Whisky Connosr
Menu
Buy Whisky Online

Discussions

I've started a blog!

6 60

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh started a discussion

Hi everyone!

I've finally started a blog! I've debated doing this ever since I started reviewing whiskies and finally broke down after receiving quite a few requests to do something along these lines. My goal is to post both on Connosr and my blog

squidgyashwhiskyfiend.blogspot.com.au

So don't worry if blogs aren't your thing!

/Grin You're not getting rid of me that easily!

Some stuff that the blog will have on it over the coming months will be interviews with a couple distillers, things along those lines.

If you do have anything you'd like to see please feel free to post on the blog or send me a message via Connosr or whatever strikes your fancy!

Please let me know what you think!

SquidgyAsh

12 years ago

Jump to last page

Replies: page 1/2

@maltster
maltster replied

Hi SquidgyAsh, nice blog and keep up the personal style of your reviews...and now you can post your pics on your blog.

12 years ago 1Who liked this?

@MacBaker62
MacBaker62 replied

Nice blog SguidgyAsh! This is another blog I'll be adding to my regular reading list.

12 years ago 1Who liked this?

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh replied

Thanks you guys! I appreciate the positive comments. Trying to get a photo of the whisky collection up for the background on the main page, but all my photos are too big hahahaha :D

I'm hoping to post 2 to 3 times a week, but maybe more depending on what's going on. Any suggestions you guys can think of that would improve the site?

12 years ago 0

@markjedi1
markjedi1 replied

Like! Now, if only you'd try some Toshan soon... :)

12 years ago 4Who liked this?

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh replied

@markjedi1 Hoping to get my hands on some Toshan Valinch soon!!! It sounds very yummy!!

12 years ago 0

@Blinkadelic
Blinkadelic replied

Look forward to reading more from down under, the snow Phoenix is a good drinker I must admit.

12 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh replied

@Blinkadelic Thanks my friend!! Glad you enjoyed it! The next 4 or 5 posts will be all Aussie whisky and if I don't get to try anything different in the next few weeks it'll be the next 10 or so posts :D

12 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh replied

Just got a chance to sit down with the founder and distiller of Limeburners last night! Got a chance to try a couple of his whiskies, one that I'd had before and one that was new to me, but I'm buying! Anyway he was kind enough to answer some questions and the interview will be posted on the blog inside of the next couple of weeks! Along with alot of aussie whiskies that we tried last night!

12 years ago 1Who liked this?

Jason0142 replied

Just checked it out, awesome stuff. Great blog design btw, very easy to read and browse.

12 years ago 1Who liked this?

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh replied

Thanks Jason0142!

12 years ago 0

@Alucard
Alucard replied

added to favorites , love the koala :D

12 years ago 1Who liked this?

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh replied

I've just posted an interview with the owner and head distiller, Cameron Syme, of Limeburners Whisky.

Here's a sneak peek!

An Interview with the owner and Head Distiller of Limeburners, Cameron Syme

Which aspects of your production methods or other factors would you say has the greatest impact on the end quality of your whisky, i.e. the one or two things that you do that makes Limeburners whisky what it is?

Cameron comments - that's a tough question - we make every batch by hand, and our attention to detail at every stage of the process (from grain selection, yeast selection, mashing, fermentation timing, distillation, and maturation) is what turns out Limeburners and makes it what it is. it's not really possible to just choose two. Our mission is to make the best whisky in the world (that's the goal - nothing like aiming high) so we have a continuous improvement methodology where we are always looking at the various steps to see where we can improve. I guess perhaps if I had to say the one or two things, then I'd choose 1) the fact that our entire team share the passion and commitment to make premium quality whisky, and 2) we make small volumes by hand according to traditional distillation methods - not one computer is involved in our production process.

What made you decide to distill single malt whisky and what made you choose Albany?

Cs - I love my single malt, to me it's the pinnacle of all drinks. My family came from Scotland, and they were involved in distilling whisky there. I thought Australia makes great wine and beer and send that around the world, and compete at the premium level, why don't we make a whisky - we have all of the key ingredients here - great grain, clean water, clean environment... That was where it all started. Why Albany - after 18 months of site selection process looking everywhere from Perth south, it was clear that on a number of key criteria, Albany was the best place in WA to make single malt whisky.

Was there anything specific in the region that led you to build your distillery there?
Cs- yes, plenty of good quality water from limestone aquifers, some of the worlds best barley grown in the region, renewable energy from the Albany wind farm, a cool climate ideal for maturing whisky, and peat bogs.

Limeburners along with many Australian whiskies have no age statements on the bottles. I believe that you said the average age of most of the whiskies that you produced was between 3 and 5 years old. I agree with your comment that oftentimes there is too much emphasis given to the number of years old that a whisky is, do you think the lack of an age statement hurts Australian whiskies or hurts them?

12 years ago 5Who liked this?

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh replied

Just posted my first beer review. I figure since I have to drink beer in the line of duty I might as well review it. The first beer reviewed is Mikkeller's Black Buffalo, an Imperial Stout aged in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels and sitting at a modest 19.3%!

12 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh replied

Hey everyone!

I've just published my facebook page: The Whisky Fiend if anyone is interested. Going to try and keep it updated with more information then just reviews. Distillery histories and the like, plus photos. If you have any suggestions or things that you'd like to see it focus on please let me know and I'll try to do it!

11 years ago 0

@PMessinger
PMessinger replied

@SquidgyAsh Awesome Blog. You've got talent, I'm sure to stop by from time to time. Thanks for sharing. :)

11 years ago 1Who liked this?

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh replied

@PMessinger Thanks buddy!! Glad that you enjoy it!!!

11 years ago 0

@CanadianNinja

@SquidgyAsh, congrats on starting the blog! All the best of luck to you!

11 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Nolinske
Nolinske replied

Looking forward to reading more beer reviews keep them coming!

11 years ago 1Who liked this?

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh replied

@Nolinske Glad your enjoying the beer reviews! Any particular style of beer that interests you? As you may have noticed I tend to fancy the big dark beers like imperial stouts, imperial porters, Belgian strong ales, etc, but I try all sorts of styles each week.

11 years ago 0

@maltmileage
maltmileage replied

Excellent blog! I look forward to reading it regularly @SquidgyAsh

11 years ago 1Who liked this?

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh replied

@maltmileage Glad you're enjoying it my friend! Should be doing some beer reviews pretty soon as I've got a fairly large back log of them. Btw good blog site of your own!

11 years ago 0

@maltmileage
maltmileage replied

@SquidgyAsh Thanks very much! Glad to see that you are enjoying Australian whisky. Looking forward to the reviews.

11 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh replied

Just posted a sneak peek on what to expect at Whisky Live, specifically in Perth, but the other cities will be getting all these goodies and more!

11 years ago 0

@teebone673
teebone673 replied

@SquidgyAsh Nice blog, man. I look forward to reading it often.

11 years ago 1Who liked this?

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh replied

@teebone673 Thanks buddy! Glad you enjoyed it!!

11 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh replied

Just posted some more information on what to expect at Whisky Live Perth! More and more whiskies up there!

www.whiskylive.com.au/perth/index.html

And I've been informed that there are going to be more whiskies, such as Gordon & MacPhail, etc for the tasting, that aren't up on the website! However the more I hear the more jealous I get of you guys in the Eastern States with Ardbeg and a few other distilleries over there that I won't get.

11 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh replied

I had a massive blast at Whisky Live in Perth! Was heaps and heaps of fun! Tried a couple new whiskies, an Aussie one that blew me and the club away, met some distillers, got some photos taken, won a bottle and totally can't wait for 2013!!! Next major whisky life event: Scotland in less then 2 weeks time!

Also stay tuned because in a day or two I'll be posting a review on a 1949 58 year old Glen Grant!

11 years ago 1Who liked this?

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh replied

I've just got back from Scotland and Singapore and all I can say is that my wife and I had a BLAST!!!

Thanks for the many whisky suggestions that I received from everyone and I'll be doing a post a day on my blog about everything that went on!

I know quite a few members on Connosr follow me on Facebook and so will have some idea of what happened on our trip but for those who don't follow me.

We had quite a few AWESOME things that happened at Gordon & MacPhails (a private warehouse tour), Macallan (private tour of the house on the Macallan label, Easter Elkies house (the spelling is horrible I know) and a behind the scenes tour of Talisker to just name a few! Stay tuned for more details my friends!

11 years ago 2Who liked this?

@StevieC
StevieC replied

@SquidgyAsh Nice job on the blog, good sir! Your feelings about HP 21 are the same as mine! Well said! What a truly amazing whisky! I look forward reading more.

11 years ago 0

Liked by:

@Jules@teebone673@Nolinske@PMessinger@JonMarriage + 1 others