American Whiskey Magazine – Issue 25, 2023
English | 84 pages | pdf | 59.98 MB
Welcome at American Whiskey Magazine Issue 25, 2023
For a large proportion of my younger years I was all about ‘things’. I think it’s hard not to be when you’re a teenager because let’s face it, kids can be brutal if you’re wearing the wrong trainers, or playing the wrong games.
That saying “youth is wasted on the young” really feels more prevalent with every passing year – not that I’m exactly getting on at the grand age of 29, but you know what I mean. When I think back to the holidays and weekends and family days out that my parents worked incredibly hard ” to make special for us, in retrospect I would say I appreciate them far more now than I did as a little person.
Back then it was all about the mini kitchen sets and The Sims games, whereas now I’d rather have a day out somewhere with my family. I suppose time feels more precious now.
A similar journey of appreciation has happened during my five years in the whiskey industry. I’m the first to admit that, in the beginning, my understanding of the true extent of creativity and skill that went into every bottle needed work, and at 24 years old I was perhaps more appreciative of the effects of the whiskey and not so much the enjoyment. We’ve all been there, nobody’s perfect … right?!
I’m sure you’re wondering by now when I’m going to get to the point, but don’t worry, it’s on the way. The world of whiskey really has altered my thinking and perceptions of what matters. During my time in the industry I’ve been incredibly lucky to be whisked away on many trips that showcased a more experiential side of the spirit. I’m sure it isn’t the first time I’ve mentioned this, and it certainly won’t be the last, but I have to say that when I look back on my favorite whiskey drams they are always linked to an experience.
One such example was in the form of Woodford Reserve’s Distiller’s Select, however, I didn’t actually sample it in the bottle. It was on a breezy and humid (of course) summer’s day in 2019; my colleague and I were wandering through one of the distillery’s rickhouses with Elizabeth McCall and we were able to thieve a little of the liquid straight out of the barrel. Between the atmosphere, the liquid, and the company, it will remain one of my favorites purely for that moment.
In this issue of American Whiskey Magazine our contributors have focused specifically on whiskey experiences and the many different forms they can take, from societies, to festivals, to new products.
One feature looks into the wonders of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, which happens to be one of my most memorable whiskey experiences. My first trip to the States, for work, included a three-night stay in Tennessee, before we drove over the border to Louisville for me to experience my very first KBF. That was 2019 and it is safe to say the experience looks very different now, but growth is always positive, particularly when it comes to celebrating whiskey. But back to that first visit in 2019, it was truly unlike anything I’d ever experienced. One major reason was certainly the cultural aspect, as the celebrations as a community are totally different where I grew up in the United Kingdom. However, the differences didn’t matter. I remember the way it made me feel more than anything else, and the welcoming spirit I found there, both figuratively and literally. It felt even more special returning in 2022 after a Covid- induced long break. Seeing the way the festival had developed and grown in that time, while retaining its heart and soul, was quite something. One of the big plus points for me was the ability to discuss and sample (responsibly, of course) so many fantastic whiskeys in one place. Each pour is diligently explained by the ambassadors on the stands and if you aren’t already in love with the spirit, this will almost certainly do it for you.
If I leave you with one resounding thought from reading this column, and the following pages of the magazine, it is this: put your time and hard-earned money into experiences. The way something makes you feel will always be more important than how it looks and I think we can all agree to raise a glass to that.
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