My journey with whisky didn’t start in a distillery or on a tasting tour. It started simply.
Like many people, I grew up drinking beer. It was easy, social, and familiar. But over time, I found myself reaching for whisky more often. There was something about it—it felt slower, more intentional, like a drink you take time to understand.
In the beginning, it was very basic. Blended whisky, plenty of ice… and yes, even cola. For years, I stuck with bottles like Famous Grouse and Bell’s. They were consistent, approachable, and, to this day, I still respect them for what they are.
But there was always curiosity in the background.
Single malts felt like a completely different world—one I wanted to understand, but couldn’t quite connect with at first. I tried, but nothing really clicked.
Until one day, it finally did.
I was catching up with a friend, just a normal moment, when he poured me a glass of Laphroaig. That one dram changed everything. The smoke, the intensity, the character—it wasn’t just a drink anymore, it was an experience. It completely reshaped how I saw whisky.
After that, I started exploring single malts more often. Not in a structured way—I still drifted back to what I knew—but something had definitely changed.
Then life shifted.
I lost my job and started a new one. It was a turning point, and that’s when I made a decision: I wanted to truly explore whisky. Not just drink it, but understand it and enjoy it properly.
So I created a simple habit—every payday, I’d go to the supermarket and buy a bottle of single malt. No real plan, just whatever was on offer. It might not sound like much, but that’s where everything started to come together.
I began noticing the differences—how each distillery has its own character, how casks influence flavor, how no two whiskies are ever quite the same.
That’s when I got hooked.
From there, things became more intentional. I moved beyond supermarkets and started exploring online shops. I developed my own taste, learned what I enjoy, and started building a list of bottles I wanted to try next.
I remember telling a coworker, when I had around 12 bottles, that I might eventually run out of ideas.
He laughed and said, “You’ll never run out.”
He was right.
Now, that list just keeps growing.
What started as buying one bottle a month has turned into something much bigger. I still enjoy whisky for what it is, but I’ve also started thinking about collecting—and even investing. Recently, I took it a step further and bought my very first cask.
Something I never would have imagined back when I was mixing whisky with cola.
And that’s the beauty of it.
Whisky isn’t just about drinking—it’s about the journey, the learning, and the constant discovery. There’s always another bottle, another flavor, another story waiting.
This channel is where I share that journey—from beginner to collector, and everything in between.
Because in the world of whisky, the possibilities are endless.
And for me, it all started with a single glass of Laphroaig.
My name is Simon, I live in the UK—and interestingly, despite everything, I’ve never actually been to Scotland.