Women Who Whisky: 5 Things to Love About Peated Whisky
Whisky actually means “water of life” in Gaelic. And no truer statement has ever been spoken as this timeless drink is one that has gripped generations. When it comes to drinking spirits, peated whisky has a reputation for being a spirit for those with an acquired taste, as something reserved for the connoisseurs, but it’s so much more than a measure of pretentiousness, in fact, it’s the direct opposite of that. Here are five things to love about peated whisky, or at the very least, five reasons to give it a try.
The rich history
From its humble beginnings as a low-brow Scottish drink, to its status as one of Scotland’s best-known exports, whisky has a rich history. This is especially true of peated Scottish whisky. Peat is only found in a limited number of regions across the globe; The Islay region of Scotland, for example, is world-famous for its peatlands. Peat was traditionally used for cooking and domestic heating in rural areas in Ireland and Scotland, so its now instrumental role in Scotch-making is truly a tale of rags to riches. When you sip a peated whisky, you can practically taste the rugged hillsides of its origin.
The distinctive flavour
The distinctive peaty flavour is unmistakable. A peated whisky like Laphroaig is loved by many, disliked by some, but remembered by everyone. Its uncompromising flavour is what gives this spirit such a unique personality. It’s rugged and smoky yet surprisingly sweet. It’s subtle, yet bold and honest in a way that will draw you in. It doesn’t ask for attention, it demands it. To some, it tastes like “drinking dragon’s breath” but to others, it really nails it. You either love it or you hate it, there is no mysterious grey area. Maybe that’s the secret.
The timelessness
Since the dawn of time, whisky has graced the lips of history’s most notable. From Winston Churchill to Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Mister Frank Sinatra. When we drink whisky, we join the ranks of the great, the not-so-great, and the legendary figures from the past. It’s a welcoming club that cements your part in the legacy, bestowing you with the same honour and stature as the men and women who came before us. Drinking peated whisky takes this timelessness to the next level.
The investment opportunity
From whole casks to valuable bottles, whisky has become a popular investment option over the past decade. One of the many reasons we drink whisky is because of its shelf life. You can buy a bottle, enjoy its grandeur and take it off the shelf a year later, dust it off and experience the splendour once again. But the actual monetary value of whisky is what appeals to many collectors. Rare bottles of whisky can fetch a jaw-dropping price when resold, and peated whisky is no different. So what’s a whiskey collector to do? Buy two bottles – one for drinking and one to put away for a rainy day. You never know which willing buyer will be keen on purchasing that exact year’s distil in five years.
The experience
Drinking peated whisky is an experience. It’s something you want to savour, next to a wood fire with a cigar, listening to some jazz or some old-school rock and roll. Or in a cocktail before that al fresco lunch with friends. Or in a flask up a mountain. It’s something that turns any event into a special occasion, something you want to share with friends. It binds us through our senses, intertwining into a singular memory over time that we can fondly look back on in years to come.
Go on, pour yourself a peated whisky, like the Laphroaig 10-Year-Old and give a character worth knowing a chance to introduce itself. Maybe you’ll find a lifelong companion.
Women who whisky
If you were asked to find a picture of a whisky enthusiast, you would likely come across some handsome, suit-wearing, cigar-smoking gentleman. But this picture is changing, and for the better.
Research shows that a whopping 40% of whisky drinkers in North America alone, for instance, are actually women. While women in whisky isn’t a new topic, the representation of women in whisky appears to be on the rise. Whether it’s drinking, distilling, or representing brands, many powerful, whisky-loving ladies are proving that this is a gentlewoman’s game too.
A brief history
It may come as a surprise, but pre-1900, whisky was just as much a woman’s game as a man’s. It wasn’t until the Temperance Movement that women drinking and working in whisky (and alcohol as a whole) were seen as a problem or as a rebellious act. But for many women, rebel status has never been a strong deterrent. And in several cases, it has been a great encouragement. Laphroaig’s Bessie Williamson was the first woman to own and manage a Scotch distillery in the 20th Century. She took control of Laphroaig in the 1950s and fearlessly steered the Laphroaig ship for two eras and was a driving force behind the success of the brand today.
Other iconic women in whisky include to name a few: Jessie Roberta Cowan, the mother of Japanese whisky (aka Rita Taketsuru); and Helen Cumming, the first founder of a whisky distillery. While women seem to finally be getting the recognition they deserve in the whisky industry, they’ve actually been involved since the very beginning.
Whisky may still appear to be a boys’ club to some, but many brands are working with women to change this, and the number of qualified female distillers is also on the rise. There is still a way to go, but progress is evident. What’s more, many iconic women have been outspoken about their love for whisky, from the likes of Margaret Thatcher to, more recently, Lady Gaga and Halle Berry. The days of whisky being only for the guys are finally drawing to a close.