Whisky can be quite a daunting drink for people. A whisky expert, who has run tastings with everybody from single malt aficionados to Hollywood stars including Kate Winslet, has revealed how a simple lockdown workaround has become her go-to method for helping people get to grips with Scotland’s national drink. Abi Clephane, 40, from Helensburgh, now a global ambassador for Bruichladdich , says the idea began during Covid when traditional food pairings were not an option. Whisky is often paired with smoked fish, dark chocolate or cheese, but Clephane says those combinations can feel intimidating for people trying whisky for the first time. What Goes Well With Whisky? Abi said: “During lockdown the only place I could get to was the corner shop. Usually whisky pairings involve smoked salmon caught somewhere obscure, expensive charcuterie, or something incredibly specific. “I thought it would be far more helpful to use something people actually eat. Crisps are familiar and the flavours are already in people’s heads.” What began as necessity quickly turned into a simple, playful way for people to understand flavours they may otherwise struggle to identify. According to Abi, some of the more successful pairings included Bacon Fries crisps helping to highlight Port Charlotte’s smoky character, while tangier snacks bring out fruit or zestry citrus notes in The Classic Laddie. The approach has also created some deliberately silly moments. One of her most surprising pairings uses Bruichladdich’s Black Art, a rare whisky often costing more than £300 a bottle, matched with a bag of Wotsits. Abi explained: “Black Art makes people nervous because it is rare and expensive and nobody knows the recipe. But when you taste it you get flavours that are basically like a chutney. “With the recently released Black Art Sapero, there is red fruit, nuttiness, sherry, a bit of leather. If those flavours work with a cheeseboard they work with a cheesy crisp. Wotsits are usually the pick that makes people laugh and relax. “Smuggling large bags of Wotsits across continents in my luggage probably looks quite strange, but there’s a craft to it!” Abi explains what goes well with Whisky. Abi has also used similar methods to introduce people to some of Bruichladdich’s more experimental products, including Octomore, renowned as the world’s most heavily peated whiskies – pairing it with a dark chocolate Tunnock’s Tea Cake to soften its intensity. Abi says another appeal of the crisps – and snacks – method is that it strips away the pressure and formality that can overwhelm new whisky drinkers. ‘People Want Whisky To Feel Human’ She added: “I have never had bad feedback. People stop worrying about getting it wrong and just enjoy it. “If you cannot find the exact snack, you can swap it for something similar. It does not need to be precious. The whole point is helping people make sense of what they are tasting. “People want whisky to feel human, personal, and welcoming. If a packet of crisps helps someone enjoy their first dram, that is exactly what it should do.” For more information on Bruichladdich visit bruichladdich.com .