The Tasting Panel magazine

April 2012

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M eeting Nicholas Pollacchi, Brand Ambassador for The Balvenie, something becomes obvious straight-away: this is not the kilt-wearing Scotsman of your imagination. Indeed, when we meet up with him on his day off, it is one of the rare days he's not nattily dressed in a custom three-piece suit. But even in casual clothes, Nicholas gives off a Savile Row vibe, perhaps part of the worldly trappings of someone who has travelled the globe in style as a spirits evangelist. "I always say I don't have any fashion sense, but I do have style," he says, adding "I'm bringing back the pocket square; it's my mission in life." In addition to his "huge" collection of pocket squares, Nicholas has a penchant for bespoke shirts and ties. A native of Loch Lomond, near Glasgow, Nicholas is a recent trans- plant to the New York metro region, where he handles The Balvenie east of the Mississippi. Before arriving in the Big Apple, the Scotsman lived in California, handling the West and South U.S. territories. "After spending 30 years in rainy Scotland, living where the sun shines was appealing," he says. Though he misses the laid-back coastal lifestyle, he's fallen in love with New York's quirky charms. And he doesn't even have to miss the waterfront. Nicholas, his wife, Carey, and their rescue dog, Bodi, settled in Jersey City, a rising-star neighborhood on the Hudson River that he calls the "other Brooklyn." And true, the enclave boasts quiet streets lined with trees and brownstones, small family-run establishments, elegant parks and a killer view of Manhattan. Indeed, in his two months stateside, he's become the ambassador of his street as well, making friends at the local pizza place, wine shop and corner pub. His "own private Jersey City" suits Nicholas for a few reasons: He loves the melting pot available to him outside his door, and his newly- wed wife comes from the area and has family encircled about—a cozy comfort for someone married to a well-travelled brand ambassador. Last year Nicholas logged some 160,000 air miles and thousands more on the ground in The Balvenie Craft Roadshow, a year-long tour of all things handcrafted in America. But his new neighborhood also appeals to him because of its sense of home and heritage—principles of the very brand he's proud to represent. Of the 100 single malt scotch distilleries in Scotland, only five are still family-owned, and so The Balvenie, as one of them, boasts a certain rare heritage. The distillery grows and malts its own barley from its 1,200 acres, has its own cooperage, its own coppersmith of 54 years and the longest-serving Malt Master in Scotch whisky—50 years and counting. And the depth of that experience isn't lost on Nicholas. The New Jersey boy taking a break in his "own private Brooklyn." Getting to Know Nicholas ◗ Under those custom suits, Nicholas estimated his body is about 40-percent tattooed. ◗ He can play piano and guitar by ear and has performed in a band. ◗ He is a huge fan of country music—from Johnny Cash to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. Malt Fanatic THE BALVENIE BRAND AMBASSADOR NICHOLAS POLLACCHI COMBINES STYLE WITH PASSION by Lana Bortolot / photos by Doug Young april 2012 / the tasting panel / 91

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