I had the great fortune of attending a special event recently – the Scottish Malt Whisky Tasting Panel Experience hosted by a Legend in Scottish Malt Whisky – Charlie MacLean (@_Whisky_Max_).
The event was part of a series put on by the US branch of the society offering members an opportunity to taste whisky that is still in barrels stored at various distilleries prior to bottling by the society. In this case, we were looking for the next SMWS special American issued bottling.
Last year the Society selected
93.114 – Barbecue in fish nets – a personal favorite of mine hailing from the Glen Scotia distillery in Campbelltown and a delightful tasting journey (but sadly sold out). The tasting notes will give you some sense of this weé dram
The air was filled with the wonderful aromas of mixed herbs and sweet sticky glaze. Thick meaty marinade bubbled as blackcurrants and cranberries became singed alongside walnuts in a hot oven. Puffs from the outdoor smoker blew in through an open window bringing with them wafts of engine oil that had fused with sea air and fish nets. Water brought about more ashy tones that became lifted by sea buckthorn and quince. Salty bacon crackled in a pan as charred marmalade bubbled like a hot mantle on smoked ham. Fragrant notes of bergamot and dry rosé wine combined with sweet leather and a handful of salted almonds before we arrived at a finish bound by grape seeds and pear skin. After spending 12 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead this was transferred to a 1st fill port hogshead for the remainder of its maturation.
Our guide for the evening was Charlie MacLean who wrote one of the original bibles to the amber nectar – Whisky: A Liquid History who took us on a journey of discovery filled with delightful insights both intellectual as well as gustatory and olfactory.
After the event, I was fortunate to catch Charlie for a 1 on 1 interview. You can listen in to hear how he went from Lawyer to Whisky Taster on his path to the perfect job – drinking for a living!
Charlie shares his passion, the inspiration of “the juice” and how it is impossible to get bored when tasting a whisky (naturally I agree!).
