A new Glenfiddich [...]
27 Feb 09
A most enjoyable day
By Ludo
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I am fortunate enough to have a job which comes with particularly enjoyable days. Yesterday was one of those days.
Whisky Magazine, had kindly invited me to join their judging panel for the prestigious World Whiskies Awards. Honoured and excited, I reported for duty at a London hotel where David Stewart, our Malt Master, who has been a panellist for years, had already arrived.
The fun began at 11 o’clock when we were tasked with a blind nosing and tasting of around 60 of the world’s best whiskies. Armed with water and spittoons, we began rating each whisky, trying not to share our thoughts so as not to influence each other. Assessing the colour, balance and complexity of all these whiskies took around 4 hours and whilst in my mind half a dozen really stood out, it will be weeks before the results are consolidated and announced.
But the fun was far from over, as David and I had also been invited to a gala dinner where the winners of the Icons of Whisky Awards were going to be announced.
Also organised by Whisky Magazine, the Icons of Whisky celebrate the people who make exceptional contributions to the world of whisky. The evening was simply perfect, good food, good whisky and good people. What more could we ask for? A lifetime achievement award perhaps?
As the evening approached to an end, Martine Nouet, editor of the French version of Whisky Magazine, took to the stage to introduce the final award of the evening. David was in for a big surprise! As Martine started speaking about the 46 years’ service of the world’s most experienced Malt Master, David understood he had better quickly think of an acceptance speech! With his usual modest and unassuming manner, David faced the standing ovation and thanked his fellow craftsmen and friends at William Grant & Sons who have inspired and helped him throughout his time in the company.
David started work at William Grant & Sons as an apprentice in 1962, the year before single malt Scotch whisky was first commercially and officially exported to England, when Glenfiddich effectively established the single malt market outside Scotland. Following a 12 year apprenticeship, David was appointed Master Blender of William Grant & Sons in 1974; a position he has held ever since.
David is a mentor for me and I couldn’t be happier for his success.
This award – the third David has picked up in the past 3 years – really was the ideal end to a most enjoyable day.
Congratulations David!
hi, thanks,The article was very well written, very helpful to me
Very nice blog. I totally agree with your thoughts.
I greatly applaud the success that David Stewart has achieved in his profession. I hope David may remember me. I was a close friend of his in our boy hood We went to school together, attended the same Boys Brigade Company and spent time together wading our way through the trials and tribulations of being teenagers in the ’swinging sixties’. I look back fondly to my frienship with David and hope, one day, to meet him againt and to toast his achievements with a glass of one of his own achievements!
Ronnie McCorkindale