Greg's Whisky Guide

NOUVEL EDITORIAL (N°39) en français désormais en ligne sur mon site de whisky (New Editorial in French on my whisky website), lien ici :

www.gregswhiskyguide.com/

Vous y trouverez :

-Un résumé de mes publications récentes

(inclus les reportages sur les soirées de l'Amicale du Whisky français)

-Lien vers le live collaboratif avec une autre chaîne
(Heavy Metal Philosophy)

-Une sélection des nouvelles sorties de whisky (19)

-Les dernières bouteilles en date entrées dans ma collection (4)

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1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 13

Greg's Whisky Guide

TASTING 4 WHISKIES from FRENCH Indie bottler & cooper Alexandre Sakon from "ASCEND" (ASC Barrels), on Tuesday, 14 of this month of April, at La Maison du Whisky (Odeon address, Paris), plus a nice new French IB whisky...:

Alexandre Sakon (the bearded man in black in the middle of the last picture) has created a (to put a long story short) a kinda variant to the STR invented by Jim Swan (who he met) which he calls "Neoc", with a longer but not heavy toasting & charring process (...). Using "Grand Cru" French wine barrels as a base, he then travels around the globe to find different distillery partners to age their whiskies in his barrels, and so far he worked with ARISTIDES Distilling (Cyprus single malt) for his "Elysia", KYRO (Rye malt, Finland) for his "Kyro X Ascend" and then with a French winery who started to distill only in 2015, the Domaine Valentin ZUSSLIN, for which we also tried a rare cask strength version...(it was the first time I had the occasion to try whiskies from this quite still unknown micro-distillery located in East of France).

Also, before all started that evening, I had the pleasure to discover "Version Française" IB/MdW's range latest creation called "Silvae 2019", an ambitious 4 wood types blending of casks of the Warenghem distillery (an unofficial Armorik if you prefer...). All the whiskies were good, but nuances about my appreciation of them are precised on my French text (link below). I'll just added a few pics to this post, but, as usual, as they are cut & limited, there is more on my website (please read below):

Disclaimer : Apologies for not posting the whole text, which was too long to translate, given the connection difficulties I still currently have & especially at the moment, who lead me to finish to post the French version of the text on my website + the shortened social media version (Instagram/Linkedin) only now, late at night, but you might find a way (through Google translate or better ?) to read it in English...

Link to the full text in French :
www.gregswhiskyguide.com/index.php?option=com_cont…

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1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 7

Greg's Whisky Guide

NEWS (first in ENGLISH), 27/03/26 :
Press release: Hello everyone, following an assault suffered at my work this week, I will not be able to produce a video this weekend, sorry. My psychological state remains fragile and despite some supports, daily social life is not easy, nor is the return to work next Monday. Sorry for being a bit personal today... I’ll be back as soon as possible, I have plenty of videos pending & a survey to come in the perspective of celebrating the 7 years of my channel that just took place this month... See you soon!

NOUVELLES (en Français), 27/03/2026 :
Communiqué : Bonjour tout le monde, suite à une agression subie à mon travail cette semaine, je ne serais pas en mesure de produire une vidéo ce week-end, désolé. Mon état psychologique demeure fragile et malgré certains soutiens, la vie sociale au quotidien n'est pas évidente, le retour au travail également dès lundi prochain. Désolé d'être un peu personnel aujourd'hui...Je reviens dès que possible, j'ai plein de vidéos en attente & un sondage à venir dans la perspective de fêter les 7 ans de ma chaîne qui viennent d'avoir lieu ce mois-ci...A bientôt !

4 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 7

Greg's Whisky Guide

METAL & WHISKY CONVERSATION with Jon BARBAS of HEAVY METAL PHILOSOPHY Youtube channel :

This passed week end, I had a nice chat with Jon of a Metal music review channel that I follow each week (HEAVY METAL PHILOSOPHY is an American channel providing a cool selection of often extreme metal, but not only with a unique tone & spirit, and some philosophical aspects as well...on a short video size plus a longer one on podcast style, going more in depth about varied topics).

Therefore we paired 3 Single-Malt whiskies from Scotland (that he could find without breaking the bank where he lives) with 3 Metal albums we do both love & we explain there why & a few things about whisky & these albums/artists, so please check it out & tell us what you think of the pairings (PS: Apologies for the bad connection on my side especially through Zoom (Jon had to reframe my visual, but sound seems ok) and we hope you will like the content he managed to summerize from over 120 mn to 55 mn, kudos to him for that !)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thnI8...

#metalandwhisky
#heavymetalphilosophy
#gregswhiskyguide
#conversationaroundwhiskyandmusic
#aberfeldy #highlandpark #talisker
#insomnium #riversofnihil #iotunn

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 7

Greg's Whisky Guide

NEWS/SPOILER (22/03/26) :

Yesterday I was invited by a way bigger Youtube channel than mine for a cool conversation around whisky, but...not only, and I have to say it was quite interesting, so stay tuned for the shortened podcast style (but still in video mode) rendition of that conversation in a few days...hoping you will like it. Stay tuned & have a nice Sunday !

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 12

Greg's Whisky Guide

DEGUSTATION des Whiskies OUCHE NANON via l'Amicale du Whisky français ce Mardi 10/03/2026 à la Maison du Whisky /boutique Odéon -texte intégral ici (sorry it’s all in French/Tasting French Whisky this week in Paris) :

Menée par Matthieu Acar (auteur d'un livre sur le whisky français & responsable notamment de la gamme "Version Française" à la M.d.W.) et Thomas Mousseau (brasserie et distillateur chez OUCHE NANON, qui est situé dans le Berry, (région Centre-Val de Loire, maison fondée en 2010, premier whisky sorti en 2018), la dégustation comportait un cocktail de bienvenue, un Manhattan, réalisé avec le dernier né de la distillerie, le "SALAMANDRE", puis la dégustation officielle comportait 4 whiskies, tous bio ("organic"), sans colorant, et désormais vendus en flacons de 70 cl et non plus de 50 cl, en tout cas pour la gamme régulière, et âgés de 3 à 5 ans :

1/ "BERRY" (Bourbon, chêne neuf), 40,5 %: 
Léger et bien équilibré, il est agréable et facile à boire, sur le malt & les épices douces, encore jeune et gagnerait à titrer au moins 42 % à mon avis...

2/ "CHARDON" (Bourbon, chêne neuf, et fûts de vin blanc, un Chardonnay), 42,5 %:
Davantage de maturité ici (plus de 5 ans contre 3 pour le précédent), et un équilibre parfait, mon préféré des 4.

3/ "SALAMANDRE" (fûts de vin rouge du Pinot Noir, avec chauffe intense, chêne neuf), 42 %:
Intéressant choix de fût & de traitement, gouleyant, pas excessivement vineux, et bien en cocktail, mais une note que je n'arrive pas à définir (végétale ?) m'a gêné...

4/ "PEATY FROG" (Bourbon, chêne neuf, fût de bière, tourbé-malt de Belgique), 42 %:
Comme le premier, un whisky consensuel, bien fait, pas avare en caramel, céréales maltées, et en jolie tourbe légère...

J'ai déjà parlé d'OUCHE NANON sur ma chaîne Youtube & sur Instagram, et je serais amené à le refaire notamment au sujet de mes 3 bouteilles dont l'une n'est pas un whisky (suspense !).

Officieusement, la dégustation s'est conclue pour moi par 2 autres flacons, dont vous entendrez parler plus tard, et notamment au sujet du spiritueux qui a (désolé Thomas) qui a tout éclipsé en fin de soirée, à savoir un rhum, puis un whisky (que j'aurais du déguster avant malgré le titrage plus élevé):

5/ HAMPDEN "PAGOS" (batch 3, 2024), Pure Single Jamaïcan Rum, matured in Sherry Butts, 52 %:
J'aimais déjà le style funky d'HAMPDEN ("le Springbank du Rhum" tel que je le surnomme), mais là le pari de la maturation dans des fûts de Sherry de premier ordre est clairement réussi et une vraie révélation pour moi (et le résultat est très différent des HSE single-casks en futs de Sherry que j'ai pu déguster dans le passé...du fruité acidulé & dense, du beau boisé et du funk...Là encore je reviendrais sur cette bouteille car...j'ai craqué et j'en ai pris une dans la foulée...

6/ GLENBURGIE "2007" ("20 Rue d'anjou"), Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, mis en bouteille en 2019 par Signatory Vintage pour la Maison du Whisky, 63,6 % : 
Malgré le fait qu'il fut écrasé par le rhum qui l'a précédé, ce joli Speyside a révélé une belle corbeille de fruits rouges & noirs liquides, ce sans agressivité, chapeau...

Je recommande ces dégustations vraiment pas chères et mensuelles pour découvrir nos artisans français !

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1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 8

Greg's Whisky Guide

A WEE UPDATE/NEWS (07/03/2026) : SORRY, NO NEW VIDEO THIS WEEK END:

Hi everyone, those 2 last weeks have been exhausting for me, work wise & aside from my ongoing painful connection problems home (since January, 21 !) only helped by 4G Key & Wifi Key (still no TV though), I didn't handle well the full moon phase too (don't laugh, many of us are disturbed by it...), with not enough sleep & also bit of fatigue & moral decrease also due to the terrible news going on currently (can"t comment further on that, here, sorry, as I'm a civil servant & this is not a political channel, but yes I do have " a heart & a brain", ), and bit of despondency regarding creating content lately (& I know I'm not the only one).

Indeed, it is complicated for me to both satisfy my viewers & always follow what everyone else produces, content wise (reminder : I still got no access to Discord & not much on my website's mailbox, sorry), and I'm also a bit frustrated of the global response to my videos & live shows lately, despite, paradoxally, some really comforting support lately from some of you...(thanks again for that !), and (other reminder), having now 0 permanent patreons is a bit "challenging"....I'll be back only when I'll feel it, don't worry & please consider it as just a wee break here, while I might post a few things on Instagram meanwhile...

PS: Here are some spoiler pics of a recent gamble/purchase I'll be analyzing further publicly soon... a 25 yo indie bottling (from French pioneers Celtic Whisky Distillerie, ex-C.W.C.) from the infamous CRAIGELLACHIE distillery, matured in a hogshead in France too (partly or totally, I'm not sure) and bottled at 50,5 % abv in 2023...Also I've opened my SPRINGBANK 5 yo 100 Proof recently & it is great but haven't touched the ARRAN 10 Arran Barley yet & aside from bottles, I have a lot of samples late to discover & review...so please stay tuned !

Have a nice week end & see you soon !

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1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 9

Greg's Whisky Guide

NEWS (11/02/26) : 👉 WINE PARIS 2026 Show / Mini-REPORT, a spoiler of an upcoming Live Show about it in my Youtube channel soon... 🍷 🍹 🥃

Just me sharing some pictures of my highlights & discoveries, whisky & other spirits related... 😃 (there were even a few wines, 2 if memory serves, can't do more, as spirits were my priority). Note that my Instagram account ("Greg's Whisky Guide" handle) shows way more pictures than here as it is super limited here, sorry (there are over 20 pics on my Instagram in 3 post, mind you). 😉

PS: APOLOGIES to all the brands/companies/people I couldn't visit as the show was great but it was very tiring to navigate in on my side...Hope to see you another time, and for those I've seen, THANKS a lot for your warm welcome in your stand ! 🙏 👍

PS2 : Other than that, my connection was supposed to be set up today, but, guess what, it didn't happen ! So I have to be creative to see how to upload the video I've did last saturday, so please be patient & stay tuned...

1/ #Redwoodempire (first time I see this excellent Bourbon & Rye brand here)
2/ #Taichung (first time for this taîwanese new distillery, with some nice CS innovative single grains)
3/ #Tullibardine (first time also, with a new cask strength, no finishing)
4/ #Laballe (excellent 21 yo Bas-Armagnac, from a brand known for naturally presented products !)
5/ #Claxton (excellent indie Caol Ila here, and lots of new things I never tried)
6/ #Glencadam 17 Calvados finish (interesting & rare too, and with new packaging)
7/ #Callington Mill (new Australian distillery, from Tasmania, nice stuff)
8/ #Mauxion (top quality Cognac with some crazy good stuff like this multi-vintage)

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1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 4

Greg's Whisky Guide

QUICK UPDATE (07/02/26) :
I managed to record today my new upcoming video about "METAL & WHISKY", episod 3 (mainly talking about Metal music, but not only, and pairing 12 records with 12 whiskies), but that bloody maintenance ("extra time") is alas still going on for at least 5 days more, therefore I can't neither work on it further, nor publish it now, so please be patient, it will come asap...

Other than that, I will attend a huge wine & spirits show this upcoming week (it's called "WINE PARIS", see some of you there maybe ?), so you'll hear about it most probably first in my social media (Instagram mainly) & then a bit here (posts) & in the channel as a live show with slides asap, so stay tuned & have a nice week end meanwhile...Cheers !

PS: in picture a rare closed grain distillery bottle from my collection, a DUMBARTON 32 yo bottled in 2018 by indie bottler CLAXTON (Bourbon barrel-SC #1852-73497, ncf/nc, 57,1 %) I never reviewed yet...(from a recent conversation about grain whiskies, on line, with my pal Benny from Denmark)...

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 14

Greg's Whisky Guide

NEWS UPDATE (30/01/2026) :

I hope you're all well...me I'm alas currently facing a long duration (& not respecting the announced schedule !) maintenance on my internet/TV/main box line, which alas limits my actions for now, video publishing wise, for instance, but also for other things of life, to put a long story short. So my activity on line is temporarily slowed down, and I can't create the usual video format I do, so apologies for no videos this week end (unless I manage to do a short one with my phone but I can't be sure of it now ?). The online after sales service says it should resume just before next week end (so one week more than what was planned), so I hope this time it will be true (it was supposed to end last Friday).

I also have no access to Discord or to the website's mailbox, at the moment, just to let me know, so for important things, please contact me through my Instagram or here. Thanks for your understanding...

Meanwhile, for those who follow me on Instagram, you might have seen I did post a few pics (I could transfer to this laptop) of some recent purchases, but for those who don't have it & haven't seen my Favorite WOTY video, here they are (for the last one, alas the parcel is delayed too, so its a borrowed pic from an online shop, sorry).
More about all those asap, so stay tuned !

PICTURE LEGENDS :

1/ LONGROW nas "Peated" from SPRINGBANK distillery, a 2023 batch...joining my "C.V." it did replace in history...(bottled at 46 % abv as well)

2/ Aside from this SPRINGBANK 12 yo "Cask Strength'" bottled 13/02/2025 (at 55,9 %), there was a tempting reasonably priced French exclusive (for La MdW) LINKWOOD 9 yo (2015-2024) bottled by SIGNATORY VINTAGE (at 46 %) that was waited to be picked, and so I did. It's a nice whisky, but the jury is still out, as it is light & young. For the non French audience, the letters highlighted on the label suggests "Floral" & "Fruity" as this whisky's key aromas, and I kinda agree...

3, 4, 5 & 6/ As I went yesterday at La Maison du Whisky to use a discount ticket I had the last time, I finally changed my mind for one of the whiskies I wanted to pick & went for that stunning (at least at the show i did try it first) BOWMORE official 15 yo in the new "Sherry Oak Cask" series, so can't wait to try it. The other bottle I picked & didn"t change my mind about was the new ARRAN 10 yo "Arran barley" (2025, 50 %), as I adored the sample my pal Benny from Denmark sent me (thanks again, mate !) & again I can't wait to open it & do a video for you with several interesting comparisons me thinks !

7/ Last but not least, even if it hasn't landed here yet, is that amazing SPRINGBANK 5 yo "100 Proof" (the batch bottled the 11/05/25), 57,1 % abv, again very excited to get this !

So I hope to see you soon on line ! Slainte !

PS: There might be a special bottle ordered along with the S. 5 yo, but, let's not spoil everything yet....ok, let's just say it might not be a whisky.

Last spoiler : I do have a video ready, "double line up wise", that could be called "Metal & Whisky, episod 3" (again with whisky pairings), I just need now my connection to be fully back to record it & talk about some of my favorite records of 2025 & beyond (some involving other genres than Metal, btw). Who's excited by it ?

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1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 10