tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post6172686434258455674..comments2024-03-16T11:28:41.525-04:00Comments on Diving for Pearls: Ballechin 17 year old 2004 WhiskySponge, The Spongetopia Trilogy 36AMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02288790197865570681noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-66743964890292155122022-01-20T22:10:49.274-05:002022-01-20T22:10:49.274-05:00Thank you, C, for your support!Thank you, C, for your support!Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-53659907736131209262022-01-19T22:49:08.381-05:002022-01-19T22:49:08.381-05:00I’m thankful for you and the other independent blo...I’m thankful for you and the other independent bloggers who I get such a delight out of following along with. Appreciate you and your hard work here on DFP!c basshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09307043019283462913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-82176174164497071172022-01-19T21:27:32.756-05:002022-01-19T21:27:32.756-05:00Thank you very much for your replies! And I do see...Thank you very much for your replies! And I do see your point above. It's been many many years since I've written about it, but I'm always going to encourage whisky bloggers to run a tight ship. There's lots of money at play here, more every year. And I'm very thankful I have great readers!Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-62121970772819321992022-01-19T19:48:13.924-05:002022-01-19T19:48:13.924-05:00Maybe it would be nice for Angus to write a little...Maybe it would be nice for Angus to write a little note about reviewing his competitors bottlings though. I agree that would be the more ethical route. c basshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09307043019283462913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-79831584163547049532022-01-19T19:40:38.851-05:002022-01-19T19:40:38.851-05:00I understand your points and stance. As an avid re...I understand your points and stance. As an avid reader of whiskyfun, who is there daily (with a lot of others I would imagine), I don't think it's at all unclear what's going on. Angus = the sponge, the sponge is bottling whisky, Serge is reviewing the sponge's whisky, and all these things are not hidden. On whiskyfun, Angus has never advertised his status as a bottler, as far as I know, to try to sell people on his wares.<br /><br />Thanks for your thoughtful reply!c basshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09307043019283462913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-85220464746094573252022-01-19T19:23:17.232-05:002022-01-19T19:23:17.232-05:00Hey c bass. Thanks for your comment! I agree that ...Hey c bass. Thanks for your comment! I agree that it's possible for whisky reviewers to be impartial when they know the bottler.<br /><br />Here's what troubles me: Nowhere does Serge disclose that his co-writer is an independent bottler. Nowhere does Serge disclose that he's reviewing his co-writer's products. Nowhere does this independent bottler disclose that he is reviewing his competitors' products.<br /><br />While I am not saying that their reviews are sketchy, I am saying the absence of any one of those basic sorts of disclosures would be unfortunate, the combination of all three becomes more concerning than their actual reviews. All it would take is a few words, here and there, and I don't think either of them have done that.<br /><br />If my words aren't doing this circumstance justice, here's a comment section that recently discussed this matter earlier this month:<br /><br />https://myannoyingopinions.com/2022/01/03/ballechin-17-2004-whiskysponge/#comments<br /><br />I'm not asking anyone to boycott either of these fellows. But perhaps they should consider disclosing their relationships and businesses to keep the "fun" ethical.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-86224677662977059472022-01-19T14:38:50.039-05:002022-01-19T14:38:50.039-05:00My controversial take is that reviewers are able t...My controversial take is that reviewers are able to be impartial even when they are friends with the bottler. Not all of his reviews on WF are 89+. Also, I think it's fun to be able to taste things that someone like Angus, who's writing and reviews I've read for a long time, found worth bottling. The bottles can be quite expensive with shipping to the US though. c basshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09307043019283462913noreply@blogger.com