When I was a lot younger, the idea of a wedding or funeral toast filled me with dread! What to choose? Sherry or whisky? Usually sherry won through because I couldn’t even get a glass of whisky near my nose — the alcohol was simply too overpowering, causing my eyes to water. Tasting whisky was not even a remote possibility.

Fast forward 12 or so years and there was a subtle change in my tastes. I tried whisky again and actually enjoyed it. Nowadays, we have at least two bottles of whisky open in the cupboard so we can chop and change.

So what do I like? Such a hard question! It’s easier to say what I don’t like and that’s peaty whiskies or ones that are too smoky. Having said that, I almost liked the third Glenfiddich whisky at Whisky Stramash in Edinburgh on Sunday, so maybe things are changing again.

My taste buds seem to be affected by location, temperature, my health and mood. For instance, if I have a sore throat, I like something that almost burns the infection away; if it’s a bit warmer, I like a lighter whisky.

What is open in the cupboard today? There’s Blair Atholl, the Feathery and SMWS 44.60 and I like them all!

What do I want in the cupboard? Well, a bottle of Scallywag (tasted it on Sunday and loved it!), a Glendronach and a Balvenie for starters!

So, ladies, give whisky a go! I am a real girly-girl and I’m drinking whisky. Yes, a lot of the tastings are male dominated, but it is changing! You can help it change, too!