This is about drinking good whisky. And not about gloating over it.
There's a lot of folks who look at a bottle of Single Malt Scotch and think, "well, ain't that fancy", turn up their noses and head for the Jack Daniels in the next aisle. There's such a mystification around this wonderful distilled spirit that it keeps a lot of people from actually trying it, thinking they're not worthy; or worse, those who create a false sense of entitlement, as if they've logged onto some esoteric rite that puts them in a different league. They're both baloney.
Actually, we're just a bunch of knuckleheads looking for a good time at the bottom of an expensive bottle of liquor. The blog was George's idea. He thought I was funny enough to write one. What a laugh, shows you how much George knows.
Scott and I started the idea of a single malt scotch tasting while drinking Johnny Walker in his kitchen after a failed school referendum vote (a bunch of hooligan suburban parents drowning their sorrows with whatever he and Abby had in their cupboards). Naturally, I got around to pontificating about single malt Scotch and suggested we all go the upcoming WhiskyFest in New York. After a few drinks, everyone thought it was a great idea. (After a few drinks, bobbing for grenades is a good idea, too). Except that it was sold out. Undeterred, Scott came up with a flash of brilliance: we should start our own.
Bob was a Scotch drinker (as is his wife Laura, who loves the Islays). Mike wasn't sure but was game for it (we now know he would much rather spend time in Speyside than anywhere else). Glenn came in through Scott via a great tasting/dinner/cigar fest at The Porterhouse Restaurant. I met Tony one day at Total Wine where he works ("wine's my job but whisky's my passion"). We've had a few others come in and out over time: Steve, Dave, Matthew, Joe, George and more. We tried to invite a few women but it got complicated ("who all is coming?" and that sort of thing). That's how the Pascack Valley Single Malt Scotch and Jet Fuel Afterburn Festival got started. We're in our 2nd year and as a group we've done about 35 single malts.
Where'd the name come from?
We live in Northern New Jersey, an area called the Pascack Valley. Its a collection of small towns in a big valley (not unlike the San Fernando Valley, except we have as many malls and as much smog without the great weather). Seems pretty simple.
One day, I was at a sales meeting with my company and was sitting at a bar with a few associates. One asked what I was drinking and I said Talisker. He never heard of it and ordered one and made the mistake of shooting it down as if it were tequila or something. I watched his face reflect the entire evolution of mankind in about 15 seconds: from a scaly fish to a simian brow to a big bang explosion of distaste, shock and awe. "My god, that tastes just like a jet fuel afterburn". I never asked how he knew that, but a festival was born.