Yesterday night I received an email from Johannes van den Heuvel asking if I would be interested to join the Malt Maniacs. A question in fact that was not too difficult to answer. Of course I said Yes, and so I am now an official Malt Maniac.

Needless to say that I feel deeply honoured by the invitation. Some highly knowledgeable maltheads are assembled in this group. And I have to point out as well that it was the Malt Madness/Maniacs website that was the ultimate inspiration for me to learn more about whisky and finally even to start blogging about it.

The invitation did not come right out of the blue, though. In autumn I submitted an E-pistle about – well, let’s call it advanced caskology – that may be regarded as sort of an application for the illustrous club. It seems to have been to the Maniacs’ liking, and even my recent ramblings about the Malt Maniac Awards were not regarded as an obstacle.

I am just as happy that my friend Keith Wood of Whisky Emporium has been invited to join the Maniacs as well.

Let’s see what the manic future will bring. I am looking forward to it!