“Gimme a whisky….and don’t be stingy, baby.”

Greta Garbo’s first spoken line on film harkens back to an era where women commonly drank Scotch, where there was beauty in enjoying a cocktail – and where there was no such thing as a ‘manly’ drink.

It’s an era Heather Greene is hoping to see once again – beginning with holiday tables.

Heather

 As one of the world’s only female Scotch whisky experts, Greene is on a mission to demystify the spirit that traces its roots to the 1400s – particularly among women, who drank Scotch regularly in the 40s and 50s, but in more recent times have gravitated to wines and softer liquors.

 “The notion that Scotch is a ‘manly’ drink is finally beginning to fade,” says Greene, a brand ambassador for Glenfiddich as well as a professional recording artist. “Not only have popular shows like Mad Men helped to glamorize classic cocktails and make whiskies less intimidating, the rules for ‘proper’ ways to enjoy Scotch are starting to relax and people are experimenting more.”

 As an example, Greene says Scotch can be enjoyed not just as a pre-dinner cocktail, but throughout a meal.  In fact, she says with notes of spice, honey and apple, Scotch is an ideal spirit to pair with upcoming holiday feasts.  Here are a few of her top pairing tips:

For a pre-dinner cocktail, Greene recommends a Rob Roy or an Old Fashioned

“The beauty of a Rob Roy, Old Fashioned or even a Maple Old Fashioned is that they aren’t too sweet, are wonderfully balanced, and, because they contain a small amount of aromatic bitters – which stimulate our appetites by making our mouths water – our palettes are actually encouraged and prepared for a feast before us. Many people don’t realize that fruit juices and creams, when added to cocktails, can have the reverse effect.”

During dinner, she says there is nothing more delicious than a Single Malt with ice. 

“Purists generally are opposed to adding water to Scotch, but doing so can make it very enjoyable with food,” she adds. “The ice cools down the Scotch, and the alcohol ‘ping’ that many drinkers experience is mellowed, bringing out notes of vanilla and oak, which make perfect pairings for winter dinners.”

 And for post-dinner festivities, an aged whisky “neat” is a gorgeous compliment to fruit pies, chocolates and other desserts.

 “The notes of Scotch pair so well with desserts that many chocolatiers have experimented with Scotch-infused treats. For the do-it-yourself version, a small piece of dark chocolate with an aged whisky featuring notes of raisin, dark chocolate, caramel and maple is the perfect “lite” ending to a dinner.”

Heather Greene would be delighted to discuss the trend of women increasingly embracing whisky as well as stir up some perfect holiday Scotch pairings using beautiful glasses from her personal vintage collection.

About Heather Greene:

One of the world’s only female Scotch whisky experts, Heather Greene – who is also an acclaimed performing artist – joined William Grant and Sons in 2007 as a Whisky Ambassador and Scotch specialist for Glenfiddich, the world’s top-selling single malt Scotch.  Having moved to Scotland two years earlier after the release of her debut album, Greene discovered a passion for what has since become her “day job.” She joined the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Edinburgh, becoming the first American woman to be invited to serve on the Society’s prestigious tasting panel, prior to being recruited by Glenfiddich and returning to New York City, where she often performs and records in addition to hosting tastings.  Her next album – Argon40’s “Fair Lawn” Featuring Heather Greene – is due out in January when she will travel nationwide to host a series of shows accompanied by her classic cocktails and vintage Glenfiddich.

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