Music, songs, and of course, movies! From Whiskey Galore (Whiskey galore) by Alexander Mackendrick, to Lost in translation by Sophia Coppola or The Angel Share (La part des anges) by Ken Loach, the whiskey, whose label flies in the spotlight of pubs for some and for others end up under the mantle of auctioneers, is also collected as paintings. This is the case with The Macallans of 1926 and others, which cost more than a million euros each. Their limited editions, the very aesthetics of the bottles, their labels painted by artists, make them rare. Brittany is not left out. In Plomelin in Cornouaille, we also have the Eddu, which the Lay dynasty strives to make known to the four corners of the world. Interview with Patrick Mahé for ABP
ABP: What is the story of the bottle on the cover of the book?
Patrick Mahé: This is a 45-year-old Midleton, which takes its name from the village of Midleton, on the outskirts of Cork, Ireland, where the imposing Irish Distillers distillery, owned by the Pernod-Ricard Group. An Irish whiskey, then. There are only 48 bottles, It was distilled by Barry Crockett, master distiller. Its price fluctuates around € 40,000 each. I chose it for its line, which is reminiscent of the grille of a Bugatti-type classic car. The carafe is in blown crystal, engraved by hand.
ABP: What is the most popular bottle in the book?
Patrick Mahé: A 1926 Macallan (Speyside, Scotland) that sold for € 1.7 million at auction. Several bottles of Macallan, labeled 1926, have sold for around € 1 million each. The decanters of Six Pillars (Laliques) are at € 25,000 each. A complete collection of the six went up for auction in 2017, for € 870,000 at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong.
ABP: When did this passion for whiskeys date?
Patrick Mahé: From several trips to Scotland and Ireland. Then in the United States: Tennessee (for Rock’n’Roll) and Kentucky. Finally, in Japan and Taiwan. The Interceltic Festival in Lorient is no stranger to this cultural passion.
ABP: Are there whiskey collectors like art collectors?
Patrick Mahé: It is the perverse effect of the market that blaze auctions. True collectors are driven by passion. But today they are doubled by the greed of speculators whose first step is to place the bottles in the safe rather than display them, like works of art; however, that is what they are. We recently auctioned off the collection of an authentic fan: the American Richard Gooding (deceased in 2014) who traveled the world for decades in search of the best whiskeys. The first phase of the sale (1900 bottles) reached 3.2 million pounds sterling (3.6 million €). The second (1958 bottles) governed by Whisky Auctioner has been postponed due to Covid reasons.
ABP: Have you ever been to a whiskey auction?
Patrick Mahé: Yes, in Hong Kong, the starting point for this book. It is while watching, dumbfounded, the soaring of a Yamazaki 50 year old Japanese, that I left to the treasure hunt.
ABP: What international design names are associated with the creation of the bottle?
Patrick Mahé: Lalique, master glassmaker above all, carafe side. Painters or illustrators Valério Adami and Peter Blake (Macallan labels), Scottish silversmith Thomas Fattorini (caps), many artisans for leather cases …
ABP: What are your 3 favorite brands?
Patrick Mahé: It all depends on the time of day you use a dram (about 3 cl).
First an Irishman around 5 p.m. Midleton is a must, but also a good Redbreast or Crested Ten, both distilled three times, so sweet smoothie.
Then a Scottish from the Spey valley (a Macallan preferably, but also a Dalmore, a The Balvenie 25 years of age or Craigellachie 31 years);
Finally an iodized whiskey, peaty from Islay (more like an Ardbeg 21).
As a cinephile, I remain faithful to the Hibiki (17 years old) on the Japanese side which featured Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. and on the Breizh plan, I remain faithful Eddu Breton, the only buckwheat whiskey in the world.
ABP: Do you have a memory or anecdote in a pub around the world with this beverage?
Patrick Mahé: In Dublin, at the O’Donoghue’s Pub, near the gardens of St Stephen’s Green, where bullets whistled during the Irish Revolution – where the famous group of Dubliners (Seven Drunken Nights, Whiskey In The Jar) – I had to sing La Blanche Hermine a capella. It was after 3-4 tours (a tradition in Ireland) … Gilles Servat won’t blame me, I hope. In the 70s, I forced the Harry’s Bar in Paris to serve Irish by the glass, while the barman reserved it for Irish coffee: A heresy! Perhaps it was then the claw of Andy McElhone, the owner with Scottish roots! Quickly, things got back to normal and Saint-Patrick’s clover is now familiar with the saltire (the cross of Saint Andrew) from Scotland. To the two Celtic saints to cross the glass with the fair play of Gaelic rugby players! In the book, I review a number of places around the world where whiskey is king. The most astonishing is without doubt the Golden Promise, rue Tiquetonne, in Paris, a very chic cellar. In Quimper, the unmissable Ceili. In Vannes, the John O’Flaherty near the Town Hall and, on the port, the Paddy’s.
ABP: Was there whiskey at Paris-Match for special occasions when you were running the magazine?
Patrick Mahé: For all occasions. Each time Paris-Match is closed, for example. But, of course, whiskey and whiskeys, noble beverages, are all the better respected when they are savored in moderation.
ABP: Does the book evoke Brittany?
Patrick Mahé: Ya, evel just ha gant plijadur! Besides the references to the Interceltic Festival – which unites us all – there is the Eddu Diamant exhibition and a full page on whiskey IPG ( protected Geographical Indication). This is the case for Armorique whiskeys: Kornog de la Celtic Whisky Company, Armorik from Warenghem in Lannion, soon Galaad (La Mine d’Or in Morbihan) at the gates of the forest of Brocéliande. The menhirs distillery in Plomelin, near Quimper / Kemper, floats the Gwenn ha Du on the market. Others play the triskell. Most are united under the banner of Produced in Brittany (Breith products)
Editions Gründ.
240 pages / 69€.
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