Malt Maniacs Manifesto

After a decade of heavy dramming (most of it without any real purpose or structure) we felt it was time to draw up an 'official document' with a few words about our guiding principles. Although the size of our team is limited to 25 certified malt maniacs, the composition of the team changes from time to time. This 'manifesto' gives new team members (and those aspiring to become team members) a general idea of the life of a certified malt maniac.

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Introduction

'Malt Maniacs' is an international collective of 25 independent malt whisky aficionados who are dedicated to enjoying, understanding and discussing single malt whiskies. Our enjoyment and understanding is enhanced further by our discussions - and the sharing of our insights and opinions with each other and the rest of the (whisky) world.
The Malt Maniacs community is primarily web based; our thoughts are published via an E-mail newsletter with thousands of subscribers and our web site www.maltmaniacs.org. Additional material is available through two companion sites (www.maltmadness.com and www.whiskyfun.com) and via 'printing on demand'.

Apart from the 'international' team of 25 certified malt maniacs, a number of independent 'local chapters' are in development as well. These are known as 'Malt Messengers' and publish their thoughts, opinions & discussions in their mother tongue. The first chapter to be launched is 'Malt Germaniacs' for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
(More information about these developments can be found in the 'Locals' section.)

Mission Statement

Since the early, humble beginnings of the Malt Maniacs collective in the 1990's our mission statement has evolved from the fairly selfish 'helping each other find the best single malt whisky in the world' to a more 'missionary' one;

'Expand and enhance the appreciation and understanding of malt whisky amongst ourselves and throughout the world by publishing independent information and opinions about (single) malt (Scotch) whisky. If and when we feel so inclined we may publish other material of interest to ourselves and/or fellow aficionados as well'.

Principles

First and foremost, Malt Maniacs is about freedom of speech and respect for the opinions of others.
We may sometimes disagree and mock each other's opinions, but we only feel free to do so because we know we are all serious about our passion. Sharing different perspectives about whisky enhances our own understanding. We encourage differences of opinion and nobody speaks for 'all malt maniacs'. Opinions published in our E-pistles are always personal by definition - they may or may not be shared by one or more other certified malt maniacs.

Malt Maniacs is fiercely independent and completely non-commercial. Malt whisky is one of the last remaining truly authentic products in our modern world and the malt maniacs would like to keep it that way. To maintain our independence Malt Maniacs does not solicit or accept advertising or financial contributions from the whisky industry. Rather, the certified malt maniacs pay a membership fee for publication and website maintenance costs.

Certified malt maniacs do not use their membership in the team for personal gain.
This does not prevent team members benefiting from the hospitality of those within 'the industry' and 'the trade', as long as our independence is not compromised in the process. Contributions to the website from malt maniacs or 'foreign correspondents' that could be 'contaminated' with commercial information will not be published.

Malt Maniacs promotes the responsible consumption & enjoyment of whisky (and whiskey).

Membership

Membership of the 'certified' malt maniacs is by invitation and is predicated on the requirement that each member make regular contributions to www.maltmaniacs.org. Once invited to join the team, individual Maniacs remain on the team as long as they continue to contribute regularly to the website and participate in our on-line discussions.

Malt Maniacs is not a traditional club and does not have an elected executive.
After an earlier 'anarchist's utopia' construction for Malt Maniacs failed miserably, founder Johannes van den Heuvel took charge again by popular demand in the role of 'enlightened dictator'. Johannes acts as chief executive of Malt Maniacs and is responsible for the concept, tone of voice and direction of the Malt Maniacs website & community. Johannes is also responsible for inviting new members to join (and inactive members to resign).

There is a balance among countries represented so as to maintain an international organization. The maximum number of malt maniacs from one country is three. Malt Maniacs includes among its members whisky lovers in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and North America - and hopes to welcome members in South America one day.

Responsibilities

Malt Maniacs was established primarily to share freely with other malt aficionados and thus its primary focus is building a comprehensive alternate source of accurate and reliable information for beginners and knowledgeable malt aficionados alike. While individual malt maniacs may publish widely, it is strongly encouraged that information gained through association with Malt Maniacs be contributed to our audience and community (first) rather than other websites or publications. That information should reflect an independent perspective on whisky.

Several professional whisky writers are certified malt maniacs and contribute significantly to discussions.
However, scoring or rating whiskies is left strictly to the 'amateurs' on the team. Working members of the whisky industry are not eligible for membership of Malt Maniacs. Membership of the 'Keepers of the Quaich' society does not preclude membership of Malt Maniacs, as long as the 'double agents' remain independent of the industry.
Membership of other, independent whisky communities and organisations is heartily encouraged.

Individual malt maniacs write at least four E-Pistles each year, or contribute to at least three 'Ask an Anorak' discussions, or otherwise contribute to the material published on the Malt Maniacs website. Malt maniacs attempt
to taste whiskies from every operating Scottish distillery within a reasonable period of time after joining the team.
Malt maniacs attempt to taste and evaluate at least 50 new whiskies each year and report on their findings.

History

The community developed on the World Wide Web around the Malt Madness website (www.maltmadness.com) that founder Johannes van den Heuvel launched in 1995. Several visitors to the Malt Madness site started posting their comments on the site in 1997; the international 'Malt Maniacs' community gradually evolved from there.
When we had grown to 12 'certified' members in 2002 we launched our own E-zine.

Malt Maniacs Manifesto 2.0 – March 1, 2008

Just like the 'Communist Manifesto' (1848) by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, it's all about principles...
But that's where most of the comparison ends I'm afraid - for one thing, our manifesto is a much quicker read.
Those with overly flexible minds might see parallels between the eternal struggle between the proletariat and the
bourgeoisie described in the Communist Manifesto and the struggle of the certified Malt Maniacs and 'the industry'.
The minds of those people are indeed 'overly flexible'. We may not always agree with everything that happens in
the whisky industry (and feel free to voice our opinions when we feel like it) but they still make the stuff we love.

So, we are strong supporters of the whisky industry - whether it's in Scotland, Ireland, Japan or anywhere else.
That does not mean that we pass along all the meaningless PR dribble we receive though - nor that we're afraid
to ask the tricky questions that many of the people working in the industry would be more than happy to ignore.
Anyway, you can find more information about our guiding principles in the Malt Maniacs Manifesto below;