So being able to interview some of the well known instagram influencers has really become a blessing for me. The whisk(e)y community is so huge and due to social media has finally found a voice among the masses, including millennials and genx population. Also women in whisky have grown substantially and so much good things are coming from distillers. In a series of Instagram Influencers we bring you Josh Ward or as hes known by his Instagram handle link: knowyourwhisky. Read his story below.
Josh, give us your 10 seconds elevator pitch. Tell us about yourself.J: Once upon a time I was a welder with a journeyman certificate and a Red Seal working in Alberta’s Oil Sands. I traded in my work boots and coveralls and took a position as a Safety Trainer at a learning centre. I’m married to a red headed Lioness and we have a sweet Puggle named Beckett.
Everyone has a different way they fell in love with whisky. Whether it be love at first sight, sip, smell, whatever. Tell us your story. What was the defining moment that you decided, yes this is the spirit that I love.
J: My wife and I went to see a band called Hey Rosetta and there was a bar attached to the venue. It was a small intimate setting so I decided to try a few different spirits. The bar was very neat and well kept, cosily tucked away in the corner. I decided to order the 12-year-old Auchentoshan for no other reason than I couldn’t pronounce it. I was still very new to whisky had only really been drinking blended rye and Johnnie Walker. After I tasted this delicious nectar I was astonished that it had taken me so long to discover a Single Malt. I set out on a journey to taste it all and I’m currently in the process, discriminating against no whisk(e)y.
Josh, your instagram posts are quite impressive, and I am sure over the years you have tasted some amazing drams, some drams some of us only dream about. The question is not what have you tasted, but rather what dram leads you back to her arms of seduction over and over again?
J: I cant remember where I was and I can’t remember when it was that I first tasted the 15 year old Revival from Glendronach. I was captivated by the colour, the darkness clearly drawn from her peaceful slumber in sherry casks. I was attracted to the charming green label and then ravished by her enchanting flavours. I do believe you said it best, It was seduction and I welcomed it.
How do you think about whisky, is it more of a pleasure or a business in your eyes? Maybe a mix of both.
J: It started as a curiosity and then blossomed into so much more. These folks poured a piece of themselves into those casks, the least we can do is give it a piece of ourselves when we taste. My reviews are a release for me and it’s a way to connect to people I would otherwise have never encountered. That being said, with my new side project we’re exploring a different side of whisky using live models and cigars. It certainly is a little of both. Pour a dram, turn the lights down and drift away. It’s meditation.
Here is a pretty controversial question. Is there a right way to drink whisky ? Neat, on the rocks, with a drop of water, in a glencairn glass, in a regular glass, the list goes on and on. Squash this controversy once and for all. What is the right way to drink whisky?
J: Absolutely there is a right way to drink whisky, the way you like it best. I prefer mine at room temperature, in a glencairn and neat at first. Add water if desired for higher ABV. Bottom line is to enjoy it the way you enjoy it. Otherwise it becomes something it was never meant to be, pretentious.
Mahesh Patel, a great whisky aficionado, once said “When acquiring whisky, you should always buy two bottles, one to drink and one to save”. Do you believe in this statement, or do you think its better to just buy 2 different bottles so you have twice as many choices to drink?
J: The concept of collecting whisky certainly is fun. I collect but I drink and share, it’s a revolving collection. If I buy two identical bottles I’ll drink one now and save the other and drink it later. There will always be another bottle to fill that space.
Give us some life lessons you’ve learned from running “Knowyourwhisky” on Instagram or in the whisky industry itself.
J: Trying to pair a beautiful bottle of whisky with an eye pleasing background has taught me to appreciate every small detail. One leaf out of place could throw off the whole scene. Angles and shadows change everything. I was shocked to see how much beauty was around me that I had simply not noticed before. Whisky actually helped me to not only appreciate it but to look for it and share it with others. Same as these malt masters do when they pick only the finest casks. Sometimes it takes decades of careful planning and meticulous attention to detail. It’s art.
I would imagine you’ve met some awesome whisky industry folks over your time, tell us who really stood out in your mind and why. What made that experience memorable.
J: Three days after the fires swept through my home in Fort McMurray Alberta, I was invited to an intimate dinner and tasting in Edmonton with George Grant from Glenfarclas. He was truly delightful. Being able to drink some of the worlds finest whisky with some of the worlds finest company made the fact that my collection had been consumed by fire all that much easier to swallow. Even gave me a 40 year old parting gift. All around a wonderful experience in a time which I very much needed an escape.
Appreciate your time Josh, let us know if there’s anything else you’d like to share with us?
J: Thanks for thinking about me for your interview. It’s a true pleasure to share the way I meditate with the followers who may find it interesting. I always love hearing what captures the interests of others so don’t be shy to drop me a line. Instagram is always my most active platform.
Sláinte
