Alwynne Gwilt aka ‘Miss Whisky’ has a simple goal – to turn the ‘armchair & slippers’ image of whisky on its head.
What tips can you give us about buying whisky for friends in the run-up to Christmas?
All the whisky outlets will be doing tastings, so go along and try some. At the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in London, Edinburgh and Leith you can buy tickets to events where you can sample interesting single cask whisky. Don’t assume that just because it’s old it’s good – it comes down to what you personally enjoy. And when buying for friends, think about what they already drink. If they enjoy red wine, sherry or port, they’ll probably prefer a whisky that’s had a sherry maturation. If they already drink bourbon, then they might like to try a Scotch whisky which has been finished in a bourbon cask. Just go into a specialist shop and have a chat. There are no ‘wrong’ questions!
You can read the rest of our interview with Alwynne in issue 16 of The Simple Things, which is on sale now.