LIBRARY
OF
DELIGHTS
Sometimes research involves the bottle instead of the book BY COLLEEN RINGER PHOTOGRAPHY BY RACHEL OLSSON
T
here’s grabbing a drink. And then there’s grabbing a drink in The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa’s Scotch Library. The two
experiences have about as much in common as paper cups and crystal. On most nights, you’ll find Guy Sporbert pouring the scotch, moving about in a kilt featuring The Westin Kierland’s custom tartan and expertly guiding guests to bottles that best suit their palates and their wallets. In this nook just off the lobby, there’s no bar in sight — just a collection of tables, chairs, and high-backed couches. It reads more library (hence the name) than bar, but make no mistake, the spirits are flowing. Bottles of every shape, size, and color stand sentry in a glass cabinet, just waiting for Sporbert to bring them out, tell the story of the whisky they hold, and invite you to try a glass.
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THE WESTIN KIERLAND MAGAZINE
THE WESTIN KIERLAND MAGAZINE
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BUY
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SELL
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TRADE
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CONSIGN
The Scotch Library houses more than 200 bottles of whisky, but these three are as rare — and delicious — as they come.
4. THE LACK OF PRETENSION
There are no pop quizzes about what notes you’re detecting, no snide comments if you mispronounce a distillery. “It’s only whisky,” Sporbert says. “You don’t need a sophisticated palate to drink it. I just want people to sit down, relax, and enjoy.”
LUX RY
5. THE TASTINGS
1. THE SELECTION
Top 5 Reasons to Stop By During Your Stay
More than 200 bottles of scotch spanning all six whisky regions in Scotland … or as Sporbert puts it: “200 different bottles, 200 different whiskies.” And this is just the beginning. The Scotch Library continues to add to its collection with a view toward one day representing every distillery in Scotland.
Reserve a seat at one of the “Evening of Scotches,” which happen on Fridays at 6 p.m., cost $45, and feature a selection of three whiskies. You’ll get to hear about the regions they’re from and the stories behind the labels. At the monthly hour-long Master Tasting events, experts take you inside some of the most popular distilleries in Scotland and reveal the secrets behind the spirits they produce. Light hors d’oeuvres are included in the $50 fee. Can’t make either event? No problem. Sporbert can put together a personalized flight for you any day of the week. ✺
2. THE TOP SHELF
Sporbert names the library’s three crown jewels (pictured above) with nothing short of reverence: a 62-year-old bottle of The Macallan, a 50-year-old Glenfiddich, and a 50-year-old Balvenie. For a 2-ounce pour, they’ll set you back $1,800; $2,200; and $3,500, respectively. “If you were to drink one of those, you could be certain that out of the billions of people on the planet, you’d be the only person drinking that same drink at that exact moment,” Sporbert says. 3. THE INSIGHT
Sporbert loves everything about this tawny tipple, and it’s hard not to catch the fever as he talks. The kicker? When Sporbert teaches guests how to really sniff their glasses of scotch. We won’t spoil the surprise; we’ll only say it involves using your hands.
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