Glasgow Malt Whisky Company is breaking down some of the myths about Scotland's national drink
There are few countries with an essence so distinctive that it can be captured in a bottle, but Scotland is one of them. Every sip of single malt whisky contains the DNA of our climate and landscape and each bottle is as individual as the rocks on which the distillery stands.
Savouring those different flavours is one of the joys of drinking a fine malt and that pleasure can be greatly enhanced by a little knowledge of what goes into every glass, especially now when a growing appetite for our national drink has resulted in mothballed distilleries coming back into production and new distilleries being built.
David Grant of the Glasgow Malt Whisky Company knows his malts and the tasting events which he organises are one of the best ways of finding a way through the mystique that in the past has swirled like Highland mist around the subject of malt whisky.
From stag events and corporate gatherings, and even a special tasting for the judges at the recent World Gymnastics Championships, as well as through regular events at the specialist malt whisky shop “The Jar” that he runs in Troon, David has introduced many people to the pleasure that comes from knowing a little bit about what they are drinking.
"For years many people have been put off by the snobbery that surrounds whisky in some quarters," he says.
"As Scots we do not like to appear to be pretentious nor do we want to appear to be ignorant, so we stick to what we like and never have the opportunity to explore the vast range of different single malt whiskies that are out there."
The Glasgow Malt Whisky Company regularly holds whisky tastings all over Scotland and David says participants arrive expecting to be lectured on the subject, only to find to their delight that these are social events where they can find out lots about whisky and have their questions answered without being made to feel ignorant.
By the end of the evening people will have been introduced to a selection of new whiskies, learning where the aromas, flavours and colours come from, most likely in the company of like minded people. And the group experience is what makes the events so memorable.
The other great myth about whisky tastings that the company likes to dispel is that these are men-only events. As women start to dominate the world of whisky on the production side The Glasgow Malt Whisky Company is happy to report that about 30 per cent of the people attending the tastings are female.
"One question we are often asked is 'what should you add to your whisky?' and we always answer 'good company'," says David.
"Whether it’s a small tasting for four to six people or a large tasting of 20 plus people, whisky tastings are a great way to enhance your own knowledge, an opportunity to ask the questions you have always wanted to but most importantly, they should be enjoyable social events. After all whisky is the most social of all drinks."
To find out check glasgowmaltwhiskycompany.com
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