Our content series, The Spirit of Travel with Dewar’s Scotch Whisky follows the essence of adventure and discovery into the craft of bartending.

Photos by Gerardo Gutierrez-Switaj

Created with the finest ingredients and a rich heritage that spans centuries, Dewar’s embodies the spirit of exploration and inspires wanderlust and curiosity. Bartenders are an adventurous bunch, and traveling can profoundly influence their cocktails by shaping creativity, technique, and worldview, while enriching their craft and personal journey.

Named as last year’s Best Bartender by North America’s 50 Best Bars, Christine Wiseman is the Global Beverage Director of Bar Lab Hospitality, which includes highly renounced bars such as Broken Shaker, Mesiba, Higher Ground, amongst others. We ask Christine about her career behind some of the nation’s hottest bars and how her travels ignite her passion for discovery with every sip.

Tell us why you enjoy bartending?

I love that every day is different! it really keeps you on your toes!

Tell us about your journey into bartending and what inspired you to pursue this career?

I have been in the hospitality industry my whole adult life. I have always loved it. I have worked every aspect of it and before I became a bartender I was working in the kitchen until I realized that my face needed to get back in the front of the house.

Talk to us about a recent accomplishment?

This past year, I was voted NA Bartenders Bartender 50 Best and TOTC United States Bartender of the Year.

How has your experience as a bartender influenced your understanding and appreciation of whisky, particularly Dewar’s 12-Year-Old?

My experience has taught me that ingredients for cocktails don’t need to be so traditional. people generally think that scotch is primarily used in stirred cocktails or to sip neat and I think that with the fruity and floral notes of Dewar’s 12 it can be used in so many different applications.

What is it about Dewar’s that resonates with you personally?

That it is so versatile

How has travel influenced your approach to bartending, and can you share how it might have deepened your appreciation for a whisky like Dewar’s 12-Year-Old?

Travel has greatly influenced my cocktails. everything we do and see, and taste creates a memory and being able to recreate that through a cocktail and tell a story is the best!

Do any of your travels directly inspire your creations or cocktails with Dewar’s 12-Year-Old?

Yes! the “Belize It” that I am featuring today is from my recent travels to Belize where I got to see fresh cacao harvested and ate fresh papaya every day!

Describe your cocktail that you’ve created using Dewar’s 12-Year-Old and the inspiration behind it?

Today I want to accentuate the fruity and floral notes with the fresh papaya puree and using the cacao nibs as an infusion into the dry vermouth, that for me pairs so nice with the papaya. With the essence of the pineapple soda on the nose is a great start to enjoying this cocktail! I love creating bright, fresh, and tropical cocktails with scotch. I love the malty finish with the tropical notes.

The post The Spirit of Travel with Christine Wiseman and Dewar’s Whisky appeared first on Chilled Magazine.