Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/188061
T he first time I exchanged emails with Freddy May, he warned me about his socks. So when I pull up an ocean-view chair at the Laguna Beach, CA seaside restaurant The Deck to talk to the William Grant & Sons' Whisky Specialist and his role as Brand Ambassador for the rich, viscous Monkey Shoulder whisky, part of my brain runs wild with speculation about his hosiery. Eventually, Freddy hikes up his gray jeans for the reveal—bright pink with large yellow stars, natch. "They draw a lot of attention when I fly out of LaGuardia," the New York resident admits. The socks are indicative of the personality that the British-born May effortlessly exudes; laid-back, breezy, and equipped with the type of cheekiness one would hope from a U.K. native. These personality traits served him well the previous evening at Irvine, CA's Capital Seafood, where he and Glenfiddich West Coast Brand Ambassador Mitch Bechard hosted a special training shindig called Whisky Boot Camp, a seminar designed to teach the Orange County sales staff of Young's Market Company all about the history, laws, and production processes of the brown liquor in all of its international incarnations. Amidst the faint smell of rapidly cooling dim sum that gingerly wafted from the northeast corner of the restaurant's tiny meeting room, May repeatedly reached into his bag of mischievous tricks to keep the crowd entertained as well as informed. At one point, he even got everyone to heckle an absent At the Young's Market Company Whisky Bootcamp, Orange County Sales Rep Dan Peebles chats with Freddy May. Freddy May's outgoing personality shines, right down to his socks. associate who was meant to be there via his speakerphone. "He was supposed to talk to you guys about the history of Irish whiskey tonight, but instead he left me out here to bluff my way through it," he joked through a rough attempt at an Irish brogue. Underneath May's sense of humor, however, is a guy who is right passionate about whisky. He's been that way since he jumped into the libations business after studying sculpture in Edinburgh, although he admits that he initially got involved in the industry because it was a little more financially stable than art. To be sure, May relishes the opportunity to use events such as Whisky Boot Camp as a means to geek out about his favorite spirit. "The great thing about a seminar like Whisky Boot Camp is that it allows me to revel in the heritage, history, and provenance of whisky from all over the place," May states. "Plus, it obviously gives people the chance to let them check out new brands that William Grant & Sons are distributing, like Monkey Shoulder." While May loves to share his reverence for whisky with anyone who's interested, he's also familiar enough with whisky drinkers to know when to dial things down a wee bit. "There 70 / the tasting panel / october 2013 TP1013_066-107.indd 70 9/23/13 10:33 PM