Legendary master blender Richard Paterson OBE began his career in whisky on 5 September 1966. Sixty years on, he's still passionate about Scotland's national drink and the world's favourite spirit. In this episode he reflects on a life in whisky and demonstrates the best way to drink whisky.
He reveals how his earliest childhood memory of whisky was when his father, who ran the family bottling & blending company, would kiss him good night: \"I could the feel bristles on his chin. But I also could smell the whisky on his breath.\"
\"Then when we were eight years old,\" he continues, \"[my father] said to my twin brother and I: 'Right come up to Glasgow, I want to show you my world.' It was an experience you never forget.\"
His father's world was a dark, damp warehouse.
\"We could see the silhouettes of the cask and the noise of the city subdued. And then suddenly more than anything, it was a smell of maderised wine and whisky,\" he recalls.
\"My father said: 'Hey, boys, I want you to nose this whisky.' And he handed me a glass, and I said: 'I don't know what you mean.' And he said, 'What?' And that's when he hit me in the back of the head, and I said: 'What did you do that for?'\"
His father then proceeded to show Richard and his brother how hold the glass properly, how to swirl it around and how to sniff it: \"Is it heavy as your grumpy grandfather? Is it as light as your mother? Is it as sweet as your chocolate bar? Or is it as dry as the dust on the floor?\"
\"So when he used these descriptors, I could tell something about it and I could see it was heavy. I didn't drink it, but I could see there were aromas going on. And that really was the first introduction to Scotch whisky.\"
Despite those early beginnings, Richard admits: \"When I started in 1966 with A Gillis, I discovered actually I knew nothing. I was ignorant. I was stupid. And if I want to be the big managing director or CEO or what have you, I'd really have to work.\"
That's when he began educating himself in whisky, wine, Cognac, cigars, rum, \"you name it\". He admits it took years of study, travel and relentless practice to sharpen his nose and to become \"The Nose\".
As well as taking extensive courses and diplomas, Richard learned by visiting warehouses, examining casks and comparing how different woods, ages and maturation styles transformed the spirit.
In this candid, personal and at times humorous interview Richard reveals:
➡️the story of his insured nose;
➡️the rare Dalmore whiskies that made him stop and say: \"Wow!\"
➡️his thoughts on the current Scotch whisky market;
➡️and his belief that the industry will come through its present challenges
This is a conversation about passion, patience and dedicated practice in the pursuit of excellence.
#whisky #scotchwhisky #podcast #interview #richardpaterson #richardpatersonwhisky #WhiskyPodcast #madetobemeasured
Slàinte!
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Socials: @C2GWhisky | @JohnRossBeattie
Creator & producer: David Holmes
Art work & design: Jess Robertson
Music: Water of Life (Never Going Home)
Vocals: Andrea Cunningham
Guitars: John Beattie
Bass: Alasdair Vann
Drums: Alan Hamilton
Bagpipes: Calum McColl
Accordion: Gary Innes
Music & Lyrics: Andrea Cunningham & John Beattie
Recorded & mixed by Murray Collier at La Chunky Studios, Glasgow, Scotland
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