I've been meaning to write this for ages, so forgive this self indulgence. The picture above is my current stash of opened bottles, but why so many? I have two more on order - a Laphroaig Quarter Cask and a Port Charlotte Heavily Peated Whisky from Islay.
It all starts for me in 1979. I'm 14 years of age. My father was a London Taxi Driver and would leave home at 4am to start work, getting home at 2pm. After a little snooze on the couch, at about 4.30pm he'd go to the double door, faux walnut wood drinks cabinet and survey the contents. It was filled with Teachers, Whyte & Mackay, Bells, Dimple and for special occasions; Glenfiddich. Don't get me wrong, other gems in there would be Galliano, Vodka, Drambuie, Cherry Brandy, Harveys Bristol Cream Sherry, Remy Martin, Cointreau, Kirsch, and many more, but invariably it was Teachers though. Grabbing a heavy, lead crystal tumbler, with the diamond criss-cross pattern up the sides, he'd pour a 'two finger' measure (that's where you put your first and second fingers, side by side, horizontally across the glass and pour to the top of the second finger) smile. He'd take a sniff, have sip and put the glass down. I was fascinated. My dad totally oblivious to me being in the room until he closes the drinks cabinet doors, then leaves the room. I'm alone with this glass of a deep amber liquid glinting at me.I sniff the glass, shrug and take a big sip and swallow.
What follows is one massive coughing fit! I have never tasted anything so vile in all my young life and I vowed, never EVER to touch that stuff again. My father came running in, looked at the glass, then at me and back at the glass, put two and two together and began to laugh, really laugh, tears of laughter and he said "Son, one day you'll come to enjoy this" and I'm thinking - he's lost the plot!
Fast forward. its 1987, I'm out in some London Nightclub and 'Southern Comfort & Lemonade' is the drink and by 1989 it progresses to 'JD & Coke' without me realising it, my journey back to Whisky has begun, via the sweeter notes of Bourbon.
It's 1991. I'm 26. We're going at a family function, there's a free bar and my Dad gets two large whiskies and sits down with me. He talks about smelling the whisky and pulling the glass way, before bringing it back for another sniff (I'm thinking he's lost the plot!) he then says sip but don't swallow..roll the whisky around your mouth a few times, THEN swallow..It was definitely not as harsh, but I still wasn't sure what he was on about!
Unfortunately in 1993 I lost Dad. In 1998 my eldest son was born. My wife at the time had a bottle of Straithisla she had received from her late father and we decided that upon the ceremonial ritual
that occurs when the first male is born in the Jewish religion, we would open it.
A sniff, a swoosh around and the inevitable drop...I waited for the burn...nothing...a lovely warm feeling, but no burn - I was amazed!!! I took another sip, even better...a sweetness...almost toffee like..and right there an then, my Whisky Journey began....
I have been fortunate to get to Scotland a few times- Aberlour is the further north, Royal Lochnagar to the east, Talisker and Tobermory to the west and Auchentoshan to the south.
I have learnt on my journey that 'the sniff' should be with each nostril, as each side can pick up different notes and to take it away after each nosing, so as not to bombard the senses. I have learnt that generically, Speyside (East) is more heathery and honey notes, whereas Highlands and Islands (West) will give you peat, smoke and saltier notes.
The glass...Whether its a diamond, criss-cross pattern lead crystal heavyweight Tumbler, a tulip shape nosing glass, or a sherry glass, get a good nose!
The sip..You've spent good money on the bottle - enjoy! Most single malts will tell you on the bottle what they are trying to give you, see if you can taste it. Most important of all, enjoy it. Any decent bar in Scotland will have a fantastic optic selection let the Barman help you, so you can decide what region of whiskies you like. My preference is Islay (pronounced eye-lah). I'm an ex-smoker, so the smoke hit of Caol Isla, Lagavulin, Laphroaig and Bruichladdish really appeals to me, but I'm not adverse to Speyside whiskies, however, if my budget is going to be tested, an Islay will win!
So for me, once I've purchased and got home, it's a Diamon criss-cross patterned, crystal tumbler...the seal is broken, the cork lifted and poured and my pre-drink ceremony takes place...Just me, no one else around...and memories of my Dad envelope me..I'm 55yrs old now, my eldest son who is 21 had an eager desire to discover whisky and his favourite so far is Lagavulin 16! - he has set a high bar indeed
So to end as I began...Whisky is it all that? my answer, is most definitely yes.
Slainte!
