Angels, I want my whisky back 🙏

If you’re lucky enough to receive a promotional sample of whisky, don’t make the same mistake I did.

Around 15 years ago, when I was writing all of Bowmore’s packaging copy, I was commissioned to pen a very special booklet for an even more special single malt.

Laid down on 29 March 1969, this particular Bowmore had spent the next 40 years maturing in a specially selected North American bourbon cask, slowly developing the finest of flavours.

Filled into just 53 individually-sculpted bottles, each topped with a hand-engraved solid silver neck collar and stopper, the 2010 release richly deserved the title ‘A Masterclass in Time’.

😀 Imagine my delight when shortly after the launch, I received my very own presentation box, containing not just a printed copy of the booklet I’d written but a sample of the lauded liquid.

A rarity indeed. Which I naturally wanted to keep pristine. But at the same time couldn’t resist trying for myself.

I remember unscrewing the top, gently easing out the cork stopper and breathing in the aromas. Glorious.

And maybe a taste… just enough to wet my lips. Sublime.

But there I stopped, reluctantly replacing the cork and screwing the top tightly shut. Preserving the contents for some future delight.

You’ve heard of the angel’s share, which, together with the devil’s cut, conspires to reduce the volume of spirit maturing in a cask over time, while also enhancing its flavour. Here in Scotland, whisky barrels typically lose about 2% of their contents per year to evaporation. In warmer climates, like India and Australia, the figure can be as high as 12%.

None of which had I factored into my decision to save the rest of my precious sample for later.

☹ Imagine my disappointment when, searching through some of my favourite portfolio pieces the other day, I discovered the sample bottle empty.

Top still tightly shut, cork still in place, contents drained completely dry. A crime that would have left even Columbo scratching his head. Were it not for what we know about those pesky angels. Only this time they’d shared not a drop, gorging the whole damn lot!

Long story short… if you’re fortunate enough to receive a sample of something special, savour it while you can to prevent any further divine intervention and inhalation. ❌👼❌