What Makes a Whisk(e)y Connoisseur?

Be honest. Be open minded. Be sensitive and wise. Be aware of your senses. Be cautious while being impetuous. Explore the world with all it has to offer. And be eloquent to share your experience. Be happy with what you do.

Something like that makes a Connoisseur/Whisky Expert for me.

There are 2 kinds of Whisky experts. Academics and community (kind of like physicians)

The academics ( like me) have read about every type of Whisky.....the community (Ralfy calls them) "punters" have tasted them. My wife says I have book knowledge. What I need is more street knowledge...

For a connoisseur it's not the quantity, it's the quality of both whisk(e)y and the experience, and the appreciation thereof.

I agree with @systemdown. I would add though that it is a good idea to try as much as you can of the wide variety of whisky out there.

Don't think that bourbon isn't any good simply because the one or two bottles you've had weren't worth buying again. Don't give up on blends, Japanese, Canadian or Taiwanese whisky only because your limited experience with them hasn't been favorable. There are so many whiskies out there, you are bound to come across something you like from any whisky genre!

@Wills spot on! A brilliant definition / model / summary: something to aspire to.

@two-bit-cowboy Thx and yes, it is indeed something to aspire to. And I am very happy to be part of this community, because in my opinion some REAL connoisseurs are around here. I am not one of them unfortunately but hey, whisky also needs its time ;)

I see it as an arc...neophyte through to snob and finally ending at connoisseur. Many folk stop at snob, refusing to see anything redeeming in flawed or cheap whiskies...true connoisseurs can appreciate quality without prejudice.

Great topic and BRILLIANT response from everyone who's posted! Honesty, just because it's expensive or rare doesn't make it good, don't be blinded by just single malts from Scotland, EVERY country that is producing whisky at this time is doing SOMETHING delicious! ENTHUSIASM if you like whisky don't be afraid to share it! Enjoy the experience and be willing to share it with others, as was just posted on the site here, "good whisky becomes legend when shared with friends" - Paddockjudge

I will add one thing to what makes a whisky connoisseur and that is being open to new people who might not be in the "elite" or whatever you consider yourself to be. Be open with recommendations and experiences. There shouldn't be any bias of "you've not got enough experience yet, see us when you've had 'x""

Hard to say. Myself - I started collecting, tried to get various kinds of whiskey's in the cabinet, read up on whiskey and the processes, follow some blogs and so on. Does that make me a connoisseur? Who knows. Probably not. I'm just a guy who likes Whiskey and the collecting of both bottles and knowledge. Guys like Victor, Paddy here, Talexander, SquidgyAsh...to me, those guys are connoisseurs. Squidgy probably has the travel bills to prove it. :)

@mrgargus Hahah thank you for the compliment my friend, I'm honored that you think that highly of me :) I personally think that I'm just a huge whisky geek!

I feel like a connoisseur is one that has a wealth of knowledge and experience with whiskey in all it's forms (bourbon, single malt, blended, etc) and like @cpstecroix mentioned there is a difference between connoisseurship and snobbery. Connoisseurs are not blinded by the notion of rarity, exclusivity and price. Also I feel like 'connoisseur' is not a title that is reached but rather given. One should immerse themselves in their passion, be it whiskey, art, film, etc, because of their genuine love of the subject and as a result the badge of connoisseur is given by those who see your passion and have come to respect your opinions in that field.

I feel it's only human to want people to appreciate what we have to offer, which is why we see so many whiskey blogs (mine included) but what is more important is our own personal journeys with whiskey and all it has to offer. That way we are able to share our experiences with others who share our same passion.

My thoughts on the "whiskey connoisseur" Well read on the subject of whisky". Perhaps. However, the world is full of "well read experts" who, given an audience, will pontifcate for hours on a given subject. I refer to them as bafflespeakers. Throw in enough 'nose" "taste" "balance" "colour", etc; you will only agree with them because if you don't, your head is going to explode. My advice. When cornered by these bafflespeakers, have an exit strategy.

Well stocked cabinet. Again, pehaps. Then again, maybe they can't resists the purchase. I'm guilty. I never have enought golf balls...see them..buy them.

For me a connoisseur is someone who offers an informed opinion, shares the knowledge, offers help, suggests reference material (books, websites, etc) and accepts another's point of view all without bias.

Thankfully, there are many on this site who fit this description. They willingly want others to experience the passion they have for whisky.

@PeterG7 Nicely said, I fully agree :)

Thank you all for your responses. I want to continue this discussion for anyone else who has any contributions. Eventually I would like to summarize the insights into some useful takeaways that get to the heart of the matter. Carry on.

Knowing what you like and why.

This is a great discussion. Speaking from my own experience, I don't know if I'd class myself as a Connoisseur just yet. But I've definitely been through the snob part that cpstecroix mentions, and now feel I'm emerging from the other side. I've started posting reviews on this site more for my own benefit really so that I'm properly tasting the whisky and keeping a record of it. What I find is that writing my thoughts spontaneously as I taste the whisky really promotes an honest assessment rather than what I think I should be writing.

Some interesting comments here about Bourbon/Scotch and other international offerings too. Being in the UK, decent Bourbon in the supermarkets and off-licenses is non-existent. The only abundant American whiskies are your basic commercial Jack Daniels and Jim Beam which put me off Bourbons and Tennessee whiskies for a long time. However, recently I've tried Blantons Gold and Rock Hills Farm which were such an eye-opener and probably really contributed to me emerging from the snobiness a lot aspirational connoisseurs go through.

Trying to put this a bit more succinctly:

A snob is very serious and looks for things that aren't there. A connoisseur is relaxed and appreciates what is there.

That's just from thinking about it a bit. Feel free to tear the argument apart. :)

I'm not sure how to answer this question. I figure I'll leave it for others to decide.

As for myself, I just really like whisky. Being the relentless nerd that I am, when I like something, I also like to learn about it. That tends to inform my tastes as an ever-evolving process.

So to that end, in my mind there are really only two types of whisky: good and not good. Overly simplistic, maybe, but it's my honest opinion.

Thank you all for your insights. Here is a draft of my answer to the question "What Makes a Connoisseur?" with your contributions included...

There are three stages of whisky enjoyment: 1) Beginner 2) Snob 3) Connoisseur. The first stage is just plain fun. Everything is new, we are open to trying most anything and the mind is a sponge, soaking in knowledge and experience. The palate is constantly challenged, this being the most important aspect of moving to the next level: giving your palate constant variables that act as a training method. But then, we graduate to Snob…

Snobs know it all. In fact, they know everything. Please note that this is not a complete exaggeration, these folks are encyclopedias of knowledge to be sure. Even what they don’t know, snobs know, somehow. The reason why is because it is difficult for a snob to acknowledge the merits of a new idea. To put it bluntly, a new idea, style or category of whisky is not worth the effort according to the snob, so why pursue it further? This is commonly manifested in a blind devotion to only one style above all others. The snob is reluctant to acknowledge positive or redeeming qualities in “inferior” whiskies due to the rigid box they have put themselves in. This unfortunate reluctance can also produce outright dishonesty when refusing to acknowledge those redeeming qualities in a given whisky or whisky style.

Another troubling aspect of a snob is the reluctance to share or transfer enthusiasm to a beginner. In fact, snobs often are found to be quite demeaning to beginners. Snobs are unwilling to share good ideas or knowledge with others for the purpose of educating. In fact, if a snob is found to have a large output of advice or knowledge it is for one reason alone: the feeding of ego and self-worship. A snob is desperate for attention, which nicely explains the sea of whisky blogs available on the internet (most of them). We hope these fine people find a way out into the next phase…

Connoisseur. They too possess an incredible knowledge of their hobby but they offer their informed opinions willingly to others, especially beginners, in the effort to help them join in on the joy of their hobby. Connoisseurs are at heart explorers. They are generalists who appreciate the entirety of the good they find in the whisky world and are generous to the poor qualities found as well. This open minded approach is still honest, however, for a connoisseur can review anything, anywhere with r without the benefit of an audience or outside influence. They are experts with the source material. This expertise is organically grown as a result of what they can learn from the whisky itself. In other words, they like or know a whisky well because they themselves determine it, not because anyone else does. Yet, they can still accept new ideas or improvements to their own. The palate is ever evolving and a connoisseur is willing to improve it.

A connoisseur does not seek fame or enlargements to their ego. They are in fact a very grounded, mature group. The joys of their hobby are more important than the number of people kissing their ass. Ironically, beginners and connoisseurs commonly enjoy whisky the same way and they are in fact much more fun to be around than the snob not surprisingly.

Finally, the title of connoisseur is not self-proclaimed. It is earned and awarded by the community they are a part of. Best of luck to your connoisseurship!

@JJBriggs - I like it! Well done....what's next?

@JJBriggs Wow that was completely awesome. I saw the quality of fellow connosr members in this discussion thread and not feeling I could add anything I didn't. However you have said it all, being mindful not to kiss your ass, you captured every viewpoint and expressed and summarized it in a way that was honest and articulate your undeniable approach to the age old question of connoisseurship has reflected great credit to yourself and in my humble opinion embodies the very true nature of this site. Thank you for your valuable contribution. :)

@JJBriggs I really liked the way you summarized all the comments into your response. I think you captured the definition of "snob" with the one word of inferior. That, is how snobs view their surroundings. Everything to them is inferior; except for those they choose to let into their circle. Snobs make judgement based soley on status. Expensive car, house, whisky! Welcome to the circle. However, being in the circle comes with a price. Lose the status and a snob would cut you adrift in a heartbeat.

In my view, a conssoisseur excepts people for who they are and not what they have.

One last thought. I firmly believe it's possible to go on the beginning voyage of discovery for the appreciation and knowledge of whisky and arrive at the final destination of connoisseur without having to get off the train in snobville. Snobs are doomed to remain snobs because they are too judgemental and will never recognize the value of others.

@JJBriggs I like that you framed your missive as a "draft". This strengthens your definition of a connoisseur because it shows you are open-minded about having your definition critiqued.

I would suggest that stage 2 is not a mandatory stage. I agree that a less experienced, less mature, perhaps younger enthusiast might go through a stage of "black and white" vs shades of grey.

But those who have experienced the beginner to expert transitions, perhaps the more mature individual, may move from beginner to expert without the snob phase. They come to the scotch world applying their life experiences that there doesn't have to be one best thing...that different things can all be good, and that variety enhances life.

Ralfy Mitchel reviews blends, malts, craft and branded spirits. He also goes beyond Whisky. His attitude is that if care goes into the production, and if there is something worthwhile he'll buy and review it.

That said, it's still possible for a connoisseur to have preferences.

I would say a whisk(e)y Connoisseur is someone who understands differences, not so they can critique, but so they can discover what makes the whisk(e)y an experience. Really, we all can understand that it is about the experience of the drink and not really about the drinking itself. Great question and a whole lot of good feedback.

I want to steal this entire discussion for the movie I'm writing.

@AKGcandlefish - You may have found a new discussion topic..

@PeterG7 Good point. After thinking about your suggestion, I will revise the 2nd stage as non mandatory. I thought that it could be a small, quick phase we all go through A grounded person can go straight from 1 to 3 for sure, but I will also retain this point: while an individual can move past snob entirely, we all can display temporary snobbish attitudes that need to be grounded every once in awhile. Thanks for the input, I will post the revisions here in a bit as it is whittled down.

@Nozinan Right you are. I completely agree that a connoisseur can have a preference but is not narrow minded about it, I feel dumb for not articulating that. I will include this point on a revision. Thanks.

@AKGcandlefish Feel free to steal, just send a royalty check in the mail from the box office returns.