Mate, what a cracking vid. The only one I haven't delved into yet is the auction world. It was your good self who got my into the indie scene after we met up last June - and I do love the SMWS. Watching this while sipping on an £18 Black Bottle Tesco pick up earlier. I love the grains and, well, the community is just awesome with sample swaps etc - and fantastic camaraderie too. Cheers Ben.
Cheers Al!! You know I love an SMWS! Plus, that black bottle is excellent for the money. Was genuinely surprised by how much I like it, to be honest. Sláinte, my good man! 🥃🥃
Some fantastic tips! I am slowly starting to dip my toe into auctions, and there are some great bargains to be had, although I haven't built up the courage to quite push the button on anything yet. Also, great tip about attending Kendal Whisky Festival 😉 Glad you could make it down. Hope to see you there in 2023. I'll make sure to come over and have a chat.
Solid advice! I've been interested in exploring IBs, but I haven't taken the plunge yet. My budget-friendly approach: temper the urge to drink too much too often and don't skimp on quality. Currently, I'm feeling the financial pinch. Right now, I have only three bottles going (Port Charlotte 10, Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 6, and Ardnamurchan CS). My supply is a bit thin, but it still has enough heft in quality to keep me happy. So, I save what little money I can, and I buy what I like (within reason) and stretch it out. Basically, I'm rationing, and it ain't easy. But I still find each Friday and Saturday night quite satisfying because the stuff is delicious. Yes, I want those three bottles to enjoy the company of about ten more on my list (some new ones and some familiar ones that must be part of the arsenal). But I can't swing it right now, so I just buy one when I can and take it slow. Anyway, thanks for another typically thoughtful, informative, engaging video!
And what a trio it is too! All excellent drams. I’ve definitely been cutting back on the drinking too (gotta try and slim down a little for the wedding!), which definitely helps. Absolutely agree about not skimping on quality. Would rather pick up 1 good bottle of something than 2 not-so-good. I hope you find a friend for your 3 bottles soon! Would highly recommend checking out the master of Malt indies. So much incredible liquid popping up on there. Sláinte, brother! 🥃🥃
Great list Ben! For me, it is setting a list of whiskys that I am after and setting up price watches on them due to price fluxation! For example had Longrow Peated on my list for a good 6-7 months only for it to appear at £33! Also always check the sale sections online, found some absolute bargains over the years! Cheers.
Thank you very much brother! £33 is an absolute STEAL!!! What do you use for “price watching”? There some kind of app/site? Or do you literally just check regularly? I really should curate a list, y’know… good idea. Sláinte!! 🥃🥃🥃
Great advice. thankyou. I've personally turned to Bourbon recently as in my local market (Australia) this is substantially cheaper than SM. Some great cask strength quality products that are widely available and 25-50% cheaper to a comparable single malt. Variety is the spice of life 👌
Auctions are weird - so often I see things go for the same as they would cost to buy on master of malt after commission etc…but sometimes you can get some real bargains as you point out. Amazon can also be great - Talisker 10 was £27 the other week, have also been picking up some great things from the whisky broker recently.
It’s sometimes such a coin-toss. I know nothing of the “market” for certain bottles so usually just browse for anything that looks weird, with no bids, on the last day. Set myself a budget and go nuts! Just yesterday I secured 3 great bottles for only £100! At least one of them (a Carn Mor) easily goes for £50/60 a pop so dead chuffed with that. Sadly I’ve not had any real big Amazon wins of recent, but do check in from time to time. Everyone on the Whisky Broker train… I’m missing out!! Cheers! 🥃🥃
Whisky broker is a good shout earlier down in the comments. As is Amazon. £27 Talisker 10, and it wasn’t that long ago when I bought a port Charlotte 10 for £30. Getting few and far between now. Basically, fill your boots when you see them. Auctions are great, and you can get some bargain like you say. Again, becoming harder now as they are more popular since folk are abandoning retail shops en masse due to unaffordable/unattractive RRPs. I hate to say it, but flipping older bottles in your collection to buy new whisky is fine. Personally, I have zero problem buying a limited Macallan as an example and flipping it immediately and buying whisky you want to drink. In late 2021, I flipped a bottle Macallan Rich Cacao and bought 4 bottles of Talisker 18 (when it was £80) with the proceeds. In the words of Punch & Judy, that’s the way to do it! 😂
I’ve had some stunning drams from Whisky Broker y’know (I’ve even been to their warehouse and pulled a cask!)… just never remember to go and buy some!! And definitely love an auction. See, flipping the odd bottle of old, rare, expensive liquid (like that Macallan, or the like)… what you people do with those is up to them, and I completely get the collectibility of those sorts of things. Their own like, micro market… I get it… but when it’s matey boasting on twitter about working their way around the Torabhaig “2 per customer” limit to scoop 40 (or more) of them and drop them all on an auction a week later, to make what… £10’s per bottle? That took Whisky out of the hands of the people that wanted to drink it. I was so excited for that, and ended up paying about £20 more at auction for one 6 months later. Tbh, I think that damages the brand, if people see them as “well people flip this liquid so nah, not interested in paying double”. At the end of the day what people do with their money, and whisky, is up to them, and I do value the positive impact of the secondary market… but I don’t like it in situations like the above. Plus, at the end of the day, that’s just my opinion! Thanks for your comment! Love to have a conversation about this sort of thing. Sláinte! 🥃🥃
I’m looking for a whiskey expert to collaborate on with creating a whiskey smoker out of hardwood. Would love to work with your channel and create a branded whiskey smoker for you. I currently sell a smoker that sells quite well locally.
Whiskybroker is a superb value for money IB. Shackletons is often found is supermarkets and even though it's 40% and chill filtered it's a malt whisky and decent dram and usually around £20.
The good 40%, filtered, fake-tanned drams absolutely do exist, I just really struggle to find them. I’ll absolutely have to give that a go. For £20 it’s almost rude not to! Cheers! 🥃🥃
Another enjoyable video. They say whisky is for sharing but if it gets any more expensive I won't be sharing much 😀
Hahaha!! Thanks, Sandy!
I’m sure you say that, but when it comes to it… you’ll be pouring them around…
Sláinte, ya legend! 🥃🥃
Mate, what a cracking vid. The only one I haven't delved into yet is the auction world. It was your good self who got my into the indie scene after we met up last June - and I do love the SMWS. Watching this while sipping on an £18 Black Bottle Tesco pick up earlier. I love the grains and, well, the community is just awesome with sample swaps etc - and fantastic camaraderie too. Cheers Ben.
Cheers Al!! You know I love an SMWS! Plus, that black bottle is excellent for the money. Was genuinely surprised by how much I like it, to be honest. Sláinte, my good man! 🥃🥃
Some fantastic tips! I am slowly starting to dip my toe into auctions, and there are some great bargains to be had, although I haven't built up the courage to quite push the button on anything yet. Also, great tip about attending Kendal Whisky Festival 😉 Glad you could make it down. Hope to see you there in 2023. I'll make sure to come over and have a chat.
Solid advice! I've been interested in exploring IBs, but I haven't taken the plunge yet.
My budget-friendly approach: temper the urge to drink too much too often and don't skimp on quality.
Currently, I'm feeling the financial pinch. Right now, I have only three bottles going (Port Charlotte 10, Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 6, and Ardnamurchan CS). My supply is a bit thin, but it still has enough heft in quality to keep me happy. So, I save what little money I can, and I buy what I like (within reason) and stretch it out. Basically, I'm rationing, and it ain't easy. But I still find each Friday and Saturday night quite satisfying because the stuff is delicious.
Yes, I want those three bottles to enjoy the company of about ten more on my list (some new ones and some familiar ones that must be part of the arsenal). But I can't swing it right now, so I just buy one when I can and take it slow.
Anyway, thanks for another typically thoughtful, informative, engaging video!
And what a trio it is too! All excellent drams.
I’ve definitely been cutting back on the drinking too (gotta try and slim down a little for the wedding!), which definitely helps. Absolutely agree about not skimping on quality. Would rather pick up 1 good bottle of something than 2 not-so-good.
I hope you find a friend for your 3 bottles soon! Would highly recommend checking out the master of Malt indies. So much incredible liquid popping up on there.
Sláinte, brother! 🥃🥃
Great list Ben! For me, it is setting a list of whiskys that I am after and setting up price watches on them due to price fluxation! For example had Longrow Peated on my list for a good 6-7 months only for it to appear at £33! Also always check the sale sections online, found some absolute bargains over the years! Cheers.
Thank you very much brother! £33 is an absolute STEAL!!! What do you use for “price watching”? There some kind of app/site? Or do you literally just check regularly?
I really should curate a list, y’know… good idea.
Sláinte!! 🥃🥃🥃
Great advice. thankyou. I've personally turned to Bourbon recently as in my local market (Australia) this is substantially cheaper than SM. Some great cask strength quality products that are widely available and 25-50% cheaper to a comparable single malt. Variety is the spice of life 👌
Auctions are weird - so often I see things go for the same as they would cost to buy on master of malt after commission etc…but sometimes you can get some real bargains as you point out. Amazon can also be great - Talisker 10 was £27 the other week, have also been picking up some great things from the whisky broker recently.
It’s sometimes such a coin-toss. I know nothing of the “market” for certain bottles so usually just browse for anything that looks weird, with no bids, on the last day. Set myself a budget and go nuts! Just yesterday I secured 3 great bottles for only £100! At least one of them (a Carn Mor) easily goes for £50/60 a pop so dead chuffed with that. Sadly I’ve not had any real big Amazon wins of recent, but do check in from time to time.
Everyone on the Whisky Broker train… I’m missing out!!
Cheers! 🥃🥃
Whisky broker is a good shout earlier down in the comments. As is Amazon. £27 Talisker 10, and it wasn’t that long ago when I bought a port Charlotte 10 for £30. Getting few and far between now. Basically, fill your boots when you see them. Auctions are great, and you can get some bargain like you say. Again, becoming harder now as they are more popular since folk are abandoning retail shops en masse due to unaffordable/unattractive RRPs. I hate to say it, but flipping older bottles in your collection to buy new whisky is fine. Personally, I have zero problem buying a limited Macallan as an example and flipping it immediately and buying whisky you want to drink. In late 2021, I flipped a bottle Macallan Rich Cacao and bought 4 bottles of Talisker 18 (when it was £80) with the proceeds. In the words of Punch & Judy, that’s the way to do it! 😂
I’ve had some stunning drams from Whisky Broker y’know (I’ve even been to their warehouse and pulled a cask!)… just never remember to go and buy some!! And definitely love an auction.
See, flipping the odd bottle of old, rare, expensive liquid (like that Macallan, or the like)… what you people do with those is up to them, and I completely get the collectibility of those sorts of things. Their own like, micro market… I get it… but when it’s matey boasting on twitter about working their way around the Torabhaig “2 per customer” limit to scoop 40 (or more) of them and drop them all on an auction a week later, to make what… £10’s per bottle? That took Whisky out of the hands of the people that wanted to drink it. I was so excited for that, and ended up paying about £20 more at auction for one 6 months later. Tbh, I think that damages the brand, if people see them as “well people flip this liquid so nah, not interested in paying double”. At the end of the day what people do with their money, and whisky, is up to them, and I do value the positive impact of the secondary market… but I don’t like it in situations like the above. Plus, at the end of the day, that’s just my opinion!
Thanks for your comment! Love to have a conversation about this sort of thing. Sláinte! 🥃🥃
They do free delivery on some of the MoM releases too
Very good point! Some excellent deals to be had there. 🥃🥃
I’m looking for a whiskey expert to collaborate on with creating a whiskey smoker out of hardwood. Would love to work with your channel and create a branded whiskey smoker for you. I currently sell a smoker that sells quite well locally.
Whiskybroker is a superb value for money IB. Shackletons is often found is supermarkets and even though it's 40% and chill filtered it's a malt whisky and decent dram and usually around £20.
The good 40%, filtered, fake-tanned drams absolutely do exist, I just really struggle to find them. I’ll absolutely have to give that a go. For £20 it’s almost rude not to! Cheers! 🥃🥃