Women in Whisky (part 1)

In 2005 Heather Greene dropped by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Edinburgh and asked for a job. She had just finished a musical tour of European cities plugging her debut album. She got the job and eventually ended up as the first American woman on their tasting panel, helping choose the whiskies they would bottle for their membership.

Not a bad gig, but since 2007 she has traveled the world as a Glenfiddich brand ambassador, introducing single malt whisky to those who will listen, taste and enjoy, be they man, woman or beast.

Greene is on a mission to demystify this mysterious brown spirit, particularly among women. In the 40s and 50s women regularly drank Scotch and Bourbon (think of the filmdom’s Nora Charles, wife to famous fictional sleuth, Nick “The Thin Man” Charles), but in more recent times have gravitated to wines and softer (some would say) less flavorful liquors. (Cue the multitude of Vodka drinks that have recently gained momentum.)

“The notion that Scotch is a ‘manly’ drink is finally beginning to fade,” says Greene. “Not only have popular shows like Mad Men helped to glamorize classic cocktails and make whiskies less intimidating, the rules for ‘proper’ ways to enjoy Scotch are starting to relax and people are experimenting more.”

As an example, Greene says Scotch can be enjoyed not just as a pre-dinner cocktail, but also throughout a meal. In fact, she says with notes of spice, honey and apple, Scotch is an ideal spirit to pair with upcoming holiday feasts. Here are a few of her top pairing tips:

For a pre-dinner cocktail, Greene recommends a Rob Roy or an Old Fashioned

“The beauty of a Rob Roy, Old Fashioned or even a Maple Old Fashioned is that they aren’t too sweet, are wonderfully balanced, and, because they contain a small amount of aromatic bitters – which stimulate our appetites by making our mouths water – our palates are actually encouraged and prepared for a feast before us. Many people don’t realize that fruit juices and creams, when added to cocktails, can have the reverse effect.”

During dinner, she says there is nothing more delicious than a Single Malt with ice.

“Purists generally are opposed to adding water [or ice] to Scotch, but doing so can make it very enjoyable with food,” she adds. “The ice cools down the Scotch, and the alcohol ‘ping’ that many drinkers experience is mellowed, bringing out notes of vanilla and oak, which make perfect pairings for winter dinners.”

And for post-dinner festivities, an aged whisky “neat” is a gorgeous compliment to fruit pies, chocolates and other dessert treats.

What aged whisky does she suggest?

“Glenfiddich 18, with its apple notes and slight sweetness balanced by wood is a beautiful pairing with apple pie. The rum finish and slight oakiness on the Glenfiddich 21 balances the sweetness of traditional holiday desserts like pecan and other fruit pies, especially ones with dark burnt sugars, caramels and vanillas. For the ultimate in simplicity and elegance, the Glenfiddich 30 neat or with a few drops of water to release those hidden distillery characteristics of fig, sherry and rich dark fruits is paired perfectly with a piece of fine dark chocolate.”

Heather adds, “The notes of Scotch pair so well with desserts that many chocolatiers have experimented with Scotch-infused treats. For the do-it-yourself version, a small piece of dark chocolate with an aged whisky featuring notes of raisin, dark chocolate, caramel and maple is the perfect “lite” ending to a dinner.”

Heather continues to record and her next album – Argon40s “Fair Lawn” is due out in January when she will tour in support of the release, hosting shows accompanied by her classic cocktails and vintage Glenfiddich tastings.

For samples of Heather’s latest tunes check out this site: www.argon40music.com

For samples of Glenfiddich, try your local Scotch bar or retailer.