'Having whisky in a glass is like meeting a person you've never met before. You get to know [them], then slowly give it time,' Martine Nouet explains as she pours a little whisky onto her hands, rubs them together and then breathes in the smoky peat scent. Ms Nouet is considered one of the world's five top whisky tasters and has paired whisky and food for grand dinners across Europe, the UK and the USA, as well as judging the annual international Wine and Spirit competition in London. Spend some time in her delightful company and you quickly discover her expertise. A food writer and passionate cook too, she presents a television series called The Whisky Chef and has written food columns extensively for French newspapers. Martine Nouet is currently in Australia to host a series of Whisky Live events, and Peter and I had the pleasure of spending time in her company during a Whisky Dinner held at La Scala in Canberra last week. Now if you had asked me what I knew about whisky before this, I would have said that Peter and I have a couple of old bottles of good stuff tucked away and, occasionally, I sprinkle a few drops onto my home made mud cake or chocolate truffles. But there is so much to learn, particularly when it comes to tasting and matching whisky with food. Before the dinner, I asked Ms Nouen to share with me her favourite way of cooking with whisky: 'Lobster,' she answered. 'A fisherman lives in the next village to my home on Islay and I order 1kg lobsters from him which he brings to my house. I have a big milk churn that came from my uncle's Farm in Normany and I fill this with seawater. First, the lobsters have a nice hot spa (she chuckles) and then I plunge them into the cold seawater. That makes them absolutely delightful. I keep the dish simple, the whisky is in the butter sauce, just a spoonful of whisky into melted butter, some grated lemon zest and ginger poured over the lobster and then baked very quickly in a tepid oven.' Sounds divine! Ms Nouet then takes the floor to welcome diners to the Whisky Dinner. 'This evening at La Scala we have a little whisky treat for you and we will take you from Scotland, where I live, to Tasmania, where I will be going very soon. Let's start with the whisky, we will taste it together and then we will bring the food and I will tell you about matching whisky and food.' Oui, yes please! 'For me it's not a question of chemistry, it's a sensory thing,' Ms Nouet explains. 'We use all our senses: look at it and see the lovely colour, smell it and inhale its aroma, and then taste it, but not as you would with wine, as it will burn your mouth! Taste a little and roll it on your tongue, allowing your saliva to dilute it.' The five course degustation begins... Wafer-thin slices of raw eye fillet drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, capers, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese shavings and rocket are served with Caol lIa, a peated 12 year old whisky from a distillery on Ms Nouet's magnificent homeland of Islay in Scotland. It tastes of seaweed, smoke, and salt, with a sweet and dry peppery finish, a perfect match for the carpaccio. Incidentally, Caol Ila is Gaelic for 'the Sound of Islay'. Next, seared scallops (served rare) atop a sweet carrot puree with pan tossed spring onions, oyster mushrooms and baby English spinach, lightly dressed with a sweet aged balsamic reduction.This is served with 16 year old Glen Moray, a distillery in Speyside, Scotland that has produced single malt scotch whisky for over 100 years. The spiciness and hint of vanilla sweetness in this whisky gives a little 'kick' to the scallops. Glen Moray also pairs well with chocolate. Then we enjoy a superb creamy Porcini mushroom risotto with white wine and English baby spinach served with a 10 year old whisky from Hellyers Road, Australia's largest distiller of Australian single malt whisky, located in Burnie, Tasmania. This whisky is creamy on the palate with a crisp and dry finish, and matches the creaminess of the risotto beautifully. And next, we try a dram of what Ms Nouet describes as a very, very special whisky: The Glenrothes 1991, an award winning Speyside single malt whisky of outstanding quality that has notes of creamy vanilla and ripe citrus fruits. This was paired with Victorian highland grass fed lamb rump (disappointingly chewy), accompanied by Enoki mushrooms and English spinach on a beetroot and white polenta base, topped with lemon and lime butter. Our dessert is a (very sweet) white Belgian chocolate panna cotta that has a thick Drambuie reduction on top. A 16 year old Glenlivet Nàdurra single malt Scotch is the accompaniment to this dish. This whisky has a full flavour, with notes of honey, matching the dessert very well. And to finish, a drop of The Nant single malt whisky (Sherry Wood Cask) from the central highlands of Tasmania. This special whisky is made from brewer's barley grown by the distillery and grist at a historic water-driven, convict-built flour mill at Nant near Bothwell. Interestingly, the company offers opportunities to invest in a barrel of Nant single malt, with a 9.5% return through a guaranteed buy back program! The following evening, we attended the Whisky Live tasting expo, held at the historic Albert Hall in Canberra. The 1920s building was perfect for the event, which was hosted by Ms Nouet and showcased a range of new as well as long time favourite whiskies from countries around the world (including India, Australia, Scotland, the United States and Ireland). Attendees had the opportunity to speak to 'Whisky Ambassadors', that is, the people behind the brands, and also taste whisky paired with Brix chocolate, Tilba cheese and Wapengo Rocks oysters (note: watch Good Things for a future post on Wapengo Rocks, Australian certified organic oysters!). Whisky Live events are taking place in Perth, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane; and all across the globe, well worth attending if you're even vaguely interested. Pictured above: Martine Nouet hosts, Whisky Live in Canberra at the historic Albert Hall in Canberra, Pari Pathak with Kentucky Whisky, Drambuie the Royal Legacy limited edition, Jordan Berger from Glen Grant, Guy Lamond and Shane Buckley from Wapengo Rocks, and Graham Coull, manager of Glen Moray, and Whisky Live at the Albert Hall. And just a few whisky facts...
For those interested in knowing more about the whisky story, Pip Courtney featured Tasmanian single malt whisky on an episode of Landline recently. Peter and I were guests of Whisky Live and Martine Nouet. Many kind thanks to the organising team for giving us this opportunity. For more information about Whisky Live, visit the Whisky Live Australia or Whisky Live World Whisk(e)y Tasting Shows web sites. Tell me dear readers, are you an aficionado of whisk(e)y and how do you use this spirit in your cooking?
30/7/2013 12:13:14 am
I wish that I loved the taste of whisky more. Perhaps I'm not trying hard enough :)
Lizzy
30/7/2013 12:30:32 am
I hear you, Lorraine... the thing with whisky, I've learned, is that you drink much less of it than you would wine, for instance... and also an event like Whisky Live gives you the opportunity to taste a whole range of whiskeys from around the world... from the lighter ones to the full bodies ones... and you can find something you enjoy. 30/7/2013 02:19:10 am
You attend the most wonderful events. Thanks for letting us tag along on this interesting evening.
Lizzy
30/7/2013 09:25:20 am
Karen, thanks, I am very fortunate indeed to have been invited. It was a fascinating evening. Thanks for stopping by.
Lizzy
30/7/2013 09:25:54 am
Rosa, thank you. I'm glad you found it interesting. I learned a lot from this event. Cheers. Lizzy. 30/7/2013 11:13:26 am
What a great event, and having the degustation liked that would be a great way to see the potential of whiskey in a while new way. My experience with whiskey is in hot water with honey and Lemon for a sore throat, or in Christmas cake :)
Lizzy
30/7/2013 10:46:23 pm
Bec, it certainly was! I like your sore throat remedy... : ) 30/7/2013 11:20:17 am
What a fun event! Although I'm quite familiar with American whiskey, I know very little about whisky (which we call Scotch in the US). One of these days I'll learn a lot more, I'm sure. ;-) The idea flavoring lobster with whisky is brilliant - I can imagine that tastes wonderful. And that dinner sounds wonderful, and you got to taste some quite nice whiskies! Fun read - thanks.
Lizzy
30/7/2013 10:48:20 pm
John, thanks! I think few people really know much about whisk(e)y really. The dinner was wonderful, such a great experience! Martine has a good seafood recipe here http://martinenouet.com/hollandaise/
Lizzy
30/7/2013 10:49:01 pm
Thanks Lisa! I wasn't either, really, but I learned so much at this event, including finding a whisky Peter and I enjoy. 30/7/2013 03:23:38 pm
If I hear one more time, "Maureen, I really love a single malt whisky," I'll yell out loud. Rob, while he doesn't (often) overindulge, could happily enjoy an event like this.
Lizzy
30/7/2013 10:49:27 pm
You made me smile, Maureen. God bless Rob and his love of single malt. 30/7/2013 03:36:59 pm
G'day Lizzy!
Lizzy
30/7/2013 10:50:07 pm
Thanks Joanne... your dishes with whiskeys sound great!
Eha
30/7/2013 05:12:54 pm
[Laughing delightedly!]. Love wine, less decidedly long G&Ts - whisky [my spelling and I shan't deviate!] comes single malt, no ice, no soda . . . slowly sipped and so enjoyed!! Never knew we made any such Down Under: definite homework ahead! Thanks for the lesson :D !
Lizzy
30/7/2013 10:50:33 pm
Ha, nice one.... we do indeed make great whisky downunder. : ) 1/8/2013 12:41:40 am
My cousin is on a job assignment in Scotland. He adores whiskey and puts up photos on Facebook of their new whiskey distillery discoveries around Scotland. It would be pretty fascinating to know more about this time honored drink. Thanks.
Lizzy
1/8/2013 09:27:15 am
How wonderful, Sarah! I wonder if your cousin has been to Islay? It looks like a beautifully pristine and wild coastal place. Thank you for stopping by. Comments are closed.
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Welcome...Üdvözölöm
Cooking and writing have been a lifelong passion. Join me as I share with you my favourite recipes; postcards and morsels from my travels; conversations with cookery writers and chefs; and news on food, cookbooks and cooking. - Liz Posmyk
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NB: I use Australian standard measuring cups and spoons in my recipes.
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