@PBMichiganWolverine Yup - Pernod here. Jack Daniels has purchased Slane Whiskey. Scotland are great for staying independent - hope Teelings in Dublin etc do likewise.

@arcarey at the end of the day, isn’t it pretty much just 3 that own 80% of all spirits? Constellation, Diageo, and Pernod Ricard. And the goal of every craft new distillery is to be bought out by one of these 3 for multiples of their investment

@PBMichiganWolverine Too true. Am hopeful though that once the old traditional businesses are reignited that they will stay. We need our smaller distilleries to grow - our biggest (Midleton) is owned by a French company - albeit that they have invested well.

@arcarey it’s a long business cycle in a way. Boom times means more investment and products, but if customer needs shift for whatever reasons ( price, quality, other comparable products), then boom turns to bust. Only a handful that either have deep pockets, or flexible to evolve, survive. We might now be in the midst of one of those boom cycles .

@PBMichiganWolverine Two great choices - yes the whole industry here is starting up again. We used to be the prime whiskey producers in the world - 150 distillers within 5 kilometers of my home, but every one collapsed - part of our history in G Britain. Interesting read if you wanted to research. Many now opening again and brands like Green Spot being relaunched. Exciting times. Tony

@Soba45 Yup very Irish 😂 and it has to be a great Scotch or Bourbon to get on the list. We invented it after all. 🤘. Having said that I’m just back from Edinburgh and a trip to their Whiskey Museum with sampling - very impressed with Dalmor 18 years and looking out for a bottle

@arcarey There’s some amazing stuff out of Ireland nowadays. Middleton Dair Gailech (sp?), as well as Redbreast 21 and 25.

@arcarey Ah I was wondering if you were Irish. I lived in Dublin for a few years and met my wife there. I've got a bit of family still over there. Would love to go back one day. :-)

Great to see you like the Connemara 22 year old. The only peaty Irish whiskey that I’m aware of. I’m Irish and so a little favoritism - but think the Connemara is taking on the Scots in their own backyard very well.