Whisky Voices: Chris Maile

This interview is part of my ongoing Whisky Voices Series, where I sit down with leading voices in the whisky world, from distillers and writers to ambassadors and innovators, to capture their unfiltered thoughts on heroes, villains, surprises, trends, and wishes.

My “victim” this time is Chris Maile, Master of the Quaich and the man who single-handedly established the whisky festival scene in Norway back in 2004. Chris is the driving force behind the annual whisky festivals in Oslo, Tromsø, and Trondheim, and for over two decades he has helped shape Norway’s whisky culture from the ground up. His reflections are heartfelt, humble, and full of insight from a lifetime devoted to sharing whisky with others.

Whisky Hero

“I’ve had the great fortune to meet many of my whisky heroes over the last 26 years of working with whisky,” Chris began. “Names like Dr. Bill Lumsden, Dr. Nick Morgan, Rachel Barrie, Dave Broom, and Michael Jackson are but a few. However, the person who has been my go-to fount of knowledge, and who has become a close friend, is Charlie MacLean. Whether over a two-minute phone call or a long evening sitting in his lounge on India Street, Charlie’s depth of knowledge and, not least, his love for whisky never cease to amaze me.”

Whisky Villain

“One word: snobbery,” Chris said emphatically. “Quite soon after I started the whisky festivals, I became aware of a strata of whisky ‘experts’ here in Norway who would look down on any new whisky enthusiasts. It seemed that those who didn’t have the right pedigree, or hadn’t loved whisky long enough, were somehow beneath them. That really annoyed me, and I’ve tried to counter whisky snobbery anywhere I find it.”

Whisky Surprise

Chris’s surprise is not tied to a single bottle, but to a recurring, magical moment. “My whisky ‘surprise’ happens quite often,” he said with a smile. “I’ve hosted hundreds of tastings over the last 26 years, and there are whiskies I’ve poured dozens of times. My surprise is when one of those whiskies, one I know extremely well, suddenly reveals something new. A new aroma, a flavour I hadn’t noticed before. The depth in whisky never ceases to surprise me.”

A great reminder that true whisky discovery never ends, no matter how long you’ve been tasting.

Whisky Trend

“Some trends come and go,” Chris observed. “Every now and then a new company declares its love for blended malts and launches a range of ‘flavour-led’ expressions. But then there are trends that truly enrich the experience for whisky lovers worldwide, such as the proliferation of new distilleries, not least here in Norway. Those trends I like.”

Whisky Wish

Chris’s wish was as generous as his spirit. “Apart from an end to snobbery,” he said, “I would point to the support we can all give to the Norwegian whisky industry as my whisky wish. Whether they’re importers, producers, or the dedicated bar staff all over the country — let’s make the time to let them know they are appreciated by all of us who enjoy a dram or two here in Norway.”

Sláinte!
- Thomas