Whisky Live Glasgow 2008

[Spirit of Islay]

I have to mention the great fun it was to meet up with everyone again and meet some new faces, including Gordon SOI et al over at the SMWS in Leith.

Nice to meet up with you too Mark .
Even though i wasn't at WL it was sad to hear how disappointed everyone was who had been there but has this not been coming for a while ? Over-Commercialisation ?

[Deactivated Member]

I've posted all the whiskies I tried over here and don't want to duplicate:

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1439&start=9555#p182636

[Deactivated Member]

I have to mention the great fun it was to meet up with everyone again and meet some new faces, including Gordon SOI et al over at the SMWS in Leith.

Nice to meet up with you too Mark .
Even though i wasn't at WL it was sad to hear how disappointed everyone was who had been there but has this not been coming for a while ? Over-Commercialisation ?

I think the cost of the stands is probably quite off-putting for the independents, but I don't know why so many big names weren't there.

[TreacleSponge]

There weren't as many stands as I expected. Jimmy, yes there was a bit of a feeling that some of the stands were just showing very ordinary expressions, which is disappointing. I couldn't get to the Independents stand as it was too busy, which is a big shame. Also the noise from the entertainment corner of the hall sometimes made it hard to chat with people working at the stands.

I went to the WM stand thinking about buying the Macallan bottling but when I asked the girl about it she just talked about how it's a collector's item, and raved about the signed packaging and certificate but didn't mention anything about the whisky itself (or the WL Karuizawa which was also for sale). As I think whisky is for drinking and I didn't want an ornament, I didn't buy it - she dampened my enthusiasm and I felt that as I'm not a collector it's not aimed at me.

Despite all that, the masterclasses (both Ardbeg & Rob's Silent Distilleries) were excellent and made it worthwhile going, and I tasted a lot of whiskies I wouldn't have otherwise tried.

Vouchers weren't a problem. I was only there for Friday so at the end of the evening I bought John McGill & Willie JJ's friendship by giving them the rest of my vouchers to use the next day, so now they're contracted to say only nice things about me. And on Saturday I gave my brother's spare vouchers to a random man who was eating his breakfast at the hotel as I was checking-out. I do hope he had a nice day with all his extra drams

[Deactivated Member]

I went to the WM stand thinking about buying the Macallan bottling but when I asked the girl about it she just talked about how it's a collector's item, and raved about the signed packaging and certificate but didn't mention anything about the whisky itself (or the WL Karuizawa which was also for sale). As I think whisky is for drinking and I didn't want an ornament, I didn't buy it - she dampened my enthusiasm and I felt that as I'm not a collector it's not aimed at me.

I thought you had to put your name into a draw for those???

[andyt]

I really enjoyed myself and tried quite a few new whiskies (Astar & Yamazaki 93 really stood out). Clann an Drumma provided great music and the blending and cocktail displays were entertaining. The coopering demonstration was fantastic and chatting to the cooper was very educational. Talking to the folk at the Laphroaig stand also gave valuable insights and Martin Grant at the Glenmorangie stand was a true gentleman (the Dons scraped a win though a draw might have been a fairer result by all accounts Martin). I had tried 4 newsagents for the latest issue of Whisky Magazine and failed but picked it up at the show free. To cap it all The Stranglers played a wonderful set in Glasgow that evening. My first Whisky Live but definitely not my last.

[Rosebankfan]

Interesting to read the early comments back from this years event. We voted with our feet this year and didn't go along, having not really enjoyed the event last year (have attended every previous event). We are pooling our money and will have a tasting event of our own instead.

I write this post with a bit of a heavy heart as I really wish the Glasgow WL was the premier whisky event of the year - it really ought to be the first event you pencil in your calendar......but sadly it has been going downhill since the 3rd event in my humble opinion.

The first couple of years were really good and it felt fresh and new and, say what you like, the emphasis was on having fun. I remember well playing keepie-uppie on the Whyte and Mackay stand and getting a bottle, tee shirt, pen and key ring for my poor attempt. Also the simulated rugby "line out" on the Famous Grouse stand - all good fun as I say.

In 2006, I felt that there was a dramatic change in the event, with a much stricter enforcement of the voucher scheme and many of the exhibitors complaining bitterly about the cost of their pitches - to me the fun was dissapearing fast. Freebies were in short supply and the voucher scheme was quite strictly imposed (under the banner of a "responsible drinking" campaign by Glasgow Council - that was the excuse given anyway). Then in 2007, to add insult to injury, a change of timing and venue - to the monstrous SECC in November - the only saving grace was the Laing Brothers, as usual, serving up really decent drams without strict enforcement of the voucher scheme.

So, overall, not a great amount left to commend the event in my humble opinion, except the masterclasses which are always informative and entertaining. The organisers should look long and hard at events like the Whisky Fringe which is much cheaper and has a great venue in the middle of summer, with no voucher scheme in sight - superb. WL can't really now even claim that they have all the big companies attending. I hate to think it but I can't see this event lasting much longer in its current format/location - I know many like myself who did not attend this year for the reasons given above.

Sorry.

Rosebankfan

[The Fachan]

I'm bitterlt disappointed to read everything above about WL Glasgow and the feelings towards it.
Questions are being asked with reagrd to where many companies were, can I ask we consider the other side of the fence. There are so many whisky events around the globe these days, just look at the events of http://www.whiskycast.com and you will see and thats far from being all of them. The cost especially to the small and medium companies builds up so quickly when you are paying the charges for the events, flying people around the world, stock commitments, local staff away from their normal jobs etc. so some people will say enough is enough.
From a business point of view then companies will pick and choose what ones to go to as well all know Scotland is not a developing market so it misses out with some, thats the head talking, my heart says I want to see every company at every show but I know that will never happen.
So its not all the fault of Whisky Magazine but to a degree the succes of whisky around the world thats causing this.

[Deactivated Member]

I'm bitterlt disappointed to read everything above about WL Glasgow and the feelings towards it.
Questions are being asked with reagrd to where many companies were, can I ask we consider the other side of the fence. There are so many whisky events around the globe these days, just look at the events of http://www.whiskycast.com and you will see and thats far from being all of them. The cost especially to the small and medium companies builds up so quickly when you are paying the charges for the events, flying people around the world, stock commitments, local staff away from their normal jobs etc. so some people will say enough is enough.
From a business point of view then companies will pick and choose what ones to go to as well all know Scotland is not a developing market so it misses out with some, thats the head talking, my heart says I want to see every company at every show but I know that will never happen.
So its not all the fault of Whisky Magazine but to a degree the succes of whisky around the world thats causing this.

I would suggest again that it's the high cost of attending this event that puts many off. Most of the ones I've mentioned above were present at the other events I've been to this year but not this one.

[Deactivated Member]

Remember - not ONE SINGLE independent bottler. Not one.

I did, however, see big Jan from Douglas Laing attending as a punter. That tells you something...

Good to see you again, Jan!

[Jimmy321]

I run a small engineering distribution company. I have done about 8, 3 day exhibitions in the last 20 years in the SECC & NEC the last was 3 years ago. We gave up because of costs.

I am guessing that the small stands including staff, hotel, travel and all other costs were a around £6k (floor space is normally £2-4K). Looking at the size of the whisky shop stand and the number of staff they could have easily spent £10k.

Perhaps they should be looking at a cheaper venue even if it's down market, this might be a lot more attractive for exhibitors. Personally i would have liked to have seen a lot of smaller companies/bottlers than a few large ones.

I think it costs CAMRA under £10k to hire the Paisley town hall for the beer fest and it's within walking distance for me

[Deactivated Member]

As a fitting addition to Whisky Magazine's 10th Anniversary celebrations, we have teamed up with The Macallan to select a cask of their finest 10 year old, to be bottled and offered exclusively to Whisky Magazine readers. The Macallan 10 years old bottling, selected by Whisky Magazine editor, Rob Allanson, will be available to purchase for the first time at Whisky Live Glasgow 2008.

Nope...

[Willie JJ]

We can't blame it all on the cost of the event, because Diageo didn't bother to turn up and I'm pretty sure they could afford it. In fact they went to the Good Food Show in another hall and I suspect that other whisky companies were there too. The word was that they knew if they came to WL that they would just see the same old faces and that they thought they had more chance of getting new custom elsewhere. Why it hasn't occurred to them that their existing customer base might be EXTREMELY PISSED OFF at being ignored I don't know. Certainly Diageo's products have been scored off my list of things to buy for the forseeable future.

As for the companies that did turn up I have nothing but praise. They looked after us well despite the stands being crowded on Saturday afternoon, because there were so few of them. The masterclasses were excellent and great fun, but I ended up attending 4 masterclasses instead of 2, because there was so little going on the main hall. The upshot was that the entrance fees for the event cost me £86 for the two days (I was kindly given a ticket for the Ardbeg masterclass by suffolkwhisky, (many thanks John), or it would have been £99). Add transport to this and its well over £100 for the two days. If there had been more stalls then I would have spent £26 less and felt it was much better value. I suspect that like Rosebankfan I may seek to spend elsewhere next year. (No doubt I will have forgotten all about it and will be back. I'm so shallow. )

I would just like to say a special thanks to (in no particular order):

Glengoyne (for the drams and the craic, thanks Robbie)
Inverhouse
Angus Dundee
Springbank
Glenmo/Ardbeg
Glenrothes
Glen Grant
Connemara/Cooley
and the lads on the Independent Bottlers Challenge stall who, despite their dilligence in ticket collection, had some of the most interesting drams of the show.

The folks on the Laphroaig/Ardmore stand looked to be doing sterling work also, but I never went there as it was really busy every time I passed

Apologies to anyone I have missed.

The master classes were great fun with the highlights being the 1974 cask at Dalmore, Cask 1375 from Ardbeg, Everyrthing that Rob Allanson gave us in the Silence of the Drams tasting and everything that Noel Sweeney gave us in the Connemara tasting.

All in all I had a great time, but as usual it was because I had great company. Thanks to all the folks I met for the first time and to old friends too of course for making it such fun.

Cheers

[Deactivated Member]

As a fitting addition to Whisky Magazine's 10th Anniversary celebrations, we have teamed up with The Macallan to select a cask of their finest 10 year old, to be bottled and offered exclusively to Whisky Magazine readers. The Macallan 10 years old bottling, selected by Whisky Magazine editor, Rob Allanson, will be available to purchase for the first time at Whisky Live Glasgow 2008.

Nope...

It was on sale, but the price tag of £89 put me off.

[The Fachan]

For me this isn't about Whisky Live, this is about the big picture. You saw what Jimmy 321 said about estimated stand costs. God know how many whisky shows there are to be attended these days, companies will not go to every one.
I agree that Whisky Live have to ask questions of themselves on the low attendance but from a distillers point of view for example I expect the majority of whisky fans who went to Whisky Fringe would have been at both shows....same whiskies, different places. I have no idea of what the cost is for a stand at WL so cant comment on that.
I agree with Willie JJ that the big companies could afford it but as with any other business consider budgets, its a brand managers discretion to spend his money where he will get the best value.
I am a whisky fan through and through and want to see the best for shows in Scotland but the companies have to see the big picture.
Butephoto.....what would costs be do you think.

[BigPapi]

This was my first Whisky Live and I took my wife along as she likes a wee dram from time to time.

I didn't know what to expect but was looking forward to the event having spent the last couple of weeks reading posts on this forum.

My first impressions were that of a jumble sale with people pushing in to get close to the stands and grab a dram, so we decided to have a look round first and drink some water. We found a quieter stand which at the time was Auchentoshan, this was the first time that I had tried this particular whisky even though it is a lowland one and I lived in Glasgow for 22 years not far from the distillery! I had the standard 12 yo and my wife tried the three wood, both were enjoyable. We continued in this vein for most of the afternoon going to stands that were not as busy.

I think we both managed to try about 6 or 7 different whiskys each, some stands taking vouchers, others not bothering. My stand out dram was the Glenrothes Select Reserve which I had always fancied before but never got round to trying and my wife really enjoyed the Glenmorangie Astar, though i don't think either of us will be trying the Yamazaki again.

If I had a grumble with the event it would be the limited number of stands around, I was really disappointed that Bruichladdich weren't there as I thought it would have been a perfect time to let people try there new releases, especially as there seems to be a lot coming out soon and I'm not paying £80 for a bottle of Octomore without trying it first.

I did enjoy chatting to the artist, Ian Gray, and I bought a print from him. He mentioned that although Bruichladdich wasn't there Jim McEwan's daughter, Lynne, was.

All in all, although we both had an enjoyable time, I am not sure if we will attend again even though afternoons away from our son, drinking whisky, are few and far between!

BigPapi

[Deactivated Member]

As a fitting addition to Whisky Magazine's 10th Anniversary celebrations, we have teamed up with The Macallan to select a cask of their finest 10 year old, to be bottled and offered exclusively to Whisky Magazine readers. The Macallan 10 years old bottling, selected by Whisky Magazine editor, Rob Allanson, will be available to purchase for the first time at Whisky Live Glasgow 2008.

Nope...

It was on sale, but the price tag of £89 put me off.

well, that's even more annoying and confusing because as soon as we walked in it was 'win a bottle of Macallan'...

[Deactivated Member]

Butephoto.....what would costs be do you think.

I believe it runs to several thousand pounds. But I'm not entirely convinced either that it was the cost keeping exhibitors away. There's something else going on...and I think I'll be spending my money at the Oddbins Wine Fair next year instead.

[Deactivated Member]

The whole world of whisky fairs seems to be in turmoil at the moment, just look at what is happening in Munich early next year; two rival festivals, two weeks apart.

I am sure no exhibitors are happy with this as they have very limited time and not unlimited budgets.

WL tries not to conflict with too many other fetsivals, but I am sure that in the current economic climate, people are looking at budgets very carefully.

[fishboy]

Whisky Live Glasgow began for me on Thursday evening at the Icons of Whisky dinner at Oran Mor as a guest of Whisky Magazine. Thanks again to Rob, Gareth, Pippa etc at Whisky Magazine for this - I normally never win anything; both my friend and I had a wonderful evening! The ultimate whisky bar was pretty cool, but the table whiskies (Brora 30 y.o and Port Ellen 25 y.o) courtesy of Diageo were out of this world and we did our best to appreciate them all evening long (except when Pippa "borrowed" them for her table). Robin Laing was his usual entertaining self and played four or five songs. Oh, and there was food as well. Congratulations to all the Scottish icons, especially Mickey and Rachel who were on the next table to us and seemed to enjoy their success, but strangely didn't open their bottle of Brora!

Turning to WL itself, like most of the attendees who'd been before (this was my 5th year), I was initially disappointed by the small number of exhibitors at the main event, and particularly by the lack of any IB's. Indeed at the start, my friends and I thought we might struggle to fill two days. However thanks to the generosity of those companies who did turn up this wasn't a problem and we had an excellent time.

Highlights for me in no particular order were:
The 1975 and 89 Balblair
The Glengoyne single casks
Glenrothes 85
Yamazaki 1993 peated
Kilkerran 4 year old and 11 year old Maderia aged (not finished) Springbank - both cask samples.
Laphroaig Cairdeas
25 y.o St. Magdalene OMC (on tasting from the whisky shop - superb!!!)

And from the Masterclasses
Ardbeg 1975 and the toasted oak "surprise" (as well as the new 10 and the Corryvreckan).
Dalmore 1974 and the Dalmore Alexander II

Another highlight was Nick Brown asking Mickey Heads during the Ardbeg M/C whether he'd prefer to have an open bottle of the Corryvreckan or the 1977 Ardbeg (open so that he couldn't flog it on eBay.....). Priceless!!!

Thanks to all concerned, especially Stuart and Donald from Springbank, Mickey from Ardbeg, Jen from Glenrothes and the guy from Inver who was working on Balblair (whose name I have unfortunately forgotten - but who convinced me to try and then buy the 1989). The amount of time you all spent with my friends and I, answering all our anorak questions helped make the event great! Special mention to the boys from Ardmore who are absolute superstars and always ready to chat. I hope you had a great night out on Saturday (with the marketing team paying!) and I'll definitely pop in next time I'm in the area!!

I left with 6 more tokens that I started with (don't ask!) and was only asked for tokens at a few tables, so this at least wasn't a problem for me.

All in all, a fantastic three days!

ATB

FB

[Deactivated Member]

FB - I wish you'd introduced yourself.

[fishboy]

FB - I wish you'd introduced yourself.

I did mean to introduce myself to both you and someone who I thought might be Willie, but I lost you after the MC (the exhibition hall was crowded with half day ticketers when we returned). I didn't even see you on Saturday (but then it was really busy).

Next time we are at the same event I'll introduce myself I promise!!

I did chuckle to myself intermittently for the next couple of days over your 1977/Corry question though. Very good

[Deactivated Member]

It was Willie

[fishboy]

Thought so.....

[TreacleSponge]

Turning to WL itself, like most of the attendees who'd been before (this was my 5th year), I was initially disappointed by the small number of exhibitors at the main event, and particularly by the lack of any IB's. Indeed at the start, my friends and I thought we might struggle to fill two days. However thanks to the generosity of those companies who did turn up this wasn't a problem and we had an excellent time.

FB this is a very good way to describe it - it felt like there weren't many there, but actually I didn't get round to see everyone I wanted, so perhaps there weren't as few as it felt. There again maybe I would have got to some of the others if they hadn't been so crowded, I dunno.

[suffolkwhisky]

Hey it would have been good to say hi too. I was also at the meal and everything else you seemed to be at. I was sat next to Willie at the Ardbeg tasting and was the one who would have gone for the Corry as I am not a big fan of the '77.

[2eriskay]

Like others I was very disappointed in this years WL Glasgow. (I attended on the Saturday) The exhibitors are getting less and less each year which should send alarm bells to the organisers.
If I had not attended the Dalmore Masterclass I would have probably left a lot earlier than I did.
I even had a discussion with Richard Paterson and he ageed that the venue is not suitable for such an event. There was no great atmosphere in the SSEC, as there was in George square.
Also, the food on offer is extremely poor for what we have to pay.
The opening of the doors at three o'clock clearly allows some people, not all, to see it as a drinking free for all. It has to be looked at.

However, the Dalmore Masterclass was excellent and when I discussed whisky with the small amount of exhibitors before the "mad three o'clock rush" they were extremely helpful.

Will I go next year? I'm a whisky lover....so I'll see!

[Deactivated Member]

I keep asking opinions on this and everyone I've spoken to was thoroughly disappointed. I think I'm going to the Oddbins Wine Fair next year instead.

[Matt2]

I keep asking opinions on this and everyone I've spoken to was thoroughly disappointed. I think I'm going to the Oddbins Wine Fair next year instead.

That's strange because everyone I've spoken to thought it was thoroughly enjoyable. I think the people you are talking to just don't like WL (or WM). Maybe go along yourself and then you can make up your own mind. If you prefer wine shows to whisky then Oddbins sounds like the place to be.

[Deactivated Member]

I keep asking opinions on this and everyone I've spoken to was thoroughly disappointed. I think I'm going to the Oddbins Wine Fair next year instead.

That's strange because everyone I've spoken to thought it was thoroughly enjoyable. I think the people you are talking to just don't like WL (or WM). Maybe go along yourself and then you can make up your own mind. If you prefer wine shows to whisky then Oddbins sounds like the place to be.

I did go, are you not paying attention to your own forum again Matt? Also, the wine fair has plenty of whisky stands. Something that seemed to be a bit thin on the ground at WL, as you can see in the current issue of the mag with all the space in the background in the photos.

I need an even-more-insane smiley.

[Deactivated Member]

I hadn't commented until now because I didn't want to create an atmosphere that would be unhelpful to future Whisky Lives. But this year, there were noticeably fewer exhibitors than last year. There was almost no whisky from Speyside, for example. Glenrothes had a stand, and there was Speyburn on the Inver House stand, and Knockdhu were knocking out cocktails by the dozen, but there wasn't much for such a large number of distilleries.

Aside from Speyside being underrepresented, there were no stands from Diageo, Chivas, Duncan Taylor, Douglas Laing. On the first day, there were a lot of shaking heads (from both sides of the stalls) as people wondered where the other exhibitors were. The masterclasses were fun, but whilst I had originally only signed up for one on the Friday, I had to sign up for one on the Saturday too to fill the day.

There were more overseas whiskies than I had expected - including Breton whiskies; some very good Four Roses bourbons; Swedish whiskies and Irish whiskeys. The star of the show, though, was the Japanese whisky stand at the back of the room with some stunning drams. But it seemed sad that at a whisky fair in Scotland, the most interesting stalls (a personal opinion, I know) were those with foreign whiskies.

It was a bit of a disappointment, and there's no point in pretending it wasn't. I hope next year's WL will get more of the distillers interested.

[Matt2]

are you not paying attention to your own forum again Matt?

- I guess not, but it's been hard work to read and remember everything posted here, especially with all the fluff around. Anyway should be able to keep track a bit easier from now on.

[Matt2]

But it seemed sad that at a whisky fair in Scotland, the most interesting stalls (a personal opinion, I know) were those with foreign whiskies.

Celebrating the whiskies of the world !

I think the show location is more about allowing people easy travel rather than just showing the whiskies from that area. Every show in every location should cover the whole world of whisky - otherwise you would have to travel to Whisky Live Tokyo to get to try those great whiskies.

[Deactivated Member]

Celebrating the whiskies of the world !

That's true Matt and it was great to see some genuinely top class whiskies from other countries. I did my best to sell the concept to some sceptical punters at the show. TBH, I should have been on a commission from the chap on theBreton whisky (and beer) stand. On another website, I list my top three whiskies of the year and the top two are from Japan. I just thought that there were fewer stalls at WL this year and what seemed to be missing was representation from some of the big Scottish distillers and some of the IBs. Like I say, I didn't post my disappointment at the time because I didn't want to hurt the brand, but I do think it would be wrong to say that nobody other than butephoto was disappointed.

[Deactivated Member]

it was pish and everyone knows it. Hopefuly WM don't bury their head in the sand like they seem to do with everything else and take on board the comments above and make next year's something to excite us all. The fact that the exhibitors list online wasn't kept up to date this year was an obvious sign of things to come.