Today marks the series premiere of the Balvenie’s fourth season of its Webby Award-winning digital series Quest for Craft, produced in partnership with six-time Grammy Award-winning musician, Academy Award-winning filmmaker, producer, DJ, director, culinary entrepreneur, and New York Times best-selling author Questlove.
I’ve long admired Questlove’s unbridled authenticity and appreciation for anything that speaks to his palate — be it musically or most recently, in Scotch whisky. As someone who has an appreciation for the perfect pairing of live music and whisky, I find Questlove’s partnership with the Balvenie via Quest for Craft enlightening and inspiring. The focus on the art of storytelling and craftsmanship are among the pillars of Scotch whisky’s legacy. And for a creative powerhouse like Questlove who has an inherent gift for seamlessly layering in narrative with art — whether it’s taking you on a musical history lesson during a DJ set at Brooklyn Bowl or directing a film about an under-the-radar cultural moment — the world of whisky was a natural progression.
“The Balvenie’s Quest for Craft is my personal masterclass that allows me to nerd out on my peers or friends in a professional setting without freaking them out. I like dissecting the process of how things are created based on what I’ve done, like writing books like Creative Quest,” Questlove tells Whisky Magazine. “I do believe that, especially after the pandemic, there are a lot of us who are making life pivots. I discovered early that creativity is transferable. I don’t just do music. I can do other things just as creative.”
To Questlove’s point, his ingenuity has extended outside the confines of his musical prowess as a drummer, producer, and DJ. He’s also successfully taken on the role of director for multiple films, including Summer of Soul, his directorial debut that earned an Academy Award for Best Documentary, and a Grammy Award for Best Music Film in 2022. This month, he debuted his first illustrated children’s book, The Idea in You.
Outside of physical creative releases, Questlove has also tapped into the food and beverage scene through Food Salons, or as the star coined them, “social experiments”, where he’d invite a mix of friends from different fields — songwriters, authors, directors, comedians, and athletes — and “see what happens.” These intimate gatherings led to his partnership with the Balvenie and their continued collaboration.
So, through Quest for Craft, Questlove puts his “creativity is transferable” realisation on display through his many creative curiosities and brilliant guests. The new season will highlight the careers of four featured guests — Lin Manuel Miranda, America Ferrera, Bill Hader, and Common — who explore distinct themes that define their pursuit of craftsmanship.
“I'm at a place in my life now where I'm about exploring things that I normally don't delve into because I realise I'm such a creature of habit. I don't want to be predictable. To grow as a creative and as a human, you gotta get to a place where you start doing things that you normally wouldn't do, like, stop being so habitual,” Questlove adds.
Part of navigating new territories calls for acquiring specific attributes, such as persistence, which is accentuated in songwriter, actor, and filmmaker Lin-Manuel Miranda's episode. Actor America Ferrera's episode examines self-reflection and how she integrates personal traits into her roles (spoiler: her sentiments on her epic Barbie monologue may or may not transpire). The episode starring Grammy Award-winning rapper Common underscores the importance of authenticity. The episode featuring actor-comedian, producer, and writer Bill Hader highlights overcoming the discomfort of uncertainty, which Questlove mentions especially resonated with him in facing his trepidation playing free jazz.
Questlove connects the Balvenie’s meticulous distillation and finishing process to his approach to music. He mentions that before the partnership he didn’t realise that whisky’s process wasn’t always rigid, and was intrigued to learn that there’s room for experimentation, as exemplified by the Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Years Old single malt.
Akin to the development of an album, novel, or unique cask-finished whisky, a major component to finally unveiling the completed project is refraining from overthinking. Questlove mentions he learned this vital truth about 16 years ago from award-winning producer and writer, best known as the creator and executive producer of Saturday Night Live, Lorne Michaels. He recalls that Michaels says Saturday Night Live is never perfect but is always ready to be unleashed at 11:29pm every Saturday when they’re in season. “It’s almost on the level of clicking your heels three times and you’re home, like Dorothy. You just never know. Some creatives wind up someplace by accident,” says Questlove.
Reflecting on his analogy, Questlove notes how he was curious about the impact of flavour notes when certain whiskies were finished in various barrels that previously held rum or port. “‘Aren’t they worried about this not blending well?’ But sometimes you wind up in a happy accident,” Questlove reflects. “I don't think any creative outcome is ever ready and it always has room for perfection — but it’s ready the moment you say, ‘I'm done’… and unleash it in the world.”
For more clever pairings and inspiring gems from Questlove, watch the full interview coming soon to Whisky Magazine’s official YouTube channel.