I love the TV ad for Black Bottle Whisky but never thought I would actually go out and buy a bottle. Imagine buying Whisky because you like an ad and because of the really hot accent of the actors!?

The FNB Whisky Live Festival was great. Imagine being able to taste all these wonderful whiskies before buying the bottle. I like whisky but I know what tastes nice and not because it is “smoky” or “peaty” or some such term, but because I like the taste. On the rocks or neat or with a splash of water but don’t ask me about the year or the country. Okay guys and whisky afficionados, start throwing stones, maybe I deserve it and therefore shouldn’t call myself a whisky drinker but a “dabbler”.

Does one really have to be an expert to enjoy something? I enjoyed parking my husband off with some wonderful girls called Angel Hands – cool name – and off I went. These girls give a neck and back massage for 10 to 15 minutes and you pay them what you think it is worth. Okay my husband is big and they kept him for 30 minutes and brought him some whisky and he was happy – oh, it cost me but it was worth every penny! He was relaxed and work stress disappeared and he basically sat talking to hot young girls for 30 minutes while I did my own thing.

Now, I know you guys or ladies think this is nuts, but it isn’t really. My husband is a whisky drinker and knows the difference between “smoky” and “peaty and even which country the stuff is made in – I don’t – so every whisky he would comment on – not good. I had to get rid of him! I can’t taste the soil or the charcoal or sweetness or whatever else – I just like some and don’t like others.

Well, to be honest I did learn some useful (?) stuff. Like American whiskies are made from corn and rye grain not barley then it is aged (by law) for two years sometimes closer to four. The casks are charred, giving the whisky its famous rich, mellow flavour. Bourbon and Tennesee whisky is made from 51 percent corn and aged in charred casks before it is filtered through a bed of sugar-maple charcoal. No wonder my husband says it’s sweet! Jack Daniels is American and so is Wild Turkey – remember the movie Thelma and Louise where Geena Davis guzzled miniature bottles of the stuff?

Irish whisky is different from Scotch whisky in that peat was not used in the process of making Irish and that Irish whisky is triple-distilled as opposed to the double distillation of Scotch. Bet you didn’t know that! Today, there are some exceptions to the rule but it is still generally true. The result is that Irish is a lighter, softer drink – which makes it a great introduction to whisky. Some Irish whiskies are Bushmills, Jamesons and Tullamore Dew.

All whiskies made in Scotland are referred to as Scotch whiskies, though the term “Scotch” has popularly become a generic term for all whisky. Scotch whisky usually refers to a blended whisky, but can also refer to a single malt, grain or blended malt. Scotch whisky is typically distilled twice. Some brands are Bells’s, Black Bottle and Chivas Regal,Glenfiddich and J & B.

Whisky is made in many other countries including Canada, Japan, India and South Africa to name a few. Some distilleries produce styles similar to Scotch, while others use variations on the Scottish method. Some of these “new world” whiskies are Lammerlaw from New Zealand, Three Ships from South Africa and Yamazaki from Japan.

So, I must admit, I did learn some things that I didn’t know about this whole whisky business. The great thing about Festivals like this one, is that you can taste whiskies that you would never think of buying, because at R800.00 plus a bottle it has to be good and what if it isn’t?!

This whole “drinking” Festival thing, which let’s face it, is not as bad as smoking (God forbid!),has organizers pulling out the stops to make attendees do the responsible thing by not drinking and driving and have a “Designated Driver” package as well as companies like Road Trip and Corporate Cabs on stand by.

While it is wonderful to do al the tasting, it is even nicer to attend some of the workshops and learn more about the art of whisky from people like Dave Broom, Master Blender Richard Patterson, and Malt Master Rynard van der Westhuizen. The FNB Whisky Live Festival showcases the wonders on Whisky and who knows, it might even convert non-whisky drinkers when they attend.

So, even if you couldn’t attend this year, get your very own Whisky Handbook and start swotting up on all the terminology and next year you can also join the conversation and be able to tell the difference between “smoky” and “peaty” and Irish and Scottish.

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Juli- who has written 110 posts on the WineCountry Blog.

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