Recently, Jason of Guid Scotch Drink invited me to be part of a Whisky Blogger’s Round Table whereas, once a month, a whisky related question would be posed for those ’round the table and we would all need to answer (about a paragraphs worth each).

I am honored that Jason would ask me to join in and delighted to be among such a fine group of whisky bloggers from around the world.  There are twelve of us in all.  The Whisky Knights (who’ve all enjoyed many whisky nights) of the round table are as follows:

Chris – Nonjatta
Keith – WhiskyEmporium
Karen & Matt – Whisky For Everyone
Ruben – WhiskyNotes
Mark – Glasgow’s Whisky (And Ale)
Neil & Joel – Caskstrength.net
Lucas & Chris – Edinburgh Whisky Blog
Jason – Guid Scotch Drink
Gal – Whisky Israel
Mike – Whisky Party
Peter – The Casks

The question this month was:

What rules have you set for yourself in your whisky lives and how have you rationalized breaking them?

My answer was:

Rules, rules, rules…  I know I should, in theory, have rules when it comes to my whisk(e)y life but I can’t say as I have many or…any.  Obviously spending comes to mind but I don’t have a rule on that (or common sense)…yet.  I’m sure others may post on the topic of “spending” so let me touch on another: Communication.

I am OBSESSED with whisky and my involvement in it.  Do you hear me?  Obsessed.  I read about it (much of my info coming from the good folks on this round table), listen about it (Whisky Cast), watch it (Singlemalt.tv), drink it, taste it, review it, write about it, dream about it, run a society devoted to it.  You name it, I do it.  This being said, I am now beginning to understand that most people I work with, talk to, etc… are not as passionate about the stuff as I am.  Or, maybe they are “into it” but they have other things going on; heck, I know I do.  (E.G. Wife, two kids, rock and roll band, band travel, work travel, work in my synagogue).

I am also an email/twitter/facebook freak.  I am *always* plugged in.  More so than most people I know.  This being said, a new rule I have set up for myself is: If I send a whisky related email out and don’t get a response the same day (or hour), I need to understand that “It’s OK”.  That person may not be online or they may be on vacation, traveling, in the hospital, having sex (OK, those last two were not meant to go together.  But hey, they do it on Grey’s Anatomy, right?).  Moving forward, I will be the patient man that I usually am and should be.  Because, you know what?  “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough and, gosh darn it, people like me.”

For the entire group of answers, click here to see Jason’s post.

Next month, on Thursday, July 1st, 2010, I will be hosting question number 2.  Be sure to check back!