For those of you who still aren’t subscribers to Malt Advocate magazine (hint!), I thought I would post my editorial from the new issue that just mailed. Why? Because the topic is about you!
Have a look:
Are you addicted to whisky?
Okay, maybe “addicted” might be too strong. But I don’t think “obsession” is.
Over the holidays, I asked my blog readers on www.whatdoesjohnknow.com what their New Year’s resolutions were. Here are a few of many; note that they share a common theme:
“My resolution is to regain my sanity and not spend so much on whisky…”
“Measure my drams more carefully to control portion size.”
“I spent too much on whisky this year. So much so, that my wife gave me some sideways glances. Not good.”
“My resolution will be to stop buying impulsively.”
“More willpower and less buying”
Control portion size? Regain your sanity? More willpower? Your wife is giving you sideways glances? What’s going on here? (And why do I feel like those exact words came out of my mouth somewhere along the way?)
Here’s what I think this all boils down to. I think it’s a huge compliment to whisky. Whisky (and whiskey) is the finest, most complex, most individualistic, most diverse spirit in the world. Once someone truly discovers it, it’s hard to resist its magical allure.
If anyone understands, I do. One day, many years ago, a good friend turned me on to scotch, with help from a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label. The next day I read an article in Business Week magazine about single malt scotch. I immediately went to my local retailer and bought every bottle they had. All three of them.
For years to follow, I wanted to try every whisky I could get my hands on. My life revolved around trips to Scotland, whisky bars, whisky retailers…and reading everything about whisky I could.
Just look at me now: obsession to the max! I publish a whisky magazine, host whisky festivals, conduct whisky tastings and consult to the whisky industry. I am embarrassed to say how many bottles of whisky I have. (Let’s just say it takes up an entire room in my house. A large room.)
Addiction? No. Obsession? Definitely. Worth it? Absolutely!
Hey, did you hear about the new Ardbeg whisky coming out? I hear that the peat smoke levels are through the roof! I have to get me a bottle of that…
See, when you comment on WDJK, you never know where your quotes will show up. Thank you for the inspiration!
Haha, a really nice old school hobbyist-style editorial
Of course, if this were another publication, this editorial could have gone in another direction, criticizing alchoholism and compulsive shopping– but this is the good old Malt Advocate.
Maybe in the future we can get deeper– hire people to do interviews, hang around on site at spirits stores and tastings, and generally watch for whisky addicts (and their spouses)– See if they can bring back any good stories. That would be a nice piece!
Hey, Red, you can have that job. I’ll just continue to be one of the guys you’re watching and reporting on.
That’ll work out just fine two-bit seeing as I spend a good 15% of my life hanging around spirits stores already.
My true test will come in about a week when I head to Scotland for almost two weeks
My buying in Scotland has always been tempered by knowing that I have to carry the stuff back. My fear of US Customs has abated somewhat–I’ve never been charged for the six or eight bottles I usually bring back–but now it’s airline overweight fees that strike terror in my heart. I feel less urge than I used to, as well, since there is more interesting stuff available here than ever. I limit myself mostly to distillery hand-fills, Chivas Brothers Cask Strength Editions, and Cadenhead’s bottlings. Still plenty of temptation there.
Nice piece, John. I’m looking forward to the arrival of my first new MA after a too long gap between subscriptions.
B. J., that’s brilliant. I hope we get to read about it afterward, or even a bit during!
Now that’s an idea – If John doesn’t mind I may post a couple of things on the blog if they are interesting about the tour/visits – We are hitting both Islay and Orkney on this one as well as some favorite haunts in Northern Highlands and Speyside – I think we could be overdoing it but what is the fun in not trying!!!
Reach out to me when you return.
The lines between hobby and insanity are razor thin my friend. It’s obsessive and you cant help but WANT that next bottle, and NEED to know how it tastes. I have successfully avoided buying new bottles for two months. That’s a personal best. Of course, now I am heading to whiskey fest, so I don’t think I am totally ahead of the game.
Just read a funny footer from someone in a whisky forum:
I don’t collect whisky, I am just behind in drinking it.
That’s a good one. And accurate!
i try to limit myself to one bottle a month. unless of course i come across some good sales like back at xmas when i bought 6 in one day
i see it as a healthy obsession. a learning process and something i can enjoy in moderation. it would be a problem if i was going through a bottle a week, but it usually takes me a few months to kick a bottle. my collection is up to 17 bottles now. about half irish half scotch. its great because each whisk(e)y suits a different mood. i have a supportive wife too, as i havent gotten “the look” yet, lol. she actually just bought me a new bottle of jameson 12 year old distillery reserve for my birthday. now thats love!
Very nice article which i can show to my girlfriend to show that there are more out there, and that she doesn’t need to worry.
About the glance; together with a purchase of an expensive bottle i always buy her some good wine or port , that usually does the trick. Otherwise i sneak it in and tell her ‘ oh that was there for ages” like she does with her shoes
I started as a hobby but I am now really obsessed about expanding the collection, I buy around 20-30 bottles per month. I do really need professional help. Can anyone send me some bottles!?
if i ever hit the lottery, my first order of business is building a whisk(e)y cellar.
Hahah. Very nice, John. Very nicely done indeed.
Whisky isn’t an obsession for me. I wouldn’t call 90 currently open single malts an obsession. I’d call it more an exercise in self-control that they’re not all empty.
John, if you’ve diagnosed an illness, you should help treat it, not encourage it. Perhaps you could help those of us who are going through withdrawal
“Hey, did you hear about the new Ardbeg whisky coming out? I hear that the peat smoke levels are through the roof!”
What rumour have you started now..?
[...] John Hansell editorializes about whisky bloggers. [...]