food
Meet Your Spirit Guide
Deep in downtown Los Angeles lurks a secret society. Okay, maybe not secret for long. We’re talking about the Seven Grand Whiskey Society at Seven Grand, one of LA’s premier traditional Irish whiskey bars. We spoke to self-appointed spirit guide Pedro Shanahan for more details.
What is a Spirit Guide?
A Spirit Guide is someone to help you explore the world of Spirits. There is no whiskey sommelier program in America, so we’re going about creating our own. I conduct staff trainings, private tastings, and all aspects of whiskey education.
What is the Whiskey society?
We wanted to encourage the burgeoning group of enthusiasts we saw coming in by offering monthly tastings and hosting events with Brand Ambassadors. An individual membership is $70 a year or $120 will get you a VIP membership which allows you to bring a guest to any event.
What’s your drink of choice?
Whiskey neat or on the rocks with a splash of water. I’m always drinking different whiskeys – you can travel the world with your tongue. Vodka is valued for its lack of flavor while whiskey is judged on its richness and complexity. The wood, water, wind, earth and fire – whiskey offers so much more!
What makes a great whiskey?
Enough time in the barrel. A good whiskey will have a well-arced flavor profile, drier mouth-feel and a layered and long linger.
What’s new in the world of whiskey?
Rye whiskey is all the rage right now with the Sazerac 18 year currently judged as the best whiskey in the world. The rich, spicy flavor rye brings to whiskey has won a loyal following at the moment with many new rye whiskeys hitting the market.
Claudia Maittlen-Harris is a writer and comedian based in Los Angeles. She is the co-creator of the how-not-to dating/relationship blog, The Zeros Before the One.
Image: Courtesy of Pedro Shanahan
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