Whisky is one of the most diverse and welcoming categories out there. It’s also home to some very recognisable personalities.
If you’ve ever been to a tasting, a distillery tour, or just stood within earshot of a whisky conversation, you’ll know exactly who I mean.
Chances are, you’ve met at least one of these. You might even be one of them.
This is all very much in good fun, of course, so take it with a pinch of salt and let us know which one you are in the comments.
The Islay Evangelist
“YOU MUST TRY LAPHROAIG FIRST!”
Now, realistically, this isn’t a bad suggestion. It’s just a very intense place to start. It’s like trying your first spicy food and immediately being handed a Scotch Bonnet pepper.The Best Single Malts From Every Scotch Whisky Region According to The World Whiskies Awards 2026
Islay whiskies aren’t all the same, but that robust, potent mix of TCP, iodine, and seaweed needs to be approached carefully, especially when you’re starting out.
By all means, entertain the idea, but perhaps begin with something like Bunnahabhain instead
The Age Statement Purist
Certain YouTube creators pushed this idea a few years ago. How times have changed. Now, some of them are handing out awards to NAS whiskies.
In truth, NAS whiskies are nothing new. They’ve existed for decades. Yes, they’ve been aged; they legally have to be. It simply allows the producer more flexibility when creating the blend.
Age statements can be limiting, much like the conversations you’ll have with this person.
Also, if you ever hear someone say, “I only drink whisky that is old enough to drink itself,” make sure to befriend them. Let them buy you a drink, and perhaps you can spark an interesting conversation about age statements.
The Macallan Collector
Bow down to the almighty, the wealthy, and perhaps the most enthusiastic of collectors.
There’s a phrase in car sales: “You can put a BMW badge on anything and it will sell.” Welcome to the world of the modern Macallan collector. You always have to capitalise the “The.”
Shiny bottles, elaborate boxes, leather finishes, Lalique crystal. At one point, the brand even drove collectors to the distillery in a Bentley, where they then spent £50,000 on a limited-edition tweed scarf.
They never wear the scarf. It’s wrapped around their child’s birth-year bottle of Macallan 18 Year Old, which they occasionally store on its side. (Please store your expensive whiskies upright.)
The Region Loyalist
Regionality may be fading in practice, but there’s still that one person who insists, “You haven’t really tried whisky until you’ve had Campbeltown.”
An astonishing claim, given the money you’ve spent, the bottles you’ve explored, the trips you’ve taken, and the tastings you’ve attended. And yet, apparently, you’ve still never really tried whisky.
It is a bold statement, but it usually comes from a place of genuine enthusiasm for a style that they love.
You’ll spot this person easily. They laugh at their own jokes and are always ready to share an opinion or two.
The Reluctant Convert
This is the person who has arrived in the world of Scotch from somewhere else. Bourbon, Irish whiskey, perhaps even Kavalan or Amrut.
Now, every conversation becomes a comparison. Glenfiddich 12 Year Old is measured against George T. Stagg and inevitably “doesn’t quite stand up.”
They like Scotch. They’re happy to be here. But they still long for where they started, their comfort zone. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that.
The Natural Colour Militant
One of the great conversations in whisky.
These people are less drinkers and more detail-focused enthusiasts. Before a drop touches their lips, they’ll take a moment to study the label closely.
If they don’t find the words “natural colour,” the discussion begins. They’ll happily explain why it matters to them and what it says about the whisky.
In reality, around 90% of Scotch whisky sold globally contains colouring, and that isn’t going to change anytime soon.
They’re also sceptical of marketing, which is ironic, because “natural colour” is, in many ways, marketing too.
The One Who Only Drinks Whatever Jim Murray Scored Highest
Since he was, let’s say, widely criticised (among other things), his “best whisky in the world” picks don’t quite carry the same weight as they once did. Chances are it still involves Buffalo Trace or Glen Grant.
But here’s a real story.
A customer once came into a shop I worked in, clutching a copy of his “bible” (a phrase that still makes me wince). He asked for a specific Ardbeg release. We didn’t have it, as it was a committee bottling.
I suggested a few alternatives. He stopped me mid-sentence.
“I don’t like peat. But I was going to buy this one because Jim said it was good.”
I spent the rest of the day cleaning the stock room and swearing at high volume. It is a perfect example of how influential scores can be, even when they don’t align with personal taste.
Whisky Is Meant to Be Enjoyed
Scotch whisky is one of the most diverse categories in the world, arguably across all spirits. Whatever flavour you’re looking for, you’ll find it.
Hopefully, you’ll discover it with the help of others, too. The community is welcoming, knowledgeable, and usually generous with its time, even if that knowledge can sometimes come with a hint of arrogance.
You’ll learn at your own pace, and the trends you encounter along the way will be part of the experience. From rye casks suddenly appearing on labels to heated debates about seasoned casks, this world has its fair share of small dramas.
But, at the end of the day, whisky is nothing if not subjective, and the presence of different types of drinkers serves to show just how diverse the community can be. Engage with people and with the dramas. Just make sure you enjoy them with a glass of good whisky in hand.
Read the full article at Which Type of Scotch Drinker Are You? A Totally Serious Guide
