It’s World Whisky Day this Saturday, May 18th! That’s why we’ve rounded up some sexy whisky quotes and fun facts so you can have them handy to spout off oh-so-eloquently should you find yourself at a whisky tribute party this weekend.
Thankfully, whisky is not just a boy’s club drink any longer. More and more women are warming up to the beloved brown spirit, especially since the TV show Mad Men features beautiful whisky drinking men AND women. See the list of influential women in the whisky world below.
In fact, it’s pretty much all Lanee will drink (she’s a big fan of bourbon especially). She likes to say she drinks like an old man – strong and straight up. And Lindsay is definitely headed down the path of being a bona fide whisky lover herself, although she prefers it in a classic cocktail, like a Sazerac, Old Fashioned or Vieux Carré.
Our Favorite Whisky Quotes
“Whisky is liquid sunshine.”
– George Bernard Shaw
“Whiskey, like a beautiful woman, demands appreciation. You gaze first, then it’s time to drink.”
― Haruki Murakami
“Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.”
― Mark Twain
“There are two things a Highlander likes naked, and one of them is malt whisky.”
– Scottish proverb
“What butter and whiskey won’t cure, there is no cure for.”
– Irish Saying
“There is no such thing as a bad whisky. Some whiskies just happen to be better than others.”
– William Faulkner (also credited to Raymond Chandler, take your pick)
Fun Facts about Whisky
Provided by Makers Mark, whose distillery we loved visiting for their annual Cocktail Party bash in Loretto, Kentucky last year, here are some other fun facts to add to your quiver for enlightened conversations on World Whisky Day.
- Whisky is made of fermented grain (barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn) and then aged in oak barrels, similar to wine.
- Whisky comes from all over the world. The major regions are Kentucky, Tennessee, Scotland, Ireland, Japan, Canada and New Zealand.
- Each type varies by region, distillation, aging and grain mash recipe. For instance, Irish whiskies are normally distilled three times while Scottish whiskies are distilled twice. Maker’s Mark whisky is made from mash that consists of at least 51% corn, red winter wheat and barley malt and is distilled twice.
- Is it whisky or whiskey? It’s both. The difference in the spelling depends on the style or country of origin. Whisky is generally used in Scotland, Wales, Canada and Japan, while whiskey is mostly used in Ireland and the U.S. While Maker’s Mark is distilled in Kentucky, the Samuels’ family has Scottish roots – therefore no “e.”
Whisky Women
These women are breaking down the boy’s club glass ceilings in the whisky world. We’ll be raising our glass on World Whisky Day to these brave gals:
Rachel Barrie, malt whisky master, Glenmorangie. She is responsible for all sensory and quality-related aspects of new product development for the company’s distilleries including Ardbeg.
Lynne Tolley, master taster, Jack Daniel’s, and incidentally Jack’s great-grandniece. She is one of the distillery’s official taste testers and creates many Jack Daniel’s food recipes.
Victoria Samuels, vice president of Makers Mark. Victoria is the highest ranking woman in the bourbon industry. (in photo above)
Peggy Stevens, master taster, Woodford Reserve. She was the first female taster in the bourbon industry and is believed to be the only one. She focuses on pairing bourbon with food.
Allison Patel, first woman to launch her own whiskey, Brenne. It’s an organic French Single Malt whisky that’s been finished in Cognac barrels. And in a very pretty bottle to boot which looks much like a Tiffany box, only this package holds liquid jewels.
Can’t Get Enough Whisky? You Gotta Meet Fred
Thirsty for more knowledge about whisky? Our favorite whisky expert and ascot donner, Fred Minnick, has a visually stunning blog with great reviews and the latest news in the whiskey world. You can also catch his writings in major publications like Whisky Magazine and The Tasting Panel. And he’s working on a book all about women and whisky — we can’t WAIT to read it!
Other Whisky Fun:
For World Whisky Day events around the world, head to www.worldwhiskyday.com
Voyage Vixens on the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky Video:
Happy World Whisky Day 2013!
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