Graeme McDowell, a PGA Tour pro from Northern Ireland, grew up only six miles from Bushmills Distillery in Portrush. Thus he has been around whisky his whole life. McDowell, who preferred beer as a young adult, developed an appreciation for whisky during his time as a tour guide, sampling everything from blended scotch to American and Irish varieties. He reflected, “I probably didn’t start drinking whisky myself till my 20s.” According to the author, “Johnnie Walker Blue was probably my first true venture down the whisky trail, and I began to fall in love with the tastes.”
Blue Label may be the whisky that initially captivated McDowell, but he has been drinking blended scotch since before he could legally do so. He said my paternal aunt married a Scotsman who worked for Chivas Brothers. We used to hang out in a tiny village named Rothes in Scotland’s far north-east. Additionally, we would take our kids on tours of local distilleries and cooperies during our trips there. When I was very young, my parents took me on a tour of several distilleries, and the experience has stuck with me ever since. You’ll never forget that scent.
McDowell enjoyed visiting distilleries as a kid, but he focused on his golf skills in his formative years. After years of hard work, he was allowed to play on the international stage for Ireland when he was only 18 years old. He transferred to the University of Alabama in Birmingham halfway through his first year at Queen’s University in Belfast. After achieving success on the collegiate level, he turned professional, flourished on the European circuit, and in 2010 became the first golfer from Northern Ireland to win the U.S. Open. He also helped the European side to victory at the Ryder Cup that year.
McDowell’s first experience with the whisky business came during his time on the tour when he and fellow golfer Thongchai Jaidee developed the Ballantine’s 2009 Championship Blend. In 2008 and 2009, they triumphed in the whisky’s namesake competition in South Korea.
He remarked, “My taste is continuously growing, and a few years ago, I spent a lot of time sampling a lot of bourbons.” “I’m re-acquainting myself with Irish whisky and learning its components.” McDowell has done precisely that with the release of Grey Coast, a blended Irish whisky produced at the Boann Distillery in County Meath, Ireland (not far from Drogheda).
McDowell enjoys a variety of American whiskies, but his favorites include Blanton’s, Four Roses, and wheated bourbon. “Weller 12” is one of his favorite American whiskies, he remarked. Understanding how maize and wheat vary in smoothness profile is what this article is about.
McDowell has a variety of alcoholic beverage preferences, including whiskies, tequila cocktails, and red wines from Napa Valley. His wine collection is mostly cabernet sauvignon, and he maintains his bar there. Due to his time playing golf in Mexico, McDowell has developed a taste for Patrón tequila. Vodka and gin are kept on hand when guests drop by, but my liquor cabinet is stocked with scotch, Irish whisky, and bourbon.