Now, I know I’ve said I’ll slap you and kill you if you disrespect whisky, but it would be a poor start to our relationship I’m sure you agree – and besides if I kill you, you’ll just stink the place out and my nose is too sensitive for that.
So, to that end, if you have any questions about me or about whisky – any aspect of whisky, even why I don’t call it whiskey – feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll answer it as and when time permits. Just as there’s no such thing as a bad whisky, there’s no such thing as a bad question, so ask away! After all, how often do you get the chance to pick the brains of a Master Blender?
All I would say is if you’re looking for some more information on me, I have a book, Goodness Nose, out and there’s videos elsewhere on the site and in blog postings providing basic notes on whisky tasting.
Every now and then the web team will take the questions and present them in a different format but if you’ve got a question for me, put it in the comments section, then pour a dram and wait for my reply.
Also, I’ll reply to every question posted here, so it’s better to put it here than on Twitter or Facebook where there’s sometimes the chance that I’ll miss it.
Questions:
World’s most expensive whisky
Can you make me a unique whisky?
Buying Whyte and Mackay in America
How do I become a Master Blender?
How much water should I add to whisky?
Getting a single malt person to try blends
What was the first distillation of a heavily peated Jura?
How much is my bottle of whisky worth?
Is sherry used in your caskets?
I have a whisky which has been lying unopened for around 30 years – is it safe to drink?
I have a bottle of whisky which has been open for five years. Do I need to throw it out?
Where did sherry casks in the 1800s come from?
World’s most expensive whisky
Richard, What do you think about a paper stating “Record £11,750 for a bottle of scotch”
“Distilled more than 80 years ago has become the most expensive spirit of it’s type to be sold at auction … The Macallan Anniversary 50-year-old sold …for £11,750 including a buyer’s premium of 17.5% at McTears Auctioneer in Glasgow.”
Is not the 60 y/o Dalmore older, more expensive, and if the taste is anything to compare as to your 40 y/o Dalmore better?
If only one could be so luck to taste the 60 y/o Dalmore.
From Jim Schultz
Richard Says:
The taste is a very individual thing Jim but you are right to point out that a bottle of 62 year old Dalmore sold for more than £30,000. And as for tasting one of the older whiskies – I have been known to take the bottles on tour with me, so keep following the blog to see where I’ll be and what I’m bringing.
Can you make me a unique whisky?
Hi Richard
I saw the saw the programme of you and David Hymen where you produced a blended whisky for him. I am interested to know if you do this for the puplic or if it was a “one off” for the show. My father is a keen whiskey drinker but it has to be a Good Malt. Over the years he has had many to try for birthdays etc but i thought if it was something you did for the public it would be something a bit special. I would be very grateful for any information. P.s sorry to hear about your accident with the bowie knife. Glad things turned out okay. Incidently not on twitter and facebook etc.
From Fiona Heggie
Richard Says:
Fiona, thank you for the kind words over my injury. As you can imagine I have a very hectic schedule, but while I can’t just make individual whiskies for people, there are a few slots in my schedule for actually meeting someone, getting to know them, telling them all about whisky and then making an individual whisky for them. There’s more details here.
Buying Whyte and Mackay in America
Any help where to purchase in the USA? I live in South Carolina.
From Andy Byars
Richard Says:
Andy, we receive tons of emails on this very question, so to help people out, we’ve set up a page on the blog specifically for buying Whyte & Mackay across the globe.
How do I become a Master Blender?
Hi Richard, a question I have always wanted answering as it prevented me from getting the job I dreamt of doing; ‘Why do whisky companies insist on their apprentice blenders having a degree in analytical science (or the like)?’ Does a white coat really constitute a better blender?
From David Stirk
Richard Says:
David, it’s not about the white coat but about THE PASSION. If you are hungry enough, keen and knowledgeable enough then that should help open doors.
Also, the internet gives you a chance to speak to so many people and again can open doors sometimes – and there’s always an element of luck as well. Never give up and SHOW YOUR PASSION.
How much water should I add to whisky?
Hi Richard,
How much water (if at all) should be added to a measure of whisky? Also, the idea of putting chilled Jura rocks in yer whisky to cool it down is a fantastic idea… I guess this is why it’s called Scotch on the rocks, but, I’ve never seen it done this way before. Was this the traditional way of serving it or is the Frenchman a bloody genius? (he’s talking about the stones seen in the Master Blender v World’s Best Barman video)
I’m away doon the supermarket for some of those wee stones (what do you mean there not for sale?)
Cheers!
From Stephen Abel
Richard Says:
Water is a very individual thing, but always start with just a little drop – it’s easier to add a wee drop more than to take it out – and test the temperature of the water too as I’ve had my fingers scalded a few times with barstaff filling the water jug from the hot tap.
As for Scotch cubes you can get them mail order. A look around the web should show options. If you don’t see anything, come back here and let me know.
Getting a single malt person to try blends
Some people view blends as ‘unpure’ whisky. I myself enjoy some vatted malts (Serendipity) and Blends (I do genuinely like the special, though I am put off by the grain content in others) how would you convince a non believer (other than slapping) into the benefits of a blend over a single malt and what you personally prefer?
From The Scotsdreamer
Richard Says:
I’d slap them twice! Seriously, this idea that blends are unpure is complete bollocks. Let’s get this straight, blended malts are all fantastic. Each one has its own particular following but I would remind you that “ blended” Scotch whisky still accounts for approximately 90% of the Scotch whisky market. They should be sipped and savoured with respect. Give them time but please give them the respect they deserve. Blended whiskies are a huge part of the global market and there simply wouldn’t be the demand for them if there wasn’t quality there.
Blog regular Julian Cheal said this about two W&M blends: “I must say I was blown away by the taste of the two Whyte & Mackays I tried, the 19yo and 22yo. They were the first whisky blends I’d ever had, and were simply amazing!”
As for my preference? That changes daily, but at the moment I’m quite fond of our Whyte and Mackay 30 year old blend which is just one of the best whiskies on the planet.
When was peaty Superstition first produced?
Just discovered the Joys of Superstition.
It’s fantastic! Wanting to show it at our tasting group meeting next week and was wanting a little background knowledge if poss.
All I have managed to find out thus far that: It is two styles of spirit from Jura distillery are combined to produce this stunning, beautifully balanced single malt. Heavily peated younger malt and older Jura making a great alternative for Islay fans.
My question is what year was the first distillation of the heavily peated spirit produced? I presume it was a landmark distillation as its such a departure from traditional Jura styles.
From John Martin
Richard Says:
Thanks for the kind words on Jura Superstition (which you can follow on Twitter). The first distillation of such a heavily peated spirit was in 1999. And while some see it as a departure, the records show that way back in 1810, around then, from all accounts, the whiskies were very heavily peated back then, so you could argue that it’s not so much a case of breaking with tradition or new ground but in reality a case of going back to our roots and the roots of the whisky.
As you point out, the first time we did it was really on Superstition but it’s also been carried out in Jura Prophecy, so if you try that let me know your thoughts.
How much is my bottle of whisky worth?
A couple of these questions came in recently:
A certain time ago I got a gift of my father and it was a 21 years old blend bottle presenting the two lions on the brazen emblem. It is a 75cl 43% vol. bottle with the certificate and your signature on it. Unfortunately I found no shop which is selling this bottle anymore! Which in fact is not whimsical. I would like to know what jewel I got in my cellar beneath the few single malts. Do you have any indication of price for this bottle?
From Philip Schaub
I wanted to ask if you could help me with a query that I have. I won a Whyte & Mackay 22 Carat Glazed Gold Pot Still Decanter of Whiskey with all the dents and marks that identifies the still etc.
I won this item at a dinner dance some 20yrs ago or thereabouts and was informed that it was a valuable item. It is still in the original red and gold velvet box and I was wondering if you still make these items and if so what they would cost or if you can advise me as to how I can establish what it may be worth.
Thanking you in anticipation of any information that you may be able to offer.
From Whisky 1
I wonder whether you can help..my mother in law has recently died and we are in the process of clearing her house. We have found a Whyte and mackay 22 carat gold plated pot still decanter still in the box with 12 year old malt whisky with the seal intact. Do you have any idea of what it may be worth?
From Whisky Lover
Richard Says:
I’ll answer these specifically in a moment but the best place to get an up-to-date idea of what a bottle of whisky is worth is eBay. McTears also have a whisky auction twice a year that is worth looking into. One thing though: when going onto eBay, always have a reserve price. And for all auctions remember that the nearer mint – and unopened – the bottle/casing is, the more it will be worth.
Now, Philip, your whisky sounds like the bell-shaped that came off the market in the 1990s and was replaced by the Whyte and Mackay 22 year old. At that time it would have been around £30 but now it would be around £100 as a whisky.
Whisky 1 and Whisky Lover: That was the pot still decanter used up until the 1980s and then black, greenand red presentation boxes. If in original condition – up to £300 depending on buyer and condition. If selling it, give it a reserve price of around £80.
Is sherry used in your caskets?
I’m just wondering – is sherry used in all your drinks? In the caskets I mean.
Richard Says:
Yes a number of our drinks use sherry casks, including the Whyte and Mackay range and other blends.
As for the malts, sherry wood and american wine oak and a number of other different expressions are used. i.e. – the Dalmore King Alexander 3 has 6 different expressions including American wide oak.
Theres a crossover in all our blends. It just depends on the style, the age and a number of other factors. Whyte and Mackay produces not just one blend but around approximately 100 blends.
I have a whisky which has been lying unopened for 30 years – is it safe to drink?
I have a 75.7cl (26 2/3 fl.ozs) 70 proof bottle of Whyte and Mackay 21 year old blended scotch whisky. It is unopened, has a clear cellophane wrapper round the bottle and is in a red velvet covered box. I believe it was probably purchased more than 30 years ago.
Is it still safe to drink?
Richard Says:
It’s very much still drinkable. What you need to do is pour it into a glass, swirl it about, let the air get about it. Remember it’s been in the ‘prison’ for more than 30 years with no air, so it’s what we call ‘dumb’ therefore you need to bring air to it.
It also depends on where it has been stored – a consistent temperature is the best. But if you stored it in the loft the poor whisky is going to have been cold in winter, warm in summer, the poor thing is all over the place.Treat it like a wine cellar – bottle standing up, not on the side. But that’s to prevent the cork being eaten away by the whisky and eventually it will erode it away. It’s not about settle or anything.
How will it taste: it will be a bit dumb but the air can freshen it up as long as you give it some time and a good swirl.
I have an open bottle of whisky – do I need to throw it out?
I’ve got a few bottles of whisky that have been opened at various points over the last 10 years. Now the wife is telling me that they’ve gone off and have to be thrown out.
From Peter in Fife
Richard Says:
Get rid of her first! Seriously, unless the whisky has gone very cloudy then it’s definitely drinkable. Again, it depends on where it was stored (see above). It also depends on how much air has got into the drink.
The more air that has got about the whisky, the more bland it may appear. If its been in the garage then its been subjected to the weather, the poor thing. But they are all certainly drinkable.
Where did the casks used for whisky in the 18th century come from?
Richard Says:
Anywhere and everywhere. That’s the honest answer. WIth all the wines and sherries that were coming in – even fish (which is how we have stinking fish malt) – there was no luxury or wood management, it was only what people could get.
In the 1800s there was management but not consistent by any shape or form. Thats why many bottles invaliding WM had to put a certificate of analysis on their bottle, to show they were producing something of consistent quality.
Don’t know yet Gregg, a lot of things being planned at the moment. If Arizona is on the cards, you can bet I’ll let blog readers know first.
Andrew, some people are getting it via the sites mentioned at the top of the page and I know Jeff from the very excellent ScotchHobbyist.com website ordered it from LFW.
Okinawa? Now that would be a trip for me! Thanks for ranking them so highly – and let’s see if we can even do an online tasting some night. I’ll get the guys to drop you an email…
I see that vwe’re not a million miles apart! You at Silverstone. Us in Milton Keynes. A small world.
Anyway, not so much a question but a thank you. When I was down at Whisky Live London, there were copies of “Goodness Nose” on sale signed by Gavin. Seeing an E-Bay re-sale opportunity (only kidding) I got a copy and you kindly signed it.
Finally, last week, I got around to starting the book. I’m absolutely loving it. I anticipated that it might be a somewhat ‘dry’ read. But not so. Interesting, compelling and funny.
Tim
Glad you’re enjoying it Tim. Let us know your thoughts on Goodness Nose when finished.