THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS presents:
Systematic Whisky Appreciation: A Tasting Study of Scotch and Bourbon with Council Board Member Charles MacLean

This training video assists MASTER OF SCOTCH and MASTER OF BOURBON candidates with their exam preparation. All other whisky lovers and students will find this program insightful.

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Ideally, taste along with the same whiskies explored in the video:

1. Glenmorangie 10: Highland Single Malt Scotch
2. Talisker 10: Island Single Malt Scotch
3. Glenfarclas 105: Speyside Single Malt Scotch (labelled as Highlands)
4. Buffalo Trace: Kentucky Straight Bourbon

The Council recognizes both spellings, 'whisky' and 'whiskey'. As a U.S. organization, we use 'whiskey' by default, but specify to 'whisky' when predominantly Scottish whisky is being discussed.

Topics Discussed:
Overview of Sensory Evaluation
Blind Tasting
Equipment
Flavor Wheel
Tasting Procedure: Sight, Smell, Taste, Touch
Describing Flavor and Composing Tasting Notes
Alcoholic Strength
Where Flavor Comes From
The Role of Water
The Scotch Whisky Regions

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The Council of Whiskey Masters is the world’s leading education and certification body for specialized whiskey expertise, covering Scotch, Bourbon, and more. The Council’s board members include more than 35 of the most respected whiskey experts alive today.

Charles MacLean has served on the board of The Council of Whiskey Masters since 2019. He has has been writing about Scotch whisky for 40 years, and has published 17 books on the subject. Charles was described by The Times as “Scotland’s leading whisky expert”. He was elected Master of the Quaich, and also won a James Beard Award for his writing on whisky. Later he was inducted into the Whisky Hall of Fame. He was named ‘International Ambassador of the Year’ at the Spirit of Speyside Festival. The Queen of the United Kingdom designated him as as a ‘Member of the Order of the British Empire’ in 2021. He lives in Edinburgh.