An Exploration of Scotch Whisky *In-Person*

It’s been said that if whisky was invented in Ireland, it was perfected by the Scots. Uisge beatha is the Scottish Gaelic term for ‘water of life’, which has been shortened to whisky. With its first iteration made around 1000 years ago, the Scottish have taken the craft of whisky production to its highest level, leaving Scotch whisky in a class of its own. It remains the shining example of spirit production throughout the world, and in this class we’ll be exploring, learning and tasting these fine whiskies. From the Scottish Highlands and Speyside, down to ocean battered shores of Islay and Campbelltown, we’ll learn how climate, flora and tradition affect the flavor profiles of some of the best whisky on the planet. Instructor: Oliver McClung

Sections

Instructor

Oliver Castro-McClung has been a bartender, bar manager and beverage consultant in Greater Boston since 2009. Growing up in a large family in West Virginia, Oliver learned the importance of the stories and history that come from shared food and drinks from an early age.It was at these gatherings where the stories that shaped his life were shared. Moving to La Paz, Bolivia with his father in his twenties, deepened the notion of how culture and history is shared through the simple act of pouring a drink. Although he's officially retired from the restaurant industry, he continues his path today through reading and spirit education. Oliver lives in Newton with his wife, step daughters and two dogs.