Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/221505
During a live broadcast, David Laird pours a dram for David Nellis, whose "Foodie and the Beast" radio show keeps the D.C. consumer in the loop on the latest food and beverage trends. After college, David decided to put a career in science on hold in order to help a friend open and run a bar in Memphis, becoming an investor in the process. A few years later, he headed to Paddy's Whisky House in Portland, Oregon where the shelves where lined with more than 600 bottles of spirit, including one of the largest collections of whiskies in the area. This is where Laird really honed his palate and passion for both single malt and blended scotch. As David puts it, "It can be expensive business to try a lot of whiskies. But working at Paddy's, I got to try everything. I got to compare and learn about each style and blend." It was this education behind the bar that prepared David a few years later for his role as Brand Ambassador for The Balvenie, where he gets to tell the unique story of The Balvenie in an engaging and memorable way. A diverse and interesting crowd listens closely as David Laird expounds upon the virtues of Scotch. "Any way you like it," says Laird of the "correct" way to drink scotch. 86 / the tasting panel / december 2013 TP1213_064-103.indd 86 11/23/13 8:35 PM