If I am to be completely honest whiskey has always frightened me a bit. Prior to yesterday there has only been one instance in my life when I had partaken of the golden fire. The CEO of the software company I worked for called us together in the board room to celebrate the closing of a $1 million US distribution agreement to celebrate with some 25 year old Glenfiddich.

Whiskey has always been an expensive mysterious drink that I have shied away from for fear of screwing up on the selection due to my complete ignorance of the beverage.

Well I hope that has changed somewhat. I attended a whiskey tasting event at our local art gallery last night and thoroughly enjoyed both the discussion on how it is made and the 10 different types I was able to sample.

Myself and 40 others were not told ahead of time what we were drinking which left it to our palates and discussion with table mates to decide what we liked and why. To that end I narrowed down the list of what I liked to three (excluding the 21 year old Glenfiddich which was spectacular but at $240 per bottle will not find its way into my house).

In order of preference I liked Jameson Irish Whiskey, Bruichladdich Rocks and Alberta’s Tangle Ridge Rye. Jameson and Bruichladdich are close two one-another in terms of how much I like them. I most appreciated the smokey, peaty character of the Bruichladdich but it is also what puts it second to Jameson because it is definitely an acquired taste.

The list of whiskey’s tried were: Jameson Irish, Jim Beam White label, Ballantine’s Scotch, Alberta Premium Rye, Alberta Springs Rye, Tangle Ridge Rye, John’s Private Cask, Bruichladdich Rocks, Connemara, and Glenfiddich 21 year old.

Check out my friend The Infamous Chef’s blog at http://www.infamouschef.com/ for more detailed info about the event.