EWA Alumni: Rudy Delattre
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I live in Belgium, about 50km south of Brussels and split my time between a) working as an IT System engineer in a hospital and b) my two passions in life: working as “The Master of Barley” and travels with my wife, Sabine.
The Master of Barley is a part-time, self-employed venture into spirit tasting, special and private events and sales of spirits (whisky, rum, gin and so on). I started it in 2018 and the cereal-focussed name unites my love of whisky with what was my first ever job: a baker in the family bakery.
How did you first discover whisky?
I already knew whisky, but I really discovered it in 2014 during my first trip to Scotland. I fell in love with Scotland; kilts, Scottish people and of course Scotch whisky. Since then, I have travelled more and more often to Scotland for the landscapes and have visited several distilleries to increase my knowledge of Whisky.
What attracted you to the EWA course(s)?
An acknowledgment of the whisky world, to increase my knowledge and the different challenges. The challenge was the following courses, but also the language as I am not fluent in English. In fact, all of the team and my classmates were kind with me and spoke slowly.
What aspects of the course(s) did you find most enjoyable?
All the aspects, but to explain in two French words what I would say when I talk about EWA… Convivialité et professionnalisme (friendliness and professionalism).
How might you use your new-found knowledge going forward?
By sharing my new knowledge with customers and for increasing the quality of my tasting workshops. In the future, I hope to collaborate with a distillery for making whisky.
Whisky wisdom: quick fire questions
First whisky you ever tasted?
Jack Daniels, I was so young.
Best whisky you have ever tasted?
First Edition Glentauchers 1998 16-year-old
Who is your ‘whisky hero’?
Unhesitatingly, “Vic Cameron – The Whisky Minister”. His professional career is similar to mine and he is really the whisky gentleman who influenced me.
Who would you most like to conduct a whisky tasting for?
My old Diploma classmates of the Edinburgh Whisky Academy.
Favourite distillery to visit?
Glenturret Distillery because this was one of the first, but also because this was my first private tour.
Ultimate bottling for your collection?
Gordon and MacPhail Scapa 32-year-old 1988 from cask 310 and the cask number 310 which decorates my pub.
Favourite non-whisky drink?
Mezan Jamaîca rum XO 2010.
Favourite whisky and food pairing?
Ian MacLeod’s – as we get it – Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (61.3%) with a Belgian salty dark chocolate.
