In the sprawling narrative of whisky lore, Emma Cookson's journey unfolds like a timeless epic, each chapter steeped in the smoky allure of discovery and transformation. What began as a humble university side gig—shaking cocktails and pouring pints—soon morphed into a quest as rich and layered as the finest dram. It was a GlenDronach event, where history blurred with legend, that ignited Emma's passion, revealing that whisky, much like life, is less about the liquid in the glass and more about the stories that swirl within it.
Picture young Emma, wandering through the bustling taverns of Melbourne, her curiosity as keen as an adventurer's compass. The drinks were her map, the bars her uncharted territories. Yet, the path was littered with distractions—think of her first encounters with whisky as stumbling into a dragon's hoard, only to find it filled with copper coins instead of gold. But then, like a revelation from a mysterious alchemist, she tasted the essence of an Old Fashioned made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon—a potion that turned the mundane into the magical, the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Her moment of epiphany was nothing short of a bard's tale. Enter Linus Schaxmann of GlenDronach, a modern-day storyteller and Brown-Forman ambassador extraordinaire, whose words danced like flames in the hearth of history. Schaxmann didn’t just talk whisky—he conjured it, spinning tales so rich and layered that they felt like chapters ripped from an ancient saga.
Listening to Schaxmann, it was as if Emma had stumbled upon a hidden doorway—a secret portal into a realm where whisky wasn’t just a drink, but a vessel of legends. And Schaxmann? He was the gatekeeper, holding the keys to this enchanted world. With a flourish, he unlocked the secrets behind each bottle, revealing that whisky, much like a well-crafted tale, has its own heroes and villains, triumphs and tragedies.
In Schaxmann's hands, the history of whisky wasn’t a dry recitation of dates and facts; it was an epic quest, filled with noble distillers, rebellious spirits, and the eternal struggle between tradition and innovation. Emma found herself swept up in this narrative, each sip of GlenDronach becoming a revelation, each story a new layer of intrigue.
It was a bit like discovering that the dusty old library in your town was actually a portal to Narnia—only instead of talking lions, there were talking casks, each one with a story more enthralling than the last. The whisky was no longer just a drink; it was a key to a hidden world, a world that Emma was now irrevocably a part of. She had entered this enchanted realm as a curious traveler, but emerged as a true believer, ready to weave her own tales in the ever-expanding tapestry of whisky lore.
As her journey progressed, Emma found herself at Polly Bar in Fitzroy, where she didn’t just serve whisky—she orchestrated it, much like a conductor leading a symphony of spirits.
Bucks parties became her stage, and whisky flights her overture, turning raucous celebrations into elegant soirees. It was here that Emma honed her craft, mastering the art of storytelling through whisky, where each dram was not just a drink but a narrative twist, a plot point in an evening's tale.
Her ascent in the whisky world was akin to a knight's quest, each step marked by learning and mastery. At Whisky & Alement, under the guidance of Brooke Hayman and David Whitehead, Emma’s education was less about the science of spirits and more about the magic within each bottle. It was as if she had entered a whisky Hogwarts, where every lesson was a spell, every bottle a wand that unleashed new possibilities.
But Emma's true strength lies in her role as a Whisky Specialist at The Whisky List, where she has become a chronicler of the spirits world. Unlike the merchants and ambassadors who fill the ranks of the whisky industry, Emma has chosen the path of the historian, the storyteller—the one who digs deep into the archives of whisky's past to uncover the tales that others overlook. Her role is not just to sell whisky, but to breathe life into it, transforming it from a mere drink into a living, breathing narrative.
Emma’s love affair with whisky is as complex and enchanting as the spirits she adores. It’s a tale filled with vibrant characters—like the administrator at Bunnahabhain distillery who, despite half a century among the finest malts, has never tasted a drop of whisky, preferring Malibu instead. This delightful irony only adds to the richness of Emma’s story, where the unexpected is the norm and every twist is a reason to raise a glass.
With over a decade steeped in the hospitality world and a cocktail of qualifications in Communications, Applied Mathematics, and Accounting, Emma Cookson isn’t just your run-of-the-mill whisky aficionado—she’s the Swiss Army knife of whisky experts. Her multidisciplinary skillset is like a finely aged whisky blend, bringing together diverse flavors that complement each other in surprising ways. Whether she’s breaking down the technical nuances of a complex single malt or shining a light on obscure distilleries that even seasoned enthusiasts might overlook, Emma has a rare talent for making whisky not just accessible but downright irresistible. She doesn’t just inform; she transports, pulling her audience into the depths of her passion and taking them along for the ride like a modern-day whisky Pied Piper.
If given free rein, Emma’s dream project would be nothing short of a whisky odyssey—a deep dive into the forgotten legislation of the early 1800s, a time when the industry was as wild and uncharted as the Scottish Highlands themselves. Imagine her as a treasure hunter, setting off on an epic quest to uncover the lost codes and clandestine practices that shaped the whisky we know today. Her obsession with historical detail is like a rare single malt that’s been tucked away in a secret cellar, aging to perfection, waiting for the right moment to reveal its secrets.
Perhaps one day, Emma’s name will be etched into the annals of whisky history, not just as a specialist but as a legend in her own right. She dreams of using her encyclopedic knowledge not merely to create educational content but as the bedrock for a future tome—an exploration of why whiskies were blended the way they were to suit the evolving palates of consumers throughout history. It would be the ultimate almanac, a definitive guide to the mysterious forces that shaped the whisky world, with Emma’s signature wit and insight making it as enjoyable as the finest dram.
Thanks to Emma’s discerning palate and knack for unearthing hidden gems, The Whisky List has triumphantly introduced Decadent Drinks' and Bunnahabhain' portfolios to Australian shores.
With her passion for unique casking and maturation styles, we can only imagine what other liquid marvels she'll conjure up next.
---
Words by AW.
Photos courtesy of Tiny Disco.