Whisky Culture – More Than Just a Drink

Living in the UK, it’s safe to say that a great deal of our culture is based upon drinking and socialising. Whether we’re sitting in the pub with our mates, enjoying a glass of wine with our dinner, or reading a book by an open fire with a dram of our favourite whisky in our hands.

As it’s primarily Scotch whisky that we deal with here at Great Drams, one thing that’s abundantly clear right away, is the fact that whisky is engrained in Scotland’s culture and heritage. After all, it’s their national drink for a reason. The drink is the very epitome of Scottish hospitality, heart, and soul and I love it for it.

While whisky is so much more than just a drink, I don’t think people realise just how important it is, and its cultural significance in general. That’s what I want to talk to you about today. Here’s a look at Scotch whisky culture and how it’s so much more than just a drink.

Whisky and Friendship

For me, whisky is a drink I associate with friendship and hospitality.

In the past, after touring distilleries in the Scottish Highlands, I’ve found myself “accidentally” wandering into a pub on more than one occasion. Looking around inside, what really struck me was just how sociable whisky drinkers were.

On one table was, I presume, a father and son chatting away while enjoying a wee dram. Sat by the fire were two older gents warming their cockles, laughing away, having the time of their lives as they sipped a whisky and put the world to rights.

Enjoying a fine dram isn’t just about enjoying a drink, it’s about sharing a passion with others. Whisky is bold and complex, with no two measures being exactly alike. Right away, this gives you something to chat about. Which notes are you picking up from your dram? How does it taste? Is the peat shining through? What’s the best whisky you’ve ever had? These are just some of the topics you can discuss with fellow whisky enthusiasts as you savour the taste of this amazing “water of life”.

Whisky and Celebrations

Another thing I love about whisky culture is how the drink is often associated with celebrations over here. Forget champagne, when celebrating it’s common for Scots to break out a bottle of their finest single malt.

Whether you’re celebrating a promotion at work, toasting the newlyweds, ringing in the New Year, raising a dram to “Rabbie” on Burns Night, or celebrating anything else, whisky is often the tipple of choice as it’s very much seen as a luxury.

If you really want to see why whisky culture is all about celebrating, you need only to visit a traditional Gaelic celebration, known as a Cèilidh (pronounced ‘Kay-lee’) to see exactly what I mean. There’s dancing, there’s singing and traditional Gaelic folk music, there’s delicious food, there’s tartan, and of course, there’s plenty of whisky.

Overseas Influences

It isn’t just here that whisky culture is so prominent, however. Head over to the USA, or Japan for example, and you’ll see that whisky/whiskey plays a key role in many aspects of their lives too.

In America, bourbon is very much a part of everyday life for many people, and is associated with a plethora of different things. In fact, in some parts of the country, particularly in states like Kentucky and Tennessee (yes, I’m aware Tennessee whiskey isn’t bourbon, but the two do share many similarities) bourbon is revered and considered a cultural icon.

Attend any BBQ competition or cookout, and you best believe that the bourbon will be flowing. As I wrote about last year, bourbon and BBQ go hand in hand as they share many different flavour profiles with one another, sweet and smoky being the most obvious.

Find yourself in a country and western bar and you’ll also see that whiskey is the drink of choice for many of the patrons there. Be it a sweet and smoky bourbon, or a fruity and spicy rye. Even the music played in the background often features whiskey. Chris Stapleton for example, recently teamed up with Beyonce for the aptly named ‘Tennessee Whiskey. When you consider the fact that it was once a form of currency, not to mention how valuable it proved after Prohibition, you can understand why the Americans love their whiskey.

In Japan, where the Scotch whisky influences are evident in the whisky they produce, the drink is also proving to be a part of their culture. Japanese whisky bars are becoming more popular with each passing year. Here, bartenders treat the whisky with the same care and attention that sushi masters show to the sushi they prepare by hand.

Whisky in Popular Culture

As well as being enjoyed all over the world, whisky’s influence on everyday life is also evident in popular culture.

Many of the world’s most famous characters on TV, in movies, in books, in music, and in literature are partial to a fine dram or two. Going back to what I was just talking about, whiskey isn’t just associated with Country and Western music, many Blues singers from the Deep South also used to sing about it. In fact, they still do.

James Bond’s most famous drink of choice may be a vodka Martini (shaken, not stirred, of course) but did you know that Bond is also fond of a fine dram or two? Bond is classy, elegant, suave, and sophisticated. He wears the classiest suits and drives the finest cars. His whisky of choice? Tesco Value Blended Whisky. Only kidding. Of course it’s The Macallan. The Macallan Fine and Rare 1962 to be precise, which he could be seen enjoying on screen in 2012’s Skyfall.

Whisky is often seen being consumed on screen and can even help to drive along the story. Whether it’s a grizzled detective pouring himself a double whisky as he tries to crack his latest case, or an evil billionaire sipping on a $100,000 bottle of rye as he plots to take over the world, whisky certainly plays its part.

If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at what we have to offer.

With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.

Photo Credit: yganko at Vecteezy

Tags: whisky cultureWhisky Drinkerswhiskydrinkers

Greg

My name is Greg, and I’m a brand strategy consultant, writer, speaker, host and judge specialising in premium spirits. My mission is to experience, share and inspire with everything great about whisky, whiskey, gin, beer and fine dining through my writing, my brand building and my whisky tastings.