407: In "Savour," Kristiane Westray reveals: Is smelling whisky different from smelling a glass of wine?
Unreserved Wine TalkShow Notes
Is smelling or nosing whisky different from smelling a glass of wine? How did a 1960s marketing campaign convince generations of whisky drinkers that single malt was better than blended whisky? What is it like to step inside a working whisky kiln and experience peat smoke firsthand? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Kristiane Westray, author of Savour: A Guide To Tasting and Exploring Whiskies of the World. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.
Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Kristiane Westray's terrific book, Savour: A Guide To Tasting and Exploring Whiskies of the World. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected]. I'll choose two people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck!
Highlights What was it like stepping inside the smoky kiln at Bowmore and experiencing peated whisky production firsthand? Why did Kristiane write Savour for flavour lovers rather than whisky geeks? How did writing the book reinforce Kristiane's belief that whisky needs to welcome new drinkers? How did Kristiane go from an aspiring fashion and beauty writer into a whisky obsessive? Why should you approach nosing whisky differently from nosing a glass of wine? How can the type of peat used in different regions create dramatically different aromas in whisky? Does the glass you drink whisky from really matter? How can exploring the landscape around a distillery deepen your understanding of its whisky? How does Kristiane challenge the lingering idea that whisky is primarily a drink for men? How did a 1960s marketing campaign help convince generations of drinkers that single malt was better than blended whisky? Do whisky drinkers worry too much about caramel colouring, small batch claims, and chill filtration?
About Kristiane Westray Kristiane Westray is a whisky communicator and author. Her first book Savour was published by Bloomsbury in October 2025. She has written about spirits since 2012, and her work has appeared in Whisky Magazine, The Malt Whisky Yearbook, The Times, Club Oenologique and many more. She is the former editor at The Spirits Business and led the content team at Master of Malt, where she trained as a WSET Spirits Educator. As a judge in the UK and US, she has tasted and assessed thousands of whiskies from around the world. An accomplished presenter, Kristiane has hosted numerous tastings, co-hosted live broadcasts, and appeared as a whisky expert on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch. A passionate advocate for equity in whisky, her work on social media drives education and inclusivity with the vision that whisky is for everyone. Kristiane is based in Brighton, UK, where she lives with her girlfriend and a tiny ginger cat.
To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/407.
More from Unreserved Wine Talk
Why does a Manhattan cocktail and a hamburger make an insanely great pairing? Can strongly brewed black tea really scratch the itch for whiskey in a non-alcoholic Old Fashioned? How did the arrival of drinking straws make new types of cocktails possible? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Kara Newman, the author of eight cocktail books. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.
France has Champagne. Italy has Prosecco. Spain has Cava. So what's the new Canadian sparkling wine style that's just launched? Will Canadians remain loyal to domestic wines once American wines return to store shelves? Is the wine industry making a costly mistake by assuming young drinkers will turn to wine as their incomes grow? How could boxed wine change the way you think about buying and enjoying wine at home? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with John Boynton, CEO of Arterra Wines Canada. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.
How can a bottle of wine become the invitation, slow down the moment, and create space for real conversation? Why does the wine industry need to look beyond wine itself to win back consumers? How can wine become more relevant to younger consumers? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with John Boynton. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.
How can two rums taste completely different even though they're both made from sugar cane? What makes Jamaican rum so famously funky, and what does a dunder pit have to do with it? How does the type of ice you use change the strength, temperature, and texture of a cocktail? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Kara Newman, the author of eight cocktail books. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.
How does smoking whisky grains with elephant dung translate into flavours like raspberry and sandalwood? What does the saying "you can't turn a donkey into a racehorse" reveal about making great whisky? How are modern whisky makers using blending to capture emotions and experiences? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Kristiane Westray. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.