Bewitched by whisky

My first experience with whisky was not a particularly pleasant one. I remember it clearly – my dad handing me a generous tumbler of an Ardbeg Uigeadail. I was 18, eager to prove to myself (and the world) that my palate was on par with that of a grown man. But to my young, unrefined taste buds, which had exclusively known Zinfandel rosé, it tasted like a clogged ashtray.

I’m not sure if it was curiosity, a need to prove myself, or simply the realisation that Zinfandel rosé wasn’t all it was cracked up to be (likely all three), but I soon found myself asking my dad for a sip every time he poured a dram. This quickly became our ritual – we would try different whiskies together from his collection, which at the time felt like an infinite supply of fun and exploration. It wasn’t just the whisky that made the experience special, it was that we shared it together. The way our conversations would get deeper with each dram, how our tasting notes evolved, and how the whisky became an adventure we went on together, and still take together whenever I go back home to Sweden.  

While I can’t say whisky is what brought me to Scotland, it’s certainly what made me stay. When I first came here five years ago, I felt like I was stepping into the very heart of whisky. There are of course excellent whiskies being released all over the world, but it is something I always associated with Scotland, so tastings here felt different – like I could partake in the culture, landscape and history in some way, despite not being a native. I started going on distillery tours and tastings and it became my preferred way of experiencing my new home. There was something special about a group of strangers who suddenly became friends, sharing impressions of the whisky in our glasses, with not much in common apart from the shared love for what was in our hands.

Despite the connections I made during whisky tours and tastings, there were times when I still felt a bit like an outsider. It wasn’t so much the tours themselves, but rather the reactions when I ordered whisky or mentioned how much I enjoyed it – people often seemed genuinely surprised. But strangely enough, it was this that sparked my interest to explore whisky more deeply. I didn’t want it to only be a hobby – I wanted to understand it on a deeper level. So, while I was pursuing my master’s degree in Gastronomy, I decided to write my thesis on whisky. I wanted to dig deeper into the experience of whisky beyond its taste, exploring why people enjoy it so much, the associations people have with whisky, why it’s been historically marketed as a gentleman’s drink, and how those perceptions affect who drinks it and how it is consumed.

Through my thesis and my own journey with whisky I have gathered this: whisky is more than a drink. It’s a way to connect – to my dad, to Scotland, to friends, strangers, and perhaps most importantly, to myself. Whisky has a way of grounding you in the moment, because being present is the only way to experience it fully – its colour, the aroma, the warmth, and the layers of scents and flavours all coming together to create something special. It’s a drink that brings people together, whether you’re raising a glass with friends or family, celebrating a special occasion, or simply enjoying a quiet moment on your own. It’s a glass anyone can hold and enjoy – and, last but certainly not least, it’s pretty dram delicious too.

Anna Grahn is from Karlstad in Sweden but now calls Edinburgh home and works with the Marketing team at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society