Satisfaction & Whisky Talk

 

So, as my first "working" Whisky Live festival has drawn to a close, I finally have a moment to reflect....

 

To do my job, the one essential requirement is a deep passion for whisky. That I have, no problems there. The next requirement is that one needs to be a relatively good teacher. Its strange, I never considered this to be a talent of mine before venturing into whisky, but the more trainings and tastings I do, the more I realize ( post comments) that I somehow do actually have a teaching element in me.

How do I know if I have been "successful"? Someone will come up to me, after trainings or tastings and tell me that they learned 'something' or 'a lot' and that's what I am here for, as ambassador its about spreading the knowledge, the passion.

On Friday night I had a goosebump moment, after my last Macallan Maturation Zone class, I had two gents come chat to me. They said they have been drinking and enjoying whisky for the past 6 years, and in that 25 minute class they learned more than they have in the past 6 years. With moments like those, job satisfaction is easy, because it reflects as a job well done!

 

As its back to my normal work week, I find myself missing being surrounded by whisky lovers, folks who have this deep love for the golden dram. And it's back to the office, back to the laptop and office banter.

So I say a final farewell to Whisky Live 2011, I will finish this Monday off with a Highland Park Hjarta ( only reserved for special occasions) and reminisce on the energy and passion of the wonderful whisky world players who convened on African soils for 2 brilliant weeks.

 

Thank you for your passion, your knowledge and your time!

 

Slainte

Aroma, Whisky Talk, Passion

And so 2011 Whisky Live festival has rolled around. This year the tables have however turned on me… favourably. The past few years, I was a consumer, gladly hopping from whisky to whisky, from Scottish to Irish, from rare malts to Japanese blends.

This year my attention shifted to finally being behind the stands. Whenever I get to chat "whisky" to "random" consumers, an instant passion is ignited and I'm in my happy place. Last night saw the debut of The Macallan and Roja Doves Aroma Kit at The Maturation Zone, and WOW, was it fun to present!

The class, not very long, takes on 2 elements, first of all the theoretical side pertaining to the importance of wood and understanding of maturation. Once we get the nitty-gritty over and done with, it becomes a lot more interactive. Now the consumers get to smell the amazing aroma oils created specifically for The Macallan by master perfumer Roja Dove, we play with flavours that deconstruct Maturity vs. Immaturity, Depth vs. diffusion and Sherry Oak vs. Fine Oak Aromas

I am a whisky person, and am not very excited by whisky gimmicks; my aim is to always focus on the whisky, the whisky is the star of this show. I was initially a tad apprehensive that some folk might find the Aroma Kit a touch gimmick-y. But not so, upon implementing the Aroma Kit, I saw how consumers faces lit up when they finally "got that" cinnamon or chocolate orange. The Roja Dove Kit makes aroma alive and it makes whisky aroma more accessible. And if we can make malts more accessible to consumers, then I'm a happy camper. That's why I love my job, I get to introduce folks to whiskies they have never tried before, to aromas they could never find before and to the joy and beauty of single malt whisky.

Slainte