Why have I not done more negative reviews ? | Abrachan 4 yo « Triple Barrel » B.M., 42 %

In this new video, I am speaking about why I haven’t done more « negative » reviews so far, a topic that came suddenly out lately in another youtube channel’s discussion chat box-to be honest I don’t remember where & when exactly, but it seemed interesting enough to go back to it, and to take some time to explain it to you, especially because some of the reasons are specific to my location…I’m also giving you some news about the channel & recent if not future events...
Also, in order not to let you down tasting wise, after this topic, I will review a bottle of budget Scotch whisky that I bought in April of this year (for 15,99 €), to see if it is relevant here, or maybe off topic... It is the ABRACHAN “Triple Barrel/Oak Matured” 4 yo, matured in Bourbon casks, Oloroso Sherry butts, and Tawny Port casks by Clydesdale, for the LIDL shops channel, 2024, 42 % (Blended Malt Scotch Whisky). As usual, time stamps will be found below & then more details about the bottles :
VIDEO CHAPTERS (Time Stamps) :
0:00 Intro & channel news
8:08 About supporting this channel
13:24 Why haven’t I done more « negative » reviews…
20:54 A budget whisky review (& bottling practises)
23:08 ABRACHAN “Triple Barrel/Oak Matured”, 42 % (Presentation)
28:44 ABRACHAN “Triple Barrel/Oak Matured”, 42 % (Nosing)
31:18 ABRACHAN “Triple Barrel/Oak Matured”, 42 % (Tasting, neat & then diluted)
38:55 About some other Blended Malts of my collection (quick comparison, no tasting)
Link about tasting 2 Brazilian whiskies from LAMAS distillery :
• DIRECT / LIVE : Nouvel...
Link to my video about COPPER DOG :
• COPPER DOG Speyside Bl...
Link to my video about COMPASS BOX/Orchard House :
• Compass Box ORCHARD HO...
TO SUPPORT ME (New link) :
NEW / Crowdfunding (NOUVEAU / Financement participatif) : buymeacoffee.com/gregswhiskyg...
REMINDER (Selected links) :
My Whisky website: www.gregswhiskyguide.com
My Instagram: « gregswhiskyguide »
My Artist website (including Whisky related work): www.gregoiresarafian.com/
My Blender’s cap : More about it here : • NORTHMAEN "Cuvée 1110"...

[@andrewbutler7681]

Just so you know: Lidl (founded in 1932) and Aldi (founded in 1946) are competing supermarket groups that both originated in Germany (complicated by the fact that Aldi split into Nord and Süd divisions in 1966, when the founding brothers disagreed, and that Lidl started copying how Aldi ran in 1973...). Now all three companies have thousands of branches (12,271 versus 13,419) in multiple countries (31 for Lidl, 18 for Aldi) including the U.K. and U.S.A. (where Süd also runs Winn-Dixie and Harvery's and Nord runs Trader Joe's). We have both here in Croydon, but Lidl is much easier for me to get to than Aldi, so I haven't shopped in the latter... I do have a bottle of the Queen Margot 8-year-old that got the misleading headlines as "best whisky in the world" three months before the competition was judged - it cost me £13.49/~€16! They are not allowed to sell it for that price in Scotland, as they have a minimum price per unit of alcohol now.

[@GregsWhiskyGuide]

Wow, that's great infos there, Andrew, much appreciated ! 🙏 i knew they were German, but didn't push enough my (quick) searches, too much focusing on their brands (& also initially there was no whisky review planned with this topic). And I forgot the one you quoted & even to mention another bottle I used to have a long time ago, the Ben Bracken 12 yo) instead of their owner...Cheers ! 🥃

[@christinecamley]

Interesting!

[@maltymission]

I think one of the reasons we don't often see negative reviews, regardless of any possible regulations, is indeed the fact that we tend to be quite critical before even purchasing a bottle of whisky. So we'll have done our homework before even buying a bottle. And if there is a bottle that's not delivering, I think most of us will go out and say as much. it's like you say Greg: you can't trashtalk a whisky if you don't back it up with some arguments. As long as you're honest and truthful and emphasize it's a personal opinion, any sensible person will understand. Then let the viewers decide where the value (and truth) lies. A difficult topic to tackle, but you handled this well, bravo!

[@GregsWhiskyGuide]

Thanks a lot, Menno, and great point I forgot to mention about "preselection" to avoid disappointment (even if it is far from a "perfect science"), and, btw, like I said on Instagram, great today's post about Grappa & that Nonino in particular, I send the link to Cristina Nonino, hoping she'll have a look at it, so "Salute" instead of "Cheers", is then de rigueur, right ? 🍹

[@WhiskyLoversSociety]

Nice video. Interesting facts of the law in France. Don’t understand it. Criticism is part of life.

[@GregsWhiskyGuide]

Agreed, Gert, it's a complicated case...thanks for watching & have a nice sunday !

[@WhiskyLoversSociety]

@@GregsWhiskyGuide you too.

[@bennyfriis601]

Wauw, interesting stuff about "freedom of speech" in France... I had no knowledge about those regulations at all. I don't know if I'm putting my ignorance on disply here 🤔 Oh well, I'll survive. Of course it's nice to keep things positive (as Roy says, I guess..... even with a good rant now and then 😅) and attempt to have a positive approach, but still... that one was a bit of a surprise. Cheers buddy, I hope you cope with the temperature and humidity!

[@GregsWhiskyGuide]

Hi Benny, well, it is getting less & less free, mind you, but I don't wanna talk politics here, it'll be worse....To go back to whisky reviews, not sure I was clear enough in the video but what i meant mainly is that while criticism is tolerated, overt call for boycott is less (I finally dropped the political example that was the more obvious lately here, because the topic is too sensitive), it also depends of your fame & the mediums you use...I'm a small channel, but if I was a big one & did a call for boycott for this or that product/distillery & also promote it everywhere & several times, there is a significant possibility the producer could legitimately complain of a campaign of boycott able to make him lose both money & reputation, then it is down to advocates & courts action...In some cases the complainant was dismissed, in others justice said he was right...Cheers & yeah yesterday and today were terrible, no whisky tasting or video until it gets more bearable....

[@bennyfriis601]

@@GregsWhiskyGuide Thanks for elaborating, it makes sense. You'll just have to stick to rants towards the "industry" in general... ralfy style 😅

[@GregsWhiskyGuide]

@@bennyfriis601 you're very welcome & yeah, indeed, even if sometimes I'm tough on rants too (check out what I said on my Instagram about Edrington's new policy regarding The Glenrothes core range...in fact I told them during the show, directly, that it was a shame & that they are losing me & and many other whisky fans as customers by suppressing every whisky reference under 18 yo, in "luxury repositioning mode"...They said "noted" lol...they said they "understood" (BA's aren't deciding anything, so...)

[@hordeum-vulgare]

If a whisky is disappointing for interesting reasons, then a negative review has merit. Except for the French laws, maybe. Similarly in Australia, a business can sue someone for defamatory comments. There are defences, such as truth, but it is costly to defend. But then, ‘Quid est veritas’ in whisky appreciation?

[@GregsWhiskyGuide]

Hi, well, if I have to do a negative review of something people are curious of, I will still do it, but, like i said, I'll have to be cautious. That said, a channel with millions of viewers might more be the target for censorship from brands than my modest one, and, as you said, tasting is subjective & down to each one's color & taste. That said N°2 obvious flaws (like a corked whisky) is for me hard to contest (i've experienced that for some whiskies & experts were agreeing with me each time). Cheers & thanks for watching !