A new chapter for TimeforWhisky.com, and a new team member!

Almost 11 years ago, I wrote about moving to Hong Kong, expanding TimeforWhisky.com into Asia, and Hendy joining the team to cover Australia. 2014 was a very different time in the world of whisky, and I was excited to join the burgeoning whisky scene in Hong Kong, at the time still very much in its infancy (Club Qing for example was still a restaurant, and there was only one whisky festival serving Hong Kong).

This was a time when you could still buy age statement Japanese whisky (easily) from any good bottle shop in Japan, a time when Karuizawa, Hanyu, 60s Bowmore and other rare whiskies seemed expensive (but were, looking back, a comparative bargain), when the auction scene hype was only just beginning, and when the phrase "cask investment" didn't invoke thoughts of shady scams.

A different world indeed.

Fast forward 11 years and the whisky world has changed significantly, with TimeforWhisky.com there every step of the way. It's hard to pick a favourite moment from the past 11 years (although the many media trips, including to Scotland (Macallan), Singapore (Bruichladdich), Shenzhen (Suntory) and Taipei (Highland Park) were certainly up there, as was being invited to be one of only 6 people in the Rosebank re-launch video), but ultimately, the thing that made the past 11 years so special was the whisky friends I made along the way. 

...but unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and whilst those friendships will remain in perpetuity, my time in Hong Kong has come to a close, as Steph and I have recently moved back to Australia.

That doesn't mean TimeforWhisky.com is ending - far from it! In fact, just like when Hendy continued to run TimeforWhisky.com Australia when I left in 2014, a new team member has joined to continue running TimeforWhisky.com Hong Kong (whilst I re-join the Australian side alongside Hendy). Introducing...Andrew Davis!

A dedicated spirits enthusiast, Andrew is best known as the co-founder of Mezcal Mission, a charitable initiative based at the award-winning Hong Kong bar COA. Through Mezcal Mission, he has not only educated guests about the rich and diverse world of agave spirits but also raised significant funds for local charities.

Andrew’s passion for spirits doesn’t stop at agave. As a panel member for Tequila Matchmaker, he has developed deep expertise in tequila and mezcal, but over the past four years, that passion has expanded into the world of whisky—sparked, in part, by a chance meeting Andrew and I had at one of the first Mezcal Missions. 

Since then, Andrew has become a familiar face in the whisky community (that's him, front-left in the group photo above), continually exploring, tasting, and sharing his insights with fellow enthusiasts.

In his new role covering TimeforWhisky.com HK, Andrew brings his love for storytelling, education, and exceptional spirits to a broader audience. From uncovering rare drams to connecting with the local whisky community, he’ll carry forward our tradition of passion and expertise across Hong Kong, Asia and beyond.

So there you have it. Change, growth, whatever you want to call it - expect to see more coverage from Andrew, Hendy and I across the blog, Instagram & Facebook.

Cheers,

Martin.