour of the Cairn!

For a pretty inactive account, I’ve had a spate of new followers, most without a drinks connection at all. I suspect the bots are working overtime to check on any political comment I may make.

I left X as it was full of right wing conspiracists, racists and the fact Musk is a zoomer, now that Grok has made AI imaging a premium feature, is it not now the acceptable face of misogynists, sexual predators and paedos? Ironic, given Musk labelled the Thai cave rescue diver a paedo…

Narrowly avoided a New Years Day trip to A&E when my wife didn’t listen when adding wine to a pan full of meat juices. And boiling hot fat. It was going well until she put it back on the hot hob. For the second time we have fat and red wine marks on the kitchen ceiling. She was warned…

Today I properly break my (enforced) teetotalism properly. My main New Year’s resolution is to get back on the barley juice. Have a good New Year and all the best for 2026.

Ballindalloch Mail Drop - 11 year old Single cask. CS NCF NC. £195. That pricing would bring tears to a glass eye.

It’s a new entry for #ratemyrowie. Strathisla bakery in Keith this time. They have their fan base, but it’s a fail on this attempt, but with mitigating circumstances. Read thread for more. 🧵

It may not be the end of the world, but I could certainly see it from here. Tax demand, car breakdown, tons of snow, 7 hr wait for the RAC and they didnt show. Now daughter loads dirty dishes into machine full of clean ones. #shiteday

Roseisle Maltings temporarily ceases production www.northern-scot.co.uk/news/we-look...

If Bluesky has done nothing else, I’m grateful for the fact it’s led me to focus a lot less on social media. Perhaps it’s all had its day…

New Fridge today, but my malaise with electrical appliances continued with the vacuum cleaner tripping the mains breaker. Running out of stuff to break…

Not going to say where I stayed in the Middlesbrough area last night was rough, but… The driver of the white van said it was his fourth time getting broken into at that location. The hotel was going to wait until 8am to inform the blue van driver know. Shite day for him incoming.

Am in Northern England for work. So, do any of you drivers around here know what a mirror is or should they be optional extras?

Preparing for the 2026 whisky festival season. Handwash only. 😕

Clearing out a wardrobe and came across this old gem. From 8 Sqn. RAF Lossiemouth when they still used the ancient Shackletons. I had work experience there in Jan 1990. Been at least 3 decades since it last fitted!

My wife requested whisky sauce as we’re having haggis tonight. Despite me insisting that’s just for tourists, she wants whisky sauce. So today we are using lamb stock and unloved whisky. #unlovedwhisky #haggis #glendronach15revival

Accounts submitted to Companies House show Brewdog has lost £148m in the last 5 years. A story of Punk IPA & market capitalism👇 wp.me/p15p2Q-fcq

Feeling happy. Just worked out the bass intro to Schism. Just got to learn the rest of it. #tool

Music to my ears.

One for you whisky and train geeks… Under the tarpaulin at the Strathspey Steam Railway, Aviemore lies the remains of the locomotive Balmenach, used to haul wagons between the distillery and Cromdale station.

Just back from a weekend in Rome. Hotel whisky selection rather dubious. You know it’s a shithole when only JW Red makes it onto the shelves.

SNWF was a bit disappointing but met up with only one soldier from the usual crew. Cheers @whiskyfirme.bsky.social

Top tip. Call into @aberdeenwhiskyshop.bsky.social before the National Whisky Festival and get some bargains to prevent impulse buying the next day. The other top tip is to go when bursting for a wee-wee. You don’t dally long and it limits the wallet damage!

How will I know I feel like a shill if I don’t try it? Research is key. Know where your freebies come from.

Only one word needed in its elongated form. FFFF****CCCCKKKK!! Hob down.

Charlie Kirk. While I think violence in the name of politics is abhorrent as is murder, I can’t say that the world won’t be a better place with his misogynistic, racist and supremacist views not being broadcast. Good riddance.

I’m writing again. Some people may not like it though. But that’s half the fun.

Looking for a Daftmill? Nae so rare now, and they don’t seem to be instantly selling out. Tells a story…

2nd bottle kill in a night. Wifey bought this one for me because she knew I liked Talisker. When I asked why she didn’t buy me Talisker, she said she thought I had tons of it. I don’t. Can’t fault her logic though. And I enjoyed this for what it was.

Bottle kill. Can’t say I’ll miss this at all. New toddy whisky needed.

I’m against putting ice in whisky but hey, it’s your drink. Drink it how you like it.

Due to my shenanigans on Sunday, I didn't promote this new #what3whiskies terribly well. So please, take a couple of minutes to find out about @thedramble.bsky.social of @londondistilleryco.bsky.social clairevokins.substack.com/p/meet-matt-...

Bought the wife a 2nd hand acoustic guitar. It needed restrung - which I did and retuned. Only the metal strings hurt her and now I’ve put nylon strings on. Takes ages to tune. I think I’ve just become my wife’s guitar tech.

One of the poorer things about social media is not meeting people for ages, sending them the odd birthday message, only to find out they died over four years ago. This is all really superficial and shouldn’t be taken so seriously. Real people more important.

Despite an apparent downturn, are some brands still taking the mickey? Ballindalloch 7 Springs, CS, NC, NCF 9yrs old, Ex Bourbon, 1200 bottles. £150 + £15 shipping. 😏

'Whisky&Co sold casks of whisky as investments, claiming that they would be stored at HMRC-approved distilleries in Scotland. In fact, the casks held Irish whiskey, stored in Ireland, where HMRC has no jurisdiction.' www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/expert...

It’s been a while but it’s time for #ratemyrowie. This time we have a new entry from Sinclair’s of Rhynie.

Just ordered LBD Wee Mongrel 4 from @aberdeenwhiskyshop.bsky.social, but I’ve nae even opened WM3 yet! The backlog is growing…

Anybody use Highland Whisky Auctions? How do you find their shipping charges? The cheeky chappies tried to charge me £32 for shipping 3 miniatures despite me living less than 100 miles away. 😳

Ey up. Just a short post to say I’m still alive and it’s just work keeping away from whisky related things.

If you need to feel energised, take some time to revisit the song Placebo’s finest song “Nancy Boy”. You’re welcome. youtu.be/PBxuq_eWW94

In other Inverness Airport related news, breakfast was able to be done properly with a bacon roll and Black Isle Blonde organic lager. The £14 price tag was not proper though.

Just seen Talisker 10 on sale at Inverness airport for £78. Just say no kids. #touristripoff

Rage #9. People from outside our area, especially cities, telling rural people how they should be using the land. Sod off #Brewdog and your Lost Forest. Muirburb also reduces fuel load that would have prevented some of last weeks Dava wildfire. Plus, Grouse is tasty.

A look at the latest releases in the Spirit of the Underground series from @bimberdistillery.bsky.social whiskyodyssey.blogspot.com/2025/07/bimb...

There was going to be no rage today but a bonus has popped up. #8 - patronising marketing. I realise this might appeal to some, and not meaning to be offensive, but I’m Scottish and not a child so please don’t advertise to me like one. #straighttothepoint www.prnewswire.com/news-release...

Today’s Rage #7. Oblivious Tourists. From not being able to drive on rural roads, ignoring signs and causing wildfires, choking local facilities in small areas and leaving the area like a bombsite, just go away. Consider Torremolinos next year. 😉