Over the years people have asked me how my passion for whisky developed. The first Scotch whisky I bought for my self was a bottle of glendronach, 12 year old sherry cask, it was my thirtieth birthday and I felt it was time to appreciate whisky. I recall marveling at its smoothness, it’s robust flavour and it’s lingering sherry finish. Needless to say I became a true believer and my passion had begun. I started buying a bottle here and there, enjoying each and ever one and appreciating the incredibly vast array of flavours. To date I have acquired over 400 bottles of whisky from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Canada, America, Japan and now India.
My interest in spirits began a number of years previous when as a lad of 17 and was tending bar in a lounge. All of my customers stopping in for a drink on their way home had a favorite spirit be it; rum, gin, vodka or whisky. The fussiest of the lot were the whisky drinkers, “Haig pinch is the best” “no, Ne Plus ultra is the best” ”Glenlivet is the best”, the debate was endless, but a lot of fun. Yes, I did sample the odd one but don’t recall much about them except they were all different.
But I do remember my first bottle of scotch. The year was 1975, and I was but a young lad of sixteen. I was traveling back to town from a trip to the dump in my old 1953 GMC pickup truck when I saw car on the side of the highway with the occupants frantically waving for help. I stopped to see what the problem was; the travelers were from the U.S. had a flat tire and a broken jack. These four travelers informed me that they had been on the side of the highway for a couple of hours with no help being offered. I was so disappointed in my fellow Canadians that I more than happily assisted them in their tire changing duties.
Upon completion they offered me money, but naturally I refused any compensation for my assistance. That is until one of the women brought out a 40 ouncer of Johnny Walker black label.
The look of total anxiety on the men folks’ faces told me that this bottle was something very special to them, so what else could a wee lad of sixteen do? I didn’t think twice and graciously accepted the gift. As I walked, or probably strutted, I recall feeling like I was going to be jumped by those guys to get that whisky back.
I was thrilled with my gift as I drove home, and to this day I can’t help but wonder if those guys were actually happy I came around or not ‘cause it sure wasn’t their idea to part with that bottle and when it was handed to me I thought I saw a couple of tears.
It was quite fortuitous that one of my friends’ parents were away for the weekend. The weekend of playing cards with my buddies was especially memorable due to this Johnny Walker Black, and although it was not properly appreciated until years later when my passion for scotch developed, it was still a nice gift.
I will always remember my first bottle of scotch. Thanks, you, my four American travelers, if there’s anything else I can do for you don’t hesitate to ask.
Well that’s how I gained my passion for whisky. I enjoy whisky from all countries and appreciate premium spirits of all types. It takes courage and dedication to create and produce these wonders of the world. Many of the founding families have given everything they had for their dreams and to them I salute and shall continue to enjoy and respect their toil for many years to come.
