Investing in the spirit of Speyside

Japanese film-maker Hideo Yamaoka has two apartments in Tokyo. One is for his 2,000-bottle collection of single malt Scotch whisky, now worth €300,000. "I wasn't interested in alcohol until I reached my 30s, at which point someone gave me my first single malt whisky," Yamaoka told the Financial Times. "I was immediately fascinated — it's such a complex drink."

Hideo Yamaoka has made more than 50 trips to Scotland, and he's won the title of "Best Nose" three times at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, which runs from 29 April to 3 May.

Ardbeg, Balblair, Clynelish... Aye, these are some of the great single malts. Their very names suggest Highlands and Lowlands, monsters and music, and happy evenings around the fireside looking at the world though a glass of golden spirit. Let's begin our journey with Michael Lam of the Beverage Review, who's going to tell us about the Glenlivet.