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International Women’s Day: Stories of Inspiring Women

April 8, 2013 in Interviews

 

Last month in honour of International Women’s Day I ran interviews with people who are involved in the whisky industry, which discussed the women that inspire them the most in their lives. There were so many amazing contributions that I had to run the piece over two parts, which can be read here and here.

As a part of it, I asked for your nominations of the woman or women that most inspire you as part of a competition which the folks at Bowmore whisky were kind enough to support.

I have been privileged enough to have some wonderful stories of inspiration shared with me and I feel very honoured. I can now reveal the top three stories that have really clutched at my heart for various reasons.

I hope you enjoy reading the following stories and are inspired yourself to think about those women who make a difference in your life.

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Erik Lindseth with his wife Marianne

 Erik Lindseth on his wife Marianne:

“The woman I think deserves this the most is my wife. The reason is not a typical love story where she is my love and pride, but something that shows that our love will withstand anything.

Even a bomb.

Because that’s the story.

July 22nd, 2011: we were going to meet at a mall in Oslo to buy a wedding present for a wedding the next day. I was standing outside my car when the bomb went off in a building in the street where I was standing. It was the start of the worst act of terrorism in Norway after WW2.

I was badly wounded, and after my physical wounds were healed, I still had to battle a muscle condition. For almost a year I couldn’t sleep for more than 2-3 hours at a time without getting cramps that forced me awake. Because of little sleep and pain, I was always tired and angry. I couldn’t even lift a milk bottle without getting a sharp pain in my arm.

In all this my wife was always there. She helped me in every possible way. When I woke up in the middle of the night, she helped me relax and get control even if she had to work the next day. She works from home, and when I was sick, she had to work harder than before and help me at the same time.

She is always positive and helped me train my muscles back to normal again. She helped me through a hard time.

In October 2012 I was finally strong enough to start working again and living a normal life. Even if I don’t know how I can prove it, I will always be certain that without her, I would have had the condition a lot longer.

She is the reason I get up every day. All I want to do is to repay the woman of life – the one who saved my life, my best friend and wife, the woman that is my inspiration.”

Justin and Jennifer Stiefel

 Justin Stiefel on his wife Jennifer:

My nomination is for Jennifer Stiefel: president, majority owner and co-founder of craft gin, vodka and whiskey distillery, Heritage Distilling Company (HDC) in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Under Jennifer’s leadership HDC recently was awarded several medals for its unaged rye whiskey, tripled distilled vodka and soft green gin, including a Double Gold Best Gin at an international tasting review in New York.

Jennifer’s commitment to community led her to create a programme that has contributed over $10,000 in donated HDC goods and services to local and regional non-profit groups. In addition, she put together the separate “Bottling For a Cause” (B-Cause)™ programme that allows local non-profits to raise funds in a fun and new way during private interactive bottling sessions.

Jennifer’s love of whiskey and desire to share its virtues with other women as consumers also led to the establishment of the Cask Club™ and My Batch™ programmes at HDC, which allow customers – women  in particular – to help distill or custom age their own whiskey, gin or vodka. They have resulted in many new whiskey lovers and converts among the female purchasing demographic. She also looked at the word “Whiskey” and saw “his” in the middle. Not being one to accept the status quo, she conceived of and launched HDC’s “Wherskey” line of products, replacing the “his” in “whiskey” with “her”. The response from female consumers has been overwhelmingly positive.

Jennifer was recently featured on Seattle’s KING 5 Evening Magazine programme because of her leadership at the distillery and the fact that she is a trend-setter in the region for women and whiskey. She balances all of this while also helping to raise three children aged 9, 6 and 4.

She is truly an amazing person, leader and business woman who is helping to educate and broaden women’s appreciation of whiskey.

With a sly smile on her face Jennifer tells female visitors to the distillery, “whiskey ain’t just for grandpa anymore.” And from the amount of whiskey leaving the tasting room under the arms of women, they seem to be agreeing with her.

Susannah and Lynne

Susannah (left) and her aunt Lynne

 Susannah Skiver Barton on her aunt Lynne:

My aunt, Lynne, has inspired me my entire life.

When I was a child, she was the ‘fun aunt’: young, single, always living somewhere exotic like Los Angeles or Paris, working in television and dating foreign men. She introduced me to the Foo Fighters, painted my fingernails, made up silly stories, and sang me songs in a Munchkin voice. Best of all, she always listened to me when no one else did, treating me with respect, as a peer.

Now that I’m an adult, she continues to inspire me.

She holds a PhD in Film, speaks fluent French, has successfully navigated a decades-long career, and now has a wonderful family of her own. She has never been afraid to reinvent herself professionally or in terms of personal style – something I benefit from as I inherit her cast-off clothing and forge my own look! Despite the long hours of work and rush of her demanding role, she still finds the time to have dinner with me, listen to my problems, and offer sage advice.

I look to my aunt Lynne as a model for what life can be: full of hard work coupled with fun, surrounded by exciting passions and loving people.

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Thank you again to everyone who entered and to Bowmore whisky which provided a bottle of Small Batch Reserve and two half bottles of Bowmore 12 year old for the winners. For more information on Bowmore and its whisky, visit: www.bowmore.com/

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Whisky Women & Int’l Women’s Day: Part 2

March 8, 2013 in Interviews, Whisky Women

Right folks – have you got drams at the ready? Because I have a lot of incredible women to raise a dram to this International Women’s Day.

Earlier in the week, I ran Part 1 of this series, speaking to women in the whisky industry about what whisky inspires them and what woman inspires them.

In Part 2, I speak to a second group of incredibly awe-worthy women.

So, I invite you to sit back with a dram, read through their stories and think of the women in your life that have pushed you to be a better person. If you are keen to share who they are, then you could win a bottle of Bowmore whisky (details of how to do so follow at the end of this post).

And above all else: happy International Women’s Day!

Bowmore Master Blender Rachel BarrieRachel Barrie, Master Blender, Morrison Bowmore Distillers:

I am most inspired by Bowmore’s complex waves of flavour, ebbing and flowing like the tides. One of my latest creations, Bowmore Tempest IV has effervescent waves of citrus and ocean spice, tempered by warm ripples of smooth vanilla and wispy smoke. It’s like being out on a boat in the ocean waves, with bracing sea air, ocean spices and salty drizzle sharpening the senses and clearing the mind. As you get closer to shore, the bright sun breaks through the clouds bringing a satisfying warmth, rewarding you with sun-drenched fruit and vanilla sweetness.

This sensory adventure reflects the passion I feel about life right now, embracing both the storms and the calm. I love taking my glass of Bowmore outside whatever the weather and allowing its wild and magical beauty to unfold. Whether I’m by the sea, a deep loch or at the top of a mountain ….it makes me want to dance in the rain at the height of the storm, then enjoy its soft fruity warmth as the storm passes.

From my time working in the world of whisky, I have been most inspired by the lady who first introduced me to the Sensory Science of whisky, Sheila Burtles. Sheila was the Sensory Scientist at Pentlands Scotch Whisky Research (now The Scotch Whisky Research Institute) when I started there as a Research Scientist in 1991. Like me, Sheila was a trained chemist and had an incredible passion for Scotch whisky flavours. She developed the original Scotch Whisky Flavour Wheel in 1979 alongside Dr James Swan, the world-wide renowned whisky expert, who first employed me as a young chemistry graduate at Pentlands Scotch Whisky Research. She was the first lady to recognise my talents and was my mentor until I left Pentlands in 1995 to join the ‘real’ world of whisky production.

Megan Kenny: Jameson Brand Ambassador:

Jameson Original inspires me – it’s a timeless classic appreciated for its smoothness and mixability that appeals to the tastes of both men and women. As a company Jameson has overcome a lot during its 233 years of production, from wars to Prohibition. Although Ireland is experiencing a massive recession Jameson and Irish Distillers is boasting double-digit growth in many markets. I am inspired by the taste of the whiskey, its history and the company behind it.

And, there are two women in my life who have inspired me.

The first is my grandmother who worked incredibly hard as a nurse to support her five children. She has taught me that through hard work and perseverance women can achieve anything in life.

Secondly is my mother. She’s a massive advocate of female empowerment. It was her decision to send me to a Loreto sister school where the ethos is adopted from the founder Mary Ward that “Women in time will come to do much”. I grew up surrounded by books by Betty Friedan and Simone DeBeauvoir. She recently went back to college to complete a degree in English. She graduated last year with an honours degree from Trinity College Dublin. She has always encouraged me to be the best I can be and not to let anything hold me back. She is also a fan of Irish whiskey, which encouraged me to pursue a career in the whiskey industry.

Allison Patel: Owner – Brenne Whisky & Local Infusions:

Balcones distillery as a whole always evokes some sense of awe, but especially the Brimstone and Rumble Cask Reserve expressions (I know, RCR is not whisky but it deserves recognition).  The complexity of flavors matched with the rich, chewy texture gets me every time. Compass Box is also very inspirational to me – in both the quality of what they create and the creative niche that they carved out for themselves under the very traditional umbrella of the Scotch world.  I am moved by both of these company’s ability to bring innovation into the whisky industry not just for the sake of being different, but to expand upon and further push the envelope of what whisky can be.

For their hard working attitudes, grace under pressure, compassion and showing the world that you can be a strong and have confidence in what you do and who you are without without the presence of an ego, Hillary Clinton and Beyoncé.  For living a full life to the best of one’s ability  and for finding the strength and courage to work through the obstacles and challenges that life throws at you, my grandmothers, mom and sisters.  For their genuine support, knowledge and true passion, I’m greatly and constantly inspired by my whisky sisters!

Femke Sijtsma: Whisky Blogger:

The whisky that inspires me is whisky that’s not available yet – there are upcoming distilleries everywhere, which are confident there is enough room for more variations. These distilleries are willing to take a challenge, a big step. That’s a bit like me: I started a whisky blog, to start an adventure in a world mostly dominated by men. So it’s the whisky being created at this moment, that just can’t wait to be born and that’s something to admire.

The woman who inspires me most is Aletta Jacobs who lived from 1854-1929 in the Netherlands. She was the first Dutch woman to take classes at a university and to complete a medical degree, becoming the first female Dutch doctor. She went to Amsterdam after her PhD to work as a general practitioner and held free consultations, gave courses and introduced the diaphragm for birth control.

Aletta Jacobs is one of the most famous Dutch representatives of the first wave of feminism in history. The fact there had to be a fight for women’s suffrage comes also because of her since the law originally imposed an income limit before you could vote; because she was a doctor, she fulfilled this wage limit, and used her right to vote!

The life of Aletta Jacobs was dedicated to the improvement of the position of women. I’ve got the deepest respect for her strength. She still inspires women to be strong and fight for their rights.

Helen Stewart: UK Brand Manager, SMWS:

Whisky itself is inspirational – whether looking at the industry itself or mulling things over with a dram. But I do love whiskies that surprise you…those that keep you on your toes, that keep you guessing, that challenge preconceptions – the rogues of the whisky world. Those whiskies are inspirational little devils!

Continuing with the ‘shock’ factor, the very first woman to inspire me was British fashion designer Vivanne Westwood. Her ability to design clothing that shaped the 70s punk scene, inspiring a whole generation along with her maverick attitude that set out to ‘put a spoke in the system’. She encouraged people to love art and strongly believed that culture could save the world. She was quite clearly an icon of her time, still managing to juggle marriage, motherhood and a spot of political campaigning.

Rachel MacNeill: Owner: Whisky for Girls:

The whisky that inspires me is Uisge Beatha: the water of life, the nameless whisky of the past, the homemade drams from farm stills. I am inspired by the whisky in a jug that was placed on the dinner table as part of the natural fare of the day, as intrinsic to life as milk from the cow. This whisky was made in places such as Daill Farm and Tallant Farm, in Islay. This whisky of the past inspires me, because I see it as a whisky of the future; I see a future of home distillers crafting private whiskies to share with friends and neighbours.

The woman who inspires me most is Scarlett O’Hara. There are other women whom I admire more, such as Emmeline Pankhurst, Amelia Earhart and Helen Keller. But Scarlett O’Hara inspires me. She is a fictional character created by Margaret Mitchell in the famous American novel, Gone with the Wind. Scarlett has gumption, cheek, passion; she was practical, she took responsibility for people and most importantly she never gave up. She is an eternal optimist; her words, and the last sentence of the book are, ‘After all, tomorrow is another day.’ I just know that Scarlett would have been a whisky drinker!

Kat Presley, Whisky DiscoveryKat Presley: Whisky Blogger:

So far on my whisky journey, Balblair has inspired me. There’s a sense of romance there for me from the way it’s made through to the beautiful location of its distillery.

The story of the current bottle design really captured my attention. The shape of the bottle is that of a large pebble found in the local stream. Then the raised scroll shape is an old Pictish symbol taken from the Clach Biorach standing stone which is close by, and which acted as an Iron Age/Mediaeval sign post telling passers-by what natural resources were abundant in the area. This particular symbol represents an abundance of herbs.

But there’s more to this drink than just drinking it. There’s a magic that brings people together to share their love of their favourite drams and each distillery has wonderful stories to be discovered.

My Thai grandmother inspires me. I was born and raised in Thailand and lived in a 4-bedroom house with running water and electricity, a rarity in the area.

My grandparents didn’t have much growing up. With no education job prospects were limited. To survive and feed their eight children they picked through litter to find plastic bottles, glass and aluminium cans to sell for recycling. From this humble beginning my grandma worked hard and saved up to buy the bit of land that the house I lived in as a child was built. She looked after me when my parents separated when I was a toddler as my mum worked full time.

My grandfather was an alcoholic. When he was drunk he was very unpredictable. I remember I used to hear him smashing things and shouting and swearing at my grandmother, threatening her on occasions.

But with everything my grandmother went through she was never bitter about her past and didn’t let it dictate her life, which is what I find inspirational. It humbles me and grounds me and every time I think I’ve got it hard, I remind myself that she went through far worse to give me the chance of having the life I have now and I am thankful for everything she has done for me and my mum.

Georgie Bell: International Brand Ambassador for the SMWS:

The whisky that inspires me really changes depending on mood. I use whisky as a reference point in time, the flavours help me pinpoint a particular moment: who I was with, what I was feeling etc. I often use these flavours as a form of escape from everyday life. It is incredible when you think of where they arise from – how they slowly develop as the whisky slumbers inside the cask – itself acting as a raconteur relaying its story to you as you take that first sip.  One of our whiskies that really sticks in my mind is 26.77 ‘Church Pews and Hymn Books’ – a 27year old from a refill bourbon cask; the overwhelming perfumed and waxy notes are truly inspirational with beautiful memories of people I’ve shared it with to match.

All the other women in the whisky industry that have been part of my journey over the last three years inspire me: my peers. When I first started at The Society, Annabel Meikle was like a beacon of shining light in between all those green iconic bottles; Laura Hay, who is now working with Pernod Ricard in Australia and Rachel Barrie who was present at one of my first tasting panels. These are but a few of the women who I look up to, who I strive to become – every one going above and beyond to represent our nation’s finest spirit.

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Want to win a bottle of Bowmore Small Batch Reserve and a Jo Malone candle? Then email your stories of the women that inspire you to info@misswhisky.com by the 22 March. The most inspiring story will win the whisky & be published on Miss Whisky while a runner up will win a 35cl bottle of Bowmore 12 year old and have their story shared.

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Inspirational Whisky Women for Int’l Women’s Day

March 6, 2013 in Interviews, Whisky Women

This Friday, I am asking all of you to do just one thing: raise a dram to an inspiring woman in your life.

You see, it’s International Women’s Day – the one day of the year where all women get celebrated in all of their glory and during which more awareness is raised by global charities (such as the fantastic The Girl Effect) about the disparity still faced by young girls and women in all countries.

In honour of the day, I went to the whisky world to ask some of the fantastic Whisky Women two simple questions: what whisky inspires you and what woman inspires you?

The responses have been inspirational and I have had so many I want to share that the piece will be spread over two parts.

I hope the stories and responses below hit a chord with you. Be sure to read to the end to find out about a great competition with Bowmore to celebrate!

 

Angela D’Orazio: Master Blender, Mackmyra Swedish Whisky:

So many! Most of the time I fall in love with single cask of whisky. Last week, I found a bunch of wonderful 1st-fill 3 year-old smoky quarter casks here in the Bodås mine. Oh my god! Then there is Bruichladdich, Kilchoman, Ardbeg, an older Tomintoul and Glengarioch – rich in aromas and style with great fruitiness. Or Compass Box, Penderyn, Amrut… but the list is long.

Inspiring or not, women in the business are few. Martine Nouet is an inspiration with her lovely food pairings. A pioneering whisky lady of the past, Bessie Williamson at Laphroaig, must have been a strong business woman at times when there were even fewer woman than today.

Outside of the business it’s easier: the late Nina Simone was a truly inspiring artist, while on TV role models are Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres who are both good, fun and compassionate journalists and the Swedish/Greek journalist Alexandra Pascalidou for the same reason. And my mom, for always having a tremendous compassion for people in need.

Helen Arthur: Whisky Writer and Archivist:

The whisky which inspires me is Teacher’s. The reason is this: William Teacher was a feisty man who stood up for his beliefs – he nearly ended up in jail when a young man as he got on the roof of the cotton spinning mill where he worked holding a Chartist Movement flag, fighting to improve the social and economic conditions of the industrial working class.

He then started working in a small grocery store, married the lady boss’s daughter and turned it into a thriving wines and spirits business.  He created a dynasty, but also kept to his own moral ethics ensuring nobody left his ‘dram shops’ drunk – adhering to strict rules about not serving intoxicated people and prohibiting anyone treating his friends as this too led to people drinking too much.  Both are interesting concepts today when we are looking at drinking in moderation.

My heroine is Wangari Muta Maathai, the Kenyan activist and politician who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.

Like all heroines she isn’t perfect but she did a great deal to promote democracy in Kenya and persuade the Kenyan government to consider the wealth and importance of its bio-diversity and its land.  She founded the ‘Green Belt Movement‘ planting trees of peace.  This provoked  a great deal of criticism as she deliberately chose controversial sites and she was jailed by the government in 1992.

Sadly she got embroiled in some rather weird exchanges about Aids and was, she said, misquoted when she was reported as saying that Aids was ‘deliberately created by western scientists to decimate the African population’  She refuted this in a statement in Time Magazine in 2004.

I met her before she died in 2011 and found her truly inspirational.  I know many Kenyan women who see her as a role model.

Martine Nouet: Food and Whisky Writer and Chef:

Whisky inspires me: the making of it, the people, the drink’s flavours, the way it arouses sensations and creates images which feed my writing. The inspiration stands more in moments and situations, like when I opened a little flask containing a wonderful 40 year old Glenglassaugh matured in a sherry cask. I did that in a cinema where I was enjoying Verdi’s opera Aïda which was broadcast live from the New-York Metropolitan. It filled the air with wonderful fruit cake aromas so powerful that people sitting noticed it! Amazing and amusing.

My first inspiration is my granny who was the sweetest and gentlest person I have known. But she was so laid back and my grandfather bossed and bullied her. I was revolted by that behavior and it certainly sharpened my awareness of gender role early on. This is also why I am inspired by the complete opposite: the character of Carmen in Bizet’s opera. Incredibly ahead of her time, that fearless, strong and free woman lives life to the brim and refuses to be imprisoned, either by law or by a man. Like me, she is a ‘free electron’.

Johanne McInnis: Whisky Blogger:

I work in the field of project management, which can be difficult. I will often come through the door after a long terrible day and want quiet time, medication for my headache, a hot bath and a whisky.  I will go to the whisky shelf and stare at every bottle until one inspires me to pick it up.  Almost like:  “OK guys, who is the lucky one tonight?” It’s rarely the same.

I pour a good double, sink into the hot bath, plug in my ear buds and let the music and whisky take me away on a mental journey. By the end of that bath I have emptied the Glencairn and noticed the headache is gone. Thirty minutes with a whisky can do that. If that isn’t inspiring, I don’t know what is?

If you are as lucky as I have been, I have had a plethora of women who inspired me along the journey of life.  I carefully picked one after the other.  But something kept nagging at me, something a very dear friend said to me about two weeks before she died of cancer.  She said I should allow myself the time to look at my own life and realize that everything I have survived and done is as a result of my own strength, determination and stubbornness. She held my hand and took me back almost 20 years to when her and I first met; she made me stop that day and look at my own life, look at everything I had done so far and where I was going next. I cried.

Sometimes, especially when we are younger, we become so busy in our own lives that we may not take the time to stop and look back for just a moment and appreciate how far we have come. My life was never easy and I doubt it ever will be.  But I know one thing:  I always believed in myself, even when some of the people I thought were important to me did not.  I had days when I didn’t think I could put one more foot in front of the other or where I didn’t know where the next $20 would come from for diapers [when I was raising my daughter as a young, single mother].  I never gave up on me, ever.  I am proudest of myself for that. So, in honour of my dear friend Susan Flagel who I lost on June 6th 2011, I will say here and now:  I INSPIRE ME.

Kirsty Chant: Owner – Chant Communications:

I love different types of whisk(e)y depending on the location, occasion and those I’m with. But the offering from Compass Box inspires me. Their approach to whisky, from the liquid, to the packaging and the company ethos, is imaginative and engaging. Great King Street was introduced to me a year ago by Chris Maybin and I always have a bottle in my drinks cupboard. Secondly, The Balvenie Tun 1401 range, particularly Batch 5, which are created by Malt Master, David Stewart, who has worked in the industry for 50 years. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a bottle of the Batch 5 last year and it’s stunning. I find both the whisky in its flavours and complexity as well as David – who after 50 years is still being creative and innovative – inspiring.

I think the lovely Georgie Bell from SMWS is doing a pretty damn good job at educating people around the world about whisky and flavours at the moment. I take my hat off to her.

Nicola Young: Whisky Blogger:

There are so many but the one that stands out for me is Glenfiddich.  It’s true what the Whisky snobs say: it’s everywhere and because of this the drams are commonly overlooked at the bar. But Glenfiddich’s core range is iconic, it still enjoys being fully owned by a Scottish family (the Grants), and year after year produces a superb range of exceptionally well balanced whiskies. It’s a reminder of my Scottish or Scotch foundations and heritage, and I can find it behind any bar. It does make me proud to love this truly inspirational dram.

The woman that inspires me has to be Rachel Barrie. I don’t think I have ever seen such passion and drive in one person, regardless of profession – it’s just very fortunate for the Scotch industry that she chose Whisky as her passion and profession.  Her natural flair for commanding an audience with her electrifying enthusiasm is inspirational to watch.

Rachel is spreading the love of Morrsion Bowmore’s brands and Scotch Whisky to the world, and importantly, she is paving a very wide route for woman to aspire and reach the top of the whisky career ladder.

Rachel truly does inspire me and I hope the Scotch Whisky industry can nurture and allow other bright and enthusiastic woman to rise to the top.

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Tune in on Friday – International Women’s Day – to hear stories from more whisky women, including Rachel Barrie herself!

Want to win a bottle of Bowmore Small Batch Reserve and a Jo Malone candle? Then email your stories of the women that inspire you to info@misswhisky.com by the 22 March. The most inspiring story will win the whisky & be published on Miss Whisky while a runner up will win a 35cl bottle of Bowmore 12 year old and have their story shared.

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A chilly night warmed by Berrys’ Whisky

February 25, 2013 in Events, Reviews

Just when we here in the UK thought winter was nearing its end as a mild wave of temperate climes tantalizingly soared our way, the freezing temperatures returned and our dreams of an early spring were shattered.

Which is why I always believe it is good to be friends with whisky – for what better thing to warm one through than this beautiful spirit?

The particular night I have in mind of late was hand-bitingly cold, and this whisky lover was thoroughly chilled to the bones when she arrived at the south end of St James’s Street for a whisky tasting at Berry Bros & Rudd.

Luckily, there were many other red-nosed folks about (caused, I’m sure, from the cold and not over-indulgence in spirit) all of whom were keen to get in from Mother Nature’s wrath and get into the whisky.

We were there to try the latest release of The Blue Hanger blended Scotch and some other single cask releases, which are created and/or chosen by spirits buyer and master of cask selection Doug McIvor.

Now, to give you some history (if you’ve not heard of the long-standing wine and spirits merchant) Berry Bros & Rudd was founded in 1698 and started in the tea, coffee and spice trade. At the age of 315 years old, it also has the oldest original shop front in London, having been at Number 3 St James’s Street for all these years.

The company eventually evolved into wine and then spirits, and created the world-famous Cutty Sark blended whisky brand in 1923 to cater to those desiring a lighter style of whisky. It also released other whisky blends, one of which was The Blue Hanger, which Doug said he discovered when going through the company’s archives.

Apparently the story goes there was a man nicknamed ‘The Blue Hanger’ who was renowned for his dapper dress sense and who would often frequent Berry Bros in the late 18th century. That man was actually William Hanger, the 3rd Baron Coleraine, who was not only snazzy with his outerwear but a British politician to boot.

The company created a whisky named after him in 1934, after receiving requests from the British diplomatic services for a dram to please their palates. Various releases of it were sold for around 50 years, before it disappeared from the company’s stock list in the 1980s.

When Doug discovered this, he decided to create a new blend in Hanger’s memory using only the best casks in Berrys’ stocks. In order to do so, he took samples from 400 old casks, did a rudimentary tasting of each and scored every one out of five points – anything with less than three went back to the warehouse.

“We kept about 90 casks. Most had gone woody as hell, which proves it’s all about maturity and not about age,” he said, during the tasting.

His first release – which hit shelves in 2003 – was of a blend of Glen Grant and The Glenlivet. Doug chose those because: “The Glenlivet has a buttery, wavy mouth-feel and the Glen Grant is more jagged so they work together and amplify each other.”

There have since been five more releases, two of which won best blended Scotch in the world at the World Whisky Awards in 2008 and 2012. The seventh edition is currently in production.

We attendees were lucky enough to try the 2nd, 4th and 6th releases, along with the initial incarnation of batch number 7. All have been bottled at 45.6%, which was the strength they went to bottle at in the 1930s. Doug said he also tries to keep a bit of sherry cask influence in each edition, to honour the original style.

So what did I think of them?

We started with the second release, which was bottled in August 2004 and made of a blend of Glen Grant and The Glenlivet (to be specific, four hogsheads of The Glenlivet ’74, one butt of The Glenlivet ’74 and two hogsheads of Glen Grant ’74). On the nose I found this was perfumey and floral, with violet, cream, marmalade and butter notes. On the palate, it was filled with creamy orange, milk chocolate, vanilla and brown sugar melting in butter. There was a slightly spicy, nutmeg-influenced finish. Very nice, indeed.

Next up was the fourth release, a mix of Mortlach and Glen Elgin from the early ’90s and some of The Glenlivet and Glen Grant from the 1970s. On the nose, it was much fresher than the second release, with notes of apple caramels, hay, sprightly citrus, butter, struck matches and daffodils. But on the palate it was quite different: there was an orchard fruit sweetness with a backbone of sherry and sulphur, and a slightly eggy finish. I loved the nose on this one but not the taste, even though it was the recipient of the Best Blended Scotch in the World in 2008.

My favourite of the night, however, was the sixth release, which was comprised of a mix of a The Glenrothes ’98 sherry butt, a Bunnahabhain ’90 sherry butt, and a Bowmore ’03 and Bowmore ’87 hogshead. It won the Best Blended Scotch in the World in 2012. The nose was very pleasant, with a slight caramel and almost red wine note, and a teeny amount of woody smoke. It was fresh and not dominated by sherry, remaining beautifully balanced. In the mouth this was chewy, with a full mouth-feel that was very earthy (like freshly churned dirt in a field after a rain), with warming, gingery notes, accented by biscuits and cardboard boxes. It was sublime.

Excitingly, the first sample of the seventh release is looking rather good too, although Doug gave no indication as to whether he’d stick with the styles he’s already imparted in his tests. At the moment, he’s using a The Glenrothes sherry butt from ’98, a Bruichladdich hogshead from ’91, a Glen Keith hogshead from ’93 and a Clynelish hogshead from ’97. On the nose, it was rich and buttery, with lemon peel and spring like floral notes and a hint of malt. In the mouth, it was delicate with peach, rose petal and light honey elements. I look forward to seeing what Doug will do with this.

If you’re keen to try any of these, the sixth release is still available – at a cost of £71.50. But I wouldn’t wait long as stocks are limited. And, if you’ve not been yet, I definitely recommend stopping by Berrys’. Its long-standing history in London should be cherished and a visit will, no doubt, be of interest to many whisky lovers.

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Helen Arthur speaks to Miss Whisky

February 22, 2013 in Whisky Women

 ”The thrill of tasting a new expression or discovering someone who has the courage to build a new distillery is just as good today as it was when we first started.” – Helen Arthur

 

Helen Arthur is a well-known whisky author and archivist and former whisky PR who has been involved in the industry since the 1980s.

As an original ‘Whisky Woman’ she published her first book – The Single Malt Whisky Companion – in 1997. It was the first fully illustrated whisky book to hit the market and was an international best seller.

She has since gone on to produce numerous titles and in this Whisky Women interview, she speaks of her 30-years of experience in the industry, how women’s roles in it have developed and the bemusement with which she and other whisky commentators view changes in the industry.

 

How did you get involved in the world of whisky in the 1980s?

I went to work in Scotland at Hall Advertising in 1981 when my husband Dick (who was in the Parachute Regiment) was posted to Edinburgh. Among other accounts I worked on was The Glenlivet and Glen Grant.

I then went to Manchester Business School and met a man called Patrick Gallagher. We set up a PR business together and our first account was The Famous Grouse. For the next 20 odd years I always had a whisky account among my PR clients so I found myself writing about whisky.

What made you want to continue writing about whisky?

I thought about writing a book on whisky after we completed a special project with The Glendronach, but didn’t find the time. In 1996 my husband died and I received a phone call from a publisher suggesting I might like to write a book about whisky as part of their ‘Companion’ series. Apparently they had asked other writers but they couldn’t help and they had all said I might be interested as I was recently widowed and could well appreciate something different to do, and I knew the whisky industry backwards.

I was quite nervous to start with but with encouragement from friends I wrote my first book. The most exciting thing was that for the first time they agreed to photograph each bottle and not just rely on labels as previous books had done. I also suggested they add more colour photographs to make the book different. It turned into an international best seller – one cannot ask for more than that.

I am very grateful to a huge number of people who supported me and gave me the benefit of their time and experience – they were all hugely inspirational.

Helen Arthur Whisky

Helen Arthur, writing about the Classic Malts Cruise

What was the industry like 30 years ago for women?

There were quite a lot of women in the whisky industry but nobody talked about them – there were women working in distilleries, but our key strength areas included PR, marketing, visitor centres etc. We were very much front line.

Today, thanks to a change of view by the industry as a whole, women are very much seen as part of the total mix. There are key women in distilleries, as managers, makers, blenders, cask managers and a whole lot more and, of course, people like you and me who bring a feminine touch to the writing side of the business!

What is a favourite whisky you’ve tried?

That’s a very difficult one to answer. I have tasted many fabulous whiskies. One which sticks in my mind though is a Ben Nevis 27 years old – it was absolute nectar. A consistent favourite has been Bowmore 17 years old.

You’re also a spirits archivist. What interesting stories have you come across?

Boxes containing nearly every letter written by James Burroughs who founded Beefeater gin were a fascinating insight into his life and the period in which he lived. The fact that he’d gone to America to seek his fortune and that his return was so well documented really brought him to life. We also found his diaries and cash books with items such as shoes for his children.

Whilst working on the life of William Teacher I discovered similar details including lists of their daily deliveries from one of his shops of wine, port and whisky.

Perhaps the best has to be the telegram from Niagara Falls during Prohibition addressed to Laphroaig distillery saying ‘the medicine has arrived’.

What do you think is missing in whisky writing at the moment?

I realise I am a bit of a dinosaur, but I do feel that whisky writing has changed. If you pick up any magazine topics are shorter without great depth and many of them are simply repeating what others have said over and over again – inevitable, perhaps, but I know there is still a lot out there to tell.

I think we need more in-depth interviews with people who have made whisky great over the past 50 years – there has been an extraordinary revolution in the whisky industry and it has grown exponentially. This is true in part because of demand, but there wouldn’t have been that demand without the dedication, professionalism, love and consistency of standards which the guys (and gals) at the coal face put into making whisky every single day.

We have also lost sight of the terroir aspect of whisky and perhaps some in depth research on this might be interesting. For example Diageo moved away from maturing everything at source some time ago, whilst others firmly believe that everything has to be done at the distillery.

What achievement are you most proud of in your career?

I think the best achievement overall has to be that I have introduced so many people to the wonderful world of whisky through my books and tastings, and have made a huge number of friends.

Also, through my profession, which is also my passion, I have been able to raise money to help others. My husband was looked after during his last three days by our local hospice – St Michael’s in Hereford. The year after his death through a network of lovely friends I held whisky dinners in private houses and we raised over £7,000 and I continue to raise money for them each year.

Additionally I have raised money through whisky events in Kenya to help build schools in the Northern Territory, dig a well for an orphanage in Nairobi and pay for a young girl to have a heart operation.

And, of course, having my name on my own whisky collection is pretty cool!

Helen Arthur Whisky

One of Helen's paintings

 

You’ve known folks like Jim Murray and Jim McEwan for years. Do you all discuss industry changes?

I don’t see them as much as I did but we do still chat. I think we are all slightly bemused by the inevitable changes happening in the industry, such as the fact distilleries are getting larger and more automated. But we all still love working in the industry and the thrill of tasting a new expression or discovering someone who has the courage to build a new distillery is just as good today as it was when we first started.

Do you feel more women could or should be involved in the whisky industry?

I think women are finding a proper place in the whisky industry. There is no doubt that there is room for some great female whisky writers. I know that we bring a different complexion to the world of whisky – we smell and taste things in our own way and our descriptors are usually more varied (or, you could say whacky) than those written by men.

What is your favourite memory of whisky drinking?

The first single malt I remember trying particularly was Highland Park. Patrick Gallagher and I had gone to visit the distillery with Matthew Gloag of Famous Grouse. We sat by the shore near Maes Howe – the ancient burial site – and watched the sun go down on a warm February day. Magic!

I do also remember my grandfather suggesting I might like a whisky when I was very young – he liked a tot most days. It was, I think, VAT 69. My great grandfather was a vintner, so it must be in the blood!

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Drams of 2012: Part 1

December 27, 2012 in Uncategorized

 

It frightens me to write this post. It really does. How – I wonder – is 2012 almost nearing its end?

The year has gone so quickly and the drams have kept on coming. As such, I thought I’d look back at this year of whisky greatness to choose my favourite drams of the past 12 months.

While most lists put together the top 5 or top 10, I’m going somewhere in between and choosing my top 7 drams.

But the question is, do you agree?

I want to know if you’ve tried these drams (or if you’re keen to) and – if the former – what you thought of them. Did you taste others that beat these ones? Get in touch on Twitter (@themisswhisky), in the Comment section below or on email at info@misswhisky.com – and let me know what drams really rocked your 2012.

Without further adieu, here are my first four favourite drams (in order of when this year I sampled them):

Dram #1. – Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy: 46%:

I managed the chance to try this whiskey twice this year – once at an Irish tasting with The Whisky Exchange back in March, and the second time at a dinner (again with The Whisky Exchange) in September. It really stands out in my mind as a perfect all-rounder and a showcase as to why whisky (or, in this case, whiskey) doesn’t only have to come from Scotland to be dram good.

The first time I sampled it, I said the following:

“This was an exceptionally interesting dram to me, especially because it was near the end of the tasting when I find my nose and tastebuds numbing slightly. Notes of citrus fruit, black pepper, lime, crunchy Granny Smith apples, melon and vanilla all managed to communicate themselves from my scent to my brain. The palate was slightly astringent, with notes of pear, apple and pineapple. There was a giant bite at the front of my palate, followed by a long lasting finish with lingering notes of mandarin oranges and brandy at the back of my tongue.”

And the second time I got: “Lemon cookies, almonds, Christmas trees and panettone on the nose and the mouth was all “mango, mango, mango”.

Neither review was exactly the same but, as always with drams, it depends what you’ve eaten and drunk before – all of which will have an effect. The point though? This is a fantastic whiskey and well worth venturing outside the Scottish borders to try.

Dram #2 – The Balvenie, Golden Cask Rum Finish, 14yo: 47.5%:

Continuing the theme of more tropical fruit influenced flavours was this dram I tried at Whisky Live London back in March.

Originally bottled only for travel retail, it came onto market in the UK for general purchase. I’ve tried it a couple of times this year, but this was my original review:

“Aroma: Sunshine in a bottle! If that’s possible. It was warm and inviting, slightly spicy with hints of crème brûlée.

Palate: Loads of tropical fruits flourished: pineapple, banana, mango. Add in flavours of vanilla ice cream and flambeed bananas soaked in caramel and honey and you have dessert in a bottle!”

Dram #3 - Bowmore small batch reserve: 40%:

I tried this dram back in May at (potentially) the perfect moment – when I was hellishly stressed and in need of something delicious to give me a quiet moment of calm.

And it was the ideal antidote to the grumpy feelings I was having – I went from compressed stress ball to smiling, Play-doh putty in moments – whether it’s a good sign that I can become this relaxed from a whisky is something I will debate wholeheartedly at a later date.

But back to the dram…

This whisky was matured in first- and second-fill ex-bourbon casks and was a distinct departure from Bowmore’s other, peatier and sometimes more sherried influences. And, at a mere £32.99 a bottle, it was a steal of a whisky for sure.

This was my review at the time: “The characteristic Bowmore peatiness was there but in an oh so gentle way. There were hints of fudge, vanilla and oak that one would expect from an ex-bourbon cask, but it wasn’t overpowering. It just said, “Hello, you’re feeling stressed aren’t you? Well, why don’t I use my relaxing flavours to eek away your blues!”

For those that like a heavier, sherried Bowmore (like the Darkest) this might seem a bit too gentle. It’s not yelling at you but just presenting itself for enjoyment. The nose is welcoming with grassy, soft sugary notes that would appeal to a beginner, but I think the palate is complex enough with its creamy smoke, hints of lemongrass and saltiness to encourage a longer-term single malt sipper to still enjoy it.

It’s the kind of whisky that, if I had a whole bottle, I’d probably sit down with friends new to whisky and spend the night drinking it all. It was just what I needed to take the edge off!”

Dram #4 – Balblair 1969:

As I wrote at the time, sometimes a dram actually makes time stand still. This was the case with the Balblair 1969 – and it still makes it (possibly) the top of my top drams of the year.

This is what I had to say after trying it at the Balblair Distillery back in July: “This subtle beauty is an absolute stunner. So much so, I actually managed to stop talking for a full 15 minutes. Anything that can make me do that has to be pretty powerful.

This whisky filled my nose with rich, creamy mangoes and papayas, sweet white almond bark (a North American chocolate concoction), apricots and a teeny hint of smoke.

On the palate, everything got even more intense. As I sat with this dram, I was transported to a dreamy, warm meadow in mid-summer. My mouth filled with toasted wheat, honey syrup sticks (another North American confection), the rich flavours that filter from a bakery onto a Parisian street (croissants, pain aux apricots) and the twang of orange bitters. It finished, for me, on a note of nori (edible seaweed) and the sweet hint of smoked salmon.

It was glorious. End of.”

And so ends part one of my “Drams of 2012″ – find out on Monday which other three make the list!

 

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Where were you when? Bowmore – 1985

August 16, 2012 in Uncategorized

At the start of 1985, a large group of musicians got together to sing a song that aimed to help raise money for millions of people in Africa. Also that year, teen classic film The Breakfast Club was released. Those aforementioned musicians reunited for the rather large Live Aid in the summer, and by the end of the year, Back to the Future, Out of Africa and The Colour Purple had all taken the cinemas by storm.

But also in that year, at the Bowmore distillery on Islay – possibly during a wind-swept, rain-filled day when nothing else in the world mattered but the whisky making going on within its four walls -  a whisky was put to bed, to sleep the years away in a snug cask. Like a caterpillar going into a cocoon, the whisky worked and danced its way to completion.

This whisky is now – all these years later – sat beside me on my desk in London. Amazing isn’t it to think this same process is going on all over Scotland (and Ireland, and England, and Wales, and…ohhh…all over the world) right at this instant. That thousands more barrels are being filled, are capturing moments in time for generations down the line to reminisce about. Rather romantic eh?

But, I digress.

This new Bowmore is a part of the company’s limited vintage range. Made from a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, only 747 cask strength (52.3%) bottles of the 1985 will hit the shelves. Each will be hand-signed and numbered by distillery manager Eddie MacAffer and cost £300.

The whisky is a golden honey colour – a lovely balance hinting at both the richer colours from a sherry cask and the light blonde of a bourbon barrel.

It’s wonderful on the nose – notes of pear, lemon, cedar wood, stewed cherries and a sweeter smoke (like hickory chips) flutter around as soon as it’s poured.

The palate confuses at first – initially I am struck by an almost sweet-shop flavouring, something along the lines of sugary strawberry laces before a slightly acrid smoke hits mid-way through. But on second sip, there are more notes of pears and apples, and a sort of chargrilled pineapple – a sweet smoke pervades for sure. At the end, it’s all parma violets and perfumed soap. The smoke is very well balanced, doesn’t overextend itself and sits long on the tongue.

It’s an enjoyable dram, most certainly – if not only for its balance but also for its history. That – like many whiskies – can be one of the most beautiful things about any dram. This one – at £300 – captures the years beautifully and makes me nostalgic for all things 1985!

 

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Miss Whisky speaks to Rachel Barrie

July 6, 2012 in Uncategorized

 

In the latest Whisky Women interview, I speak to industry legend Rachel Barrie,  the Master Blender at Morrison Bowmore. In the full interview – found here -  she talks about her longtime love of whisky, what makes her proud and what memory of whisky drinking burns strongly in her mind.

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Bowmore Small Batch Reserve: Small batch, big taste

May 29, 2012 in Uncategorized

Every once in a while, you find yourself needing something to take the edge off of things.

And so, it was on a particularly stressful day of late that I decided to open up my sample of the new Bowmore Small Batch Reserve whisky. According to Rachel Barrie – the master blender – one should “relax, take it easy and enter Islay time” with this dram. This sounded appealing. I was particularly desperate at that point to escape exhausting London time.

The new release combines first and second fill bourbon casks to create what the company calls ‘Bowmore’s lightest and most delicate expression to date’. It is meant to pair perfectly with vanilla ice cream, olive oil and sea salt, all of which compliment the various flavour profiles of the whisky.

As I didn’t have these things to hand, I took a bite of vanilla madeleines before a sip of the whisky – it’s not what I’d normally opt for, but my stress levels meant I was craving sugar.

A sip of whisky followed and then…

…and then…

…ahhh…

happiness.

Bliss.

I could actually create a shopping channel style advert out of my appreciation for that moment.

The characteristic Bowmore peatiness was there but in an oh so gentle way. There were hints of fudge, vanilla and oak that one would expect from an ex-bourbon cask, but it wasn’t overpowering. It just said, “Hello, you’re feeling stressed aren’t you? Well, why don’t I use my relaxing flavours to eek away your blues!”

For those that like a heavier, sherried Bowmore (like the Darkest) this might seem a bit too gentle. It’s not yelling at you but just presenting itself for enjoyment. The nose is welcoming with grassy, soft sugary notes that would appeal to a beginner, but I think the palate is complex enough with its creamy smoke, hints of lemongrass and saltiness to encourage a longer-term single malt sipper to still enjoy it.

It may be because I don’t like a whisky that’s too bitter or smoky but, for me, this was really, fantastically lovely. I fell for it.

It’s the kind of whisky that, if I had a whole bottle, I’d probably sit down with friends new to whisky and spend the night drinking it all. It was just what I needed to take the edge off!

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Whisky and Magic

May 2, 2012 in Uncategorized

The floor creaks and cracks as I step gingerly across the dusty, dark boards wary that my 4″ heel might become lodged in a crack. This would be a horrendous fate – not only for my dignity – but also because I’m holding a glass of Bowmore 15 year old Darkest and that would likely go sashaying out of my glass to land on some poor mortal in this dilapidated room.

Where am I? To be honest, after a few brown sugar sweet, plummy raisin drams, I’m not entirely sure. An hour before, my partner and I arrived at a scuffed up red door, telling us only that magic was likely to occur within…

And so it began. After a heavy knock, we were ushered inside the dimly lit space. A fire crackled in one corner and a chap named “Dickie” wandered through in a thickly woven smoking jacket, telling patrons of life living in a broken down house. Over canapes and a Bowmore cocktail we surveyed the scene and were given a token: mine a red button, my other half’s a silky white feather, which indicated we would be made to go our separate ways.

As his white-feather group was led upstairs, my group was ushered into a cosy back room by a madman with twirly mustache and frighteningly darting eyes. Inside, a soundtrack of whipping winds and splashing waves transported us to the seaside, while a story teller told of a headless horseman that circles Islay. Spine-tingling indeed.

Soon, we were whisked upstairs to a room oozing chocolate where master chocolatier Paul A Young was stirring a cauldron of gooey, hot chocolate – like those under a trance, we were drawn in to the mystical scene, palates dripping with excitement. The swirling brew was dripped into a mishmash of china teacups while we were each told to grab one Bowmore bonbon, a dark chocolate infused with whisky that magically transformed the cuppa into a grown-up drink of the tastiest kind.

As the last dollops of chocolate passed our tongues, we headed back down the higgledy-piggledy staircase and then up another nervewracking set at the back of the house. There, beneath the rafters we were taken on a starry journey with Gary Fildes, director of the Kielder Observatory. With a glass of whisky in hand, I drifted away, mesmerised as he showed us how incredible even 1-square-mm of space is, with thousands of stars and galaxies residing in that tiny block. It reminded me of childhood days when – living in the pure darkness of the Canadian countryside – you could be swallowed whole by the vast flurry of stars overhead.

Finally, heading to the basement, we rejoined the other groups and in a dopey, happy state, I listened to Bowmore brand ambassador Gordon Dundas lead us through a tasting of the 12 and 15 year old Bowmore, which included donning a darkened eye mask, cupping and shaking the whisky glass so the liquid coated our hands and then smelling the rich, cherry wood and raisin flavours imparted on our skin – all heightened by the lack of sight.

As the accordion player got the group into a spirited jig, and harmonizing voices sang out the lyrics to “What do you do with a drunken sailor” my partner and I smiled in Cheshire-cat like happiness at the magical and immersive experience we had just partaken in.

I must quaff my cap to the Bowmore team – not only did I learn about the whisky but I did it in style in the upmost of magical spaces. It was like nothing else I’ve experienced and I can only hope more whisky companies will help take customers on such incredible journeys. Inspiring, indeed!

For more information about Bowmore 12 or 15 year old Darkest, or the Bowmore brand, visit: www.bowmore.com. And thank you to Katie Palmer for providing the image of Paul A Young.

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