He condones what is widely seen as good about whiskey and he condemns what is widely seen as bad about whiskey. That is the stance he's getting across, and it's

He condones what is widely seen as good about whiskey and he condemns what is widely seen as bad about whiskey. That is the stance he's getting across, and it's one which is also sort of (unsurprisingly?) the sum total position of the people he represents.