Jul 23, 2024
0 One Shot Goals

30 Year old scotch

Like Ron says – I love scotch. I rarely drink anything else and have developed quite a taste for it. That being said – I’m not one of those scotch snobs who waves the glass around talking about tasting notes in an affected tone of voice. However – I can taste the difference of scotches based on the region and sometimes even the maker (Macallan is my favorite) and have in the past done tastings of 20 and 25 year old scotch (notably in Vegas on the rooftop bar of the Rio – that was a good time) so I have a baseline of what good aged scotch tastes like.

I’ve always wanted to try a 30 year scotch – I’ve never pulled the trigger over the years due to the cost and the uncertainty (is this REALLY 30 year scotch?) so I knew I’d have to go to a reputable scotch bar in order to ensure I’m getting what I paid for. I did some research and found a really sophisticated scotch bar in the village in NYC called ‘The brandy library’. When I walked in I realized it was called that because it has library shelves all along the walls but instead of books they were bottles of scotch, bourbon, brandy, and other spirits. We had our own table and scotch expert to help us out. I explained I’m looking for a 30 year scotch with a preference for Speyside whiskeys but could be convinced to go Islay if he thinks there’s a 30 year worth it (the smokiness might be a bit much)

After some back and forth and explaining that as much as I’d love to have a Macallan 30 – I’m not about to drop $1,000 for a dram of it we settled on a highly rated 30 year from a distillery called Benriach which he said won some awards and punches way above it’s price.

Here’s what the tasting notes he gave me were:

COLOR:Mahogany

NOSE: Stewed plum, baked orange, smoked walnut and cinnamon cocoa

PALATE: Dark fruit, manuka honey and chocolate raisin, with a long and complex smoked honey finish

SMOKE LEVEL: Complex

He gave me a small sample (I love this place – letting me have a sip to see if it’s agreeable before giving me the full dram) and I really liked it so we agreed this would be my scotch and he poured me a healthy dram and the color was so dark I just spend the first few minutes just looking at it

When I took that first whiff I didn’t get all the tasting notes but it smelled strongly of honey with an undercurrent of caramel and a back current of smoke pervading the whole thing. It smelled amazing and way more complex than my usual 12 year scotches. The first taste hit me in the face and I actually gasped at how strong of a liquor hit it was but then once that cleared the flavors were all there and the complexity was on full display. This was a great scotch – I savored it for over 40 minutes with small sips and great conversation with my friends in this super relaxed atmosphere.

I really enjoyed this 30 year scotch – but it’ll have to be a rare treat as the cost puts casual drinking of it out of my budget. That being said – I now have tried all the standard scotch years and I still think Macallan 15 is my gold star – and maybe one day I’ll win the lottery and can taste that Macallan 30!

(I did have a glass of Macallan 15 at the bar because I was just enjoying myself immensely and wanted to keep the quality scotch flowing)

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Jul 23, 2024
0 Books

Leaders Eat Last

 Simon Sinek’s “Leaders Eat Last” is about how good leaders prioritize the well-being of their team. He uses the metaphor of a tribe, where leaders historically made sure everyone got fed before they did. This idea applies to today’s workplaces, where great leaders create a safe and supportive environment, looking out for their team’s needs first. It’s not just about giving orders but fostering a sense of trust and loyalty that boosts productivity and morale.

Here are the key takeaways from Simon Sinek’s “Leaders Eat Last”:

  • Create a Circle of Safety: Leaders should prioritize creating a safe and trusting environment where team members feel secure and supported.
  • Serve Others: True leadership involves serving the needs of others, ensuring their well-being and growth come first.
  • Build Trust: Trust is foundational. Leaders who build trust foster stronger relationships and higher performance.
  • Embrace Empathy: Understand and care about the personal challenges and aspirations of your team members.
  • Lead with Integrity: Act consistently with your values and principles, setting a positive example for others.
  • Encourage Growth: Foster an environment where individuals can develop and contribute their best talents.
  • Promote a Sense of Belonging: Cultivate a culture where everyone feels valued and included, enhancing collaboration and morale.
  • Focus on the Long Term: Successful leadership looks beyond short-term gains to sustainably achieve goals and create lasting impact.

These principles emphasize the importance of putting people first and nurturing a supportive workplace culture for long-term success.

(summary created with the help of AI)

I picked this book because I was promoted into a leadership role and I wanted to read as many leadership books as I could to help me develop my ‘style’ of leadership. I understand that there will be trial and error – especially with some of the against the grain recommendations Sinek makes in this book. I’m actually a pretty big fan of his – his TED talk ‘start with why’ really resonated with me and helped me pivot my career so I was excited to take on some of his books to see if he had any other insights I could leverage.

The ideas of this book are pretty simple – treat your employees like people – not resources on a spreadsheet. That intrinsic motivation will generate better results that authoritarian management. This resonated with me as I’ve had great managers and really BAD managers in my career so I was determined that if I ever led people I would strive to be a great manager. I’m just starting out but applying some of these methods has resulted in amazing productivity and my staff seems very happy to work on my team.

There’s a few more of Sinek’s books that I want to work through – but this is a good start and I heartily recommend it to anyone looking to up their management skills.

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