SHE SAID: I am inspired to do “more” as a result of our latest tasting! As you get ready to read my post I want you to take a few moments, find a quiet place and think back to what you were doing in the year 2000. Where were you in your life - dreams, expectations and desires for the future? Me: Married, two kids, had a good job and was happy with my path. What I did not know: I was standing on the edge of a devastating downfall. Soon, my child would suffer a life threatening illness then marriage breakdown that leads to divorce and the final kick to the teeth: a forced 180 degree career change. It seemed that within two years my life was turned upside down and spit out the other end of a long confusing and scary tunnel. Like others I could have shut down, panicked or freaked out but I didn’t. I am a survivor, realist, a “do-er” and extremely stubborn so very little stops me when I set my mind to something. We navigated through the daughter’s illness, I survived the divorce and embraced the career change. In hindsight, the worst two years of my life saved me. After a self reflective period I met the person I am still with today (my current partner in life and the other half of this blog), Graham. His dad introduced me to scotch (THANK YOU so much George) and my new career took off. I gladly began the second chapter of my fantastic life.
For the next 7 years I was a Scotch Whisky Single Malt kinda girl until I was introduced to John Hall and Forty Creek whisky in 2010. I became an advocate for Canadian whisky after that (I have owned just about every release he has so far). From there on, I promised myself that I would taste ALL whiskies and I stuck to that. In the last six months alone I have sought out and purchased: Kilkerran, Kilchoman, Penderyn, more Compass Boxes and now Mackmyra. Ok what does all this have to do with whisky or Mackmyra??? I’m getting there, really…
So what do they all have in common with what we were doing in 2000? These 6 whisky entities were either a dream, a concept, or a goal for: A Canadian wine maker, a Scottish 19th century distiller’s great-great nephew, two Islay business partners, a group of Welsh friends, an American innovator and eight Swedish skiing buddies! Now fast forward to 2012. Twelve years later we have the #1 rated Canadian Whisky on the market, a new Campbeltown whisky (smallest region), an Islay distillery that does everything on site (ground to bottle), the only Welsh whisky, a groundbreaking (and SWA nightmare) artisan whisky maker and a Swedish whisky distillery making its mark fairly quickly on the international whisky map.
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| Still at the turn of the century |
For hundreds of years whisky has been made the same. In general, people think “whisky” is synonymous with Scotch. Well, not anymore and not if I can help it. More and more people are realizing that whisky can be great even though it’s not 25 years old OR if it comes from a country other than Scotland. The whiskies I just mentioned vary from $25 - $75. Yes, it’s very nice to have a bottle of Glenrothes 30 in my collection. Would I offer it to anyone? Sorry to say… no. HOWEVER, take any of these six whiskies and I would. I do. They are some of the first drams I pour when a friend comes through the door. I offer them because they are young, they are delicious and they are different. Everything I try to demistify about GOOD whisky. What more could you want in a whisky? My “expensive” whisky has its place in my collection too and I’m not saying these new, innovative or reasonably priced whiskies are better or worse for that matter. What I’m saying is: The people who created these lovely spirits made a choice to reach a goal and have worked the past 12 years (so far) to achieve it, even through recessions and economic downturns, etc. Isn’t it our responsibility as consumers to give them a chance? They went out on a limb, invested tireless hours, money and broke through many a brick wall to live their dream from start to finish so that I, you, WE could sit – nose – taste and then in my case write about the experience.
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| Welcome to Canada?! |
When I sat down and nosed my Mackmyra, I had just finished tweeting with the Master Blender – Angela D’orazio and was welcoming her to Toronto Canada (actually apologizing for the delays she might encounter at Customs!) and I thought to myself, how cool is that? Here I am tweeting the Master Blender, one of the people who made Mackmyra possible while she is in Sweden packing to come to Canada and I’m about to nose/sample that whisky thanks to a very kind fellow blogger (jf pilon – www.whiskyplus.ca GROS MERCI!).
What a journey for all of us from 2000 to the here and now! Never in a million years would I have considered in 2000 that twelve years down the road I’d be sitting at a laptop, writing a blog, sipping whisky and becoming a part of the fabric that is the “whisky world”. The ideas for what I can do next are exciting indeed. I get how these people must have felt deciding to plunge in head first with what may have seemed like a crazy idea and go for their goal.
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| Davin enjoying a dram |
Later on that night I was in the tub and reading my latest whisky book - Canadian Whisky: The portable expert by Davin de Kergommeaux and it hit me yet again. He spent 7 years writing his book and many more before that collecting information and thinking about it. I realized as I wrote this blog, he too has spent most of this decade working toward his dream. His long term goal realized and now he sits in Ottawa, signing books for fans like me! What an exciting time to be alive in the whisky community! How can I not be inspired?
So my hat is off to those of you who had a clear vision in 2000. Here’s to patience, talent and being stubborn enough to hang in, work hard and create something magical for those of us obsessed about it. I thank you for your whisky, your commitment and most of all your passion from the bottom of my empty whisky glass!
Mackmyra 1st Edition. Wow! What a dram. Hits you hard on the nose with so many things coming at you that it forces you to slow down and decipher what you are smelling. It took me almost 30 minutes before I even considered adding water and even then I hesitated because I was scared I was going to miss something. I LOVED this great little dram. Summery, light, delightful nose and unbelievably “old” for such a young whisky? Easily comparable to an Auchentoshan 12. I firmly believe this will be a hit with most ladies. Not that men won’t enjoy it, I think some may feel it’s a bit too light in nature. I love that it’s bottled at 46.1% AVB and that seems to be a running choice for me these days young whiskies bottled at a higher AVB. My opinion is that it gives them some bite and makes them stand out a bit. I recently had the Glenrothes Alba Reserve (40%), good but I’d pick the Mackmyra over that one hands down for nose/flavour. I HIGHLY recommend getting a bottle of the Mackmyra 1st edition for your collection if you can.
This retails here in Canada - Ontario (LCBO) for $66.95 (limited supply), also available at Kensington Wine Market in Calgary for $66.49.
Mackmyra 1st Edition, 46.1%AVB, Non-chillfiltered, no additives.
Color: Pale golden yellow. Legs are plentiful and very viscous. I have never seen a whisky stick to a glass like this one.
Nose: My first olfactory experience: Over ripe bananas or banana bread'ish. It then moved to a root beer float (creamy). Very floral with a hint of citrus. Light and not at all malty in nature. Water opened it up and softened it to reveal light honey and lots of vanilla.
Palate: Not as sweet as the nose, a bit spirited. Beautiful mouthwatering effect. Very crisp and clean. A bit of tart citrus like white grapefruit.
Finish: Medium, doesn't stick around and linger at all. A bit of heat, but again clean like after you ate some mint or parsley.
Empty glass: Caramel and pipe tobacco (very strong and recognizable, I was surprised by it)
Looking forward to the next bend in the whisky trail ahead, hope you join me :)
Johanne
To answer your question, 200 was also a watershed moment for me. I was fresh out of University and my girlfriend was 2 months pregnant.
ReplyDeleteSo that year was to see me start my web career, move in with my girlfriend, receive my Bachelor Diploma, buy my first car. But most importantly, my first child was born. Two other girls were to follow, but your firstborn brings so many changes.
So 2000 was for me a lot of good things, but it might very well have gone the other way. Your own experience touched me, for obvious reasons. I find solace in the fact that you use that as a fulcrum for giving your world a big shove upward.
Very inspiring blog post. I am humbly glad to have been a part of it.