RICHARD PATERSON – THE WHYTE & MACKAY MASTER BLENDER IS NAMED ‘WHISKY AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR’

Published on March 31, 2011 by News Desk · 1 Comment

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Whyte & Mackay Master Blender, Richard Paterson has been named ‘Whisky Ambassador of the Year’ at Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky Awards, 2011.

Last year, Richard celebrated 40 years in the whisky industry and the award recognizes his continual efforts to promote whisky all over the globe, in the fun and engaging manner that has earned him a legion of fans. Richard became a master blender at an incredibly young age of 26 and ever since, he has played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the category.

Speaking on the occasion, Richard Paterson said, “It’s an honour to receive this award from Whisky Magazine and it means a great deal to me that my fellow whisky peers respect the work I am doing. Over the last 40 years I have had the privilege to work in the whisky industry and travel the world over meeting many whisky enthusiasts. I have created some very special whiskies along the way including the first whisky to break the £100,000 barrier and just recently I got to sample the Shackleton whisky which has to be one of the greatest highpoints of my career.”

Richard is the creator of The Dalmore Oculus Single Malt, which sold at Bonham’s London in 2009 for Rs. 25 lacs (GBP 31000) & The Dalmore 62 year old, the most expensive whisky (700 ML) ever sold at Rs. 35 lacs. Another feather in his much adorned cap is his signature blend of the Whyte & Mackay 30 YO recently being awarded the “World’s Best Blended Whisky” by International Wine & Spirits consortium (the global authority on Luxury Alcohol).

His attention is what leads to the distinct taste of Whyte & Mackay, the Isle of Jura and Dalmore single malts.

The master blender’s role is one of the most important and complex in the whisky making process. Celebrated master blenders across the world have made our olfactory senses aware of the palate and the notes that distinguish a particular whisky from the other. Richard Paterson is one of the world’s best-known master blenders, having travelled the globe extensively as the ambassador not just for Whyte & Mackay, but for Scotland.

Apart from creating whisky, Richard is well known as a charismatic presenter, taking enthusiasts through both whisky history and the steps needed to taste and appreciate whisky. These sessions are known to be explosive, and Richard takes no prisoners when hosting a whisky tasting, if you make a wrong move, you will know about it.

Other shortlisted candidates in the category included renowned names like Simon Brooking of Beam Global; Gillian Macdonald of Penderyn; Stephen Marshall of John Dewar & Sons and Fred Noe, Beam Global.