Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/5037
december 2009 / the tasting panel / 55 as diffi cult as going teetotal. From bourbon's corn versus scotch's smoky peat, to the use of clear as opposed to tinted bottles, to the health benefi ts of each product, every round seemed to end in a tie, with Brooking and Mays continually fi nding ways to one-up each other. In fact, the only thing the experts seemed to agree on was the benefi ts of recycling; following the ag- ing of scotch, the used barrels are sent to the United States, where brands like Knob Creek and Basil Hayden's put them to new use aging their bourbon. By the end of the evening, audience members had chosen sides, having tasted through various samples and sat through Mays and Brooking touting their spirits with, well, spirit. As a fi nal word of encouragement to anyone who might still be on the fence, Mays advised, "Drink bourbon. It's your pa- triotic duty!" Never one to be outdone, Brooking chimed in, "Vote scotch!" At THE TASTING PANEL, we'll have to call this round of the debate a draw. Now you decide! David Mays, Alistair Longwell and Simon Brooking debate the fi ner points of scotch versus bourbon. Mays repre- sented the Americans strongly behind the strength of brands like Knob Creek and Basil Hayden's, while Longwell and Brooking spoke for the Scottish favor- ites, Laphroaig and Ardmore. Michael Levine of Monty's Steak- house in Woodland Hills, with Twain Schreiber, Executive Chef for the Glendale Hilton. Jay Frerking of SW&S with Chris Orta, GM for the Langham Hotel in Pasadena. Todd Johnson, GM of Lawry's Beverly Hills with Maker's Mark Ambassador April Gallegos and Bryan Monfort, VP of Operations, Lawry's Restaurants Inc. Larry Levine of Monty's Steak- house with Al Camuso of the Gib- son Amphitheatre at Universal City and Bruce Fredine of SW&S. OK, the Scots may have invented golf, but they played on u.S. turf at Valencia's robinson ranch Golf course, where the Whisk(e)y debate was showcased for restaurateurs and retailers in Southern california. photos by Meridith May