On the blind tasting course - attended by quite a few master distillers, very few had any consistent ability to tell the main brands apart - whether it be a £200 rare malt or a £30 standard bottle - and some even had difficulty recognising that one of the drinks thrown into the blind tasting was a brandy.

Yes we could tell the major differences apart - the cask strength, degree of peatyness etc. but very very few can really appreciate the the minute differences which can lead to huge variations in price.  Its not about the liquid itself, its about how people want to badge themselves - as connoisseurs  and as different from the hoi polloi.

I'm sure I've upset a few people here!

"It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."