Whyte   Mackay Master Blender  Richard Paterson has been named  Whisky Ambassador of the Year  at Whisky Magazine s Icons of Whisky Awards  2011
Last year  Richard celebrated 40 years in the whisky industry and the award recognizes his continual efforts to promote whisky all over the globe  in the fun and engaging manner that has earned him a legion of fans  Richard became a master blender at an incredibly young age of 26 and ever since  he has played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the category
Speaking on the occasion  Richard Paterson said  It s an honour to receive this award from Whisky Magazine and it means a great deal to me that my fellow whisky peers respect the work I am doing  Over the last 40 years I have had the privilege to work in the whisky industry and travel the world over meeting many whisky enthusiasts  I have created some very special whiskies along the way including the first whisky to break the £100 000 barrier and just recently I got to sample the Shackleton whisky which has to be one of the greatest highpoints of my career 
Richard is the creator of The Dalmore Oculus Single Malt  which sold at Bonham s London in 2009 for Rs  25 lacs  GBP 31000    The Dalmore 62 year old  the most expensive whisky  700 ML  ever sold at Rs  35 lacs  Another feather in his much adorned cap is his signature blend of the Whyte   Mackay 30 YO recently being awarded the World s Best Blended Whisky  by International Wine   Spirits consortium  the global authority on Luxury Alcohol 
His attention is what leads to the distinct taste of Whyte   Mackay  the Isle of Jura and Dalmore single malts
The master blender s role is one of the most important and complex in the whisky making process  Celebrated master blenders across the world have made our olfactory senses aware of the palate and the notes that distinguish a particular whisky from the other  Richard Paterson is one of the world s best-known master blenders  having travelled the globe extensively as the ambassador not just for Whyte   Mackay  but for Scotland
 I am delighted to achieve this award for a job I genuinely find a pleasure to do    he added
Apart from creating whisky  Richard is well known as a charismatic presenter  taking enthusiasts through both whisky history and the steps needed to taste and appreciate whisky  These sessions are known to be explosive  and Richard takes no prisoners when hosting a whisky tasting  if you make a wrong move  you will know about it
Other shortlisted candidates in the category included renowned names like Simon Brooking of Beam Global Gillian Macdonald of Penderyn; Stephen Marshall of John Dewar   Sons and Fred Noe  Beam Global
The Whyte   Mackay portfolio is available in India with the Whyte Mackay 40 year Old  22 Year Old  19 Year old  13 Year Old   the Special  Jura with Jura 16 Year Old  Superstition   The Jura 10 Year Old  Last but certainly not the least  the KING OF MALTS The Dalmore available in the 12 Year Old   Gran Reserva apart from the inimitable The Dalmore 40 Year Old