Billy Abbott
@billyabbott.co.uk
Drinks geek, writer, educator and general drinker. The Whisky Exchange Amabassador, Whisky Squad Co-boss, writer of The Philosophy of Whisky, and fan of hats, coffee and fountain pens.
Well, Mr Bezos. It seems you don’t know me as well as you thought…
August 6, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Well, Mr Bezos. It seems you don’t know me as well as you thought…
Today’s experiment: machine washing caps. Only one borderline dissolved in the machine, so I count this as a success. No to see if they still go on my head once dry…
August 2, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Today’s experiment: machine washing caps. Only one borderline dissolved in the machine, so I count this as a success. No to see if they still go on my head once dry…
Oh, Brewdog, are you missing the days when the Portman Group used to have you on speed dial?
July 31, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Oh, Brewdog, are you missing the days when the Portman Group used to have you on speed dial?
Mezzo Mix fans rejoice! I have created a new abomination of a beverage: Irn Bru and Cherry Pepsi Max. Like Mezzo Mix, it tastes of all the fake fruit you could ever want. Like chewing Juicy Fruit while drinking Panda cola. It is terrible. I love it. Tomorrow I’ll try Pepsi Max Lime…
July 24, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Mezzo Mix fans rejoice! I have created a new abomination of a beverage: Irn Bru and Cherry Pepsi Max. Like Mezzo Mix, it tastes of all the fake fruit you could ever want. Like chewing Juicy Fruit while drinking Panda cola. It is terrible. I love it. Tomorrow I’ll try Pepsi Max Lime…
If anyone is bored this evening, I'm nattering on YouTube with the folks from The Blether at 7.30pm. Well. Blethering, more accurately. As the name suggests.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=urWD...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=urWD...
July 10, 2025 at 1:46 PM
If anyone is bored this evening, I'm nattering on YouTube with the folks from The Blether at 7.30pm. Well. Blethering, more accurately. As the name suggests.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=urWD...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=urWD...
Been a while since I watched this. Not used to DVD quality…
June 22, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Been a while since I watched this. Not used to DVD quality…
Latest book acquisitions for me to put in a pile and not read…
Excited to get in to @petebrownbeer.bsky.social’s new book – I’m a fan of Charles
Spence, but haven’t dived into the sound side of things before.
Testicles is @henrygjeffreys.bsky.social’s fault.
Butter and L.A. Baby: in progress.
Excited to get in to @petebrownbeer.bsky.social’s new book – I’m a fan of Charles
Spence, but haven’t dived into the sound side of things before.
Testicles is @henrygjeffreys.bsky.social’s fault.
Butter and L.A. Baby: in progress.
June 22, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Latest book acquisitions for me to put in a pile and not read…
Excited to get in to @petebrownbeer.bsky.social’s new book – I’m a fan of Charles
Spence, but haven’t dived into the sound side of things before.
Testicles is @henrygjeffreys.bsky.social’s fault.
Butter and L.A. Baby: in progress.
Excited to get in to @petebrownbeer.bsky.social’s new book – I’m a fan of Charles
Spence, but haven’t dived into the sound side of things before.
Testicles is @henrygjeffreys.bsky.social’s fault.
Butter and L.A. Baby: in progress.
On day three of my staycation, I have finally made it into town to engage with culture. The Anthony McCall exhibition at Tate Modern is definitely worth a visit (before it closes at the end of the month). The Beak x Tate collab beer is also worth visiting for.
June 11, 2025 at 2:13 PM
On day three of my staycation, I have finally made it into town to engage with culture. The Anthony McCall exhibition at Tate Modern is definitely worth a visit (before it closes at the end of the month). The Beak x Tate collab beer is also worth visiting for.
Tonight’s ’I really should drink some of these samples what I have in the cupboard’ is outside, as my flat’s too hot thanks to closing all the doors and windows due to a bird flying in and waking me up at 7am.
An unnamed TWE Ben Nevis 1996, Glen Scotia Festival 2023 and Bowmore 27yo Timeless.
An unnamed TWE Ben Nevis 1996, Glen Scotia Festival 2023 and Bowmore 27yo Timeless.
June 10, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Tonight’s ’I really should drink some of these samples what I have in the cupboard’ is outside, as my flat’s too hot thanks to closing all the doors and windows due to a bird flying in and waking me up at 7am.
An unnamed TWE Ben Nevis 1996, Glen Scotia Festival 2023 and Bowmore 27yo Timeless.
An unnamed TWE Ben Nevis 1996, Glen Scotia Festival 2023 and Bowmore 27yo Timeless.
Due to post-Grenfell
apartment block regs (I live on the 6th of 7 floors which puts us just into the new range) I can’t smoke on my wooden balcony, so downstairs for a cigar and some drams. Testing my Aged & Ore knock-off Oak & Ember sample pots to get a test. They work, even if they do pong a bit.
apartment block regs (I live on the 6th of 7 floors which puts us just into the new range) I can’t smoke on my wooden balcony, so downstairs for a cigar and some drams. Testing my Aged & Ore knock-off Oak & Ember sample pots to get a test. They work, even if they do pong a bit.
June 6, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Due to post-Grenfell
apartment block regs (I live on the 6th of 7 floors which puts us just into the new range) I can’t smoke on my wooden balcony, so downstairs for a cigar and some drams. Testing my Aged & Ore knock-off Oak & Ember sample pots to get a test. They work, even if they do pong a bit.
apartment block regs (I live on the 6th of 7 floors which puts us just into the new range) I can’t smoke on my wooden balcony, so downstairs for a cigar and some drams. Testing my Aged & Ore knock-off Oak & Ember sample pots to get a test. They work, even if they do pong a bit.
Just got sent a list of my IWSC scores – we taste blind, so this is the first time I’ve known what I tried. In my top 10, one whisky stood out. The rest were £300-£1000. This one is <£30: Black Bottle Captain’s Cask.
I have of course bought a bottle. Now to try it again, unblind…
I have of course bought a bottle. Now to try it again, unblind…
June 2, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Just got sent a list of my IWSC scores – we taste blind, so this is the first time I’ve known what I tried. In my top 10, one whisky stood out. The rest were £300-£1000. This one is <£30: Black Bottle Captain’s Cask.
I have of course bought a bottle. Now to try it again, unblind…
I have of course bought a bottle. Now to try it again, unblind…
My Japanese obsession continues. So far (10 pages) it is very Japanese…
May 4, 2025 at 4:20 PM
My Japanese obsession continues. So far (10 pages) it is very Japanese…
I made chilli chutney and stuck some in a hot, sterilised jar to keep for a bit. The ‘button’ on the lid just popped down with a click loud enough to be heard across the room. It was significantly more satisfying than expected.
April 13, 2025 at 5:14 PM
I made chilli chutney and stuck some in a hot, sterilised jar to keep for a bit. The ‘button’ on the lid just popped down with a click loud enough to be heard across the room. It was significantly more satisfying than expected.
Looks like I may not have been the only one slightly taken aback by this messaging.
April 1, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Looks like I may not have been the only one slightly taken aback by this messaging.
It’s sunny out. Time for things that remind me of sun: Keihan, rice with shredded chicken, egg and things, and chicken broth. I first had it on Amami Oshima 5 years ago during an amazing trip to Japan (reprobates on the trip in the other pic) and roll it out when the world looks nice out the window.
April 1, 2025 at 11:57 AM
It’s sunny out. Time for things that remind me of sun: Keihan, rice with shredded chicken, egg and things, and chicken broth. I first had it on Amami Oshima 5 years ago during an amazing trip to Japan (reprobates on the trip in the other pic) and roll it out when the world looks nice out the window.
March 31, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Dear The NHS,
This unprompted message feels like maybe not the best way of passing on this information.
Lots of Love,
Billy
This unprompted message feels like maybe not the best way of passing on this information.
Lots of Love,
Billy
March 26, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Dear The NHS,
This unprompted message feels like maybe not the best way of passing on this information.
Lots of Love,
Billy
This unprompted message feels like maybe not the best way of passing on this information.
Lots of Love,
Billy
It seems Amazon knows me too well…
March 23, 2025 at 12:40 PM
It seems Amazon knows me too well…
I may have gone back to work yesterday, but I’m officially claiming today is the last day of my recent holiday. Time to go for a nap…
March 22, 2025 at 11:38 AM
I may have gone back to work yesterday, but I’m officially claiming today is the last day of my recent holiday. Time to go for a nap…
Today's 'Good Headline' award goes to:
faroutmagazine.co.uk/behemoths-ne...
(Screenshot as the preview is not as fun. Almost, though...)
faroutmagazine.co.uk/behemoths-ne...
(Screenshot as the preview is not as fun. Almost, though...)
March 11, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Today's 'Good Headline' award goes to:
faroutmagazine.co.uk/behemoths-ne...
(Screenshot as the preview is not as fun. Almost, though...)
faroutmagazine.co.uk/behemoths-ne...
(Screenshot as the preview is not as fun. Almost, though...)
Hundred Reasons are calling it a day with a gig at the Royal Albert Hall supported by Rival Schools. I am, of course, going. Had a dig through my piccies and found this one shot with a potato (iPhone 3GS – my first iPhone) from the pit at The Garage in November 2009.
March 4, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Hundred Reasons are calling it a day with a gig at the Royal Albert Hall supported by Rival Schools. I am, of course, going. Had a dig through my piccies and found this one shot with a potato (iPhone 3GS – my first iPhone) from the pit at The Garage in November 2009.
On a packed train (Wycombe are playing away and the beers are flowing), I’ve finished up the slides for my #WhiskyBirmingham tasting, and it’s still 30 minutes to Moor Street. It is not yet 9.30am. I have been scarily efficient this morning.
March 1, 2025 at 9:25 AM
On a packed train (Wycombe are playing away and the beers are flowing), I’ve finished up the slides for my #WhiskyBirmingham tasting, and it’s still 30 minutes to Moor Street. It is not yet 9.30am. I have been scarily efficient this morning.