Andrew Derbidge

Samples, starting, sympathy, and strength…

The nature of my involvement in the whisky industry, in several capacities and roles, means that I receive/acquire a significant quantity of whisky sample bottles from month to month. They might be for a virtual tasting I’m hosting or participating in; they might be promotional samples from a brand or distributor that wants me to review their latest releases; they might be SMWS samples for upcoming cask bottlings; they might be samples I’ve requested for private bottlings that I curate for other entities; occasionally they’re just casual samples that friends and colleagues have drawn off and sent me in the spirit of sharing and collaborating.

Samples are exactly that: Samples. I try a dram; I assess it, and the bottle has thus served its purpose. I invariably find there’s still a dram or so left in the wee bottle afterwards. If the whisky was sensational, that left-over dram won’t last long; but even if the whisky was merely just “good”, it seems I don’t get around to finishing the contents of the bottle. There’s just too many, and my weekly alcohol consumption would be more than my doctor would recommend if I was to avail myself of every last drop in every sample. As such, the collection of “dregs” builds and builds over a few months, and I often dispose of them by taking the partempties into my office and offering them to my work colleagues to take home and try at their leisure. (In an office of 55 people, they disappear pretty quickly). It’s always fascinating getting the feedback from people in the days that follow as they report back with their thoughts and reactions. Most of them don’t mind a dram, but they’re hardly enthusiasts, nor would they classify themselves as whisky drinkers per se. Most recently, one colleague helped himself to a couple of SMWS samples that were leftovers from our November Virtual Tasting. It was the first time he’d encountered cask-strength whisky, and the experience was initially too overwhelming for him. “Do people actually enjoy that?” he asked in disbelief!

For me, it was actually a beautiful moment and a wonderful reminder – for we forget these things when we’re too close to the action – of what makes the Society so special: We’re offering whiskies, distilleries, and experiences that you might not otherwise encounter. We’re offering something that is so much more than the generic, non-descript, 40% ABV, bland whiskies that many punters associate with the category. Of course, for those in the know, such as you, dear reader, cask-strength whisky is hardly rare these days. But if you’re outside the whisky community, encountering a spirit of any variety with an ABV higher than 40% is a rare and – at first – confronting experience! Most folks who are seasoned cask-strength drinkers these days would admit they worked their way up to it. It is the same with most other pursuits: No one – but no one – goes out on a surfboard and catches/rides their first wave like a pro. A budding musician doesn’t pick up an instrument for the first time and make it sound sublime. I could go on with the analogies, but I’m sure you get the point: Certain things take practice. If you’ve been a Society member for a while (or, at least, a whisky drinker for a while) and things seem natural or effortless to you, do not lose appreciation and respect for those who are entering the category for the first time and are finding their way with whisky. It is an amazing journey of discovery as each individual finds their preferred style of whisky; finds the ABV strength they’re comfortable with; and finds the brands / distilleries / Flavour Profiles that they enjoy. To be honest, it’s a journey that never ends. Here’s to us all continuing our whisky journeys in 2022. And if you find yourself sitting next to a newbie at a Society tasting event next year (please, God, no more COVID lockdowns!) welcome them and (figuratively) embrace them. Remember, that was you once upon a time. Cheers.

Andrew Derbidge ~ Director, Cellarmaster & NSW Manager