In search of excellence
Three continents, 40 outstanding whiskies, and more than 75 of the world’s best tasters – Best of the Best 2003 was an event of epic proportions. Dominic Roskrowexplains why, and how, it happened
The Best of the Best 2003 â what a nightmare. Or at least, three nightmares; nightmares that have recurred time and time again since we first
embarked on the whole, massive business.
Nightmare one: the room is full of Scotlandâs finest whisky tasters, earnestly coming to grips with a weighty flight of Speyside malts.
There is absolute silence as I carry in a tray of 40 glasses, each containing Glenfiddich Rare 40 years old, retailing at about £1,000 ($1,500) a bottle.
Suddenly I trip, falling face-first on the floor, the glasses smashing dramatically. And when I recover sufficiently to look up, I am met by the incredulous and bemused stares of 40 of my peers â¦
Nightmare two: weâre in Kentucky and Iâm serving whiskies to one of the four tasting groups.
âIs this sample C or sample D?â someone asks. I donât know.
"C or D? C or D? C or D? â â the voices become a chant. And I havenât a clue.
âJust make it up,â I shout. âJust have a guess. Youâre meant to be the experts â donât you know?â
Nightmare three: my hands are tied and I canât move them, and a constant stream of fine whisky is passed before me. I can smell it but canât touch it.
And one by one, tasters walk by and tell me that I really should try a few, because they really are excellent â¦
Almost none of the above actually happened, but it says much about the enormity of the task that Whisky Magazine undertook that I have been so affected by it. And I wasnât even organi.....
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By Dominic Roskrow
Section : Whisky Awards
Page number : 49
