At risk of sounding a little hypocritical (if you’ve read some of the other blogs here on Great Drams, you’ll understand) today I’m going to be talking to you about something a little different. Today, I’m going to talk to you about how NOT to be a whisky snob. 

Whisky is something I’m very passionate about. It’s a huge part of my life and it’s the reason why we’ve enjoyed such huge success here at Great Drams. I appreciate a fine whisky, but at the same time I know that not everybody enjoys the same things. When somebody doesn’t like the same whisky as I, I certainly don’t throw my toys out of the pram, or hop on Facebook to write out a passive-aggressive status (do people even use Facebook anymore?)

Some people don’t seem to be able to comprehend that tastes differ, and can be a little judgemental when it comes to whisky and the preferences of others. I want to change that. 

Here’s the Great Drams guide on how not to be a whisky snob. 

Stop with the Whisky Tribalism

One thing I’ve noticed in the whisky community, and beyond for that matter, is more and more people adopting a kind of tribalism when it comes to their whisky. 

People seem to “pick a side” in terms of a type of whisky, and woe betide anybody else who happens to prefer a different type of whisky. You tend to see this especially in terms of single malts, versus blended whisky, versus bourbon whiskey. 

Of course, it’s perfectly fine to prefer single malt to whisky to blended, but don’t look down your nose at somebody who prefers blended whisky. There are plenty of amazing blended whiskies out there (we’ve sold plenty ourselves) just as there are plenty of amazing single malts and bourbons. 

I’ve found that, when it comes to whisky, it’s nice to be open minded. Being open minded lets you discover new things, and that includes whisky. There are plenty of whiskies I now love, that I would never have tried had I stayed close-minded and stubborn in my whisky choices. 

Contrary to popular belief, it is okay to enjoy single malt whisky as well as blended whisky or bourbon. People are allowed to enjoy more than one whisky, this isn’t football. 

Don’t Assume that Cheaper Whisky is Inferior

Another thing I’d like to see stop in the whisky community, is the perception that all cheaper whisky is inferior to more expensive whisky because that’s not always the case. 

Now, don’t get me wrong, a bottle of whisky for less than a tenner is probably going to taste far worse than a 15-year-old, sherry cask finished single malt that costs close to ten times that of the cheap dram. That doesn’t mean that all budget-friendly whiskies are going to taste nasty, because they don’t. 

Having tried plenty of whiskies over the years, including affordable drams, eye-wateringly expensive drams, and everything in between, I’ve found plenty of affordable whiskies that tasted much better than the more expensive ones. 

I know I’m rambling, but what I’m trying to say is that you shouldn’t just assume that a more affordable whisky is going to suck when compared to an expensive one because that may not be true. 

Enjoy Whisky Your Way

If you’re a Scotch drinker, you probably know that traditionally, the best way to enjoy Scotch is neat. If you find that Scotch can be a bit harsh neat however, don’t be afraid to try it in a different way. 

I’ve seen so many people try to force themselves to enjoy neat whisky, rather than add a touch of mineral way because “Scotch should be enjoyed neat”. In truth, the best way to enjoy Scotch, Irish whiskey, Japanese whisky, rye, bourbon, or any other kind, is the way that you want to. 

If you want to add mineral water, ice cubes, or even a mixer with a whisky, you go right ahead. Why cut your nose off to spite your own face? 

Don’t Assume that Whisky is Simply for Old Men

Okay, I might not exactly be a spring chicken anymore, but I don’t consider myself old (my back sometimes has other ideas) and I love whisky, which is a good job really, isn’t it? 

I also know plenty of other people much younger than myself who happen to love whisky. I also know plenty of women who love whisky. We need to stop with the whole “whisky is an old man’s drink” because it’s a stereotype that’s not true, and it isn’t doing the industry any favours. 

No matter your age, and no matter your gender, whisky is for everyone. 

Don’t Judge Others Based on Their Whisky Preferences

Finally, before I leave you to go off, pour yourselves another dram, and wonder exactly when summer will arrive this year, I’m going to talk to you about the importance of not judging others. 

I know I sound like a stuck record (showing my age again here) but different people like different things. I’ve been in pubs where barmen have literally refused to serve people because they ordered their drink in a different way to what is considered “normal”. Seriously?! Just let people enjoy what they enjoy. 

Some like pineapple on pizza, others hate it, or at least have been brainwashed into hating it by social media. Neither person is wrong, we just like what we like. If someone enjoys a cheaper whisky, or likes an unconventional mixer in their whisky, so what? Leave them to it. 

As you can tell, this is something that really gets on my wick. So, yeah, don’t judge others and let them enjoy whatever whisky they enjoy, however they enjoy it. 

If you’re looking for rare, award-winning, limited-edition, unique, and delicious Scotch Whiskies, look no further than Greatdrams.com and check out the huge selection of fantastic whisky products that we have available. 

Here you’ll find all manner of different whiskies, primarily Scotch, to suit all palates and budgets, that you simply can’t find elsewhere. We also have an extensive array of whisky/whiskey-related information so you can learn more about your favourite drams, how they’re made, and the distilleries that produce them.