Show Notes
"Whisky is for everyone," declares Kristiane Westray, whisky writer, educator and judge. Her book Savour: A guide to tasting and exploring whiskies of the world, published by Bloomsbury, is out next month.
But, Kristiane continues, there's still a misogyny around whisky. "I want to invite people into the whisky industry, but I do sometimes worry that I'm inviting people - particularly under-represented groups - into a space that might not be entirely safe for them."
"I think everywhere there's misogyny," she tells John in this episode. "I think in male dominated industries especially there's misogyny. And I think in whisky, you have that, but you also have the layer of alcohol on top of it, which unfortunately, and it shouldn't do, can mean that filters come off or people behave in ways that they shouldn't because they are drunk or feel enabled in some other way".
As a 37-year-old, openly gay woman, Kristiane says she has "a much easier time of it of late. But," she continues, "younger women in the industry who are maybe brand ambassadors, who are on the front line of events, or other writers will tell me stories of being harassed, being groped and all of this stuff, and I'm like 'No. We need to as an industry collectively work much harder at this."
"It's horrible to say," Kristiane adds, "because I want to invite more women in and more non-binary people, more people from different ethnicities, more working class people..."
That's why she's an advocate of "safe space whisky places" and greater diversity in the industry.
But how did Kristiane get into the industry?
"I was writing for a travel and retail magazine and I wanted to be a fashion and beauty journailst.That was the dream. And I remember my editor saying, 'You've got to go off to Sweden to cover the the Viking Line Whisky Fair.'
"I was 24 and I was like, 'I don't like whisky. It's going to be full of drunk men' (which it was), but I had to go... and I tasted whisky for the first time and I fell in love with it."
In this episode Kristiane tells John about her whisky journey. They discuss the different marketing strategies adopted by Johnnie Walker with Sabrina Carpenter and Glenmorangie with Harrison Ford; how you can improve your olfactory skills to appreciate whisky better; and how enjoying whisky is a "mix of art, science and storytelling."
So pour yourself a dram - as it comes, or with ice or with water, or - as Kristiane recommends - ginger ale or soda or any other mixer - and tune in. After all, whisky is for everyone!
Slàinte! ------- Socials: @C2GWhisky @JohnRossBeattie
Creator & producer: David Holmes Art work & design: Jess Robertson
Music: Water of Life (Never Going Home) Vocals: Andrea Cunningham Guitars: John Beattie Bass: Alasdair Vann Drums: Alan Hamilton Bagpipes: Calum McColl Accordion: Gary Innes Music & Lyrics: Andrea Cunningham & John Beattie Recorded & mixed by Murray Collier at La Chunky Studios, Glasgow, Scotland
Special thanks: The Piper Whisky Bar, 57 Cochrane Street, Glasgow, Scotland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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