Get your whisky on

World Whisky Day is set to push the Scottish tipple into the spotlight this Saturday. We take a look at the drams worth trying.

There’s no doubt that when it comes to the Scots and drinking, whisky is their tipple of choice. However up until 2012 there was no official date of celebration for the centuries-old spirit.

Blair Bowman, whisky-lover and former university student, changed that. While living the ruckus student lifestyle in Aberdeen, Bowman decided that whisky had silently reigned as Scotland’s national beverage for far too long.

So he took it upon himself to give whisky its voice. World Whisky Day was born when Bowman launched a website and social media campaign to pull whisky out of the shadows.

“World Whisky Day celebrates all types of whisky/whiskey and encourages everyone to enjoy whisky responsibly,” says Bowman.

In its first year over 20,000 attended 200 events throughout the world, raising a dram to the amber liquid and its deep-rooted heritage.

Whiskies to try

Whether you’re an uninitiated newbie or a longstanding fan, World Whisky Day is a chance to celebrate the ‘water of life’.

For a traditional taste, Grants Scotch Whisky or Tullamore Dew’s Irish Whisky are good places to start. Or step into the wild with Jura, a distillery hailing from an isle dubbed by George Orwell as “the most un-get-at-able place” but a producer of great single malt.

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old is for those who are still on the fence about whisky. Its smooth texture and mellowed aromas make it an easy drinking liquor, sure to convert any non-whisky drinker.

Of course, the Scots aren’t the only players in the whisky-making game. Japan’s Suntory Whisky Kakubin – “square bottle” – is typically served in a Kakubin highball and has become immensely popular throughout the Japanese drinking scene.