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Freddie Xiang

SMWS ambassador, China

First whisky memory

When I was a college student, my memories of are Jack Daniel’s in nightclubs, but I started to appreciate single malts around 2010 and really liked to have a dram of Glenlivet before going to bed. My love for SMWS whisky began when I took a trip to Japan in 2013. If I remember correctly, it was in an SMWS partner bar in Kyoto that brought me a new understanding of whisky.

Favourite film

It has to be a film by Chinese director Zhang Yimou, 老井, which translates as Old Well.

Fantasy whisky tasting companions

On my first trip to Bowmore distillery on Islay, when we finally arrived at the famous No.1 Vaults, we drew a dram and had an unforgettable tasting under the leadership of distillery manager David Turner.

Most used emoji

Any cute emoji with a puppy 🐶.

ABOVE: Freddie hosting a Society virtual tasting

Most memorable dram

SMWS Cask No. 130.3: Bamboo wood and cherry blossom. This Japanese bottling takes you on an endless flavour journey, completely beyond expectations for a 6-year-old whisky.

Guilty pleasure

Always fried chicken and Coca-Cola!

Dream destination

Tahiti

Weirdest food

In the southwest of China, there is a kind of hot pot containing a cow’s gastric juice…

Favourite bar

Always the SMWS Members’ Room at 28 Queen Street. I’ll never forget my wonderful night there in February 2019.

If you were a flavour profile, what would you be?

Juicy, Oak & Vanilla for me!