Author | Lightnews

Billy Abbott

@billyabbott.co.uk

440 followers 230 following 400 posts

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.

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Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Aug 24

I just realised that I'd not updated my book website in a very long while, and with lots of cool things having since the last updated and even more to come, I thought I better get something written up:

New Scientist Live and more - The Philosophy of Whisky

Lots has happened since my last update and a really exciting upcoming event – New Scientist Live!

philosophyofwhisky.com

Reposted by Billy Abbott

Pellicle @pelliclemag.com · Aug 27

TENNENT'S!!!

That is all.

www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/8/...

The Vertigo of Bliss — Scotland’s Inseparable Relationship with Tennent’s Lager — Pellicle

It’s a Sunday, nearly midnight, and I’m in 8 Ball–a dilapidated yet bustling pool hall above the Scotia, an out-of-the-way folk bar in Glasgow city centre. Occasionally a buzzer sounds, signalling som...

www.pelliclemag.com

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Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Aug 26

Seems that Dropworks rum will be launching some crowdfunding soon...

www.crowdcube.com

Reposted by Billy Abbott

Coates is Odd This Day @oddthisday.bsky.social · Aug 25

Another footnote! Just remembered this, also on the subject of cetacean digestion (and what it can expel from itself and in what quantities. Vital knowledge, I tell you. Vital)

Could a Blue Whale's Fart Contain a Horse?

This story, like the feeding behavior of the animal in question, is a deep dive.

www.snopes.com

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Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Aug 25

That’s a new one to me: an automated phone call that said ‘I need to talk to you, add me on WhatsApp’ before hanging up. Blockety, blockety, block…

Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Aug 24

In other news, it seems that Sainsbury's don't stock cocktail sticks online, and a search redirects you to "Mint tooth pick flossers". The end times are here.

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Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Aug 24

New Scientist Live and more - The Philosophy of Whisky

Lots has happened since my last update and a really exciting upcoming event – New Scientist Live!

philosophyofwhisky.com

Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Aug 22

I was hoping that he was making good behind the scenes stuff happen, so very pleased to hear that.

Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Aug 22

He's always been lovely when I've met him, but for the past few (many?) years, I've been wondering he actually did at BrewDog, other than be the balance to James Watt's...er...Wattishness. With James gone, he went even quieter than before, and this was only a matter of time.

Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Aug 22

The comment by bossman JT on the EFP forum is 'Though Martin is stepping away from day-to-day life at BrewDog, he remains a founder, a shareholder, and an enduring part of the BrewDog story.' So, looks like he is at least keeping his shares. For now.

Reposted by Billy Abbott

Coates is Odd This Day @oddthisday.bsky.social · Aug 22

Roses are red
Cheggers plays pop

Headline: Bear found behind the counter of a South Lake Tahoe ice cream shop - plus a photo of an ice cream shop with a massive fucking bear in it, looking at camera. It wants to know if you'd like pistachio

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Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Aug 13

I wrote a thing about English whisky for our lovely education/inspiration section at @thewhiskyexchange.bsky.social.

A guide to English whisky : Whisky and Spirits Guides

English whisky is booming, with more than 60 distilleries now laying down spirit for the future. But where did it come from and where is it going?

www.thewhiskyexchange.com

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Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Aug 7

I will admit that I normally join towards the end when I’m having a watch. Also can be useful for background noise when I’m cooking/folding my washing…

Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Aug 6

I’m trying to work out what I’ve looked at that might have had an Amazon pixel, other than the Black Sabbath ballet a couple of months back :)

Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Aug 6

Well, Mr Bezos. It seems you don’t know me as well as you thought…

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Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Aug 6

Thursday night, 7 August 2025, 10pm: me, @drinkswhisky.bsky.social , Mac from Kanpai Planet and Pete from Woven coming up with a 4-bottle whisky shelf for newbies live on YouTube. Please come and heckle: www.youtube.com/live/-czMKi4...

vPub Live - 4 People. 4 Bottles. 4 Roles. Can We Build the PERFECT Whisky Starter set?

YouTube video by DrinksWhisky

www.youtube.com

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Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Aug 2

They also leave lines on them if they’re not colour fast, which mine probably aren’t, and are mostly the wrong shape for my hats. I did do the research :)

Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Aug 2

My dishwasher doesn’t let me wash them cool enough. The wool delicates mode on my washing machine works well.

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Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Aug 2

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…

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Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Aug 1

Turns out it wasn’t – I saw them the year before supporting No Use For a Name…

Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Jul 31

They just announced it’s 23 years ago that they last played London. So, that’d be the other time I saw them.

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Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Jul 31

I’m at a Nerf Herder gig (first saw them 20-some years ago). It is full of ageing punks. Two Jedi just walked in. A lightsaber has been extended…

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Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Jul 31

Oh, Brewdog, are you missing the days when the Portman Group used to have you on speed dial?

Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Jul 24

During lockdown I had to make a cocktail that was basically an espresso martini with an Awamori base topped up with tonic at 9am for a course I was doing, and was a convert shortly after to the non-alcoholic version several sips later :)

Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Jul 24

That really didn’t work with diet Iron Bru… Coffee and tonic is also one for the list if not on it already. Don’t use diet tonic :)

Billy Abbott @billyabbott.co.uk · Jul 24

*Diet Irn Bru. Not even Extra… (Sainsbury’s didn’t have any)