“I Only Drink Scotch…” – Why That’s the Most Limiting Thing You Can Say at a Whisky Festival 🥃

It’s a phrase I hear at nearly every whisky festival I attend.

Someone approaches the table, gives the bottles a once-over, then leans in and says (with the confidence of someone reciting gospel):

“I only drink Scotch.”

Cue the internal sigh — because what that really means is:

“I’ve decided to limit my whisky experience to just one country, even though the rest of the world is making some absolutely stunning spirit.”

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love Scotch (I am scottish after all), I drink it. I sell it. I respect it deeply.

But here’s the thing…

Scotch has inspired distillers across the world — and some of them are now matching or even beating the traditional players at their own game. Some would shout "sacriledge"! but it's true

Take Cath Nah Aven, for example.This beauty of a single malt comes from Macaloney’s Distillers in Canada. It’s not Scotch (because it wasn’t made in Scotland), but you wouldn’t know that from the reaction it got at the Edinburgh Whisky Festival late last year:

“That’s the best non-Scotch ‘Scotch Style’ from outside Scotland I’ve ever tasted!”— Actual quote from a very surprised whisky lover

Not our words — but we’ll happily own them. In fact if I could get away with it which I can't, I'd put that on a T-shirt.

The Ultimate Sherry Bomb

A Blind Tasting Showdown: Scotland vs. Canada 🇬🇧 vs 🇨🇦

Let me tell you what really blew me away and why I admire the product range.

At a recent masterclass, I poured Cath Nah Aven side-by-side with my all-time favourite Speyside sherry bomb — a real heavy 12yr old hitter. (form very near Pitlochry) We ran it blind, 20 people in the room, no labels, no bias.

Result? - 20 out of 20 voted for Cath Nah Aven.

Every. Single. One.

The room was full of raised eyebrows, quiet chuckles, and more than one, “No way that’s not Scotch!”

But it’s not. And that’s the point. The World is Bigger Than You Think

Whisky is a global language now. From Taiwan to Tasmania, Vancouver to Vermont — the craft, the care, and the quality is there.

So next time you feel yourself saying, “I only drink Scotch,” maybe stop and ask yourself — “Why?”

You might just be missing out on your new favourite dram. Want to Try the Whisky That Outscored Speyside?

👉 Click here to explore Cath Nah Aven (There are only 10 bottles left in the UK until we get a restock)

Slàinte, Kev Blair Barrel & Brand Ltd