Ambassadors Lounge - Talisker, Balvenie and Jura tasting
Whisky ambassadors often follow a well-rehearsed script focusing on production and maturation of their brand. This tends to be a show, not a conversation and the more interesting stories tended to come as the whisky flows.
When Mitch Bechard joined the Larkfire team as our ambassador it was clear he wanted to have genuine conversations rather than create a script. This was music to our ears and we have, frankly, left him to create something rather special.
Our first Ambassadors Lounge had stories of green ghosts, tales of being whipped in a sauna and, naturally, some wonderful whisky. But more of that (and how you can come to the next one) later…
The Ambassadors & their whiskies
Gemma Paterson – Global Brand Ambassador, The Balvenie
Balvenie 19, Edge of Burnhead Wood
Daryl Haldane – Head of Whisky Experience, Whyte & Mackay
Jura Distillery Cask
TJ Malt Whisky Ambassador Diageo
Talisker Distillers Edition
Mitch Bechard – Our host and Larkfire Ambassador
The elegant Balvenie 19 was introduced by Gemma Paterson (and Pickle the dog). The tasting notes are below but notably the Larkfire heightened the maturation profile. The oak became more floral and fresher.
The conversation moved onto the ghostly green Lady of Balvenie and of the footsteps that the Maltman Robbie hears during his nightshift. As well as giving TJ the heebie jeebies this highlighted that the Balvenie Edge of Burnhead Wood uses their own home-grown malted barley, in more modern terms a ‘single estate’ whisky. A terroir story told with terror (so sorry, I’ll stop now).
Once TJ had got over the ghost stories he introduced Talisker Distillers Edition. The trademark pepper kick is there but the sherry casks have given it a balanced richness. Notably the Larkfire softened the pepper but in many ways allowed the spice to be more complex. A great whisky to enjoy with wild water.
The Talisker pepper notes are well documented and this brought about much discussion. For those with an interest TJ felt the magic was due to the double swan neck of the stills and the accompanying ‘double reflux’. Whatever the cause it produces a unique and distinctive flavour that has a justified fan club.
Next up was the monster Jura Distillery Cask introduced by Daryl. This is the distant, dangerous relative to Jura that people mention in hushed tones. The charismatic uncle who smokes a pipe and races vintage cars. A peated dram with masses of complexity, layers of oak and a sweetness that delivers fruit not sherry.
With our preconceptions of Jura spinning we were hit with a story from Daryl regarding the life of an ambassador on the road. While the baked fruits of Jura lingered we heard about him being baked alive in a sauna in distant Irkutsk after a tasting with some clients. Dressed in their birthday suits and the temperature rising the sauna door opened.
A clothed man appeared, holding twigs and with a gleam in his eye.
‘All part of the experience’ they said as the punishment commenced.
So Daryl rolled with it and, even on zoom, you could see his eyes drifting as he told the story.